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MAS - May 27, 2005
MAS Freedom "Respect the Quran" Campaign
Resonates With America's Interfaith Communities
The American interfaith community, along with national civil and human rights organizations, labor unions and social justice groups, continue to raise their voices by signing on to the Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation Respect the Quran Campaign focusing on charges that U.S. military interrogators at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, desecrated the Holy Quran, and acted in a manner indicating a pattern of behavior showing an overall disrespect for religiosity and human rights.
Today, the Interfaith Alliance, America's largest interfaith organization representing over 75 faith traditions and 150,000 members, added its voice of support to MAS Freedom Foundation's "Respect the Quran" campaign.
Also, several non-Muslim houses of worship have invited MAS Freedom to provide them with Quranic reciters for their congregations as a gesture of goodwill and support. Invitations to read the Quran have been requested by the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb from Southern California; All Souls Unitarian Church of Washington, DC; Rabbi Winkler of West Virginia; the Unitarian Universalist Society of Boston; and Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA.
Among several of the Campaign’s initiatives, is a call for Senator John Warner (R-VA), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to initiate a full investigation and/or hearing concerning the charges. Additionally, MAS Freedom has chose July as “National Quran Month”.
"The charges concerning the desecration of the Quran are despicable and unacceptable,” stated MAS Freedom Executive Director Mahdi Bray. "However, I believe it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Thus we are embarking upon a proactive and positive campaign in response to horrible reports we have received concerning the treatment of Muslims and the Holy Quran by our own government.
“We are promoting July as ‘National Quran Month’,” affirmed Bray. “Certainly, we recognize that everyday is the day of the Quran, for it is the eternal word of Allah (SWT).
“However, we've chosen July as a month to proactively educate people about the Quran and organize public readings and to encourage Muslims throughout our nation to organize public events - Quranic picnics in the park, lectures, films, Qur'anic calligraphy recitation contests - that focus on this magnificent miracle given to humanity.
"As Muslims in this country, we should not be ashamed to share with our neighbors the beauty and the love that we have for the Qur'an,” Bray asserted. “We encourage people to join us in this effort."
The Freedom Foundation plans to conclude the “National Quran Month” with a Quranic symposium in the nation's capital, Washington, DC, featuring lectures, film festivals, a public question and answer forum on the Quran, and a “Night with the Quran” featuring America's top Quranic reciters.
If you would like to assist, volunteer, or sponsor this event, please contact Intisar Pierce at (202) 496-1288.
http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=2479
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