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Star Tribune – June 28, 2004 Muslim leaders denounce those who are violent By Allie Shah Call it a battle for hearts and minds. A growing number of American Muslim leaders are publicly denouncing the violence committed by religious extremists and are trying to take control of defining their faith. Through news releases, public forums and petitions, Muslim groups in Minnesota and across the country have gone on record condemning the recent beheadings of Americans Nick Berg and Paul M. Johnson Jr. and South Korean Kim Sun-il. "We 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," read a statement by the Twin Cities-based Islamic Resource Group on the day news broke of Johnson's murder. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have signed an online petition condemning terrorist acts since it was posted last month by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim civil rights group in Washington, D.C. The public denunciations are part of a broader effort to show Americans that the masked individuals who spew hateful rhetoric in grisly videotape messages do not represent the majority of the 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide. "A lot of people now are realizing that taking a passive stance is not a good stance," said Hesham Hussein, president of the Muslim American Society's Minnesota chapter. "We have to speak out and we have to let people know who we are and not let others define who we are." His organization has sent letters of condolence to the families of the slain kidnap victims and has called on religious leaders in the mosques to clearly address the issue. "We cannot and must not be silent about this deviant conduct," a statement from the Muslim American Society says. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Muslim leaders have faced criticism that they have not expressed sufficient outrage about violence committed by Islamic radicals, leaving an impression that perhaps some Muslims tacitly support such behavior. Hussein and other Muslim leaders insist that they have made their objections known but that their words often do not reach the masses. "There is a clear outrage and clear speaking out against it. The problem is there is a buffer between us and the general public," he said. "The media chooses which part to show and which part to highlight. Unfortunately, showing a crime is very attractive but showing the response to the crime is not so attractive. We have not been silent."…. http://24hour.startribune.com/login/?goto=http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4849645.html American-Statesman (Texas) – June 26, 2004 The sad truth is that the media are never Aisha Rashid, Austin I've read countless articles and letters asking for moderate American Muslims to speak up and condemn terrorism. We are speaking up, but who is listening? Muslims in America are a minority. That small minority is trying its best through their everyday lives to make sure that an accurate and true picture of Islam is portrayed. The sad truth is that the media are never fair in representing Muslims -- bad news always overshadows the good. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), other Islamic organizations and mosques around the country and world have always condemned the injustice being done in the name of Islam. CAIR has set up an online petition, "Not in the Name of Islam," to separate those acts from true Islam (www.cair-net.org). Instead of the media and others being so critical of our efforts, they should come to our aid. Change does not happen overnight, but make no mistake that Muslims are stepping up to the plate. Barre Times Leader – June 27, 2004 Pennsylvania Islamic group denounces Mamoun M. Bader, Wilkes The Islamic Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania (IANEPA) condemns in the strongest possible terms the barbaric murder of American hostage Paul M. Johnson Jr. in Saudi Arabia on June 18. Such outrageous and despicable behavior can not be justified in the name of Islam, and we continue to categorically reject any assertion by al-Qaida that its terrorism is sanctioned or in any way supported by Islam or the vast majority of Muslims. We have always condemned these acts, but we also feel the majority of our fellow citizens in the area do not know that, hence this message. We hope that we get better at communicating our deep sense of anger and strong resentment of terrorist acts in the name of our faith. IANEPA thanks various media outlets that have made the distinction between Islam and these barbaric acts of terrorism, and for reporting the outrage of the American Muslim community here and all over the country, and indeed that of the majority of Muslims all over the world in response to this terrible event. IANEPA sends its heartfelt and most sincere condolences to Paul M. Johnson's family and friends. (Mamoun M. Bader is the Spokesperson of the IANEPA) http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/8994352.htm Times and Democrat – June 27, 2004 Executions in name of Islam cast dangerous By T&D Staff Writer "Whoseover killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in earth, it shall be as if he had killed all humanity, and whoso saveth the life of one human being, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all humanity." (The Qur'an 5:32) Muslim organizations in the United States are stressing again that killing and terrorism are not part of their faith. As worldwide television audiences watch the beheadings of Americans and other partners of the coalition in Iraq, there is justifiable fear among Muslims here and abroad that perceptions of Islam as a whole are growing more bleak…. The broader point, however, is that "us" means Americans - and Americans include Muslims. The people of this country must continue to resist linking a religion with terrorism. To do so is to give the terrorists yet another victory in recruiting young Muslims for what they say is a battle against a nation bent on destroying the Islamic world. It gives them the religious war they appear to relish. http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2004/06/27/opinion/opinion1.txt Pantagraph – June 26, 2004 Don't blame all Muslims for horrible terrorist acts With the addition of beheadings to the repertoire of groups tied to al-Qaida, the terrorist tactics have taken a sick and despicable turn. However, it remains important not to give in to these terrorist acts. Giving them what they want will just encourage more terrorism, not less. It is also important not to let intensified anger against these radical Islamic groups cause people to think of all Muslims as supporters of such behavior. Judging from comments by some people objecting to construction of a large mosque in a Chicago suburb and from anti-Muslim signs that have popped up elsewhere, such stereotyping is already happening. A common complaint goes along the lines of: "Why don't they condemn the actions of the terrorists instead of just criticizing the United States?" The truth is that Arab nations and Muslim organizations have condemned the recent killings, including the beheading of U.S. contractor Paul Johnson. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in Washington, D.C., has collected more than 600,000 names of Muslims on an online petition that says, "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." Those are sentiments with which anyone -- Muslim or not -- should be able to agree. http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/062604/opi_20040626002.shtml |