10 October 2001

President of the Canadian Islamic Congress: "He Doesn't Speak For Me"

The following op-ed piece ("He Doesn't Speak For Me," by Mohamed Elmasry) appeared October 10 in The Globe and Mail newspaper, Toronto, Canada. Republication permitted outside of the United States; please credit author and The Globe and Mail, Toronto, Canada.

Copyright (c) 2001, by Mohamed Elmasry. Used with permission of the author.

"He Doesn't Speak For Me"

(Like many misguided zealots before him, Osama bin Laden is misusing religion to advance an unrealistic political agenda, says Canadian Islamic leader Mohamed Elmasry)

After Sunday's first strike of the U.S.-led forces against Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden issued a statement calling on every Muslim to rise "to defend his religion."

"Our Islamic nation has been tasting the same [as the Sept. 11 attacks] for more than 80 years of humiliation and disgrace, its sons killed and their blood spilled, its sanctities desecrated," he declared, referring to the demise of the Ottoman Empire in 1920.

Mr. bin Laden also mentioned the historic grievances of the Iraqis and the Palestinians. But he conveniently did not mention that it was U.S.-led strikes against Serbia that saved thousands of Kosovar Muslims. Similarly, he did not recall how the West helped Afghans end the Soviet occupation of their country. Back then, he was not calling Americans "infidels."

Today, however, Mr. bin Laden is trying to stir Muslims to wage war against the West. But he has forgotten a crucial socio-political fact: Muslims are now an integral presence in Western society. There are more than seven million Muslims in North America and more than double that number among the European Union nations.

Is he suggesting, then, that Muslims in the West should wage war against their own countries, against their own families, compatriots, friends, neighbours and co-workers?

Regrettably, Mr. bin Laden's blinkered statements will only feed anti-Islamic sentiment that already exists among some Western factions. The result will be just the opposite of what he seems to want. Such statements, made from so far outside the loop of mainstream Islam, will end up endangering the well-being, even the lives, of many innocent Muslims.

From a Canadian Muslim perspective, Mr. bin Laden is only doing what many misguided religious zealots before him have done -- misusing religion to advance tragically an unrealistic political agenda.

The terrorist crimes of Sept. 11, for which he remains the world's prime suspect, did little or nothing to advance his muddled political agenda. They did not help the Iraqis or Palestinians one bit and probably made their situations even worse; no wonder many of them are trying valiantly to distance themselves from his "support."

Since the end of the Persian Gulf war, Mr. bin Laden has adamantly opposed the presence of American forces in eastern Saudi Arabia, his native country. But Sept. 11 did nothing to end this.

So if Mr. bin Laden entertained any isolationist fantasy about the world's being a better place for Muslims after Sept. 11, this is definitely not the case.

Sadly, there will be some Muslims -- a few, mostly impoverished, starving, illiterate ones who need our help and prayers -- ready to believe Mr. bin Laden's contention that the U.S. "Operation Enduring Freedom" is an open Western "war against Islam." I, for one, don't know what that really means, because Muslims in the West can practice their faith more freely than in many so-called Muslim countries.

It is equally sad, that for religious and political reasons, some non-Muslims will also believe Mr. bin Laden's dangerous rhetoric. We are already witnessing efforts of certain faith groups to "save" Canadian Muslims from their practice of a "wrong" religion. And some commentators who should know better are suggesting that those who follow Islam are either terrorists or terrorist sympathizers, that their religion is responsible, and that they all should go home.

Both points of view, as opposed as they seem, are framing Islam, albeit in different ways. And both are dead wrong.

Not every religious-sounding phrase necessarily carries religious meaning. But, whether or not we like it, the fact remains that some political groups express their views in secular terms, others in religious ones. Some will advance their agenda through non-violent means, others will not.

This is a very difficult time for Canadian Muslims. Mr. bin Laden's widely distributed statements are not making the situation any better.

Like so many Canadians, I can still visualize the horrific images of Sept 11. They have been seared into my memory forever. And also like so many Canadians, I have found that my own spirituality is now on trial.

There are persistent questions: How can God allow innocent people to die? Couldn't God do something about it? How can the Creator let people commit murder under the divine name? Why has such been the case throughout history? The questions go on and on.

No one has ever suggested to me that I am responsible for any crimes committed by fellow professors, fellow engineers or fellow Canadians. No one has ever demanded that I publicly condemn crimes committed by a few fellow professors. And when an engineer is found guilty of professional misconduct, am I ever asked to distance myself from him? Of course not.

So why does my religion suddenly become "relevant" when some of my co-religionists are accused of committing a crime, any crime? It is as if I am condoning their acts because I, too, am Muslim.

But my religion has not been credited with the professional awards I have received; with the public service I have done; with the respect of thousands of students I have taught; with the research papers, articles and books I have authored.

And religion is not publicly heralded as responsible for my efforts to be the best family man I can, nor for the four wonderful Canadian children that my wife and I raised.

So I am struggling inwardly to heal my spirituality. Outwardly, however, I will continue to work with like-minded Canadians -- Muslims and non-Muslims alike -- to make the world a better, and safer, place for all.

[Note: Mohamed Elmasry, professor of engineering at the University of Waterloo, is national president of the Canadian Islamic Congress.]