Muslim-American Leaders
Intensify Youth Outreach Initiatives
A coalition of national
and community-based Muslim groups have announced an anti-terror
campaign geared toward Muslim-American youth.
The announcement comes on the heels of the recent attacks
on London’s mass transit system carried out by British-born
suicide bombers, which raised concerns about the vulnerability
of American-born Muslim youth to recruitment by terrorist
groups.
”I think if anything what London has shown is that we’re
all vulnerable. Young people who are very passionate and open
are always vulnerable to madmen and extremists,” said
Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society
Freedom Foundation.
“We’re not immune to that, so we have to be vigilant.
It requires a lot of community effort.”
Following the second attempted terrorist attack in London,
the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Society
of North America issued a statement on behalf of young Muslim-Americans
condemning the distortion of Islam into an ideology of hatred.
”This afternoon, the world witnessed a second terrorist
attack on London. In light of these hostile events, we Muslim
American students and youth stand united in condemning all
acts of terror and the burgeoning war on ideas. We refuse
to remain silent while others claiming to represent Islam
preach an ideology of hatred.”
The statement was signed by over 50 Muslim student and community
groups nationwide and marks the beginning of the first national
campaign launched by Muslim youth. Though still in the developmental
stages, the group has drafted a vision statement and hopes
to use Internet outreach, youth summits, and other activities
to encourage young Muslims to be involved, politically and
socially, in their communities.” I think a lot of times
there are members of the community that really fall into a
mentality where it’s almost like it’s us versus
them. We want this to be a diversification process,”
Amin Al-Sarras, a college student and leader of the new initiative,
said. Al-Sarras also serves as D.C. project coordinator for
the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
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