|
U.S. Muslim Organizations Condemn Bombings in New York and Washington
WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - U.S. Muslim organizations expressed shock and sorrow at Tuesday morning's tragic attacks on Washington and New York, adding their concern that premature blame of Muslim or Arab groups could carry repercussions for American Muslims and Arabs.
A council of several U.S. Muslim organizations issued a joint statement condemning the attacks.
"American Muslims utterly condemn what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians," the statement, prepared by the American Muslim Political Coordinating Council (AMPCC), said.
"We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts."
The AMPCC consists of the American Muslim Council (AMC), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), American Muslim Alliance (AMA) and Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC).
In a separate release, the AMC said, "The American Muslim Council strongly condemns this morning's plane attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and expresses deep sorrow for Americans that were injured and killed. AMC sends out its condolence[s] to all victims of this cowardly terrorist attack. There is no cause that justifies this type of immoral and inhumane act that has affected so many innocent American lives. AMC supports all efforts of the investigation in order to track down the people responsible for this tragic act of terrorism."
"This is tragic day for all Americans, regardless of their belief, their creed, their ethnic origins," said Khalid Turaani, executive director of American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ).
"I think we all, as Americans, are shocked by this horrible act, and I think it is time for Americans to come together rather than start pointing fingers at one another," he added.
The Islamic Institute in Washington D.C., said in a press release that, "The Islamic Institute condemns in the strongest possible way the cowardly and senseless acts of terrorism that occurred in New York City and Washington, D.C., this morning. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones on this terrible day.
"As Americans and Muslims, we deplore senseless violence in any form, and we fully support all efforts to track down the individuals responsible for these atrocities and bringing them to justice. America's national security and the safety of all its citizens are of the ultimate importance. We fully support the President and all law enforcement agencies in their efforts to protect our country from tragic and vicious terrorist acts," the statement concluded.
The Minaret of Freedom Institute, a Washington D.C. area Islamic policy research institute, also released a statement today condemning the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, President of the organization, denounced the attacks and expressed condolences to the victims and their families. "For American Muslims, the unprecedented coordinated attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon is a triple tragedy," Ahmad said. "As Americans, our country is under attack."
From Chicago, IL, the United Muslim Americans Association (UMAA), issued a statement saying, "[The UMAA] on behalf of the Muslim community of Illinois, strongly condemns the heinous terrorism acts against innocent civilians in New York and Washington. [The] UMAA and Muslims call for the immediate capture of the perpetrators. We believe that there could be no just justification for committing such evil acts."
On FOX television news Tuesday morning, the Arab American Institute's James Zogby warned that as with the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, a tendency to blame Arabs for terrorist attacks could pose a danger to the many Arab-Americans around the country who are just as devastated by the tragedy as anyone else.
The real threat of danger to Americans of Islamic faith or Arab descent is being felt everywhere. In San Francisco, one of the most ethnically diverse cites in the U.S., police chief Fred Lau urged local citizens not to "retaliate" against groups that may share ethnicity with any suspected terrorists, news agencies reported.
"I would hope that people don't let their emotions overcome them," Lau said in a televised interview, quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
MPAC issued a separate statement warning, "against any generalizations that will only serve to help the criminals and incriminate the innocent," and telling Muslim leaders to "act vigilantly in protecting Muslim schools and mosques."
The UMAA added, "At this time of national crises, we call upon all officials, security agencies, and media not to rush to judgment and start accusing Muslims, Arabs or Palestinians.
"Let us not forget about Oklahoma City bombing that was committed by a Christian. At any circumstances, Muslim and Arab communities as a whole should not be collectively punished, discriminated against, or stereotyped for any crazy and terrorist acts."
U.S. President George W. Bush has promised swift and firm retaliation for the attacks, and flew to Nebraska Tuesday after making a statement from Louisiana on his way back from Florida. Nebraska is the location of the "second White House" where an underground bunker acts as the command and control nerve center for the U.S. government if Washington is threatened or attacked.
"Freedom has been attacked, but freedom will be defended," Bush said in a statement given from Barksdale Air Force Base in northwest Louisiana. "The U.S. will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts.
"The resolve of our great nation is being tested… we will show the world that we will pass this test."
The attacks sent immediate shock waves across the world, triggering code-red security alerts, crisis meetings among Western leaders, and a stunning dive in world stocks.
Leaders around the world have condemned the attacks, offering condolences and expressing their shock and sympathy for the American people, while tightening security around U.S. embassies in their countries. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) evacuated its Brussels headquarters.
CNN reported that a Taliban official also offered condolences upon news of the attack.
"We want to tell the American children that Afghanistan feels your pain. We hope the courts find justice," ambassador to Pakistan Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef said in a statement there.
In Gaza City, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was among the first to condemn the attacks.
"This is something that is not believable," he said. "I present my condolences to the American people and to President Bush and his government, not only in my name but in the name of all the Palestinian people."
News agencies, however, were quick to point at reports of "celebrations" among some Palestinians. AFP reported that at the Ain al-Helweh and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon, dozens of Palestinian refugees fired assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades into the air "with joy at news of the attacks."
Continuing ABCNEWS television coverage showed such images as well, causing many Muslims and Arabs to worry about the aftermath of these attacks. As far away as North Carolina, a full-time Islamic school in Raleigh closed for the day, for fear of the safety of the mosque in which classes are held.
AMJ director Turaani said, "It might be easy to start pointing fingers and make accusations, [but] it is time to be restrained, not to cause to any further damage in our society… not to point fingers without any substantiation."
"Without a doubt we condemn this abhorrent act of terrorism, and certainly our hearts go out to families who have lost loved ones."
With Additional Reporting by Ayesha Ahmad
|
