Dear Mr. Mashal:We write to you during this holy month of
Ramadan as Muslim-American leaders and scholars acrossthe United
States. As Muslims around the world reflect upon their faith and
strive for an elevated levelof devotion during this blessed month,
we urge you to act upon our higher calling to charity andcompassion
by releasing Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit.We believe Hamas harsh
treatment and five-year detention of Shalit is wrong. On many
occasionsHamas has stated its opposition to unjust imprisonment. It
has said that Israels detention of thousandsof Palestinians,
including women and children who have been held for months or
years, sometimes inharsh conditions or without access to genuine
due process, is unjust. As Muslims we are guided by thetradition of
the Prophet (peace be upon him). He teaches us to follow a higher
ethical and moral code,and to se t an example ofjustice and mercy,
even against enemies and prisoners of war. In SuratFussilat, Ayah
34, we are told that the good deed and the evil deed are not alike,
and we are instructedto repel the evil deed with one that is
better.The struggle for Palestinian human rights and
self-determination must be based on this ethical and moralcode.
Hamas inhumane detention of Shalit undermines the Palestinian
peoples legitimate aspirationsfor human rights and a state of their
own, existing in peace and security beside Israel.On the occasion
of Ramadan, we urge you to recall that the Holy Quran teaches us
that Whoeverpardons and makes reconciliation will receive his
reward from Allah. We urge you to act upon thesewords by releasing
Shalit immediately.Thank you for considering this
request.Sincerely,Representative Keith Ellison Representative
AndrCarsonMember of Congress Member of CongressFifth District,
Minnesota Seventh District, IndianaAmbassador Akbar Ahmed Imam
Abdullah AntepliIbn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies Founder,
Muslim Chaplains AssociationAmerican University Muslim Chaplain,
Duke UniversityDr. Khaled Abou El Fadl Camille HelminskiOmar and
Azmeralda Alfi Professor of Law Co-DirectorUniversity of
California, Los Angeles The Threshold Society
8/4/2019 Letter to Khaled Mashal
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Kabir Helminski Dr. Aminah McCloudCo-Director Director, Islamic
World Studies ProgramThe Threshold Society DePaul UniversityImam
Feisal Abdul Rauf Dr. Omid SafiChairman, The Cordoba Initiative
University ofNorth Carolina at Chapel HillDr. Sayyid
SyeedInterfaith & Community Alliance National DirectorThe
Islamic Society ofNorth America
