CAIR Condemns Bin Laden's Praise for 9/11 Hijacker

WASHINGTON -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned a new video by Osama bin

Laden in which the terror leader eulogizes a 9/11 hijacker.

In a statement Tuesday, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy

group said:

"The despicable actions of the 9/11 hijackers should be repudiated by

all Muslims, not praised as examples to follow. There can be no moral,

ethical or religious justification for such cowardly attacks on innocent

civilians. CAIR joins with Americans of all faiths in mourning the tragic

events of September 11, 2001, and asks that we all use today's anniversary

to enhance our efforts to repudiate religious extremism and to promote

mutual understanding. "

CAIR issued a joint American Muslim statement of condemnation within

hours of the 9/11 attacks and published a similar statement in a full-page

advertisement in the Washington Post just days later.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 33 offices,

chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance

the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,

empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and

mutual understanding.