Islamic center hosts service for nightclub, church victims

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Dozens of people gathered at the Islamic Center of America in suburban Detroit for an interfaith prayer service in memory of victims of the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Monday evening's service in Dearborn also was for victims of the 2015 Charleston, South Carolina church shootings.

The FBI says the Florida gunman identified himself an Islamic soldier. The Detroit News reports (http://detne.ws/28KnKkE ) faith leaders denounced the killings.

The Rev. Fran Hayes of Littlefield Presbyterian Church said: "We are tired of this. We pray for those beloved brothers and sisters."

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi of Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights says unity means "replacing racism with respect, revenge with reconciliation, injustice with equality, isolation with outreach."

The InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit sponsored the service.

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Information from: The Detroit News, http://detnews.com/

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The Gayly - 6/21/2016 @ 10:50 a.m. CDT