Source/Credit: The Voice of Russia
By Jessica Jordan | May 3, 2011
Listen to Interview:
Interview with Naseem Mahdi, VP and Missionary In-Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Maryland, USA.
Now, Mr. Mahdi, what was your reaction to hearing that the US military forces had killed Osama bin Laden and all the news coming out from Pakistan?
I have been saying all along that killing one Osama is not going to solve the problem of terrorism. This is true that Osama bin Laden was able to inspire a lot of Muslim youth and those who are ready to offer their lives in suicide bombings in the name of Islam, and this is the worst thing they can do to Islam. I am sure that by his death the backbone of al-Qaeda has been broken, but at the same time I say that until and unless that breeding ground where more and more terrorists are being prepared in religious schools, this problem is not going to go away.
Are you concerned that we might see some reaction here in the US from terrorist groups?
Yes, I think this fear is genuine, a lot of people who had accepted Osama as their leader, as the leader to be followed, they feel that now they have to take revenge, but last night they have been telling that precautions are being taken and Americans should be very careful while traveling in certain parts of the world.
We know that the Ahmadiyya of Muslim community has been participating in a program called “Muslims for royalty campaign” to change the way Muslims are perceived in the US. How will the death of Osama bin Laden, say, affect that campaign?
All the Ahmadis living in the United States, they are loyal to the state of America and they will offer their services if needed to save this country. This is our stance universally, you know, people living in Canada, they are loyal to the Canadian government, Ahmadi Muslims living in Russia are loyal to the Russian government, there is no issue about this, this is very clear, and I think this is the time when we should be able to offer sacrifice for the sake of the United States of America if needed.
Do you think that news coming out of Pakistan now will make their job easier in spreading the word of Muslims for royalty campaign?
Yes, it will be easier, and we have been doing this for the last hundred years, and we would continue to do that whether this thing had happened or not, this is something that is part of our faith, it is not a political statement. The point I am highlighting is that we are against terrorism, we are against exportation of Islam, we are saying that Islam does not condone any kind of violence in the name of religion, so this campaign will go on, and we will continue our efforts to bring all the Muslims on board who are not part of our community and also give this insurance to our fellow Americans.
What do you think this news means for Muslims living here in the local community both here in the US and abroad?
I think there will be mixed emotions; some people who had sympathized with Osama, perhaps they would be sad, and they would be perhaps accusing Pakistan as why they had supported the United States’ command, and then there will be people who will have the feeling of relief, that at least this chapter is closed.
In your opinion, what is the next step in the antiterrorism campaign?
I think this war is continuing until and unless, as I have said, that we have not solved that problem in those countries where in the name of Islam thousands of people or perhaps hundreds thousands of people in thousands of religious seminaries and schools are taught what is not real Islam, and they are being told to go out and kill Christians, and Jews, and all in all Muslims.
Read original post here: Killing bin Laden only not solving the problem of terrorism
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