ADAMS Condemns Plots to Attack Synagogues and National Targets

In the Name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful

All Dulles Area Muslim Society(ADAMS)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/21/2009

The All Dulles Area Muslim Society(ADAMS) Condemns Plots to Attack Synagogues and National Targets

All Dulles Area Muslim Society(ADAMS) is relieved to learn that law enforcement agencies were able to foil a plot to blow up two synagogues in New York, and is appalled that suspects planned to attack places of worship and to commit crimes against national institutions.

We commend the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for preventing the planned acts of violence by these fanatic criminals. We reject unequivocally such violence or any attempt to undermine public safety and national security. We are repulsed by the hatred directed towards the Jewish community and stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors.

The FBI and New York police accused four men on Wednesday night of planting explosives in two cars that were parked outside two synagogues, and of planning to use surface-to-air missile to shoot down military planes. The suspects were, reportedly, unaware that the explosives were inert and the stinger was deactivated as the four suspects were led to believe that they were part of real operation by an FBI informant who infiltrated the group and provided the fake weapons. Several media reports referred to the suspects as Muslim. ADAMS rejects the association of Islam with such criminality, hatred and bigotry.

ADAMS has been working actively in Interfaith efforts and building bridges of respect and understanding between Faith Communities and All People. ADAMS values our ground-breaking partnerships with the Washington DC Metropolitan Area Jewish Community to foster mutual respect and understanding. ADAMS rents space from Two Synagogues - One ADAMS location is a Mosque that is the Neighbor of a Synagogue and the other location is a Friday Prayer service in a community hall within a Synagogue. ADAMS members have attended Interfaith Seders and Interfaith Shabbat services at a Synagogue ADAMS has hosted Two Interfaith Passover Seders at our Mosque. ADAMS has hosted a Holocaust Remembrance event with a Holocaust Survivor in our Mosque. An Attack on a Synagogue/Jewish Community is like an attack on a Mosque/Muslim Community.

The Islamic Society of North America(ISNA) held a Press Conference to address this incident in collaboration with the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (CEU). CEU was represented by Rabbi Mark Schneier. The Press Conference was held at the Islamic Culture Center in New York City and Imam Shamsi Ali representing the Center as well as the Muslim community.

Islam holds the human soul in high esteem, and considers the attack against innocent human beings a grave sin. ADAMS states clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam.

We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

We must work to help bring about PEACE and bring an end to terrorism, extremism, and conflict.

Please see ADAMS Statement on Condemning Terrorism and Fatwa Against Terrorism http://www.adamscenter.org/Media/Articles/ADAMSCondemnsTerrorism.aspx

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All Dulles Area Muslim Society(ADAMS) is one of the largest Muslim communities/mosques in the DC Metro Area and in the United States. ADAMS is a non profit 501c(3) Organization. ADAMS serves over 5000 families and has 7 branches(Sterling/Herndon, Tysons Corner, Fairfax, Reston, Leesburg, Ashburn, and South Riding) in Northern Virginia. ADAMS Center is governed by a 13-member democratically elected board of trustees comprising of men and women. ADAMS engages in regular interfaith, government relations, social services, and community service. ADAMS has one of the largest Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Girl Scout programs in the DC Metro area.