WASHINGTON (Islam Online)-A delegation of 26 ethnic Chechens living in America traveled to the nation’s capital on Friday, and demonstrated in front of the Georgian Embassy.
They echoed a deeply felt grievance to the Georgian representatives in Washington, the denial of proper access to Muslim aid and medical teams, attempting to enter Chechnya through its border with Georgia.
The Chechens were met by dozens of Muslims residing in the Washington area, who
collectively staged the peaceful demonstration in front of the embassy to "embarrass" the Georgian government into fulfilling its humanitarian obligations, according to international law.
This initiative was coordinated by the Muslim students, from the University of Maryland in concert with students from Howard University, and the American University in Washington, D.C.
The crowd [predominated by area students] gathered at the Farragut North Metro Station to make the 15-minute walk in unison up Connecticut Avenue to Dupont Circle, followed by a dramatic entrance on to New Hampshire Avenue [where the embassy is located].
As they rounded the corner one could hear the chants of Allahu Akbar [God is Great], and Laillaha illala Mohammadan Rasululah [There is no deity but Allah and Mohammed
Is the Messenger of Allah].
As the Chechens turned toward the oncoming assembly you could see the look of relief on some of their faces, as a young woman could be heard shouting excitedly to another, "See, I told you...I told you; now aren't you glad you came!"
"I was so surprised, so shocked, and so happy when I saw them [Muslims marching
around the corner]...it was very nice [of] all of you,” said Chechen Narft Bachkhaz.
Though not exceeding a hundred, the chants rolling off the buildings made the numbers appear to be magnified tenfold. Faces were beaming and pride was in the air, as additional reinforcements of special police quickly arrived on the scene.
"The people who traveled with me were very happy. They liked what they heard from the speakers, and they were surprised to see how much Muslims are growing...how the religion is growing. The demonstration was very effective,” said Arfan Biokua, one of the organizers of the bus trip
Among the speakers were Chechens: Imam Jamel Arfan, and a sister who spoke for the mothers and women of Chechnya. Imam Abdulalim Musa from Masjid Al Islam spoke, as well as Imam Johari Abdul Malik [chaplain, Howard University] condemning Georgian policy and its human rights violation.
Representing Dar Al Hijrah, Esam Salen and Abdul Rahman Muhammad of Islamic Propagation Project, spoke and condemned the Georgian position regarding the Chechens’ situation.
The rally ended peacefully when a formal letter, signed by most of the demonstrators, was presented to Georgian Embassy officials; it essentially requested that they reconsider their closed border policy.
The message of the day was “Chechnya you are not alone!” Sponsors of the rally were the Peace And Justice Foundation and the Student Organizing Committee of University of Maryland, Howard and American University.
