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From: diwan@sj.ate.slb.com (Abdul Diwan)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Muslim View on Middle East conflict
Message-ID: <1990Aug20.153411.19684@laguna.ccsf.caltech.edu>
Date: 20 Aug 90 15:34:11 GMT
Sender: news@laguna.ccsf.caltech.edu
Organization: California Institute of Technology
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	The following are some of the excerpt from the Statement on the
	recent Middle East conflict by Islamic Society of North America.

	'In the name of Allah the Most gracious, the Most Merciful'


	"There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear 
	from error. Whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has
	grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks.
	And Allah hears and know all things. - (Quran 2:256)

	*	Islam - fundamentally and by its very definition - is committed
	to the universal peace and therefore stands unequivocally against all 
	and every aggression, including the forced annexation of lands.

	*	Worldwide Muslims sentiment reject in principle the presence
	of foreign military forces in the birthplace of Islam. It is
	a dangerous precedent, sparking memories of colonialism, the
	lasting repercussions of which remains devastating to the life, liberty
	and culture of the region and its ecology. It is more resented
	since it is seen as emanating from the principle ally of the Israelis
	as well as a superpower that cannot readily be compelled to withdraw.

	*	A continuing policy of categorical support for the Israeli
	occupation, ambitions, and oppression of the Palestinian people,
	coupled with an overriding focus on controlling energy resource
	opens a serious credibility gap between the American and Muslim 
	and Arab peoples.

	*	Steps should be taken to reduce the likelihood of immediate
	conflict, including the total withdrawal of outside forces from
	Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the establishment of justice and high
	moral principles that Islam, and all divinely revealed religions
	has proclaimed to civilization, and the introduction of Islam
	and its culture to military personnel involved in the conflict.

	*	We urge all parties to exercise restraint  and commit 
	themselves to resolve this dispute through measures ending the 
	conditions that precipitated this confrontation, and to reflect
	on the immediate and far reaching devastation of war on 
	life as is and life to come.
	
	*	'Do you think that you shall enter Paradise without
	trials that came to those who preceded you? They encountered
	suffering and adversity and were so shaken that even the 
	Messenger and those of faith with him cried. " When will
	the help of Allah come !" But indeed the help of Allah is
	near' ( Quran 2:214)