'Same sense of grief' shared by Muslims

By Jabeen Bhatti
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

 Muslims around the region lighted candles, prayed and honored the memories of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks yesterday.

Condemning violence in the name of Islam, Muslims said that, as Americans, they wanted to show the world that they share in the grief.

"I am in America for over 20 years," said Hassan Samrhouni, president of the Washington Moroccan Club. "My kids are Americans. Somebody has to show the rest of the world that we are all Americans, and we suffered, too."

Last night, about 150 people attended a special dinner at the Casablanca Restaurant in Alexandria organized by the Washington Moroccan Club. The event featured poetry readings, prayers, a moment of silence and speeches by local politicians and Aziz Mekouar, the Moroccan ambassador to the United States.

 The event began with a moment of silence as images of the devastation last year were projected onto a screen. Afterward, 11-year-old Adam Labriny read a poem he wrote entitled "As I Watched the World Falling Apart."

Kamal Nawash, who attended the event, spoke to the audience about his memories of that day. "I still remember how furious I felt after I saw people jumping from the towers," he said.

"Many people ask why this happened. It really doesn't matter. We shouldn't ask why this happened, because to ask is to somehow imply that this can be justified," he said.

An ecumenical gathering was held at Masjid Muhammad, a mosque in Northwest, to honor the victims and offer attendees the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to their communities.

"Islam doesn't condone killing of innocent women and children," said Ibrahim Mumin, a member of the mosque. "We, like you, are upset, shocked, horrified about the events [of] last year. But we have work to do to educate people about Islam and to fight bias, bigotry and racism, and instead work toward inclusion."

At universities around the metropolitan area, Muslim students came out to mark the day and honor those who died. There will be additional events tomorrow, a Muslim day of prayer.

Altaf Husain, president of the national Muslim Students Association, said the idea was to join with other groups marking the day.

"It is almost an inherent desire to mark the horrific loss of life of our fellow Americans," he said. "And there is an external desire to show people ignorant of Islam that these attacks are not something we condone or are part of."

Events were sponsored by Muslims around the region. In Fairfax, the Dulles Area Muslim Society held an open house in Sterling and featured Islamic songs of peace. In Silver Spring, residents gathered at the Muslim Community Center for an interfaith service.

People filtered into the Islamic Society of Greater Richmond as it opened its doors to Muslims and non-Muslims alike for the past two weeks so that people with an interest could learn more about the religion.

"We have the same sense of grief, of sadness, of shock," Tariq Jangda said.

• This article is based in part on wire service reports.

Ces attaques, perpétrées par des "forces des ténèbres", ne représentent aucune foi, "ont certes été dirigées contre les Etats Unis et leur peuple, mais elles ont aussi profondément touché tous ceux qui attachent un prix à la vie humaine, ainsi qu'aux valeurs de liberté, de démocratie et de tolérance, représentées par cette grande nation", a dit M. Aziz Mekouar.

Ces attentats ont par contre contribué à "consolider davantage les rapports unissant l'ensemble des nations qui refusent d'être les otages de la peur, de l'obscurantisme et du fanatisme", a dit l'ambassadeur, exprimant ses remerciements aux membres de la communauté marocaine pour leur élan spontané de solidarité avec le peuple américain pendant qu'il commémore l'anniversaire des tragiques événements ayant fait près de 3000 morts et disparus.

Les personnalités américaines présentes à la cérémonie, dont des juges, des députés et des universitaires de Virginie, ont souligné l'esprit de paix et de coexistence qui anime les Marocains, ainsi que les traditions de générosité et de fidélité à l'amitié qui sont celles du Royaume et de son peuple.

Le doyen de la faculté de l'éducation internationale de l'université George

Mason, Dr. Yehuda Lukacs, a en particulier rappelé l'esprit de coexistence harmonieuse qui a toujours présidé aux rapports entre les communautés

musulmane et juive du Maroc.

Il a également mis en relief les efforts de paix inlassables déployés tout au long de son règne par le regretté Souverain, SM le Roi Hassan II, rappelant une

déclaration de l'ancien président Bill Clinton qui avait qualifié le Maroc de "pont de rapprochement" entre les religions et les cultures.

La commémoration a connu par ailleurs un moment poignant avec la lecture par un enfant maroco-américain de neuf ans, Adam Labriny, d'un poème particulièrement touchant qui lui a été inspiré par les évènements tragiques de l'an passé et l'actualité douloureuse du moment. Le poème qui a ému l'assistance de par sa spontanéité et son innocence, est un véritable hymne à la paix et à l'entente entre les religions et les cultures, autant qu'une prière implorant le Tout Puissant à guider vers le chemin du salut une humanité aujourd'hui visiblement égarée.

La cérémonie a aussi été marquée par la projection d'un film vidéo sur le voyage effectué au Maroc par un groupe de membres de l'association Friends of Morocco au mois de novembre dernier, soit quelque temps seulement après les tragiques événements du 11 septembre.

Le film, commenté à l'occasion par le président de l'association, M. Tim Resch, est un témoignage éloquent de l'amitié nourrie par les Marocains envers les Américains, mais aussi sur la sérénité et la quiétude qui règnent dans un royaume attaché aux enseignements authentiques de l'Islam, religion de paix, de justice et de rapprochement entre les peuples.

AJ

© MAP 2002

 The Washington Moroccan Club.

http://www.washingtonmoroccanclub.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11 Remembrance by Moroccan American Community in Washington

Washington, DC: August 21, 2002:

Moroccans in America, Americans of Moroccan ancestry and Americans having worked, traveled or lived in Morocco will gather Wednesday, September 11 6-9 p.m. at the Casablanca Restaurant-1504 King Street Old Town Alexandria, Virginia (703) 549-6464- in remembrance of September 11 and recognition of the many activities that the community has implemented over the last year to increase American understanding of Morocco, the Arab world and Islam. Activities have included fund raising and blood donations for the victims of 9/11, a Moroccan-American Friendship tour to Morocco last November, press articles and interviews, and outreach to the larger American community.

The creation of goodwill between the US and Arab/Islamic world is the responsibility or regular citizens and private institutions. These forms of connections are important because they promote two way conversations. They bolster America's Image abroad and help Americans understand the people of the Arab / Islamic world, their hopes and aspirations. In the spirit of forgiveness, dialogue & goodwill.

Program:

6:00 pm. to 7:00 pm

Welcome reception and dinner.

7:00 pm

Call of a minute of silence by Hassan Samrhouni, WMC, President

***

Poem by: Adam Labriny

***

Moderator: Kamal Nawash

***

Introduction of: Bridges between cultures.

Mr. Tim Resch, FOM

***

His Excellency Aziz Mekouar

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco.

***

Dr. Yehuda Lukacs

Director of the Center for Global Education, GMU

***

Delegate Dave Albo,

42nd District, Alexandria, Virginia

***

Closing ceremony by Rafi Labriny

************

Distinguished guests bois'

His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco:

Ambassador Aziz Mekouar is the newly-appointed Ambassador for Morocco in the USA 2002. The Ambassador Aziz was born in Fes, Morocco in 1950. Married with one child, he holds a degree from the Higher School of Commerce (HEC), Paris, and speaks Arabic, English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

Since September 1999, Mr. Mekouar has been Ambassador of Morocco to Italy, Malta and Albania and Permanent Representative to FAO. Since November 1999, he was also Chairman of the FAO Finance Committee.

Before his appointment in Rome, Mr. Mekouar was Ambassador of Morocco to Portugal from 1993 to 1999, and Ambassador to Angola from 1986 to 1993. Previously he held positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco.

Mr. Mekouar is the author of several theses and studies, including: studies and analyses on the situation in Angola, 30 Years of Italian Domestic Policy, 30 Years of Italian Foreign Policy, studies on the Asia-dollar and prospective impact on the development of South-East Asia and a thesis on the fisheries sector in Argentina.

Mr. Mekouar holds the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Portugal, the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ and the Grand Cross of the Italian Order Merit.

Mr. Tim Resch,

Tim Resch (Forestry 70-74 in Ouezzane and Rabat) has been active in Friends of Morocco since it’s inception in 1988 and now serves as President. His day job now is Manager of the East Asia and Pacific Environmental Initiative, a US State Department/ USAID environmental grants program. A big chunk of his career, however, has been in Africa providing technical advice to USAID forestry, wildlife and biodiversity conservation interventions across the continent. He has a daughter who is a third year nursing student at the College of St Benedict in St Joseph, Minnesota, about 15 miles southeast of Lake Wobegon. A believer in the goals of Peace Corps, Tim’s motivation for service to Friends of Morocco stems from the generous hospitality and patience provided by Moroccans during his Peace Corps service almost 30 years ago.

Dr. Yehuda Lukacs

Yehuda Lukacs is Associate Provost for Global Education and Director of the Center for Global Education, George Mason University. He teaches international relations and history at George Mason University. He has taught at the School of International Service at American University, Washington, D.C. and the University of Maryland at Baltimore County. In January 2002, he was a visiting professor of international relations at University College Cork, Ireland.

He has published several articles and books dealing with contemporary international relations and Arab-Israeli affairs, including:

* Israel, Jordan and the Peace Process (Syracuse University Press, 1999)

* The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Documentary Record. (Cambridge University Press, 1992)

* The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Two Decades of Change, with Abdalla M. Battah (West view Press, 1988)

* Documents on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Cambridge University Press, 1984)

Hon. Delbert R. Chip Terrill, Jr

The WISL was incorporated by its founder, Chip Terrill, as the Washington International Soccer League, Inc., in August 1998. Chip is a convert to the sport having been a recruited college quarterback. And you know what they say about converts. Chip brings to WISL a B.S. from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.S. in Business and Management from University of Maryland. He has worked as an Administrative Law Judge with the U.S. government in its economic regulation of the electric, oil and gas industries at the FERC and with international patent infringement cases at the USITC. He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a Colonel on July 1, 2000, having received the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medals, among others, for his service. In his spare time, Chip has written a book on the history of outer space law which he signed at the Paris Air Show in France in 1999 and at the Air Fete, RAF Midenhall, in England in 2000 and as a result is one of the nation's leading experts in the early evolution of outer space law. He also lectures on the value of diversity in the marketplace and as such was recognized to give the 18th Annual Hackley Distinguished Lecture.

Delegate Brian J. Moran

Delegate General Assembly 46th Legislative District Alexandria, VA

Brian is a partner in the Alexandria law firm of Nealon and Moran, L.L.P. Brian was born in Natick, MA on September 9, 1959. He is the youngest of seven children. Hosts the television show "It's a Matter of Law" on COMCAST's Channel 10 in Alexandria shown Thursdays at 9:00 P.M. Brian served as a prosecutor or seven years before entering politics.

Awards and Recognitions Virginia Partisans Public Service Award, 2000 Mothers Against Drunk Driving Legislator of the Year Award,1999 and 2001. National Commission Against Drunk Driving Award, 2000. Governor's Awards for the Arts

Driving Award, 2000. Governor's Awards for the Arts (Certificate of Recognition), 2000. Legal Services of Northern Virginia Certificate of Appreciation, 2000 and 2001. Fairfax Chamber of Commerce's Friend of Business Legislative Award, 1999. Tech Ten Legislative Technology Award, 1998 and 2001. Legislator Award from the Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, 1998 and 1997. Virginia Jaycees Outstanding Young Virginian of the Year, 1998. Professional Experience

Delegate, Virginia General Assembly, House Of Delegates , Elected 1995 46th Legislative District, Alexandria, VA

In 2001 was elected with 70% of the vote (more than any other incumbent). First elected in 1995 with 64% of the vote. Had more legislation passed than any

other freshman delegate.

Attorney Partner in the Alexandria law farm of Nealon and Moran, L.L.P. - Phone: (703) 370-4154 General practice including criminal defense, domestic relations and civil litigation Commissioner in Chancery Professional Affiliation Virginia State Bar Massachusetts State Bar Alexandria

Chamber of Commerce Alexandria Bar Association

Community Activities

Current:

* Advisory Board Member, Stop Child Abuse Now Board

* Member, Alexandria United Way Chairman, George

* Washington Parkway Classic Road Race Alexandria

* Kiwanis Alexandria Jaycees Holmes Run Committee

Past :

* Chairman, Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs

* Advisory Committee Chairman, Community Corrections

* Resources Board Youth Basketball Coach, Alexandria

* Recreation Department

Delegate Dave Albo

House of Delegates since 1994. Delegate Albo serves on committees dealing with criminal/public safety and conservation/environment issues. Delegate Albo serves as Chair of the Sub-Committee on Air, Water, and Waste and Chair of the Sub-Committee on Criminal Law. Dave is known in the General Assembly for his personal efforts to improve our transportation network, eliminate loop-holes in the Drunk Driving Laws, and fight sprawl by preserving open space.

As your Delegate, Dave has consistently fought for increasing punishments on violent criminals (he was increasing punishments on violent criminals (he was co-sponsor of the bill which eliminated parole cutting taxes (he was a co-sponsor of the bill which)

eliminates the Car Tax), and setting higher education standards for our public schools (he was a co-sponsor of the bill which set higher standards of learning and made schools accountable for teaching our children). When the General Assembly is out of Session, Dave Albo is a local business owner in the Springfield-Arlington-Richmond law firm of Albo & Oblon, L.L.P. Albo & Oblon is one of the fastest growing firms in northern Virginia. It focuses its practice in the areas of Employment Traffic Defense and Commercial litigation.

In the past, Delegate Albo is proud to have: * Served as Prosecutor for the City of Fairfax from 1990-1994.

* Served as legal Guardian ad item for abused and neglected children.

* Served as President of the West Springfield Civic Association.

* Appeared on national cable television as a legal expert and commentator.

* Employee of the Month Runner-up, Wendy's Restaurant, 1978.

After 39 years of bachelorhood, Dave married Rita Von Essen on April 21st. They now both live in West Springfield where they are active members of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church. Dave is a member of the West Springfield Rotary and Optimists clubs.

Adam Labriny

Adam Labriny is the son of Samir and Tanya Labriny. He is a first generation Moroccan American. Adam is 11 years old and an A-honor roll student.

His hobbies include reading, playing the saxophone, writing stories and poetry, practicing Tae Kwon Doe, roller blading, and acting.

Over the past year Adam has been involved with Fairfax Country Cable television running cameras and hosting on a local children's television show. He also had the lead in his school play

Last Spring Adam won the honor of representing his entire school in a regional writing contest. His poem, "George Washington", received highest honors.

Moroccans, Americans Build Bridges of Understanding

By Ghada Elnajjar

Educational Exchanges Touch Many Lives

Washington

The Washington Moroccan Club invites Moroccans in America, Americans of Moroccan ancestry and Americans who have worked, traveled or lived in Morocco to an evening of remembrance, with a presentation by Aziz Mekouar, the Moroccan ambassador to the United States, and a video, "Bridges Across Cultures," Casablanca Restaurant, 1504 King St., Alexandria. 703-623-8421 or

Moroccans in USA Mark Sept.11 Anniversary

WASHINGTON, Sept.13 - The Moroccan community settled in Washington DC and neighboring areas marked on Wednesday the 1st anniversary of the September 11 events in a ceremony filled with emotion and solidarity, chaired by the Moroccan ambassador in Washington.

The ceremony was jointly organized by the Washington Moroccan club, the Associations of Moroccans in the USA and the Friends of Morocco association, at a Moroccan famous restaurant in the federal capital.

Moroccan ambassador, Aziz Mekouar, paid tribute to the memory of victims who died in the terror attacks and recalled how King Mohammed VI had immediately condemned these attacks and called US president George Bush to offer his condolences to the American people. The diplomat said the attacks perpetrated for "forces of the darkness" who do not represent any religion targeted the USA and Americans but they also affected all those who value human life, and the values of freedom, democracy and tolerance embodied by the great nation of the USA.

He went on that these attacks have helped consolidate links between all the nations who refuse to be the hostages of fear, obscurantism and fanaticism.
Several American attorneys, representatives and academics who were also invited stressed the traditions of friendship which have always prevailed in Moroccan-US relations.

Dean of the international education school at the George Mason university, Dr. Yehuda Lukacs, underscored the harmonious co-existence between Muslims and Jews in Morocco and peace efforts by the late King Hassan II.

The guests witnessed a moving moment when a Moroccan-American child read out a poem inspired by the 9/11 events and a spontaneous, an innocent hymn to peace and understanding between religions and cultures and a prayer to guide an evidently lost humanity into the path of salvation.

The ceremony further featured the screening of a video on the trip undertaken last November to Morocco by some members of the Friends of Morocco Association, conveying the spirit of serenity prevailing in a kingdom attached to the authentic values of Islamic, a religion of peace, justice and rapprochement between peoples.

La communauté marocaine aux USA commémore

l'anniversaire du 11 septembre

Washington, 12/09/02 - C'est dans un esprit de solidarité dans la douleur que les membres de la communauté marocaine de Washington et sa région, ont commémoré, mercredi soir, le premier anniversaire de la tragédie du 11 septembre, lors d'une cérémonie présidée par l'ambassadeur de SM le Roi, M. Aziz Mekouar et à laquelle ont pris part plusieurs personnalités du Comté de Fairfax de l'Etat de Virginie, où se trouve le siège du Pentagone qui fut l'une des cibles des attentats, avec les tours jumelles du World Trade Center de New York.

Lors de la cérémonie organisée conjointement par the Washington Moroccan Club, l'Association of Moroccans Amrerican  in the USA, et l'association Friends of Morocco regroupant les amis américains du Maroc, dans l'enceinte du restaurant marocain Le Casablanca qui a multiplié à l'occasion les actions bénévoles reflétant l'esprit de communion qui a toujours caractérisé les relations maroco-américaines, l'ambassadeur de SM le Roi a rendu hommage à la mémoire des victimes innocentes des terribles attentats terroristes immédiatement condamnés par le Maroc, dont le Souverain, SM Mohammed VI, fut parmi les tout premiers dirigeants du monde à avoir appelé le Président George Bush pour exprimer ses condoléances au peuple américain.