"Religion has never called for terrorist actions. It is extremists, with their narrow-minded interpretations, which hide behind the name of religion to justify their acts. We are gathered here today to condemn all types of terrorism, whether intellectual, ideological, political or cultural. There is no religion which supports terrorism."

– Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, Chairman, Islamic Supreme Council of America

August 7, 1998, addressing the 2^nd International Islamic Unity Conference, in Washington, DC.

(as quoted in The Washington Post, The Washington Times and The Baltimore Sun)

"Terrorism is an individual action that might be supported by some people for their purposes: political, material or ideological. If someone is using his own interpretation and pinning it on the Qur’an it does not mean Muslims agree with what he is doing."

--Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, August 13, 1998, as quoted in The Washington Post

"…Our actions today were not aimed against Islam, the faith of hundreds of millions of good, peace-loving people all around the world, including the United States. No religion condones the murder of innocent men, women and children. But our actions were aimed at fanatics and killers who wrap murder in the cloak of righteousness and, in so doing, profane the great religion in whose name they claim to act."

--President Bill Clinton
August 20, 1998, Oval Office address to the American public on his decision to implement US strikes

 On behalf of the Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA), we are pleased to have achieved our purpose in helping the US government and the general public acknowledge that the religion of Islam is not responsible for terrorism. To our knowledge, it is the first time a public distinction has been made between religion, specifically Islam, and terrorism.

• As underscored in Islamic Law, any nation facing an imminent threat to its security has a right to defend itself. Thus while we support the defense of our nation, we stress the fact that violence cannot eliminate violence. Rather it is often an unfortunate precursor to further escalation of violence.

• ISCA acknowledges that the US, as the world’s most powerful nation, is in the position to serve as a global peacemaker by putting a stop to violence and human rights violations wherever they occur. We hope our nation, the US, will serve as world peacemaker by utilizing its means to bring an immediate end to Serbian aggression in Kosova, so that we indeed do not witness another Bosnia there. Likewise we call on our leadership to remove the rigorous sanctions imposed on strife-ridden Iraq, which have to date caused countless casualties to innocent civilians. By observing justice and using its might effectively, the US can fulfill its destiny as world peacemaker, as called upon by all religions under God, the Lord of all humanity.

• ISCA reaffirms the fact that Islam is a religion of peace and the majority of Muslims likewise are peace-loving people. As such, we encourage Muslims not to be swayed by emotional rhetoric such as the outlandish "declaration of war against America" or other such statements that have no basis in Islamic doctrine.

Shaykh Hisham Kabbani is a Lebanese-born American citizen, world-renowned as a scholar of Islamic Law and Spirituality. As chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America, a Washington-based advocacy organization with over 25,000 members comprised of American Muslims, Shaykh Kabbani is available for comment, analysis, reaction and interviews.

Islamic Supreme Council of America