We, as individual members of Muslim communities, working for justice and peace, wish to strongly voice our support for the Olympia Food Co-op’s decision to honor the growing international movement for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) by instituting a boycott of Israeli products.
Muslim voices on this issue are often silenced if even solicited or heard at all. By doing this it further perpetuates the marginalization of our voices, making us increasingly more invisible and easier targets for anti-Muslim bigotry. We refuse to remain silent any longer. We proudly raise our voices in support of the boycott and for the peaceful future of both Palestinians and Israelis.
In the holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Mā’idah ( 5 : 8 ) states, “O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.” Our identity as Muslims and Americans compels us to do what is right, and what is just.
We therefore want to thank the Olympia Food Co-op for what we believe to be a major step forward, and a common goal, in working towards peace and justice in Palestine/Israel. At the same time we reaffirm our Muslim identity and our full membership of the diverse community of the United States of America. We hope that many others will be inspired by their example and follow in their footsteps.
Sincere regards,
Nausheen Kasmani
Twahiru Abdul-Qadir
Int. Spice & Halal Market
Naimat Gilal
Saiyed Rony
Mohammed Musazay
Zackariya Lan
Fawziyah
Abubaker Roni
Aisha Ayub
Fauziya Tajbhai Mohamedali
Imran Kasmani
Naimat Gilal
Abdul Latif
Osman Yusos
Ismael Hasan
Karim Ben Mouloud
Karim Ahmath
Karimah Az-Zaahir
Heather
Omar Mehyar
Omar Bustami
Omar Ahmad
Haneen
Anise Ahmed
Umme Adil
Shaikh Usman Azhari
Hajji Mansoor
Arslan Chaudhry
Soaur Ismail
Mohamed Sahli
Nabil Azouz
Abdulh Karim Ahmad
Albert Anabtawi
Aisha Housain
Nabil Elfallah
Uososh Math
Eirik Landes
Faisal Farah
Sheik Dawood
Fagel Mohammed
Sakhawat Amin
Shareq Amin
Chris Ahmed
Abu Baker
Voir
Abupakak K Abdulmanaf
Mahammed Noahi
Joseph “Yusuf” Webster
Adrise Abdi
Bako Hanpullo
Sani Kubu
Amirah Ziada
Aziz Aladin
Muhammad Ayub
