UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military

17 September 2001

Transcript: Bush Remarks at Islamic Center of Washington, D.C.

(Says "face of terror not true faith of Islam") (760)
The September 11 attacks against the United States are "acts of
violence against innocents (that) violate the fundamental tenets of
the Islamic faith, and it's important for my fellow Americans to
understand that," President Bush said at the Islamic Center in the
nation's capital.
Bush spent almost an hour at the mosque the afternoon of September 17
talking with Muslim community leaders there.
"This is a great country. It's a great country because we share the
same values of respect and dignity and human worth. And it is my honor
to be meeting with leaders who feel just the same way I do. They're
outraged, they're sad. They love America just as much as I do," Bush
said.
"The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam," Bush said.
"That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists
don't represent peace. They represent evil and war."
Bush also called for tolerance towards Arab Americans.
"America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims
make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country," he said.
"Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the
military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to
be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow
Americans must treat each other with respect."
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
September 17, 2001
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT ISLAMIC CENTER OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
3:12 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much for your hospitality. We've
just had a -- wide-ranging discussions on the matter at hand. Like the
good folks standing with me, the American people were appalled and
outraged at last Tuesday's attacks. And so were Muslims all across the
world. Both Americans and Muslim friends and citizens, tax-paying
citizens, and Muslims in nations were just appalled and could not
believe what we saw on our TV screens.
These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental
tenets of the Islamic faith. And it's important for my fellow
Americans to understand that.
The English translation is not as eloquent as the original Arabic, but
let me quote from the Koran, itself: In the long run, evil in the
extreme will be the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected
the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule.
The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what
Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent
peace. They represent evil and war.
When we think of Islam we think of a faith that brings comfort to a
billion people around the world. Billions of people find comfort and
solace and peace. And that's made brothers and sisters out of every
race -- out of every race.
America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims
make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country. Muslims are
doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military,
entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated
with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must
treat each other with respect.
Women who cover their heads in this country must feel comfortable
going outside their homes. Moms who wear cover must be not intimidated
in America. That's not the America I know. That's not the America I
value.
I've been told that some fear to leave; some don't want to go shopping
for their families; some don't want to go about their ordinary daily
routines because, by wearing cover, they're afraid they'll be
intimidated. That should not and that will not stand in America.
Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take
out their anger don't represent the best of America, they represent
the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of
behavior.
This is a great country. It's a great country because we share the
same values of respect and dignity and human worth. And it is my honor
to be meeting with leaders who feel just the same way I do. They're
outraged, they're sad. They love America just as much as I do.
I want to thank you all for giving me a chance to come by. And may God
bless us all.
END  3:19 P.M. EDT
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list