Global Muslim Delegation Issues Unprecedented Statement Against Anti-Semitism
Imams and leaders from a number of Muslim majority countries condemned anti-semitism and Holocaust denial in a statement issued following their visit to Auschwitz, May 18-24. Led by Rabbi Jack Bemporad of the Center for Interreligious Understanding (CIU), imams and leaders from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Palestine and Turkey met survivors and those who tried to save Jews, and learned the history of the so-called Final Solution. The visit was organized by CIU, Catholic University of America and the Institute for Global Engagement.
Also joining this private delegation were U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Ira Forman; State Department’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Ambassador Michael Kozak; and Rashad Hussain, U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Statement of Muslim Intellectuals, Community Leaders and Imams on the Holocaust “O you who believe, stand up firmly for justice as witnesses to Almighty God.” (Holy Qur’an, al-Nisa “The Women” 4:135) On May 18-24, 2013, we the undersigned Muslim intellectuals, community leaders and imams visited the sites of the Holocaust in Poland and Germany where we witnessed firsthand the historical injustice of the Holocaust. We met survivors who, several decades later, vividly and bravely shared their horrific experience of discrimination, suffering, and loss. We saw the many chilling places where men, women and children were systematically and brutally murdered by the millions because of their faith, race, disability and political affiliation. In Islam, the destruction of one innocent life is like the destruction of the whole of humanity and the saving of one life is like the saving of the whole of humanity (Holy Qur’an, al-Ma’idah “the Tablespread” 5:32). While entire communities perished by the many millions, we know that Muslims from Bosnia, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, and Albania saved many Jews from brutal repression, torture and senseless destruction. Indeed, we met and were touched by the experiences of several righteous people of all faiths who saved many innocent lives from destruction. We bear witness to the absolute horror and tragedy of the Holocaust where millions upon millions of human souls perished, more than half of whom were people of the Jewish faith. We acknowledge, as witnesses, that it is unacceptable to deny this historical reality and declare such denials or any justification of this tragedy as against the Islamic code of ethics. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish brothers and sisters in condemning anti-Semitism in any form. No creation of Almighty God should face discrimination based on faith or religious conviction. We stand united as Muslim intellectuals, community leaders and imams and recognize that we have a shared responsibility to continue to work together with leaders of all faiths and their communities to resist the dehumanization, displacement and genocide of all peoples based on their religion, race, gender or ethnicity. With the disturbing rise of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hatred, rhetoric and bigotry, now more than ever, people of faith must stand together for truth, peace and justice. Together, we pledge to make real the commitment of “never again” and to stand united against injustice wherever it may be found in the world today. Imam Muzammil Siddiqi Islamic Society of Orange County Chairman, Fiqh Council of North America Orange County, California, USA Imam Mohamed Magid All-Dulles-Area Muslim Society President, Islamic Society of North America Sterling, Virginia, USA Dr. Mohammad Rayyan (PhD) Department of Foundations of Religion Faculty of Shariah Jordan University Amman, Jordan Muhamed Jusić Islamic theologian and columnist Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr. H. Andullah Rahim Yunus Professor, Islamic History, Allauddin State Islamic University Executive Chairman at Indonesian Moslem Scholar Association Makasser, Indonesia S.A. Ibrahim American businessman and Muslim committed to interfaith understanding Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Safi Kaskas Businessman and interfaith advocate Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ahmet Muharrem Atlig Secretary General of the Journalists & Writers Foundation Platform for Intercultural Dialogue Instanbul, Turkey Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi Chief Imam All India Imam Organization New Delhi, India Suhail A. Khan Senior Fellow Institute for Global Engagement Washington, D.C. USA Due to sensitive work in their home countries, several additional signatories wish to remain anonymous.
Statement of Muslim Intellectuals, Community Leaders and Imams on the Holocaust “O you who believe, stand up firmly for justice as witnesses to Almighty God.” (Holy Qur’an, al-Nisa “The Women” 4:135) On May 18-24, 2013, we the undersigned Muslim intellectuals, community leaders and imams visited the sites of the Holocaust in Poland and Germany where we witnessed firsthand the historical injustice of the Holocaust. We met survivors who, several decades later, vividly and bravely shared their horrific experience of discrimination, suffering, and loss. We saw the many chilling places where men, women and children were systematically and brutally murdered by the millions because of their faith, race, disability and political affiliation. In Islam, the destruction of one innocent life is like the destruction of the whole of humanity and the saving of one life is like the saving of the whole of humanity (Holy Qur’an, al-Ma’idah “the Tablespread” 5:32). While entire communities perished by the many millions, we know that Muslims from Bosnia, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, and Albania saved many Jews from brutal repression, torture and senseless destruction. Indeed, we met and were touched by the experiences of several righteous people of all faiths who saved many innocent lives from destruction. We bear witness to the absolute horror and tragedy of the Holocaust where millions upon millions of human souls perished, more than half of whom were people of the Jewish faith. We acknowledge, as witnesses, that it is unacceptable to deny this historical reality and declare such denials or any justification of this tragedy as against the Islamic code of ethics. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish brothers and sisters in condemning anti-Semitism in any form. No creation of Almighty God should face discrimination based on faith or religious conviction. We stand united as Muslim intellectuals, community leaders and imams and recognize that we have a shared responsibility to continue to work together with leaders of all faiths and their communities to resist the dehumanization, displacement and genocide of all peoples based on their religion, race, gender or ethnicity. With the disturbing rise of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hatred, rhetoric and bigotry, now more than ever, people of faith must stand together for truth, peace and justice. Together, we pledge to make real the commitment of “never again” and to stand united against injustice wherever it may be found in the world today. Imam Muzammil Siddiqi Islamic Society of Orange County Chairman, Fiqh Council of North America Orange County, California, USA Imam Mohamed Magid All-Dulles-Area Muslim Society President, Islamic Society of North America Sterling, Virginia, USA Dr. Mohammad Rayyan (PhD) Department of Foundations of Religion Faculty of Shariah Jordan University Amman, Jordan Muhamed Jusić Islamic theologian and columnist Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr. H. Andullah Rahim Yunus Professor, Islamic History, Allauddin State Islamic University Executive Chairman at Indonesian Moslem Scholar Association Makasser, Indonesia S.A. Ibrahim American businessman and Muslim committed to interfaith understanding Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Safi Kaskas Businessman and interfaith advocate Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ahmet Muharrem Atlig Secretary General of the Journalists & Writers Foundation Platform for Intercultural Dialogue Instanbul, Turkey Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi Chief Imam All India Imam Organization New Delhi, India Suhail A. Khan Senior Fellow Institute for Global Engagement Washington, D.C. USA Due to sensitive work in their home countries, several additional signatories wish to remain anonymous.