Maruf's statement on the attack in Orlando

The Maruf Foundation is deeply shocked and wants to express its condolences on the fifty individuals that died during the Orlando shooting Sunday night. Our first thoughts are with the bereaved and our prayers are with you. Shortly after the tragedy deeply rooted feelings of hate and intolerance were displayed on social media. This included a variety of exclusion and blame. It saddens us to see that the identity of the attacker is already widening the gap between LGBTQI+ and Muslims. The Maruf Foundation tries time after time to close that gap by showing that within the Queer community there are also Muslim members and we will do so again this time. It disappoints to witness that certain individuals speak out their support for the assassin. It shows that our efforts for equality are necessary, the more so it shows that a strong Queer movement is indispensable. 
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Queer Muslims are part of that movement and we will not allow that certain types of phobia will exclude us from grieving over this tragedy. By attributing this act of hate to a religion, you are already excluding a part of the victims. We could be the ones celebrating our liberty that night at Florida Pulse, we could be the ones that lost a friend or a lover to an assassin that was only driven by blind hate. Let us commemorate collectively without excluding anyone, because this act of violence is not only hurting LGBTQI+ people, it is also hurting queers who consider themselves Muslims.