330 East Roosevelt Road, Suite G5, Lombard, IL 60148 - Ph.: 630.629.7490 – Fax: 630.629.7492
Contact: Kareem M. Irfan Esq, Chairman - Ph.: 847.867.4304

PRESS RELEASE
Chicago - Tuesday, October 8, 2002

CHICAGOLAND MUSLIMS CONDEMN JERRY FALWELL'S HATEFUL COMMENTS AS BIGOTED, IRRESPONSIBLE AND DESTRUCTIVE

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (Council), an umbrella organization representing over 400,000 Muslims throughout Chicagoland, condemns the false, bigoted, and hateful words of Rev. Jerry Falwell on Sunday, October 6, 2002 on the television newsmagazine "60 Minutes".

During an interview with reporter Bob Simon, Reverend Falwell said, "I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I read enough…by both Muslims and non-Muslims, [to decide] that he was a violent man, a man of war," Falwell told Simon. "In my opinion…Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses, and I think Mohammed set an opposite example."

Falwell's misguided statements continue a pattern of hate speech against Islam and Muslims by some major religious leaders in America. Last August, Rev. Franklin Graham appeared on the Fox News program "Hannity & Colmes" and repeatedly refused to deny previous comments that Islam "is a very evil and wicked religion". He went on to state, "I think it's [terrorism] is more mainstream. And it's not just a handful of extremists. If you buy the Koran, read it for yourself, and it's in there. The violence that it preaches is there." In a recent television interview, Pat Robertson described Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as, "An absolute wild-eyed fanatic. He was a robber and a brigand. And to say that these terrorists distort Islam, they're carrying out Islam…I mean, this man [Muhammad] was a killer. And to think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent." Robertson also called Islam "a monumental scam" and claimed the Quran, Islam's revealed text, "is strictly a theft of Jewish theology."

In condemning Falwell's comments, Council Chairman Kareem Irfan said: "Such Islamophobic and anti-Muslim hate speech is irresponsible, shameful and contrary to the core American values of religious freedom and tolerance. The venomous words from Christian leaders like Falwell, Graham and Robertson are remarkably un-Christian - their hate speech is not only unsupported by the facts but also goes against the fundamental teachings of their own faith, and drives destructive wedges across American society. Leaders of all faiths must strongly condemn these offensive words of utter falsehood and bigotry against Islam, Muslims and their highly revered Prophet Muhammad, so that the tremendous efforts of so many peacemakers towards improved inter-faith relations is not set back drastically."

The Council particularly requests President Bush to repudiate and denounce these hateful words of his close supporters, and forcefully emphasize, both in words and practice, his earlier statements that America is at war against terrorism, not Islam, which is a religion of peace and understanding. We also urge local and national media outlets, especially CBS and Fox, to stop providing a platform for such divisive and inflammatory hate speech. The Council remains committed to inter-faith service to the Chicago community and invites opportunities from these media outlets to facilitate improved interaction, education, understanding and ties amongst fellow Americans of all faiths.

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