Lehigh Valley Muslim community in US rally in vigil against ISIS

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Sunday 22 Nov 2015 - 17:58 Makkah mean time-10-2-1437 Image from THE MORNING CALL Pennsylvania (IINA) - Denouncing ISIS as a hate-based movement, more than 100 Muslims rallied on Friday night in downtown Allentown in US to mourn the terrorist group's recent victims in Paris, Beirut and elsewhere, The Morning Call online news reported. The Muslims, carrying signs that read "Save Islam and all from ISIS" and "ISIS is a threat to humanity," were joined by Christians and a few Hindus in a prayer vigil in front of PPL Center at Seventh and Hamilton streets. They lit candles, prayed and sang "God Bless America" as they remembered those killed in bloody ISIS attacks in France, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Iraq. Kamran Siddiqi, president of the Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley mosque in Whitehall Township, said the Qur’an demands that Muslims confront the evil that ISIS represents. "When an evil takes place, you have to stand up. That's the only way to get justice," he said, speaking before the demonstrators as passers-by stopped to look at the signs and hear the speakers. ISIS pretends to be motivated by Islam, Siddiqi said, but the real Islam stands for love, not terror. Batool Tajdar, a Muslim and Northampton Community College freshman, said she was happy to join the rally and was not afraid to publicly protest ISIS. "I don't have any fear," she said. "I feel strong, knowing I can do something against it. I'm always happy to tell people what Muslims are. And we're not that." Tajdar carried a sign that read, "We stand against terrorism." The vigil was held against the background of worldwide news coverage of the Nov. 13 ISIS attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. The day before, in Beirut, ISIS killed 43 people. Saleem Mawji, of the Alahad Center in South Whitehall, said local Muslims have to make clear their faith has nothing to do with terrorism. "We don't allow terrorists to represent us," Mawji said, adding: "They do not define us." It is noteworthy that Christians were represented at the vigil by Larry Pickens, ecumenical director of the Lehigh Conference of Churches; the Rev. Susan Ruggles, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Easton; and the Rev. Canon Maria Tjeltveit of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Allentown. All three said religions have a responsibility to view one another with respect, as brothers and sisters. SM/IINA