Remarks at the Islamic Center of Washington
George W. Bush | |
|---|---|
| File:George W Bush 2003 official portrait.jpg Official portrait, 2003 | |
| Born | July 6, 1946 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 1977–2009 |
| Known for | 43rd president of the United States |
On September 17, 2001—just six days following al-Qaeda's September 11 attacks targeting the World Trade Center and the Pentagon—then president of the United States George W. Bush gave remarks at the Islamic Center of Washington (also known as the speech at the Islamic Center of Washington or "Islam Is Peace"). In this address, he made clear that the vast majority of Muslims were not connected to and were deeply appalled by al-Qaeda’s actions. Bush stressed that Islamic terrorism was fundamentally opposed to the core values of Islam, declaring that "Islam is peace". He commended Muslims in the United States for their positive societal roles and denounced any fears that they might be subjected to harassment or violence, affirming that American Muslims "love America just as much as I do".
After Bush’s speech, incidents of hate crimes targeting Muslims decreased. However, some conservative Christian groups criticized the Bush administration for making a distinction between Islam itself and extremist groups such as al-Qaeda. Sociologists Rosemarie Skaine and Louise Cainkar provided nuanced perspectives: Skaine credited Bush with helping to reduce Islamophobia in the United States, whereas Cainkar pointed out that other speeches by Bush occasionally depicted Muslims as antagonistic toward America.
Background
George W. Bush, a Republican and Evangelical Christian, served as the 43rd president of the United States. Early in 2001, he made his initial presidential public remarks regarding Islam during a statement honoring the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. This marked the first time an American president issued an Eid al-Adha message, celebrating the diverse array of nations represented by pilgrims to Mecca and highlighting that ethnic and racial differences need not prevent unity among those who share common values.
On September 11, 2001, the Islamist organization al-Qaeda launched attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, resulting in nearly three thousand fatalities in what became the deadliest terrorist act in U.S. history. Following his Eid al-Adha remarks, Bush had not publicly addressed Islam but grew concerned about potential retaliatory actions against Muslims within America. For decades, Muslims in the United States had encountered prejudice and widespread Islamophobia, often linked erroneously with terrorism through media portrayals since the 1980s. On September 13, Bush called for respect toward Arab Americans and Muslim Americans; on September 14, he proclaimed a National Day of Prayer, delivering remarks alongside Muslim imam Muzammil H. Siddiqi during a memorial service.
Speech
On September 17, 2001, Bush visited the Islamic Center of Washington, where he delivered a speech commonly referred to as "Remarks at the Islamic Center of Washington" or "Islam Is Peace". He clearly separated Muslims from al-Qaeda, asserting that al-Qaeda had perverted Islam and emphasizing that "the face of terror is not the true faith of Islam," underscoring that "Islam is peace". He stated that Muslims both within the U.S. and worldwide were horrified by the September 11 attacks since they violated Islamic teachings, describing al-Qaeda as embodying evil rather than Islam itself. Citing verses from the Quran, Bush invoked themes from American civil religion to stress that ultimately evil will be defeated. He portrayed the United States as a partner to most of the Muslim world in opposing terrorism and combating distorted interpretations of Islam.
Bush lauded American Muslims for their important roles across various professions and within family life. To address concerns about potential Islamophobic reactions after September 11, he acknowledged apprehensions among Muslim Americans regarding intimidation in everyday situations. He condemned such discrimination as disgraceful conduct inconsistent with American values. Specifically addressing Muslim women wearing the hijab, Bush insisted they should feel secure from harassment. He closed his remarks by affirming that American Muslims share a deep love for their country equal to his own.
Reception
In the aftermath of Bush's address, incidents of hate crimes targeting Muslims in the United States declined relative to the period preceding the speech. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in November 2001 revealed that 59% of Americans, including both Republicans and Democrats, held a favorable view of Islam—an increase from 45% recorded in March of the same year. Over time, however, this favorable perception began to split along political lines, with a growing number of Republicans linking Islam with violence. Although some conservative Christian figures, such as apologist Dave Hunt, criticized Bush's depiction of Islam as peaceful, the administration consistently emphasized that the war on terror was not directed at Islam as a whole. Bush's speech at the Islamic Center of Washington was the initial one among several addresses he delivered to Muslim American audiences throughout his presidency.
Sociologist Rosemarie Skaine attributed Bush’s efforts through this and other speeches with helping to diminish prejudice against Arab and Muslim Americans. Later, Barack Obama expressed admiration for Bush’s clear articulation that the conflict was not against Islam itself. Conversely, sociologist Louise Cainkar recognized the speech’s positive aspects but also criticized Bush for other statements that perpetuated stereotypes casting Muslims as antagonistic to freedom, such as his address to the joint session of Congress on September 20. Salon writer Aymann Ismail characterized Bush’s remarks as largely symbolic "lip service," highlighting that many of his policies negatively affected American Muslims. Still, Ismail acknowledged that these speeches demonstrated an awareness within the administration regarding their influence on Muslim Americans—a stark contrast to the overt Islamophobia observed during Donald Trump’s tenure.