American Muslims should unite to fight terrorism

San Jose Mercury News ^ | Jul. 18, 2002 | Khaled Abou El Fadl

[CHUCKfromCAL]

IN the pain-filled atmosphere after Sept. 11, I was one of the Muslims who took a public and critical stand regarding the way both my co-religionists and our government were handling the crisis. As a result, I started to receive death threats from Muslim and non-Muslim fanatics alike. The stress my family endured became unbearable when police noticed that my home was being ``staked out'' by ``unknown and suspicious parties.''

[CHUCKfromCAL]

Finally.

I never thought I would see a Muslim write about this.

[poet]

Great speeches are one thing, action is another. I'll believe it when the "good" muslims take to the streets with signs condemning the devils who murder civilians.

[swarthyguy]

He's written other articles in this vein. YOu can also find articles by a Pakistani called Tashbih Sayyed, posted on FR; he writes for a mag called paktoday.com; he's in the US currently, having to flee Pakistan in fear of his life.

Another decent source is Dailytimes.com.pk or co.pk.

Regarding this guy, where do we send the flowers for this brave soul.

[swarthyguy]

HAs to start somewhere, but don't hold your breath waiting for the leadership of CAIR or the AMC to do anything along the lines of what this guy suggests.

They ought to have done it last fall.

It is the sadness of American Muslims that the two aforementioned groups are basically jihadi and terrorist supporters and sympathisers. The guys watching this writer's house were probably affiliated with them.

[Coop]

One thing fueling this rise in public bigotry is the anger expressed by some Americans about the Muslim reaction to Sept. 11. On this matter, I think that American Muslims should take a hard look at the Muslim organizations that claim to represent them or speak on their behalf.

I would hardly call anger directed at terrorists and American Muslims dancing for joy in the street as bigotry.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I'm extremely disappointed too. Where have they been?

I will say this.. within a couple days of 9/11, a huge Sikh community where I live did fundraisers and sent the money to NY. They have been wonderful neighbors. True Americans. I was so glad they did it, and raised so much so quickly, because it quelled any prejudices that may have popped up. But I wonder if it even would have.. as they have just been awesome in our community.

We have lived in one of the most mixed and diverse towns in the USA, and it has been a true blessing. I would hate to even say where it was, because people would try to bring their families here to enjoy it. And then we would be over-run. It would change.

The Sikhs did more than any of the local churches. And way sooner.

But where is the Muslim community? Why the silence? Considering the fact that the perps who harmed us were Muslim, it would seem that a showing of support FOR America, and AGAINST extremist would have served everyone well!! So why the silence?

Thanks for posting this. Interesting .. and I'm glad to see a Muslim FINALLY speaking up.. and loudly!! But will the Muslim community start responding? I won't hold my breath. It has been 10 months. In two months, a year. Where are they?

[Aaron_A]

A friend of mine, an Orthodox rabbi,

Surely this alone is probably engough to have a fatwa written against him.

[RightWhale]

It has not been easy for a Muslim such as the author to find the correct Muslim way to denounce terrorists.

Khaled Abou El Fadl has put his focus on Muslim organizations, which are not individual Muslims who are constrained in what they think and say, but can act in any manner they wish. He also includes Muslim intellectuals, who have a special relationship with Islam somewhat separate from their individual practice of the religion. This is the only way Islam can criticize terrorism. Individual Muslims cannot question other Muslims' faith or Muslimness, but organizations can.

[AmericanCompatriot]

I never thought I would see a Muslim write about this.

I wonder if they aren't writing and speaking out or if the media won't let them be heard? After all, a divided and strife-ridden America needs MORE HELP from the government. Anything and everything that increases our dependence on the "BIG MACHINE" is promoted and slanted, appropriately.

[kaylar]

Thank you. That line jumped out at me, too. And it's not just 911 : It's Muslim atrocities everywhere in the world. Gang rapes of nonmuslim girls throughout the EU (France, Belgium, Denmark, Holland...) and outside (Australia) . It's forced conversions in the Mollucas and the Sudan. It's FGM. Near riots throughout France. Muslims in Denmark demanding the right to set up a separate independent state within a state under sharia. Antichristian, antiwestern assaults in the UK.Gangrape of a girl to punish her brother for threatening to tell that he'd been molested. Slavery. It's one barbarity after another, inspired and apparently condoned by Islam...And the silence of the moderate Muslims is telling.

[First_Salute]

This guy, Jamie Farr, the girl who just moved out downstairs, an old friend from Iran (now in L.A. - L.A. Land), Kasey Kassem, and maybe a few others, are the only mid-East descent people on this wavelength.

The rest are still checking the wind direction.

Which is one really, really big reason why President Bush should have done some major thumpin' from the start, so as to set the wind direction.

He talks a great storm, but few clouds gather.

[SouthernFreebird]

Too late.......the cat is out of the bag....I think most people are now educated about Islam and it's goal of worldwide domination......... and I'm not about to forget and move along for some sweet water the muslims now want to sell.

[CaptRon]

Muslim organizations should establish a unified task force that provides information and assistance to the federal government with the purpose of preventing further terrorist attacks against the United States and apprehending anyone involved in facilitating or carrying out such attacks.

This step alone would change my thinking. The others he mentions are mere window dressing, easily-faked "support".

[gcruse]

A new science aborns: politcometeorology.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

[Atsilvquodi]

what a joke...

too little too late.

[tm22721]

McWorld is defeating Jihad and there's nothing Muslims can do about it.

BUMP

[CaptRon]

I might be wrong on this, but I thought I heard recently that Kasem was prominent among people signing a petition or some such condeming America's actions.

[TADSLOS]

Most important, whatever we do must be united, compelling and convincing, not because we fear retaliation or harm by bigots or Islam-haters but because this is what Islamic morality teaches us

Nice sentiment, but Islamic "morality" doesn't add up from what I've seen and heard. Dump the Koran in its current form, do a re-write, leave out all of the hate and warlike rhetoric it espouses then re-instruct your believers accordingly. You may be able to join the rest of us in the Western world in about three or four generations. In the meantime, just focus on being American, if you can.

[E Rocc]

I've seen it several times since September. There's just some people who believe they've seen all their prejudices against Muslims justified, and simply aren't going to give up this misperception that American Muslims haven't spoken out against terrorism.

We condemn in the strongest terms possible what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts.

"All members of the Muslim community are asked to offer whatever help they can to the victims and their families. Muslim medical professionals should go to the scenes of the attacks to offer aid and comfort to the victims.

- September 11 statement: the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

-Eric