America Not an Enemy of Islam, Muslim Cleric Says

May 27, 2007

Author: PAUL SHUKOVSKY

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/317528_bosniak28.html?from=wtnews

A moderate European Muslim leader -- in Seattle this weekend to attend the annual conference of the Congress of North American Bosniaks -- drew upon a deep affection for the United States before cautioning Americans, "Don't cease to believe that you are good."

The gentle warning from Grand Mufti Mustafa Ceric -- the supreme Islamic cleric for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia -- followed the second day of meetings of the Bosniak congress attended by about 1,000 people from around the continent.

About 7,000 Bosniaks came to the Seattle area after genocidal violence that ripped the former Yugoslavian province in the 1990s.

Several dignitaries, including Haris Silajdzic, Bosniak member of the three-person Bosnia-Herzegovina presidency, attended the meetings, which are being held on the West Coast for the first time.