Muslims rally for peace

In a show of solidarity, the Valley’s Muslim community rallied Friday on Mill Avenue, condemning the highly publicized abuse of Iraqi prisoners and beheading of an American last week.

About 150 children, teens and adults lined the corners of Mill Avenue and University Drive in downtown Tempe with signs denouncing violence and called for peace.

Hundreds of drivers honked, smiled and waved as they passed the demonstrators who held signs that read "Honk for Peace."

"We want to let people know what happened with Nick Berg is not of us," said Deedra Abboud, executive director of the local chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. "We don’t condone it, we condemn it. We want people to know how we feel instead of other people speaking for us."

Hani Rahal, 49, of Chandler, said the Muslim community condemns the violence against Iraqis and Americans.

"They are ignorant extremists who think they are doing the right thing but what they are doing is wrong," said Rahal, vice chairman of the Al Mahdi Foundation mosque at 1016 S. River Road in Tempe.

"Unfortunately they do it in the name of Islam," he said.

Naufel Al-Hassan, 40, an Iraqi who sought refuge from Saddam Hussein’s regime, called recent events "shocking."

"I feel embarrassed calling my family who are back there," Al-Hassan, of Chandler, said. "It’s exactly what happened to us during Saddam’s time. Nothing’s changed. It’s very disappointing."

Rally organizers took away antiwar and anti-Bush signs that surfaced to make it clear the rally was focused on violence and prison abuse.

Children joined their classmates and parents with signs on the sidewalk.

Al-Hassan said he said thought it was important for his two sons, 13 and 6, to participate.

"I like them to see Americans supporting us, that we are a part of this community," he said.

Fourteen-year-old Hanan Plsaad clearly enjoyed the show of support she and her girlfriends received from passers-by.

"It doesn’t look right when you see prisoners getting mutilated and tortured, it doesn’t matter who it is. It’s just wrong," she said.

Hasez Turk of Tempe, an elder in the Valley’s Muslim community, worries about the anti-Muslim stereotypes that have been recently touted over radio airwaves.

"They are creating hate. (Muslims) have been low key since Sept. 11, but we have to speak out," Turk said. "We have to do as much as we can to let them know the truth. The new generation have quite a burden on their shoulders, and we want them to be able to carry that burden even though it’s heavy."

An estimated 50,000 to 70,000 Muslims live in the state, with the majority of them in Maricopa County.