A day after authorities say a 39-year-old Muslim Army psychiatrist went on a killing spree that left 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, dead, Islamic leaders in Greensboro and High Point are voicing their message of nonviolence.
"These things do not have a part of Islam," said Lut Williams, the president of the Islamic Center of Greensboro. "This was an act of an individual. He was not acting in the name of this religion."
Military investigators say Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist at Fort Hood, killed 13 soldiers and wounded 30 on Thursday afternoon.
"It's a very tragic incident, obviously, one that Muslim and other people of goodwill condemn the act and extend all our condolences to the family," said Williams.
"This kind of incident and this kind of happening is not right, is not good," agreed Abdul Khalique, the imam at the Community Mosque of High Point.
Khalique said Muslims who commit these crimes are acting out of their own delusional beliefs.
"Since 9/11, it's not so good in the favor of Muslims. If the person is Muslim who committed the crime or something, it becomes 'oh!'," he said.
Both men feel every religion has extremists who are capable of committing an act like the shootings at Fort Hood.
"If we were to interview a Christian pastor or reverend every time somebody who considers themselves a Christian commits a heinous crime, it would be nothing on TV but Christian pastors," said Williams.
On Friday, investigators examined Hasan's computer, his home and his garbage Friday to learn what motivated the suspect, who lay in a coma, shot four times in the frantic bloodletting.
Relatives said he felt harassed because of his Muslim faith but did not embrace extremism. Others were not so sure. A recent classmate said Hasan once gave a jarring presentation to students in which he argued the war on terrorism was a war against Islam, and "made himself a lightning rod for things" when he felt his religious beliefs were challenged.
Soldiers reported that the gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar!" -- an Arabic phrase for "God is great!" -- before opening fire Thursday, said Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the base commander. He said officials had not confirmed Hasan made the comment.
Hasan's family said in a statement Friday that his alleged actions were "despicable and deplorable" and don't reflect how the family was reared.
"These things do not have a part of Islam," said Lut Williams, the president of the Islamic Center of Greensboro. "This was an act of an individual. He was not acting in the name of this religion."
Military investigators say Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist at Fort Hood, killed 13 soldiers and wounded 30 on Thursday afternoon.
"It's a very tragic incident, obviously, one that Muslim and other people of goodwill condemn the act and extend all our condolences to the family," said Williams.
"This kind of incident and this kind of happening is not right, is not good," agreed Abdul Khalique, the imam at the Community Mosque of High Point.
Khalique said Muslims who commit these crimes are acting out of their own delusional beliefs.
"Since 9/11, it's not so good in the favor of Muslims. If the person is Muslim who committed the crime or something, it becomes 'oh!'," he said.
Both men feel every religion has extremists who are capable of committing an act like the shootings at Fort Hood.
"If we were to interview a Christian pastor or reverend every time somebody who considers themselves a Christian commits a heinous crime, it would be nothing on TV but Christian pastors," said Williams.
On Friday, investigators examined Hasan's computer, his home and his garbage Friday to learn what motivated the suspect, who lay in a coma, shot four times in the frantic bloodletting.
Relatives said he felt harassed because of his Muslim faith but did not embrace extremism. Others were not so sure. A recent classmate said Hasan once gave a jarring presentation to students in which he argued the war on terrorism was a war against Islam, and "made himself a lightning rod for things" when he felt his religious beliefs were challenged.
Soldiers reported that the gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar!" -- an Arabic phrase for "God is great!" -- before opening fire Thursday, said Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the base commander. He said officials had not confirmed Hasan made the comment.
Hasan's family said in a statement Friday that his alleged actions were "despicable and deplorable" and don't reflect how the family was reared.
