Former President George W. Bush has revisited his decision to visit an Islamic center six days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, an act during which he declared "Islam is peace." Bush stated that he undertook the visit to a mosque in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 17, 2001, out of concern for Muslim Americans who were facing harassment and fear in the wake of the attacks.
During a discussion with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at his presidential center in Dallas, Bush recalled hearing reports of women wearing head coverings being intimidated at shopping centers, particularly in Michigan. "I want you to know that you're not to blame for what happened, and we are going to protect you," Bush said he wanted to convey to Muslim Americans.
Bush characterized the post-9/11 period as an ideological struggle, emphasizing that religious freedom is a core tenet of American ideology. "If we forego one of the most important parts of our ideology, which is the freedom to worship the way you want to worship," he said, referencing his mosque visit.
He reiterated his stance that the terrorists who carried out the attacks were extremists who subverted their religion, rather than representatives of Islam. "I also made it clear that Islam was a religion of peace, not a religion of war, and that these people subverted their religion," Bush stated.
In 2001, Bush addressed concerns about Muslim women wearing head coverings, stating at the Islamic Center of Washington, "That should not and that will not stand in America." He met with Muslim leaders to draw a clear distinction between the religion and the perpetrators of the attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people.
Bush's remarks come as the United States approaches the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, an event that continues to shape national discourse and policy.