O.C. Muslim leaders speak out against extremism

Muzammil Siddiqi, left, Ozgur Koca, Jihad Turk, Imam Sayed Mostafa al-Qazwini and Sophia Pandya participate in the “Muslim Voices Against Extremism” program at Pacifica Institute in Irvine.
/ VICTOR M. POSADAS, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Muzammil Siddiqi, left, Ozgur Koca, Jihad Turk, Imam Sayed Mostafa al-Qazwini and Sophia Pandya participate in the “Muslim Voices Against Extremism” program at Pacifica Institute in Irvine. / VICTOR M. POSADAS, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER


Date posted: January 16, 2015

Along with the lives they destroy and extinguish, terrorists who commit these heinous acts in the name of Islam also hurt the global community of Muslims, a majority of whom lead peaceful, productive lives.

This was the message a panel of speakers tried to drive home Tuesday night during a program titled “Muslim Voices Against Extremism,” hosted by the Pacifica Institute in Irvine. Two Orange County imams were among the several speakers who addressed an audience of about 200 people.

All of the speakers vociferously condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

“We have always said these are horrible, unacceptable crimes against humanity and will continue to say so,” said Imam Muzammil Siddiqi, director of the Islamic Society of Orange County in Garden Grove. “Even though Muslims continue to express their outrage, it seems that the public has selective hearing.”

Imam Sayed Mostafa al-Qazwini, president of the Shia Muslim Council of Southern California, explained why radical fringe groups have emerged from “one of the most peaceful religions in the world.”

“Islamic extremism is a product of dictatorship and totalitarianism in Islamic-majority countries,” he said.

Add to that the absence of pluralism and poor socio-economic conditions, and you have an explosive situation. Worldwide, Muslims lack critical study of their own religion because they have neither the freedom nor the facility to gain the knowledge, Qazwini said. Millions of Muslims leave their homelands because of the absence of dignity or human rights, he said.

“Unless we put an end to dictatorship, we cannot get rid of terrorism,” Qazwini said.

The central theme of Islam is and has always been mercy and goodness, said Ozgur Koca, professor of Islamic Studies at Claremont Lincoln University.

“The real problem in Islamic countries is political and economic, not religious,” he said.

But Koca said that is no excuse for Islamic fundamentalism that is ripping the world apart. It is important for Muslims around the world to condemn terrorism “without a ‘but’ or ‘however.’”

Koca also urged Muslims to look closely at their religion and its centuries-old traditions.

“We should approach our own tradition with a critical eye, especially in issues that relate to gender equality,” he said.

The Prophet Muhammad himself shunned age-old practices of his tribe in Mecca that were common during his time, said Jihad Turk, president of the Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate Studies School.

“An example was female infanticide,” he said. “He stopped the heinous practice where people would bury alive female children because they preferred male heirs.”

Turk said the Prophet Muhammad did not blindly follow tradition, but questioned it and urged his followers to do the right thing and, always, to choose peace over war.

Irvine resident Gary Fouse, who was in attendance, said he understands the message the speakers were attempting to convey.

“No one wants to blame all the Muslims for terrorism,” he said. “Most Muslims are living peacefully. I’m glad these religious leaders are condemning it and I’m all for dialogue.”

But Fouse, a Christian, said he is deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians and Jews worldwide.

“In Europe, Jews are being persecuted by Muslims,” he said. “Jews experience tremendous hostility from young Muslims. These issues need to be addressed and prioritized.”

Tom Westesson, of Huntington Beach, said he wanted to hear the panel talk about ISIS, the Islamic State group.

“ISIS presents a serious threat for the U.S. and other countries,” he said. “I was hoping to hear what the Muslim community is going to do to stop ISIS, but their answers don’t really satisfy me. But I understand that terrorism has little to do with religion. They’re just angry people.”

Jack Hochadel, of Newport Beach, said he learned something new from the panelists.

“I had no idea that the Quran strongly encourages pluralism and specifically instructs Muslims to co-exist peacefully,” he said.

The panel also discussed the role media play by sensationalizing terrorist acts and ignoring the work of peacemakers.

“If we had convened this panel to talk about how we can help ISIS, you can rest assured the response would have been overwhelming,” Westesson said with a laugh. “And this place would’ve been filled with the media.”

But that does not mean they should stop continuing the dialogue and promoting better understanding, Koca said.

“As Muslims, we should stand up against extremism,” he said. “We need to be bold and make sure our voices are heard.”


 

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com

Source: Orange County Register , January 15, 2015


Related News

Dialogue and distrust: on the predicament of Gulen-inspired organisations in the UK

FRANCES SLEAP Dialogue can be hard work. It is an indisputably good idea for there to be meaningful contact between people of different religious, ideological and cultural groups, but to make that happen where it hasn’t yet happened is no mean feat. Between 2010 and 2014 I worked at the Dialogue Society, with people putting […]

Kurdish Issue Discussed in New York

‘Kurdish Issue’, one of the most controversial agenda items recently, was discussed at a panel attended by academics and journalists in New York. Among the keynote speakers of the event were Mucait Bilici from John Jay College and the journalist-author Mustafa Akyol. Mustafa Akyol as the first speaker of the series recalled that it was […]

Gülen: Society not divided into Kemalists, Muslims in Turkey

“We can neither talk about two dissociated groups such as Kemalists or Muslims in Turkey, nor we can talk about a ‘divide’ that is impossible to fill. We are heirs of an ‘empire’ society, which possesses characteristics of a mosaic.

AFSV Statement on Orlando Shooting

We condemn the horrifying mass shooting in Florida this morning that left more than 50 dead and injured many more. This act of terror is an attack on our common humanity and values. It is more important than ever to stand in solidarity against violence, hate, and terror, as well as any attempt to justify this horrible act. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families and all those who were affected.

Virginians Deliver 114,000 Pounds of Winter Warmth to Refugees in Turkey

Local governments working with volunteers from religious groups and private business in Virginia delivered more than 72 tons of coats and blankets this winter to Syrian refugees in Turkey. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission, made up of 14 local governments in the Washington, DC suburbs, has been coordinating the coat and blanket drive for each of the last three winters.

Peacebuilders Conference – Call for Papers:

The Atlantic Institute, GA, is organizing a conference in partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. The conference’s main focus is non-violent peacebuilding, it is titled “Fostering Dialogues in Education, Ethics, and Non Violent Peacebuilding: Global Social and Religious Movements Today.”

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

How Christians conspired Christian murders in Turkey

Irvine’s new arrivals — Turkish asylum seekers, after a failed coup and a sadly successful purge

Top judge, paralysed after cancer surgery, under arrest at hospital

Sen. Schumer & 70+ Senate Colleagues Call on State Dept. to Address ongoing Intimidation of Media and Censorship of the Press in Turkey under President Erdogan’s Administration

‘Young Turks’ Of Bridge Building

An open letter to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan

Nigerian instability not a current threat for Turkish community

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News