June 5, 2017
By Rachael Revesz and Lizzie Dearden
A group of 130 imams and religious leaders have refused to perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer for the London Bridge attackers.
The leaders said they would not carry out the ritual that is normally performed for every Muslim, regardless of their actions.
In a statement on social media, the group said: “Consequently, and in light of other such ethical principles which are quintessential to Islam, we will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer over the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege.
The statement added: “This is because such indefensible actions are completely at odds with the lofty teachings of Islam.”
Religious leaders of all backgrounds have condemned the attack which killed seven and injured 47 on Saturday evening when three men rammed a rental van into pedestrians then randomly stabbed revellers in bars and restaurants near Borough Market.
A panel of speakers at the East London Mosque said they would work to combat extremists’ “twisted narrative and their perversion” of religion.
”Once again we come together, to stand united against those who try to divide us,” said the chairman of East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre, Muhammad Habibur-Rahman.
“The cold-blooded murder of innocent people in London on Saturday evening will not succeed in driving us apart....
