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American Muslim, Arab groups denounce AMP Report Sept. 22, 2004 - Arab and Muslim American organizations have condemned the brutal murder of American civil engineers, Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley, in Iraq. Eugene Armstrong, Jack Hensley and their colleague, Kenneth Bigley (a British citizen), were abducted on Sept. 16 from a downtown villa in Baghdad in a chilling expansion of the kidnapping campaign against foreign civilians in Iraq. Eugene Armstrong was murdered on Sept. 20 while Jack Hensley was executed on Sept. 21 by the militant group Tawhid and Jihad in Iraq. The group has threatened to execute Kenneth Bigley. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) expressed its outrage at the brutal beheadings of Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley and extended its condolences to the families of the victims of these crimes. The ADC President, Mary Rose Oakar, said, "These murders perpetuate the radicals’ twisted agenda. “The fact that the extremists invoke the name of God to suit their own purposes is repugnant to people of all faiths and creeds, and represents a gross distortion of religious beliefs,” Oakar said and added “ADC does not condone violence as a means to peace and justice regardless of the identity of the perpetrator.” The American Muslim Council, Executive Director M. Ali Khan, said: "The acts of these terrorists are horrific, barbaric, brutal, and are against all principles of Islam. We unequivocally condemn these brutal slayings and assert that these atrocities are not representative of our religion." "There is absolutely no justification based in the Muslim faith and no cause that can be served by the taking of innocent lives. We call for the immediate release of all hostages being held in Iraq including Mr. Kenneth Bigley of Great Britain." "These terrorists are a scorned minority amongst the tolerant, peace-loving, moderate-minded majority. To the barbarians committing these foul acts in the name of Islam: your actions are in total betrayal of our faith's teachings and you will not commit these murders in the name of all Muslims. We also wish to send our heartfelt condolences to the Armstrong and Hensley families." The American Muslim Voice (AMV) also strongly denounced the murder of American civil engineers in Iraq and called for an immediate release of all hostages currently held in Iraq. In a statement, the AMV Executive Director, Samina Faheem Sundas said: “We denounce this latest act of beheading and repudiate all those who perpetrated this crime. We also call for an immediate release of all hostages currently held in Iraq, irrespective of their nationality or faith. “While offering our sincere condolences to the bereaved families, we affirm that killing of innocent people does not serve any cause. Violence is never an acceptable tool in fulfilling political goals. Instead, it represents a morally bankrupt approach to obtaining power. “Islam is against the killing of innocent people as Quran says: "If anyone slays a human being, it shall be as though he had slain all mankind" (5:32). We believe this beheading was a barbaric act that is against humanity and against Islam.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also condemned the executions and called for the immediate release of all hostages currently held in that country, including another American and a Briton. (More than 130 foreigners have been kidnapped recently in Iraq.) In its statement CAIR said: "We condemn this latest act of murder in Iraq and repudiate those who would commit such atrocities. We also call for the immediate release of all hostages currently held in Iraq, whatever their nation of origin or faith." "As American Muslims and people of conscience, we unequivocally reject the claim that any cause could possibly be advanced by the killing of civilians.” CAIR recently launched an online petition drive, called "Not in the Name of Islam," designed to disassociate Islam from the violent acts of a few Muslims. The "Not in the Name of Islam" petition states: "We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him." The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) condemned in the strongest possible terms the barbaric executions of Eugene Armstrong, a resident of Hillsdale, Michigan, and Jack Hensley, a resident of Marietta, Georgia by the militant group Tawhid and Jihad in Iraq. An MPAC said that it is also deeply disturbed by the threats made against Kenneth Bigley. The MPAC statement said: “Islam considers the use of violence to achieve political purposes to be unacceptable, as well as a complete violation of Qur'anic principles, which deem such behavior a major sin. Islamic law protects the freedom and dignity of all members of society, and has strong statements regarding the protection of non-Muslims: "And if any of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God seeks thy protection, grant him protection; and thereupon convey him to a place where he can feel secure" (9:6). |