DON'T USE THE BOMBING TO STEREOTYPE MUSLIMS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 21, 1993                   TAG: 9303190027
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
DON'T USE THE BOMBING TO STEREOTYPE MUSLIMS
I am writing on behalf of my brothers and sisters, Muslim residents of the New River Valley area, to express our concern toward recent events related to the bombing of the World Trade Center.
Our position with respect to this brutal act of violence is clear: It is utterly un-Islamic and, therefore, we forcefully and unequivocally condemn it. We also wish to take this opportunity to join other citizens in offering our condolences to the families of the victims of this tragic event.
In many reports, the person accused of this wanton bombing has been described as a "Muslim Fundamentalist." In our opinion, this statement will lead some people to believe that acts of this nature are acceptable in Islam. Therefore, we wish to state, in clearest terms, that this act has no basis in Islam. As a Book-and-Law-based belief system, Islam decrees rule of law and maximum respect for human life. Islam absolutely prohibits any form of violence toward innocent civilians, particularly women and children, even in times of war.
Therefore, we call on all journalists to identify the accused with reference to his act and not with reference to his faith. Otherwise, it will be like implicating all Christians in the acts of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, or in the Serbian aggression against Bosnia, or in the frequent IRA bombings of civilian targets in England.
Please recall here that in describing the Davidians, Associated Press called them a "religious cult" and not a "Christian cult." We sincerely hope that the same journalistic objectivity and sensitivity will be employed in covering the bombing of the World Trade Center.
Amid increasingly frequent acts of violence that are being perpetuated against humanity by various fringe groups, cults and individuals all around the world, we feel obliged to reaffirm our commitment to peaceful pluralistic co-existence. Moreover, and most important of all, we feel that everyone is responsible for ensuring that these tragic events are not used as an excuse to stereotype and malign entire communities.\ Souhail Elhouar\ President,\ Islamic Society of New River Valley\ Blacksburg

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB