As always, for no controversial statement by a Muslim figure has ever been taken in context. “Omeish Says He’s ‘Victim of Smear Campaign,'” by Tim Craig and Joshua Zumbrun for the Washington Post:
Esam S. Omeish, the Muslim leader from Fairfax County who resigned from the state immigration commission after controversial remarks made on video surfaced, defended his remarks today and said he was the victim of a smear campaign.
“The smear campaign brings forward comments and speech excerpts which were taken out of context . . . and used to undermine a whole community of faith in a relentless campaign of Islamophobia intimidation,” Omeish said in an 11 a.m. news conference.
Omeish submitted his resignation to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) yesterday after video surfaced of one speech in which he referred to the “Israeli war machine” and another 38-second excerpt from a speech he made at a December 2000 rally in support of the “Jihad way.”
“All these allegations revolve around obsolete historical associations, out of context statements wrapped in hateful, misleading insinuations by individuals who are bent on alienating and intimidating Muslim leaders and activists,” Omeish said.
What about the Muslim Brotherhood, for which the Muslim American Society is a front? Are they making obsolete historical associations and taking things out of context?