WASHINGTON (RNS) An evangelical pastor from Texas joined American Muslim leadersThursday (July 23) in denouncing recent anti-Muslim comments by evangelist Franklin Graham as they announced upcoming efforts to build bridges between their religious communities.
Azhar Azeez, president of the Islamic Society of North America, speaks at a joint evangelical Christian and Muslim event on Thursday (July 23, 2015) on Capitol Hill.
“I was so sad when I read the Facebook posting of Franklin Graham,” Bob Roberts Jr., pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas, said Thursday at a gathering on Capitol Hill. “This is not ‘evangelical’ and even less evangelistic. I don’t want American Muslims to think we fear them or that they are our enemies.” ….
“These violent acts are unjustifiable and are a gross violation especially on the 30th day of Ramadan,” said ISNA President Azhar Azeez. “This is known as a month of charity, a month of mercy, a month of forgiveness.”