Al-Azhar Al-Sharif expresses its deepest sorrow and strongest condemnation of the heinous mass shooting that occurred today at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, during a Hanukkah celebration attended by families and community members. According to official reports, the attack resulted in the loss of 15 lives and left at least 42 others injured, including civilians and two police officers. Authorities have described the attack as a terrorist anti-Semitic attack.
Al-Azhar also praises the Muslim unarmed civilian who intervened to stop one of the shooters, tackling and disarming him and thereby helping prevent further loss of lives. This brave act of courage and self-sacrifice reflects the best of our shared humanity and the power of individuals to counter hatred with compassion.
Al-Azhar asserts that killing civilians of any religious or ethnic background is prohibited, as Allah states in the Qur'an: "That is why We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity". The Prophet (PBUH) once stood for a passing funeral. When he was asked it is for a Jew, he replied: "Isn't he a (human) soul?!"