February 16, 2004

Press Release

American Muslims are protesting and condemning strongly the continuous insults and humiliation  against our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by some of the newspapers in your country knowing how the Muslims around the world value their Prophet.  We believe that these actions are designed to inflame the relations between Muslims and the West in general. We are convinced that this insult against Islam and Muslims is not approved by the majority of the Europeans.

We are protesting the insult made by some news-papers some newspapers citing the freedom of speech. We are protesting the newspapers’ decisions to run the cartoons.  We are protesting the newspapers’ insult to Islam.

Are anti-Semitic, anti-Christian or anti-Black sentiments considered responsible uses of “freedom of speech”? We do not think so!

Insulting and attacking God’s religion (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), his creation, and any prophet (Adam, Abraham, and ending with Moses, Jesus and Muhammad peace be upon them all), or any group of people is not a responsible use of the freedom of speech.  It also goes against the tenants of Islam.

Freedom of expression is not absolute. There are responsibilities and limitations and it should not be used to propagate racist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and other xenophobic views. such views can incite people to hatred.  

We ask that the European Union, the government of Denmark and other governments recognize that the cartoons malign the honor of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and insult the integrity of Islam. Insult and attacks against any group or religion should be stopped and new laws and regulations should be adopted against any violation.

We would like to remind our fellow Muslims around the world what Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Remind! May reminding benefit the believers.”

Also the Prophet (pbuh) said: “do not be extremist, extremism destroyed nations before you.” In addition, he said in his last sermon that we should avoid violence and not to attack places of worship and civilians.

  1- The American Muslim Assoc. of North America, (AMANA)

  2- Masjid Jamaat Al-Mumineen

  3- American Muslims for Emergency and Relief, Inc.

  4- Masjid Shamsuddin, Miami Florida

  5- Islamic Center of South Florida, (ICSF)

  6- Islamic Center Of Des Moines

  7- Muslim Student Organization, Florida Atlantic University

  8- Muslim Student Association, University of Miami

  9- Islamic Society of Sarasota, Florida

10- Islamic Center of Belle Glade, Florida

11- Musalla Alfaiza of Miami, Florida

12- Islamia Association of Bosniaks in N. America (IABNA)

13- Islamic Community of SW Florida

14- Muslim Student Association of UC Berkeley

15- Islamic center of West Michigan

16- Mosque of Grand Rapids

17- Islamic Center at New York University

18- Masjid Annoor (Knoxville, TN)

19- Muslim Community Assoc. OF the Peninsula (MCAP)

20- Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR)

21- Tawheed Center of Farmington Hills

22- Islamic Learning Center of Orange County, New York 

23- The MSA of Columbia University

24- Msulim Students Assoc. at Jackson State University

25- Muslim Students Association at U. of Wisconsin

26- Mississippi Muslim Association (MMA), Mississippi

27- Masjid Muhammad, Jackson, Mississippi

28- International Museum of Muslim Cultures, Mississippi

29- Chase American Muslims Islamic Center (C.A.M.I.C).

30- Noor Al-Islam Institute & Islamic Center, Mississippi

31- American Muslim Bakaa Center

32- Islamic Center Of Detroit

33- Masjid Al-Iman, Belle Glade

34- Masjid Al-Hoda

35- Masjid Nur-ul Islam, Florida

36- Nur-ul-Islam Academy, Florida

37- The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing

38- Masjid Assabur, Las Vegas, Nevada

39- Institute Of Islamic Information And Education

40- Muslim Students’ Assoc. of Illinois Inst. of Technology

41- Masjid_E_Tahoora, Chicago, IL.60645

42- Senior Citizen of South Florida

43- Masjid An-Noor, Miami Florida

44- Huntsville Islamic Center

45- Muslim Access, Inc. (www.muslimaccess.com)

46- Al-hikmat Services, Inc., Florida

47- Darul Uloom Institute, Florida

48- MUSLIM RADIO PROGRAM, Florida 

49- Masjid Jamaat Al-Mutaqeen, FL

50- Islamic Society of Wichita, Wichita, KS

51- Islamic Foundation of South Florida

52- Islamic Society of Rutgers University (NB)