Letter to the editor: All religious leaders should be respected

This Muslim-American belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community wholeheartedly denounces the recent spiral of violence in Europe over the degrading caricatures of the prophet Muhammad. From his own actions, the prophet taught levelheadedness and restraint in the face of abuse. I believe it is undignified for civilized nations to defame the holy founder of anyone’s faith.

I am envious of our Canadian neighbors, whose Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in the wake of the cartoon controversy, clarified that “we owe it to ourselves to act with respect for others and to seek not to arbitrarily or unnecessarily injure those with whom we are sharing a society and a planet.”

For our part, Ahmadi Muslims will continue to speak out against any type of violent response and to educate fellow citizens about the pristine teachings of the prophet, who misguided individuals have so unfairly mocked.

Dr. Sohail Husain

Mountain View, Calif.