In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful


- NEWS RELEASE -

HOUSTON MUSLIMS CONDEMN SAMARRA MOSQUE BOMBING
Muslims worldwide urged to call for patience

(HOUSTON, TX, 6/13/07) – The Houston Muslim Alliance (HMA) today condemned the most recent attack on Iraq's Askariya mosque in Samarra and urges the Muslim community of Houston and all Islamic leaders nationally and worldwide to call for patience. The Houston Muslim Alliance is a collective body of 18 Muslim organizations based in Houston, Texas.

WHAT: Press conference regarding position of Houston Muslims concerning Samarra Mosque bombing
WHEN: Thursday, June 14th at 11 am
WHERE: ISGH Main Center, 3110 Eastside Street, Houston, TX, 77098
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Director Shariq Abdul Ghani, 713-838-2247 or 713-398-0791, E-Mail: sghani@cairhouston.org

Attackers destroyed the minarets of the mosque early Wednesday. This mosque came under a similar attack in 2006 which shattered its famous golden dome and sparked an ongoing cycle of sectarian violence.

SEE: Attack destroys minarets on Golden Dome in Samarra (AP) http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4885280.html

Representatives of the Muslim Alliance stated:

“Houston’s diverse Muslim community of Sunni’s and Shia’s remains unified on peace despite the bombing of Askariya Mosque in Samarra. Acts of terrorism upon mosques only attempt to incite further sectarian violence amongst Muslims in Iraq. The Houston Muslim Alliance calls on authorities to apprehend and punish those responsible for this heinous act. We also urge all Muslim leaders in America and worldwide to ask their followers to remain calm and patient.”

“Muslims in the city of Houston are saddened by the event which took place in Iraq earlier this morning and are praying for the victims of this act. We will stand united in Houston despite any sectarian violence in Iraq or any other part of the world,” said Islamic Education Center’s Yadollah Hooshmand.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Director Shariq Abdul Ghani, 713-838-2247 or 713-398-0791, E-Mail: sghani@cairhouston.org