(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 9/14/12) –- The Council on American-Islamic Relations Oklahoma Chapter (CAIR-OK), the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Conference of Churches condemn both the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and the attacks on diplomatic facilities and personnel in that nation and in Egypt.
“We strongly condemn the unacceptable killings of the American diplomats in Libya” said Adam Soltani, Executive Director of CAIR-OK, “We also condemn the attack on our nation’s diplomatic facilities in Libya, Egypt and Yemen. The actions of the attackers are completely inexcusable and not rooted in the teachings of Islam. In addition, they do not reflect the sentiments of the American Muslim community.”
SEE: Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy in Yemen in New Attack
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fgw-yemen-20120913,0,7260344.story
SEE: U.S. Ambassador to Libya Is Killed
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444426404577647060576633348.html
“The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma encourages respect for the traditions of others, including their scriptures and leadership,” said the Rev. Jeff Hamilton, President of the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, “We are shocked and saddened by these incidents and the inflammatory film that led to them, and strongly encourage non-violent solutions in these situations.”
SEE: Egyptians Angry at Film Scale U.S. Embassy Walls
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/us-egypt-usa-protest-idUSBRE88A11N20120911
“The Christian community is profoundly grieved and appalled by the anguish caused to Muslims around the world by the outrageous misrepresentation of the prophet Mohammed as portrayed in a recent video-clip,” said Dr. Tabbernee, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, “We call on all Christians to respect and learn more about Mohammed himself and to reach out to their Muslim brothers and sisters in light of this flagrantly anti-Muslim character assassination of their prophet. We also call on all Muslims to recognize that the video does not, in any way, express the way Christianity regards the prophet Mohammed and to join Christians everywhere in condemning, and refraining from, all violent reactions.”
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CONTACT: CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani, 405-248-5853, E-Mail: asoltani@cair.com; President of Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma Jeff Hamilton, 405-525-6551, Hamilton.J@fccokc.org; Oklahoma Conference of Churches Executive Director the Rev. Dr. William Tabbernee, 405-525-2928, wtabbernee@okchurches.org