
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 21, 1993                   TAG: 9307210315
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WATCH OUT FOR DANGEROUS LABELING

THE MEDIA have enjoyed false portrayal of Muslims and the religion of Al-Islam. Muslim means one who submits to the will of Allah (God), and Al-Islam - or Islam, as the media call it - means peace and submission to God.

We are portrayed as bloodthirsty terrorists who are out to destroy all who are not Muslim. This is a false idea. True believers of Al-Islam do not hold to this false thinking. This idea of destroying non-Muslims is not taught by Allah (God) through the Holy Quran or by the Sunna of Prophet Muhammad of Arabia (may Allah be pleased).

While Muslims are being killed each day in Bosnia by Christians, does the world call all Christians rapists and murderers? Then why is an entire world population of Muslims being labeled as terrorists because of the actions of a few?

Are Muslims to become victims of modern-day witch trials by those who hate us for just being Muslims? The media should be careful about labels. Many times, labels cause great harm to the innocent. TAHEERAH SAFA AL-AMIN WIRTZ

by CNB