New York, March 22, 2012
Like people of conscience of all backgrounds, I was deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the shootings of the Jewish schoolchildren in France a few days ago. There exists no preparation for hearing such news, and certainly there is no palliative for the families who suffer the loss of their loved ones. On behalf of my congregation, the Jamaica Muslim Center, the largest Muslim Center in New York and the entire New York Muslim community, I condemn these shootings unequivocally. Our hearts go out to our Jewish friends. We extend our heartfelt sympathy and solidarity not only to the victims, but to the entire global Jewish community.
In the wake of the gunfight that led to the death of the apparent assailant Mohamed Merah, we reiterate our denunciation of the horrific comments he made during the time he was under siege justifying and even glorifying his actions. No true Muslim can ever justify the murder of innocents. Merah claimed that he carried out his murderous spree to avenge the deaths of Palestinian children, but his acts spit in the very faces of those he claimed to care about and disrespected the Islamic faith that animated their lives.
We know only too well that extremist tendencies can emerge in any community at any time and that those animated by such extremists ideologies may target any individual or community. We also know that Muslims and Jews have historically had common interests and have had inextricably linked fates. This attack viscerally drives these points home, and exposes the misunderstandings, fear, and ignorance that people on both sides have not only about each other, but even of their own religious doctrines.
It is incumbent upon people of conscience of all religious backgrounds to strengthen their ‘common ground’; to build genuine trust, and to unite in order to combat the extreme tendencies within our respective communities. These horrible acts in France also remind of the need to strengthen trust and cooperation between law enforcement authorities and members of the American Muslim Community. In short, we need to strengthen every alliance available to us in order to facilitate peaceful coexistence.
As a religious leader, I wish to make clear that my stand on these terrible events is free of any or all conditions or caveats. I categorically condemn the gunman’s actions, and urge religious leaders of my own faith and all others to take similar stands as well against these evils. We must stand together for each other’s rights and safety, and to live up to the true beliefs of those who follow a merciful and loving God.
Muslims and Jews have both suffered and continue to suffer because of politics and history, which has led to deep mistrust and mutual antipathy among many in our respective communities. We must combat these negative phenomena together; furthering our cooperation and linking arms in opposition to both Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, so that the peaceful and loving side of both our communities emerges stronger than the extremists in our ranks who promote hatred and violence.
Our heartfelt prayers go out to the victims and their families, and also to each other. For if we do not stand together against the hatred and mistrust that divides us, we may all too lose out to evil misanthropes who seek to destroy our common desire for peace and our collective potential for happiness.
Respectfully,
Imam Shamsi Ali
Director, Jamaica Muslim Center, Jamaica-Queens
Chairman, Masjid Al-Hikmah Astoria-Queens
