Muslim leaders condemn Flight 253 attack

DETROIT, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A group of Muslims leaders said Friday the terrorist attack on Northwest Flight 253 bound for Detroit portrays their religion in a negative light.

The Detroit News said Victor Begg, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, was among those Muslim leaders condemning the Christmas Day attack ahead of a court appearance by the Nigerian man accused of perpetrating the 2009 attack.

"Muslim Americans want to make it clear that Islam stands for life, not death," Begg said a Detroit news conference.

The suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon to be arraigned.

The 23-year-old Nigerian is accused of attempting to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear while on board the U.S.-bound flight from Amsterdam, The Detroit News said.

Abdulmutallab is facing as much as life in prison if convicted on charges ranging from attempted murder to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.