USA: Local Muslim community affected by bin Laden’s death

“My initial reaction was relief, we finally found a mass murder, a terrorist. I do believe that this is a stepping stone for us. For all races and religions to get together.” [Mrs. Saima Mumatz]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: CBS 21 | WHP TV News
By Kirk Clyatt | May 2, 2011
Contributor: Ryan Eldredge

Few Americans are as affected by Osama bin Laden's death than those who are also part of the Muslim community.

CBS 21 News spoke to people at a local mosque about what happened to see how they feel. Of course, it varies from person to person, but the overall reaction is great relief.

What you may not know is that American Muslims are one of the most diverse religious groups in the nation.


24% are native born, immigrants from South Asia and the Arab world, make up more than 50% and the remainder comes from a wide variety of other groups.

Many of our founding father's spoke highly of the profit Muhammad, John Adams said he was a "sober inquirer after the truth".

“We remember the people that are suffering all around the world,” said Dr. Mubashir Mumtaz, the Hadee Mosque spokesman. “The big event obviously was the killing of Osama Bin Laden and obviously we remember the families of 9/11.”

Was Osama Bin Laden a Muslim? “I don't think he was a Muslim,” said Dr. Mumtaz. “Obviously only God knows eventually what ones faith is, but judging from the crimes that he committed, I think he was a criminal, who gave Islam a bad name.”

Women in the Muslin faith had much the same reaction. “My initial reaction was relief, we finally found a mass murder, a terrorist,” said Saima Mumatz. “I do believe that this is a stepping stone for us. For all races and religions to get together.”

So perhaps you can use the weekend's events as a catalyst to learn more about the Muslim faith.

-- Reported by Kirk Clyatt - Email: KirkClyatt@CBS21.com





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