Local Muslims React To Bin Laden's Death
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- In Maryland, local Muslims are celebrating Osama bin Laden's death. They say he was not a Muslim, but a murderer.
Jessica Kartalija has more on the reaction from the Muslim community.
At Al-Rahmah School in Baltimore County, there's surprisingly little discussion surrounding the death of bin Laden.
"He is not a historic figure. He is not an important figure. We have made him much bigger than life. He's nobody," said Muhammad Jameel.
Jameel is vice president of the Islamic Society of Baltimore. He says students at the school learn about leaders in the Muslim community, not murderers.
One of the teachings of the Koran is when you kill one, you kill humanity.
"Just because everybody says he is a Muslim, he may not be acting and behaving like a Muslim is supposed to," said Jameel.
Even President Obama stressed Muslims have long been victims of extremism.
"Our war is not against Islam because bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims," said Obama.
As students are called to prayer, Jameel says bin Laden's death brings relief, but is not a solution. He was the leader of an army of extremists.
"It's a great victory, but I think it's a victory in symbolism. It's a speck in a big picture, where I feel the speck has been removed and the big picture is hanging," said Jameel.
Click here for a slideshow of people reacting to bin Laden's death.
