'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 12 years," said Hassan Samrhouni,
president of the Washington Moroccan Club. "My
kids are American. 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.
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 Moroccansin 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 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.
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.
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 http://www.washingtonmoroccanclub.org/
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.
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
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.
Washington –- The Moroccan-American
Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE)
has been promoting Moroccan-American educational and cultural
exchange since 1982, but since September 11, the MACECE has
a new impetus for its work, according to Daoud Casewit, Executive
Secretary of the Commission.
The MACECE administers a wide range
of research, study and teaching grants, mainly within the
context of the Fulbright Exchange Program. It was provisionally
launched in 1979, and formally established in 1982 by a bi-national
agreement aiming to promote friendship between the peoples
of Morocco and the United States.
Since September 11, the need for better
communication between the United States and the Arab and Muslim
world has become apparent. The MACECE has responded by expanding
existing programs and instituting new ones.
Casewit, the program’s director since
1996, said one of the newest initiatives has been to add an
Arabic language program as part of the “Foreign Language Teaching
Assistantship Program.” This program, which is under the Fulbright
umbrella, brings English teachers from other countries to
the United States to enroll in academic courses and to serve
as foreign language teacher assistants. Until the MACECE’s
initiative, the program had never included English teachers
who were native Arabic-speakers, said Casewit.
Casewit said the first teacher from
Morocco to participate in this program was sent to the University
of Arkansas in early January 2002.
“This teacher started an Arabic language
club, organized the first Arabic language program and gave
lots of additional lectures on Morocco, the Moroccan culture,
and Islam,” said Casewit.
Casewit noted that students in the United
States are suddenly interested in learning Arabic, and ten
Moroccan teachers have been recruited by the MACECE to attend
small colleges in the United States and to teach Arabic.
“Small colleges around the United States
have asked specifically to have a foreign language teaching
assistant to teach Arabic,” said Casewit. And since there
are very few high schools in the United States that teach
Arabic, he said the teachers might also teach at high schools
and take courses at universities.
During his most recent trip back to
the United States in May 2002, Casewit promoted the Fulbright
program and its goal of mutual understanding. He visited the
State University of New York (SUNY) College at Cortland, which
designated May 2 as “Fulbright Day,” and also visited the
local high school to talk to 500 9th and 10th graders.
Casewit, who has been living in the
Arab world for 25 years and who converted to Islam in 1977,
talked to his audiences about Islam and the Arab world. Casewit
also gave a lecture to the Cortland community on “Mutual Perceptions
between the U.S. and the Arab World." In his talk, Casewit
said he tried to explain similarities and differences between
the two areas.
“I tried to explain how I speak Arabic
and how I watch both Al-Jazeera and CNN to get a balance,
because both of them have an angle. Both of them are trying
to appeal to certain audiences with the images and the language,
and so forth," explained Casewit.
Casewit’s experience in the Arab world
has included living at various times in Morocco, Egypt, and
Saudi Arabia. He has a bachelor’s degree in Arabic studies
and a Master’s degree in applied linguistics from the American
University in Cairo.
“The MACECE has been the prime vehicle
for promoting cross-cultural dialogue and collaborative research
between Morocco and the United States for the past 20 years.
It is the largest program in the region,” Casewit noted.
Casewit said that Morocco is the only
country in the developing world where the host government
gives more than the U.S. government to the Fulbright program.
The Moroccan government contributes about 55 percent of the
MACECE budget.
“What makes the MACECE unique,” Casewit
added, “is that it is bi-national by charter, in terms of
its funding, and also in terms of its structure in government;
it is governed by a board of 6 Moroccans and 6 Americans.
It is a beautiful expression of bi-nationalism.”
The MACECE has facilitated grants for
about a thousand grantees from both countries.
The MACECE has been focusing much more
of its budget and many more of its grants on Moroccans already
working who wish to obtain a professional Master’s degree
in a new field, rather than a Ph.D. Once these individuals
return to Morocco, they are at the forefront in their professional
fields, which in turn has a positive impact on Morocco’s development.
Casewit gave the example of a Moroccan
grantee, an engineer by training, who attended Harvard Business
School, graduating in the top five percent of his class. Upon
his return to Morocco, he set up a “cutting edge” Internet
services provider through third-generation cell phones. Another
grantee, Casewit recounted, earned a Master’s degree in Conflict
Resolution from the American University in Washington, DC.
He has since opened a regional office for a conflict resolution
NGO, Search for Common Ground, in North Africa.
The impact on Americans is also profound.
“It is a synergy,” said Casewit. American grantees, both students
and postdoctoral researchers, visit Morocco “because it still
is a place where many of the traditions are preserved,” said
Casewit.
“Morocco is a country where 50 percent
of the population still lives in rural areas. It is a huge
country with amazing opportunities for research,” Casewit
added.
In addition to government support, the
MACECE has also enjoyed funding from the private sector. “With
strong support from former Ambassador Edward Gabriel, we were
able to form a council of about 35 businessmen and women who
were interested in strengthening American-Moroccan ties through
Fulbright exchange. We raised more than a million dollars
for the Fulbright program through that," said Casewit.
The MACECE is not only seeking money
from the private sector, Casewit said, but is also seeking
input, advice and counsel. Casewit helped establish the Fulbright
Business Advisory Council. “Their ideas have been very important
in helping shape the selection criteria [of the grantees]
in terms of the needs of the job market,” explained Casewit.
Casewit said that he wanted to change
the MACECE’s focus from purely academic exchange to promote
Moroccan-American relations and understanding on all sorts
of different levels.
Pointing to new initiatives to bring
Moroccans to the United States to talk about their country,
Casewit said these were opportunities for Americans and Moroccans
to learn more about each other, and about each other’s cultures.
“I think if it is even possible to speak
of the silver lining on the horrible dark cloud of September
11, then that is one aspect, a kind of a wake up call,” concluded
Casewit.
