Press Release - 12/27/2011
Release Date: 12/27/2011 12:00:00 AM
In the Name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful
ADAMS Condemns Heinous Attacks on Nigerian Churches and Christians on Christmas Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/27/2011
The All Dulles Area Muslim Society
(ADAMS) condemns the terrorist crimes against
humanity in the Christmas Day attacks on Christians Churches in Madalla,
Jos, Kano, Damaturu and Gadaka in Nigeria. Our hearts, thoughts and profound sympathies
are with all the victims of these horrific acts, and with their
families. We urge the Nigerian government to take all
measures to prosecute all those responsible for these heinous crimes, swiftly
and to the fullest measure. We pray
for peace between the Muslim and Christian Community in Nigeria, and must
work together to help bring about that peace, and an end to terrorism,
extremism and conflict.
We are especially troubled by these events since ADAMS had in October
hosted an Interfaith event featuring two Nigerian interfaith icons, Imam
Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, two former Nigerian militia leaders
turned peace-makers who have spent several years trying to bring an end to such
warfare and conflicts in their home country (http://www.adamscenter.org/announcements/The__Imam__and__the__Pastor)
"It is a sad day for all people when a simple act of worship or community celebration is marked by violence and innocent deaths", said Imam Magid, ADAMS' Executive Director. "We therefore ask all Muslim community members and organizations in Nigeria to lend support to the families who lost loved ones during these attacks, and we urge American Muslims to join them in praying that God may ease the suffering of all those affected by this terrible tragedy."
As Islam holds the human soul in high esteem, we consider any attack against innocent human beings to be a grave sin. ADAMS has consistently and clearly stated 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. ADAMS and all its members therefore 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.
Apropos of the issue of attacking churches, we remind that in January 2006, ADAMS partnered with the Sangla Hill Rebuilding Coalition to raise money to rebuild Christian Churches burned by mobs in Sangla Hill, Pakistan, and in September 2009, ADAMS raised money to help Christians attacked in Gojra, Pakistan as well.
Observer News: Rebuilding Faith:
Area Muslims Raise Money for Destroyed Churches
in Pakistan
http://www.observernews.com/stories/current/news/011306/ADAMS.shtml
Daily
Times: ADAMS Member efforts to Rebuild
Churches in Sangla Hill
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\01\04\story_4-1-2006_pg7_58
ADAMS Condemns Attacks on Christians in Pakistan
http://www.adamscenter.org/PressReleases/30
Imam Mohamed Magid, Executive
Director Co-convened this working group and Paper on The Roles of
Muslim-Majority and Muslim-Minority Communities in a Global Context which
addresses Interfaith relations and respect for Human Rights & Religious
Freedom in Muslim Majority countries.
http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2011/08_muslim_communities_magid_khan.aspx
The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) is one of the largest Muslim communities/mosques in the DC Metro Area and in the United States. A non profit 501c(3) Organization, ADAMS serves over 5000 families with 10 branches in Virginia/DC - Sterling/Herndon, Tysons Corner, Fairfax, North Reston, South Reston-Herndon, Ashburn/Leesburg, South Riding, Gainesville, Crystal City, and Washington DC). ADAMS is governed by a 13-member democratically elected board of trustees comprising of men and women, and engages in regular interfaith, government relations, social services and community service. ADAMS also has one of the largest Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Girl Scout programs in the DC Metro area.