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| Arab students: Binny's only a suspect |
| 2001-10-11 |
Many American Islamic leaders say they support the war on terrorism, but some younger Muslims here say they are not willing to fight that war against others of their faith. "We support President Bush in the war against terrorism," Islamic Institute President Khalid Saffuri says. "We support our troops and pray for their safe return." But Altaf Husain, 31, a Howard University Ph.D. student, strikes a different note. "Most Muslim students hold widespread grievances about America's role in the Middle East conflict, its sanctions against Iraq and the stationing of troops in Saudi Arabia," he says. Mr. Husain insists that this does not mean such students feel any less patriotic about being Americans, but he concedes he would not be willing to fight against other Muslims. "Not under these circumstances and not for this war," says Mr. Hussain, the U.S.-born son of Egyptian parents and president of the National Muslim Students Association. "It doesn't sit well to say Afghan people should suffer when they have not done anything." He regards Saudi-born fugitive Osama bin Laden as merely a suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, a belief shared by Ashraf Ali, 19. "Everything is in question until the evidence comes," says Mr. Ali, a member of the University of Maryland's Muslim Students' Association. "It all comes down to justice. That is the foundation of Islam." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |