KUALA LUMPUR: The public should refrain from associating any acts of terrorism with the true meaning of jihad.
Global Movement of Moderates chief executive officer Datuk Dr Nasharudin Mat Isa said jihad calls for the pursuit and struggle for peace, and against one’s innermost temptations.
He said terrorism, meanwhile, was merely the result of violent extremism.
“Jihad can never be equated to acts of injustice, violence and terrorism.
“Terrorist bombings in public places and mass shootings is a failed strategy that rarely achieves the objectives of terrorist groups,” he said in a statement today.
He said acts of terror would only backfire as countries had banded together and formed coalitions to battle with the forces of terror and invalidated ideologies.
Nasharudin said the modus operandi deployed in the recent attacks in Barcelona and other places like Nice, London, Brussels, Berlin and Stockholm bore the hallmarks of the so-called Islamic State.
He said the attacks sought to inflict overwhelming feelings of fear and panic by preying on the vulnerable.
“On behalf of GMM, we decisively condemn the senseless and cynical van attack against civilians in Barcelona, resulting in at least 13 dead and 100 injured thus far.
“We categorically abhor these unscrupulous attacks.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the Barcelona attack, their family members, and we stand in solidarity with the people of Spain.”