Another tragic beheading; Muslims must cleanse their communities of Extremism and Terrorism

The absence of a popular outcry from Muslims to terrorism is yet more proof that Muslim extremists have much more support than anyone in the Muslim world is willing to admit.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) June 20, 2004 -- The Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism (FMCAT) condemns the cowardly terrorists who beheaded Paul M. Johnson Jr., the American contractor taken hostage last weekend.

Mr. Johnson, a Lockheed Martin employee, was kidnapped Saturday by a group calling itself Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Saudi police performed a massive manhunt in several Riyadh neighborhoods where Mr. Johnson was believed to be held. Interviews with People living in the neighborhoods, which lie in the city of Riyadh, suggested that the kidnappers enjoy popular support partly because of U.S. policy in Iraq and its perceived backing for Israel.

The absence of a popular outcry from Muslims to terrorism is yet more proof that Muslim extremists have much more support than anyone in the Muslim world is willing to admit. Muslim extremists and terrorists are winning more popular support by cleverly adopting popular and emotional Muslim issues such as the condition of the Palestinians, or the Iraqis and because most Muslim religious and political leaders have not taken a zero tolerance approach for the use of terrorism to affect political change.

FMCAT president, Kamal Nawash, stated that Terrorism in the name of Islam represents the most lethal threat to the stability of the civilized world. Moderate Muslims are the only ones who can defeat extremism and terrorism within their own communities. Every Muslim needs to wage war against terrorism."

FMCAT urges all mosques and Muslim organizations to take a zero tolerance approach to Islamic" terrorism. There should be no exception to the use of terrorism no matter the noble" cause that the terrorist groups claim to advocate.

For more information visit our website at: www.freemuslims.org or Contact Kamal Nawash

202-262-3491