The Islamic Society of Akron and Kent spoke on Wednesday about the New York City attack suspect who used to attend the mosque when he lived in Northeast Ohio.
Sayfullo Saipov, 29, drove a Home Depot rental truck through a crowded bicycle path in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people.
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Saipov lived in Cuyahoga Falls in 2015 and attended the local mosque at the time.
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According to mosque leaders, two things are very clear: Saipov was not a memorable member of the mosque's community and the mosque condemns acts of terrorism.
Saipov probably attended daily prayers, but he was not a registered member, the board members said on Wednesday. None of them could specifically remember Saipov attending the mosque.
The mosque leaders also made it very clear that they condemn all acts of terrorism, no matter the perpetrator's religion or background.
"Anytime there is a terrorist action anywhere, the first prayer we have is 'oh God, let it not be a Muslim,'" board member Dr. Ihsan Ul Hasque said.
Hasque also said that he doesn't want to have to repeatedly condemn terrorism.
"That's where we come from. We don't want to be it, we don't want to do it, we're not it," Hasque said. "We are Americans. We are freedom loving people like anybody else. We don't look forward to these."
