American Muslim Groups Condemn Fort Hood Shootings

There's still so much that we don't know about the man who is accused of murdering 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounding so many more. But we know the suspect's name: Nadal Malik Hasan. And we are told his faith: Islam. Certainly since 9/11, that's enough to set many Americans' teeth on edge. That may be a natural reaction. But Thursday's tragedy in Texas has also succeeded in making many American Muslims feel they've been put on the spot. Again.

I often see the question: Why don't the "good" Muslims condemn terrorism? Well, very often they do just that. And long before we have any idea if this shooting is anything more than one man with weapons going nuts, or something with a larger context, a couple of the larger American Muslim organizations sent out their denunciations.

From CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations:

We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law. No political or religious ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence. The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured.

From MPAC, the Muslim Public Affairs Council:

MPAC and the Muslim American community unequivocally condemn this heinous incident. We share the sentiment of our President, who called the Fort Hood attack "a horrific outburst of violence." We are in contact with law enforcement and U.S. federal government officials to gain more facts from this tragic incident and work together in dealing its aftermath.

Our entire organization extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed as well as to those wounded and their loved ones," said Salam Al-Marayati, Executive Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. We stand in solidarity with law enforcement and the U.S. military to maintain the safety and security of all Americans.

MPAC reaffirms its call to all members of American Muslim communities to be in contact with local law enforcement for the safety and security of their communities and their institutions.

No matter what we eventually learn about this shooting, it's probably a good idea not to jump to conclusions now. Anybody old enough to have been paying attention to the news on April 19, 1995 should recall the fast-paced gasbagging on TV about the events of that day. The Oklahoma City bombing? Clearly an act of Islamic terror, we were told by too many willing to go out on the limb. Not so much, as it turned out.

Maybe this one will be different. But I'm not taking anything I'm hearing so far as carved in stone. After all, the first reports I heard in the hours after the shootings had him dead and a recent convert to Islam. Neither, apparently, was true.

So until we get more data, I'll keep my speculation in the barn.