Today OCCJ sent the following statement to the media, as well as Gov. Fallin and other state leaders: As our community mourns the tragedy in Moore last week, we at the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice respectfully ask that the House Counterterrorism Caucus temper their rhetoric and leave the investigation of this heinous crime to appropriate law enforcement officials. We agree with Gov. Mary Fallin and the caucus that citizens should always be on alert. After all, we live in dangerous times. However, we ask that state leaders not make sweeping assertions that link all Muslims to terrorist groups. Such associations are dangerous and only amplify a volatile environment. In the last three weeks, Muslims across the state have reported harassment, hate mail, death threats and the desecration of mosques. No peaceful, law-abiding citizen deserves this – especially in a state that prides itself on friendliness. The caucus’s statement that “people know” the crime in Moore was linked to terrorist groups, along with a call for “public discussion,” suggests a lynch mob. Law-abiding Muslims across our state and around the world have repeatedly denounced ISIS and should not be linked to their actions, nor should elected leaders be so careless with their words. Furthermore, the caucus’s suggestion that Sharia law played a role in the Moore tragedy underscores their disregard or misunderstanding of Sharia law, which teaches its adherents to be good citizens. We join the entire state – including thousands of peace-seeking Muslims – in voicing our outrage about the violence here and abroad. We fully support our law enforcement officers in their investigation. We simply ask that our citizens and leaders allow other innocent citizens to live here in peace, regardless of their religious affiliations.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 22:10:35 +0000
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