Demonstrators call for peace in Lebanon

When a foiled terrorist plot to bomb U.S.-bound flights was made public Thursday, local Muslim organizers of a rally calling for peace for Lebanon thought briefly of postponing their demonstration.

They were hearing from fearful families, and were afraid not many would show up for the rally. But they already had postponed a demonstration planned for several weeks ago, because of the Jewish Federation shootings.

They decided to go ahead with the rally Friday afternoon.

"The conditions are so bad in Lebanon," said Aziz Junejo, a demonstration organizer. "We had been planning this for three weeks and couldn't let another week go by."

Junejo also is a Seattle Times Faith & Values page columnist.

In the end, a couple hundred local Muslims and people of other faiths walked in a silent demonstration from Idriss Mosque at Northgate, down Northeast Northgate Way to Fifth Avenue Northeast and back. They carried signs saying things such as "Cease Fire Now" and "Peace Is Patriotic," and American and Lebanese flags.

Jima Baitalmal, 32, a Seattle homemaker, came with her husband, brother-in-law and 4-year-old son.

She had no second thoughts about coming, she said. "People could retaliate even if you're walking down the street. They don't need a rally."

It was important for her to come, she said, to add her voice to the sentiment that war doesn't solve problems.

"Instead of pre-emptive strikes, bombing without questions, we should look at the cause of the problems: poverty, injustice ... "

James Yee, former Army Muslim chaplain, took part in the demonstration. The military, which had accused Yee of spying, dropped all criminal charges eventually.

Yee resigned his commission and was honorably discharged in 2005.

"It's important to raise awareness of the massive loss of innocent lives," he said. "Our government needs to really help bring about a cease-fire. The continued loss of innocent lives increases the anti-American hostility around the world, especially in the Middle East."

Jeff Siddiqui of Lynnwood said the thwarted terrorist plot was all the more reason for local Muslims to gather peacefully.

"We don't want people to assume that what happened in Britain represents all of Islam and Muslims," Siddiqui said. "Because that would cause them to dismiss all the human causes associated with the Muslim world, like Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Chechnya ... "

At least two other rallies calling for Israel to cease firing against Lebanon are scheduled for today — one in Kirkland sponsored by the Arab American Community Coalition and other groups; another at Seattle's Federal Building sponsored by a coalition called Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, among others.