I was deeply saddened to learn about the Dhaka Siege on Friday and the gruesome murder of my cousin's daughter Abinta Kabir along with other Bangladeshi and foreign nationals. Abinta Kabir was an undergrad at Emory University visiting Dhaka to spend the end of Ramadan and celebrate Eid with her grandparents and friends.

While there are no words to express the tragic loss, the event has served as a strong source of personal reminder and highlights the importance of the work of Cordoba House and other, similar institutions. Our programs have been designed to provide an alternative discourse to extremism.

At Cordoba, we strongly believe that religion should be practiced to achieve personal spiritual development, self purification, and serve as a tool for individual and communal well being, and not as a tool that promotes conflict or to achieve personal or political gain.

We believe in programs and activities that seek to build lasting interfaith engagements and friendships that make Islam and Muslims meaningful and relevant to shaping peaceful and productive communities nationally and globally.

Cordoba House is committed to building support around the world to overcome extremism.

Please join me in praying for Abinta and all the victims and families of this horrific crime. As pointed out by reporting by New York Times, the victims were diverse and were global citizens.

As a community, we must continue to honor the plurality of beliefs in America and globally encourage learning and celebrate the sacred and cherished diversity of all faith traditions.

Sincerely,

Naz Ahmed Georgas
Executive Director