Scholars of Islam speak out against terrorism

September 17, 2001

Dozens of scholars of Islam issued a statement today, condemning the violent attacks of September 11th.

"We are grief-stricken at these horrifying events," they wrote; "the murder of innocents can never be justified and must not be tolerated."

In a lengthy statement, professors from major colleges and universities throughout the country expressed their compassion for grieving family members while also decrying the increase in violence against American Muslims this past week. "Anger and frustration are completely understandable and shared by us all," they wrote "yet that anger must not be directed at individuals utterly innocent of these terrible crimes."

In recent days, verbal and physical attacks against Muslims (and people who were thought to be Muslims) have been reported from California to Vermont. Muslims have been warned to stay home or to avoid wearing traditional dress. "Particularly distressing is the fact that many American Muslims have fled to the United States, seeking a haven from intolerant regimes in Kosovo, Afghanistan or Iraq. For them now to face intolerance and violence here is an abuse of our Nation's most deeply cherished beliefs" they said.

The co-signers of the statement are members of many scholarly societies in the United States and Canada. They include:

Professor Asma Afsaruddin, of Notre Dame University

Professor Vivienne Sm. Angeles, La Salle University

Professor Ghazala Anwar of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Professor Jonathan Brockopp, Director of the Religion Program at Bard College

Professor Patrice C. Brodeur of Connecticut College

Professor Arthur Buehler of Louisiana State University

Professor Amila Buturovic of York University

Professor Juan E. Campo of the University of California, Santa Barbara

Professor Vincent J. Cornell of University of Arkansas

Professor Frederick M. Denny Chair of Islamic Studies and the History of Religions, University of Colorado

Professor Abdullahi Gallab of Hiram College

Professor Behrooz Ghamari of Georgia State University

Professor Alan Godlas of University of Georgia

Professor Hugh Talat Halman, of University of Arkansas

Professor Pieternella (Nelly) Harder Vandoorn,, of Valparaiso University

Professor Marcia Hermansen of Loyola University, Chicago

Professor Valerie J. Hoffman, of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Professor Qamar ul-Huda, of Boston College

Professor Aaron Hughes of the University of Calgary

Professor Amir Hussain of California State University, Northridge

Professor John Iskander of Georgia State Univeristy

Professor Ahmet Karamustafa of Washington University in St. Louis

Professor Tazim Kassam of Syracuse University

Professor Zayn Kassam of Pomona College

Professor Ruqayya Khan of University of California at Santa Barbara

Professor Kathryn Kueny, of Lawrence College

Professor Jane Dammen McAuliffe, Dean of the College, Georgetown University

Professor Richard C. Martin, Emory University

Professor J.W. Morris, Chair of Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter

Professor Gordon D. Newby, Executive Director, Institute for Comparative and International Studies at Emory University

Professor James Pavlin of Rutgers University

Professor Jack Renard of St. Louis University

Professor Omid Safi of Colgate University

Professor Walid Saleh of Middlebury College

Professor Zeki Saritoprak of Berry College

Professor Michael Sells, Haverford College

Professor Laury Silvers-Alario of Holy Cross University

Professor Alfons Teipen of Furman University