A Solidarity of Faith:
Speaking Out Against the War
Arsalan Tariq Iftikhar
Earlier this week, the National Council of
Churches, the Islamic Circle of North America and the Islamic Society of
North America issued a joint statement saying they were "deeply
saddened that military action against Iraq" had begun. And last
Friday, several hundred prominent Jews, including many rabbis, took out a
full-page ad in The New York Times headlined "Why Jews should oppose
war on Iraq."
Each of the three Abrahamic faiths has a long and beautiful tradition of
scholarly exploration. Islam, Christianity and Judaism have all adopted a
moral reasoning on what may or may not constitute a just war. The basic
criteria of each religion for a just war are nearly identical to the rules
of engagement set forth by the United Nations. The most important
standards are the concepts of "necessity" and
"proportionality."
The "necessity" element includes two components: attempts at
peaceful redress and the imminence of the danger posed. Hans Blix et al.
inspecting and disarming Iraq's arsenal was a clear attempt at peaceful
redress. Billions of dollars and thousands of lives could have been saved
had we increased Mr. Blix's staff tenfold and given him six more months to
disarm Iraq.
"Proportionality" requires that civilian casualties be
minimized. If the loss of civilian life and order is grossly
disproportionate to the importance of the military target, then the
campaign cannot be justified. What immeasurable and disproportionate costs
will there be in occupying a sovereign nation for several years,
rebuilding essential social infrastructure, instilling a new
"democratic" regime, and maintaining stability in the country
and region?
Pope John Paul II has argued tirelessly against a new war in the Middle
East, calling it "a defeat for humanity." Former President Jimmy
Carter stated recently: "As a Christian, and as a president who was
severely provoked by international crises, I became thoroughly familiar
with the principles of a just war, and it is clear that a substantially
unilateral attack on Iraq does not meet these standards." Prominent
Jewish groups, including the Shalom Center and Tikkun, have raised a flag
against the war as well.
With the war already in full gear, many may see opposition to it as moot.
On the contrary, the solidarity amongst people of faith shows that we who
oppose the war on moral and religious grounds do so as adamantly now as
before it began, and earnestly pray that a quick and just resolution will
spare the innocent lives of Iraqi women and children and promptly bring
our soldiers home safely.
As a Muslim-American, it is my duty to stand up against injustice,
regardless of the perpetrator and the victim. Muslims worldwide continue
to categorically condemn the actions of Sept. 11, 2001, and will continue
to emphatically oppose this war in Iraq. It is my earnest hope that people
of all faiths will band together and try to bring a just conclusion to
this unjust war.
About the Author:
Arsalan Tariq Iftikhar, Midwest communications director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR StL), attends Washington University Law School.
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