Washington DC, October 22nd
2001: The Muslim American Society (MAS) and the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) hosted an emergency summit,
in Washington, during the weekend of October 20-21, for national Muslim leaders, to discuss the repercussions of
the September 11th attack on America. Thirty national Muslim leaders representing fifteen
national Islamic organizations attended the summit. The leaders of the Muslim community in the USA discussed and
analyzed the political, social, and educational ramifications of the event on the American society in general and
the Muslim community in particular. The issue of the current war in Afghanistan has also been discussed. A statement
of the stance taken by the Summit is attached with this press release.
Shaker
Elsayed,
Naeem
Baig,
Secretary General, MAS
Secretary General, ICNA
American Muslims call for peaceful
efforts to end the conflict in Afghanistan
We, the undersigned national Islamic organizations resolve the following:
1.
We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of the crime committed on September
11, 2001 and join our fellow Americans in mourning the loss of up to 6000 innocent civilians.
2.
We reiterate our support for bringing to justice those who are responsible
for planning, executing or knowingly helping to carry out this crime. In so doing, we believe that all legal provisions,
and procedures of law, national and international, must be adhered to.
3.
We believe the bombing in Afghanistan is not in the long-term interest of
our country or the world at large. The bombing victimizes the innocents, exacerbates the humanitarian disaster,
and creates widespread resentment across the Muslim world.
Allowing thousands of innocent civilians to die in the harsh Afghan winter
will only serve to weaken the global resolve to root out terrorism.
The senseless starvation of women and children will fuel hate and extremism.
4.
We call on our government to urgently re-assess its action in Afghanistan,
and to cease the bombing campaign and other military actions. Our government should seek a more effective and long-term
strategy to deal with terrorism and its causes, whether such violence is committed by individuals, groups or states.
We feel that international disputes should be resolved through U.N. mechanisms and in accordance with its charter.
5.
As American Muslims, we stand ready to help our government in building bridges
of understanding with Muslim countries, and assist in removing root causes of misunderstanding, grievances and
conflict. We also express our opposition to the extension of bombing to other countries.
Such attacks will aggravate an already explosive and destabilizing situation.
6.
As Americans, we believe that it is not only our right but also our civic
duty and responsibility to express our sincere views of what is in the long-term interest of our country. We strongly
reject any suggestion that opposing a certain policy of our government is tantamount to disloyalty. This suggestion
is undemocratic, unfair and un-American.
7.
Finally, we express
our concern about the possibility of unconstitutional measures in new anti-terrorism legislation, which may curtail civil liberties in the name of security. Such measures are unlikely
to make Americans safer and may be applied in a discriminatory manner against American citizens and lawful residents
from specific ethnic and religious groups.
We pray to the universal God of all to bestow His mercy, healing
and peace on all humanity.
Muslim American Society (MAS), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Council on
American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), Muslim Student Association (MSA), Islamic
Association for Palestine (IAP), United Association for Studies and Research (UASR), Solidarity International,
American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice (AMGPJ), American Muslim Alliance (AMA), United Muslim Americans
Association (UMAA), Islamic Media Foundation (IMF), American Muslim Foundation (AMF), Coordinating Council of Muslim
Organizations (CCMO), American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ), Muslim Arab Youth Association (MAYA)
Islamic Circle of North America
Copyright © 2001 ICNA. All Rights Reserved.
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Should we seek Justice
or Revenge ?
The tragic events of September 11, 2001 mark a watershed in the history of
not only the United States but also the history of the world. The horrifying news that passenger aircrafts had
been used as live bombs to destroy the most visible symbols of American power stunned the people across nations.
The images of rubble and smoke that mark the mass grave of over six thousand innocent people will remain seared
forever in the minds of an entire generation. The stories of courage and self-sacrifice of over three hundred fire
and police personnel who lost their own lives in order to save others, will be remembered with gratitude by the
future generations.
Anger was the most common reaction to this terrible tragedy. But anger can be a blinding emotion, and does not
necessarily lead one to a response that is fair or even in one’s own interest. In this hour of tragedy, despite
our anger and pain, our hearts must humble themselves before the Creator, and reach for His Guidance. For this
tragedy can either serve to perpetuate the cycle of hatred and violence, or mark a new beginning for the entire
human race.
A government, angry and mourning is now responding with air attacks on Afghanistan, with threats of attacks on
other nations as well. News of this military action is being tightly controlled, but the devastating effects of
Tomahawk and Cruise missiles are well known. The scores of inevitable civilian deaths and the flagrant violation
of international law have become insignificant issues on the altar of the thirst for revenge. The hijackers used
civilian aircrafts as messengers of death for innocent people. The attacks on Afghanistan have replaced civilian
aircraft with sophisticated B-2, and B-52 bombers.
While we are entitled to seek justice, we must ask whether bombing a people that have been beleaguered with war
for the past twenty-two years will be successful in punishing the perpetrators of the inhuman acts of September
11. Will these attacks be an effective deterrent against future acts of terrorism? If these attacks result in killing
those who were not responsible for the tragedy, will they not spawn more people blinded with hatred?
Those who perpetrated the horrendous acts of September 11 had lost their humanity and were akin to wild beasts
with only one thought in mind, to devour their prey. These persons, so depraved, only wanted to bring death and
destruction because of their hatred for the United States of America. They killed indiscriminately, and in doing
so, posed a challenge to the values of an entire nation. Do we kill their innocents, just as they killed our innocents?
Do we kill multitudes to punish a handful? Do we use our overwhelming superiority in military power to bomb the
country of the perpetrators back to the Stone Age? It is our response to these questions that will shape the future
of the human race.
The universe is constructed on what the Qur’an calls the mizan, or a balance. That balance is justice. The Glorious
Qur’an says:
“And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice), In order that ye may not transgress
(due) balance, So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance” [Al-Qur’an 55:9]
Justice is essential to maintain the balance of the human mind. Whenever any human being is deprived of justice,
the mind is inclined to imbalance. The greater the injustice, the greater is the likelihood of imbalance. That
is the reason the Glorious Qur’an warns against allowing hatred to cloud one’s judgment and sense of justice:
“O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to
you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah
is well-acquainted with all that ye do” [Al-Qur’an 5:08]
While this verse addresses the believers, it is a good advice to all those who have been wronged and are seeking
justice. In democratic societies and in civilized nations, institutions are established for the redress of grievances,
and it is the success of granting to those who seek the redress of their grievance and having it done ensures the
balance of the human mind.
One of the requirements of justice is respect for the rule of law. Undoubtedly we must do our utmost in apprehending
those who were responsible for the evil acts committed on September 11. We must seek justice through the institutions
that were established to redress grievances between nations and to punish those guilty of crimes against humanity,
namely, the United Nations and the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Allowing blind hatred to subvert
the authority of these institutions cannot serve the cause of justice, but only the cause of hatred and injustice.
In our quest for justice we must also empathize with those who are seeking justice in other parts of the world.
The Palestinians have been seeking justice for more than half a century. They have cried out in every forum for
the redress of their grievances and justice has not come. They live in refugee camps, are scattered throughout
the world and every day they live with the horror of what they suffer. People in Chechnya, Iraq, Uzbekistan and
several places across the world, are suffering the horrors of state terrorism on a daily basis. This state of affairs
causes some minds to become imbalanced to the degree that life has no more meaning, for there is no joy in being
free if there is no justice. If we are to seek a lasting peace for this world, we must address the structural imbalances
that perpetuate such unjust and oppressive systems.
It is time therefore, to reaffirm our commitment to peace and justice. For these two go hand in hand. It is the
deprivation of justice that leads to the disruption of peace. Let September 11 mark a process of renewal and rekindling
of the human spirit. We must seize the moment to remember that our identity as human beings supersedes our nationality
or race. It is only through the striving for peace can we say we have learned from the sacrifice of those who lost
their lives on that fateful Tuesday morning. It is only through the establishment of justice can we pay a meaningful
tribute to the innocent lives lost on September 11.
Contact Information:
Naeem Baig
Secretary General,
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
(718) 658-1199
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CAIR Adverstisement in the Washington Post soon after Sept 11th, 2001