Head of World’s Largest Interfaith Organization Condemns Libya and Egypt Violence, Calls for Deeper Look into Islamophobia and Intolerance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 09-12-12
Contact: Imam Malik Mujahid, malik@soundvision.com
Imam Malik Mujahid, Chairperson of the Board of the Council for the Parliament of the World Religions (www.parliamentofreligions.org), said today that the Prophet Muhammad would be dismayed by the violence currently raging in Egypt and Libya in his name. He also called for a deeper look at the Islamophobia that instigated the tragedy.
“The Prophet would be saddened to know that three guest diplomats were killed by those who claim to be his followers in Libya,” he said. “The Prophet honored diplomats to such a level that he created a tent church in his own small mosque so that a visiting Christian delegation from Yemen could hold services.”
Christopher Stephens, the American ambassador to Libya has been killed, along with three other Americans and a number of Libyans; the consulate has been seriously damaged, and the violence at this writing seems to be far from abating.
This was all instigated by a movie produced by a self-described Israeli Jewish filmmaker, who has admitted that his intention was to provoke and said, “Islam is a cancer, period.” It portrays Prophet Muhammad as a fraud, among other insults.
Imam Mujahid noted that in accordance with God’s clear order in the Quran, Prophet Muhammad treated those who opposed him with justice, and ordered his followers to do the same.
Imam Mujahid noted that this has become an unfortunately predictable pattern in recent years. A vicious cycle of hate is perpetuated by Islamophobes who produce material insulting Islam and Muslims, followed by violence on the part of extremists.
“This pattern has its roots in the colonial period, when some missionaries funded by the occupying armies would engage in this psychological warfare with their population,” Imam Mujahid said.
Imam Mujahid invited faith leaders from the Jewish and Christian community to condemn the hate speech that facilitated this latest violence. He emphasized the need to root out extremism in all communities, and emphasized the need for a discussion on why hate speech directed at Prophet Muhammad is tolerated when similar attacks would be rightfully condemned against other communities.
Categories: Age, Attitude, Behaviour, Belief, Civil Unrest, Civil War, Egypt, Interfaith Leader, Libya, Muslim Leader
In muslim countries like Egypt majority of population is poor and uneducted. Their daily life is full of misery and their rulers and elite who are looting the country are living like kings, due to this these people are ready to explod any tine. While the mullah never teaches them any constructive attitutude to adopt. On any negative news from west means these mini leaders see the oppurtunity to take the stage and become power player. Governments should play a role to fix this problem.