A group of Detroit area imams say they are glad U.S. Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden over the weekend. The imams representing different groups within southeast Michigan’s Muslim community say Osama bin Laden’s death was justified.
Dawud Walid is with the Council on American Islamic Relations. He says bin Laden was a criminal for his acts of terrorism. Some have questioned whether bin Laden's burial at sea may have disrespected Islamic tradition. Dawud Walid disagrees.
“Osama bin Laden did the ultimate disrespect when he attacked churches and mosques…and when he killed thousands of Americans at the World Trade Center. That’s the ultimate disrespect. Not whether he was buried on the water or under the earth.”
The imams agree that the U.S. government should release as much information as possible about the hunt and death of Osama bin Laden. Not toconvince them. But to keep Osama bin Laden's followers from refusing to believe he’s dead.
They are concerned that Osama bin Laden could otherwise become something of an "Elvis Presley"-like figure among his followers.
