Condemning the Abduction of Female Students by Boko Haram

Floor Speech

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Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, allow me to thank the gentleman for the time. I thank my dear friend Frederica Wilson from Florida for bringing forth this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, a number of people across the country who are of the Muslim faith contacted me and Congressman Carson, who happen to be the two Members of that faith in this body, and expressed to us how outraged and offended they were by the actions of Boko Haram. What we did is said, well, you guys write a letter and we will draft it; we will get a lot of signatures on it, and we will send it to Nigeria. And that is what we have done.

It is written in English and in the Arabic language, and we are trying to get it translated into Hausa right now. It has well over 30 leaders in the community. It just reads a little bit this way. I doubt I will have the time to read the entire letter, but it reads:

We urge to you immediately release the young children you have unconscionably taken. Your actions have shocked Muslims across the United States and the world and have disrespected our faith and the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him.)

Your justification for stealing these children--that education for girls goes against Islam--has no basis whatsoever in our faith. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon Him) wisely emphasized that every Muslim man and women has a duty to seek education. You have truly strayed from the path when your actions betray its first command ``Iqra,'' which means to read.

You do not represent Islam or what Muslims know to be the teachings of Islam. Your attempt to transform a central tenet of Islam into a vile lie used to kill and maim innocent Nigerians of all faiths is transparent.

You treat children like cattle. It is abhorrent and sinful to pretend to be a Prophet to whom Allah has spoken.

It goes on. The last sentence reads such as this:

If you would like to follow the teachings of Islam, listen to the global chorus.

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Mr. ELLISON. ``If you would like to follow the teachings of Islam, listen to the global chorus of voices that are enjoining you to do what is right: return these children to their families and replace the evil in your heart with peace and learning.''

It goes on to be signed by myself, Congressman Carson, and many others.

We join our colleagues, both sides of the aisle, in the demand for the return of these precious children immediately.

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