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Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo (R)

Islamic Group Indignant Over 'Extremist' U.S. Congressman

The comments of a Colorado Congressman to the effect that if a U.S. city is attacked by Islamic extremists, he reckons it would be fair to nuke Mecca, have been roundly criticized by The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the 'conscience of the Islamic world.'

July 21, 2005

Al Bayane - Original Article (French)

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) expressed its indignation at the extremist declarations made by Congressman Tom Tancredo [A Colorado Republican], who insinuated the capacity of the United States to destroy Mecca, should the U.S. be the target of a terrorist attack perpetrated by extremists belonging to Islam.

[Tancredo made the comments in a conversation with talk-radio host Pat Campbell at WFLA in Orlando, Florida. They were discussing an article on the conservative Internet site WorldNetDaily that said Islamic terrorists have brought nuclear devices across the Mexican border, preparing for an attack on the interior United States. Cambell asked Tancredo how the country should respond if terrorists were to strike several U.S. cities with nuclear weapons.

Tancredo: Well, what if you said something like - if this happens in the United States, and we determine that it is the result of extremist, fundamentalist Muslims, you know, you could take out their holy sites.

Cambell: You're talking about bombing Mecca.

Tancredo: Yeah]

The Organization said in an official statement that the declarations of the Congressman are themselves the height of extremism, reflect a terrorist intent and convey fundamentalist views in the service of terrorism.

ISESCO underscored that such declarations emanating from a person who is supposed to represent the American people seriously undermines the relations of his country and the world’s Islamic States, and hampers the efforts deployed to counteract terrorism and foster a constructive dialogue among cultures and civilizations.

ISESCO, which gathers fifty-one member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, pointed out that it is the conscience of the Islamic world. Hence, in their name, it denounces these extremist declarations by a member of the U.S. Congress, which run counter to the spirit of international law as they may further escalate tensions which prevails in today’s world.

In addition, ISESCO called upon governments, parliaments, legislative bodies, organizations and civic groups in the Islamic world to denounce these declarations both within the United States of America via the mass media letters of denunciation forwarded to the Congress, and throughout the world.