THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF MUSLIMS P.O. BOX 143, STATION P, TORONTO, ON M5S 2S7 http://muslimcanada.info

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Terrorist Attack - Reactions

As-Salaamu Alaikum

The following media release was sent to the Media (print/radio/TV) across Canada and was also posted on our website on Sept. 12, 2001. Similarly an outgoing voice-mail message was also relayed to people who called us by phone:

Click Here to see the page

As a consequence of the terrorist bombings in the U.S., we at the Canadian Society of Muslims have received a great deal of e-mail from visitors to our website. The vast majority of the letters have been sympathetic and full of kindness. Only a small number were of the hate variety. In any case, we've decided to share some of these letters with you, as these are indeed quite reassuring for the Muslim community at large. Yes there are some really nice people out there who care enough to take the time and trouble to show their thoughtfulness during this troubled time!

The names and e-mail addresses of these correspondents have been removed.

• You are all a bunch of f--g TERRORISTS, you fight like cowards because you are nothing but a bunch of f---g cowards. Go back to your own country and go kill your own people you bunch of F----G TERRORISTS. Go to hell, all of you....

• Get the hell out of our country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nobody wants you people here. this country is for canadians only not islamic people.

• I apologize from my heart for any suffering you or your families may have endured from those whose hearts are filled with hate and cannot understand the world outside their own homes.

• I want to add my name to the numbers who have contacted you in support, following last week's terrible attack on the United States. I am a member of xxx [a Toronto] United Church and I wonder if you might suggest how my faith community might be of assistance to you. With love, xxx

 
• I am a non-Muslim Canadian who deeply feels the wrong of recent American and Canadian harassment of Arab and Muslim people. I find this both offensive and terribly disappointing. As a university professor I will take appropriate opportunities to speak against these episodes of violence and ignorance - of inhumanity - in my classes. My thoughts and support are with you, as is the support of many other Canadians.

 
• I want to add my voice in support of Canadian Muslims. You are a valued part of Canadian society and any thinking person will understand that average citizens cannot be held responsible for the acts of terrorists. Good luck to you in this confusing time and the days ahead.

• After the events of last week, everyone has been feeling the stress. I'm embarrassed to say that as a Caucasian, we have not all responded well. I am not Muslim, I was raised Protestant. It may seem feeble and weak, but I apologize for the response of this horrific attack. It's an excuse, a shameful excuse for coating racism in patriotism. There is no excuse to attack mosques or people due to religion, colour, race or sex. I salute you in your time of pain, and I hope you know that not all of us feel the same way about the diversity of our nation. It's one of the things that makes me proud to be a Canadian. Our diversity. Please, stay strong.

 
• I just wanted to add my voice to those who have already contacted you about the unacceptable behaviour from some people following the tragedy in the United States. I want to tell you that I am appalled by anyone targeting Muslims following these attacks and I stand with you in support.

 
• I am a Canadian recently moved to New York City, where last Tuesday I witnessed the collapse of the World Trade Center. I think much of the world is still in shock as we are here in New York. To see the posters of those missing is heartbreaking, and you realize how many families, friends, faiths and nationalities were touched by this disaster. Gone are brothers, fathers, mothers, sons sisters husbands, wives, daughters; they are Japanese, Greek, black, white, Latino, Arab, African, Canadian, Chinese, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheist; they are security guards, technicians, investment bankers, janitors, dishwashers, lawyers, firefighters, doctors. In this daze of horror, it is with a sinking heart that I read and hear the talk of war; and with such sadness that I learn of the acts of violence and hate against Muslim, Arab and Middle-Eastern Canadians. It is happening here too in the US, but I still feel my connections most closely to Canada and Canadian communities affected. So I pass along to you my thoughts of peace and understanding, in this time when you must feel your communities under siege. I hope that out of all this will come a better world, not worse.

 
• I would like to take a moment to express my grief, sorrow and frustration with regards to the terrorism campaign against the Islamic/Muslim community. I do not belong to this community, and wish to express the fact that not all Canadians are so incredibly ignorant and small minded as those that beat up the 15 year boy recently. I truly hope that your members do not feel unwelcome or unwanted. Hopefully we can band together as *CANADIANS* to prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law.

 
• Though I am a Christian, an American, and am ANGRY, I want you to know that MOST Americans while scared, accept you and your religion in the spirit of our Constitution's "Freedom of Religion." May you find peace in these times, and patience to deal with those IDIOTS that may be intolerant of you.

 
• It's important (to me at least) that you and all Muslims know that most of us non-Muslims do not equate Islam with terrorism, despite the emotional, irrational, inflammatory rhetoric in the media.

• I am so pleased to hear that others have also written to express their shame. [we announced that on our website] Yesterday a Muslim family was behind me in the line-up at the grocery store and I really wanted to say something to them to make them feel welcome in this country and this neighbourhood. For fear of being misunderstood, I only smiled at them instead. Would your organization let the followers of Islam know that they are welcome, treasured members of Canadian society? Those who have acted in ignorant and intolerant rage against Muslims or Arab-Canadians are the ones who are unwelcome here. I am, however, fearful that senseless acts of violence will escalate. Feel free to build a mailing list of those who have written to express their dismay and let us know if there is some way we can help.

 
• I am just writing to express my wishes for your people in these difficult times. Hopefully you will be getting more of these supportive messages than those full of hatred, ignorance and bigotry. I attended the multi-denominational memorial service in Montreal on Friday and was impressed by the words of the Imam who spoke. Stressing that the recent actions are not sanctioned by the Koran, and that the perpetrators, like zealots from all religious groups through history, have usurped the selected principles to justify their own unjustifiable actions. I have heard in the media about the unspeakable assaults and threats on so many Muslim Canadians, including children, and am ashamed and further pained by these. Good luck to you all! If any good comes from this recent evil, may it be a small increase in knowledge, tolerance and understanding.

 
• I have heard that Canadian Muslims are being targeted due to the attacks in the United States. I had the idea to give my words of support - and am glad to see from your website that others have had the same notion. I hold to the belief that our society has grown in such a way that this kind of intolerance is more the exception rather than the norm. I'm very pleased by the fact that you've received many more letters of support than you have received hate mail. It tells me that I'm not mistaken to believe so, and I hope that's as much a comfort to you as it is to me. I must be telling you what many others have already told you during the past few days, I hope you don't mind me repeating the message in my own words. Thank you for reading my message, which must be just one out of very many that you have been receiving.

 
• To all Muslim Canadians, I am writing to show my support to all Muslim Canadians who are suffering in this time both from the tragedy on our continent and the harassment by those who are ignorant of the very principals on which this country is built.

 
• I will do everything in my power, even die if required, to defend you and to stop those who are targeting you without reason. They are, in doing so, attacking the highest principals of democracy and freedom as much as any terrorist attack.

You might also get an insight and better understanding of Islamic teachings relating to the principles and the Islamic way of life which emphasizes Love for All, and the need for Universal Brotherhood, Religious Tolerance and multiracial, multi-cultural co-existence on our website, under the title of "Tolerance in Islam" by Marmaduke Pickthall. You might also read another article directly dealing with the current issue of the U.S. terrorist attack situation which was written by Mohamed Elmasry of the CIC: click here to see it.

Caveat Emptor

There have been reports of a new situation which is occurring. Apparently some people who "may not be Muslims" are using Muslim names and calling media organizations and expressing their approval of terrorists attacks against the United States. Yesterday, a lady called a radio talk show program and identified herself as Muslim, and said that she approves the attacks on WTC and Pentagon. The host of the program wanted to talk to her further but she hung-up. We have received similar information from other parts of Canada and USA.

Update on the School Textbook Issue

Al-hamdu li Allah, almost all of our recommendations have been accepted by Oxford University Press, whose book "Exploring World Religions" is going to press this week. We offer our thanks to the media and also all the Muslims and non-Muslims who have supported us in this regard, especially those who took the time out to attend our Milad-un-Nabi celebration in Toronto, Edmonton and other places.

As-Salaamu Alaikum

Syed Mumtaz Ali
President of the Canadian Society of Muslims