Hanafi Adbul-Malik of Muslim House in Flint Michigan is reported to have called for the “physical death” for anyone who has defiled the name of Mohammed, according to the local daily Flint Journal. Speaking to a reporter in advance of a planned informational program to inform locals about Islam, Adbul-Malik also said that he has been speaking out about the cartoons depicting the founder of Islam that were published recently in a Danish newspaper that sparked riots and murder of Christians in a number of Muslim countries.
The Flint Journal also quoted Adbul-Malik as saying “Muslims respect God and all his prophets. We would not bring harm to any of them.” Adbul-Malik was also quoted as saying that he would soon call a public meeting about the “blasphemy” done to the name of Mohammed.
The outspoken Muslim leader was identified with Muslim House, a mosque located in a ramshackle house on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Flint across the street from a long-abandoned sandwich shop and several defunct businesses in a decaying neighbourhood.
The Flint Journal also quoted another Muslim leader of Flint, Abed Khirfan – who manages the Flint Islamic Center – about the cartoons.
“This is a provocation by people who are opposed to Islam,” Khirfan said, however, he added he is pleased that US Muslims have not reacted violently.
“Prophet Muhammed was sent by God as a mercy to all mankind, regardless of their religious background,” the Journal quoted Khirfan, “(Muslims) as his followers must live and spread this message today at a time when hatefulness and ugliness toward each other has become the norm.”
Martin Barillas is a former US diplomat, who also worked as a democracy advocate and election observer in Latin America.
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