home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
- Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!rich
- From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
- Subject: Algeria: an open letter to Bush
- Message-ID: <1992Aug23.191314.13455@mont.cs.missouri.edu>
- Followup-To: alt.activism.d
- Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Sender: news@mont.cs.missouri.edu
- Nntp-Posting-Host: pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Organization: PACH
- Distribution: na
- Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 19:13:14 GMT
- Approved: map@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Lines: 102
-
- /** mideast.action: 36.0 **/
- ** Topic: Algeria: an open letter to Bush **
- ** Written 2:26 am Aug 23, 1992 by pnmideast in cdp:mideast.action **
- From: <pnmideast>
- Subject: Algeria: an open letter to Bush
-
- /* Written 1:10 pm Aug 22, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:soc.rights.hum */
- /* ---------- "Algeria: an open letter to Bush" ---------- */
- From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
- Subject: Algeria: an open letter to Bush
-
- /* Written 7:58 am Aug 21, 1992 by jisrawi@PHYSICS.RUTGERS.EDU in cdp:soc.culture.tu */
- ***********************************************************************
- * *
- * IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL *
- * *
- * A N O P E N L E T T E R *
- * *
- * AMERICAN MUSLIMS LEADERS URGE *
- * RESTORATION OF DEMOCRATIC PROCESES IN ALGERIA *
- * *
- ***********************************************************************
-
-
- TO: President George Bush
- Members of Congress PRESS RELEASE: August 10, 1992
- CONTACT: Imam G. N. Kashif
- FM: American Muslim Imams (202) 789-2262 (Day)
- (301) 699-1864 (Evenings)
- Date: August 5, 1992
-
- We, the American Muslim leaders (Imams), representing Muslim constituents
- throughout America, met recently in Washington, D.C. to address the issue of
- the suspension of the democratic process in Algeria, and the response of the
- US Administration and Congress.
-
- For Muslims in America, the promising development of open and fair
- elections in Algeria represented a genuine example of the Islamic tradtion of
- Shura (or representative decision making), equating with the highest ideals
- of freedom and democracy as acclaimed by our government.
-
- Unfortunately, this process has been eclipsed by a military junta,
- signalling a return to political tyranny and dictatorship totally alien to
- the values we cherish here in America.
-
- Our concern is the failure of the administration and congress to voice its
- opposition to this unlawful usurpation of power and to subsequent banning and
- harassment of the FIS party which won an overwhelming majority in an open and
- free election.
-
- The FIS party has made it clear that it respects popular choice, multiparty
- participation and free entreprise. The Algerian political culture is in fact
- characterized by a strong sense of independence, decentralization and a clear
- bias against demagoguery. The rejection of French rule and the regime of
- Ben Bella are clear examples.
-
- The social, political and demographic nature of Algeria makes the victory
- of people inevitable. We feel that the west, led by the united states, has
- to decide if it will facilitate or oppose the popular choice of the Muslim
- people. Neutrality is not a practical option between a tyrannical regime
- and democracy.
-
- Support for such dictatorial regimes also has grave consequences
- domestically as more and more Americans, particularily the more than six
- million Muslims, and African Americans begin to perceive the government's
- position on democracy as hypocritical and racist where the African or Muslim
- world is concerned.
-
- We call upon you to use your influence and this country's considerable
- political and strategic resources to push for the restoration of the
- democratic process in Algeria. We also urge that you edmand the release of
- representatives of FIS who have been rounded up and sentenced to long prison
- terms. As a practical first step we urge you to consider recall of the U.S.
- Ambassador and withdrawal of recognition of the junta regime. Secondly we urge
- you to consider some form of economic sanctions, particularily with regards
- to arms sales and technology. Thirdly, We recommend that you organize a
- fact-finding team, including U.S. Muslim representatives to investigate the
- alledged rights violations in Algeria.
-
- Certainly the manner in which FIS has conducted itself during this military
- rule is admirable, however restraint and anger among the Algerian people whose
- votes have been annulled cannot continue forever. The consequences of a
- full-scale violent revolution would bring untold negative consequences for US
- interest in this region.
-
- We, the following Imams are signatories of the statement above.
-
- Imam Mutawaf Abd Shaheed, Cleveland, OH
- Imam Al-Amin Abdul Latif, Brooklyn, NY
- Imam Khalid Abdul Fattah Griggs, Winston Salem, NC
- Imam Da'ud Abdul Malik, Cleveland, OH
- Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, Atlanta, GA
- Imam Larry Amin Sharriff, Dallas, TX
- Imam Mikal Huda Ba'th, Washington, DC
- Imam W.D. Mohammed, Chicago, IL
- Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif, Washington, DC
- Imam Ronald R. Shakir, Washington, MD
- Imam Yusuf Saleem, Washington, DC
- Imam Zaid Shakir, Hamden, CT
- Imam Saraj Wahhadj, Brooklyn, NY
-
- ** End of text from cdp:mideast.action **
-