alwaref.org

Al Waref Institute is appalled by and utterly condemns the heinous massacre recently perpetrated by Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood, Texas. The conduct of Nidal Malik Hasan does not at all represent the views of numerous U.S. citizens who also identify as Muslims and/or have Arab ancestry, and who cherish the American way of life. Many Muslim and Arab American citizens specifically fled the violent and dictatorial conditions of their countries of birth to embrace the peace, tolerance, opportunity and liberty offered by the United States of America.  These same Americans also reject the mentality that often underlies these dictatorships, including versions of interpreting Islam that support oppression and violence.

Al Waref Institute stands in support of all the Muslim Americans who deem their religious identity and U.S. citizenship to be wholly compatible with each other, and who are passionately loyal to the U.S. Constitution and to the rule of law.  In a pluralistic society like America, Muslim Americans may disagree with one another and with other Americans on controversial issues such as U.S. foreign policy and U.S. military actions conducted in other countries. Nonetheless Muslim Americans share a commitment with their fellow Americans to address these disagreements through peaceful discourse and through the democratic processes afforded by the American system, and reject lawless acts of violence in attempts to influence policy making decisions.

Al Waref mourns with the families and friends who lost their loved ones as a result of the Fort Hood atrocity. Al Waref also applauds the heroism displayed by so many at the scene of the crime who acted swiftly and courageously to protect the lives of those threatened by the attack.  May we all look forward to a day when such violence is no longer committed nor advocated in the name of Islam or any other belief, and instead the American values of co-existence, pluralism and peace are honored by all.