October 26, 2002	Saturday	Sha’aban 19,1423

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 25: American Muslim organizations, fearing a backlash in the wake of the arrest of two suspects, including a Muslim convert, in the series of sniper attacks in the Washington area, urged the media on Friday to refrain from making any hasty generalizations and irresponsible speculations that could cause a wave of hate crimes against the Muslims.

US security authorities arrested on Thursday John Allen Mohammad, who embraced Islam 17 years ago and John Lee Malvo, a Jamaican teenager, suspected of killing 10 people and injuring three others in Maryland, Virginia and Washington since Oct 2.

Major American Muslim organizations, including the American Muslim Alliance (Ama), the American Muslim Council (AMC) and the Council of American-Islamic Relations (Cair), issued statements on Friday expressing concern that the American Muslims would now face scapegoating and bias because a suspect in this case has Mohammad as last name.

“There is no indication that this case is related to Islam or Muslims. The American Muslim community should not be held accountable for the alleged criminal actions of what appears to be (those of) troubled and deranged individuals,” Cair said.

Alluding to the backlash against American Muslims after Sept 2001 attacks, Ama said that irresponsible speculations could cause a wave of hate crimes against innocent people, in particular, Muslims, Arabs and Sikhs.

American Muslims were urged to go about their normal routine, but with added caution. Cair also issued a checklist to enhance security at mosques and Islamic centres throughout the US.