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American Morning
U.S. Imam Discusses Leadership Conference
Aired April 26, 2002 - 09:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: This weekend in Washington, Muslim leaders from across the U.S. will gather for the second annual Imam leadership conference. The meeting is suppose to help widen their political base but also to educate local Muslim leaders about how to serve their individual communities better.
And one of those attending, Imam Johri is a Howard University Chaplin and he joins us now from Washington.
Welcome, good to have you with us.
IMAM JOHRI ABDUL-MALIK, HOWARD UNIVERSITY CHAPLIN: Good morning.
ZAHN: Imam Johri, what is it exactly that you're going to try to accomplish?
ABDUL-MALIK: Well you know, perhaps many Americans don't realize that within the Islamic tradition we have about 6-8 million Muslims here in America. It's important that those religious leaders, the Imams, send the right message to the congregation to understand what it means to be American, what it means to engage the society for the social good as well as to organize ourselves and have the proper relations politically.
ZAHN: And where do you think you're deficient politically at this hour?
ABDUL-MALIK: Well I believe that many American Muslims whether they are African-American or from the Indian subcontinent or elsewhere really do not feel connected to the administration. And post 9/11 many of the Imam's had the opportunity to reach out into communities that historically we weren't invited in to, into churches, into synagogues, invited to meet with public representatives to explain our support as a community in America for whatever is troubling our society. So in that way, it's important for us to gain the kind of training that the American Muslim counsel is going to provide this weekend to teach ...
ZAHN: So are you saying ...
ABDUL-MALIK: How do you -- go ahead.
ZAHN: Post September 11th, there were obviously some contacts made between the Bush Administration and the Muslim community. Are you saying that the Bush Administration talks a good talk but -- but they haven't done anything for you community?
ABDUL-MALIK: Well, you said that.
ZAHN: But at this point, I don't want to put words in your mouth. But you have to help me understand better where you are coming from on this one. What is it that the Bush Administration hasn't done for you that you think needs to be done? And did they promise you something that hasn't been delivered?
ABDUL-MALIK: Well, first let's start out by saying that I have to acknowledge that President Bush made a great statement when he came out at the Islamic summit in Washington and in the early days of the post 9/11 to make a separation between Islam and terrorism. And that the war that he's propagating is not a war against Islam but a war against terrorism and to tell people in the American society not to attack their Muslim neighbors. This was a very important statement. I can't thank him enough for those statements.
But, then, unfortunately, in the aftermath we start to receive different political message. Our -- the important part of this conference is to teach Imams how to articulate our issues and our concerns and to get the appropriate response from government.
ZAHN: There obviously have been increased incidents of crime against Muslims in this country. Have you seen any indication that that's going to be dealt with on the level that you want it to be dealt with?
ABDUL-MALIK: Well yesterday I met with the U.S. commission on civil rights, one of the advisory committees and we were discussing this issue not just among Muslims but among Hindus, among Sikhs, among other minorities who may look Muslim. The unfortunate death of brother who was a Sikhs but he mistaken in post 9/11 for being a Muslim. This means that people don't know enough in America about their Muslim neighbor.
I will say that we are receiving, I think in the post 9/11, positive signals, but then sometimes negative actions. The detainment of over 1300 American-Muslims, unfortunately, only yielding maybe one or two people who might be remotely involved. I myself have friends whose homes were raided in the northern Virginia area and the question now is how do we get the leaders, the religious leaders of our community to organize those communities to articulate that we're here for the best of America not to create difficulty and problems.
ZAHN: Well we will be following those meetings. Imam Johri thank you very much for your time.
ABDUL-MALIK: Thank you so much for having me.
ZAHN: The Chaplin, of course, at Howard University. Have a good weekend.
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