The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), and four other Muslim and Arab organizations, held a press conference on Friday, November 6, at ISNA Washington Office on Capitol Hill to condemn the shootings at Fort Hood and urge the public to view this tragedy as an individual criminal, not representative of the Islamic faith.

“We don’t know the motives or the state of mind of the perpetrator of this heinous crime, but we want our fellow Americans to know that Muslim Americans condemn this horrific attack and see it as a complete violation of Islamic values and norms,” said Dr. Louay Safi, ISNA director of communications and leadership development.

"As with Timothy McVeigh, the sniper, we focused on the person, not their religion. You wouldn't take a Christian or a Jewish soldier who did something like this and look at other Christians and Jews and say, 'Can we trust them?' " said Qaseem Uqdah, a former Marine and executive director of the American Muslims in Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council.

Nawar Shora, legal director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), said that his office received some hateful e-mails and calls forwarded to him by community members and, including one that was sent on Thursday night that said, "We know where you are, you have nowhere to hide."

ISNA Vice President Imam Mohamed Magid announced a new fund set by ISNA for collecting donations from Muslim Americans for the victims of the shootings. Asked whether other Muslim Americans could identify with the shooter's apparent anxiety about being deployed to Afghanistan, Magid said "if you look at who has refused to go [to Afghanistan and Iraq], you'll find not only Muslims. And you will find thousands of Muslim Americans fighting."

Alejandro Beutel of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) told the conference that Muslims were shocked as they learned about the senseless and appalling act of violence in Ft Hood. He stressed that all four organizations unequivocally denounced the incident in the strongest terms possible. “We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to the victims and their loved ones,” he said.

Statement Issued

(Washington, DC – November 06, 2009) Earlier yesterday a United States officer in the military identified as Army Major Malik Hasan reportedly shot and killed 12 American soldiers and wounded 31 others at Fort Hood in Texas.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council-DC (MPAC-DC), the Islamic Society of North America Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances (ISNA) and the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council (AMAFVAC) completely denounce this barbaric act of violence.

All three organizations unequivocally denounce the incident in the strongest terms possible and offer their deepest condolences to the victims and their loved ones. Further, they hope and expect that law enforcement officials will resolve this matter as swiftly and justly as possible.

Today at 10 am representatives from all three organizations will be holding a press conference in Washington DC. They will be joined by Congressional Representatives Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Andre Carson (D-IN).

The press conference will be held at the ISNA Interfaith office within the United Methodist Building, to discuss the matter further. The press conference address is 110 Maryland Ave, NE Suite 304, Washington, DC 20002.

For more information, please contact
Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali, Vice President of ISNA at: 571-437-4734 or imam@adamscenter.us
Dr. Louay Safi, ISNA's Director of Communications and Leadership Development and chaplain endorser at: 317-679-6350 or louay@isna.net
Rizwan Jaka, ISNA Board Member at: 703-624-6352 or rojpm@yahoo.com