| Press Statement by Imam Akbar |
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Statement from Masjid Ash-Shaheed
By Imam Khalil A. Akbar, 11-10-09
To the members of the Press, to our friends and the veterans (Muslim &non-Muslim),
Thank you for taking the time to come here for this press conference.
Once again, we gather to address the public as Citizens of this country and as adherents
to a faith that has over one billion adherents, the majority of whom are just regular people
seeking ways to secure a good life for their families and themselves. Contrary to the
propaganda, they do not arise from bed in the morning thinking of ways to convert their
neighbors or to harm them if they do not convert. Instead they are wondering, will I
have a job to go to, what will the future of my family be and will I be able to pay for their
education.
Muslims have the same aspirations that most people have in this country and abroad as
ell. Most are not driven by extreme political or religious ideology. They are driven by
what is natural for every normal thinking human being, the desire for Peace, for
freedom, justice and equality and opportunity; and they seek this through their sense of
faith in God and the belief in the inherent good of human beings.
We think it is important for us to address the public anytime there is an important and
sensitive occurrence like this one. We begin by offering our sincere condolences,
thoughts and prayers for the victims and the families of those killed or injured in the
insane attack at Fort Hood last week. No ideology, religious or political could ever
justify or excuse such a heinous and cowardly attack.
This is not a veiled attempt to cover any defects in the faith I have freely chosen without
any coercion. In fact, one of the appealing things about Islam is that it says there should
be no compulsion in Religion. Those of us who chose Islam, did so because of its
advocacy of Freedom, justice, equality, self respect, self-determination and equal
dignity for every human being and not because of a desire to harm America or our
neighbors. The values espoused by Islam for us mirrored those of the Civil Rights
movement which we were very much a part of, having our own approach to achieve the
prize, but peacefully. It was and is an advocacy of self-reliance.
We would have never chosen Islam if it advocated the indiscriminate violence and
attacks against innocent people that we hear about almost daily - through a media that does
not care to say that Islam should not be evaluated through the actions of some of those
who claim to be its adherents. They act in the name of Islam, but I implore you, the
members of the Press, to report that there are Muslims who have stood before, since and
after the tragic events of 9/11 and said No! not in the name of Islam! Please do not ignore
our voices and make it seem that no Muslims are condemning these insane acts that are
indicative of people whose psychic have been severely damaged.
I do not recall anyone in the Press saying that Timothy McVeigh or Eric Rudolph or even
the Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan are Christian Terrorists, even though they
claimed and claim to be acting in the name of their faith.
My Christian brothers and sisters would be offended by the label “Christian Terrorist or
Extremist”. And more than seven Million Muslims in this country of all races are
offended when their faith is equated with the actions of people who are murdering
innocent people, and who are committing crimes against humanity.
Standing here with us today are veterans, Muslims and Non- Muslims who on this very
special day “Veterans day” stand in solidarity in support of the victims and families of
Fort Hood and their love for this Nation. Let no one doubt our patriotism, which can be
compared with that of any American. Why should we not be patriotic when the sweat and
blood of our fathers and mothers have been shed in this country and on foreign soil to
secure America and make her a beacon light of Freedom for people of all nations to come
and achieve their dreams and aspirations. Many of our Muslim brothers and sisters have
come to America from the Asian and African continents and have realized the “American
Dream” and are giving service to this nation daily as professionals in many fields. They
are not of the culture that seek to undermine America. They are like those who came to
accept the call of the “ Statue of Liberty that reads: “ Give me your tired, your poor, your
huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Send these the Homeless, Tempest-toss to me. I
lift lamp beside the Golden Door”.
We pray that Almighty G-D blesses us a nation to be a beacon of light and our model and
our march towards a society of tolerance, cultural diversity, and most of all, Peace!
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