Allentown, PA, 14 December 2012 – Turkish-Muslim scholar Fethullah Gulen expressed his deep sorrow caused by the tragic shooting incident, which took lives of 26 civilians, mostly children, at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic shooting incident at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. It took the lives of 26 innocent individuals; mostly children who were only at the beginning of their precious lives, and also the teachers who had dedicated themselves to nurturing and educating their students. I wish to express my deepest and heart-felt condolences to all the aggrieved families and loved ones, as well as to the American people.
This deplorable act of violence, like its precedents that happened over the past several years, starkly raises the question of what turns a troubled person into a monster that pours death onto other fellow human beings.
I hope that the visionary leaders and caring parents will strive to find the strength to illuminate both hearts and minds of their sons and daughters with the love, respect and compassion for others, and do whatever is in their power to help prevent the reoccurrence of such tragedies.
Once again, I deplore this tragic incident, and pray that it happens never again.”
Dr. Alp Aslandogan
President
Alliance for Shared Values
