www.americanarabforum.org

For Immediate Release

Contact: Aref Assaf 973-960-2673                            aref@americanarabforum.org

AAF demands full investigation of Holy Quran's defiling by American prison personnel in Guantanamo.
Paterson: June 7, 2005: The American Arab Forum of New Jersey calls upon the American government to fully investigate the allegations of deliberate mishandling of the Quran in Guantanamo Bay prison camp, Cuba,  where hundreds of Muslims have been held since 2002. The U.S. military released new details about five confirmed cases of U.S. personnel mishandling the Quran, acknowledging that soldiers and interrogators kicked the Muslim holy book, got copies wet, stood on a Quran during an interrogation and inadvertently sprayed urine on another copy.
 The US government refuted accusations of defiling, as reported in a much-publicized story in Newsweek. Now that the accusation have been admitted to by the US government, it serves no purpose to deliberately downplay the issue and the further damage that it has caused to our standing in world. Aref Assaf, President of American Arab Forum, called on President Bush to "publicly and unequivocally denounce such deliberate acts" and to demand that all perpetrators be punished for their hurtful acts." Mr. Assaf added, "the Muslim world and our own sense of justice and decency must propel us to employ immediate and concrete steps to contain the growing discontent Muslims worldwide feel towards our country and its dichotomous belief in and practice of religious tolerance and respect for human rights." It is no longer acceptable to simply  blame lower-ranking soldiers without tangible repercussions to those in command. While the enemies of America will feel vindicated, it is the friends of America whose trust and friendship we must not endanger or take for granted."

AAF believes that The abuse of terrorist suspects in U.S. custody has undermined the United States' position in the world.

We further support calls by Congressman John Conyers' resolution to condemn bigotry and religious intolerance. Additionally, we support calls by Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, who suggested the time had come to consider a gradual closure of the facility, arguing its worsening reputation around the world was helping to recruit people bent on hurting the US. We wholeheartedly agree.

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The American Arab Forum, AAF, endeavors to provide a reliable and credible gateway of information and resources to and about the Arab American community in New Jersey and the United States.

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