AMCC President Atif Fareed continuously seeks to improve relations between Muslims and non-Muslims. One obstacle he often encounters in this endeavour is the fact that many non-Muslims do not want to give Muslims a chance because they think Muslims are not vocal enough in denouncing terrorism. Fareed says that this is not true. For more than a decade now, Muslim leaders have been very vocal in condemning terror attacks.
1. 2011 Alexandria bombing
Egyptian Muslims did not just condemn the January 1, 2011 Alexandria bombing that killed 23 people and injured 97 others, they came out and put themselves in harm’s way to prove that they stand with the Coptic Christians that the attack has targeted. During the January 6, 2011 mass service held to remember those who died in the attack, the Egyptian Muslims showed up at the Coptic churches and formed human shields to protect the Christians praying inside. For days, Egyptian Muslims and Coptic Christians joined together in street protests, rallies, and social media campaigns. They showed that we should not let terrorism divide us. Instead, we should work closer together and be hand in hand in protecting one another.
2. 2010 Vow to Fight Al Qaeda
In November 2010, Bakeel Tribe Chieftain Naji bin Abdul-Aziz al-Shaif led thousands of tribesmen from various Yemeni tribes in a rally where they pledged to fight alongside the government against the threat of the Al Qaeda. He further said that the terrorist group is ruining the reputation of the country, Yemeni tribes, and Islam itself. He also called out Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to do everything in his power to drive the terrorist organization out of Yemen.
3. 2009 Northwest Airlines Flight 253 Bombing Attempt
Numerous Muslim groups condemned the bombing attempt that if successful would have taken the lives of the 290 people on board the Northwest Airlines Flight 253. A group of Canadian and US Islamic Leaders immediately issued a fatwa denouncing the attack saying that the attack was not only an attack towards Americans, it was also an attack towards Muslims living in America. 20 imams belonging to the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada signed the fatwa. The fatwa emphasized one teaching from the Quran that tells Muslims to be loyal to the country where they live.
Atif Fareed hopes that these examples can help clear the misconception that Muslims often choose to stay silent in regards to terror attacks on non-Muslim countries. Terrorism is an enemy of Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
