American Muslims

Islamic Society of North America Welcomes Justice For 9/11 Victims 

(Plainfield, IN: May 2, 2011) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) joins all Americans in thanking President Obama for fulfilling his promise to bring Osama Bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda, and perpetrator of the 9/11 attacks, to justice.

We hope his death will bring some relief to all the families, of every faith and walk of life, who lost loved ones on 9/11 and in every other terrorist attack orchestrated at the hands of Osama Bin Laden. 

Over the past decade, ISNA has stood firm on our stance that ISNA and Muslims in America condemn the actions of Bin Laden on 9/11 and all acts of terror at the hands of Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and all others who spread fear and hate through violence. We have repeatedly condemned the calls of Bin Laden and others like him for mass bloodshed and the attacking of innocent lives across the world. 

As the President pointed out in his address to the nation, the ideology of Bin Laden is incompatible with Islam: "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity."

President Obama marked his hope that today, Americans will "think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11" and remember that "on that day, no matter what God we prayed to, we were united as one American family." 

"ISNA joins President Obama and prays that as the nation continues to heal from the devastation inflicted upon them at the hands of Bin Laden, we will turn to each other today, united, and emerge tomorrow with an even stronger resolve to take every action necessary to protect the precious ideals of our nation that Bin Laden attempted to destroy on 9/11: peace, tolerance, respect, and freedom for all," said ISNA President Imam Magid.

ISNA

MPAC Greets bin Laden's Death With Sense of Relief

(Washington, DC - 5/1/11)-The Muslim Public Affairs Council tonight greeted the news of the death of Osama bin Laden with an immense sense of relief. This is a time when our country must stand together, and turn the page on a decade of terror led by bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. MPAC also commends the service of President Obama and his national security team, who have made bringing bin Laden to justice a top priority.

"We hope this is a turning point away from the dark period of the last decade, in which bin Laden symbolized the evil face of global terrorism," said MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati. "His actions and those of Al-Qaeda have violated the sacred Islamic teachings upholding the sanctity of all human life. His acts of senseless terror have been met with moral outrage by Muslims worldwide at every turn in the past decade."

The mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks and the founder of Al-Qaeda, bin Laden represented the global menacing face of violent extremism and his death represents a defining moment in the fight against terrorism.

"We support President Obama's statement that bin Laden was 'not a Muslim leader, he was a mass murderer of Muslims,'" said MPAC Senior Adviser Dr. Maher Hathout. "We stand together with all Americans and all peace-loving people around the world in remaining vigilant against any and all threats against our country."

In light of the widespread democratic protests sweeping the Middle East which have demonstrated the power and effectiveness of peaceful protests to enact political change and realize the aspirations of the people, bin Laden and Al-Qaeda's pro-violence messages have been exposed as bankrupt and misguided.

MPAC

CAIR Welcomes Elimination of Osama Bin Laden

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 5/1/2011) - A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today welcomed the announcement of the elimination of Osama bin Laden as a threat to America and the world.

In a statement issued following President Obama's announcement of bin Laden's death, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said:

"We join our fellow citizens in welcoming the announcement that Osama bin Laden has been eliminated as a threat to our nation and the world through the actions of American military personnel. As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never represented Muslims or Islam. In fact, in addition to the killing of thousands of Americans, he and Al Qaeda caused the deaths of countless Muslims worldwide. We also reiterate President Obama's clear statement tonight that the United States is not at war with Islam."

CAIR coordinated one of the first joint American Muslim statements condemning the 9/11 terror attacks, issued just hours after they occurred.

CAIR

Saudi Arabia

Victory for justice: For the Muslim world, Osama Bin Laden's death is like the lifting of a curse

Ever since 9/11, his name was synonymous with terrorism. But just how important Osama Bin Laden has actually been in recent years is highly debatable. He put out the occasional propaganda video but he no longer organized terror attacks on Westerners, on Arab governments or anyone who did not sympathize with his warped cause. Partly that was because he was on the run but also because Al-Qaeda was never a centralized, structured organization. It was, and is, more a state of mind, a loose association of fellow devotees. There are fellow Al-Qaedas all over the word - in Iraq, in Jordan, in North Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, in Russia. There are reportedly cells in the UK, in Germany and Spain, even in the US. We have seen the work of one of them just last week in Morocco. Nonetheless, for all of them, Bin Laden was a symbol, a personification of their hates, their alienation and their perverted dreams. In the same way too, he was a symbol to all those who because of 9/11 had every reason to hate and fear Al-Qaeda. He inspired admiration; he inspired loathing.

For that reason, Bin Laden's death is of immense significance. A powerful symbol has been destroyed. It has taken a long time, but it is an important victory for justice. A mass murderer whose victims included so many innocent Saudis and foreigners in the Kingdom has come to his just deserts.

For the Muslim world, it is like a lifting of a curse. We complain, with very good reason, at the spreading tide of international Islamophobia but he was the cause of so much of it. He, more than anyone else in human history, with his twisted version of Islam, made it feared and despised among millions upon millions of people who had never known about it before. He perverted its image and made them come to think of it as a religion of death and hatred.

No civilized person can ever take pleasure at the death of another, but in this case the hope must be that this death will draw line under 9/11 and all the dysfunctional relationships and mistrust it has brought to the world. Not that anyone will be so nave as to believe it. The American media and unscrupulous politicians there and elsewhere will continue to see Al-Qaeda threats at every turn, as they have in the Arab uprisings. The US military presence in Iraq will not end nor NATO's in Afghanistan. The hunt will now be on for Ayman Zuwahiri, Al-Qaeda's evil genius.

Bin Laden's death will undoubtedly demoralize his misguided admirers. Invariably, the demoralized try to rally their spirits by denying the cause of their demoralization. That is happening already. There are voices saying that Bin Laden either died long ago or that he is still alive, certainly not killed by the Americans. The disheartened need to deceive themselves. So, while claiming the Americans are lying about Bin Laden's death, those followers will want revenge. Because there are so many Al-Qaeda offshoots, so many Bin Laden wannabees, his death will not end the dangers of terrorism. Greater vigilance will be needed than ever before - here in Saudi Arabia, in the region, around the world - perhaps most of all in the US where Al-Qaeda-inspired militants will plot and plan.

Arab News

Pakistan

Osama bin Laden's death illustrates the resolve of Pakistan

Pakistan said Monday while confirming the killing of Osama bin Laden in a US operation on Monday morning said it was an intelligence driven operation in which the al-Qaeda head was killed in the surroundings of Abbotabad.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office here on Monday said the operation was conducted by the US forces in accordance with declared US policy that Osama bin Ladin will be eliminated in a direct action by the US forces, wherever found in the world.

"Osama bin Laden's death illustrates the resolve of the international community, including Pakistan, to fight and eliminate terrorism," the foreign ministry said.

"It constitutes a major setback to terrorist organisations around the world,"

The statement said earlier on Monday, President Obama telephoned President Zardari on the successful US operation which resulted in killing of Osama bin Ladin.

"It constitutes a major setback to terrorist organizations around the world"the statement stated.

The spokesperson said Al-Qaeda had declared war on Pakistan. Scores of Al-Qaeda sponsored terrorist attacks resulted in deaths of thousands of innocent Pakistani men, women and children. Almost, 30,000 Pakistani civilians lost their lives in terrorist attacks in the last few years. More than 5,000 Pakistani security and armed forces officials have been martyred in Pakistan's campaign against Al-Qaeda, other terrorist organizations and affiliates. 

The spokesperson said Pakistan has played a significant role in efforts to eliminate terrorism. We have had extremely effective intelligence sharing arrangements with several intelligence agencies including that of the US. We will continue to support international efforts against terrorism. 

It is Pakistan's stated policy that it will not allow its soil to be used in terrorist attacks against any country. Pakistan's political leadership, parliament, state institutions and the whole nation are fully united in their resolve to eliminate terrorism, the statement added.

The Nation

Turkey

Bin Laden's death a warning to terrorism

The president of Turkey, where coordinated al-Qaeda attacks in Istanbul killed more than 60 people and wounded hundreds in 2003, hailed on Monday the killing of Osama bin Laden, underlining that it should serve as a warning to terrorist leaders elsewhere that they would be caught "dead or alive." 

"This shows that terrorists and terrorist group leaders in the end are caught, whether dead or alive. The most dangerous and sophisticated terrorist organization leader in the world being caught in this way should be a lesson to everyone. I am very pleased with [this development]," President Abdullah Gl said in response to a question at a news conference at Ankara Esenboga Airport ahead of his departure to Vienna for an official visit. The al-Qaeda leader was killed in a firefight with US forces in Pakistan on Sunday. US President Barack Obama announced the death of bin Laden, the mastermind of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001, during a historic White House address.

Militants from al-Qaeda were also behind two sets of twin suicide bombings that hit Istanbul five days apart in November 2003. The separate attacks via explosive-laden trucks targeted first two synagogues, and then the British consulate and HSBC headquarters in Turkey, killing 57 people, including then British Consul General Roger Short, and injuring 700 others.

Underlining that Turkey is a country which has played a pioneer role in the global war against terror, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in Ankara on Monday that in the recent period, Laden had been engaging in extremely destructive work that aims at relating Islam and terrorism.

"Perhaps, one of the most negative impacts of the extremely destructive works carried out in terms of global terror by al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden is the fact that they have been conducive to a connection being made in some way between Islam -- which has been the reference of a rooted civilization that has made great contributions to humanity throughout history -- and terror," Davutoglu was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency in response to questions from reporters. He added that these extremely destructive actions were also used as material by certain circles.

The Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, called the death an "an extremely important step in the field of the fight against terrorism in our times," while recalling the 2003 attacks in Istanbul.

"Al-Qaeda, and bin Laden, has been part of unacceptable efforts, such as gaining legitimacy for the terrorist activities it has planned or encouraged via abusing the religion of Islam," the ministry said in a written statement. Stressing that Turkey is strongly against the exploitation of Islam and efforts to link Islam and terrorism, it warned, "It is extremely important for international society to accordingly make this differentiation."

Today's Zaman

Malaysia

Osma's death will ensure a more peaceful and safe world

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Monday expressed hope that the death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will lead to a new chapter of peace, security and relief to the world.

"I hope after the death of Osama bin Laden, the world will become more peaceful, safe and more just.

"In future I hope the world will realise that violence or terrorism is not the right conduit towards achieving their struggle and desired objective," he told reporters after attending the Vaisakhi 1Malaysia celebrations in conjunction with the Sikh new year at Dataran Merdeka here Monday.

Najib said the death of Osama would also serve as a lesson to everyone that violence cannot contribute to any good but rather would only bring about destruction to all.

He said the government's stance has always been against any form of violence and extremist understanding.

"This is in line with the principles of Islam where acts of killing innocent people is not accepted because such killings are forbidden in Islam," he said.

Najib said Osama had used the religion of Islam for his struggles and had given a bad and negative image for Islam.

The Prime Minister said the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, USA on Sept 11, 2001 'with Osama as the mastermind' cannot be accepted by any civilized person and cannot be accepted in Islam.

"Even though we may need to correct something, for example injustice, we cannot use an unacceptable deed like killing innocent people. That is not the right medium," he said.

He added that at the moment, there are no signs of Al Qaeda movement in the country.

"However, the police will be on alert to detect if there are going to be any action by any side that may want to show sympathy to Osama bin Laden or avenge his death," he added.

"It (his death) may be a big blow to Al-Qaeda, but that doesn't mean they will disintegrate. We also cannot assume that everything has come to an end. Osama's loss will only be a loss of inspiration and motivation to his followers as the founder of Al-Qaeda."

Osama bin Laden, the face of global terrorism and architect of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks, was killed in a firefight with elite US forces in Pakistan.

Bernama