Anti-Muslim Comments by Evangelist Denounced by Progressive Religious Leaders

Interfaith Network Calls for Graham to Apologize to Muslim Community

**************************************** Equal Partners in Faith Press Release For Immediate Release: November 20, 2001 Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt 1-888-304-5831, **************************************************

(Washington, DC) – Religious leaders affiliated with Equal Partners in Faith today expressed sadness and concern about recent anti-Muslim comments made by Franklin Graham, son of the world-famous evangelist, Billy Graham. Equal Partners in Faith is a national network of religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity, and actively opposes the manipulation of religion to promote inequality and exclusion.

In an October interview broadcast last Friday on NBC’s “Nightly News,” Graham said that Muslims worshipped a different God than Christians and that he believed Islam to be “a very evil and wicked religion.”

“When dealing with Islam, Franklin Graham seems to be taking his cues from Religious Right leaders Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, not from his friend President Bush, or his father, Rev. Billy Graham,” said Faisal Alam, Founder of Al-Fatiha, an international organization dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity and their friends.

“Whereas both his father and the President recognize Islam as a religion of peace,” continues Alam, “Franklin wrongly insists that it is a religion of violence. This is just not true!”

Franklin Graham’s statement about Islam echos the sentiments of many on the Far Right who are critical of President Bush and his efforts to reach out to Muslim leaders. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson often refer to Islam as a “terrorist religion,” and leaders of the secular right recently called Muslims “a fifth column in this country.” According to the November 18th edition of the Washington Post, William Lind of the Free Congress Foundation went so far as to suggest that instead of being welcomed into American society, Muslims “should be encouraged to leave”.

“Franklin’s hateful comments are a far cry from the gospel of love preached by his father,” said Rev. Ken Brooker Langston, Co-Chair of Equal Partners in Faith. “Billy Graham is able to affirm his own faith without attacking the religion of others. Franklin would do well to learn from his father instead of leaders like Falwell and Robertson.”

Equal Partners in Faith is calling on Franklin Graham to repudiate his remarks. “Graham should immediately do two things,” stated Laura Montgomery Rutt, Managing Director of Equal Partners in Faith. “He should distance himself from the hateful views of the Religious Right and he should apologize to the Muslim community in America. Otherwise, responsible religious and political leaders must distance themselves from Franklin Graham.”

***************************************** EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH is a multi-racial national network of religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity. Our diverse faith traditions and shared religious values lead us to affirm and defend the equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, ability, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. As people of faith, we actively oppose the manipulation of religion to promote inequality and exclusion.

Join us and help us promote a more inclusive vision of religion and society. http://www.us.net/epf/

Equal Partners in Faith 5 Thomas Circle Washington DC 20005 1-888-304-5831 1-202-797-0111 (fax)

website: http://www.us.net/epf/ email: