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French religions call for unity to defeat so-called Islamic State

PARIS, July 27 (KUNA) -- A day after the murder of a Catholic priest by two terrorists claiming to be "soldiers" of so-called Islamic State (IS), France's major religions met Wednesday with President Francois Hollande to discuss the aftermath of the brutal execution and the religious leaders were unanimous calling for national unity after the tragedy.
Leaving the meeting with Hollande, where ongoing security at religious sites was a major issue, prominent Muslim leader and Rector of the Paris Mosque, Dahlil Bubaker, spoke out strongly against IS and what he said was clearly "a criminal assassination" of a Christian cleric in a locality south of Rouen, Normandy, on Tuesday.
He expressed "deep sorrow" to the Catholic community at the loss of the priest and he said this murder was "contrary to all teachings in Islam." He said that the attack against a priest and a place of prayer was "blasphemy and sacrilegious (and) forbidden by the Holy Koran." He urged all Muslims to become aware of the dangers represented by IS and to reject the teachings of this terrorist group.
The murder of Jacques Hamel, aged 85, who was executed by having his throat cut during a service, is "an act outside of Islam, which is rejected formally by all Muslims in France," Boubaker said in a statement after the Hollande meeting.
"It is time for Muslims in France to become conscious of what is wrong" with the "Daesh" terror organisation, he added.
Other officials from the French Council for the Muslim Religion (CFCM) said that the terror group would be defeated and called for unity among all to do so.
In a joint statement issued on behalf of France's religions, the call for unity was echoed by those attending the early meeting.
"Unity is the condition for victory over Daesh (IS)," the statement added, noting IS "is playing with our democracy" and is seeking to set one community here against the other.
"The singular responsibility of religions is towards self-control and unity," it was indicated by the leaders.
"The challenge will be a long one," they remarked.
A special message was also delivered to French Muslims, who number around five million here in France, where Islam is the second most-important religion.
"They are French (and) they are afraid like everyone else (of terrorism)." Catholic leader Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois warned against retaliation or reactions after the crime in Rouen.
"We can't be dragged into the political game of Daesh which consists of setting one against the other," he said. (End).
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