Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has condemned the terrorist attack in Manhattan on Tuesday that killed eight and injured 11.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened by the atrocious terrorist attack in Manhattan which resulted in the deaths of eight innocent civilians and left 11 others injured. I strongly condemn this despicable and senseless act of violence,” Gülen said in a statement.
“Every single act of terrorism is a blow to humanity everywhere. This attack was not only against New Yorkers and Americans but against universal human values that we all share. I reiterate my categorical condemnation of all forms of terror and violence, which cannot be justified under any circumstance,” Gülen added.
“I send my sincere condolences to the victims’ families, loved ones and to all people who call New York home. I pray for the quick recovery of the injured and pray to God the Most Compassionate to lead all humanity to a world of peace and tranquility.”
Gülen is an Islamic scholar, preacher and social advocate whose decades-long commitment to education, interfaith dialogue and altruism has inspired millions in Turkey and around the world. Gülen is the honorary chairman of the Rumi Forum in Washington, D.C., and the Intercultural Dialogue Platform in Brussels.
Twenty-nine-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who moved to the US legally from Uzbekistan in 2010, drove a rental truck into a pedestrian and bike path along the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring 11. It was the deadliest terror attack on the city since 9/11.