The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a new umbrella group for the US Muslim Brotherhood, has issued a condemnation of the murder of the American journalist James Foley by what the statement calls the “so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.” According to the statement:
(WASHINGTON DC 08/20/2014) — The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of several leading national and local Muslim organizations, condemns the murder of American journalist James Foley at the hands of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
We offer our deepest condolences to James’ family and pray they will find comfort and solace during this difficult time. The USCMO roundly condemns this group and rejects its ideology and actions. The terror organization, which is also known by the acronym ISIS, does not speak or act on behalf of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims. In fact, they have killed so many Muslims indiscriminately. Their actions are reprehensible, inhumane and completely contravene all aspects and tenets of Islam. ‘We are heartbroken by the brutal death of Mr. Foley,’ said Oussama Jammal, USCMO secretary general. ‘It states in the Qur’an that the taking of one life is the equivalent of killing of all humankind and the saving of one life is equivalent to the saving of all humankind. Islam abhors and rejects the murder, mayhem and terror being spread by this group of criminal individuals.’ The USCMO also warns the public to avoid spreading Islamophobia by using the actions of ISIS to characterize and demonize all Muslims, globally and here in the United States. We agree with the words of James’ mother, Diane, who told the media that, ‘Jim’s death can bring our country together in a stronger way in the values that Jim held dear. He never wanted us to hate or be bitter.’”
The GMBDW notes that the ISIS murder and the organization itself have been widely condemned by the US Muslim Brotherhood.
The GMBDW reported in March on the formation of the USCMO, now comprised of seven US Muslim organizations and a secretary-general almost almost all tied tied to the US Muslim Brotherhood. As we noted in 2010, one of the common tactics of the US Muslim Brotherhood is to construct coalitions of its own front organizations as well as inter-related groups and individuals, giving the appearance that the Brotherhood has more broad-based support than it actually enjoys. The new US Council of Muslim Organizations is just the latest in a long series of such “umbrella groups” formed by the US Muslim Brotherhood.