Thanks Imam for speaking out

I wish to compliment Imam Hassan Mahmoud for his letter about the suffering he feels for the people of the world who are suffering or may suffer under the Islamic State ('Muslim silence must come to an end,” Oct. 11)

He is the first Muslim to speak out against the violence occurring in the Middle East that I am aware of. He lives in this community where all of our citizens have worked together, gone to school together, socialized together throughout the history of Cedar Rapids and he must know and feel a freedom to speak truth about the Quran and Islam.

I hope the seed he has sown will spread to all the freedom-loving countries in the world. I don't know if there are national and international Islamic organizations that would write and speak as he has, but it is only when the good freedom-loving Muslims speak will the mentality of the radical Muslims change. Thank you, Imam Mahmoud.

Phil Saunders

Cedar Rapids