Local Islamic Community reacts to violence - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

It's a holy day for Islam. At an Indianapolis Mosque, it's time to talk about Muslims and bloodshed.

Not just the world-wide images that raise fear and suspicion, but the ones that validate the sanctity of life.

"Islam really is about peace," says Muzaffar Ahmad.

That's the message the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community wants to share through a blood drive campaign in observance of 9/11. Their goal: to donate enough blood to save as many as 33,000 Americans nationwide.

Muzaffer Ahmad is the local coordinator. It also comes as violence spreads across the Middle East in response to an anti-Islamic video that depicts Islam prophet Muhammad as a fraud, a womanizer and a madman.

"Muslims for Life" condemn the video and the violence.

"It's totally ridiculous. But this, this reaction from some people of hacking websites, especially this unfortunate killing of the U.S. Ambassador," says Ahmad.

Thursday, more than 500 students stayed home from school in Brownsburg fearing a veiled threat left on the district's website by a hacker traced all the way to Iraq.

"I think that people should be fearful because of all these people all over the world that have this negative idea in their head that they need to do something to hurt somebody or scare somebody," says Ahmad.

Congressman Andre Carson, a Muslim, and a former Indiana counter-terrorism officer says he too is concerned.

"Having worked counter intelligence, and counter-terrorism and being a dad, I'm deeply concerned about any hacking that may take place, especially when it relates to our educational system," says Carson.

Carson says the Golden Rule, to do unto others as you would have them do to you, transcends all religions and is a good place to launch conversation, not violence.