Muslims offer condolences for victims of Oregon attack

CAIRO – 29 May 2017: Hundreds of people, mainly from the Muslim community in Portland, Oregon, showed sympathy on social media for the families of two men who were killed while defending a Muslim teenager and her friend from harassment on a train.

The assailant, identified by police as Jeremy Joseph Christian, was ranting racist and extremist chants before he stabbed three young men as they tried to stop him from harassing two young women on Saturday.

The victims are Ricky John Best who died at the scene and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche died at a hospital. The third man, Micah David-Cole Fletcher remained in a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The bravery of the young Americans attracted the support of many people on social media who showered the Facebook accounts of the victims’ relatives with love and condolences.

“My heart feels empty from the loss of my big brother, but also from the cruel awakening that hate and judgment can cause someone to do such a thing. I am so proud to be able to call someone so brave and strong my big brother. You have always and will always be my hero, Tilly,” said Taliesin’s sister on Facebook Saturday.

Touching and heart-warming comments came from people of different nationalities.
“Your brother is a true hero, I can’t even say how much not only Muslims but all of humanity owes him so much,” said Hind Mahmoud from Seattle, Washington.
“Salute to a brave man who stood up for what was right and gave his life for better cause,” said Mohammed Shakil Sharif, Pakistan.

“I pray that God grant you some comfort in knowing that he is in a much better place. A place with no hate and no violence,” said Samar Kay, Wisconsin.

More tributes have been paid to the men by the city's mayor, as well as Oregon governor Kate Brown and former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who described their deaths as "heartbreaking."

The attack came in the first day of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, marking another chapter in the circle of violence against Muslims in the world.