National Organizations
Condemn Attack on Ameena Saeed
By Hazem Kira
Newark, CA: A number of national Muslim organizations,
including Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Islamic
Circle of North America (ICNA), American Muslim Alliance (AMA),
Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Muslim Public
Affairs Council (MPAC), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim
Alliance of North America (MANA), Muslim Students Association-National
(MSA-N), and Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA) have condemned
the recent attack on Muslim academic Ameena Saeed.
Ameena Saeed was driving home from Vista College in Berkeley
where she teaches sociology when her car was fired on. While
she remained safe, her car sustained damage. No one has claimed
responsibility for the attack, which is being seen as a hate
crime. Berkeley police are looking for a possible suspect
but have reported no progress so far. Her husband Dr. Agha
Saeed, who teaches at UC Berkeley and CSU-East Bay, is the
national Chair of American Muslim Alliance and the American
Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT).
Messages of support for the Saeed family have been received
from all over the United States. Extending his “best
wishes for sicere dua” Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, the Secretary-General
of ISNA said: “We certainly condemn this act of cowardice
and offer our full moral support to you and your family. We
hope and pray that this act further strengthens your resolve
to serve the community and stick to your commitment to maintain
a sense of balance and moderation.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) “has
called on California law enforcement authorities to investigate
a recent attack on the wife of a nationally-known Muslim leader
as a possible hate crime.
CAIR has contacted the Berkeley Police Department to urge
that bias be considered as a possible motive in the incident.
Expressing their support for the Saeed family, Hadia Mubarak
the current President of the Muslim Student Association said:
MSA National deplores “this attempt on your wife’s
life. This is indeed extremely disturbing. Allah swt is the
best of protectors. May He envelop you and your family with
His impenetrable protection. Ameen.”
Those who called to express their personal and institutional
support include Imam Talib Abdul Rasheed of Muslim Alliance
of North America (MANA), Dr. Mehdi Bray of Muslim American
Society (MAS), and Zahid Bukhari of Islamic Circle of North
American (ICNA).
Expressing his “deepest concern”, Dr. Waheed Siddiqui,
Member Board of Directors of the United Muslims of America
(UMA), expressed the hope that “the perpetrators of
this criminal act will be caught and punished.”
Mr. Aktar Hossain, President of Muslim Ummah of North America
(MUNA) has forcefully argued: “It is very important
to find out the motive behind this criminal activity.”
In a prayerful personal message Muslim Scholar and Senior
Adviser to the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MAPC) Dr. Maher
Hathout wrote: “I was very disturbed to hear what happened.
I hope that you and your wife are enjoying the peace that
your faith will abundantly bestow upon you. Our hearts are
with you.”
Members of the Bangladeshi-American Muslim Association (BAMA)
and Pakistan American Democratic Forum (PADF) have also expressed
solidarity with the Saeed family.
Mr. Ashraf Zaman Khan, President Bangladeshi-American Muslim
Association (BAMA) has called for full investigation of this
matter by both the hate crime unit of the Berkeley police
and the FBI.
The PADF statement circulated by its moderator Mr. Ghulam
Mujtaba reads: “The PADF strongly condemns the coward
but heinous attack on Mrs. Ameena Saeed… It is satisfying
that no harm was luckily done to her but the incident has
once again reminded us of the need to stand united and articulate
vigorously against the hatred spread by the fascist-minded
elements who are bent upon castigating the innocent citizens
and civil rights activists engaged in the democratic and lawful
activities.”
Other community leaders expressed similar sentiments. “I
condemn this attack with all the contempt at my disposal”,
said Dr. Shabbir Safdar, Vice-Chairman of the American Muslim
Alliance (AMA). “But knowing the Saeed family as I do,
I know it will not make an iota of difference in their determination
to speak out against social ills and oppressive conditions.”
“We don’t know who was behind this attack but
regardless it has only reinforced our dedication to civil
liberties and freedom of thought and conscience”, says
Ameena Saeed. “If anyone was trying to intimidate us
then they have clearly failed. This incident has further solidified
our commitment to peace and justice for all particularly the
Palestinians. We will continue to oppose war and occupation,"
Dr. Agha Saeed said.
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