In response to the statement issued on February 26, 1999 by several Muslim organizations ("American Muslim leaders demand retraction and apology"), the Islamic Supreme Council of America issued the following statement.
As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh.
It is regretful and shameful but also revealing that AMPCC, American Muslim Alliance, AMC, CAIR, MPAC, ICNA, ISNA, and MSA have issued a very misleading statement condemning Shaykh Hisham Kabbani's recent speech at the US State Department. Instead of following the Islamic etiquette of disagreement and speaking directly with Shaykh Kabbani about their "concerns," they followed a path more typical of tabloid journalism, seeking a broad-based dissemination of their defamatory claims without regard for the truth. Even more disheartening, they also chose an approach reticent of the "Salem Witch Hunts" in America, which sought to enforce its ideological perspective, regardless of the costs to human life, dignity, and mutual tolerance and respect.
