“….Life is utterly sacred in all Faiths, and in Islam it has a special sanctity that outweighs the holiness of all sacred spaces, so much so that for the Ka’bah to crumble into dust is less a concern than that for one drop of innocent blood to be spilled! I am saddened by the senseless loss of life around the world, each soul is special, every life is important…” an excerpt from Mohamad Jebara’s message.
Editor’s note: Messages of condolences have been pouring in from all over the world for the Ismaili community and His Highness the Aga Khan for the precious lives that were lost in Karachi on May 13, 2015, resulting from a gun attack on an Ismaili bus.
A selection of messages from Muslim organizations in Canada is produced below. Please also see our previous post, Leaders and Communities Extend Condolences to His Highness the Aga Khan and His Ismaili Followers as Mass Funeral is Held in Karachi for Terror Victims.
At the bottom of this page we have published a list of individuals who passed away in the tragic attack. As we have noted, we will update the list with more details as friends and relatives of the victims review the list and send us updates by submitting their feedback at Leave a comment or writing to simerg@aol.com, subject: Deceased details.
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Candle Light Vigil in Toronto on Saturday May 16th
to Commemorate Karachi Tragedy
Toronto 13th May 2015: The Pakistani-Canadian community of Toronto is holding a vigil at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, 16th May 2015 at the Consulate (7880 Keele Street, Unit #14, Vaughan, ON). The event is open to all communities and is being held to commemorate the victims of the Karachi attack in which 44 innocent Pakistanis lost their lives.
All Canadians are invited to join the vigil to express their solidarity with the Pakistani nation in this hour of grief.
________________
Statement from The Muslim Coordinating Council of the National Capital Region (MCC-NCR), mccncr.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, Ontario (May 14, 2015) – The Muslim Coordinating Council of the National Capital Region (MCC-NCR) express our shock and grief at the massacre of at least 45 of our Ismaili Shia brothers and sisters in Karachi, Pakistan on May 13, 2015. We condemn this heinous crime in the strongest terms and offer heart felt condolences to Ismaili Muslims in Ottawa, and all over the world.
We note with dismay that the killing of Ismaili Shia Muslims is a part of a continuing pattern of persecution and harassment of religious minorities by extremist groups, that has included attacks on mosques, killing of doctors and teachers in Karachi, and attacks resulting in death and injury of a large number of men, women, and children of the Hazara community in the province of Baluchistan. The MCC-NCR calls upon the Government of Pakistan to take effective measures for the prevention of attacks on religious minorities in Pakistan.
President, Anwar ul Haq, Ottawa,
Tel: 613-863-9441
Email: anwarjee@gmail.comSpokesperson: Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan,
Tel: 613-820-1064,
Email: mohammedazharalikhan9@gmail.comMedia Committee, Tariq Ahsan
Tel: 613-830-3106
Email: tariq.527@gmail.comMCC-NCR represents Canadian Muslims of the National Capital Region of Ottawa and Gatineau and engages with fellow Canadian citizens of all of all faiths to promote human rights, equality, and justice for all Canadians.
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Statement from the Ottawa Shia Islamic Association
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
OSHIA.CA (613) 853-7881
Info@oshia.caOttawa: May 13, 2015. We are shocked by the senseless act of violence against members of the Ismaili Shia community today in Karachi which resulted in the killing of more than forty men and women and scores of the others injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of those killed and injured in the attack.
The barbaric attack on the bus carrying people to their places of work in Karachi once again highlights the danger the Muslim minorities and the people of other faiths face in Pakistan and the government of Pakistan’s inability to protect its citizens from the Wahhabi/Salafi militant groups.
We take serious note of this morning’s heinous act of violence in Karachi. We hope that Government of Pakistan will soon apprehend the perpetrators of these contemptible acts and bring them to justice.
Jaffar Hashmi
President________________
Statement from the Cordova Spiritual Education Center
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10:51 AM
Official StatementLife is utterly sacred in all Faiths, and in Islam it has a special sanctity that outweighs the holiness of all sacred spaces, so much so that for the Ka’bah to crumble into dust is less a concern than that for one drop of innocent blood to be spilled! I am saddened by the senseless loss of life around the world, each soul is special, every life is important.
My heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of our Ismaili brethren senselessly killed in Karachi yesterday. My condolences to His Highness Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan and the Ismaili Jamaat around the world.
During times of tribulation, when dark forces aim to divide us, we must work even hard to set aside our differences and unite for the common good of all people. Neither faith nor rational logic can justify such heinous acts of violence and destruction.
In deep Respect,
Mohamad Jebara
Chief Imam, Resident Scholar
Cordova Spiritual Education Center
Office: 1-855-567-3223 Ext. 804
http://www.cordovacenter.org/
email: imam@cordovacenter.org________________
Statement from the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and Muslims Against Terrorism
Date: May 13, 2015
For Immediate Release
Calgary: The Islamic Supreme Council of Canada (ISCC) and the Muslims Against Terrorism (MAT) strongly condemn today’s massacre of Ismaili Muslims in Karachi, Pakistan. According to the media reports the attacks on a bus carrying Ismaili Muslims was carried out by the ISIS and Taliban recruits.
Once again today’s attacks on peaceful innocent people prove that the terrorism is on the rise and the strategy to control terrorism is failing. The worldwide governments must change their approach towards terrorism. Terrorism and extremism can only be eliminated by eliminating the ideology that creates terrorists and extremists. And clearly identify the people behind it.
Those who commit extremist and terrorist actions in the name of Islam are in fact the followers of Wahabi ideology which is being spread among Muslims by the Saudi funded and trained Imams and leaders under the patronage of the western countries especially the United States. The current level of sectarianism among Muslims never existed in the history of Muslims. The source of such hateful and violent sectarianism is the Wahabi interpretation of Islam with which Sunni Muslims strongly disagree.
“I am extremely disappointed by the CBC and the other media outlets for their ill-informed reporting of today’s tragedy in Pakistan”, Imam Soharwardy said in a statement today. “We have repeatedly informed the CBC and other Canadian media outlets that these terrorists must not be called “SUNNI MUSLIMS”. They are WAHABIS. We, the Sunni and Shia Muslims are the victims of Wahabi terrorism but media keep on misinforming and misrepresenting Sunni Muslims”. ISCC and MAT is consulting with legal experts on how to take legal action against some of the media outlets which are deliberately associating and identifying the Wahabi terrorists as Sunni Muslims. This is far from the truth. All Sunni Muslims condemn the massacre of innocent people regardless of their groups/sects or religious affiliations.
Once again our sympathies and condolences are with the Ismaili community. We pray for the victims and express our full support with their families and the community.
For any questions please contact:
Imam Syed Soharwardy
416-994-5467.____________
List of Deceased
(incomplete)The following list of individuals within the jurisdiction of Sachal Police Station who died in Karachi’s gun attack on May 13th has been released by the Sindh government, and was published in the Dawn newspaper. Simerg will try and obtain the complete names and ages of the deceased, and update the information.
List of female victims (list may be incomplete, and exact ages and names as well as any relationship to other victims will be updated by Simerg shortly):
- Shireen Faqdar;
- Zahida Syed;
- Arifa Ameer Ali;
- Aneela Zulfiqar;
- Yasmin Nazar Ali;
- Shamim Shaukat;
- Saiedh Peer Mohammad;
- Wali Qasim;
- Zubaida Akbar;
- Shamim Ameer Ali;
- Zubaida Nazar Ali;
- Ameena Nazar;
- Neelam Rizwan;
- Asmeera Saleem;
- Sonia Ranish;
- Areesha Zulfiqar; and
- Laila Sultan.
According to Dawn newspaper, all the ladies listed above were stated to be between the ages of 20 to 50 years.
List of male victims (list is incomplete, and exact ages and names as well as any relationship to other victims will be updated by Simerg shortly):
- Nazar Ali;
- Noor Mohammad Kadiwal;
- Sayed Nazar Manpura;
- Jawaid Dilawa Manpura;
- Liaquat Noorji Ladjipura;
- Nazar Miyaji Sunesra;
- Rajab Ali Kuwara;
- Rizwan Raheem Badarpura;
- Raheem Mianji Sherwa;
- NoorAli Bhai;
- Abdul Wale;
- Ramzan Wali; and
- Sultan Qasim Varsilla.
As a note of interest it was announced yesterday at the Ottawa Jamatkhana that family members and friends residing in Ottawa will be performing the ceremony of “samar” (remembrance and prayers for the deceased souls) in the Ottawa Jamatkhana on Sunday, May 17, 2015. Also, a special 7 day tasbih at Jamatkhanas in Canada (and abroad) has been instituted to pray for the restoration of peace in various parts of the world where there is conflict and unrest. As part of this website, we offer an obituaries and tributes page to family members who wish to pay their respects and tributes for their deceased family members. Please visit Passings.
Date posted: Saturday, May 16, 2015 (10:05).
Date updated: May 16, (13:25).
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We invite our readers to record their messages of grief and sympathy by clicking Leave a comment
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 
I am most saddened by this cruel carnage of members of the Ismaili community. Among my many treasured friend are a number of Ismailis, and this cruel senseless act is hurtful. My prayers for the dear departed and for strength for their families and friend at this their darkest hour. YAM.
Kersi Rustomji.
Australia.
Simerg and its editor Malik,
This is an inclusive piece, showcasing the grassroots and leadership of multiple countries, organizations on this earth..all with better understanding of the powers of what denigrates societies and what uplifts them. You have a tremendous piece here and I thank you. Really, your passion and broad interests and enthusiasm is exemplary. Well done and keep it up.
My Heartfelt, Sincere, and Warm, Condolences, to our brothers, and sisters, and the respective families, in our community who were killed in the bus ride. May Almighty Allah, give the families, the strength, and courage, to bear this very painful loss, and we pray, that their Souls may rest in eternal peace in the world beyond.
It is indeed, a heart rendering tragedy, that our Ismaili brotherin who are peace loving individuals, who never, get involved in acts of terrorism, or warfare, have to face, this act of “barbarian terrorism”, is something, which is very difficult, to take especially, for the families, of the ismailis, who were killed, and the Ismaili Community, at large, who are very united, and strong, under the leadership, of our beloved leader, The Imam Prince Karim Aga Khan.
May God’s showered, and choicest, blessings, be with the Ismailis, who were killed, and, the respective families, and we pray, that their Souls, may rest, in eternal peace and happiness, in the world beyond.
May the Souls attain JANNATHUL FIRDHOUSE.
Warm Regards and Jazak Allah Keher.
AMYN CHATOOR – Sri LANKA.
Dear Malik,
The tragedy in Karachi shows the revulsion of the community at large to senseless violence. We are all vulnerable, and have to work together towards a more peaceful world. This is a matter of individual responsibility, not to just be bystanders and watch the world go by! Thank you for the admirable service you are providing in showing what we have in common is more important than our differences…We are all part of the one BIG SOUL.
Sincerely,
Farouk BKS Verjee
A Muslim that kills another Muslim because of the path he follows is not worthy of being called a Muslim!!!
More and more messages coming in via grace of Malik, our priceless editor of http://www.simerg.com – a must serf blog and website on wordpress. I’ve already sent the first message to my facebook friends on my Timeline and facebook Group ‘Sunni & Shia United against the Bidah of Salafism’. I have to send it to yet more contacts of individuals. Thank you Malik, the world should know that Ismailis are never for terrorism, breach of peace, tolerance and are guided by their hereditary Imam from the Holy Prophet’s ‘nass’ line in the manifest Rope of Imamat.
Reblogged this on Zarina's Weblog and commented:
This was an un-called-for act of terrorism on peace-loving Ismailis of Karachi whose Imam is H H Prince Aga Khan IV their 49th hereditary Imam from the Holy Prophet.