Fifty eight hours of mayhem and brutal killings ended early Saturday morning, India time. The last holdout, the Taj Mahal Heritage Hotel, was re-claimed by the police. The last terrorist was finally apprehended and killed. All terrorists were killed except for one, who is in the custody of the Indian Intelligence Services. The man was supposedly caught late in the night.

Now the sad and difficult work of identifying the victims and informing their loved ones begins. All the deaths were untimely, and those people did not deserve to meet an end like this. We would like to remember one couple in particular who are also US citizens. We at Muslims for America offer our sincere condolences to the Jewish communitty of Chabad Center in Los Angeles and the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement, here in the USA and all over the world. The senseless deaths of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka are tragic. These very young people, who were working to help people halfway around the world, were killed by people who obviously do not care who they kill regardless of color, creed, or religion. These perpetrators are barbaric savages. We all need to stand against this terrorism of humanity and fight to destroy every member of these groups.

We are happy that Rabbi and Mrs. Holtzberg’s two-year-old child survived, thanks to the efforts of the nanny. We would like to make a contribution to the future well being of this child and encourage our readers to do so also. As soon as we can find some information on this subject we will bring it to our members and readers.

We also offer our condolences on the deaths of the citizens of India as well as citizens of seventeen other countries. We have spent our entire Thanksgiving Day glued to the television awaiting the news of the end of this ordeal.

We are disappointed that Indian political leaders have openly stated that they believe these terrorists to be from Pakistan and have some link with Pakistani govermental elements. We can say with 100% certainty that there is no way that the Pakistan Goverment would be involved in any activity that is so bloodthirsty. This appears to us to be a true Al- Qaeda operation. It is Al-Qaeda that has made it clear they have no qualms about killing fellow Muslims for their own ends. Of course, if they can kill Muslims in the most horrible manner, then they obviously would not care about other religions and people.

Friday night, as we see the most horrible scenes of fire and mayhem outside the Taj Mahal Heritage Hotel and intense gun fighting raging inside the hotel, we just heard that the operation is over. Indian Police are saying that the seige of Mumbai is over. The last battle was the ballroom of the hotel with the last terrorist.

A great historical building and landmark of India has been damaged. The relationship between the people and the goverment of India has suffered a huge setback. Years of work to bring the two nations together has now gone to waste. The Muslims around the world have again been compromised by the actions of these terrorists. Most of all, we are worried about the Muslims of India. There are a hundred and fifty million Muslims in India. India has a history of sectarian violence. Our concern is that Hindus will now take revenge by going on Muslim killing sprees (as they have done before). Our fear is that, as in the past, Indian Police and Army will stand on the sides and let this ethnic violence continue. The comments by Indian politicans will only enflame these feelings of revenge.

We hold the Indian Goverment responsibile for the welfare of all its citizens, but right now they need to especially protect their Muslim citizens. Indian Muslims, just like the 99.99% of world Muslims, are innocent victims of these horrible attacks on humanity by Al-Qaeda and groups that follow them.

We all need to play a role in this War on Terror. We cannot stand on the side lines or insist on peace at all costs. These elements have to be destroyed so the rest of the world can live in peace.

Muslims For America mourns the loss of our fellow human beings and hopes for the goverment and people of India to show goodwill towards the Muslims of India and protect them from any ethnic violence.

By Amaresh Misra - Sent via email during the attack.

It is 4AM in India right now. I am in Mumbai reporting from the ground. I have not slept a wink. Mumbai is under attack. People and forces who killed Mahatama Gandhi, who demolished the Babari Mosque have triumphed. More than 16 groups of terrorists have taken over Taj, Oberai and several hotels. Hundreds of people are dead. For the first time no one is blaming Muslim organizations. The Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare and other officers of the ATS have been killed. These were the same people who were investigating the Malegaon Blasts–in which Praggya Singh, an army officer and several other noted personalities of the BJP-RSS-Bajrang Dal-VHP were arrested. Karkare was the man to arrest them. Karkare was receiving threats from several quarters. LK Advani, the BJP chief and several other prominent leaders of the so-called Hindu terrorism  squad were gunning for his head. And the first casualty in the terrorist attack was Karkare! He is dead–gone–the firing by terrorists began from Nariman House–which is the only building in Mumbai inhabited by Jews. Some Hindu Gujaratis of the Nariman area spoke live on several TV channels–they openly said that the firing by terrorists began from Nariman house. And that for two years suspicious activities were going on in this house. But no one took notice. Read the rest of this entry »