MAS FREEDOM COMMENDS MUSLIM COMMUNITY'S COOPERATION WITH FBI IN CASE OF 5 MISSING VA YOUTH

WASHINGTON, DC (MASNET) Dec. 9, 2009– MAS Freedom (MASF), as the civic and human rights advocacy entity of the Muslim American Society (MAS), commends the Muslim community for its participation in aiding the FBI in the case of five American youth missing from Virginia since November, one of whom reportedly left a farewell video, including images of American casualties, reportedly indicating that 'Muslims must be defended'.

After a raid on a house in the eastern Pakistan province of Punjab earlier today, news agencies reported five young men between the ages of 18 and 20, three of Pakistani descent, one of Egyptian descent and the fifth of Yemeni heritage, as being detained for questioning, however, "it is premature to presume these young men have become involved in or planned any act of terror," echoed MAS Freedom Executive Director, Mahdi Bray at a national press conference held at CAIR offices in Washington, D.C.

"MAS Freedom encourages the Muslim community to continue in its cooperation with officials involved in resolving this case and urges anyone aware of the missing group's activities to come forward and warn against the dangers of adopting or promoting extremist religious views," stated Bray.

Bray added, "There is an urgent need to educate and uplift our youth community, an issue to be addressed later this month in Chicago at the 8th Annual MAS-ICNA Conference'sYouth Leadership Summit, December 23-27 in Chicago. We have great Muslim youth and want them to continue making positive contributions to the society in which they live. They have nothing to be apologetic about. There are real human rights issues that engulf the Muslim world and they must take the leadership in finding creative non-violent ways to redress these grievances and injustices."

For additional information contact MAS Freedom at (202) 552-7414, (703) 642-6165 or 1-888-627-8471 or address an email to: info @ masfreedom.org.

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