Muslim Leaders Respond to Taheri-azar's Letter

(03/15/06 - RALEIGH) (WTVD) -- Muslims in the Triangle are speaking out about comments made by the man who is charged with trying to kill nine people in a UNC campus attack.

In a letter to Eyewitness News, Mohammed Taheri-azar says, "the Quran gives permission for the followers of Allah to attack those who have waged war against them."

Taheri-azar says he wanted to punish the government for its treatment of Muslims around the world.

Several leaders of the Triangle Muslim community say Taheri-azar's personal interpretation of the Quran is wrong and it goes against the true belief of Muslims across the world - - which is peace.

In a news conference today, representatives from N.C. State, the Islamic Association of Raleigh and UNC Chapel Hill, where Taheri-azar went to school, say they're angry about Taheri-azar's actions, but asked God to forgive his misinterpretation.

"We should feel angry because this has tarnished the image of Islam," Dr. Ihab Saad said. "But we should be angry as a father or mother does when their son or daughter does something wrong."

Muslim representatives also say they uniformly reject any violence in the name of their religion.

In Taheri-azar's letter, he stated, "I read all 114 chapters [of the Quran] approximately 15 times since June of 2003 when I started reading the Quran." He went on to state, "I did not act out of hatred for Americans, but out of love for Allah instead."

When asked about a wish for punishment for Taheri-azar for his confessed actions, members of the Muslim community say they feel the law of the land applies and he should be fully punished.

They are also using the media attention to educate the public about Islam and its true teachings. They plan to hold an open house at the Islamic Association of Raleigh on Saturday.

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