A DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH BY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MUSLIMS

We, the undersigned, unconditionally condemn any intimidation or threats of violence directed against any individual or group exercising the rights of freedom of religion and speech; even when that speech may be perceived as hurtful or reprehensible.

We are concerned and saddened by the recent wave of vitriolic anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiment that is being expressed across our nation.

We are even more concerned and saddened by threats that have been made against individual writers, cartoonists, and others by a minority of Muslims. We see these as a greater offense against Islam than any cartoon, Qur’an burning, or other speech could ever be deemed.

We affirm the right of free speech for Molly Norris, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and all others including ourselves.

As Muslims, we must set an example of justice, patience, tolerance, respect, and forgiveness.

The Qur’an enjoins Muslims to:

* bear witness to Islam through our good example (2:143);

* restrain anger and pardon people (3:133-134 and 24:22);

* remain patient in adversity (3186);

* stand firmly for justice (4:135);

* not let the hatred of others swerve us from justice (5:8);

* respect the sanctity of life (5:32);

* turn away from those who mock Islam (6:68 and 28:55);

* hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant (7:199);

* restrain ourselves from rash responses (16:125-128);

* pass by worthless talk with dignity (25:72); and

* repel evil with what is better (41:34).

Islam calls for vigorous condemnation of both hateful speech and hateful acts, but always within the boundaries of the law. It is of the utmost importance that we react, not out of reflexive emotion, but with dignity and intelligence, in accordance with both our religious precepts and the laws of our country.

We uphold the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Both protect freedom of religion and speech, because both protections are fundamental to defending minorities from the whims of the majority.

We therefore call on all Muslims in the United States, Canada and abroad to refrain from violence. We should see the challenges we face today as an opportunity to sideline the voices of hate—not reward them with further attention—by engaging our communities in constructive dialogue about the true principles of Islam, and the true principles of democracy, both of which stress the importance of freedom of religion and tolerance.



SIGNATORIES:

Prof. Hassan Abbas, Quaid-i-Azam Chair, South Asia Institute, Columbia University

Anisa Abd el Fattah, Founder and Chairwoman, National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW)

Khaled M Abdel-Hamid, MD, PhD, writer

Ammar Abdulhamid, Executive Director, Tharwa Foundation

Imam Johari Abdul Malik, Director of Outreach, Dar-Al-Hijrah Islamic Center

Imam Aslam Abdullah

Salma Elkadi Abugideiri, Co-Director, Peaceful Families Project

Aly R. Abuzaakouk, VP Minaret of Freedom Instit., Managing Editor “Democracy Watch” of CSID, Dir. of Foreign Relations: Network of Arab Journalists

Mehnaz M. Afridi, PhD, Adjunct Professor (Judaism, Islam & Genocide Studies) Antioch University

Asma Afsaruddin, PhD, Professor of Islamic Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington

Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, PhD, Director, Minaret of Freedom Foundation

Ahrar Ahmad, PhD, Professor of Political Science, Black Hills State University

Prof. Akbar S. Ahmed, PhD, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University

Osman Ahmed,PhD, President Islamic Society of Essex County, Newark, NJ

Prof. Parvez Ahmed, PhD, Fulbright Scholar & Assoc. Prof. Univ. of North Florida

Levent Akbarut, Steering Committee member, Islamic Congregation of La Canada Flintridge

Prof. M.Akhtar, President, Muslim Council of America and author of “Muslim Famly in a Dilemma”

Barbara Al-Bayati, Co-Founder, Orphan Whispers

Aman Ali, writer, stand-up-comedian

Javed Ali, founder and publisher, Illume magazine

Wajahat Ali, playwright, journalist, and producer of “Domestic Crusaders”

Sumbul Ali-Karamali, JD, LLM (Islamic Law), author of “The Muslim Next Door”

Shaykh al-Hajj Dawud Ahmad al-Amriki, Director, Muslim America

Salam al-Marayati, Pres., Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)

Shahed Amanullah, Editor-in-Chief, Altmuslim

Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law

Patricia Anton, Board member, Muslim Peace Fellowship

M. Saud Anwar, Co-Chair, American Muslim Peace Initiative

Reza Aslan, Author, Activist, and CEO, Aslan Media

Abdul Cader Asmal MD, PhD, Past President, Islamic Council of Mew England

Aref Assaf, PhD, President, American Arab Forum

Hussam Ayloush, Exec. Director, CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area

Robert Azzi, photojournalist, writer

Imam Yusuf Badat, Islamic Foundation of Toronto and Mathabah Foundation

Laleh Bakhtiar, PhD, Scholar-in-Residence, Kazi Publications

Hazami Barmada, Pres, American Muslim Interactive Network (AMIN)

Bahar Bastani, M.D., Professor of Medicine, S.L.U., Secy. General Shia Islamic Education Center, VP of IMANA-St. Louis

Victor Ghalib Begg, Senior Advisor, Chairman Emeritus, Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan

Zahra Billoo, Director, CAIR San Francisco Bay Area

Omer Bin Abdullah, Journalist, Editor

Jannah bint Hannah, activist, al-Fatiha Foundation

Farah Brelvi, Board of Directors, ACLU-NC

Arsalan Bukhari, Executive Director, CAIR-WA

M. Ali Chaudry, PhD, President, Center for Understanding Islam (CUII)

Manzoor Cheema, Muslims for Social Justice

Kamran Cheikh, Activist, Committee member, Muslims for Peace, Justice & Progress (MPJP), researcher for Deen Research Center (DRC)

Noor-Malika Chishti, Vice Chair, So. CA Committee for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, Representative, the Sufi Order International, Member, World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations

Sakina Cornell, Risk Management Coordinator, PSA Healthcare

Vincent J. Cornell PhD, Asa Griggs Candler Prof. of Middle East and Islamic Studies, Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, Emory University

Robert D. Crane, JD, author of numerous books

Prof Golam Dastagir, PhD, Visiting Research Scholar, New College, University of Toronto, Canada

Almoonir Dewji, blogger - “That We May Know Each Other”

Mustafa Stefan Dill, blogger;/PR/social media analyst for Muslim issues; musician

Nabil Echchaibi, Asst. Professor of Journalism and Communication, Assoc. Director of the Center for Media, Religion and Culture, University of Colorado-Boulder

Maha Elgenaidi, CEO & Chairman, Islamic Networks Group (ING)

Ramsey El-Moslimany, member, Board of Directors, Islamic School of Seattle

Lamia El-Sadek, political and human rights activitist

Mohamed Elsanousi, Director of Communications and Community Outreach for the Islamic Society of N America (ISNA)

Mona Eltahawy, journalist

Dr. Hashim El-Tinay, President, International Peace Quest Institute (IPQI)

Sabina England, playwright & filmmaker, writer

Aziz Enhaili, Political analyst, columnist for Tolerance.ca

Yusuf Estes, Chaplain ret., author of many books, public speaker

Prof. Mohammad Fadel, PhD

Fatemeh Fakhraie, Editor-in-Chief, Muslimah Media Watch

Melissa Finn, Ph.D Candidate, Political Science, York University, Canada

Ali Galedary, Assistant Principal, University High School, Los Angeles

Mike Ghouse, President, World Muslim Congress

Iftekhar Hai, President, UMA Interfaith Alliance

Asma Hanif, Executive Director, Muslimat Al Nisaa

Rabia Terri Harris, Founder and Coordinator, Muslim Peace Fellowship

Zaki Hasan, Professor of Communication & Media Studies founder zakiscorner.com

Hesham Hassaballa, M.D., author, journalist, blogger - “God, faith, and a pen”

Amir Hussain, PhD, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University

Iftekhar Hussain, Chair, Board of Directors, CAIR-PA

Arsalan Iftikhar, author, human rights lawyer, blogger - “The Muslim Guy”

S. Reshma Inamdar, Northern California Islamic Council, Board and Chair of SEMAH Inc.

Jeffrey Imm, Director, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

S. Reshma Inamdar, community activist

Ghazala Irshad, journalist, blogger - “The Floating Lotus”

Nakia Jackson, writer

Anjum Jaleel, writer

M. Zuhdi Jasser, MD, President, American Islamic Forum for Democracy

Safi Kaskas, President & CEO Strategic Edge

Mohja Kahf, PhD, Assoc. Professor of Comparative Literature, Univ. of Arkansas, author “The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf”

Dr. Nazir Khaja, Founder, Council of Pakistani American Afffairs (COPAA)

Dr. Asad U Khan, President, Islamic education Foundation of Manitoba

Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan, C.M., O. Ontario, President, Muslim Coordinating Council of the National Capital Region of Canada

Prof. Muqtedar Khan, PhD, author of several books, Blogger - “Globalog”

Sameen Khan, Freelance Journalist and Research Assistant at Middle East Institute, D.C.

Dr. Mohamed Khodr, Retired Physician and Public Health Director

Farah Kinani, Journalist, blogger - “Global Voices”

Michael Muhammad Knight, author “The Taqwacores” and several books

Scott Kugle (Siraj al-Haqq), PhD, Prof. of Islamic Studies, Dept. of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, Emory University

Shaikh Ahmad Kutty, Resident Senior Scholar, Islamic Institute of Toronto

Faisal Kutty, Visiting Asst. Prof. of law, Valparaiso University School of Law and Adjunct Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto)

Randa Kuziez, co-founder of Maded, active in interfaith

M. Junaid Levesque-Alam, writer, blogger - “Crossing the Crescent”

David Liepert, M.D., Director and Spokesperson, Muslim Council of Calgary, V.P. Faith of Life Network, blogger and author of “Muslim, Christian AND Jew”

Afaun Mandol, Board of Directors, MuslimFest

Radwan A. Masmoudi, PhD, President, Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID)

Melissa Matos, President, Al-Ghazali Legal Society, Saint Louis University

Prof. Uzma Mazhar, writer

Shelina Merani, community activist, artist, blogger “Muslim Presence”

Ruxana Meer, Esq.

Yahya Merchant, Interfaith Worker, Outreach contact for Islamic Center of Conejo Valley CA

Melody Moezzi, JD, MPH, writer and attorney

Haroon Moghul, writer and public speaker

Muna Abshir Mohamud, author, editor

Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore, author of many books of poetry

Ebrahim Moosa, Assoc. Professor of Islamic Studies, Dept. of Religion, Duke University

Prof. Aisha Y Musa, Colgate University

Ann El-Moslimany, PhD, Islamic School of Seattle

Lt. Col. Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, U.S. Army Chaplain

Toure’ Muhammad, Director Ummahstream

Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President Sound Vision

Arman Musaji, artist

Sheila Musaji, Editor, The American Muslim (TAM)

Muneeb Nasir, President, Olive Tree Foundation, Editor IQRA Canada

Q. Amin Nathari, National Representative, Islam in America Movement (IAM)

Ahmed Naumaan, PhD, Director, Karsaz Inc.

Imam Abdul Hai Patel, Dir. Interfaith Relations, Canadian Council of Imams, Muslim Chaplain University of Toronto & York Regional Police

Aziz H. Poonawalla, PhD, scientist and blogger - “City of Brass” on Beliefnet

Amanda D. Quraishi, Texas Impact

M.Waheed-uz-Zaman Rana, Imam, Prof. Emeritus, Dept. of Surgery, Saint Louis University

Hasan Zillur Rahim, PhD, journalist

Shaykh Ahmed Abdur Rashid, The Circle Group

Prof. Hussein Rashid, PhD, blogger - “Religion Dispatches”

Shafi Refai, President, United Muslims of America

Zeenat Rehman, co-founder of “The Hijabi Monologues”

Wilfredo A. Ruiz, Esq., Legal Counsel & Chaplain, Executive Director “American Muslims for Emergency and Relief (AMER)

Irfan Rydhan, Co-Founder of Muslim Unity Foundation

Muhamed Sacirbey, lawyer, diplomat, writer

Louay Safi, PhD, Common Word Fellow, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Christian Muslim Understanding, Georgetown University

Ghulam Abbas Sajan, Director Islamic Ahlul Bayt Assembly of Canada

Robert Salaam, blogger - “The American Muslim”

Shahla Khan Salter, Chair of Muslims for Progressive Values Ottawa, Canada

Raquel Evita Saraswati, activist, writer, blogger

Sarah Sayeed, President of One Blue

Corey Saylor, National Legislative Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Vernon James Schubel, NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor of Religious Studies, Kenyon College

Sophia Rose Shafi, MA, MTS, doctoral candidate (Islamic Studies), writer

Nehal M. Shah, Executive Director, the Alim Foundation

T.O. Shanavas. MD, Vice President, Islamic Research Foundation, author

S. Abdallah Schleifer, Distinguished Prof., Dept. of Journalism & Mass Com, American University Cairo

Ricka Shorish, M.S., R.N., volunteer/consultant, Avicenna Community Health Center

Jihad Shoshara, community organizer and activist, Chicago

Jafar Siddiqui, blogger - “Penjihad”

Prof. Laury Silvers, PhD

Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, PhD, Sr. Lecturer, Islamic Studies & African American Religion, University of Florida

Aisha Sultan, syndicated columnist, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Prof. Ibrahim B. Syed, PhD, President of Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc., author

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, Nat’l Director, Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society of N America (ISNA)

Dr. Mahmoud Shawky Taman, Islamic Society of Northern Wisconsin

Haris Tarin, Director, Washington DC Office Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)

J.Tayeb, MD, President, CAIR-MI, ISNA founders committee member, Vice chair, HUDA free Clinic, Detroit

Pamela Taylor, Co-founder Muslims for Progressive Values, Panelist for On Faith

Tayyibah Taylor, Editor, Azizah Magazine

Mahdi Toourage, PhD, Assistant Prof., U of Western Ontario

Dr. Yannis Toussulis, Writer, Family Psychotherapist

Tarik Trad, writer, humorist, photographer, artist and activist

Joya Uraizee, Associate Professor of English, Saint Louis University

Wahida Valiante, President, Canadian Islamic Congress and Chair of Islamic History Month Canada

Jason van Boom, Host of “Islam and Authors”, writer

Samia van Hattum, social worker

Amina Wadud, PhD, consultant on Islam and gender, visiting scholar Starr King School for the Ministry

Dawud Walid, Exec. Dir. CAIR-MI

Danya Wellmon, Co-Founder Women Transcending Boundaries interfaith group

Svend White, blogger - “Akram’s Razor”, activist, writer

G. Willow Wilson, author of “Butterfly Mosque” and “Air” graphic novel series

Sara M. Zaidi, Adjunct Professor of Education, CUNY Hunter College

Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout, Director, American Muslim Association of North America, (AMANA)

Ani Zonneveld, President, Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV)

9/23/2010 NOTE: If you are a Canadian or American Muslim and would like to add your signature, please send an email with your name, title, and organizational affiliation (if any) to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) — The list of signatories will be updated HERE.

NOTE: All signatories are signing as individuals and not on behalf of the organizations with which they are affiliated. Signatories last updated 5/5/2015 when it was also re-published.

UPDATE: On 9/24/2010, MPAC issued a statement Upholding Free Speech as a Right and Duty in support of this Defense of Free Speech statement.