Muslim Leaders Condemn ‘Disgraceful’ Killings of American Diplomats
Anaheim, CA: The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area (CAIR-LA) and the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California at a news conference on September 12 condemned the “disgraceful” killings of American diplomats in Libya and said that extremists must not be allowed to control the political and religious discourse worldwide.
Muslim leaders addressing the news conference were: Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Shura Council and Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America; Hussam Ayloush, CAIR-LA Executive Director; and Shaykh Mohammed Faqih, Religious Director of the Islamic Institute of Orange County. The consulate killings “are not at all acceptable to Muslims under any circumstance,” Siddiqi said at the news conference. “Ambassadors have immunity in Islam, according to Islamic law. We emphasize very much respect for ambassadors and diplomats.”
Added Faqih, “To me, this is a day to pray, to mourn, to reflect.”
Ayloush made the following statement at the news conference:
“We condemn the disgraceful killings of the American diplomats in Libya in the strongest terms possible. We also condemn the attack on our nation’s diplomatic facilities in Libya and Egypt. The actions of the attackers are totally inexcusable and un-Islamic.
“We agree with Secretary Clinton, who said that ‘violence like this is no way to honor religion or faith.’ The extremists who carried out these attacks deserve punishment, and the extremists who produced and promoted an intentionally inflammatory film deserve condemnation.
“Islamic traditions include a number of instances in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had the opportunity to retaliate against those who abused him, but refrained from doing so. One tradition, or hadith, states: ‘You [Muhammad] do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness.’ (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
“We must not let extremists control the political or religious discourse. That means that people of all beliefs should repudiate those who would commit acts of violence in response to intentional provocations and repudiate those whose only goal is offending religious sentiments.”
CAIR called on Muslims in the Middle East to ignore the distribution of the “trashy” anti-Islam film, clips of which are circulating online, that resulted in the attacks in Libya and Egypt.
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