“I am deeply saddened by the tragic bomb attack at the Boston Marathon that cost the lives of innocent people and injured many more. I express my absolute condemnation of this senseless act of violence that accomplished nothing more than the infliction of unbearable pain on innocent people. I send my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased and my prayers for a speedy recovery of the injured.
On this sad occasion, I reiterate my condemnation of all forms of terror, which can never be justified by its perpetrators or their stated purposes. I hope that the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice and steps will be taken to prevent such horrific acts in the future. In difficult times such as this, I believe we must reaffirm our shared values of peaceful dialogue and mutual respect.”
Fethullah Gulen is an Islamic scholar, preacher and social advocate, whose decades-long commitment to interfaith tolerance and altruism has inspired millions in Turkey and around the world. Described as one of the world’s most important Muslim figures, Gulen has reinterpreted aspects of Islamic tradition to meet the needs of contemporary Muslims. He has dedicated his life to interfaith and intercultural dialogue, community service and providing access to education. He was the first influential Muslim public figure to publicly condemn the 9/11 attacks and express sympathy for the American people.
The Alliance for Shared Values is a non-profit organization serving as a centralized platform for
collaboration and a unifying voice for cultural, civic, and service organizations associated with the Hizmet social movement in the United States.