'Terrorism Knows No Religion': RI Muslim Community In Mourning

KINGSTON, R.I. -- As Muslims around the globe reel from a terrorist attack on a New Zealand mosque that killed at least 49 people and injured 20 more, the Rhode Island community is coming together to process their grief.

"It's a big shock, such a huge loss of life," said Dr. Nasser Zawai, a leader of the Muslim community across the state and professor at the University of Rhode Island. "Our community resembles theirs. Like New Zealand, Rhode Island is considered to be one of the most peaceful places on earth. We are all shocked and concerned that something so awful could happen there."

Two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch were attacked on Friday, the traditional holy day of prayer in the Muslim religion.

"Friday to us is what Sundays are to Christians," Zawai said. "It's our day to come together as a community and worship together during Friday prayers."

Weekly prayer services generally bring over one hundred students, faculty and community members to Kingston's center.

Across New Zealand, officials are urging Muslims to not attend Friday prayers for fear of another attack. Here in Rhode Island, services will be held as usual at URI's Muslim Community Center and at mosques across the state. Zawai said university police reached out Friday morning and will be present as an extra precaution. As of Friday afternoon, Zawai said he had not heard of any threats against Rhode Island mosques.

"We live in a great state, we have always been supported by the university and the community," Zawai said, adding that police will likely be present at prayers services around the state on Friday.

Despite this support, the biggest concern of the local Muslim community is attacks from fringe extremists.

"We need to call them terrorists, because that's what they are," Zawai said. "Terrorists aren't just members of ISIS. They're nationalists, extremists. Terrorism knows no religion."

While no threats were made following Friday's attack, Zawai said he remains concerned about an increase in hate crimes as the 2020 election year approaches.

"Historically, that's when you see a large increase in these kinds of attacks, and not just against Muslims. We need to stand up to people who promote bigotry and hatred," Zawai said. "People think they can only win by dividing us."