Where Is the Muslim Community in the West?
Posted Apr 6, 2007

Where Is the Muslim Community in the West?

Appeal to the Muslim Community in the West

by Sheila Musaji

There are many items listed in our ACTION section that allow individuals to take a stand on important issues.  Some of these issues of importance to the Muslim community have very surprisingly received little attention.

The CAIR Not in the Name of Islam petition went online in May of 2004, and is no longer accepting signatures.  It received 691,531 signatures in the time it was online.  This seems like a large number, and yet, if you consider the number of Muslims in the West alone (U.S., Canada, Europe, South America, etc.) and the total number of Muslims, it is actually a much smaller number than we should have been able to encourage to sign such a basic statement which asked for “Muslims around the world to help correct misperceptions of Islam and the Islamic stance on religiously-motivated terror”.

There are three petitions/statements currently online that are of particular importance to the Muslim community, and this is an appeal to Muslims everywhere to read these and consider signing today.  It will only take a few minutes of your time, and may make a difference in sending a clear message from the Muslim majority. 

1.  STAND AGAINST TERRORISTS -  Although this was originally put online in response to a specific incident, it is an ongoing issue and signatures can still be added.  This statement has been online since November of 2006 and to date only 17 Muslims have signed?

2.  SUNNI-SHIA DIALOGUE TO SAVE LIVES PETITION.  This has been online since February 2007 and to date has received only 336 signatures?

3.  FREEDOM OF FAITH STATEMENT.  This has been online since March 2007 and to date has received only 28 signatures?

Please, take a moment yourself to look at and sign these petitions/statements, forward this request to as many people as you are able, make fliers to hand out at Jumaah, do whatever you can to encourage as many as possible to consider signing.  We know where we are starting with signatures, and hopefully each individual will take it personally to follow up and help to increase the number of signatures on all of these petitions by tens of thousands.