September 13th 2012
RICHMOND, B.C.--The BC Muslim Association, on behalf of the diverse Muslim population across the Province of British Columbia, absolutely condemns the attacks on the embassies of the United States in Cairo, Egypt and Benghazi, Libya. We are saddened and outraged by the murders of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, two U.S. Marines and an American Foreign Service Information Management Officer, Sean Smith. We pray for the families of these innocent individuals, as well as for the speedy recovery of the officers who were injured in the violent attacks.
In the past, the BC Muslim Association has hosted events with the local U.S. consulate at our very own mosques. These events have been educational and informative for our entire community, and we honor the service of those who serve our neighboring nation abroad. We enjoy our great relationship with representatives of various nations, including the U.S. who are situated in our province.
There are groups who will try to justify these vile acts of murder and mayhem as a reaction to material that was posted on the Internet that supposedly mocked, or insulted Islam. The BC Muslim Association absolutely, without question, declares that violent attacks like these are never justified, and have no place in a just society, or within Islam. Although it is our belief that denigrating one another’s religions is not conducive to building a strong, united society, such violence is always the wrong answer.
We ask our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Arab World to work to keep violent groups from growing and spreading their hateful ideologies, and to remember the true teachings of our faith, which preaches peace, mercy and goodwill to all of mankind.
We implore our fellow citizens from our community at-large not to allow a senseless act committed by a small group to color their view of their Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues. We also invite anyone who is curious about our faith to visit any of our BCMA Mosques across the province to meet with Muslims and to obtain more information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: media@thebcma.com
The BC Muslim Association is an organization established in 1966 to represent Muslims across the province of British Columbia in Western Canada. The BCMA has 12 branches and chapters across the province, from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island, from the Interior to the North, as well as two Muslim schools. It is one of the largest Muslim organizations in North America.