American Muslim leaders from several organizations and masajid held a press conference at the National Press Club on September 10, 2014. The press conference was titled American Muslim Leaders Press Conference on Preventing Violent Extremism.
Rizwan Jaka of ADAMS opened with a moment of silence for the victims of 9/11. Also part of the opening and not normally part of press conference events was the singing of ‘America the Beautiful by Muslim Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Much of the time was spent denouncing ISIS/ISIL/ IS and reminding the media and the world that American Muslims should not be looked at as a threat. The 2005 fatwa by the Fiqh Council of North America was reiterated. The message— 13 years after 9/11— was clear, that American Muslims stand united and categorically condemn terrorism.
“[The] real narrative of Islam is of peace and love,” said Imam Magid. This is the meta-narrative, not the alternative narrative, he said. Answering a question from the audience, he also stated that he would be publishing a theological argument against groups like Shabab and ISIS.
Imam Talib Shareef of Masjid Muhammad asked the news media to use the moniker ‘Anti Islamic State.’ It is not an Islamic state, of mind, of being, he said.
The coalition of organizations participating was impressive as was the full house of journalists and observers. Participating were Imam Mohammad Magid, Imam, All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), Imam Zia Makhdoom, Imam, MakeSpace, Imam Talib M. Shareef, Masjid Muhammad Inc., Humera Khan, Executive Director, Muflehun, Haris Tarin, Director, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Ahmed Bedier, United Voices of America, Faizul Khan, Imam, Islamic Society of Washington and Board Member, Islamic Society of North America(ISNA), Dr. Maqsood Chaudhry and Mohsin Ali Khan of Mclean Islamic Center, Najib Mohammed, President, First Hijrah Foundation, Arif Mostafa, President, Indonesian Muslim Association in America (IMAAM), and Azhar Azeez, President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). They were joined by Asma Hanif, Executive Director and Board Member, Muslimat Al-Nisaat, Imam Johari Abdul Malik, Outreach Director, Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, and Rafi Ahmed, President of the Muslim Association of Virginia who had also spoken at a September 3rd press conference held in Washington.
The ADAMS and Dar al Hijrah communities are very involved with interfaith efforts and this was the first time a Catholic archbishop of Washington D.C. joined in an American Muslim press conference. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick called the leadership in the room strong and faithful to United States. “We have so much in common,” he said. “Islam is a religion that helps people, not kills them, [Killing is] not the teaching of Islam,” said Cardinal McCarrick. a partner in the faith community.
We [the Muslim community] cannot be partner and suspects at the same time, said Haris Tarin of MPAC. Several anti-radicalization, community-led programs were announced.
“We were also victims in the 9/11 attacks ... but there is no shortcut to social change,” said Imam Johari. The men in the Muslim community need to make an effort to help the young men affected by the ISIS rhetoric, he said.
Asma Hanif is the daughter of the last surviving Montford Point Marines, a regiment of African Americans who fought for the country. She gave her condolences to the mothers of the American journalists killed by ISIS. Don’t compare our sinners to your saints, she said.
Ahmed Bedier of the United Voices of America was the final speaker. Rather than only condemning ISIS and lamenting the loss of lives, Bedier was critical of both the mass media and especially of American foreign policy. “Islam did not produce ISIS. Islam is not the problem, Islam is the solution,” he stated. “It’s the failed policies that are the problem. Thirteen years after 9/11 we have more terrorism today than we had [immediately] after 9/11.” He noted that before the invasion of Iraq there was not a single al-Qaeda member in Iraq, there were no suicide bombings, and we never even heard of ISIS. “Today the whole region is engulfed in violence and terrorism.” He spoke about torture and Abu Ghraib and ISIS and the Baathist connections.“When the president addresses the nation tonight I hope we hear a plan of action that goes beyond air strikes – because using drones and other terrorism tactics to fight terrorism is not working.”
Some other speakers were clearly uncomfortable by his statements. Bedier was told by two of the speakers after the press conference that he "went off message." He replied, "Did I say anything inaccurate?" They said "No, but we wanted to focus on condemnation and not the policies [and] politics,” which Bedier thinks is understandable. One of the speakers emailed him and thanked Bedier for saying what he wished he had said, but was happy that he "had the courage to say it". Bedier says the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from community members who said that they are tired of American Muslim leaders constantly appearing apologetic. His name was not included in the official post-event email.
According to Voice of America, about 100 ISIS fighters are Americans. Humera Khan, of Muflehun, said that ISIS members were criminals and terrorists, not martyrs. She spoke about the community led initiative that formed the organization she has run for the past 4 years, with programs available for every masjid and community. Muflehun teaches internet safety workshops, counsels youth and works with concerned families, and runs social media intervention programs. She emphasized that people on the path to radicalization need exit ramps and rehabilitation.
Imam Magid told the Muslim Link that he believes the invasion of Iraq was wrong, and it led to the demolition of its army and country which led to the chaos. When asked why he didn't denounce the actions of the US government including America’s support of tyrannical governments overseas, he said those issues were separate from ISIS. He believes that ISIS is not fighting for Muslims. “They are killing the Syrian opposition, they are killing scholars and destroying masajid,” said Imam Magid. He also said to young men and women concerned about US government policies that “we must condemn [those policies], but we must use political means. We are worried about Syria and Gaza, [so] we have to engage [the U.S. government] and speak truth to the power.”
Invitations for community members to speak were sent out by Rizwan Jaka of ADAMS Center, according to MPAC. Most masajid in the Maryland area were not present. Sheikh Yaseen Shaikh of Al Rahmah said that he did not receive an invitation to speak, and the same was true of the Imam of the Islamic Society of Annapolis. ISA held its own outreach event which was widely covered by publications in the area. "They speak for no one but themselves," said Imam Michael Smith II about the militants, in an earlier press conference held in Annapolis in collaboration with the Anne Arundel Muslim Council and CAIR.
The Ulema Council of DC, Maryland and Virginia which represent twenty scholars who represent various congregations around the area were also not invited. Imam Adil Khan, Ameer of the Council stated that none of their members had been approached by either MPAC or ADAMS. Some community members said that the work anti-radicalization groups are doing needs to be augmented with the inclusion of more scholars and Imams.
Several Law enforcement officials also participated in the press conference. Senior Adviser to President Obama and former Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Rand Beers, spoke at the press conference, along with David Gersten also from DHS. We must have tools to work with the communities, he said placing the onus on local communities. Earlier, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik said the Muslim community is already cooperating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, thanking those on duty that come through the front door [of masjids and communities], and not the back door referring to spies and agent provocateurs.
Watch the entire press conference at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6EFKAeZSq4&list=UUtcaCu3VbYmFWvzxJNCDHUd