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Statements of Support for Muslim Civil Rights: Interfaith and Government Communities

Moral Leadership: Protecting Muslim Civil Rights

ISNA is proud to share with America the level of support demonstrated by our interfaith and government partners during the recent surge in Islamaphobia and anti-Muslim acts, such as proposed Quran burnings and nation-wide mosque protests.  Below you will find a portion of an ever-growing coalition of support for the rights of Muslims to practice their religion and enjoy the civil rights of all who live in America.

ISNA thanks each and every one of these individuals and organizations for their courage to step forward.  ISNA also thanks every single person and organization in this nation who supports freedom of religion, equality, and peace.

About ISNA Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances

The ISNA Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances (IOICA) was founded in 2006 after much demand from the American Muslim community for ISNA to further strengthen existing interfaith and government relationships and increase outreach to these communities, increase public education of Islam, and respond to defamation of Islam and Muslims. 

The IOICA regularly engages in joint projects with the mainstream religious organizations to promote peace, equality, and the civil rights of all faiths. Such organizations include: the National Council of Churches, the Unites State Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Alliance of Baptists, The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, the Union of Reform Judaism, The Foundation of Ethnic Understanding, the Conservative Jewish Movement and more. These inter-religious projects are national in their nature but work to implement projects and message of peace, collaboration, and understanding at the grassroots level.

IOICA serves as a resource for the American Muslim community in the implementation of interfaith programs to make our nation a safer and more inclusive place to raise our children.  In addition, ISNA provides outreach and education to the federal and local government on a regular basis to promote a positive image of Islam and protect the rights of Muslims in America.

Currently the office is engaging in several projects such as the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, The National Muslim – Christian Table, the Twinning of Mosques and Synagogues, the Midwest Catholic-Muslim Dialogue, The Children of Abraham: Jews and Muslims in Conversation, the Muslim- Christian Initiative on the Nuclear Weapons Danger, and more.

Hear From Our Supporters Who Protect Muslim Civil Rights in America

President Barack Obama
August 13, 2010
Remarks delivered at White House Iftar
 
"Let me be clear: as a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country," said the President. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."
 
"Let us always remember who we are fighting against, and what we are fighting for. Our enemies respect no freedom of religion. Al Qaeda's cause is not Islam - it is a gross distortion of Islam. These are not religious leaders - these are terrorists."
 
"Our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth...today our nation is strengthened by millions of Muslim Americans."
 
Full text of President Obama's speech can only be accessed via the White House Presidential website here.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg
August 3, 2010
Remarks delivered on Governors Island
 
"We have come here to Governors Island to stand where the earliest settlers first set foot in New Amsterdam, and where the seeds of religious tolerance were first planted. We've come here to see the inspiring symbol of liberty that, more than 250 years later, would greet millions of immigrants in the harbor, and we come here to state as strongly as ever - this is the freest city in the world. That's what makes New York special and different and strong.

"Our doors are open to everyone - everyone with a dream and a willingness to work hard and play by the rules. New York City was built by immigrants, and it is sustained by immigrants - by people from more than a hundred different countries speaking more than two hundred different languages and professing every faith. And whether your parents were born here, or you came yesterday, you are a New Yorker.

"We may not always agree with every one of our neighbors. That's life and it's part of living in such a diverse and dense city. But we also recognise that part of being a New Yorker is living with your neighbors in mutual respect and tolerance. It was exactly that spirit of openness and acceptance that was attacked on 9/11.
 
"On that day, 3,000 people were killed because some murderous fanatics didn't want us to enjoy the freedom to profess our own faiths, to speak our own minds, to follow our own dreams and to live our own lives.

"Of all our precious freedoms, the most important may be the freedom to worship as we wish. And it is a freedom that, even here in a city that is rooted in Dutch tolerance, was hard-won over many years. In the mid-1650s, the small Jewish community living in lower Manhattan petitioned Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant for the right to build a synagogue - and they were turned down.

"In 1657, when Stuyvesant also prohibited Quakers from holding meetings, a group of non-Quakers in Queens signed the Flushing Remonstrance, a petition in defense of the right of Quakers and others to freely practice their religion. It was perhaps the first formal, political petition for religious freedom in the American colonies - and the organiser was thrown in jail and then banished from New Amsterdam.

"In the 1700s, even as religious freedom took hold in America, Catholics in New York were effectively prohibited from practicing their religion - and priests could be arrested. Largely as a result, the first Catholic parish in New York City was not established until the 1780's - St Peter's on Barclay Street, which still stands just one block north of the World Trade Centre site and one block south of the proposed mosque and community centre.

"This morning, the city's Landmark Preservation Commission unanimously voted not to extend landmark status to the building on Park Place where the mosque and community centre are planned. The decision was based solely on the fact that there was little architectural significance to the building. But with or without landmark designation, there is nothing in the law that would prevent the owners from opening a mosque within the existing building. The simple fact is this building is private property, and the owners have a right to use the building as a house of worship.

"The government has no right whatsoever to deny that right - and if it were tried, the courts would almost certainly strike it down as a violation of the US Constitution. Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question - should government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion? That may happen in other countries, but we should never allow it to happen here. This nation was founded on the principle that the government must never choose between religions, or favor one over another.

"The World Trade Centre Site will forever hold a special place in our City, in our hearts. But we would be untrue to the best part of ourselves - and who we are as New Yorkers and Americans - if we said 'no' to a mosque in lower Manhattan.

"Let us not forget that Muslims were among those murdered on 9/11 and that our Muslim neighbors grieved with us as New Yorkers and as Americans. We would betray our values - and play into our enemies' hands - if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else. In fact, to cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists - and we should not stand for that.

"For that reason, I believe that this is an important test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetime - as important a test - and it is critically important that we get it right.

"On September 11, 2001, thousands of first responders heroically rushed to the scene and saved tens of thousands of lives. More than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked 'What God do you pray to?' 'What beliefs do you hold?'

"The attack was an act of war - and our first responders defended not only our city but also our country and our Constitution. We do not honour their lives by denying the very Constitutional rights they died protecting. We honour their lives by defending those rights - and the freedoms that the terrorists attacked.

"Of course, it is fair to ask the organisers of the mosque to show some special sensitivity to the situation - and in fact, their plan envisions reaching beyond their walls and building an interfaith community. By doing so, it is my hope that the mosque will help to bring our city even closer together and help repudiate the false and repugnant idea that the attacks of 9/11 were in any way consistent with Islam.
 
Muslims are as much a part of our city and our country as the people of any faith and they are as welcome to worship in lower Manhattan as any other group. In fact, they have been worshipping at the site for the better part of a year, as is their right.

"The local community board in lower Manhattan voted overwhelming to support the proposal and if it moves forward, I expect the community centre and mosque will add to the life and vitality of the neighbourhood and the entire city.
 
"Political controversies come and go, but our values and our traditions endure - and there is no neighborhood in this city that is off limits to God's love and mercy, as the religious leaders here with us today can attest."

Honorable Orrin Hatch: Republican Senator of Utah
August 30, 2010
Statements in Interview with Salt Lake City’s Fox News

“I’d be the first to stand up for their (Muslim) rights.”

“Let's be honest about it, in the First Amendment, religious freedom, religious expression, that really express matters to the Constitution. So, if the Muslims own that property, that private property, and they want to build a mosque there, they should have the right to do so. The only question is are they being insensitive to those who suffered the loss of loved ones? We know there are Muslims killed on 9/11 too and we know it's a great religion. I know a lot of Muslim people who I have a very great regard for, not the least of which is Muhammad Ali. He's a great friend of mine. But as far as their right to build that mosque, they have that right.”

“There's a question of whether it's too close to the 9/11 area, but its a few blocks away, it isn't right there. Frankly, there are a lot of people who feel, including the mayor of New York, that they should have every right to do it, and that New Yorkers should support them...And there's a huge, I think, lack of support throughout the country for Islam to build that mosque there, but that should not make a difference if they decide to do it. I'd be the first to stand up for their rights.”

Video of the entire interview can be viewed online.
http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-hatch-defends-proposed-mosque-near-ground-zero,0,7425671.story

National Churches of Christ in USA and the National Muslim-Christian Initiative
August 11, 2010
As the observance of Ramadan begins, a call for respect for Muslim neighbors
 
The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, its Interfaith Relations Commission and the Christian participants in the National Muslim-Christian initiative, have issued the following statement:

As our Muslim neighbors begin their observance of Ramadan with fasting, re-dedicating themselves to God and God's service, we as Christians are troubled by fellow Christians in the United States who are expressing intolerance against Muslims in words and deeds.

Christ calls us to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:39). It is this commandment, more than the simple bonds of our common humanity, which is the basis for our relationship with Muslims around the world.

Grounded in this commitment, we question the anti-Muslim tenor of actions and speech regarding the building of Cordoba House and mosque near the site of the former World Trade Center in New York City.  We are keenly aware that many Muslims, as well as Jews, Christians, Hindus, and others, lost family members in the attacks on September 11, 2001. We recognize, as does the Muslim community around the world, that it was a group of Muslims who embraced terrorism and teachings counter to the Qur'an and Islam that carried out this action. We stand with the majority of Muslims-including American Muslims-who are working against such radical influences in their communities. They have our support for building the Cordoba House as a living monument to mark the tragedy of 9/11 through a community center dedicated to learning, compassion, and respect for all people.  This effort is consistent with our country's principle of freedom of religion, and the rights all citizens should enjoy.

We also decry the anti-Muslim actions and plans of many church leaders and members, such as those of the Dove World Outreach Center in the U.S.A.  Misguided or confused about the love of neighbor by which Christ calls us to live,  leaders and members of this church and others are engaged in harassment of Muslims, and in the planning of an "International Burn the Qur'an Day," to be held on September 11th.   Such open acts of hatred are not a witness to Christian faith, but a grave trespass against the ninth commandment, a bearing of false witness against our neighbor.  They contradict the ministry of Christ and the witness of the church in the world.
 
We ask all Christians to promote respect and love of neighbor, and to speak and work against extremist ideas, working with Muslims as appropriate, in order to live out the commandment to love our neighbor, and to promote peace.

Michael Kinnamon: General Secretary for National Council of Churches
August 13, 2010
Cordova House and Mosque at Ground Zero is a Gesture of Neighborliness and Healing
 
For thousands of families, Ground Zero in southern Manhattan is holy ground. Thousands lost someone they love in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, and hundreds of thousands know someone who was directly or indirectly scarred by the collapse of the World Trade Center. The emotional investment in Ground Zero cannot be overestimated.
 
That is precisely why Ground Zero must be open to the religious expression of all people whose lives were scarred by the tragedy: Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and more.
 
No one knows how many Muslims died on 9/11, but they number in the hundreds. One was Salman Hamdani, a 23-year-old New York City police cadet, emergency medical technician and medical student. When Salman disappeared on September 11, law enforcement officials who knew of his Islamic faith sought him out among his family to question him about the attacks. His family lived with the onus of suspicion for six months until Salman's body was identified. He was found near the North Tower with his EMT bag beside him, situated where he could help people in need.
 
The point of this now famous story is simple. Not every Muslim at Ground Zero was a terrorist, and not every Muslim was a hero. The vast majority were like thousands of others on September 11: victims of one of the most heinous events of our times.
But for the family of Salman Hamdani and millions of innocent Muslims, the tragedy has been exacerbated by the fact that so many of the rest of us have formed our opinions about them out of prejudice and ignorance of the Muslim faith.
 
It is that narrow-minded intolerance that has led to the outcry against the building of Cordova House and Mosque near Ground Zero. It is the same ignorance that has led many to the outrageous conclusion that all Muslims advocate hatred and violence against non-Muslims. It is the same ignorance that has led to hate crimes and systematic discrimination against Muslims, and to calls to burn the Qur'an.
On the eve of Ramadan on August 11, the National Council of Churches, its Interfaith Relations Commission and Christian participants in the National Muslim-Christian Initiative, issued a strong call for respect for our Muslim neighbors.
 
"Christ calls us to 'love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:39)," the statement said. "It is this commandment, more than the simple bonds of our common humanity, which is the basis for our relationship with Muslims around the world."
 
The statement supported building Cordova House "as a living monument to mark the tragedy of 9/11 through a community center dedicated to learning, compassion, and respect for all people."

Now the National Council of Churches reaffirms that support and calls upon Christians and people of faith to join us in that affirmation.
 
The alternative to that support is to engage in a bigotry that will scar our generation in the same way as bigotry scarred our forebears.
 
Three-hundred years ago, European settlers came to these shores with a determination to conquer and settle at the expense of millions of indigenous peoples who were regarded as sub-human savages. Today, we can't look back on that history without painful contrition.
 
One-hundred and fifty years ago, white Americans subjugated black Africans in a cruel slavery that was justified with Bible proof-texts and a belief that blacks were inferior to whites. Today, we look back on that history with agonized disbelief.
 
Sixty years ago, in a time of war and great fear, tens of thousands of Japanese-Americans were deprived of their property and forced into detention camps because our grandparents feared everyone of Japanese ancestry. Today that decision is universally regarded as an unconscionable mistake and a blot on American history.

Today, millions of Muslims are subjected to thoughtless generalizations, open discrimination and outright hostility because of the actions of a tiny minority whose violent acts defy the teachings of Mohammed.
 
How will we explain our ignorance and our compliance to our grandchildren?
It's time to turn away from ignorance and embrace again the words of Christ: Love your neighbor as yourself.
 
In that spirit, we welcome the building of Cordova House and Mosque near Ground Zero.

Reverand Donald J. McCoid:  Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
 
August 20, 2010
Letter to ISNA
 
Our sisters and brothers in the Islamic community have been in our thoughts, conversations, and prayers.  At our chapel service on Wednesday at the ELCA headquarters, the meditation lifted up our concern for understanding and for relationships among God's people. In the midst of the tensions that have been in the media around the Mosque and Islamic facility near Ground Zero, we are concerned about the prejudices and emotional reactions that are being expressed.
 
Please know that my prayers will continue to be with you and our Muslim neighbors ... both Islamic and Christian.  If there is anything that you would suggest that might be helpful, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 
Faith In Public Life: A Strategy Center for the Faith Community
August 11, 2010
Interfaith Leaders Stand with Cordoba House, Denounce Hateful Rhetoric
 
As Catholic, evangelical, mainline Protestant, Jewish and Muslim leaders and scholars committed to religious freedom and inter-religious cooperation, we are deeply troubled by the xenophobia and religious bigotry that has characterized some of the opposition to a proposed Islamic center and mosque near where the World Trade Center towers once stood.
 
 Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, is the most recent prominent opponent to cast this debate in a way that demonizes all Muslims and exploits fear to divide Americans. "It is a sign of their contempt for Americans and their confidence in our historic ignorance that they would deliberately insult us this way," Gingrich, a Catholic, said in a statement. Sarah Palin, an evangelical Christian who frequently references her faith as an inspiration for her political beliefs, called plans for the center a "provocation." Fox News has aired a steady stream of irresponsible commentary and biased coverage that reduces what should be a civil debate into starkly combative terms.

The profound tragedy of Sept. 11th revealed the horror that can unfold when a small minority of violent extremists manipulates religious language for political gain and falsely claims to represent one of the world's great religions. We have witnessed this sinful corruption of religion across faith traditions throughout history and must condemn it without equivocation whenever or wherever it occurs. However, we fail to honor those murdered on that awful day - including Muslim Americans killed in the Twin Towers and Pentagon - by betraying our nation's historic commitment to religious liberty, fueling ugly stereotypes about Islam and demeaning the vast majority of Muslims committed to peace. The proposed mosque would be part of Cordoba House, a center open to all Americans that will provide Islamic, interfaith and secular programs. The project aims to support "integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture," according to the Cordoba Initiative, which promotes improved "Muslim-West relations." These are exactly the kind of efforts that foster dialogue, break down barriers and begin to build a world where religiously inspired violent extremism is less likely.
 
Mr. Gingrich, Ms. Palin and other prominent voices privileged to have the ear of the media would make a more lasting contribution to our nation if they stopped issuing inflammatory statements and instead helped inspire a civil dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims committed to a future guided by the principles of compassion, justice and peace. Fear-mongering and hateful rhetoric only undermine treasured values at the heart of diverse faith traditions and our nation's highest ideals.
 
A full list of signatories on this letter can be accessed online.

 
Organization of Indonesian Church leaders
August 10, 2010
Letter to ISNA and Community
 
We would also like to express our deep concern on the plan of (DWOC) the "mega church" group in Florida who provoke an action which is against Christian Principles who promote Unity, Justice and Peace in this pluralistic Global community.

From Papua, a group of  Church leaders, appeal to all respective Christian bodies and Institutions in Indonesia (PGI, KWI, PGPI,PGLII) as well as at the International level (WCC, WCRC, LWF and Vatican) to stand against this kind of bigotry and superiorty against Islam.
 
The leaders of Christian organizations, and Theological Institutions in Papua, also express solidarity with our Christian sisters and brothers in Java and other parts of Indonesia, who are fighting for their freedom of speech and existence in the country. We hereby express our deepest concern on the Religious discrimination taken place in Jakarta and its outskirts at Depok Bogor and Bekasi, by the Moslem extremist harassing Christians who exercise their rights to worship. The Christian minority in Indonesia should be respected their rights to exist in Indonesia based on Pancasila values and Unity in Diversity (Bhineka Tunggal Ika) principles.

The Church leaders in Papua strongly urge the GOI under SBY to take action against all kinds of religious discrimination in Indonesia, as Christian communities in Papua have given great tolerance and freedom to Moslems to build mosques and exercise their rights to worship in all corners in Papua.
 
We strongly remind the Government of Indonesia to seriously end this religious discrimination in Indonesia, as this might promote the spirit of disintegration of Indonesia.
 
For Justice and Peace, Dr.Benny Giay ( Chair person GKII), Dr. Socrates Yoman, ( Chair person Bapstist Church), Dr.Noack Nawipa ( Rector Theological High School; Kingmi), Rev. Jemima Krey ( Chairperson GKI Tanah Papua), Hizkia Rollo (General Secretary GKI Tanah Papua), Rev. Willem Maloali, Senior GKI Pastor); Dr. Neles Tebay ( Vice-Chair Catholic Bishop Conference Jayapura and Rector of the Catholic Seminary), Dr.Sostenes Sumihe ( GKI Theological Faculty), Dr. Martinus Mawene ( GKI Theological Faculty); Dr.Karel. Phil Erari ( Co-Chair CCI)

Rev. Victor Galeone: Bishop of St. Augustine
August 25, 2010
“Letter to the Editor” of Gainesville Sun Newspaper

I view with great dismay the plan by members of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville to burn copies of the Qur’an on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Out of respect for those of the Muslim faith, members of our faith community should consider the proposed desecration reprehensible.

Now more than ever we must work towards a mutual understanding and respect between people of differing faith traditions. That means respecting those texts which are considered sacred.

The burning of another faith tradition’s sacred texts is diametrically opposed to the Catholic Church’s ongoing commitment to improving interreligious relations. Furthermore, it presents a counter-witness to the Gospel message by engendering fear and hatred rather than the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.

The proliferation of negative stereotypes in the media, distorted information, and caricatures of Muslims and other faith traditions must be addressed at every level of society. We should promote peace and respect for all people in our communities.

Most Rev. Victor Galeone

Bishop of Saint Augustine

*The Diocese of Saint Augustine encompasses 17 counties of Northeast and North Center Florida and serves more than 177,000 registered Catholics in 51 parishes and 9 missions.

Joe Volk: Executive Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation
August 23, 2010
Memo to all FCNL Committee Members entitled: The Controversy Over Free Exercise of Religion—America at a Fork in the Road
 
The people of our country have come to a fork the road, a road that began with aspirations for religious freedom but sometimes got sidetracked toward bigotry.  Our people have too often strayed from that First Amendment pathway, and, regrettably, today purveyors of hate and bigotry are using fear to point the people of our country toward the division of sectarianism. 
 
I won’t use the so often used phrase “New York Ground Zero Mosque Controversy,” because it is just wrong in so many ways.   The proposed facility in Manhattan is not at the 9-11 Ground Zero and not a mosque.  The controversy is not over a mosque; it is over the free exercise of religion.  The question is will the people of our country follow their better selves by supporting our First Amendment rights, or will they pour yet another stain on our country’s history by violating its principles?  Native Americans, Quakers, Catholics, Jews have suffered the violence of religious intolerance and hate in this land, and, now, some would visit that same intolerance on our Muslim brothers and sisters.  We should stand up in public to show our support for Muslims in our communities across this country.
 
FCNL has a long history of supporting the free exercise of religion and of going beyond tolerance and to affirmation of others’ religious practices.  Today’s politics of fear and hate should compel us to look for new opportunities to protect our First Amendment rights and to renounce the violence of intolerance.
 
To that end, our General Committee approved an Epistle Encouraging Quaker Engagement with American Muslims http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=3761&issue_id=128  at its Annual Meeting last November.
 
Also, we invited an American Muslim leader, Dr. Sayyid Syeed, to address our Annual Meeting Plenary, and you can hear the audio recording of his address at http://www.fcnl.org/audio/am2009/Sayyid%20Syeed%201.mp3
 
Today, Jim Cason has written an excellent editorial which is posted on our FCNL staff blog, “2C” which is titled “The Mosque at Ground Zero: Another Opportunity for Quakers and Other Faiths,” and you can read it at http://fcnl.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/christians-need-the-islamic-center-at-ground-zero-more-than-muslims/
 
Last week, I posted a “2C” blog, “Yes, Build the Mosque,” and you can read it at http://fcnl.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/yes-build-the-mosque/  Colin Browne posted a good comment on my blog which refers readers to the report of our November 2009 Annual Meeting http://fcnl.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/yes-build-the-mosque/#comments
(I also posted a blog yesterday, “American Muslim Leaders Back from Auschwitz,” http://fcnl.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/american-muslim-leaders-back-from-auschwitz/ )
 
Last week, we sent my op ed to Other Words http://www.otherwords.org/articles/mosque_of_liberty, our distributor to local and regional newspapers on this topic, and, if and when papers around the country publish it, we’ll let you know.
 
We dare not be silent or immobilized during this trying moment in American history.  Usually, when the phrase “Speak Truth to Power” is used, we mean that we address the powers and principalities, but, today, we need to speak truth to the power of hate cable TV and to the demagoguery of politicians seeking political gain through hate speech.
 
I hope you will visit our FCNL Staff blog, “2C,” http://fcnl.wordpress.com/ to leave a comment on one of our blogs.  Your comments may help others “to see” through the misinformation and misguided passion that is clouding people’s judgment about the wisdom of free exercise of religion in our country.
 
Thanks.

 
Dr. William F. Vendley: Secretary General of Religions For Peace
August 16, 2010
Letter to ISNA

Esteemed Colleague in Religions for Peace:

The recent threat by a Florida-based pastor to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack is grievously wrong.  It is intentionally designed to offend what is utterly sacred and dear to Muslims. It has rightly been denounced by the heads of Christian communities around the world.
    
Sincere committed believers of all faiths reject this kind of “double” manipulation of religions.  In this case, Islam is the clearly targeted victim: it is intentionally being slandered and demeaned.  This is wrong and people around the world feel moral solidarity with Muslims when they are so unjustly affronted.
 
At the same time, the vast majority of Christians also feel grieved and grossly manipulated by this vulgar threat.  Given the global media attention, it can appear like “Christianity as a whole” is being disrespectful to Islam.  This, too, is wrong.    
Unfortunately, every religious community is vulnerable to this kind of “double” manipulation.  In these cases, extremists misuse the name of their own religion to attack others.  They feel they succeed if they can create tensions and polarizations among religious communities and a backlash from the community they attacked.
 
In every such situation, sincere religious believers need to defend one another across the boundaries of their religious communities.  It is critically important for religious leaders and communities to stand together in solidarity whenever any religious community is slandered or abused.
 
More principled multi-religious dialogue, cooperation and solidarity is the necessary response in the present situation.  It is, perhaps, the only really effective antidote to extremism.
  
Religions for Peace, the world’s largest multi-religious organization, has advanced principled multi-religious cooperation for forty years.  During these years, leaders and believers of the world’s great religions have worked side-by-side in solidarity for peace in over 100 countries.
 
Throughout these years, religious leaders and other believers have worked together to mediate civil wars, used their local mosques, churches and temples to assist those impacted by disease or poverty regardless of their faith; and stood together to reject the abuse of religion.  As they worked together, they also grew in their mutual respect, trust, solidarity and friendship.  Such qualities are especially needed whenever an extremist intentionally tries to offend an entire community by engaging in wrongful, disrespectful acts.
 
Yours in solidarity,

Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General

The Washington Association of Churches
The Church Council of Greater Seattle
The Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State

September 3, 2010

A Call to Christian Congregations

Sisters and brothers –
 
On September 11 this coming week, our nation will remember the horrors of that day nine years ago - honoring both the victims of the terrorist attack and the self-sacrificing response of many others in the wake of the tragedy. On that same day, a church in Gainesville, Florida, will be spearheading "Burn A Quran Day" to dramatize their belief that "Islam is of the devil!" And also on that day, millions of American Muslims will be celebrating Eid al Fitr, a 3 day observance marking the end of Ramadan, their month of fasting, service, and renewal. (The date of the Eid varies each year according to the lunar calendar and this year it will begin September 9 or 10.)

As organizations representing tens of thousands of Christians of Washington State, we state unequivocally that intolerance and bigotry are our enemy, not Islam. We condemn acts of terror by any group or individual. We affirm Muslims in America as our kin in faith and fellow citizens. We support their right to practice their religion without fear of slander or harassment. We recognize and welcome their contribution to the common good of our blessedly diverse society. We reject attempts by any group or individual to demonize Muslims, or to hinder their right to practice their religion, a cornerstone of religious freedom that is protected by our Constitution.

We call upon all Christian congregations in Washington State to offer a prayer this coming Sunday for our nation as it prepares to mark the ninth anniversary of 9/11;
for our Muslim brothers and sisters as they conclude Ramadan, their month of fasting; and for greater understanding of the faith traditions of others that the one God of righteousness and peace may be glorified.
 
We call upon our brothers and sisters of other faiths and of no faith to join us in our condemnation of those who would create fear and demonization of any religion. We urge our friends and neighbors to support the Muslim community as they celebrate Eid al Fitr.

Interfaith Support Statement from Communities:

• Within Our Rights:  Interfaith and Civic Leaders Stand in Defense of Religious Freedom - Cincinnati, OH