The Council of Muslim Organizations in Washington DC has called on all US Islamic centers, schools and organizations to refrain from holding Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
Each year at the end of the Ramadan month of fasting, thousands of Muslims attend the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia for special services and celebrations for Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's most festive holidays.
However, this year was different. The religious services were held but there were no parties, since the holiday conicides with the September 11 terrorist incidents for the first time after attacks against the Pentagon, near Washington, and the twin towers in New York City.
"People who died in 9/11 were Muslims, some of them died on 9/11. They were first responders, and they were Muslim so our blood is at ground zero just as everybody else's is -- as victims," Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, prayer leader and director of 'Outreach' at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center told Press TV.
The Council of Muslim Organizations says the move was out of respect for the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
Muslim leaders, fearing that the celebrations might have been mistakenly -- or deliberately -- misconstrued, urged Muslims in the Washington DC area to attend prayers but hold off on the festivities.
"Definitely there are people who would like to make us look like we are celebrating on 9/11 and we are not going to let them," Abdul-Malik said.
The American-Muslim reaction to the Council's decision has been mixed, however.
Many Muslims say sensitivity toward the anniversary of September 11 is crucial since this has been a tense summer for many in the US due to the controversial plans to build an Islamic center a few blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center.
"It is very hard for us because we are Muslim and we really wanted to celebrate and at the same time a lot of people feel the tragedy of September 11," said a member of the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center.
Muslim leaders are encouraging all people of good will to join them Sunday for their sixth annual 9/11 unity walk in Northwest Washington.
End item/ 129
