In a weekly ISCC executive council meeting on Saturday, council has expressed its concern over the escalating revenge and anger by the United State government. The council has asked Prime Minister Jean Chretien to help US government in making rational decisions. Presently, the US government and the world are extremely angry and they are justified for it. But a decision made with anger and the desire to take revenge at any cost may not be a wise decision. There is a very high possibility that the US government may make some decisions, which may cause more damage to the world and humanity than the damage caused by the terrorists on September 11, 2001. ISCC fully supports to punish the terrorists and those who harbour them however escalating war against one of the poorest countries on earth, Afghanistan will not be a wise decision. Afghani people have been suffering for the last thirty years. First they suffered from Russians, then the civil war and now from Taliban government.

Afghanistan does not have any sophisticated communication, transportation, and scientific or technological infrastructure. People are dying in Afghanistan everyday. They do not have food, water and basic health care. Those who could flee Afghanistan they already left. Now, USA will only be killing hungry and helpless children, women and old people. Just to capture Osama Bin Laden and his company by using the most sophisticated technology and more than 100,000 man and women in the uniform is an emotional decision which will bring nothing but more killings, destruction, hate and anger.

ISCC suggests that the USA and NATO should use their highly sophisticated network of intelligence and negotiation experts to capture the terrorists and their supporters. This is the only way that the world can avoid more harm, more destruction, more killings, more sufferings and more hate. May God give courage to the US and NATO governments to make rational and wise decisions. May God help US and NATO governments in capturing terrorists without bloodshed. Amen.

Please call me for any questions.

Thanks

Best Regards

Syed Soharwardy

President

Islamic Supreme Council of Canada

Phone: (403)-208-7148

Muslims Against Terrorism (MAT) is very thankful to fellow Canadians for their support and solidarity with Canadian Muslims. MAT is getting many phone calls and email messages on daily basis from various Canadians expressing their concern over the safety and security for the Canadian Muslims. These messages have been forwarded to hundreds of Canadian Muslims which have touched their hearts. Few messages are attached with this press release.

Dear Islamic Supreme Council of Canada,

I am very sad to hear of any member of your peaceful communities receiving blame and racial insults for the tragedy of September 11 2001. This for me worsens a very terrible event. I love Canada so much because of the varied cultures that live here and hope and pray for all of us to learn from and appreciate each others differences. Respect/Peace and Joy to you in this difficult time.

Dear Friends:

I would like to offer my sympathy for the suffering you may be experiencing at the hands of cowards who are using Muslims as an excuse to commit acts of violence. Fortunately, most people are good and I hope that these good people, like myself, will do whatever we can to protect innocent Muslims in our communities.

Good afternoon,

It was dismay that I read this morning's The Globe and Mail to see that some Muslim schools were being closed in Canada and the U.S. Further I was saddened that people are targeting innocent individuals in response to the terrorist attack in New York and Washington. This is one human being and Canadian who wants the Muslim community to know that I think it is disgraceful that you are "being held prisoners or being made to feel like victims of crimes that you have had no part of". Emotion is a funny thing. Sometimes it makes everyday individuals act like...well there is no other way to describe it...idiots. Hopefully common sense and a respect for all human beings will come to the forefront and the Muslim community will cease to be a target of this mis-directed anger.

Those responsible should be held accountable for their criminal actions. That is true in any situation. People should not be painted with the same brush simply because of their religious and ethnic origin. I am hopeful that this very sad situation and disruption of people's lives will be short-lived.

Sincerely, Diane Miller , Burlington, ON