06/23/06: Local Muslim Leaders Respond to Miami Arrests

WXYZ- Channel 7 News- June 23, 2006

Reuters - Fri Jun 23, 6:01 PM ET

(L-R) Members of the Detroit area Muslim community Abdullah el-Amin, Dawud Walid and Imam Ali Elahi hold a news conference to denounce the use of the words 'Radical Black Muslims' by the media, at a mosque in Detroit, Michigan, June 23, 2006. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook (UNITED STATES)

Local Muslim Leaders Respond to Miami Arrests

By Kimberly Craig
Web produced by Sarah Morgan
June 23, 2006

Friday, after seven men were arrested and accused of trying to blow up the Sears Tower, Muslim leaders gathered at The Muslim Center on Detroit’s west side to caution against tying the suspects to Islam.

Leaders in the Muslim community said the terror suspects have blended Christianity with Islam. So, they said, do not call them Muslims, call them criminals.

Dawud Walid, American Islamic Relations, said, "The seven individuals are not Muslims, nor to we have knowledge of them professing Islam. They are a group that has blended some teachings of Islam into Christianity as apparent by their own statements."

Walid quoted a member of the group that said on TV, "We study Allah and we study the Bible."

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, Islamic House of Wisdom, said, "Why is it that some people, no matter what, try to make Islam and Muslim community a target? That should be a serious question for our nation."

Walid asked that the media not refer to the suspects as Muslims because they have not professed to be

Muslim and the community does not recognize them as Muslim.