New Jersey Muslims Condemn Bangladesh, Iraq and Saudi Arabia Terror Attacks

Basking Ridge, NJ - The president of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, Mohammad Ali Chaudry, released a statement Monday condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Bangladesh, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The statement was signed by 100 different Muslim organizations in New Jersey, including the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University, the Islamic Center of East Brunswick, the Muslim Society of Ridgewood and the Islamic Society of Essex County.

Chaudry, a Basking Ridge resident, has served as the Bernards Township Mayor, as well as on the Township Committee and Board of Education. He is also a professor at Rutgers.

It reads as follows:

On behalf of a broad coalition of almost 100 Muslim organizations in New Jersey, we join all people of good conscience in categorically condemning the terrorist attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the most recent atrocities in Baghdad, Iraq and in Madina, Saudi Arabia.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and the injured and the victims of all these attacks on humanity around the world. It is obvious that terrorism coming from any source, knows no borders and humanity is the victim of this ominous phenomenon. Ironically, the vast majority of the victims of these attacks are Muslims.

The terrorists who continue to perpetrate these heinous crimes against humanity know no religion. They represent nothing more than a deviant and evil death cult bent on sowing discord amongst the civilized world and people from all backgrounds. All the faiths we represent call for peace, mercy, love, tolerance and helping the needy. The Qur’an states, “Whoever kills a (innocent and peaceful) person, it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.”

We appreciate the strong support of faith leaders coming from many diverse traditions, we wish to affirm our common humanity, denounce all violence perpetrated in the name of any faith and reject any attempts by anyone to divide us. We cannot let terror, violence, and hate exceed the love we have for each other.

List of Organizations Supporting the Statement
Ahlul-Bayt Student Association
Al Hoda Islamic Center - Jersey City
Al Tawheed Islamic Center – Jersey City
American Arab Civic Org
American Coalition for Good Government
American Muslim Alliance - NJ
American Muslim Council PAC
American Muslim Union
American Muslims for Democracy
American Muslims for Hunger Relief
American Muslims for Palestine
Anjumane Nawjawanane Ali Akber
Bayonne Islamic Center
Bayonne Muslims
Baytul-Iman Academy
Bergen County Islamic Center
Blessed and Highly Favored, Inc
CAIR - NJ
Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University
Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals
Dar ul Islam
Elizabeth Islamic Center - Midland Park
EMERGE - USA
Green Muslims of New Jersey (GMNJ)
HAC
Helping Hand for Relief and Development
Hudson County Moslim Associations
Inspiring American Muslim Youth
Institute of Islamic Studies
Islamic Center of East Brunswick
Islamic Center of Jersey City
Islamic Center of Morris County
Islamic Center of Old Bridge
Islamic Center of Passaic County
Islamic Center of South River
Islamic Center of Union County
Islamic Circle of Mercer Country
Islamic Circle of North America
Islamic Council of Greater Trenton
Islamic Council of Hudson County
Islamic Council on Scouting of North America
Islamic Cultural Center
Islamic Relief USA
Islamic Society of Basking Ridge
Islamic Society of Central Jersey
Islamic Society of Essex County
Madinah Cultural Center -Kearny
Majilus Ashura of Essex and Union County
MAROC
MAS
Masjid Al Wali
Masjid Ibrahim - Newark
Masjid Muhammad Atlantic City Inc.
Masjid Waarith ud Deen, Irvington
Masjid-e-Ali
Masjidullah Inc. Plainfield
Mehfile Shahe Khorasan
Mehfile Shahe Khorasan / Sultan Karamali
Message of peace Inc/ Patan-e- Aman
Mohammadia English Program
Muslim American Society
Muslim Center of Middlesex County
Muslim Community Center of Union County
Muslim Community of New Jersey
Muslim League of Voters of NJ
Muslim Public Affairs Council
MUSLIM Society of Ridgewood
Muslim Students Association of NJIT
Muslims4peace.org
New Africa Educational Inst.
New Africa Excellence Enterprise LLC
New Brunswick Islamic Center
New Business Islamic Center
New Jersey Muslim Lawyer’s Association
New Jersey Muslim Voter Project
NJ Sisterhood
North Hudson Islamic Educational Center
Palestinian American Community Center
Plainfield Center for Islamic Enlightenment
Rutgers MSA
Sadaqa House Inc.
Shia American Relationship Council (SARC)
Shia Assn Of North America, Baitul Qaem
SMILE
standwithdignity.org
Sultan Karamali
Swasia Charity Foundation
The Building Blocks of NJ
The Citizens Foundation
The Indigo GLOW Foundation
THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF JERSEY CITY
The Islamic council of Hudson County
The Muslim Network
The New Guidance Center
Tri State Imams Council
Turkish Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Universal Muslim Association of America
World Islamic Committee on Scouting
Zanabia New Jersey

Photo: Chaudry is pictured here in 2011 with Jon Krawczyk, a former New Jersey resident who had stopped by the Bernards Township Library while transporting his 14-foot-high stainless steel cross from California. The cross was due to be intalled at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in lower Manhattan.