TO ARABIC

Bush: "Islam is Peace"

In response to the hatred attacks against Muslims and Arabs in many North America cities president bush meets with Muslim leaders in Washington, DC mosque, in a first-of-its-kind event that included a news conference in the prayer area of the Islamic center of Washington


At the news conference following the meeting, surrounded with the leader of the Muslims, President Bush said:

"Like the good folks standing with me, the American people were appalled and outraged at last Tuesday's attacks, and so were Muslims all across the world, both Americans, our Muslim friends and citizens, tax-paying citizens, and Muslims in nations were just appalled, could not believe what we saw on our TV screens. These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith, and it is important for my fellow Americans to understand that. The English translation is not as eloquent as the original Arabic, but let me quote from the Koran itself. 'In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule.'

"The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That is not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists do not represent peace. They represent evil and war.

"When we think of Islam, we think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world. Billions of people find comfort, solace, and peace, and that has made brothers and sisters out of every race. America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and
Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country. Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military; entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads, and they need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect.

"Women who cover their heads in this country must feel comfortable going outside their homes. Moms who wear cover must not be intimidated in America. That is not the America I know. That's not the America I value."


There are an estimated seven million Muslims in America, more then half million Muslim in Canada and some 1.2 billion worldwide.

We are asking, "What is the Canadian Government and media outlets doing to prevent hatred and violence against Canadian Muslims and Arabs?"