According to a report by the Associated Press, some prominent Chattanooga Muslims are speaking out about the murders of five U. S. servicemen. The alleged killer attended the same mosque as Mohsin Ali, a member of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga.
Ali says that he has Christian friends and sometimes speaks at churches about the Islamic faith. He hopes that the relationships he and others Muslims have built aren’t destroyed by his fellow Muslim who killed four Marines and a sailor.
Ali calls the U.S. servicemen heroes and says that, “We, our kids, are 100 percent American and Chattnoogan.” Ali, 42, was born in Pakistan and is worried that the community’s perception will change as a result of the murders.
A memorial service was held for the slain service members at a Baptist church with over 1,000 in attendance. Mohsin Ali was one of the speakers. He railed against Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, the alleged shooter, calling him a “murderer” who committed a “cowardly and cruel” act.
Ali said, “He shot our marines and our police offices, shattered the peace of our city, and frightened our children. He destroyed the lives of his whole family. He did his best to spread hatred and division. Disgraceful. And we will not let that endure.” At the end of the service, dozens of Muslims stood in unison to show their support for their city and for the United States.
Bassam Issa, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga, said, “We just feel very lucky to be in a city like this.” The end of Ramadan is usually a time of celebration but events at the Islamic center were cancelled following the shooting. A sign on the door encouraged visitors to attend the memorial service for the slain Marines and sailor instead. Some Muslim teenagers have expressed fears that they will be targets of retaliation. Thus far, that does not seem to be happening.
A number of commentators and pundits have, in the past, wondered where the Muslim leadership in America was after acts of terrorism. Whether true or not, the perception has been that Muslim leaders have been silent, and silence is often interpreted as assent. When nine African Americans were murdered by a white man in South Carolina, the response of churches and denominations across the country, white and black, condemning the murders was swift.
Moshin Ali and the Islamic community of Chattanooga have boldly and bravely condemned the actions of a fellow Muslim who brought terror to their doorstep. Even the alleged killer’s family is broken and horrified by the murders. They, too, have expressed their grief and sorrow. They are to be respected and valued. Other clerics and leaders in the Muslim community should follow suit.
It is not enough to keep silent. Actions such as those taken by the Chattanooga killer should be denounced and repudiated by all, Muslim or otherwise. A Chattanooga Baptist pastor’s wife, Valencia Brewer, said, “You can’t point at all Muslims because of this.”
Those who are truly peaceful need to unite in condemning all such violence as was visited upon Chattanooga.
[David Epps is the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Sharpsburg, GA (www.ctkcec.org). He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese which consists of Georgia and Tennessee (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and the Associate Endorser for the Department of the Armed Forces, U. S. Military Chaplains, ICCEC. He may contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.]
