Al-Husainy is a virulently antisemitic supporter of Hizballah. “Protesters to rally in Dearborn against anti-Islam film,” by Niraj Warikoo for the Detroit Free Press, September 21 (thanks to Twostellas):
The largest mosque in Michigan is holding a rally this afternoon against the anti-Islam movie that has sparked controversy and violence around the world. It’s believed to be the first rally in the U.S. against the video, say Muslim leaders.
Hundreds are expected to rally after Friday prayers today outside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, a Shia congregation that sits off Ford Road. Christian leaders are also expected to attend and speak at the rally, which will denounce both the video that ridicules Islam’s prophet and also the violence that ensued. So far, 45 people have died as a result of the video, according to the Associated Press. Today, at least 15 died and 168 were injured in Pakistan in protests over the film.
The rally in Dearborn will be a peaceful demonstration, say organizers. While there have been Muslim-American vigils across the U.S. for the killing of the U.S. Ambassador in Libya, “this is the first” rally in protest of the video, said Ibrahim Hooper, national spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights and advocacy group.
The Islamic center where today”s rally will be held has been the focus of controversy over the past year as anti-Islam groups have targeted it for protests. Quran-burning pastor Terry Jones fought a yearlong battle to protest outside the mosque and in June, a Christian group holding up signs denigrating Islam’s prophet rallied outside the mosque. A 47-year-old Dearborn man was charged after trying to run over the anti-Islam protesters.
Kassem Allie, an official with the Islamic Center, said the mosque respects free speech, which includes the right to state “abhorrent speech that is considered hateful.”
But he added “that good people of faith will not stand idly by and allow hate to triumph over truth, love and respect.”
At the same time as the rally at the Islamic Center, a similar protest will be held at the Karbalaa Islamic Educational Center, also in Dearborn. Imam Husham Al-Husainy said there should be restrictions on some speech that offends major religious figures, such as Jesus or Mohammed.
“They should put a law not to insult a spiritual leader,” Al-Husainy said. The U.S. government has said that while it doesn’t like the anti-Islam video, it respects free speech.
Regarding the tensions over the video, Al-Husainy said: “The only solution is to replace the hate with love.”
And a Sharia blasphemy law.
Dawud Walid, head of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, is to speak at the Islamic Center of America rally. He said he fully supports free speech, but added that the insulting and crude nature of the video wasn’t the type of civil discourse that America’s founding fathers had in mind.
Hooper said his group has been calling for peace, putting out statements and videos urging Muslims to be calm: “It’s a really tragic situation. You have a tiny minority of extremists who are intentionally provocative. They got exactly what they sought.”
“Tiny minority of extremists.” Honest Ibe Hooper must have been laughing up his sleeve as he used that phrase, even to so credulous and pro-jihad a reporter as the thoroughly corrupt and compromised Niraj Warikoo.