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Welcome to IONA Masjid
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Press Releases
Eid Message from Ameer of IONA
April 9, 2024
Imam Elturk Joins Clergy Condemning Antisemitism
January 13, 2023
IONA Endorses Imams Council of Michigan’s Statement on Abortion
November 4, 2022
Imam Elturk Joins Clergy Condemning Antisemitism
- Press Release:
- IONA
With the rise of antisemitisim, Imam Mustapha Elturk, Ameer and president of IONA, joins an esteemed clergy from the Religious Leaders Forum where he serves as a member, in strong condemnation of acts of violence and racial descrimination against the Jewish people and their houses of worship.
Imam Elturk expressed his sentiments regarding the recent ethnic intmidation incident that took place at Temple Beth El. In part, he wrote to Rabbi Mark Miller of Temple Beth El, “Ethnic intimidation, racism and discrimination against any individual or a group of people of any race or belonging to a particular faith or of no faith is abhorred and should not be tolerated. It must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
Imam Elturk, on behalf of IONA, conveyed to the Jewish community his condemnation of the ethnic intimidation and hate-filled rage of the lunatic Hassan Yehia Chokr who spewed derogatory anti-sematic slurs and racial threats to parents, children and security guards at Temple Beth El.” He sent heartfelt prayers for the Jewish community.
“Be one Jewish, Christian, Muslim, of any faith or no faith, we must recognize each other as brothers and sisters in humanity belonging to one human family, ‘We made you into nations and tribes to know one another’ (Quran, 49:13)” Imam Elturk stated. “We must honor one another in the most dignified and honorable way for evil begets evil and good begets good.” Imam Elturk added.
We stand in solidarity with our Jewish community against hate and racism of any kind. Any attack on any synagogue or its members is an attack on our mosques and its adherents.
Below is the Religious Leaders Forum Statement on Antisemitism.
The Religious Leaders Forum of Metropolitan Detroit Condemns Antisemitism
The Religious Leaders Forum of Metropolitan Detroit expresses its solidarity with the Metropolitan Detroit Jewish community and condemns, in the strongest terms possible, all manner of hateful and violent words and acts against our Jewish brothers and sisters and their houses of worship. The recent spate of antisemitic incidents across our country and in our community is vile and entirely antithetical to our respective faiths’ teachings. We hereby affirm that attacks, hatred, and discrimination against any person on the basis of his or her religious identity have no place in our country or community. In years past, the Religious Leaders Forum has condemned instances of Islamophobic and racist bigotry in our community. Recent attacks on Jews require us again to speak out forcefully. Any attack on one of us shall be deemed an attack on each of us. We will continue to promote tolerance and respect for one another. Nothing short of this is acceptable.
The Religious Leaders Forum of Metropolitan Detroit believes that the significant moral and social values espoused by their respective religious groups are important considerations for the entire community. Its leaders share an unshakeable belief that God is bountifully at work in our community. Its members join together to foster mutual respect for one another and work together to utilize their collective influence for the betterment of the metropolitan Detroit civic community.
Religious Leaders Forum of Metropolitan Detroit
Reverend Stancy Adams, Chair, InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit
Bishop David Bard, Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church
Hajji Najah Bazzy, Muslim Religious Leader
Reverend James Curenton, Mayflower Congregational Church
Elder David DeVries, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC
Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk, President, Islamic Organization of North America
Rabbi Robert Gamer, President, Michigan Board of Rabbis
Father Aren Jebejian, St. John’s Armenian Orthodox Church
President David Johnson, Westland Stake, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Monsignor John Kasza, Interfaith Officer, Archdiocese of Detroit
Bishop Donald Kreiss, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Southeast Michigan Synod
Rabbi Harold Loss, Temple Israel
The Right Reverend Bonnie Perry, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
Michael Peterson, President, Bloomfield Hills Stake, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Father George Shalhoub, St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church
Pilgrims supplicate at Hajj in Mecca, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy Steve Mustafa ElturkImam Hassan Sayed Qazwini, Islamic Institute of America
Bishop Edgar Vann, Second Ebenezer Church
Bishop Corletta Vaughn, Holy Ghost Church
The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit
About the Religious Leaders Forum
The Religious Leaders Forum, a group of senior clergy leaders, have gathered together to foster mutual respect and work towards a metropolitan Detroit community that thrives in compassion and peace. They believe that the significant moral and social values of their diverse religions are important considerations for the entire community. The Religious Leaders Forum is convened by the InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit.
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IONA, 28630 Ryan Rd., Warren, MI 48092 | Tel: 586-558-6900 | E-mail: center@iononline.org
IONA’s mission is to transform its members and help transform the surrounding communities to righteous, God-fearing people, who collectively strive for the highest moral standard and constantly seek forgiveness from our Creator to earn His pleasure. We seek His compassion and mercy in this life and in the hereafter. We rejuvenate our soul through internal struggle and spiritual exercise in worship of our creator God. The strength of our belief in God gives us the courage to establish good and forbid evil, thus promoting a system of justice for all mankind.
About IONA
IONA's objective is to help the Muslims of North America understand and fulfill their divinely ordained obligations, in order to please Allah (SWT) and thereby achieve success and salvation in the Hereafter.
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