Defend the Prophet 10 January 2011 Uncategorized One Comment  Email This Post

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Islamic Society of North America Prays for Victims of Arizona Shooting and Calls for End to Dangerous Political Rhetoric

Source: ISNA

(Plainfield, IN Jan 10, 2011)  The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) joins with other national organizations to offer prayers and condolences to all those affected in the senseless and tragic Arizona shooting on Saturday Jan 8th.  The shooting left Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in critical condition and killed six others, including U.S. District Judge John Roll and a nine year old girl.  ISNA asks all to pray for the speedy recovery of Congresswoman Giffords and all others injured, and for God to ease the suffering of all those affected.

While information continues to emerge on this horrible crime, we know enough to believe that the shooting highlights the danger of incendiary political rhetoric. ISNA reminds everyone that as we grieve as a nation we must also remember that the rhetoric used against Congresswoman Giffords is not new and does not come without serious consequences. This tragedy also calls for some reexamination of how we as a country are conducting our fight against terrorism.  “If a Detroit Muslim put a map on the web w/crosshairs on 20 pols, then 1 of them got shot, where would he be sitting right now? Just asking,”  documentary filmmaker Michael Moore said yesterday on Twitter.

ISNA also calls on all concerned individuals to call this horrendous crime what it is — an act of terrorism — pure and simple. Many national media outlets concluded that the shooting “is not connected to terrorism.”   “These types of statements point to a clear problem in defining terrorist acts in this country. It seems that currently the media does not define terrorism by the nature of the action, but rather, by the identity, ethnicity, or religion of the perpetrator.  This is not helpful as we try to put an end to the scourge of terrorism.”

ISNA is an association of Muslim organizations and individuals that provides a common platform for presenting Islam, supporting Muslim communities, developing educational, social and outreach programs and fostering good relations with other religious communities, and civic and service organizations.

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Contact:

Sarah Thompson

ISNA Communications Coordinator

(o): 317-839-1816(c): 317-679-6350

sthompson@isna.net

Original post: ISNA Prays for Victims of Arizona Shooting