A third of the people killed in the Nice terrorist attack were Muslims, according to a spokesperson for an Islamic association local to the area.
Kawthar Ben Salem from the Union of Muslims of the Alpes-Maritimes has said that at least 30 of the 84 men, women and children killed will be given Muslim funerals, and hopes people will realise these attacks affect us all:
“We hope that this sends a global message that the barbarity touches the whole world and that the people here, the victims, are not those who commit the crimes in Syria and Iraq.”
In addition to the 84 deaths, 308 people were injured after Tunisian man Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel intentionally drove a truck into crowds after a fireworks display on Bastille Day.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, but French authorities are yet to find any evidence of a connection between Lahouaiej Bouhlel and the group.
The attack has provoked some anti-Muslim sentiment in Australia, notably from Sonia Kruger and (no surprise) Pauline Hanson. As much as these people like to frame this as a war between Muslims and the rest of the world, it’s really not the case.
Source: NY Times.
Photo: Getty Images / Carl Court.
