Home > Press Releases > ISNA FEATURED AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB LUNCHEON

ISNA FEATURED AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB LUNCHEON

Washington, DC: 11/30/2007

On November 30, 2007 ISNA joined the “Uniting to Protect” campaign – a partnership of Christian, Muslim and Jewish Americans—to speak out against terrorism. The Partnership gathered at the National Press Club to once again announce the Fatwa against Terrorism.  The Fatwa, which was read by Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Fiqh Council and former ISNA President, is based on Quran 5:32 which declares the killing of one person as being equivalent to the killing of all humanity.

The Fatwa proclaims, “Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians’ life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram - prohibited in Islam - and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not ‘martyrs.’ All Acts of terrorism are forbidden in Islam. It is forbidden for a Muslim to cooperate or associate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence. It is the duty of Muslims to report to enforcement authorities any threat which is designed to place a human being in harm’s way.” For the full text, click here.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, former Archbishop of Washington endorsed the Fatwa and urged Christians, Jews and Muslims to work together for peace. “We all want to be able to live in peace,” he stated. “We want Israel to live in peace. We want the Muslims to live in peace. We want the Palestinians to live in peace.” Others who added their voices to his call for peace included Reverend Lloyd and Rabbi Luxemborg. The theologians then lead the audience in reading aloud a Thanksgiving Proclamation on behalf of the Catholic and Jewish communities, affirming their partnership with the Muslim community in their commitment to America’s security.

The United to Protect campaign has won support from a number of people in mainstream political and media circles. Its endorsers include Robert McFarlane, the Former National Security Advisor; Charlie Black, Senior Advisor to Presidents Ronald Regan and George H.W. Bush; John Dalton, the Former Secretary of the Navy; Roger J. Dow, President and CEO of the Travel Industry Association and others.

For a full media broadcast of the event at the National Press Club, Click here