Imam Of Mosques In Germany Distributes Online Uploads Of Hamas Group Attacks

Illustration of the mosque. (Wikimedia Commons/FAIZ DILA)

JAKARTA - A mosque imam in Germany who allegedly responded jokingly to the attack by the Hamas militant group on Israel was suspended, despite apologizing and saying his posts were misunderstood.

Munich's Islamic Center said it was not related to the imam's upload, Mohamed Ibrahim, saying they were shocked and saddened by the October 7 attack.

Ibrahim said his post had been misunderstood. It was made when he did not fully know what happened in Israel, as reported by The National News on November 10.

Ibrahim's upload, which was now deleted on October 7, accompanied by a smiling face emoji: "Everyone has their own way of celebrating October."

In a statement this week, he said, "celebrating October" he meant was a holiday on October 6 in Egypt to commemorate the war with Israel in 1973.

"When he heard the news about the attack on Israel, he posted comments that were meant to be funny or sarcastic," said Ibrahim.

"At that time I did not fully know about the events of October 7 or the consequences," he said.

"I officially apologize because my upload has caused a misunderstanding," he continued.

"I don't mean to mock civilians who are victims of October 7 at all. This cannot be aligned with the values of my Islamic ethics," he said.

The strong reaction to the post was accused of causing the cancellation of interfaith prayer activities for peace in Israel and Gaza that had been planned in Munich on Monday night.

Munich Mayor Total Reiter said the "time was not right" to hold such an event after Jewish representatives withdrew.

Meanwhile, Volker Beck, a former Green Party lawmaker and president of German-Israeli society, accused the priest of mocking the victims of the attack on Israel.

"They are people the Mayor Reiter wants to pray for peace," said Beck.

The Munich MIslamic Center said in an emergency session they decided to dismiss the priest until "the accusations were clarified".

"In any situation, we as a German Muslim community should not allow hatred and violence to move from the Middle East to Jews and Muslims in Germany," he exclaimed.