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While CAIR and other American Muslim advocacy groups try to strong-arm the American public and law enforcement agencies into accepting on faith that all American Muslims are benign, peaceful people, a veritable who's who of Islamic radicals is planning a conference in Florida. "Some anti-hate groups are outraged that a Saudi cleric who called on God to 'terminate' the Jews and urged Muslims to shun peace with Israel is the invited keynote speaker at an Islamic conference scheduled this month in Osceola County." This from the Orlando Sentinel, with thanks to LGF.
The organization that is bring Shaikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais to Florida, the Universal Heritage Foundation, "envisions a home base in Florida's tourist corridor that would attract Islamic scholars and promote tolerance among religious groups." However, "some anti-hate groups . . . fear Shah may be inviting radicals to Central Florida who will stir up prejudice and divisiveness. . . .
Zulfiqar Ali Shah, chairman and chief executive officer of the UHF, "said his motives are pure. He also said he wasn't aware that the man invited to be the keynote speaker, Al-Sudais, was quoted in various newspapers in April 2002 as calling Jews 'the scum of humanity, the rats of the world, the killers of prophets and the grandsons of monkeys and pigs.'"
I wonder if Shah reads the Qur'an, where Jews are called monkeys and pigs in Suras 2:62-65, 5:59-60, and 7:116.
"Al-Sudais is senior imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. . . . Rita Katz, who heads a nonprofit anti-terrorism research center in Washington, D.C., said American Muslim leaders should not invite individuals like Al-Sudais, who are 'virulently intolerant of the West and other religions.'
"'He's incredibly antisemitic, and widely publicized as so,' said Katz, who heads the SITE Institute. 'Post 9-11, why are they seeking someone so radical?' she asked, noting that Al-Sudais represents the conservative Saudi Wahabi sect of Islam.
"Joe Kaufman, president of a South Florida group called Americans Against Hate, said Al-Sudais should be denied entry into the United States because of his antisemetic remarks, which were broadcast on Arabic TV and radio.
"'The biggest fear is that the group this person will be speaking to is largely a who's who of the most radical figures in our country from the most radical organizations in our country,' Kaufman said. 'This could spark a violent act.'
"No federal or state agency said it plans to prevent Al-Sudais from entering the country.
"The Council on American-Islamic Relations denounced Kaufman as an advocate of a radical Jewish group. Kaufman fired back that the council is connected to Palestinian militants. Both sides deny the accusations.
"Altaf Ali, Florida director of the council, said Al-Sudais and the other speakers are highly respected and that it has been "open season" on Muslims since the 9-11 attacks.
"'I personally have never heard any of these individuals say anything hateful,' Ali said. 'Anybody associated with a mosque is immediately [considered] a terrorist suspect. We are being found guilty by association.'
"In addition to Al-Sudais, the announced speakers include:
"Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an 'unindicted person who may be alleged as (a) conspirator' in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, according to former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White. His Masjid al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, N.Y., hosted the blind Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who was convicted in a conspiracy to bomb the Holland and Lincoln tunnels in New York. Wahhaj testified as a character witness for Rahman. Wahhaj, whom his supporters say is 'mainstream,' has made numerous anti-American statements.
"Imam Maulana Shafayat Muhammad, principal of the Darul Uloom Institute & Islamic Training Center in Pembroke Pines. Dirty-bomb suspect José Padilla attended his mosque. Padilla, Brooklyn-born Muslim convert, is accused of plotting with al-Qaeda to explode a bomb containing radioactive materials in the United States.
"Muzzamal Siddiqui, who has spoken at pro-Hezbollah rallies, supported the creation of an Islamic state in the United States and praised martyrdom for the Islamic cause, according to the SITE Institute. In spite of his statements, Siddiqui has been a guest at the White House, and he spoke at Washington National Cathedral post 9-11.
"Sayyid M. Syeed, secretary-general of the Islamic Society of North America and former director of academic outreach at the International Institute of Islamic Thought. Federal agencies raided the institute last year on suspicion of funneling money to suicide bombers.
"Areej Zufari, spokeswoman for the Islamic Society of Central Florida, said attempted censure of the speakers is un-American." Evidently Zufari would have us welcome with open arms those who would destroy us.
Charles at LGF notes that "Shah himself is former president of the Islamic Circle of North America, a group allied with the militant fundamentalist movement of Jamaat-e-Islamiya in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Steven Emerson’s book American Jihad describes the Islamic Circle of North America: 'ICNA openly supports militant Islamic fundamentalist organizations, praises terrorist attacks, issues incendiary attacks on Western values and policies, and supports the imposition of shari'a (Islamic code of law). . . . In 1995, ICNA’s president made the following comments on the topic of jihad at a conference in Columbus, Ohio: 'Sometimes, especially nowadays, I hear some Muslims defining jihad, and they will talk and talk and talk about everything in jihad, but they'll be very careful that there is nothing of qital [battle, fight, combat] mentioned in there. Well, at least you should not be disrespectful of the people you're talking to. They can pick up a Koran of any translation, and see what is in there in an instant. And a strong part of Islam is qital, and all nations and all people have a legitimate use of violence and war. And in Islam we came up with the first international law, that when you have qital, you have "culture of qital." There's a method, there's a decision-making body. It's not that a person gets angry and he starts his own qital. But when you present jihad you have to present it in its entirety.'"
Posted by Robert at December 3, 2003 2:57 PM
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The Islamic conference in Kissimmee Florida is being held on property purchased by a "petroleum" company in south Florida. It is a 31 acre former college campus. This petroleum company has been trying (unsuccessfully so far) to evict our Christian School and small church from one of the buildings there. We lease a 10,000 sq. ft. building right in the middle of where this conference is scheduled and where Universal Heritage is opening their college.
They have actually pictured our building on their website and call it the "Islamic Training Center".
We have sued them.
www.celebratiionworship.org
Now, according to the Islamic group as told to me today by Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, the Universal Heritage Foundation has no association with the petroleum company save an old friendship with the company president which led them to the property.
I look forward to a meeting with them now scheduled later this week.
Posted by: Lee Wasson at December 8, 2003 4:13 PMWe here at PipeLineNews.org are closely following developments in this story, those with information pertaining to it may contact us at 925.689.9492
Posted by: PLN Staffer at December 16, 2003 2:58 PMIn the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Lord of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the final Prophet: Muhammad
(Peace be upon them all)
This is a Reply letter to Mr. Joe Kaufman for his previous letters and messages against Islam & the U. S. Muslims in America.
December 2003
Mr. Joel F. Kaufman
joe@joe4rep.com
http://www.joe4rep.com
Dear Joe:
We, as Muslim leaders in Florida and other parts of this great nation have been working hard to make this country as safe and secure place for everyone: for Muslims, for Christians, for Jews, for every human being living on our land the United States. We strive to make it safe even for radical people like you.
America belongs to me as much as it belongs to any American Citizen, whether you accept it or not! Our American flag does not belong to people that does not pay respect to it or to our Constitution. This flag belongs also to me but does not belong to people who are trying to propagate hate and discrimination against other fellow Americans. Your background proves that you have been doing divisions and destruction among the different American communities in the name of “citizens against hate”.
It is worth to mention how my love story starts with this Country. First, it started when our Government accepted me and converted me from stateless person to an American citizen. This happened after the Israeli Occupation of my land, Palestine, and after my parents were thrown out from Palestine. The United States of America was the only country that opened its arms to us as well as to many other Muslims and Arabs. America accepted us as American Citizens, to live in freedom and away from humiliation and aggression. Even though, you have been attacking our freedom and our identity as American individuals for long time. I guarantee you that if you do not stop I will take every legal necessary step to make sure that you will be refrained from this conduct and disciplined by our legal system, based on the laws and justice.
The second reason my America’s love and appreciation is that I feel in debt to this great country. Specifically when the Medicaid covered me with the entire cost of both of my hips replacements which reached $350,000.00 .
The third reason, and not the least or last one, is that this country is providing my wife and my children with a high quality education right now, free of cost.
All these reasons, and many others, makes me much more loyal than many others who live in this country. Do you think that I will turn my back against such giving country? (In your dreams!)
If you think I am not a loyal citizen, or that many other Muslim leaders and Imams are not loyal to the United States, it must be that your ideas emanate from the hate which covers your sick heart. This hate expressions are vicious and completely unfounded feelings towards great law abiding citizens such as Arabs and Muslims and also expresses your hate against Islam in general. All these clearly violates our principal law: The United States Constitution and its Amendments which clearly protect us, the law abiding citizens, from people like you, who discriminate and raise hate towards decent citizens based on race and religion. (Your web site and your previous statements are sustaining evidence of my opinion on you.)
Our democratic principles provide a legal process when citizens do not like certain things, laws or regulations. If you wish you may try to change them through your congressmen or by voting against them at the time of election.
You should practice that, which is the legal and appropriate way of U. S. citizen behavior, instead of trying to damage our country and your fellow citizens with your hand (your pen) and your mouth, by means of defamation. (Your writings should be banned and prohibited from publishing because you are abusing your right to free speech by defamations on our law abiding communities and especially hurting our kids and children). We thank our many Jewish and Christian friends who share our point of view and joined us in denouncing your discriminatory actions and pronounced themselves also against your hate filled actions and expressions.
Today I would like to inform you that since 9-11-01 you have not done nothing for the safety and security of our land (Shame on you!). Today I call on every single citizen should commit part of his/her time, efforts and financial assistance to collaborate with crime prevention programs to keep the risk of terrorism to its lowest levels. Try to be a better citizen and start to put your great efforts in constructing a better nation instead of destructing it with your defamation and hate.
We have been doing a lot to improve all citizens’ safety. We, together with the help of other community leaders such as: Altaf Ali, director of the FL Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Imam Ibrahim of Boca Raton Masjid, Dr. Elia, Co-Chair of JADA (the Jewish Arab Dialogue) and others Muslim and non-Muslims community leaders who are really working towards a more peaceful nation. It is my sincere advise that you should learn from them and always stand respectful when they pass near you, they are working for you and your family’s safety every day and night.
I urge you today to stop the childish games you have been doing against our community. I am formally requesting from you today to stop spying on our Muslim leaders, to stop harassing Muslim leaders, to stop your lies and dirty, untrue , hate filled dangerous allegations you are constantly raising left and right without a minimal consideration to the feelings of the others, their families and their community. I urge you to stop sneaking to our parking lots and to stop following us! We are denouncing this acts to State and Federal authorities, this is not a game, it is a serious matter, and a violation of law.
We do have many witnesses Mr. Joe, and we pray that you will be legally stopped and reprimanded for your continuous harassments. We also pray that your hate will not lead you in the future to act like Dr. Goldstein from Tampa, FL, when he was caught trying to explode fifty Islamic Centers and schools around Florida. If you ask me why I have concerns that you could consider acting as Dr. Goldstein; let me remind you of your statements, which took place in front of group of children and kids when you expressed your evil intentions and recommendations that our government should, instead of sending food to the children of Afghanistan it should bomb and nuke them and do the same with other parts of the Muslim world such as Syria and Iraq. Also you expressed that our Government should nuke the Capitals of Muslim countries ignoring where there are children and civilians living, additionally you have said “why to have nuclear Bombs if do not use them”. (With this evil mentality you will never be elected to an office Mr. Joe or any other delegate position). (Please read your own speech at: http://www.floridajewish.com/speakout_display.asp?title=Making+Friends+with+the+Enemy%2E%2E%2E+The+Nuclear+Way )
We are aware that CAIR did ask our authorities to investigate you and your associates, and I am certain, and I can assure you that our authorities are already keeping a good eye on a radical and extremist person like you. It is their job and they do it very well. Because now they are responsible for your future actions.
Keep in your evil mind that if you ever harm any body in our community or in any other community, or if you helped anybody or foreign entity to harm any American citizen in this country you will be personally responsible and will be hold accountable. Not only you but also anybody who neglected and followed your weird behavior will be questioned for not stopping a mad person like you.
You have been attacking every legitimate and sincere Muslim leader in this country on a consistent basis, fortunately you do not speak on behalf of the Jewish community in general which I have a great respect for their vast great achievements (I hope you try to learn from your own community Mr. Joe Kaufman). Many have spoken out against Daniel Pipes, a well known Islamophobic that you gather information from to use against the Muslim community. This hate must stop because our children are questioning us about your hate.
As Jesus said, “by their fruit you shall know them”, indeed looking at your back ground, you have not done any thing for the safety and the security to our country, except to spread hate and racism.
I as well as other Muslim leaders have contributed significantly to our country, the United States, and I have a proven record to show that I have been preaching around my communities and reaching to other communities for years to fight extremism, violence of all natures, hate, discrimination, radicals, and terrorists. Thank God that I do have a good record that you do not.
I have written an educational articles in the past, even before 9-11-01, to educate my community and other communities against terrorism and against extremists radicals like you. I promise you that I will keep writing whether you support or whether you stand and insist in your radical and hate filled ideas.
America will not stand for people like you who have proved “Anti Islam, Muslims and anti Arab-Semitics”.
I urge you to reply to all allegations that have been brought against you! By not replying you are giving testimony that you are accepting these charges.
Your records show the following:
- You have publicly supported and promoted terrorist organizations in the past at the time of every body knowledge that they are black listed by the FBI. (See the achieve in your website)
- You claimed in one of your memos that you are working in the FBI.
- Have spoke in front of group of children and Kids recommended to Nukes Millions of Muslims (See your own
www.joe4rep.com )
- Stood against Arab Jewish Israeli, (JADA, Jewish & Arab Dialogue) organization and attacking there top official members who myself one of the board member in JADA.
- Had a roommate in the past who used to be a drug dealer.
- Failed to prove yourself in past 2 elections as a sincere American.
- Trying to stand beside a foreign country against American Citizens. (Requesting the Israeli government diplomatic official to boycott Americans calling for Peace in Israel. A gain I was one of the American Citizens)
I have never seen a person calling on any foreign government to stand against his own American Great Citizens. You are mad man Joe!
- Urging and requesting from Eliezer "Lazie" Rivlin a senior advisor to Israel's Minister of Communications and the brother of Israel's Speaker of the Knesset Reuven Rivlin, not to moderate an American event to boycott American Citizens (I am one of them) who attended Temple of Israel to give a speech to build a bridge between American Muslims and American Jews and to support peace agreements. Again you are getting or asking for foreign assistance against your own fellow American Citizens. Shame on you!
- We have witnesses that you have been following, spying on Muslim leaders and hiding in Muslim Centers parking lots.
- You have been against the peace agreements and against peaceful solutions between Palestinians and
Israelis. Which our president Bush and our congress have been trying to support. (review your web site: www.joe4rep.com )
- Accused by many Muslim leaders and non Muslim leaders that you are an Anti Islam, anti American Muslims and anti Arab-Semitics.
- You frivolously accused the ADC (the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee) that promote hate and terror without any single solid proof. Ignoring their previous great achievements.
- You have been invited by AMANA and other interfaith organization to join and to be part of and you have ignored the invitations and instead you start to attack any organization with active Arab or Muslim leaders.
I sincerely hope that the law enforcement authorities will conduct an investigation into your relationships with groups that are deemed terrorist groups by the United States of America. Also an investigation for your request to the embassy of foreign country to stand against American Citizens. Also I hope you to show evidence that you have never accepted illegal or foreign funds of $100 or more today or in the past to use it against your fellow American Citizens.
Here are some recommendations for you Joe, and to all radicals who are not raised in good or normal homes and that are helping in building hate to their fellow country citizens, hate against the government and hate against people from other faiths.
I invite you today to do one or more of the following:
- Be part and volunteer in the Citizen Corps programs. ( Please visit: www.citizncorps.com )
- Join at least one interfaith group. (Such as NCCJ, JAM, JADA, FRIEND and many I can recommend)
- Have your organization “Citizens Against Hate” to move in positive directions. So far it is not!
- Build a bridges and better relations with the other faith groups such as Christian and Muslim groups.
- Arrange for meeting with me personally or other Muslim leaders to get to know us better. (Learn not to judge someone you do not know.)
- If you consider getting counseling I will provide you with a good counselor for free.
If you go with my advices I will be more than happy to shake your hand and to invite you to join us in working for safer and more secure America. This offer will not be expired Joe remember that!
Our nation is going through many challenges these days and at home we need to be better citizens and to have a stronger foundation for better life for us and a better future for our children. (One day if you ever have children like me you will know better what I am talking about).
With or without you Mr. Joe Kaufman, myself and my other Muslim, Jew, Christian and other faiths brothers will keep working hard and around the clock to prevent crime and terrorism, to prevent and fight together against any future man made or natural disasters may attack our country.
Sincerely,
A concerned Muslim neighbor
Br. Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout
- Director of AMANA, The American Muslim Association of North America,
- Director of AIPO, Americans for Israeli & Palestinian Orphans, Inc.,
- Board Member at the Miami Dade County Citizen Corps,
- Board Member at FRIEND, Florida Regional Interfaith/Interagency Emergency Network in Disasters
- Board Member at JADA, Jewish Arab Dialogue Association, and
- Member in the "Florida SAC", Florida State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights
END
C.C.
The FBI, FDLE, FL Attorney General, Miami Dade, Broward and Boca Raton Counties Prosecutors, FL Sheriffs, AMANA Lawyers, AMANA Muslim advisors, AMANA Community Advisors, CAIR FL, CAIR Washington, ACLU, West Palm Beach, Broward and Miami Police Departments, Front Page editor, News Agencies Editors, Our friends in Mosques, Churches and synagogues.
Please visit al-AMANA Voice at: www.al-amana.org for more info on AMANA.
(The Islamic Center for Reaching & Preaching)
======================================================
The American Muslim Association of North America, AMANA.
Proudly serving the U. S. Muslim communities since 1992
MAIN OFFICE MIAMI / FLORIDA:
P. O. Box 5212, Miami, FL 33014 USA
Tel. 305-898-9314, Fax. 305-945-0399
E-mail: info@al-amana.org
www.al-amana.org
"Islam Honors Human & Civil Rights! We Honor them Too."
Al-AMANA Voice
Mr. Zakkout,
Never have I written anything with malice towards Muslims. I have only worked to expose the radicals within the Islamic community, of which there are many. Radical Islam threatens the world. As an American, I do not have to look past what happened in 1993 or 2001 to understand this.
While I used to be an opinion writer (I had an opinion column in the Jewish Israeli Magazine from 1999-2003), my articles today are based entirely on facts. I provide source information and/or hyperlinks to every important statement, and attempt to use the most credible of sources available, so that there is no question as to the statements' validity.
You state: "I am formally requesting from you today to stop spying on our Muslim leaders, to stop harassing Muslim leaders, to stop your lies and dirty, untrue, hate filled dangerous allegations you are constantly raising left and right without a minimal consideration to the feelings of the others, their families and their community."
Of course, none of this is true.
However, Mr. Zakkout, I will tell you what is true. While you claim to be a man of peace, your website, www.al-amana.org, features links to some of the most violent and hate-filled sites on the net. This includes one under the heading of Islam and Christianity which you title 'Studies about Talmud,' a site that features the anti-Jewish libel 'The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion.'
What is true is that your website contains an anti-homosexual diatribe entitled 'Homosexuality is not O.K.' What is also disturbing is that you made the author of the article's name near identical to my name. You put the name as "Joe B. Kofman," which you changed from "D. Kofman," the name you used to have there.
What is true is that your website used to contain an article admonishing Muslims who participate in interfaith gatherings with Jews and Christians. Now, AMANA article #50 is mysteriously gone. But don't worry, Sofian, because I've kept a copy of it for you (or anyone else who wants to know your real nature).
What is true is that you were the Vice President of a charity (Health Resource Center for Palestine) that was connected to the Islamic Association for Palestine, which openly admitted to raising money for Palestinian "martyrs" -- that is, suicide attackers.
What is true is that, in September of 2003, you co-sponsored a fundraiser for the Islamic Relief Organization, a charity that has been exposed for raising funds for terrorist groups.
Before you criticize me, Mr. Zakkout, you should practice what you preach.
The rest of your rants against me have no merit whatsoever, and are childish at best, so I will not comment on them.
I lastly want to state that you should not be loyal to America for the free monies you get from it (via America's hardworking taxpayers). You should be loyal to America for the freedoms it provides you, including the freedom to spout your hatred.
Sincerely,
Joe Kaufman
Chairman
Americans Against Hate
www.americansagainsthate.com
re: Universal Heritage Foundation and Dr. Shah
John-Thor Dahlburg, Times Staff Writer for the Los Angeles Times just did an article that quotes the conference organizer, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, as saying that I am the one who has stirred up the bad publicity regarding the Universal Heritage Foundation.
Funny. (Not really).
The Orlando Sentinel broke the story. I got a call about it from another pastor in the middle of my busy day. That was the first I ever heard.
Every reporter I have talked to knows it. (For the most part--they called me). I simply called the paper to ask questions and that is how they came to know that we are on the property. The rest is history.
And here is what else they know--and only because I told them:
Dr. Shah has been appearing with this same unsavory crew since before 2001. Shah says more than once in print and on TV that he did not know about the remarks Al Sudais had made.
Really?
Do a google sarch and see the appearances they made together--along with the same cavalcade of other notables of the same ilk.
Or you can just attend the upcoming conference being held in Toronto:
Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference - January 2nd to 4th, 2004
South Building
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
The Imam of Haram – Al Sudais is scheduled, so is Imam Siraj Wahhaj and so is Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah.
He wasn't aware?
They have shared the platform before and will again. And they say the same things.
There is little interest here in Kissimmee. One local pastor told me not to worry, that no one in a pickup truck is going to join any Islamic group.
Maybe not.
Dr. Shah says that I stirred up the bad publicity. I didn't. The bad publicity was in our morning paper. My phone started ringing and I answered it. Questions came which I could not answer so, as is my business, I looked for answers. The ones I found were troubling.
More trouble cometh.
I am a pastor, I currently pastor a very small church and have a Christian School (est 1988) with less than 100 students which we moved to a defunct college campus in Kissimmee in 2002. The campus was sold and along with the new owner (Your Muslim aquaintance from South Florida) came a new "tenant", the Universal Heritage Foundation. As far as I know, we are now the only Christian Church and school in the middle of an Islamic Institute.
The rest has been in the papers, on the Internet and in my mailbox.
Like the $12,000.00 light bill reflecting usage by the UHF but sent to me by the (Muslim) owners of the property with a demand to pay or get out. Never mind the water and electric outages that have closed us twice in the last 4 months.
No, Dr. Shah, I didn't stir it up. I looked it up. It is all there. Oh, bits and pieces, here and there--but there none the less.
You travel to and sometimes arrange conventions with these radicals quite often and for some time. You have spoken out against Israel and in accord with what the worst of your guest list have said.
Islam for Humanity?
I was disappointed to be cast as someone who only said you are a liar. I have proved it.
It was not my intention to say that anyone is a liar. As I wrote, I looked for the truth and I found it.
Your agenda is the same as that of every major speaker you invite. You, yourself, have expressed an anti-Israel agenda and it is well documented. (The LA Times has the information but printed little of it).
There is more but I'll save it for a more opportune moment.
One more thing:
I agreed to be interviewed by the LA Times because I felt that it was important that something more than your flier and website be the sole source of information here in Kissimmee.
I am so far disappointed that TV has only 60 seconds for the story and the papers less than 1000 words to give.
They try, I guess. Too bad the story is more than a minute long.
Lee Wasson
Posted by: Lee Wasson at December 19, 2003 10:23 PM
The following letter to the editor appeared 12/17 after the above article ran in the Orlando Sentinel. As you included the quote from Areej Zufari it is important that the letter she sent to the paper originally running the article be here as well for clarification. Are we really willing to allow the media to twist statements to illicit the most controversy and thereby color how we view the world?
In the recent article "Islamic conference speaker draws wrath," the following quotation appeared: "Areej Zufari, spokeswoman for the Islamic Society of Central Florida, said attempted censure of the speakers is un-American."
This statement is misleading, mostly because it was placed after the words "suicide bombers." No matter what the intention of the writer, the juxtaposition of those words changes their meaning entirely.
Placing that statement in the context of an article that voices concern for anti-Semitic statements is increasingly misleading, because it is our stance that anti-Semitic statements are unacceptable, regardless of who made them. Words are not benign; they carry weight and significance, and the misuse of my words needed to be clarified.
With that being said, I hope the following words carry weight and significance: The above-mentioned article failed to state that the Islamic Society of Central Florida is not involved in the conference mentioned in the article and that the Society has declined the invitation to be a part of it. The Islamic Society of Central Florida, its members and its leaders, have always stood against bigotry, anti-Semitism and hatred, no matter who espouses such attitudes. Our stance is not only American, but firmly Islamic in denouncing these attitudes. In the Quran, God gives us the following guidance: "O people! We created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another." (49:13).
We remain committed to promoting understanding and mutual respect with people of all faiths, as we have in the past and will continue to do into the future.
Areej Zufari -- Director of Communications
Islamic Society of Central Florida
Mr.Zufari,
How would you square your statement that "attempted censure of the speakers is un-American" with your own stated intolerance of anti-Semitism or other hate-speech?
Dr. Shah made much the same statement as you have, but the company he keeps (and keeps, and keeps) says exactly otherwise.
I tire of the denials when they are not really denials at all, and lately I doubt anything from anyone who chooses to be identified with those who have made such statements.
As a Christian, I absolutely deny any association or agreement with ANYTHING that any so-called Christian group says or does that is racist, bigoted or prejudiced. Anyone who makes such comments in the name of Christ is mislead and needs to be refuted and rebuked. They are a disgrace to the Name of Christ.
So, about your denial:
Is Shaikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais a disgrace to Islam for his remarks and is Dr. Shah also guilty by his continued association with him? (Before you say, "Yes"), Is the fact that many of the guest speakers on the conferences circuit along with al Sudais and Shah have made similar comments also a disgrace to Islam?
Say "Yes" and we have a denial worth believing.
Posted by: Lee Wasson at January 8, 2004 6:30 PM
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