American Muslim organizations condemn Mumbai attack

Muslim Public Affairs Council

The national Muslim advocacy organization, Muslim Public Affairs Council today condemned a series of seven terror attacks in Mumbai, India, which have left at least 80 dead, and several hundred injured. According to media reports, about 40 British nationals and other foreigners are currently being held hostage at a Mumbai hotel.

According to media reports, gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades hit two five-star hotels, a cafe, a train station and other sites in coordinated attacks. The targets included businesses frequented by international visitors in the city, which is India's financial center.

Those responsible for these brutal and immoral attacks should be swiftly brought to justice. Islam considers the use of terrorism to be unacceptable for any purpose.

"We at MPAC extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the Indian people. As Americans, we are familiar with the imminent and the long-term repercussions of terrorism," said Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati. "Here at home, we remain committed to combating, rejecting and effectively countering the scourge of terrorism in all forms."

Islamic Society of Nevada

The Islamic Society of Nevada strongly condemns those involved in cowardly terrorist attacks targeting Americans and British passport holders. "Whoever is involved in these attacks is the worst enemy of every thing decent that people stand for, said Dr. Basheer Chowdhry, chairman of the Board of Trustee.

"Terrorists have reached to their highest level of desperation, and they are acting in insanity," said Khalid Khan, President of the ISON.

Dr. Aslam Abdullah, Director of the ISON urged leaders to come together to take a strong stand against terrorism and unite to confront terrorists at all levels. "We cannot sit quiet in these times. The throwing of acid on school going girls in Afghanistan, the bombing of internet cafes in Palestine and now the carnage in Bombay point out clearly that terrorists have no faith and no regard to human life. We must work together to fight the menace that is hurting us all", he urged.

American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin

FARMINGTON, MICHIGAN--The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) on Wednesday condemned the serial terrorist attacks in Mumbai city of India. According to latest news reports 80 people have died and over 250 have been injured in the attacks across the city including the CST railway station and the Oberoi and Taj hotels. At the time of this writing a hostage situation continued to exist in the Oberoi Hotel and a commando operation was in process.

"We strongly condemn these dastardly attacks which targeted the innocents. AFMI conveys its deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and prays for the speedy recovery of the injured. We salute the the brave police officers who lost their lives and express our heartfelt condolences to their families," said Mr. Ali Quraishi, president of AFMI.

"AFMI demands the respective state and central governments to take immediate action in bringing the culprits behind this attack to justice. We also urge the respective governments to direct the police and security forces to not to target any innocent persons."

Mr.Quraishi added, "We also appeal to the people of India to maintain peace and not to fall prey to the machinations of anti-national and divisive forces."

The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin, is a North American based grassroots organization, dedicated to socio-economic and educational development of Muslims and other underprivileged masses in India.

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago condemned the Mumbai terror attacks.

"Today's terror attacks on the residents of Mumbai are vile and reprehensible and the Illinois Muslim community condemns them without reservation" remarked Abdul Malik Mujahid, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the victims' families."

India is home to over 200 million Muslims with a centuries long history of peaceful co-existence with India's Hindu majority and with the other religious minorities such as the Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. A substantial percentage of the 400,000 Illinois Muslims are from India or are the children of Indian immigrants.

"We are confident that Indian security and law enforcement authorities will return order and security to Mumbai" said Junaid M. Afeef, the Council's Executive Director.

The Council also noted that India has a sordid history of communal violence that stains an otherwise tolerant and peaceful history of co-existence. The Council urged Indian authorities at the local, state and national level to be vigilant in safe-guarding its religious minorities in the wake of today's attacks.

"Today's violence was carried out by extremists and one of our concerns is also that other extremists will exploit it to commit reprisal attacks against more innocent civilians" noted Afeef.

Pakistan American Association

The Pakistan American Association expresses its solidarity with the people of Bombay and India at this hour of great distress caused by the terrorist attack. "The attack is an act of insanity and desperation, said Dr. Bashir Chowdhry, the chairman of the Pakistan American Association.

"We cannot allow this type of menace to takeover our world. We must do whatever it takes to stop it and ensure that innocent people are safe from those who have no respect for human life. Acts of terrorism whether committed in Pakistan, India, the United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, or elsewhere must be condemned by everyone who believes in human dignity and sanctity of life." he added.

Pakistan American Association based in Nevada is a major organization of Americans of Pakistani origin dedicated to peace and relief work in Pakistan.

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