From: CAIR [mailto:cair@cair-net.org]
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 7:49 PM
To: islam-infonet@cair.biglist.com
Subject: ISLAM-INFONET: CAIR Condemns Mutilation of Bodies in Iraq

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, The Merciful

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR CONDEMNS MUTILATION OF BODIES IN IRAQ

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/31/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today condemned the mutilation of those killed in Iraq on Wednesday.
Four American civilian contractors were ambushed in their SUV's, burned,
mutilated, dragged through the streets and then hung from a bridge spanning
the Euphrates River, according to news reports.

CAIR said the mutilations violated both Islamic and international norms of
conduct during times of war and called on all parties to the conflict to
respect the sanctity of the dead and the sensitivities of their families.

The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group cited a
tradition of the Prophet Muhammad that prohibits mutilating bodies (Hadith
654.3).

In another tradition, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Do not kill
women or children, or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing
trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place." (Al-Muwatta, Vol. 21, Hadith 9)

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide and
in Canada.

                    - END -

CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org

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