Fort Hood tragedy

Army Lt. Col. Charles Keller, his wife, Sylvie, and their children, Amber and Michael, arrive early for a candlelight prayer vigil Nov. 6, 2009, inside Hood Stadium at Fort Hood, Texas.
U.S. Army photo by Michael Heckman

My take on Fort Hood tragedy:

People in the U.S and in the world need to understand that there are close to 6 and 7 million American Muslims in the United States who regard America as their beloved homeland and would do nothing to harm their fellow citizens. The tragedy at Fort Hood was a single criminal act conducted by a mentally disturbed soldier who happened to be Muslim. He could've been of any other faith, like the guy who shot multiple people in Orlando just a few days back but no one is talking about his faith affiliation. We need to understand that in order for the United States to remain as the most diverse and the most open society in the world where most Muslims have more freedoms to practice their faith unlike any other so called Muslim country; we need to dissect religion from criminal acts. We need to treat criminal acts and behavior on their own merits and let the law decide the crime and produce appropriate punishments. I urge the citizens not to jump to conclusions and let the law take the necessary action instead of the citizens taking the law in their own hands by being too judgmental and ending up exactly like that murderer who took many innocent lives at Fort Hood. As a Muslim in America, I strongly condemn the heinous crimes that have been allegedly committed by Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood in Texas and I urge everyone to pray for the fallen soldiers, may they rest in heaven and for their families who are going through one of the most difficult period of their life. May God give them strength, patience and perseverance.

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To learn more about peace loving and hard working American Muslims living in America please visit http://www.muslimsamerica.com and check out the 2^nd season.

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Imran Siddiqui is a broadcast Journalist based out of Washington DC reporting for VOA News Urdu TV.