Johari Abdul-Malik – Paris Attacks Press Conference

In the name of god, the most gracious,

the most merciful,

we stand together with the US CMO and

all people of conscience

saying that the scriptures of the Quran teach

us

that if you take the life of 1

person, it would be as if you had

taken the life of all of humanity.

Our prayers and condolences go out

to the families

of those who have lost their loved ones

and to the injured in this tragedy.

As people of faith and moral conviction,

we encourage

everyone

to reach out to one another during this

time of crisis

no matter what their race or religion,

their national origin, or gender.

President Barack Obama said it well in his

statement from the White House yesterday.

This attack is not just in Paris.

It is not just an attack

on the French people,

but this is an attack

on all of humanity

and the universal values that we share.

I would like to let everyone know

that we believe that evil only triumphs

when good people do nothing.

Therefore, we stand in solidarity with the French

people and call upon the Muslim community, both

in France and in the United States,

to redouble their efforts and vigilance

in confronting extremism wherever they may find it.

As an aside, we know that in America,

that the Muslim community has been on the

front line

of identifying

extremists within our community as others have done

in their communities.

An attack on my neighbor is an attack

on me.

And it could have been anyone's child, husband

or wife, brother or sister, mother or father

that was killed in the random act of

violence in Paris yesterday.

We must create a community of trust and

cooperation.

Someone in Paris knows the

individuals who are involved in this, and we

are calling upon them

to come forward just as Muslims in America

have come forward,

joining together with our neighbors.

Doctor King reminds us

in his famous statement from the Birmingham jail

that we are caught in an inescapable

network of mutuality

tied together in a single garment of destiny,

that whatever affects one directly

affects all of us indirectly.

And, therefore, a threat to justice anywhere is

a threat to justice everywhere.

We, as the Muslim

alliance in North America,

send our condolences

and extend

our hand

to do whatever we can

in the way to bring peace and,

cooperation, solidarity

in this time of crisis.

Thank you.