DATE=2/24/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39071
TITLE=U-S MUSLIMS ON IRAQ
BYLINE= ED WARNER
DATELINE= WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRODUCTION: AT A PRESS BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON (TUES. FEB. 24)),
REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVERAL AMERICAN MUSLIM GROUPS AGREED FORCE
SHOULD NOT BE USED AGAINST IRAQ AND SANCTIONS SHOULD BE LIFTED.
BUT THEY OFFERED A VARIETY OF VIEWS ON HOW TO HANDLE SADDAM
HUSSEIN, WHOM THEY ALL OPPOSE. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS.
TEXT: RELIEF WAS APPARENT IN THE STATEMENTS A GROUP OF MUSLIM
LEADERS MADE AT A PRESS BRIEFING FOLLOWING THE U-N AGREEMENT WITH
IRAQ. THEY THANKED BOTH U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AND
PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR AVOIDING THE ATTACK THAT WOULD HAVE COST
THE LIVES OF MORE INNOCENT IRAQIS.
THIS IS A DAY FOR CELEBRATION, SAID ANISA ABD EL-FATTAH OF THE
CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH:
// EL FATTAH ACT //
WE THANK GOD FOR HEARING AND ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS ON
BEHALF OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE AND FOR BRINGING THE WORLD TO
THIS PAUSE AND ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITIES TO RETHINK
AND RECOMMIT TO WORLD PEACE AND PROGRESS. IN ISLAM WE
SAY THAT GOD REGULATES THE AFFAIRS OF MANKIND. TODAY AS
ALWAYS, WE ARE PLEASED AND IN AWE OF GOD'S POWER AND
WISDOM.
// END ACT //
ANISA EL-FATTAH SAID THAT WHILE THE WEST SHOULD CONTINUE TO
PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, IT SHOULD
HELP REHABILITATE IRAQ AND OTHER SO-CALLED "ROGUE" NATIONS SO
THEY CAN REJOIN THE WORLD COMMUNITY.
SALAM AL-MARAYATI OF THE MUSLIM PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL SAID HE
WAS BORN IN BAGHDAD AND HIS FAMILY BELONGS TO THE IRAQI
OPPOSITION.
HIS GROUP OPPOSED A MILITARY ATTACK FOR TWO MAIN REASONS:
// AL-MARAYATI ACT //
NUMBER ONE, IT WAS IMMORAL BECAUSE THE BOMBING WOULD
HAVE PUNISHED THE VICTIMS; THAT IS, THE IRAQI PEOPLE. IT
WOULD NOT HAVE PUNISHED THE REGIME. NUMBER TWO, THE
SANCTIONS ALONE ARE ALREADY KILLING 45-HUNDRED CHILDREN
PER MONTH DUE TO MALNUTRITION, DISEASE AND LACK OF
MEDICINE.
// END ACT //
MR. AL-MARAYATI ADDED IT IS PART OF THE MUSLIM CREED TO OPPOSE
DICTATORSHIP. OPPOSITION GROUPS MUST GIVE THE IRAQI PEOPLE A
VOICE.
SHARIFA AL-KHATEEB OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR MUSLIM WOMEN
SAID IRAQIS HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH UNDER SADDAM HUSSEIN, WHO SHOULD
BE REMOVED:
// ATIB ACT //
YET HE IS LEFT TO BE A SABER-RATTLING STEREOTYPE
COVENIENTLY TROTTED OUT IN THE SERVICE OF INCREASED ARMS
SALES TO HIS NEIGHBORS AND SUBSTANTIAL DEFENSE BUDGETS
AT HOME. WE HOPE THE TIDE OF OPINION HAS TURNED AGAINST
SUPPORTING THIS MAN ANY FURTHER IN POWER. IRAQ HAS MANY
INTELLIGENT, WELL EDUCATED, HUMANE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
OF THIS MAN WHO HAVE NEVER EVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH HIM
OR HIS CRONIES.
// END ACT //
THE MUSLIM SPEAKERS CAUTIONED THE UNITED STATES AGAINST APPLYING
A DOUBLE STANDARD IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT FAVORS ISRAEL OVER ITS
ARAB NEIGHBORS.
MIR ALI OF THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA SAID THIS WORKS
TO THE BENEFIT OF SADDAM HUSSEIN:
// ALI ACT //
AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGES HERE HAVE MENTIONED, YOU WILL
HAVE ALSO TO DISPLAY AN EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF ALL
COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY IN THAT REGION. OTHERWISE, SADDAM
HUSSEIN, WHOM WE ARE ALL AGREED SHOULD GO, CAN SAY TO
HIS OWN PEOPLE, "LISTEN, THE UNITED STATES SINGLES IRAQ
OUT ON THE SAME ISSUES WHICH IT DOES NOT ADDRESS IN
OTHER COUNTRIES."
// END ACT //
MR. ALI AND OTHER SPEAKERS SAID THE UNITED STATES SHOULD UPHOLD
ITS PRINCIPLES AS WELL AS ITS INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
(SIGNED)
NEB/EW/WFR
24-Feb-98 11:40 PM EST (0440 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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