This hardly is new. After Sept. 11, Muslim leaders issued statements, prayed for the victims, encouraged relief efforts and, in some cities, took out a full-page newspaper ad signed by 40 groups that said: "We condemn in the strongest terms possible the use of terror to further any political or religious cause." Nearly 700,000 Muslims have signed a "Not in the Name of Islam" petition on CAIR's Web site that begins: "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."
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But to say that Muslims have remained silent after attacks not only is inaccurate, Ahmed believes it fuels Osama bin Laden's Sept. 11 goal of a religious battle.
"That trap needs to be avoided," Ahmed said. "The breadth of Muslim voices against Al-Qaida, against Osama bin Laden, against 9/11, against such terrorism, is as broad as it can be, from the most conservative to the most liberal voices and everything in between."
So why don't we hear Muslim leaders condemning terrorism? Maybe we're not listening.