The brutal killing of George Floyd, a man of color and an ordinary citizen in Minneapolis, was horrific. This was a total violation of the norms of any civil society, let alone that of the United States, which prides itself on leading the world in protecting civil rights. 

Masjid-e-Ali (a) / MFI strongly denounces the unjust killing of Mr. Floyd. It is our duty as followers of Imam Husayn (a) to speak out against injustice in any form. The Almighty has stated in the Holy Qur’an that “Whoever kills an innocent life it is as if he has killed all of humanity.” (Surat Al-Ma’idah 5:32)

Police officers are meant to protect and serve all citizens of our country with respect and understanding, regardless of creed or color; Mr. Floyd was unfortunately denied that and his right to due process by certain police officers who did not embody true American values.

Earlier this year in Georgia, another black man was followed and shot dead by two white men while out on a jog, and these two perpetrators were not arrested until a video surfaced, which raises concerns about the persistence of injustice despite the presence of enforcers of the law. This, along with countless incidents in the past, demonstrate the repeated violations of civil rights, and the senseless loss of life of our African American brothers and sisters. 

We strongly condemn these actions, and ask for a thorough investigation in the death of Mr. Floyd, and all of those involved in his death must be held accountable. We urge the authorities to ensure that justice is served for Mr. Floyd, his family, and the community at large.