Thursday March 11, 10:56 pm ET Declares Terror Act Void of Religious or Political Legitimacy http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040311/nyth173_1.html WASHINGTON, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Friends of Charities Association (FOCA), a group composed of leading faith-based charities providing humanitarian relief work all over the world, today released the following condemnation of the attack against Spanish train commuters: "These attacks bring back vivid memories of those international tragedies on August 7, 1998, September 11, 2001, October 12, 2002, May 12, 2003 and other painful days of infamy. Not spared from the ugly specter of terror, the people of Spain must sadly endure yet another attack against innocent civilians. We mourn for those who lost their lives, weep with their families, lament with the injured, and grieve for those who have been victimized as a result of this tragedy. We mourn this international tragedy that has victimized all of us. "We at FOCA oppose terrorism in all its faces and forms. No political goal is justified by such an act as today's train bombing. We must never forget the agony of innocent victims, the heroism of emergency personnel and law enforcement officers, the suffering of survivors, the orphaned children, and the broken families. We must remember that these victims from all over the world, of all races and religions, are victims of a scourge to humanity, terrorism. To forget this and other such tragedies would be acquiescing to terror, and to the misery it brings. We will join hands in the struggle against terror and those who support it. "The charities that comprise FOCA have experienced the misery of worldwide human suffering for the past several decades. We have spoken out forcefully and consistently against the injustice of terrorism. In our efforts to provide aid to innocent victims of terrorism worldwide, and in accordance with our faith which condemns terrorism, we are evermore fervent in our moral obligation to continue our services to assist all those in need." FOCA is composed of the following member organizations: the Muslim World League, the International Islamic Relief Organization, World Assembly of Muslim Youth, Al Haramain Islamic Foundation and Al Muntada Al Islami. CONTACT: Wendell Belew (202) 255-3808 1150 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20036 info@foca.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Friends of Charities Association |