Daniel Lubetzky

Years ago, terrorist attacks by pseudo-Islamic terrorists were not aggressively condemned by Muslim leaders.  Their position was, "why should we have to take a stance on this? We didn’t do it and do not need to go out of our way to deny such vicious acts."  Plus significant portions of the Muslim population did not feel ire against those acts, distant as they seemed.  Everyone remembers the tragic support that Osama Bin Laden used to have in Arab and Muslim countries. 

That has long changed, as the tide against terrorism has turned, moderate voices have exerted leadership, and Muslim leaders have learned to react swiftly against those who claim to speak in the name of Islam through violence.  Ordinary Arab and Muslim citizens increasingly recognize that vicious acts of murder against innocent civilians by terrorists who claim to speak in the name of Islam tarnish their religion and the image of its people and must be assertively countered.  They also realize that "creating a monster" comes back to haunt them, as has been exemplified by the brutal acts of Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia.

Yet the Western media gives scant attention to these condemnations. Showcasing the voices of moderates just doesn’t garner as high ratings.

For years OneVoice has been tracking and trying to publicize stances against violent extremism from mainstream leaders across religious, ethnic, and national spectrums.  More and more organizations and governments are taking a strong stance.  But the "other" audiences continue to miss the news, underreported as they are.

Below is a sample (by no means exhaustive) compilation of some of the Arab and Muslim nations and organizations across the world – from Saudi Arabia to the Arab League – who condemned the tragic and barbaric terrorist acts in Mumbai.  Everyone can always do better, but the below can be shared whenever you are asked "Why are Muslims not condemning terrorism?"

Muslim Condemnations of Terror Attacks

on Civilians in Mumbai, India

November 28, 2008
Dear friends,
           A terrible and tragic incident occurred in Mumbai, India beginning on Wednesday, November 26, and continued through Thursday, November 27, 2008.  Armed extremists who claimed to be acting in the name of Islam seized civilian hostages and barricaded themselves inside two Hotels, a Hospital and a Jewish Center.  Some gunmen opened fire on civilian crowds.  Condemnation of this act immediately poured from Muslim organizations and national leaders throughout the World.  Unfortunately, however, forceful condemnations of violence and terrorism by Muslim organizations and by Muslim leaders often go unnoticed by Western news media and Western publics.  Sadly, both news media and their audiences tend to focus solely on violent and sensational aspects of such an incident.  Reassuring and calming news tends to pass unnoticed and unremembered.  
            For the record, here is a collection of some of the condemnations of the Mumbai terror attack, by Muslim organizations and national leaders.  If you read a news article or hear a news broadcast accusing Muslims of remaining “silent”, and of failing to denounce terrorism, please consider sending a correcting response, citing information from this bulletin.
Al Salaam Alaykum, Shalom, Namaste, Peace
David L. Hoffman, Coordinator
Humanity Check
Interfaith Peace and Reconciliation Project
PMB 560, 122 Calistoga Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
USA
humanitycheck@earthlink.net
(707) 206-2650 (mobile – AT&T/Cingular)


North American Muslim Organizations

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR):  

CAIR Condemns Mumbai Attacks

Muslim Civil Rights Group Demands that Hostages Be

‘Released Immediately and Unconditionally’

Press Release
Council on American-Islamic Relations
November 27, 2008
A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned attacks on a number of sites in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai that left at least 100 people dead and many more injured.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages taken during the attacks. Witnesses say the attackers sought out American and British citizens.

[  ...  ]

In a statement, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We condemn these cowardly attacks and demand that all hostages taken by the attackers be released immediately and unconditionally. We offer sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured in these senseless and inexcusable acts of violence against innocent civilians. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens of all faiths in repudiating acts of terror wherever they take place and whomever they target.”
The Washington-based group also asked the Indian government to protect all its citizens from the type of retaliatory attacks that have taken place following similar incidents in the recent past.
CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)

MPAC Condemns Mumbai Terror Attacks

Press Release
Muslim Public Affairs Council
November 26, 2008
The Muslim Public Affairs Council today condemned a series of seven terror attacks in Mumbai, India, which have left at least 80 dead, and more than 900 injured. According to media reports, about 40 British nationals and other foreigners are currently being held hostage at a Mumbai hotel.

[  ...  ]

According to media reports, gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades hit two five-star hotels, a cafe, a train station and other sites in coordinated attacks. The targets included businesses frequented by international visitors in the city, which is India’s financial center.
Those responsible for these brutal and immoral attacks should be swiftly brought to justice. Islam considers the use of terrorism to be unacceptable for any purpose.
"We at MPAC extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the Indian people. As Americans, we are familiar with the imminent and the long-term repercussions of terrorism," said Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati. "Here at home, we remain committed to combating, rejecting and effectively countering the scourge of terrorism in all forms."
Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim of Muslim American. MPAC offices are located in Washington, DC, New York City and Los Angeles.

Indian Muslim Council-USA

US Based Indian American Group Denounces Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai

Press Release
Indian Muslim Council-USA
November 27, 2008
Indian Muslim Council-USA (IMC-USA: http://www.imc-usa.org), an advocacy group dedicated towards safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, denounces in strongest possible terms the terror attacks in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. IMC-USA empathizes with the families of victims, hostages and police officers killed in the attacks and hopes for the safe release of the hostages.
According to reports, a series of bomb blasts and shootings in the city’s main train station, a hospital, luxury hotels and tourist attractions have killed and injured more than one hundred people. Dozens, many of them foreign tourists, are also reportedly taken hostage by these armed groups of young men at different locations. Several police personnel including Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare were also killed and many more injured while engaging the militants. Rasheed Ahmed, President of IMC-USA said: “The perpetrators of these crimes against humanity should be captured and punished to the maximum extent of the law.”
IMC-USA calls on the Indian government to find ways to increase the safety and security of ordinary citizens as well as provide immediate and adequate compensation to all the victims of this carnage. Recent years have witnessed an alarming growth in the number of groups committing mindless acts of violence against innocent civilians. In the past few months alone there has been a string of bomb blasts in many cities, ethnic cleansing and targeting of minorities, police harassment and scapegoating of innocent civilians and fake encounter killings. “The Home Minister is responsible for this widespread deterioration of law & order and security situation and should be held accountable”, stated Rasheed Ahmed.
The current attack also highlights the lapse in the intelligence gathering of the different law enforcement agencies. “More than two dozen terrorists seem to have let loose a string of blasts and shootings in different locations; a coordinated attack on this scale with the number of people involved points to a major failure on the part of the intelligence agencies”, he further added.
IMC-USA also calls on the Indian government to setup a high level commission to investigate the increasing scourge of violence and terrorism in the country and ways to engage the civil society in effectively curbing this menace.

Kashmiri American Council (KAC):

Mumbai Terrorist Attacks Reprehensible

Crimes Against Humanity: Dr. Fai

Press Release
Kashmiri American Council
November 27, 2008
The Kashmiri American Council (KAC) expressed its utter disgust at the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Mumbai, India.  Condemning the bestiality in the strongest terms, the KAC pledged to contribute, in whatever form possible, to the rehabilitation effort of the affected families.  Dismayed at the photos displaying the carnage, fleeing victims and burning buildings, Executive Director of KAC, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, prayed that the authorities would pursue all reasonable efforts to investigate, apprehend, and punish those who are guilty of committing these reprehensible crimes against humanity.
The KAC Board, in an extraordinary meeting, pledged to oppose those who would resort to violence in order to pursue whatever ends they claimed.  Reports indicating that terrorists specifically targeted Western tourists further aggravate enlightened sensibilities.  Targeted victimization of innocents has no justification and encourages retribution from any and all quarters.  To that end, the KAC hopes that all India’s citizenry allows for a cooling period and hopes that communal harmony prevails during this troubling time in India s history.

Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN)

CAIR-CAN Condemns Mumbai Attacks

Islamic Group Hopes for Safe and Speedy Return of Hostages

Press Release
Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations
November 28, 2008)
The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) today condemned the attacks in Mumbai, India in which Montreal actor Michael Rudder and Toronto yoga instructor Helen Connolly were wounded. Currently, six Canadians are also unaccounted for and are believed to be held hostage.
Foreigners from diverse countries, including Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Sweden, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Yemen, Israel, New Zealand and Singapore, are among those being held captive according to Indian officials.
"We categorically condemn the Mumbai attacks and demand that all hostages be immediately released. We also pray for the safe and speedy return of those held captive," said Sameer Zuberi, CAIR-CAN Communications Coordinator.
"Our condolences go out to the families of those victimized in these tragic events. As people of faith we must strongly speak out against the terrorizing and kidnapping of innocent civilians," Zuberi added.  
CAIR-CAN also called on the Canadian government to direct all resources necessary to assist those Canadians affected by the Mumbai attacks.  

MuslimMatters.org

From

Muslims Condemn Mumbai Terror Attack

By Brad A. Greenberg
Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles

November 26, 2008
http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/muslims_condemn_mubai_terror_attack_20081126/
Muslims worldwide have been denouncing the attacks, and not parsing their words. This condemnation is from MuslimMatters.org:
Regardless of who was involved, the people who carried these attacks out are animals, with little sense of humanity or morality.
As Muslims, we condemn such senseless carnage against innocent civilians, wherever it may occur. This goes against the fundamental spirit of Islam, which promotes a culture of life and humanity, not bloodshed and violence. And another example of why extremist ideology, whatever that ideology may be, needs to be refuted and condemned.
“Whoever kills a person [unjustly]… it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.” (Qur’an, 5:32)
Today, we join all Indians in expressing our outrage and our condemnation of this senseless spilling of innocent blood.
May Allah grant patience to the victims of terrorism, and may He extract full justice against the perpetrators.
Leaders of Muslim Majority Nations

Egypt

From

Egypt, Arab League Slam Mumbai ‘Terrorism’

Agence Frances Presse and Africasia (UK)
November 27, 2008
http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=081127131945.2rm0mkv6.php
Egypt and the Arab League on Thursday denounced the "terrorist" attacks which left at least 100 people dead in India’s financial hub Mumbai.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak condemned the attacks and said his country "stands by the side of New Delhi in countering terrorism," state news agency MENA reported.

Saudi Arabia

From

Kingdom, OIC Lambaste Attacks

Arab News

November 28, 2008
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=116770&d=28&m=11&y=2008
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia yesterday denounced the terrorist attacks in India’s business capital Mumbai and expressed its condolences to the Indian government and people.
“The Kingdom has been following up the terrorist explosions in Mumbai with indignation and expresses its strong condemnation of this criminal act,” an official source said.

Afghanistan

From

Siege after Mumbai Massacre

Daily Star

(Dhaka, Bangladesh)
November 28, 2008
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65256
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai said: "Terrorists are especially challenging South Asia. A vigorous response to counter these terrorist challenges requires an even more intensified regional cooperation and coordination in all aspects."

Pakistan

From

World Rallies Behind India in Anti-Terror Fight

Mangalorian.com

Nov. 27, 2008
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=102767
In Islamabad, Pakistani leaders strongly condemned the attacks, calling for "strict measures" to counter the scourge.
President Asif Ali Zardari, while condemning the blasts and firing, called for strict measures to deal with terrorism. "President Zardari stressed the need for taking strict measures to eradicate terrorism and extremism from the region," a brief message issued by the ministry of information said.
It said that Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
In their separate messages, Zardari and Gilani deplored the tragic incidents, with the prime minister urging "the need for concerted efforts to make the region a peaceful place to live".

Abu Dhabi

From

World Rallies Behind India in Anti-Terror Fight

Mangalorian.com

Nov. 27, 2008
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=102767
In Abu Dhabi, WAM news agency quoted Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, foreign minister of the Arab federation, as saying in a statement: "The UAE, while condemning this brutal and appalling crime, affirms its complete solidarity with the government of India and standing by its side in confronting and overcoming these criminal acts".



United Arab Emirates (UAE)

From

UAE Condemns Mumbai Terror Attacks

Thaindian News

November 27, 2008
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/uae-condemns-mumbai-terror-attacks_100124400.html
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Thursday condemned the terror attacks in India’s commercial capital Mumbai in which 101 people were killed and more than 200 injured.”The UAE, while condemning this brutal and appalling crime, affirms its complete solidarity with the government of India and standing by its side in confronting and overcoming these criminal acts,” WAM news agency quoted Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, foreign minister of the Arab federation, as saying in a statement.
Sheikh Abdullah offered his sympathies to the families of the victims and wished speedy recovery to those injured in the attacks.
criminal acts," WAM news agency quoted Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, foreign minister of the Arab federation, as saying in a statement.
Sheikh Abdullah offered his sympathies to the families of the victims and wished speedy recovery to those injured in the attacks.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Condemns ‘Mindless Acts’ of Terrorism in Mumbai

Earth Times

November 27, 2008
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/243645,bangladesh-condemns-mindless-acts-of-terrorism-in-mumbai–summary.html
Dhaka – Bangladesh on Thursday condemned the overnight terrorist attacks in India’s financial capital of Mumbai that left 101 people dead and 287 injured. Bangladesh’s President Iajuddin Ahmed, in a message to his Indian counterpart Pratibha Devisingh Patil, expressed deep shock and sorrow at the loss of lives in the Mumbai terror incident.
In his statement Iajuddin noted that Bangladesh stands firm with India at this hour of grief.
The chief adviser to the military-backed caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, in another message to Indian Premier Manmohan Singh, conveyed his sympathies for the members of the bereaved families and prayed for an early recovery of the injured.
Ahmed condemned the acts of terror and expressed hope that the release of the hostages taken by the terrorists would be speedy.
"I condemn it as a mindless act of terror," Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, foreign affairs adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, said in a statement that denounced the carnage in the neighbouring country.
"I wish to underscore that terror can serve no purpose."
"Our hearts are with those so many innocent people, Indians and foreigners, who have been affected by these cowardly bombings," added Iftekhar, who also addressed a letter to his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukharjee.
International Muslim Organizations and Alliances
Arab League

From

Kingdom, OIC Lambaste Attacks

Arab News

November 28, 2008
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=116770&d=28&m=11&y=2008
In Cairo, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said such “criminal and terrorist acts aggravate the vicious circle of violence and counter-violence.” He expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Indian government and people.

From

Egypt, Arab League Slam Mumbai ‘Terrorism’

Agence Frances Presse and Africasia (UK)
November 27, 2008
http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=081127131945.2rm0mkv6.php
Amr Mussa, who heads the 22-member Arab League, said such "criminal and terrorist acts aggravate the vicious circle of violence and counter-violence," the agency reported.

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)

From

Kingdom, OIC Lambaste Attacks

Arab News

November 28, 2008
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=116770&d=28&m=11&y=2008
Arab and Islamic organizations yesterday denounced the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned the attacks, saying violence had no justification. “These acts of violence contradict all human values and can be justified by nothing,” an OIC spokesman said at the group’s headquarters here.



International Islamic Relief Organization

From

Kingdom, OIC Lambaste Attacks

Arab News

November 28, 2008
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=116770&d=28&m=11&y=2008


Adnan Khalil Basha, secretary-general of the International Islamic Relief Organization in Saudi Arabia, condemned the terrorist attacks and expressed his sympathy to the people and government of India and families of victims.
“Lives of human beings are so valuable that this barbaric act should not have occurred. Nobody and no religion will endorse this act of terrorism,” Basha told Arab News. He stressed the need to stop such terrorist acts to protect humanity from going back to the age of forest law.

Muslim Brotherhood

From

Kingdom, OIC Lambaste Attacks

Arab News

November 28, 2008
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=116770&d=28&m=11&y=2008
Egypt’s opposition Muslim Brotherhood condemned the attacks in a statement and hoped that the “perpetrators of these heinous crime would be brought to justice to receive the ultimate punishment.”

From

Egypt, Arab League Slam Mumbai ‘Terrorism’

Agence Frances Presse and Africasia (UK)
November 27, 2008
http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=081127131945.2rm0mkv6.php
The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s main opposition group, also condemned the "terrorist attacks" and called for the execution of the perpetrators.
"These despicable acts of terror are an attack on humanity in general, not against people from certain nationalities or civilization," said a statement on the Brotherhood’s website.
"We hope that perpetrators of these heinous (acts) be brought to justice to receive the ultimate punishment for their crimes," said the Brotherhood, which control about a fifth of seats in parliament.