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"True Muslims Must Never Deny the European Holocaust"

By Ibrahim Ramey [Director of the Human and Civil Rights Division of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation]

History will recall the tragedy of the genocide that slaughtered some six million European Jews between the rise of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party in 1933 and the culmination of the Second World War in Europe in May, 1945.

The evidence of this crime, and the horrible magnitude of this killing, is irrefutable. From sources as varied as Nazi war records, film documentation, and most importantly, the testimony of survivors and witnesses, we know that the mass murder of European Jews was, indeed, the single greatest crime of genocide in the twentieth century.

Yet the world now witnesses yet another wave of historical revisionism and Holocaust denial, this time emerging not from European Anti-Semites, but from none other than the President of Iran. Indeed, this head of state has taken the unprecedented act of hosting an international conference of anti-Semites, Holocaust deniers, and even white racists like former Klan leader David Duke, to gather in Tehran to deny the magnitude, if not the very existence, of this barbaric act.

As a Muslim of African decent in the United States, whose ancestors were victimized by the enormous crime of slavery, I object. And I believe that all Muslims, like other human beings who value compassion and truth, must vigorously object to this gathering as well.

Like many in the global Muslim community, I regard the occupation of Palestinian land and the policies of the State of Israel as issues of extreme importance. I am certainly among those who believe that the occupation of Palestinian territory and the denial of full human rights to Palestinians, and even to Arab people regarded as Israeli citizens, is deplorable.

But I find it to be morally unconscionable to attempt to build political arguments and political movements on a platform of racial hatred and the denial of the suffering of the human beings who were victimized by the viciousness of Hitler's genocidal rampage through Europe.

President Ahmedinejad should recognize that the issue of the Palestinian people must not, and cannot, be transmogrified into the ugly and spiritually bankrupt context of racial hatred. The cause of freedom must never drink from the well of hatred and racism.

And indeed, as the Holy Qur'an compels Muslims to demand justice for the oppressed, we are also called to witness against ourselves when we are in error.

And in this case, the President of Iran most certainly is.

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Islamic Society of North America Condemns Intra-Muslim Violence in Iraq

Plainfield, IN 12/18/06 - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) wishes to express its great concern about the unnecessary, daily bloodshed and other forms of brutality committed in various parts of the Muslim world whether by external or internal elements. Most tragic are the daily acts of exile, torture and mass murder of innocent people on the basis of the schools of jurisprudence or theology they follow or any other reason for that matter.

The Islamic Society of North America wishes to express its condemnation of all such violence, calls on all concerned parties within Iraq, in the neighboring countries and beyond to:

• Fear Allah, glorious and exalted is He, and remember that killing a single person, Muslim or otherwise without just cause is like killing the whole of humanity. [Qur'an 5:32].
  
• Whoever kills a believer intentionally will pay for it, not only by eternal punishment but also by earning the wrath and curse of Allah. [Qur'an 4:92].
  
• Abstain from any inflammatory statement that is likely to instigate hatred, religious and sectarian conflict or violence.
  
• To stop any internal and/or external financial, military or any other form of support to any violent element involved in atrocities against any person or group. This includes all those who take the law in their own hands and terrorize their fellow Muslims or other citizens for that matter.
  
• Realize that they are duty bound as Muslims to seek reconciliation between their brethren on the basis of justice and peaceful co-existence [49:10]

This statement is not intended to point the finger at any party, as many groups may share the blame for the current tragedy. May Allah lead our Ummah to His straight path and re- awaken their sense of true brotherhood, unity and solidarity in the face of the immense challenges that face it.

-END-

Contact Resource:
Mohamed Elsanousi
Director of Communication and Community Outreach
Phone: 317-839-1803
Email: melsanousi@isna.net

[From the ISNA website]

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Local Muslim leaders at US Holocaust Memorial Museum express solidarity with Jews in rejecting Holocaust denial

December 20, 2006 (Washington, D.C.)

In repudiation of the recent conference in Iran to deny the extent or reality of the Shoah, Washington, D.C-area Muslim leaders visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to express solidarity with Jews.

A Washington Post story by Mary Beth Sheridan (Dec 21) quoted Imam Mohamed Magid of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society as declaring that American Muslims "believe we have to learn the lessons of history and commit ourselves: 'Never again.'" He went on to say that, "If anyone wants to make Holocaust denial an Islamic cause, we want to say to them: You cannot use our name."

Sara J. Bloomfield, the museum's director, stated that, "We stand here with three survivors of the Holocaust and my great Muslim friends to condemn this outrage in Iran." As Imam Magid nodded in agreement, she observed that the museum "houses millions of pieces of evidence of this crime [of the Shoah]," which its perpetrators documented and never denied.

Among the survivors present was Johanna Neumann, whose family had escaped from Germany to Albania where Muslim families sheltered them during the Nazi occupation. "Everybody knew who we were. We have the highest respect for these people [who sheltered us]," she said. She related that her Muslim friends saved her and others by saying to the Nazis, "we don't know of any Jews here, all we know are Albanians."

All the speakers at the event rejected the use of any religion to foment hatred. Those present joined in lighting memorial candles to remember the victims of the Nazis.

According to the Washington Post article, Imam Magid suggested having the ceremony after learning of media reports of the Iran Holocaust denial conference. "I said to myself, 'We have to, as Muslim leaders . . . show solidarity with our fellow Jewish Americans.'" He contacted Akbar Ahmed, an American University professor active in interreligious dialogue, who asked the museum to hold the ceremony. "It's important that the world knows there are Muslims who don't believe in this [Holocaust denial]," Ahmed said after the ceremony. The Post reports that also on hand were representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Bloomfield noted that Imam Magid delayed his trip to Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage by a day to attend the ceremony. "That's a pretty strong statement," she said.

In his remarks Prof. Ahmed echoed the museum's directors remarks about intergroup hatred. "Hate is not only about hating Jews, which is antisemitism. It extends today, unfortunately, all over the globe, so Islamophobia, hatred of Islam, also becomes a great threat to all of us as a world civilization," he said. "This is what happens to hatred. It is like a poison. It spreads. ... I as a Muslim need to check [hatred] because I am commanded by God to show compassion."

Imam Magid quoted rabbinic and Quranic teaching that whoever saves one life, it as if he had saved the life of all humanity.

• The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has posted on its website excerpts from the ceremony for viewing via streaming video. Click HERE.

• For the Washington Post article, click HERE.

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