Iran has condemned a deadly attack on a mosque in South Africa, calling on the international community to step up their efforts to curb extremism and terrorism. Attackers entered a mosque in Verulam—a town on the outskirts of Durban—after midday prayers on Thursday, killed one man by slitting his throat, critically injured two other worshippers and set the place on fire before fleeing, AP reported.
"The move was in line with efforts to cause insecurity and incite religious conflict and sedition," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in a statement carried by ISNA on Friday. He underlined the need for all nations to maintain their vigilance and "seriously" commit to fighting fanaticism.
Underlying Motive
No one has been arrested yet over the incident, and authorities have said "extremism" is suspected as a possible motive. Qasemi called for an investigation to identify the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice. The attack came shortly ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins May 16.
Africa's most industrialized country is racked by violent crime and social strife rooted in poverty and glaring income disparities but is seldom associated with militants advocating a radical interpretation of Islam seen in other parts of the continent. The incident appeared to be unprecedented in South Africa, where about 1.5% of the 55 million population is Muslim, according to Guardian. The country prides itself on religious acceptance.
