Muslim Association slams 'thugs and terrorists' behind Paris attacks

The president of the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador says he was shocked to learn aboutattacks in France on Friday night.

• Paris attacks shock, horrifySt-Pierre-Miquelonresidents
• Vigil for Paris andBeirut held in St. John's

"I turned on the TV to see the local news, and I saw this horrible picture, and I was actually in shock you know, that something like this was unfolding,"SyedPirzada said.

"I felt so sad, and actually I feel that I have this feeling, it's like you feel completely paralyzed."

He saidthethe actions of the Muslim-identifying perpetrators in Paris have nothing to do with Islam.

"These are totally misguided, and completely unaware of the teachings of Islam," he said.

"They are basically a bunch of, I would say, thugs and terrorists, who have their own ulterior motives."

Pirzada is afraid that ISIS's actions will have the effect of further dividing people around the world.

"They are just trying to create a wedge between all the religions so that we can be far apart from each other," he said.

"I think that is the most dangerous thing if we fall victim to that."

Not afraid of anti-Muslim backlash

Over the weekend, a mosque in Peterborough, Ontario was set on fire. Investigators are viewing the incident as a hate crime.

• Peterborough mosque arson is suspected hate crime

But Pirzada saidhe isn't afraid of seeing anti-Muslim sentiment in St. John's in the wake of the Paris attacks.

"I have no qualms in saying that this is the best part in North America," he said.

"I don't see any reason of having any fear, or any concerns, or anything like that."

Pirzada's hopeisthat the events in Paris bring people together instead of further apart.

"Rather than fanning the fire, we need to marginalize them, we need to understand that we need to be united to fight this together," he said.