Hawaii Muslims Condemn The Cold-Blooded Murder Of Nicholas Berg

Hawaii Muslims, watched in Horror the terrorists shouting "God is great," as they decapitated the American hostage Nicholas Berg. This barbaric, brutal and cold-blooded murder is satanic, un-Islamic, Un-religious and Un-human. Muslims in Hawaii join other Muslims around the world in condemning such action in the strongest possible terms. This cold-blooded murder was committed supposedly in the name of Islam whose basic tenants stand for peace, love and forgiveness. We strongly reject all those who commit such acts of mindless violence in the name of religion.

Even the most literalist interpreters of the Qur’an must reject the claim that this was a legitimate revenge for the abuse of detainees in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. No amount of previous animosity can justify killing a civilian who has done nothing wrong. Muslims, Arab and Western specialists on Islam unanimously condemned this crime as totally out of line from the Islamic faith that clearly equates taking the life of one person to taking the life of all humanity.

These terrorists are not only our enemies as American, they are also enemies of Islam, civilization and humanity as a whole and whatever their agenda is, it certainly includes defaming Muslims and Islam and instigate hate towards Muslim by ignorant people that are waiting for the opportunity to do harm to Islam and Muslims. If The Satan followers that committed such evil acts escape the human justice on this earth, they will for sure face a severe punishment in the hereafter because God is indeed Great and Just and no such crime will go unpunished.

Similarly, Muslims in Hawaii condemns the rape, torture, and sadistic humiliation of the prisoners in Iraq by some of our soldiers. This widespread pattern of human rights violations in U.S. detention facilities worldwide is a disgrace to us as Americans, and we call on everyone to condemn such horrible acts. The yet to be released photographs showing U.S. guards raping female prisoners strikes at the fundamental sanctity of Muslim and Arab culture in a way other photographs don’t. This is so horrible that one simply cannot imagine what will happen next. In Islam, the woman is the bearer of family’s honor. Even to look at her in an ill manner is a crime.

We call on the government not show any further pictures of the rape, and atrocities committed by our soldiers in Iraq as such graphic images would serve as recruiting posters for Terrorists. We further call on our government to get to the bottom of these horrible atrocities and not to use few soldiers as the scapegoat. The Secretary of Defense bears the ultimate responsibility for the devastating impact this scandal has had on our nation's image worldwide, for the brutal and humiliating actions of American troops, for the poor handling of the scandal by the military establishment and for fostering an atmosphere in which the traditional rules of war and norms of international law are treated as excess baggage

Additionally, for those lawmakers that publicly said to the world the appalling phrase “outraged by the outrage” should be ashamed of themselves. Telling the world that the prison’s abuses are not that bad because Saddam and Terrorists have done worst, is irresponsible and at best insensitive. Such comments by our lawmakers put our soldiers in further harm. For them to judge the severity of our soldier’s actions by comparing it to that of the terrorists is inappropriate and speaks volume about these lawmakers morals.

Finally we call on people of all faiths and cultures to work together for peace and reconciliation, not war and destruction.

For more information, contact Hakim Ouansafi, President of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, at (808) 478-7788 or via e-mail at hakim@iio.org