USPAK Condemns Loss of Life
The USPAK Foundation strongly condemns the violence against the US Embassies in Libya and Egypt over September 11th, 2012. The Foundation is deeply disturbed that the violent attacks resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three more American officials. Ambassador Stevens was a longtime supporter of the Libyan people and helped citizens of Benghazi in achieving freedom from the Kaddafi regime.
The attacks are a mob-reaction to a low-budget, amateur, anti-Muslim film, a trailer of which is posted on the internet. The Foundation urges all Muslims world-wide to refrain from violence, and to ignore this deliberate attempt to provoke a reaction as this will only provide additional publicity to the makers of the film. The Foundation especially urges the cessation of this extreme violence forthwith. Using the film to justify this violence runs counter to Islamic teachings as practiced by the majority of the 1.62 billion Muslims worldwide. We ask Governments of Muslim countries to take concrete measures to avoid loss of innocent lives.
At this uneasy time we must be reminded of the saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) “The ink of the scholar is holier than the blood of the martyr”. We urge American Muslims to participate in active discussion on this issue in their local and national media, and ask for practice of responsible journalism rather than sensationalism at this time.
USPAK Foundation respects the right of freedom of speech; however we must remain cognizant of the American values of respect and sensitivity of others… We also ask the Governments of Muslims countries to start “Centers of Islamic Understand ing” throughout the world to educate others about the true elements of Islam.
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