A DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH BY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MUSLIMS
We, the undersigned, unconditionally condemn any intimidation or threats of violence directed against any individual or group exercising the rights of freedom of religion and speech; even when that speech may be perceived as hurtful or reprehensible.
We are concerned and saddened by the recent wave of vitriolic anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiment that is being expressed across our nation.
We are even more concerned and saddened by threats that have been made against individual writers, cartoonists, and others by a minority of Muslims. We see these as a greater offense against Islam than any cartoon, Qur’an burning, or other speech could ever be deemed.
We affirm the right of free speech for Molly Norris, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and all others including ourselves.
As Muslims, we must set an example of justice, patience, tolerance, respect, and forgiveness.
The Qur’an enjoins Muslims to:* bear witness to Islam through our good example (2:143); * restrain anger and pardon people (3:133-134 and 24:22); * remain patient in adversity (3186); * stand firmly for justice (4:135); * not let the hatred of others swerve us from justice (5:8); * respect the sanctity of life (5:32); * turn away from those who mock Islam (6:68 and 28:55); * hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant (7:199); * restrain ourselves from rash responses (16:125-128); * pass by worthless talk with dignity (25:72); and* repel evil with what is better (41:34).
Islam calls for vigorous condemnation of both hateful speech and hateful acts, but always within the boundaries of the law. It is of the utmost importance that we react, not out of reflexive emotion, but with dignity and intelligence, in accordance with both our religious precepts and the laws of our country.
We uphold the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Both protect freedom of religion and speech, because both protections are fundamental to defending minorities from the whims of the majority.
We therefore call on all Muslims in the United States, Canada and abroad to refrain from violence. We should see the challenges we face today as an opportunity to sideline the voices of hate—not reward them with further attention—by engaging our communities in constructive dialogue about the true principles of Islam, and the true principles of democracy, both of which stress the importance of freedom of religion and tolerance.
SIGNATORIES:
Prof. Hassan Abbas, Quaid-i-Azam Chair, South Asia Institute, Columbia UniversityAmmar Abdulhamid, Executive Director, Tharwa Foundation Imam Johari Abdul Malik, Director of Outreach, Dar-Al-Hijrah Islamic Center Mehnaz M. Afridi, PhD, Adjunct Professor (Judaism, Islam & Genocide Studies) Antioch University Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, PhD, Director, Minaret of Freedom FoundationAhrar Ahmad, PhD, Professor of Political Science, Black Hills State UniversityProf. Akbar S. Ahmed, PhD, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American UniversityProf. Parvez Ahmed, PhD, Fulbright Scholar & Assoc. Prof. University of North Florida Barbara Al-Bayati, Co-Founder, Orphan WhispersWajahat Ali, playwright, journalist, and producer of “Domestic Crusaders”Sumbul Ali-Karamali, JD, LLM (Islamic Law), author of “The Muslim Next Door”Salam al-Marayati, Pres., Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)Shahed Amanullah, Editor-in-Chief, AltmuslimM. Saud Anwar, Co-Chair, American Muslim Peace Initiative Abdul Cader Asmal MD, PhD, Past President, Islamic Council of Mew England Aref Assaf, PhD, President, American Arab ForumHussam Ayloush, Exec. Director, CAIR Greater Los Angeles AreaHazami Barmada, Pres, American Muslim Interactive Network (AMIN)Victor Ghalib Begg, Senior Advisor, Chairman Emeritus, Council of Islamic Organizations of MichiganFarah Brelvi, Board of Directors, ACLU-NCM. Ali Chaudry, PhD, President, Center for Understanding Islam (CUII) Kamran Cheikh, Activist, Committee member, Muslims for Peace, Justice & Progress (MPJP), researcher for Deen Research Center (DRC) Robert D. Crane, JD, author of numerous booksProf Golam Dastagir, PhD, Visiting Research Scholar, New College, University of Toronto, CanadaAlmoonir Dewji, blogger - “That We May Know Each Other” Mustafa Stefan Dill, blogger;/PR/social media analyst for Muslim issues; musician Lamia El-Sadek, political and human rights activitistMohamed Elsanousi, Director of Communications and Community Outreach for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)Mona Eltahawy, journalistAziz Enhaili, Political analyst, columnist for Tolerance.caProf. Mohammad Fadel, PhDFatemeh Fakhraie, Editor-in-Chief, Muslimah Media WatchMike Ghouse, President, World Muslim Congress Iftekhar Hai, President, UMA Interfaith Alliance Rabia Terri Harris, Coordinator, Muslim Peace Fellowship Hesham Hassaballa, M.D., author, journalist, blogger - “God, faith, and a pen”Amir Hussain, PhD, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymound UniversityIftekhar Hussain, Chair, Board of Directors, CAIR-PAArsalan Iftikhar, author, human rights lawyer, blogger - “The Muslim Guy”Jeffrey Imm, Director, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)Ghazala Irshad, journalist, blogger - “The Floating Lotus”Nakia Jackson, writer M. Zuhdi Jasser, MD, President, American Islamic Forum for DemocracySafi Kaskas, President & CEO Strategic Edge Prof. Muqtedar Khan, PhD, author of several books, Blogger - “Globalog”Farah Kinani, Journalist, blogger - “Global Voices”Shaikh Ahmad Kutty, Resident Senior Scholar, Islamic Institute of Toronto Faisal Kutty, Visiting Asst. Prof. of law, Valparaiso University School of Law and Adjunct Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto)M. Junaid Levesque-Alam, writer, blogger - “Crossing the Crescent” David Liepert, M.D., blogger and author of “Muslim, Christian AND Jew” Radwan A. Masmoudi, PhD, President, Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID) Shelina Merani, community activist, artist, blogger “Muslim Presence”Melody Moezzi, JD, MPH, writer and attorneyDaniel Abdal-Hayy Moore, author of many books of poetryEbrahim Moosa, Assoc. Professor of Islamic Studies, Dept. of Religion, Duke UniversityLt. Col. Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, U.S. Army Chaplain Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President Sound Vision Sheila Musaji, Editor, The American Muslim (TAM)Muneeb Nasir, President, Olive Tree Foundation, Editor IQRA CanadaQ. Amin Nathari, National Representative, Islam in America Movement (IAM)Aziz H. Poonawalla, PhD, scientist and blogger - “City of Brass” on BeliefnetM.Waheed-uz-Zaman Rana, Imam, Prof. Emeritus, Dept. of Surgery, Saint Louis University Hasan Zillur Rahim, PhD, journalistShaykh Ahmed Abdur Rashid, The Circle GroupProf. Hussein Rashid, PhD, blogger - “Religion Dispatches”Shafi Refai, President, United Muslims of America Louay Safi, PhD, Common Word Fellow, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Christian Muslim Understanding, Georgetown UniversityGhulam Abbas Sajan, Director Islamic Ahlul Bayt Assembly of CanadaRobert Salaam, blogger - “The American Muslim”Raquel Evita Saraswati, activist, writer, bloggerSarah Sayeed, President of One Blue S. Abdallah Schleifer, Distinguished Prof., Dept. of Journalism & Mass Com, American University Cairo Ricka Shorish, M.S., R.N., volunteer/consultant, Avicenna Community Health Center Jafar Siddiqui, blogger - “Penjihad”Prof. Laury Silvers, PhDGwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, PhD, Sr. Lecturer, Islamic Studies & African American Religion, University of Florida Prof. Ibrahim B. Syed, PhD, President of Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc., authorDr. Sayyid M. Syeed, Nat’l Director, Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)J.Tayeb, MD, President, CAIR-MI, ISNA founders committee member, Vice chair, HUDA free Clinic, Detroit Pamela Taylor, Co-founder Muslims for Progressive Values, Panelist for On Faith Tayyibah Taylor, Editor, Azizah MagazineDr. Hashim El-Tinay, President, International Peace Quest Institute (IPQI) Tarik Trad, writer, humorist, photographer, artist and activist Asma T. Uddin, Attorney, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and Editor, Altmuslimah Wahida Valiante, President, Canadian Islamic Congress and Chair of Islamic History Month Canada Jason van Boom, Host of “Islam and Authors”, writer Amina Wadud, PhD, consultant on Islam and gender, visiting scholar Starr King School for the MinistryDanya Wellmon, Co-Founder Women Transcending Boundaries interfaith groupSvend White, blogger - “Akram’s Razor”, activist, writerG. Willow Wilson, author of “Butterfly Mosque” and “Air” graphic novel series Ani Zonneveld, President, Muslims for Progressive Values
NOTE: If you are a Canadian or American Muslim ( Imam, scholar, community leader, journalist, author, writer, or cartoonist) and would like to add your signature, please send an email with your name, title, and organizational affiliation (if any) to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) — The list of signatories will be updated daily and the most recent list can be found HERE.
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© The American Muslim (TAM) 1989
Website design and development by Imran Musaji.
Background art adapted from the copr. artwork of Safiya Godlas.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this webpage do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The American Muslim, nor can the American Muslim be held accountable for these views.
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed an interest in said material for research and educational purposes.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
© 2005 XHTML . CSS . Powered by ExpressionEngine
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