SHAFAQNA – The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the Orlando nightclub mass shooting that left at least 50 people dead and 53 others injured on Sunday, calling it a hate crime.
The gunman, identified by US media as an alleged Daesh sympathizer named Omar Mateen, a US citizen of Afghan descent from Port St. Lucie, Florida, took hostages at the club and barricaded himself in the complex but was later killed by specially trained SWAT units.
Daesh later on claimed responsibility for the attack, according to media outlets affiliated with the terror group.
“Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with the victims and their families… This is a hate crime, plain and simple. We condemn it in the strongest possible terms. It violates our principles as Americans and as Muslims,” Nihad Awad, CAIR’s National Executive Director, said on Sunday.
“We will not give into hate. We will not give into fear,” he added.
Awad insisted that Daesh is an outlawed group which doesn’t represent Muslims.
“You do not speak for us. You do not represent us. You are an aberration, you are an outlaw … they don’t speak for our faith. They never belonged to this beautiful faith,” he said.
He called for unity among all Americans and warned politicians against exploiting the tragedy to score points.
“And to those politicians who may try to exploit this tragedy, we ask them to respect the victims and their families. This is not the time to score points. This is not the time to exploit fear. This is the time for unity and faith,” he said.
The remarks come after presumptive Republican presidential nominee used the attack to push ahead with his anti-Muslim rhetoric. Donald Trump said the shooting further proved his xenophobia campaign.
“Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic [sic] terrorism,” he said. “I don’t want congrats, I want toughness and vigilance. We must be smart!”
Trump called to bar all Muslims from entering the United States while campaigning in primary season.
Earlier, US President Barack Obama denounced the Orlando shooting as an act of terror and hatred, and ordered the American flag lowered to half mast to honor the victims.
“Today as Americans we grieve the brutal murder, a horrific massacre of dozens of innocent people,” Obama said during a White House address to the nation.
“Although it is early in the investigation, we know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate,” he added.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it is investigating both domestic and international connections to the mass shooting.
The suspect allegedly called 911 moments before the attack, pledging allegiance to the terror group, the Lost Angeles Times reported, citing a federal law enforcement official.
Trump: Obama should step down over Orlando attack
On Sunday afternoon, Trump issued a more strongly-worded statement, attacking President Obama for refusing to attribute the Orlando shooting to “radical Islam”.
“In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words ‘radical Islam’. For that reason alone, he should step down,” he said.
“If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot say the two words ‘radical Islam’ she should get out of this race for the presidency,” he declared.
“If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country anymore,” Trump warned.