LAWTON, Okla. (AP) -- An Islamic chaplain at Fort Sill says he's ashamed by people who call themselves Muslim but don't adhere to the religion's peaceful principles.
U.S. Army Capt. Dawud Agbere said that after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he prayed that those responsible were not Muslims.
"But as the situation unfolded, we learned that the men behind this were Muslims," he said.
"I felt ashamed -- ashamed that someone who professed to be a man of God would take great joy in killing so many innocent people. It's very, very unfortunate."
Agbere, a native African, said people have continued to be very supportive of him.
"I've received calls from people I've never met, telling me they're behind me," Agbere said. "I've received calls from people who say, 'If anyone harasses you, give me a call.' The commanding general has even invited me to his office to tell me if I run into any problems to let him know personally.
"And you know what? I haven't had one problem. Not one."
Agbere has spent much time since the attacks explaining his Islamic religion and debunking Osama bin Laden's interpretations of the Koran.
Agbere and Imam Farouk Rasheed preach to a crowd of about 35 worshippers every Friday on post. Overall, Agbere estimates that there are 45 practicing Muslims at Fort Sill.
Now their forum is much larger because people desire more knowledge of the Islamic faith. One of the first things Agbere talks about is the idea of Jihad. In Agbere's words, he sees ignorance on the part of those who use it to justify terrorism.
"If you fight to defend yourself or home, that is Jihad," Agbere said. "We could fight a Jihad within ourselves. But God doesn't condone the killing of even one person, let alone 5,000 innocent people.
"Those people are nothing more than terrorists."
Agbere cites the Koran (5:32) to further prove his point: "Whoever kills a human being -- for other than murder or spreading mischief in the earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind."
Agbere has a personal tie to the terrorist attacks. Hamid Agbere -- a devout Muslim and cousin of the chaplain -- was one of those killed at the World Trade Center.
