LA Muslims Offer Condolences
to British Consul-General
Representatives of Muslim organizations
with the British Consul General |
Anaheim, CA: On behalf of Muslims
of Southern California, Shura Council called upon the diplomatic
mission of Great Britain in Los Angeles to record sympathies
and prayers for the victims of the recent tragedy in London
and also to condemn the unjustified and indiscriminate violence
in London.
Welcoming the Shura Council delegation, comprising of representatives
from CAIR, Masjid Omar Ibn Khattab, Masjid Ibadillah and MPAC,
the Consul-General Mr. Bob Peirce thanked the Council for
the visit and expressed his view that “Islam is peace.”
Accompanying the Consul-General was Mr. Jeff Mee, Consul for
Passport & Visa Affairs.
The Consul-General, who was previously Secretary to the Independent
Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, stressed that
British society has always been conditioned upon guarantees
of free speech and association. He echoed Prime Minister Tony
Blair’s remarks in which he stated, “This is not
an isolated criminal act we are dealing with, it is an extreme
and evil ideology whose roots lie in a perverted and poisonous
misinterpretation of the religion of Islam.”
The Vice-Chairman of Shura Council Imam Saadiq Saafir called
upon “the British and United States Governments to urgently
find ways to reconcile the socio-economic disparity,”
which he said, “is a root cause of the tragic cycle
of violence.”
Other members of the delegation apprised the Consul General
of their institutional role and offered assistance in enhancing
understanding among all peoples.
Shakeel Syed, the Executive Director of Shura Council thanked
the Consul General and offered him a copy of the Glorious
Qur’an to study and explore the faith that offers nothing
but peace and calls for justice for all.
MPAC Communications Director Edina Lekovic shared efforts
being made by American Muslims to protect their communities
and their nation. In May 2004, MPAC launched the National
Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism to share best practices
of American mosques that act as positive, contributing elements
within their broader communities and actively work to prevent
their mosques from being leveraged by saboteurs (SEE: www.mpac.org/atc).
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