| On behalf of every member of the global Muslim community, I condemn the vicious acts that occurred in Washington and New York. If the evidence proves that the perpetrators were Muslims, their actions were no more Islamic than Timothy J. McVeigh's actions were Christian. Nowhere in Islamic doctrine is the killing of innocent civilians condoned. The acts of a cowardly few must not be used to stereotype or generalize about a people. At this time of numbness, anger and profound sorrow, I, along with the entire American Muslim community, extend my hand in love and peace to our friends, neighbors and children. (Arsalan Tariq Iftikhar, the Midwest communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, letter to The New York Times) |