To the Editor:

The Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley condemns the terror attack in Nice, France, that killed at least 80 people and also condemns the suggestion from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who called for testing everyone of a Muslim background in the U.S. for Sharia belief.

We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims. We wish for a speedy recovery to those injured.

We pray and hope that the perpetrators of this crime will be identified and brought to justice. We stand firmly by the people of France as it confronts this threat and stress the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism regardless of what ideology it tries to associate itself with.

We also call upon the leaders to condemn the comments made by Newt Gingrich: “We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background, and if they believe in Sharia, they should be deported.”

This kind of rhetoric goes against what this country stands for.

Kamran Siddiqui

President

Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley