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Obama's Cairo Speech Inspires Islamic Group to Give Qurans to US Leaders
June 30, 2009 6:02 PM
ABC News' Elizabeth Gorman reports:
Prompted by President Obama's speech directed to the Muslim world in Cairo in early June, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today launched its "Share the Quran" campaign distributing free Qurans to local, state, and national leaders across the United States.
The organization's spokesperson said it will also send a copy to Obama and Vice President Biden.
"This is pure educational. I want to make it clear that this is not proselytizing or a campaign or project to convert people to Islam," said CAIR's director Nihad Awad today at a press conference. "We want people to be aware and informed about Islam."
Awad said the idea to gift high-end Qurans ($78 each) to American legislators, law enforcement officers, media leaders, governors, local elected and public officials, was directly inspired by Obama's Cairo speech:
"We were astonished he quoted the Quran." Awad told ABC News. "We know it. But I think the majority of Americans have no idea that maybe these quotes are direct from the Quran, they're unequivocal, and they cover the issues of . . . values we need today, in order to work together, fight extremism and terrorism, and turn the page. And bring the relationship to its rightful position between the American and Muslim world."
The organization chose Muhammad Asad's (a European) English translation of the Quran, and asks Muslims to donate $48 to help subsidize its multi-million dollar project as part of a grassroots campaign.
"The long-term goal of the campaign is to put one million Qurans in the hands of ordinary Americans of all faiths over the next 10 years," according to a CAIR statement.
Al Jazeera showed footage last week of bibles translated into Pashto and Dari stacked at a US army base that raised questions about whether the US army was proselytizing in Afghanistan.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen was asked about the report the same day the video aired on Al Jazeera:
"My reaction is twofold," he said. "One is that I'm not aware of the details of this and certainly want to know more about it. Secondly, it certainly is -- from the United States military's perspective -- not our position to ever push any specific kind of religion. Period."
June 30, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (16)
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Nice idea...my spouse read it and thought it had some beautiful tenets in it...
Posted by: phallon | Jun 30, 2009 7:20:03 PM
If anyone thought that ABC NIGHTLINE is about news events, think again. Check the 3 stories on NIGHTLINE after Obama's speech in Cairo when I turned on the TV fully expecting a segment on this speech. Also note this article spends little time on the speech and highlights the Quran pass outs. And about proselytising in the military...ask Pat Tillman when you see him in the next life what he thinks about the US military proselytising in IRAQ and Ahghaniland...Case Closed...cue MASH music!!!!
Posted by: daddyblue | Jun 30, 2009 7:48:26 PM
It is okay for this to happen but not for the soldiers to do it in the same spirit? Please!
Posted by: notanobamafan | Jun 30, 2009 7:54:28 PM
It does not matter if they read it ! Extremists will twist the meaning anyhow and will not change their minds. How about if we issue Bibles to every Islamic state leaders ? fair isn't it ?
Posted by: Frank | Jun 30, 2009 8:15:01 PM
Good idea about issuing Bible to the Muslims. Maybe Christ can teach them a more peaceful way to live.
Posted by: M. Summer | Jul 1, 2009 7:24:49 AM
How come the separation of Church and State only applies to the Judeo-Christian side of things: Are we distributing the New Testament to the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iran?
Posted by: Bill | Jul 1, 2009 9:23:20 AM
If current events in Iran are indicative of that country's belief in a Higher Being, tell the group distributing the Holy Book to send one to the Ayotallah who runs Iran.....he sure as heck needs some education regarding his own religion.
Posted by: justj joey | Jul 1, 2009 9:55:35 AM
This is an admirable gesture but as pointless as giving a Bible to a hardline atheist. If the recipient even cracks it open (other than to claim that they've "studied" it) it will be to find some ammunition to rebut the views of the proponent.
Posted by: Publius | Jul 1, 2009 10:24:57 AM
How about they just follow it, and stop blowing up innocent people!
Posted by: Jiva Soul | Jul 1, 2009 11:03:13 AM
EVERYONE should read : "The Politically Incorrect Guide To Islam".
Posted by: Ron | Jul 1, 2009 11:33:03 AM
By the way. The Associated Press wrote a long article about the new Iraqi national holiday on June 30, when the Americans pulled out of the major cities. There was one short paragraph where some Iraqi was quoted saying how bad the Americans were to the Iraqis. No quote on an opposing view. Of course the media would never print this. An Iraqi national TV show took a poll and over 70% of the callers wanted the Americans to stay in the cities and Iraq. I’m here. They don’t hate us and we treat them extremely well and save lives.
Posted by: Leon Ives | Jul 1, 2009 12:35:06 PM
Question: Do we give them Bibles?????????
Posted by: Lizzie | Jul 1, 2009 12:58:40 PM
what hypocretes, if one has a bible over there, they get their head cut off
Posted by: bighal | Jul 1, 2009 1:07:58 PM
It's Time for them to do likewise & read the Bible. Christ is the Son of God, who came the 1st time in the body of a man but was also deity, he was crucified & ressurected & went to Heaven where he sits at the Right Hand of God to this day, untill he returns at the 2nd comming. Mohammed was a mortal human who was Not the son of God, had children & died. He remains in his grave to this day. Like the other human prophets of the Bible. Jesus Christ Trumps Mohammed. Read the Bible.
Posted by: Hope&Awe | Jul 1, 2009 1:12:32 PM
another case of the Obama way or the highway. the playing field on educating each side must be level.
Posted by: william | Jul 1, 2009 5:36:35 PM
They have a lot on their plate right now dealing with the social problems of this country. Why do we need to require our eclected leaders to learn the Koran when obviously they should be learning how this country's social values operate. Plus the Middle East and most Muslim countreis have their own problems much bigger than ours.
Posted by: Gregory | Jul 1, 2009 10:37:23 PM
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