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American Muslim, Arab groups condemn AMP Report June 18, 2004 - American Muslim and Arab organizations today vehemently condemned the barbaric murder of American hostage, Paul M. Johnson Jr., in Saudi Arabia who had been held since last week by kidnappers linked to Al-Qaeda. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula announced through a website today that they had beheaded Paul M. Johnson Jr., carrying through on a threat to execute the Lockheed Martin Corp. employee after Saudi officials refused to release jailed terrorism suspects. Saudi authorities later reported finding the body. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) condemned in the strongest terms the murder of American contractor Paul Johnson, Jr. by extremists in Saudi Arabia. ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, “Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Johnson’s family. We want them to know that we, and all Americans, share their grief and their anger at this appalling and cruel crime.” Former congresswoman Oakar added, “This is completely inexcusable and will shock the consciences of people the world over. Such brutal actions do not reflect the tenants of any faith nor can they serve any legitimate political goal. We urge the Saudi and American authorities to spare no effort in bringing the criminals to justice.” The American Muslim Council condemned the execution of American civilian Paul Johnson, Jr., and expressed its deepest sympathy and sorrow to his family members and loved ones. "There is absolutely no justification or excuse for this kind of cruelty - not even the extremism and inhumanity that comes from war," stated AMC Executive Director, Ali Khan, who noted that AMC had appealed to the captors to spare Mr. Johnson's life. The American Muslim Voice Executive Director, Samina Faheem Sundas, while strongly denouncing the murder of Paul Johnson, said: “ We condemn this act of senseless violence that does not serve the cause of Islam or Muslims. “Such irresponsible behavior cannot 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 anyway supported by Islam or the vast majority of Muslims,” she added. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today condemned the murder of American civilian Paul Johnson Jr. in Saudi Arabia. In its statement, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said: “We condemn this act of senseless violence and repudiate all those who believe such murderous behavior benefits the faith of Islam or the Muslim people. We call for the swift apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators.” 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. Individuals and organizations representing more than 600,000 Muslims worldwide have already signed the CAIR petition. The “”Not in the Name of Islampetition 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 Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), an umbrella organization serving over 400,000 Muslims throughout Chicagoland, joined fellow Americans and national Muslim organizations in strongly condemning and sharing grief over the gruesome and inhumane murder of Paul Johnson, Jr., an innocent American employee of Lockheed Martin in Saudi Arabia. Expressing personal regrets and strong revulsion, Chairman Kareem Irfan stated: “This beheading is a horrific act of senseless brutality that no cause or twisted religious grounds may justify. It is despicable that the group committing this revolting killing actually professes to be defending, and speaking in the name of, Islam. These actions run counter to the most fundamental of Islamic ethics, religious principles and moral teachings. The Council and Chicago’s Muslim community offer deepest condolences to Mr. Johnson’s grieving wife, family, friends and all those suffering the pain of his brutal death.” Mr. Irfan cautioned against broadly attributing this grossly inhumane act to the Saudis, Arabs or Muslims in general. “We Americans must not permit these murderous acts of a misguided few to broadly tarnish our views of millions of Muslims in the U.S. and abroad who remain steadfast on Islam’s core mandates of respect, compassion, and mercy for fellow humans. These difficult times demand more than ever before that people of faith and moral conscience come together in peace to counter extremism and bloodshed by understanding and reconciliation.” The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) condemned the murder of Paul Johnson Jr. conveyed its deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to Mr. Johnson's family. As a leading Muslim American organization, ICNA Relief joins CAIR, ADC, and many others to deplore this murder. We denounce and repudiate all those who believe such behavior serves the faith of Islam or the Muslim people. The Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Executive Director Mahdi Bray sent a letter of condolence to the Johnson Family. In a statement, Mahdi Bray, stated, "I know that there are great injustices being perpetrated against Muslims throughout the world, and this is wrong. However, killing Paul Johnson is just as wrong. Two wrongs will never make things right. The struggle against injustice must always be rooted in righteousness and justice. On this point, Muslims and people of good conscience must never be silent.” The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) also condemned in the strongest possible terms the barbaric murder of American hostage Paul. A statement issued by the MPAC said 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 anyway supported by Islam or the vast majority of Muslims. The MPAC thanked 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 in response to this terrible event. The organization also extended its heartfelt condolences to Paul M. Johnson’s family. |