|
||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||||
|
 |
||||||||
|
MUSLIMS REACH OUT About Islam | Muslims Reach Out Muslims reach out to counter backlash Local Islamic, interfaith groups condemn bombings, try to promote understanding By Momo Chang, Oakland Tribune Staff Writer ISLAMIC NETWORKS GROUP'S Imran Maskatia condemns the London terrorist bombings with other Islamic and interfaith members Friday in San Francisco. (RON LEWIS - Staff) SAN FRANCISCO — Muslim and interfaith groups from across the Bay Area gathered at the Islamic Society of San Francisco on Friday to send a clear message to those responsible for the "heinous" and "barbarous" London subway bombings Thursday. "We're joining Americans of all faiths to condemn the attacks in London," said Imran Maskatia of Hayward, a member of the Islamic Networks Group. "Those who are responsible for the acts are distorting and defaming the name of Islam." Many from Islamic organizations felt that a quick response to Thursday's bombings was necessary to prevent any misunderstandings about Muslims. "Those who committed these crimes act in their own name only," said Amina Ansari of the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, adding that the Quran condemns violence. Ansari said her organization has received more than 100 hostile e-mails over the last 24 hours. "There have been no threats of violence, but there is an environment of hostility," said Ansari, whoworks for the Bay Area chapter of CAIR in Santa Clara. "We've gotten three to four calls in the office with people saying 'Muslims are terrorists, go back to your country, we don't need you here.'" Of the 12 speakers, more than half represented non-Islamic groups, including the Rev. James DeLange, chairman of the San Francisco Interfaith Council. "We're here to show our support in solidarity with the Muslim community, who must be distressed and horrified by what has happened in the name of Islam," DeLange said. "I know how I would feel if someone did that in the name of Christ." All speakers from Muslim-based organizations wore at least some traditional Islamic clothing and stressed the same message: the need for compassion and solidarity. "Clearly, (the attackers) want to divide us," said Souleiman Ghali, president of the Islamic Society of San Francisco. "They want Muslims to be separate from Christians, separate from Jews. But we're here, Christians, Jews, Muslims, saying that we're united together not based on hate or crime, but based on love and compassion." Over the last 10 years, Muslims groups have made an effort to reach out to other faith groups in order to educate and gain understanding. The 9/11 attacks brought many of the groups even closer, forming a Bay Area network of interfaith groups. Some speakers directed their message to the U.S. and British governments. "We need to target the terrorists, not Muslims," said Mark Silverman, an attorney at San Francisco-based Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Ghali said he has seen heightened apprehension and fear of retaliation in the Muslim community since Thursday's attacks. "My wife wears traditional Islamic clothes, and she's been very alert and careful since yesterday about where she goes," said Ghali, who would only say his family lives in the East Bay. "We do have a fear about backlash." Contact Momo Chang at mchang@angnewspapers.com. |
 |
||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright