Source: The Boston Globe

On Monday September 24, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that the Arabic word 'Jihad' is "often misinterpreted...[and] local Muslims tried to set the record straight during a forum at a Wayland mosque...The discussion at the Islamic Center of Boston was led by Ahmed S. Mehanna, a local Muslim activist and an authority on the Koran, Islam's holy book...Literally, jihad is a struggle against something, Mehanna said. The Koran allows jihad as self-defense....'[The terroists] are violating every single rule of Islam and every single rule of religion,' Mehanna said." He also clarified that "they violate the koran, which prohibits those waging jihad from killing women or children, committing 'infamous' acts, and fighting innocent civilians."