Afghan officials and members of the international community attend a memorial ceremony in Kabul April 5, 2011, for the staff members killed in an attack on the U.N. mission in northern Mazar-i-Sharif city on April 1. REUTERS/Eric Kanalstein

DETROIT — The Imam Committee of the Council of Islamic
Organizations of Michigan released a statement this week condemning in the
strongest terms the killing of innocent people and the U.N. workers at
Mazar-i-Sharif U.N. station in Afghanistan, noting that such violence is
against Islamic teachings and the spirit of the Holy Qur’an.

The statement said that the imams are saddened by the unjust
killing by a violent mob in Afghanistan, reacting to a Qur’an burning earlier
this year by Florida Pastor Terry Jones.

“Neither his provocative act nor any offense against
the Islamic faith or Muslims would justify the killing of innocent
people,” they said.

The letter also urges Jones to cancel plans to bring his
hateful message to Michigan at the Islamic Center of America on April 22, where
he plans to join a protest against alleged use of shari’a law in Dearborn. They
urge him to cancel to avoid potential irrational reactions from the Muslim
community.

“We urge all Muslims to ignore such provocative or
aggressively symbolic acts against their faith,” the statement said.

The statement also quoted the Qur’an saying, “The good
deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is
better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as
though he was a bosom friend.” And “… if anyone slays a human being
unless it be (in punishment) for murder or for spreading corruption on earth —
it shall be as though he had slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a
life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind …”

The statement also offered condolences on behalf of the
imams and the Muslim community and “prayers for a world of peace free of
hate and bigotry.”

It was signed by co-chairs Imam Baqir Berry and Imam
Mustapha Elturk.