American Muslims condemn ISIS terrorism

American Muslims gathered on the steps of Lincoln Memorial Friday to condemn the ISIS terror, and reinforce Islam’s message of peaceful coexistence.

Standing against the backdrop of distinctively towering Washington Monument under a clear blue sky, Muslim community leaders displayed banners, voicing their strong rejection of the ISIS, or the Daish as the militant group is known in Iraq and Syria. Later, a larger group of American Muslims also assembled in front of the White House to express their condemnation of the Daesh and the terror group’s hateful ideology.

In their speeches and slogans, participants said the ISIS hateful ideology of violence does not represent Islam since it goes against Islam’s message of peaceful coexistence and respect for human life.

The demonstrations came amid reports that Muslims in France faced growing isolation and discrimination in the wake of horrible November 13 killing spree, which left 130 dead in Paris. The French tragedy – also seen partly a result of homegrown terror and European intelligence disconnect – has led to some EU countries declaring they would no longer accept the Syrian refugees fleeing a multi-layered conflict and ISIS terror.

Although some Republican and Democratic leaders have expressed opposition to Syrian refugees admission to the United States, a number of rights activists have called for a fair treatment of Syrian refugees in accordance with American ideals, saying as a land of opportunity, pluralism and hope, the United States cannot shut its doors on an uprooted people, who have gone through unspeakable suffering at the hands of ISIS and Bashar al Assad’s state terrors.

“We are taking a small step to condemn them, to send a message to ISIS and terrorists that we do not approve them. We do not accept them because they are evil,” Mike Ghous, executive director of American Muslim Institution, said, while also making the point that terrorists do not represent Islam.

The participants said they fully sympathize with Paris victims, and have converged on the National Mall to express their united opposition to terror. Following the Paris attacks and the anti-Muslim rhetoric, the gathering on the Lincoln Monument steps assumed a profound symbolism, as it was here that Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech.

Republican presidential candidates in the 2016 race Ben Carson and Donald Trump made controversial suggestions this week, which Muslim leaders termed as shocking because they dehumanize the entire community. Trump backed the idea ofAmerican Muslims having special ID cards and proposed the U.S. have a database of all American Muslims. Carson, who earlier this year in a contravention of the American constitution suggested that a Muslim should not become president of the United States, this week compared some Syrian refugees to “rabid dogs.”

But several American rights activists and Democratic leaders have urged striking a balance in security considerations and fulfilling the great American tradition of taking in legitimate refugees. The White House has opposed the idea of a sweeping restriction on Syrian refugees entry into the United States. 

At the Lincoln Memorial, Andrea Barron of Washington Area Jews for Jewish-Muslim Understanding, a small group, read out her statement to the media saying the U.S. must destroy ISIS and its violent worldview but nobody should paint all Muslims with the same broad brush.

“What would Abrahm Lincoln do if he were president today. What would he say about the remarks made by Trump and Carson? “

She also quoted from a statement made by the U.S. Holocaust Museum, reminding of the consequences to those unable to flee the Nazis. Two thirds of Jews were wiped out by the holocaust.

“Help America defeat ISIS. Join American Muslims, Christians, Jews and others who understand that we should never condemn all Muslims. We should embrace the Muslims here today, who see ISIS their enemy too.”

Terra Kurmia, an American of Indonesia descent, came to the gathering with his four-year-old son Adam riding on father’s shoulders. “We are standing for the basic principles of America: life and liberty. It’s the one thing that makes this country great.”

Robert Morrow, a member of the Board of Trustees of All Dallas Area Muslim Society in Adams, opposed the alarmist view of fearing Muslims.

“Islam is a religion of peace. The overwhelming majority of Muslims have no connection, no support for groups like that. There is no need to fear Muslims in America, in the Middle East, anywhere else in the world. We can live together.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representative has passed a bill to further tighten the vetting procedure for Syrian refugees seeking admission to the United States. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the bill, supported by both Republicans and some Democrats, but which still has to go through the Senate.

Hillary Clinton, the lead Democratic candidate, has called for a resolute response to the Daesh’s radical jihadism but made clear that Islam is not the enemy.

“After a major terrorist attack, every society faces a choice between fear and resolve. The world’s great democracies can’t sacrifice our values or turn our backs on those in need. Therefore, we must choose resolve. And we must lead the world to meet this threat,” she said in a speech.

Beyond Paris in recent days, she pointed out, the world has seen seen deadly terrorist attacks in Nigeria, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey, and a Russian civilian airline destroyed over the Sinai.

“At the heart of today’s new landscape of terror is ISIS. They persecute religious and ethnic minorities; kidnap and behead civilians; murder children. They systematically enslave, torture and rape women and girls.”

She noted there was a dangerous streak of extremism within the Muslim world but added: “Let’s be clear, though, Islam is not our adversary. Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people, and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism. The obsession in some quarters with a clash of civilization, or repeating the specific words radical Islamic terrorism isn’t just a distraction, it gives these criminals, these murderers more standing than they deserve. It actually plays into their hands by alienating partners we need by our side.”