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Muslims bow down in the direction of Mecca, during a service at a mosque in Itaewon.
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Korean Muslim Imam Lee Hang-rae said during an interview at a mosque in Itaewon, Seoul on Wednesday that, ¡°We Muslims were also shocked and felt heartbroken like everyone else. I am worried that this incident may damage the perception of Islam on the whole. The group that kidnapped and murdered Kim Sun-il is a political group that has nothing to do with Islam. They do not obey Islamic doctrines and are even against Islam. Islam itself is peace. The Koran also forbids murder in a phrase, ¡°Do not take any precious life without proper reasons.¡±
A sense of urgency was felt at the Itaewon mosque Wednesday. Following the news that Iraqi insurgents killed Kim, the mosque has continuously received threatening phone calls. Police said that more than 20 threatening calls were made to the mosque from angry people early Wednesday morning, after the report of Kim¡¯s death. As a result, the police stationed 120 police officers around the Itaewon mosque and a total of 300 police forces around 10 mosques and 30 temporary mosques across the country.
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Korean Muslim Imam Lee Hang-rae
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Mosque workers were busy with answering endless calls and explaining that Islam has nothing to do with the incident. They also hurried to take countermeasures. Right after the news came out at 2:00 a.m., Prof. Son Ju-young, chief director of the Korea Muslim Federation, and Imam Lee Hang-rae reached 10 other Islamic leaders to hold an emergency meeting that lasted more than three hours, starting at 9:00 in the morning.
After the meeting, they made a consolatory statement that prayed for the soul of Kim and offered sincere consolation to Kim¡¯s family. On the behalf of all Muslims in Korea, they also condemned the terrorist action as an act against Islam and humanity.
Imam Lee said, ¡°My heart aches more because I had hoped that Kim would return alive. But once again I want to say I hope this incident does not cause anti-Muslim feelings.¡±
(Kim Han-soo, hansu@chosun.com )
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