Media :: Press Release

Twin Cities Muslim Community Condemns Terrorist Attacks – 9/11/2001
IRG Responds to Church Bombings in Iraq (8/1/2004)
IRG Responds to Nick Berg’s Killing
Islamic Resource Group Responds to Arrests in Miami (6/23/2006)
IRG Responds to Cartoon Controversy: Explore Islam and Muhammad (3/1/2006)
IRG Statement Regarding Danish Cartoons (2/3/2006)

Twin Cities Muslim Community Condemns Terrorist Attacks – 9/11/2001

In the name of God, most Gracious, most Merciful

For Immediate Release
September 11, 2001

Twin Cities Muslim Community Condemns Terrorist Attacks

(Minneapolis/St. Paul, 9/11/01) - Joining Muslims around the country, the Twin Cities based Islamic Resource Group is appalled by and strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in New York and ashington. As Muslims, we utterly deplore these heinous & barbaric acts regardless of whom the perpetrators may have been, and hope for their quick apprehension and the swift application of justice.

We offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of those who were killed or injured.

We also urge the media to exercise restraint, and to act responsibly when reporting on these terrorist attacks. Until the perpetrators are brought to justice, all media reports should be accurate, restrained and sensitive.

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IRG Responds to Church Bombings in Iraq (8/1/2004)

For Immediate Release

(Minneapolis, MN, 8/1/2004) - A Twin Cities based prominent Islamic outreach organization today condemned bombings at five churches in Iraq that left at least 11 people dead and many more wounded. These attacks were carried out during Sunday evening services.

The Islamic Resource Group (IRG) said:

"We condemn these horrendous attacks in strongest possible terms. These bombings clearly seek to create religious divisions among Iraqis. Harming those engaged in worship violates Islamic principles. Religiously and historically, Islam mandated the protection of churches and synagogues. The Prophet Muhammad and his successors sought to protect houses of worship and the communities they serve. We offer condolences to the families of those killed and injured."

IRG, Minnesota's largest outreach group, is headquartered in Minneapolis and has a chapter in Rochester.

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IRG Responds to Nick Berg’s Killing

For Immediate Release

The Twin Cities based Islamic Resource Group (IRG) expresses its disgust and condemnation of the cold-blooded murder of Nick Berg. The horrendous abuses in Iraqi prisons cannot be used as a justification for killing civilians. 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.

The criminals responsible for this murder should be apprehended and swift justice meted out to them. Minnesota Muslims extend their prayers, condolences and support to Berg's family.

The overwhelming majority of Muslims worldwide are sickened and condemn Berg's horrific death as inherently shocking, against all teachings of Islam and universally deplored by all spiritual, caring and decent human beings.  Just as Iraqi tortures by US soldiers should not reflect on the values of America, likewise the actions of these killers should not reflect upon the religion of Islam.  Throughout time people have committed murder in the name of religion,but no religion would ever condone such a barbaric act.

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Islamic Resource Group Responds to Arrests in Miami (6/23/2006)

For Immediate Release

ISLAMIC RESOURCE GROUP (IRG) RESPONDS TO ARRESTS IN MIAMI

Minneapolis, MN (6/23/2006) - The Islamic Resource Group (IRG) congratulates law enforcement officials for their disruption of an alleged terror plot to bomb the Sears Tower and other buildings, while emphasizing the principle of innocence until proven guilty. If indeed they are found to be linked to Al-Qaeda, it is particularly ironic, since the main architect of the Sears Tower was a Muslim American, Fazlur Rehman Khan.
 
We condemn their intended actions if proven to be true, and emphasize that they have absolutely nothing to do with Islamic teachings. On the contrary, such acts directly violate Islamic teachings which prohibit violence towards innocent civilians. The seven men arrested do not appear to have any ties to the Muslim American community. If they are Muslims, their alleged acts also violate the obligation of Muslims to abide by and uphold the laws and security of their country.
 
We urge the media to exercise restraint in their coverage of this case and urge continued diligence in reporting, including coverage of this event's impact on the security of innocent Muslim Americans. We urge fellow Muslims to continue being vigilant and aware of criminal activity, and to assist the larger American community in proactively protecting the security of our country.

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IRG Responds to Cartoon Controversy: Explore Islam and Muhammad (3/1/2006)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IRG Responds to Cartoon Controversy: Explore Islam and Muhammad
Initiative will focus on life and legacy of Islam's Prophet Muhammad

Minneapolis, MN - March 01, 2006. On Sunday, March 19th, the Islamic Resource Group (IRG) will launch a major educational effort focusing on the life and legacy of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. These educational sessions will be held at three different locations.

WHAT: IRG to Launch Educational Initiative in Response to Cartoon Controversy

WHEN: Sunday, March 19th 10am-12pm
WHERE: Masjid An Nur
1729 Lyndale Ave, North,
Minneapolis, MN 55411

WHEN: Sunday, March 19th 4pm-6pm
WHERE: Islamic Center of Minnesota
1401 Gardena Ave Ne,
Minneapolis, MN 55432

WHEN: Thursday, March 23rd 7pm-9pm
WHERE: Masjid Al Rahman
8910 Old Cedar Ave
Bloomington, MN 55420

IRG's initiative was prompted by the worldwide controversy over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad and is designed to turn a negative incident into a positive learning opportunity.

"This initiative fits in very well with IRG's bridge- building and educational efforts in Minnesota. I hope people in Twin Cities will avail themselves of this unique educational opportunity to know more about the Prophet Muhammad." said IRG President, Zafar Siddiqui.

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IRG Statement Regarding Danish Cartoons (2/3/2006)

For Immediate Release

 
IRG Statement Regarding Danish Cartoons, 2/03/06

In late September last year, a Danish newspaper, Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten published 12 different cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. The cartoons included demeaning depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, including one with a bomb in his turban. In response to these and other unpublished drawings that began circulating in the Middle East, and after months of mild complaining, Muslims across the world began to protest and boycott Danish products, while some governments, such as Libya and Saudi Arabia withdrew their ambassadors from Denmark. While the editors of the Danish paper recently apologized for any upset they may have caused, the furor threatens to escalate with the new publication of the Danish caricatures and other religiously denigrating cartoons by other European dailies, including French and German papers.

At the heart of what has been labeled a cultural conflict is the Muslim sensibility about any depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, or any of the prophets for that matter, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, who are all highly revered and respected in Islam.  Islam forbids the portrayal, not only of God, but of any of the messengers or prophets that are believed to be of such a high and respected status that any attempt to portray them would fall short of their elevated status.  No newspaper in the Muslim world would ever dream of printing a caricature of Jesus or Moses, for example.  This respect for the prophets is a value shared by Jews and Christians in America and around the world.

While we totally condemn acts of violence or threats by Muslims protesting the cartoons, and emphasize that such actions contradict the teachings of Islam that place the life and safety of human beings at the highest level, and call for restraint, reason, and debate to address the issue, we also call on editors of European papers to act with the same respect and high standards as they would with any other religious group when discussing issues of a sensitive nature.

Moreover, especially in our present political and social climate, with recent events in France, and ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, denigrating other
people's religion is divisive and harmful, if not irresponsible, since it can potentially result in violence and mass upheaval.  While freedom of speech is a core principal in a democracy, and one that is valued in Islam, even free speech has its limits, per the proverbial "crying fire in a crowed theater". It is for that reason that there are laws against slander in nearly every country, including laws against blasphemy in the UK. Such laws should not be restricted to blasphemy against only one particular religion but should be applicable to all religions whether one agrees with them or not.

Even under the U.S. Constitution, there are limits on speech that balance one's right to free speech against the rights of others, including limits on "the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or 'fighting' words - those which by their very utterance inflicted injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace." (Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942) 62 S.Ct. 766, 769.)  For example, the U.S. Supreme Court has stated that states can constitutionally ban acts such as cross burnings, which, it can be argued, are an expression of "free speech".  So, even under the Constitution, one's right to free speech is not absolute, and must be balanced against the rights of others and the welfare of the general public.

In the spirit of positive change, we urge people of all faiths and backgrounds to take this issue, not as a means to divide us, but as an opportunity for bridge building, dialogue, and education.  At IRG, we have worked for the last 5 years to forge a greater understanding and respect between American Muslims and Americans of other faiths.  We invite you to take this occasion to learn a little more about your Muslim neighbors, by hosting an IRG presentation about a variety of subjects (see our website at www.IRGMN.org), or learning about Islam and related subjects from the many resources in our online catalogue (http://store.ing.org/).

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