Notable Examples of Muslims Denouncing Acts of Terror by Atif Fareed

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.

promote peace

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.

Sorting Facts from Fiction with Atif Fareed’s Orlando Billboards

vandalised mosque

The November 2015 Paris coordinated terror attacks where 130 people died have been condemned by the whole world. They have also caused repercussions felt by Muslims residing in countries where Muslims are a minority. The United States is one glaring example of this prejudice. After the Paris attacks, many places of Islam worship such as mosques and Islamic community centers were vandalized. There were even numerous reported hate crimes targeting Muslim-Americans. These attacks are not doing any good. They are just damaging the already fragile relations between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in America.

The Orlando Billboard Campaign

The Orlando Billboard Campaign was launched weeks after the Paris attacks. Atif Fareed, the man behind the campaign, clarifies that the campaign is not in response to the backlash caused by the terror strikes in Paris. He further clarifies that the campaign has been in the works for months. He also defends that the near $10,000 spent for each billboard is well worth it, especially now that the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims seems to be crumbling. He also says that there couldn’t have been a better time to put the campaign in motion.

atif fareed orlando billboard campaign — A local Muslim group is partnering with a national organization to put up eight billboards in the Orlando, Fla., area to correct misperceptions about Islam. (George Skene/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

Spreading the Words of True Islam

Atif Fareed explains that each billboard is meant to clear up misconceptions about Islam. He says that terrorists such as ISIS, who claim to be working for the glory of Allah, should not be believed. He tells further that these terrorists have twisted the real meaning of Islam so they can use it as a defense for their despicable actions. Islam is not a religion of terror and terrorists do not represent Islam. The people of America should not be divided by terror. We should instead stand firm and hand-in-hand in combatting the menace. The American Muslim communities stand with the rest of America and the rest of the world in denouncing all forms of terrorism.

American-Muslims are Your Neighbors

Fareed says that the billboards are also there to remind everyone that American-Muslims are just like their non-Muslim neighbors. American-Muslims pay taxes, perform services for their community, and work to earn a living just as hard as any other American. American-Muslims should not be alienated. They respect the faith of others and they deserve to have their faith respected. The billboards are a way of reaching out to non-Muslims.

Know More About the Muslim Faith

A toll-free number and website address can be found on all billboards installed by the campaign. They intend to give a reliable resource for people who want to know more about Islam. Learn about Islam and be able to distinguish which is true and which is false about the religion.

Know more about Islam:

http://www.wikihow.com/Learn-More-About-Islam

http://www.islam-guide.com/

http://tellmeaboutislam.com/

Atif Fareed Thanks the Internet for Standing Up to Islamophobe After the Brussels Attack

One day after the Brussels terror attack that killed 34 people (the three suicide bombers included) and injured more than 300 people, some people most notably GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, were quick to blame all of the 1.6 billion Muslims throughout the world. Atif Fareed, president of the AMCC, believes such blame is irrational. The four men who carried out the attack do represent neither Islam nor the Muslims.

People who discriminate against Muslims and associate all Muslims to terror attacks are generally referred to as Islamophobes.

Related Article: Orlando, Florida: Billboards stress commonality of religions

Recently, one Islamophobe named Matthew P. Doyle (@MatthewDoyle31) made waves in the Twitterverse by twitting that he confronted a Muslim woman yesterday in Croydon and asked her to explain Brussels. He said that the Muslim woman simply answered, “Nothing to do with me.” Doyle described the woman’s answer as a mealy mouthed reply. Atif Fareed denounces this tweet as extremely racist and discriminatory. Why should Muslims explain things that terrorists did? Thankfully, Fareed was not alone. Twitter users quickly came to the defense of the said Muslim woman with the following tweets:

@TechnicallyRon, “I confronted a dog today & asked him about that time when I was 4 and a dog bit me. “woof” he said. A mealy mouthed reply.”

@mrdavidwhitley, “I confronted someone who was eating yesterday in Croydon. I asked her to explain Brussels. She said “Hmmm-nng-mmgh”. A mealy mouthed reply.”

“Confronted a bloke with elbow patches in Croydon. Asked him to explain earthquakes. He said “Nothing to do with me”. A mealy mouthed reply.”

@LeeJasper, “I confronted a White woman yesterday in Croydon. Asked her to apologize for slavery. She said ‘Nothing to do with me’ A mealy mouthed reply.”

@garwboy, “Confronted a self-service machine in Tesco, Asked it to explain Brussels. It said “Please place items in bagging area”. Mealy mouthed reply.”

@robbiereviews, “I confronted a man who was eating a bowl of muesli yesterday in Croydon. He said “mmfflfffmufflrgh”. A mealy mouthed reply.”
@twlldun, “I confronted an Irish woman. I asked her to explain “Mrs Brown’s Boys: Da movie”. She said “nothing to do with me”. A mealy mouthed reply.”

@trabasack, “Confronted a bloke in a lab coat in Croydon. Asked him to explain cancer. He said “Nothing to do with me”. A mealy mouthed reply.”

@chinnyhill10, “I confronted a German about bombing my Grandad’s shed in WW2. “Nothing to do with me”. A mealy mouthed reply.”

@MikeRossP, “Confronted a plastic bag in Croydon. Asked him to explain the Pacific trash vortex. He said “Nothing to do with me”. A mealy mouthed reply.”

Atif Fareed believes that the responses to Mr. Doyle’s Islamophobic tweet just show that the most of the world believes that terrorists do not represent Islam.

Terrorists Don’t Represent Islam

A series of coordinated terror attacks hit various locations in Paris on the evening of November 13, 2015 resulting to the deaths of 130 people and the injury of 368 others. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks through its statement in social media. IS did not give a reason for the attacks but many believe that they were in retaliation for France’s presence in Syria. AMCC President Atif Fareed calls for unity amidst these trying times and hopes that innocent Muslims will not be blamed for what the terrorists have done.

Hate Crimes Against Muslim Americans

Atif Fareed cites numerous reports of hate crimes against Muslim Americans after the Paris attacks. There have also been numerous reports of mosques and other Muslim establishments of worship being vandalized and defaced. Fareed calls for restraint and that the culprits are channelling their anger towards the wrong direction. Muslims are together with the rest of the world in mourning for the victims of the senseless attacks. Islam should not be targeted in retaliation for the attacks because the barbarians who carried out the attack are not true Muslims.

Condemnation from the Muslim World

The Paris attack drew strong condemnation from Muslims all over the world. Muslims from all walks of life, from government and religious leaders to ordinary citizens, expressed their sorrow and anger in various outlets, mostly social media.

• Iranian president Hassan Rouhani called the attacks a crime against humanly.
• Indonesian president Joko Widodo denounced the attacks and urged the international community to step up in its efforts to combat terrorism.
• Leaders of various Arab states described the attacks as immoral and inhumane and said that the perpetrators do not deserve to be remembered as Muslims.
• Qatar’s foreign minister Khaled al-Attiyah described the attacks as heinous and against humanity and morality.
• Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah described the attacks as criminal and going against all the teachings of Islam.
• The Saudi foreign ministry called the Islamic State a dangerous and destructive plague that should be eradicated.

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Terrorists Represent Themselves and not Islam

Terrorists do not carry these attacks for the glory of Islam. Terrorists do the things they do to further their own agenda. These self-proclaimed jihadists and fundamentalists are a disgrace to the Muslim community. They are distorting the image of Islam and causing non-Muslims to fear Islam. Islam is a religion of love, peace, and discipline. Mosques and Muslim centers from around the globe are inviting non-Muslims to visit and learn more about the Muslim faith.

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