March 9, 2003	Sunday	Muharram 5, 1424

WASHINGTON, March 8: American Muslims launched an ad campaign on Saturday which condemns all acts of terrorism and says that terrorism has no place in their faith.

“American Muslims condemn all acts of terrorism and we are as outraged as our fellow Americans by atrocities committed in the name of God and our religion,” says the ad published in several American newspapers.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group, launched the year-long “Islam in America” campaign on Feb. 16 with an ad on the New York Times editorial page.

The first three ads featured examples of ethnic diversity in the American Muslim community, a Muslim Girl Scout troop in California and a Muslim woman explaining why modest Islamic attire is both liberating and empowering.

“Over the course of history, many religions have fallen victim to violent interpretations,” the ad says.

“The texts and teachings of all faiths are vulnerable to manipulation and abuse by violent extremists. Terrorism is a tactic employed by deluded individuals or groups to advance an ideological or political cause. It is not condoned by Islam or any other religion.

“Islam, Christianity, Judaism and many other faiths share the basic values necessary to create a world where tolerance and peace prevail. We have an opportunity to build bridges between our faiths and challenge those who attempt to repeat history by dividing humanity along religious and ethnic lines.

“It’s up to people of conscience to seek and embrace the truth.”