Terror suspect ungrateful for safe home

Saying “Bismillah” (in the name of God) before eating pork does not make it permissible for Muslims to eat. Shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) before killing innocent people does not make it permissible, either.

Muslims say the beautiful phrase “Allahu Akbar” all the time. They say it during the five daily prayers and when anything good happens, along with phrases like “Alhamdulillah” (thank God) to show that they credit God with good things. That said, invoking Allah’s name during murder is despicable.

Killing innocent people is pure evil. Regrettably, that is exactly what a 29-year-old Uzbek man did yesterday in New York City, leaving eight dead and a dozen injured behind. Muslims are commanded by the Quran to do good and avoid evil. As a Muslim, I am saddened by this act of terrorism and my heart goes to the victims and their families and loved ones.

This retired veteran also salutes and stands in solidarity with the city of New York, which ranks among the list of 340 sanctuary cities in the good old USA.

Sayfullo Saipov, the Uzbek immigrant who committed this crime, was ungrateful for the fact that America opened her arms to him and gave him safety and security. After all, the attacker also failed to recognize New York City, a city that shut down its airport in protest of the “Muslim ban.”

Mahmoud El-Yousseph Westerville