WASHINGTON, 28 September — Representatives of US Arab and Muslim organizations met with President George W. Bush at the White House on Wednesday to discuss issues related to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their effects on the Arab and Muslim communities in the Untied States.
During the meeting, the group presented President Bush with a copy of the Holy Qur’an, which he placed on his desk.
This is the president’s second meeting with Muslim and Arab leaders in the last two weeks. President Bush said the “teachings of Islam are the teachings of peace and good.”
He praised the “outpouring of support for our country (that) has come from all corners of the country, including many members of the Muslim faith, and for that I am grateful.
“I appreciate the contributions of time, the contributions of blood to help our fellow Americans who have been injured. And I’m proud of the Muslim leaders across America who have risen up and who — and not only insisted that America be strong, but that America keep the values intact that have made it so unique and different, the values of respect, the values of freedom to worship the way we see fit. And I also appreciate the prayers to the — the universal God,” said President Bush.
The White House meeting highlighted concerns of the American Muslim and Arab-American communities. They discussed the need to maintain a balance between national safety and security and the protection of civil liberties of Americans — regardless of their ethnicity or religious backgrounds. The national leaders also emphasized that the US should initiate a peaceful resolution in the Middle East and support the Muslim countries that are cooperating with the US to fight against terrorism.
“President Bush understood our concerns about the protection of American Muslims’ civil rights and has differentiated clearly between Islam and terrorism. He took this opportunity to address the American public that Islam is a religion of love and peace,” said Yahya Basha, president of the board of the American Muslim Council.
The president also noted that Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller would continue to work closely with Arab, Muslim and Southeast Asian Americans to stop hate crimes against Arab and Muslim Americans.
The American Muslim and Arab-American leaders reiterated their opposition to all types of terrorism and agreed to continue to show their support with the US at this time of national crisis.
President Bush also thanked Muslim countries for joining the international alliance against terrorism.
