Essam Al-Ghalib, Arab News Staff

JEDDAH, 19 December 2003 — America needs Muslims, says Stanley Cohen, the Jewish-American attorney who represents Muslims and Arabs like terror suspect Abdul Rahman Al-Amoudi.

Cohen gave a speech at the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) here on Tuesday on the abuse of Muslim rights in America.

He cited several examples of discrimination against Arabs and Muslims in America. “Muslim leaders like Al-Amoudi are being harassed and arrested. Al-Amoudi was arrested for traveling to Libya and accepting $10,000 from the Libyan government without a license. In the past, most people were fined for such a violation, but Al-Amoudi was prosecuted and imprisoned,” Cohen said.

Cohen claims that Al-Amoudi’s arrest was a political statement by the US administration. It was punishing Al-Amoudi for saying “We are all Hezbollah, and we are all Hamas” — referring to what most Muslims and Arabs consider to be legitimate political parties and resistance groups but the US considers terrorist organizations.

Cohen said the US was highly selective and kept varying its definition of terrorism to suit its own needs. “Terrorism is terrorism, whether it’s carried out by individuals or by governments. Historically, more acts of terrorism have been perpetrated by governments, which kill more people than individuals do. The US changes its definition of terrorism singling out violence perpetrated by individuals or non-government groups, while ignoring acts of violence and destruction wrought by governments close to the US,” Cohen said.

“Ariel Sharon should be put at the top of the list of wanted terrorists for the acts of violence he has perpetrated against the Palestinian people, but the US turns a blind eye to his atrocities,” he added.

When asked why a Jewish American is so ardently fighting for Muslim rights, Cohen said: “For more than a thousand years, Muslims have defended Jews throughout the world. They have the same beliefs and core values. Muslims and Jews are brothers. There is much more that unites us than divides us.”

Cohen said the issue of Israel was only a few decades old, but Jews and Muslims have co-existed for 1,400 years.

Arab News asked Cohen whether he was worried that his anti-American stance could be misunderstood and incite more violence and hatred against Americans and American interests in the Kingdom. “The American people are good, simple people. It is the American administration that is creating problems for Muslims and Arabs. I encourage Arabs and Muslims everywhere to take all legal, peaceful means of resistance. Vote for anyone but Bush, write letters, join protests, do anything you can. Nothing is more precious than human life. I do not advocate violence of any kind toward anyone.”

Cohen is saddened by the exodus of over 100,000 Muslims from America after Sept. 11. “There has been a dramatic decline in the number of new immigrants to America. There has been a drop in the number of Asians, Africans and Arabs coming to the US. New immigrants always bring energy, dreams, hard work, growth and revitalization to the US. As an American Jew, I feel America needs Muslims.”