(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/7/05) – A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned this morning’s bomb attacks in London as “barbaric crimes.”

In its statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said:

“We join Americans of all faiths, and all people of conscience worldwide, in condemning these barbaric crimes that can never be justified or excused. American Muslims offer their sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured in today’s attacks and call for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators.”

The Muslim Council of Britain and other British Islamic groups issued similar condemnations of the attacks and urged Muslims to help in the recovery effort.

In 2004, CAIR launched an online petition drive, called “Not in the Name of Islam,” designed to disassociate Islam from the violent acts of a few Muslims. SEE: https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/1370-cair-condemns-barbaric-london-terror-attacks.html

The “Not in the Name of Islam” petition states: “We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.”

CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. To read CAIR’s Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to: https://www.cair.com/about-us/vision-mission-core-principles.html

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OHIO CONTACTS: Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614.989.5916, ahmad@cair-ohio.com, Julia Shearson, 216.440.2247, Karen Dabdoub, 513.604.4444