AlShindagah Online

"Terrorism is not a solution and the taking of civilian lives is unforgivable" - Khalaf Al Habtoor

The terrible acts of terrorism on September 11 have deeply shocked all of us here who believe in a peaceful resolution to the conflicts that affect our region. The following is a letter of condolences I have sent to all American friends and colleagues expressing our profound sorrow over these tragic events. We also would like to share with you excerpts from the responses we got from the individuals concern.

     Yesterday terrible acts of terrorism have deeply shocked me and all of us here who deeply beleive in a peaceful resolution to the conflicts that affect our region. Terrorism is not a solution and the taking of civilian lives is unforgivable. Please accept my deepest condolences and profound sorrow over these tragic events. I along with a great many others here in U.A.E., feel your sorrow and America's pain at what has happened. I share with you a deep feeling of grief for all those have lost their lives by the obscene act.
     I know at times like these that everyone is anxious to apportion blame and punish those that commmit this type of atrocity. But as yet none knows who committed this appaling act. If it does not turn out to have been organized by someone of my faith, I ask you not to tar all who follow Islam with the brush of fanaticism and hate, for all religions have their fanatics.
     Again let me say how deeply shocked I am at this atrocity. I feel a deep sense of sorrow at the pain this terrible act has caused the American People.

In sorrow,
Khalaf Al Habtoor

On behalf of the US Government and, more importantly, in the name of the
American people, the American Embassy and the Consulate General in Dubai want
to thank you for your kind words of condolence. At this difficult moment in our
history, the support of our friends is a great comfort. We were particularly
appreciative of His Highness President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's
message of condolence and his expression of support to President Bush and our
Nation, as well as expressions of condolence and support from His Highness General
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktourn, and from the rulers of the Northern
Emirates. His words, and those of the UAE's leaders, citizens, and residents, have
reminded us that the friendship between our two countries will endure even as we
and our allies work to bring to justice those who carried out this heinous act,

GORDON R. OLSON
Charge d’ Affaires
Embassy of United States of America,
Abu dhabi

Thank you for your e-mail. The telephone lines have been sporadic at best! I will try to call you upon my return to the UK tomorrow. I am seriously afraid that this act will bring on the next World War! My family is OK, but I have many friends from New York Tel whom I am concerned about. God help us all!

I am neither a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim or an atheist: like many of us here in the West, where questions of faith and eternity have for half a century taken a back seat, when for many people God seemed to die in the chaos and terror of World War Two I am a "'don't know". As an old Imam who I knew forty years ago in Tangier once said to me: There is only one thing less likely than the existence of God, and that is, that He does not exist.

Man seems to be by nature intolerant; but the Holy Koran recognises the Peoples of the Book, and particularly in the long, golden age of the Caliphate of Cordoba, a multi-faith culture flourished under Islam. Yes, of course there are intolerant factors of Islam, which some of us do not believe reflects the teachings of the Prophet; but remember the burnings of heretics in the squares of Spain, the auto-da-fe, under the Spanish Inquisition, and the 10,0000 Protestant heretics hanged every year in the Spanish Netherlands under the rule of the Spanish governor, the Duke of Alba.

The great Sufi poet Jalal-ud-Din Rumi worte:
"The man who knows and knows he knows, is mounted on a horse that will leap over the arch of Heavens: The man who does not know, and knows the does not know Will reach the same place on his donkey"

Today, we do not know, and we are perhaps only the beginning a very long voyage.

REMARKS OF PAUL FINDLEY AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS, USA DURING SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2001.

Many wonder if other acts of terrorism will follow. Muslims are concerned, because there is already a vicious and violent anti-Islamic tide. In a suburb of Washington, D.C., angry citizens tear headscarves from Muslim women. In Chicago, police stop an angry mob threatening a mosque. In Texas, bullets are fired at a Muslim center. Muslims go into hiding.

Largely misinformed about the Muslim faith, many Americans mistakenly accept the bombings as terrorism condoned by Islam. Long before the hijackers struck last week, most Americans already linked Islam with terrorism, unaware that Islam considers both suicide and the killing of innocent people as forms of murder. If the hijackers were professed Muslims, they grossly violated the rules of their religion.

From Khalaf AI Habtoor, a United Arab Emirates businessman and long-time friend, comes this plea: “ I know at times like these that everyone is anxious to apportion blame and punish those that commit atrocity. As yet no one knows who committed this appalling act. If it does turn out to have been organized by someone of my faith, I ask you not to tar all those who follow Islam with the brush of fanaticism and hate; all religions have their fanatics.”

This is also a time for reflection. Today's America is not as beloved as yesterday. Have we wondered why?

It would indeed be sad if the actions of a few misguided souls could affect the way hundreds of millions of Muslims are seen. Terrorism may be committed under the guise of religion, but it has nothing to do with the ideals of any religion. It is unfortunate that opportunists can use religion as a cover for murder, kidnapping, hijacking, etc.

I wish this tragedy never happened, people here are so damn ignorant, they just don't understand that there are deviant people in this country as well. Brian and I are thinking about you and wishing you and your family and friends peace. I wish I could make all this go away. 1 am brought to tears everyday thinking about this horrific act and the people that 1 care for and have meant in the Middle East and what they must be going through too.

There is 24hr live coverage and everyone is talking about it all the time. They are even watching it while they are at work. However, no one battered an eyelid when over one million people died from the earthquake in Bangladesh, not so long ago. And no one in the West seems to be bothered about the hundreds of thousand of people that have died in Iraq because of American economic sanctions, either! I think all human suffering is awful. I wonder what the outcome will be and how America will react? I'm more scared about that. I hope no more innocent people get killed.

Many thanks for the kind note-you have definitely hit the point. It is truly amazing that someone could plan an act like that-regardless of their faith. Those buildings were so big, I can not believe that they were destroyed.

Unfortunately, you are correct. If it does surface that the perpetrators were from the Middle East, it's likely that a lot of Americans will paint it with a broad brush.

Khalaf, I could never blame a religion or its followers for these dastardly, cowardly acts. No one who loves peace and respects people could have committed these atrocious attacks upon humanity. I believe that if the terrorists say they acted in the name of Islam, then they have only acted in the name of religious fanaticism but not in the name of Islam as most people practice it.

This tragedy has touched us all. All of our Arab groups are obviously trying to get out of the country as quickly as possible. Some have even met with hostility on the streets. This is truly the time to unify and express appreciation and understanding of each other. While I know that New York, Washington and the entire country will never forget this tragedy, perhaps we can learn from our experiences and certainly, we will endear!

CYNTHIA CHUNG
Diplomatic Affairs
The Plaza, Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, New York, USA

Thank you for your fax of September 12 and your words of sympathy. On behalf of The Middle East Institute I thank you and your family for your condolences. We are touched by the many messages coming from our friends in the Arab World. I can assure you that since September 11, the Institute, and in particular myself, have worked very hard to contribute to a better understanding of the region.

In the days, which followed the tragedy, Richard Murphy, Chairman of MEI, our Scholars-in-Residence, and myself, we all have had the opportunity, through numerous interviews and panel discussions, to address the American as well Arab media.

We have asked the many persons who have been calling the Institute since September 11, to refer to “An Introduction to Islam” that can be found on our website (www.mideasti.org). A few days ago, we organized a special lecture on “Islam and Violence” which was very well attended.

Our world has been irrrevocably altered, and I could only hope that in the aftermath of this violence we do not see the victimization of Arabs Americans. But, I fear, this is inevitable.

Most Americans will not blame any particular religion, for our very belief is that everyone is entitled to their own religious beliefs. Most of us will die for our Islamic friends’ right to practice their religion freely here. They are our friends and we love them. We understand that this was done by fanatics and is not the teachings of Islam. We have our crazy people too, and will have to be vigilant that they are kept under control during this stressful time.

Thank you again for your comforting words. Real Americans hate only those who practice or condone terrorism and not the beautiful religion of Islam.