"In Killing, Media is culprit", Aref Assaf, Bergen Record, 3/17/05

"Copts and Muslims" (Editorial, March 11) missed the target. True, some Copts used religion as the now-discounted motive for the murder. But I recall the many statements by the Coptic bishop and Arab Muslim leaders that called for calm and a time for mourning and healing. They also urged people and the media not to jump to inflammatory conclusions.

The real culprits in this Muslim vs. Copt saga are the media in all their forms. They exploited the sectarian motives and the Internet threat rumors to completely obscure the true tragedy: It became the coming of Islamic holy war to America, not the massacre of an entire family.

The media spared no effort to play up a historically baseless myth, which pits Arab Muslims against Arab Christians. Doubtless, there may have been sporadic tensions between members of the two religious communities.

But history books are replete with documented religious rulings and government policies mandating that non-Muslims be treated fairly and equitably and accorded complete safety of their person, place of worship and possessions.

I believe the state attorney general should demand apologies from the media. The media have succeeded in fueling tensions and, in the process, thrust a human tragedy into the background. Only religious and community leaders - not politicians as you recommend - may be able to heal the wound. For the media to regain their credibility, they now must apologize to the Arab-American community, both Christian and Muslim.

Aref Assaf