NEW YORK - World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder said Monday that his thoughts and prayers were with the members of the Muslim community in New York, after an imam and his assistant were shot dead leaving a Queens mosque over the weekend. President Lauder urged the New York Police Department to swiftly track down the perpetrator of the attack and clearly determine whether the crime was motivated by hate. 
“It is tragic that in a tolerant society like New York, a person might be targeted for attack because of his or her religion,” Lauder said. “I have the utmost faith in the NYPD, and am certain that the New York security authorities are doing everything in their power to apprehend the perpetrator of this horrible attack and determine if it was a hate crime. Regardless, our society as a whole must make every effort to ensure that people of all faiths remain safe and free to live their lives as they choose, without the fear of violence and hatred.”
“On behalf of Jews around the world, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies and solidarity to the Muslim community and pray that this was an isolated incident that will never be repeated,” Lauder said.
Imam Maulama Akonjee and his assistant Thara Uddin were shot at close range on Saturday when they left their mosque, which serves the Bangladeshi community in Queens, New York. Both were wearing traditional Muslim clothing.
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