Jewish groups urge Sept. 11 Memorial Museum not to insinuate all Muslims are terrorists

NEW YORK, May 20 (KUNA) -- A number of Jewish Organisations and allies are scheduled to gather for a vigil tomorrow Wednesday in front of the newly inaugurated National September 11 Memorial Museum to send a message that Islam was not linked with terrorism.
The groups will gather before the museum as it officially opens its door to the public to urge its curator to edit a six-minute video - The Rise of Al-Qaeda - that insinuates that all Muslims are terrorists and avoid the creation of a climate of hatred and discrimination.
Rebecca Vilkomerson of Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the vigil's organisers said in a statement "we know that the National September 11 Memorial Museum will play a unique and invaluable role in educating the public about September 11. But we are concerned that many people who come from all over the world, and who are not well informed about Muslims and Islam, will come away with inaccuracies and misconceptions. That would do an injustice to the Muslim community and to all our communities." Another organizer Marjorie Dove Kent from Jews for Racial and Economic Justice also said in the statement "the video's current script will reinforce a dangerous falsehood at the heart of a post-September 11 narrative: that all Muslims are responsible for the attacks on September 11. Connecting Islam as a religion with the September 11 attackers has helped drive a national backlash against Muslims and those assumed to be Muslims-Arab Americans, Sikhs and other South Asians.
"Jews have long resisted the idea of 'collective guilt' as applied to Jews," said Dorothy Zellner of Jews Say No!, another organizer. "Editing this video for fairness will prevent the acts of a small group from being associated with an entire world religion," adding that the group is committed to reflect "our profound commitment to dignity and respect for all." The organizers also called on the Museum to take seriously the concerns expressed by its own multi-faith advisory council, scholars, leading Muslim American and Arab American organizations, and community leaders.
The Museum, inaugurated on May 15, was established to honour the memory of the some 3,000 people who perished on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center towers collapsed as a result of the terrorist attack.
Dozens of their relatives gathered in front of the Museum on the inauguration day to protest the fact that the Museum was erected on the remains of their loved ones who were buried under the wreckage and could not be retrieved for a proper burial. (end) sj.bs