*EPF206 02/26/2002
Text: American Muslim Council Condemns Murder of Daniel Pearl
(Says Pearl's killers have no respect for Muslim teachings) (280)

The American Muslim Council (AMC) issued a statement on February 21 condemning the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl at the hands extremists in Pakistan.

Calling Pearl's murder "satanic," the AMC statement said that Pearl's murder was "a blow to the efforts of those who believe in freedom of the press," and was committed by people who have "no respect for the values and teachings of Islam."

The text of the AMC statement follows.

(begin text)

AMC Condemns Murder of Daniel Pearl

Washington, D.C., February 21, 2002: The American Muslim Council condemns the murder of the Wall Street Journal's reporter Daniel Pearl who was killed by extremists in Pakistan. As the leading Muslim organization in the U.S., AMC is greatly perturbed that this heinous crime was committed to attain political goals and money.

Pearl was abducted January 23rd from Karachi, Pakistan. Pearl's murder comes at a time when Pakistanis are working very hard to rein in the extremist elements in their society. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has taken significant steps to root out terrorism and extremism from the country. Pakistan itself has been a major target of terrorism for the past decade. Pearl's murder is a blow to the efforts of those who believe in freedom of the press.

"We offer our deepest condolences to the wife and other survivors of Mr. Daniel Pearl. He was killed by people who have no regard for human life and no respect for the values and teachings of Islam. The murder of Mr. Daniel Pearl is satanic," said Dr. Nedzib Sacirbey, Secretary of the Board at AMC.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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