Muslims Seek to Deflect Anger

Only days after British authorities foiled an alleged plot to blow up airliners en route from Britain to the United States, Muslim leaders and law enforcement officials in Southern California urged the public Monday not to demonize the Islamic community.

At a news conference Monday at the Islamic Center of Southern California in Los Angeles, the leaders and officials said Muslims worldwide have helped authorities fight terror.

“We are playing the most critical role in America’s national security because of our partnership with law enforcement,” said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Bob Pierce, the British consul general, said the threat facing the United Kingdom comes from a “small minority.”

“There is something of a battle going on for the hearts and minds of people in the Islamic community in the UK,” he said.

Pierce and Al-Marayati were joined by representatives of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who emphasized the need to protect the civil rights of Muslims and the value of working with them.

“Muslim nations are working tirelessly in the fight against terror,” said Sheriff Lee Baca, who earlier this year helped establish the Muslim-American Homeland Security Congress to consolidate, expand and publicize Muslims’ efforts against terrorism. The group encourages religious leaders in Southern California to speak out against terrorism, has formed a youth council and reaches out to alienated Muslims. The organization has a nine-member executive board and its membership includes mosque members, students and civil rights advocates.

Muslim leaders expressed concern that their community would face a backlash in the aftermath of the latest alleged terror plot and as the five-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches.

“It is imperative to remember that we face a common enemy who does not discriminate based on religion, race or gender,” said Ahmed Ali, president of the Council of Pakistani Public Affairs.

Also Monday, teenagers with pellet guns shot at the door of a mosque in La Mirada, deputies said. Pellet guns were also used to shoot out two windows at the mosque Thursday evening.

The Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on the FBI and the Sheriff’s Department to investigate both incidents as possible hate crimes.

But deputies said that numerous vandalism acts have been committed in the area near the mosque recently and that there was no evidence that the mosque was singled out. The mosque is “just a part of the spree,” Lt. Duane Harris said.