DAR AL HARB - SOUTH KOREA: MOSLEMS ARE NOT TO BLAME - - - VEGANS MUST BE DOING THE KILLING THAN

`Muslims Should Not Be Blamed'
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

The families of the hostages kidnapped by Taliban in Afghanistan urged people not to despise Muslims or Islamic culture over the incident that has already seen the death of one man.

Cha Sung-min, the representative of the group of captives' families, Saturday said that there had been bomb threats to mosques or Muslim-related organizations. He said that the families feel responsible for the hatred in the country, and that people other than the kidnappers are not responsible for the tragedy.

Cha said that the families ask for Koreans to not wrongfully accuse people who just happened to be of the same faith as the kidnappers.

``Just like the 23 volunteers, we, the family members, all love Muslims truly,'' Cha said. ``And we do not want any Islamic people to suffer from the tragedy.''

The Muslims in Korea also sought for the release of the hostages by urging fellow Muslims in the world for help. AbdulRazik Shon, head of the Korea Muslim Federation, made a statement in Korean, English, and Arabic praying for the hostages' safe return.

He said that what their religion aims for is world peace and that the abduction is a political one that has nothing to do with their faith. He also said that he believes all the negotiations will go well and that all would return home safely.

The leader of the religious group in Korea said that there had been constant threats or prank calls to the federation after the Sept. 11 terror in the U.S.
The announcement from both religious circles came after the fact that the whole country is debating over whether the volunteers' initially going to the Central Asian country was right or not.

Some people have criticized the team for going to a place the government strongly recommended against going to and making the whole nation concerned over their abduction.

TV actor Cha In-pyo, however, defended the hostages while criticizing the netizens for being insensitive. The actor widely reputed as an honest Christian and enthusiastic philanthropist, posted on his Web page that the hostages went to Afghanistan for a good cause and that their being in critical situation should be something to be concerned about rather than criticized.

His words heated up the debate alongside the government's decision to ban travel to Afghanistan and Iran.

Meanwhile, the families of late Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, who was killed by the Taliban last Wednesday, said that they would like to postpone any memorial service or ceremony till the rest of the hostages return to Korea safely.

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Pertinent Links:

1) `Muslims Should Not Be Blamed'