American Muslims denounce San Bernardino violence, standing with Americans and against terrorism.
By Ray Hanania
covering Chicago
City Hall
(1976-1992)
American Muslim leaders and organizations condemned the violence in San Bernardino, California by two Muslims, Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, which took the lives of 14 people and injured 17 others on Dec. 2, 2015 at the Inland Regional Center.
Farook and Malik were identified as Pakistani immigrants who recently completed a religious Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Investigators also said this week that Malik had declared her allegiance to the Islamic State and its terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Officials investigating the massacre said that they believed it was an act of “terrorism,” noting that the two suspects, who both were killed following the mass murder shooting, had stockpiled pipe bombs, ammunition and weapons at their apartment.
American Muslims said they were in shock over the violence saying that the actions of Farook and Malik do not represent the law-abiding love that the vast majority of Muslim Americans have for this country. Many Muslims not only have served in the U.S. Military to defend this country, but they also serve in police agencies around the country.
Several Muslim American organizations also joined the growing chorus to adopt stronger gun control laws to make it more difficult for terrorists and killers to obtain automatic weapons like those used in the shooting. Much of the condemnations came from organizations based in Dearborn and Detroit, Michigan where the Muslim and Arab community have been assaulted, attacked and libeled by rightwing hate groups and hate activists.
The actions of Farook and Malik were not the only acts of violence that took place in America, and the violence has not been just by Muslims.
Just after Thanksgiving, Robert Lewis Dear Jr., 57, used an automatic weapon to attack a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado killing at least three people including one police officer and wounding nine others. Attacks against Planned Parenthood offices which counsel members of the public to consider abortion during their pregnancies has been the target of Christian religious groups and organizations and several centers have been attacked with many killings in the past.
American legislators have failed in repeated attempts to have violence against Planned Parenthood offices, staff and patrons considered “domestic terrorism,” although many Americans consider the Christian and Evangelical assaults on Planned Parenthood as acts of terrorism.
Here is a roundup of statements from Muslim American organizations condemning the San Bernardino terrorism and also the terrorism in Paris, France and other locations by Muslims and non-Muslims:
The Michigan Muslim Community Council joins the nation in condemning the horrible violence and to mourn the loss of innocent lives Wednesday in two mass shootings this week, at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, and in Savannah Georgia.
We extend our sympathies and prayers to those who were senselessly killed and ask the Most Compassionate God to grant full recovery to the injured and bless them with patience and strength.
The chairman of the Council, Dr. Muzammil Ahmed said that “All communities of faith need to stand up against this mass epidemic of violence regardless of the perpetrators race or religion. MMCC calls on our community to work with those who wish to end the violence, and to honor the precious lives lost by serving others this holiday season. MMCC will join the Jewish Relations Community Council, in the annual effort of Mitzvah Day, to perform meaningful acts of community service. MMCC will also partner with local church groups for service projects this weekend.”
Imam Mustafa Elturk, Co-Chair of the Imams Council of the MMCC, said “Let us come together to pray for peace and to work for peace. Volunteer with any organization that serves those in need, and advocate for public policies that promote justice for all. It is clear in our religion that the taking of a single life is the equivalent of the killing of all humanity, and we declare that nothing in our authentic texts justifies this type of violence. We unequivocally reject any ideology which perpetuates it.”
MMCC encourages local to check our community calendar, facebook page or website for volunteer opportunities for this holiday season.
The Islamic Center of America “Condemns Mass Murder in California; Calls on National Leaders to Prioritize Improved Gun Control
Dearborn, MI, December 3, 2015: The Islamic Center of America (ICA) strongly condemns the mass murder in San Bernardino on Wednesday. The ICA offers its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous act of violence.
The senseless wave of mass shootings plaguing our country has a common thread. They were committed by those who had easy access to military-style guns and equipment that have no good purpose in our society. Before as now, we join the outcry of the majority of Americans calling for more stringent gun control laws in this country to save thousands of innocent lives. But our leaders thus far appear to have neither the political will nor strength to tackle this epidemic of killing.
The ICA calls for immediate action by federal and state elected officials to institute measures to stem this inhumane tide of violence. Our second amendment rights do not include the indiscriminate killing of innocents for the sake of unfettered access to military style weapons. Serious gun control must become an urgent national priority.
Additionally, we urge rational and responsible reporting by the media and civilized discussion of these types of events on social media and caution against premature generalizations of motives.
Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, the Islamic Center of America is the largest Muslim congregation in the United States. The mission of The ICA is “to provide comprehensive Islamic services and education to our American Muslim and non-Muslim communities. The Center shall promote understanding and networking with the community at large.”
Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, the Islamic Center of America is the largest Muslim congregation in the United States. The mission of ICA is “to provide comprehensive Islamic services and education to our American Muslim and non-Muslim communities. The Center shall promote peace, understanding and networking with the community at large.”
The American Human Rights Council (AHRC) od Dearborn, Michigan also issued this statement:
The most recent mass shooting attack in San Bernardino, California yesterday that claimed 14 lives and 17 injured persons is another sad example of the vicious cycle of gun violence. The American Human rights Council (AHRC-USA) joins the nation in condemning the shooting of innocent victims and offers its sincere condolences to the victims families and wishes all the injured a speedy recovery. These senseless crimes should shock our conscience into action.
Mass shootings constitute a true challenge before us as it manages to appear periodically shaking the foundation of our safety and our peace as a nation. This horrific tragedy reminds us all of President Obama’s and others’ call for more effective gun control, laws and policies. The safety of our nation requires bipartisan efforts to address the epidemic of gun violence and its most terrible incarnation of mass shootings. AHRC, in the name of our common humanity, urges American elected officials on the local and national level to rise to the challenge and deal with the root causes of these crimes. The safety and the security of our nation is our common responsibility as a people and a government.
AHRC believes it is too soon to declare a motive for the perpetrators of the mass crime and urges the public and the news media to give law enforcement the time needed to investigate this shooting and declare a motive.
“Another day, another mass shooting, we should not accept this as a given reality,” said Imad Hamad, AHRC Executive Director. “While the US Supreme Court has declared that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to own guns, the Court did not say this right is boundless. There is no sense or logic in individuals owning an arsenal of weapons and military grade gear. The right to safety and life of the American public are also constitutional rights. Our policy makers and all stakeholders are called upon to strike a reasonable balance between these rights,” said Hamad.
CAIR & California Muslims denounce killings at press conference the same day
the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California will hold a news conference with leaders of the Muslim community to condemn today’s deadly shooting spree in San Bernardino, Calif., to offer condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured and to respond to the naming of one of the suspects.
A relative of one of the suspects named by the media will take part in the news conference.
WHEN: Wednesday, December 2, 8:30 p.m. (Pacific)
WHERE: CAIR-LA Office, 2180 W. Crescent Avenue, Suite F, Anaheim, CA
“We condemn this horrific and revolting attack and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed or injured,” said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. “The Muslim community stands shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Americans in repudiating any twisted mindset that would claim to justify such sickening acts of violence.”CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Here is CAIR Director Nihad Awad speaking against the terrorist attacks that took place weeks before in Paris, France:
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Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.
Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).
Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.
His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.
Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.
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