Jihad Watch Advisory Board Vice President asks some pointed questions about the Armanious case:
1) Did any Muslims mysteriously disappear from Jersey City in the period immediately following the murders?
2) If so, was there anything in the personal or family history of those who may have disappeared that might indicate a special animus toward the Armanious family (i.e., the father, or the outspoken Sylvia)?
3) Was there any communication between officials of the Egyptian embassy, consulate, delegation at the U.N., or any other Egyptian official in Egypt or the United States, who tried to silence relatives or friends of the victims, or other Copts in Jersey City, or elsewhere?
4) Was there any attempt by any Egyptian officials to intimidate Copts now in Egypt, so that they, in turn, would plead with Copts in the United States to keep quiet?
5) Was there any communication by anyone in the American government to the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, or within the FBI, suggesting that the investigation should not “make things worse” in the larger context of the “war on terrorism” by “needlessly” offending local Muslims “whose support was needed” in “that war” — or words to that effect?
6) In learning about Muslim attitudes toward Copts and other non-Muslims, to whom did the Hudson County Prosecutors Office turn? And the FBI? What “experts” did they consult? What articles did they read? One would like to know about the extent of knowledge possessed by American police and other security forces of the attitude, enshrined in the Shari’a, and reflected everywhere in the Qur’an, Hadith, and Sira, that is encouraged toward non-Muslims. One would like to know if, for example, any of the studies of dhimmitude have been assigned to be read by agents of the FBI? If not, why not? What about having a translation commissioned of the most thorough study of the legal status of dhimmis — that of Antoine Fattal. Surely the American government can pay for a translation of this book, given its relevance.
7) Who in Congress, or in the State of New Jersey, is taking careful note of how this investigation is proceeding, and of the curious reluctance to suggest that something other than robbery might be the motive?
8) Why is this case not worthy of the attention of the Scott Petersen case, much less that of O. J. Simpson?
9) Have any of the often vocal associations, such as the National Council of Churches, seen fit to urge that the case be given full attention, and to make sure that its members keep up the pressure on the Hudson County Prosecutors Office not to bury or archive this matter, and to hope that it goes away?
For it cannot now be buried, and what is at stake are the reputations of the investigators, and of the faith, repeatedly shaken (not least by the mysterious disappearance of Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun) of American citizens in their own government’s ability, or willingness, to take a tack quite different from that which can be observed in Europe.
Meanwhile, John Walsh on “America’s Most Wanted” and a good many others on-line, are unlikely to lose interest — or allow others to do so.