Global Imams Council Condemns Hamas

A Courageous Voice From the Middle East

In case anyone missed it, the Global Imams Council on September 1 issued an extraordinary, clear-headed denunciation of the murder of six hostages held by Hamas, “condemning in the strongest possible terms the barbaric actions of Hamas, in the brutal execution of six innocent hostages, in a tunnel in the Gaza city of Rafah.”

The Council, of course, was referring to the sickening news over the weekend of the execution-style killing of six of the estimated 60 hostages held by Hamas over the last eleven months: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Carmel Gat, 39, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarusi, 26, Alex Lobanov, 32, and Ori Danino, 25.  Hamas is thought to hold about 30 other dead hostage bodies that stemmed from its October 7 massacre.

The Imam Council is an extraordinary organization that continues to exist in the terrorist-gripped Middle East. They represent 1,400 moderate Imams around the world who are repulsed by the current glorification of the murder of innocent civilians by Hamas – glorification that’s embraced by many radical pro-Palestinian protesters in the United States.

In their statement, they said emphatically and unequivocally: “We are deeply saddened and outraged by these heinous murders, which violate all principles of humanity, religious teachings, and international law.”

The Council is well-aware of the brutality of radical Islamic Jihad groups.  The Iraqi-founded Imams group witnessed, first-hand this type of barbarity when ISIS began to massacre their fellow Iraqi Muslims who didn’t accept a fanatical version of Islam.

As the Council explains on its website: “In the wake of the tragic events of 2014 and the occupation of Iraqi cities by ISIS terrorists, the Iraqi government invited peace-loving and patriotic Imams to combat the spread of ISIS’s ideological terrorism and Islamist propaganda, and to encourage the many brave, civilian Iraqi men and women who took it upon themselves to liberate their cities from terrorism.”

Thus, given the Council’s first-hand experience with terrifying Islamic extremism, their condemnation takes on even more weight as it further stated, “The targeting and brutalization of defenseless civilians who are held against their will represent a gross violation of the sacred laws of conflict in major faith traditions, including Islam, as well as international humanitarian laws, including the Geneva Conventions, which are designed to protect civilians during times of war.”

Courageously, they hold Hamas, not Israel, responsible for the deaths of all innocents, including Palestinian civilians who continue to die as human shields for the terrorists: “We hold Hamas directly responsible for the deaths and suffering of all innocent lives lost since October 7, as their actions have not only brought death and destruction upon the region but have also led to immense suffering for the Palestinian people. Hamas’s reckless and inhumane tactics, using civilians as shields and exploiting their plight, have only escalated the cycle of violence and undermined the cause of justice and peace.”

The Council also pointed a big finger at Tehran: “Moreover, we recognize that the regime in Iran shares equal responsibility for these tragedies, as its continued support and endorsement of Hamas’s actions perpetuate violence and instability in the region,” they concluded.

These are many messages which apparently, the New York Times, the Washington Post and most of the American mainstream media appear incapable of reporting.

Hats off to the Global Imams Council.