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Mueller Asks Muslims for Continued Support
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of the Muslim community listening to Mueller’s speech.
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Report
By Ayesha Ahmad, IOL
Washington
Correspondent
ALEXANDRIA
, June 29 (IslamOnline) – U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation
Director Robert Mueller asked American Muslims Friday for their
continued support in the war against terrorism, His address at an
Islamic convention met opposition from a
near-scene created by Jewish protestors who interrupted his speech as
soon as he began.
“We
are one nation and we are in this together,” Mueller said. “We
need your support, we need the support of every person.”
“The
reality is that we need it more than ever.”
Mueller
was speaking at the 11th annual convention of the American Muslim
Council (AMC), a Washington-based political organization that tries to
integrate the voice of American Muslims into the
U.S.
’s political dialogue.
His
speaking engagement was denounced weeks prior to the convention
by editorials across the country, accusing AMC of supporting terrorism
and questioning the FBI Director for his decision to speak at the
event.
As
soon as Mueller began to speak, four Jewish men stood up and went to
the front of the room before the podium, holding up signs to the
director that read, “The FBI should protect Americans from terror,
not meet with supporters of terror.”
One
of the men was a graduate of the University of Maryland, Darren
Schneider, former president of the school’s Jewish Student Union,
whose members carried out a similar staged interruption at an event of
the Muslim Student Association last year. The FBI Director barely
acknowledged the interruption, and the men were quickly hustled out.
Their
sentiment echoed that of the editorials labeled by AMC as a “smear
campaign”; opposition to Mueller’s engagement revolved around
statements made by people associated with AMC that have been
interpreted as support for terrorism.
“The
media opposition was overwhelming,” said Faiz Rehman, the group’s
communications director, describing coverage of the controversy across
the U.S. as well as in international media such as BBC, and German and
Australian television. “It was just amazing.”
Rehman
added that the FBI “did not budge for a second”; AMC officials
have repeatedly expressed their support and appreciation for the FBI
Director’s refusal to bow to media pressure.
Mueller,
for his part, addressed the controversy himself in his speech, saying,
“My reason for being here… is to continue our discussion and to
help build a relationship… that is beneficial to us all.”
While
he had words of condemnation for the statements made by “persons
associated with this organization… that indicate support for
terrorist groups,” he stressed that Muslims and non-Muslims alike
should be equally outraged by support for terrorism, and that “we
must… act together to thwart terrorism.”
“What
has always seen us through our tough times is our unity,” he said of
Americans in general, recounting times of war throughout the twentieth
century. “Today, America faces a new and potentially more dangerous
conflict… an enemy that is nearly invisible… and the front lines
are right here at home, in our own streets and our own cities.”
The
FBI would do its part, he said, “and we are counting on the Muslim
American community to do its part.”
Mueller’s
speech addressed the trials faced by Muslims in the wake of the
September 11 attacks in suffering both as Americans whose country had
been attacked, and as Muslims who became the targets of misdirected
rage.
“I
realize that Muslim Americans, like all Americans, have been deeply
affected… and I know that the American Muslim community has suffered
in other ways since September 11,” he said, receiving loud applause
when he declared hate crimes against Muslims to be “like
terrorism… acts against humanity.”
He
also praised the response of Muslim Americans after the attacks,
saying that the number of Arabic language experts in federal agencies
has doubled due to Arabs and Muslims who are willing to “give
something back to their country in the fight against terrorism, for
which we are extraordinarily grateful.”
“The
active work of many in the Muslim community… has merited public
thanks and praise.”
The
FBI director took written questions, answering some regarding
controversial steps taken by the FBI such as detentions of immigrants
and enhanced surveillance authorities.
He
ended by emphasizing the administration’s position on the
investigation – that it is focused on terrorist individuals and
organizations, not against Muslims or Islam.
“We
are out there to address terrorists – it is in no way a war on
Islam… it is our understanding that Islam is a religion of peace.”
Mueller
was introduced for his luncheon address by AMC chairman Yahya Basha,
who opened by saying that AMC was “honored to have him accept the
invitation and come despite the opposition,” stressing that his
group was supportive of the administration’s campaign against
terrorism.
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