At a recent appearance in Washington, D.C., leading Muslim-American educator Debbie Almontaser hawked her new book, Leading While Muslim: The Experiences of American Muslim Principals After 9/11. The book grew out of her own personal experiences as the founding principal of the long-troubled Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA), a New York City public high school with a focus on Arabic instruction.
In 2007, Almontaser resigned from KGIA after praising a t-shirt bearing the phrase “Intifada NYC” — an apparent reference to violence against Jews in Israel and the Palestinian territories. “Intifada,” Almontaser insisted, “basically means ‘shaking off. ’” Almontaser argued that although the word was “developing a negative connotation due to the uprising in the Palestinian-Israeli areas,” it was nonetheless “an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society” and are “shaking off oppression.” Her comments sparked storms of protest from the New York Post, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and local parents.
The group that produced the t-shirt, Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media (AWAAM), shared office space with the Saba Organization of American Yemenis, of which Almontaser was a board member and spokesperson. AWAAM also shared officials with Al-Awda, an anti-Israel organization that the ADL has accused of openly supporting terrorism and violent anti-Semitism.
Following her resignation from KGIA in 2007, in the wake of immense public pressure, Almontaser only developed her reputation for radicalism further. In 2008, she worked with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to oppose the NYPD’s counter-terrorism efforts. At the time, CAIR had just been named by federal prosecutors as an unindicted coconspirator in a prominent terror financing case, leading the FBI to cut off all contact with the organization.
Despite her scandalous behavior while at KGIA, Almontaser is still mixing Islamist activism and educational issues. She appeared on April 16 at the American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) Albert Shanker Institute, where AFT President Randi Weingarten moderated a discussion before an audience of about 35. The next day Almontaser addressed about 25 listeners at Georgetown University’s Saudi-established Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU). ACMCU director Jonathan Brown moderated. (In February 2017, Brown came under fire for a speech defending sex slavery, in which he claimed that “the Sharia understanding of slavery” is “not comparable at all” to America’s past slavery.)
Almontaser’s message is one of victimhood. At the Albert Shanker Institute, she reiterated the falsehood that an “Islamophobia industry” has “so much funding” to attack people like her. She passed off KGIA as a high school “to develop global citizens to compete for international careers,” that struggled against an “astonishing” onslaught of demands about the teaching of issues such as Israel.
Almontaser further condemned post-9/11 America as a “police state,” which enacts tyranny through law enforcement issues, such as stricter immigration enforcement. Her moderator, Randi Weingarten, hyperbolically responded that current “dehumanizing” of Muslims is “not terribly dissimilar to the way in which Jews were treated by Hitler.”
Almontaser compared her “Intifada NYC” t-shirt imbroglio with Representative Ilhan Omar’s ongoing controversies. Almontaser described Omar’s critics “taking words out of context and portraying them in a way to make her anti-American.”
In 2007, Almontaser’s host, the very same Weingarten, had publicly reproached Almontaser for her praise of the intifada t-shirt. However, at AFT, Weingarten appeared to regret her stand against Almontaser’s extremism, now lamenting that people had “used my words against Debbie.” She now accepted without demurral Almontaser’s condemnation of the Post, which she stated was “making money from racism and bigotry” through criticism of her and the scandal-ridden Omar. The audience applauded Almontaser’s role in the bodega boycott.
The following day at ACMCU, Almontaser stated that the Islamic “way of life” cannot include any violent understandings such as those of Al Qaeda, an assertion she has often made in the past. “The so-called radicals,” she said, “I personally don’t see them as Muslims,” but rather as a “fringe minority within the 1.7 billion Muslims” that “has a political agenda that has nothing to do with Islam.” She added: “Anyone who takes the life of one person is like taking the life of humanity.”
Yet, in sharp contrast to her statements at ACMCU, she readily imposes her own political agendas on American Islam. One subject in her writing, a Harvard-educated Pakistani-American named Aiman, “didn’t want to have anything to do with Islam anymore” because he thought American Muslim leaders have offered too lenient a response to jihadism. “He believed that Muslim clerics and leaders in the United States and elsewhere are complacent, that they are not condemning what’s happening, that they are not educating the public,” she explained. Yet Almontaser concluded that Aiman’s observations were nothing but internalized “Islamophobia,” a “self-fulfilling prophecy when you hear it over and over and over again that you start to believe these things.”
Almontaser’s Pakistani-American skeptic found ironic confirmation in an audience questioner who described his own experiences with four “Muslim” college professors. “Three of them,” he claimed, “have made anti-Islam, anti-Muslim statements in class.” The only professor whom the audience member deemed supportive enough of Islam has purportedly been “viciously attacked, his statements taken out of context, himself and his family attacked.” During these discussions, none among Almontaser’s audiences recognized the dangers of non-Muslims denouncing Muslims who struggle against Islamism as “anti-Muslim.”
Almontaser’s miseducation efforts would have everyone believe that all Muslims think like her and her radical allies. In contrast, her studies and the audience’s comments at ACMCU indicated the diversity of thought among individuals with Muslim backgrounds who confront issues such as Islamism, extremism and violence. And yet, teachers’ unions and academia are promoting Almontaser’s monotone tales of victimhood while ignoring or even suppressing more critical voices among America’s Muslims, who struggle against Islamist attempts to dominate their faith.
Andrew Harrod is a writer for Islamist Watch, a project of the Middle East Forum. This article originally appeared in The American Spectator.
Battle says
She praised “Intifada NYC” on a t-shirt in 2007. She should have been arrested for attempted inciting of a riot. And convicted.
The Intifada murdering of Jews had been going on for years but she claims the word was developing a bad connotation. She is a jihadi Jew-hater. She is full of bull. To Hell with her bull. Let her go to her ancestral homeland Yemen.
mortimer says
“Taqiyya permeates almost all the activities and dealings of Muslims with non-Muslim societies…” – former sheikh Sam Solomon
Definition: Taqiyya is lying to strengthen Islam.
J D S says
L.p. in another time would she not have been labeled a traitor…So many out there today would have been….Times are a changing…..Don’t change with them!
somehistory says
Just another ugly fang in the head of a giant evil snake called islam, saying whatever she believes will further growth of the snake and keep her front and center. moslims lust for attention when they aren’t lusting for blood. Many times, the two lusts go hand in hand and the lusting creeps get total satisfaction.
Battle says
She praised the “Intifada NYC” t-shirt. She should have been arrested for attempted inciting of a riot. And convicted. The Intifada murdering of Jews had been going on for years but she claims the word was developing a bad connotation. She is a jihadi Jew-hater. She is full of bull. To 7734 with her bull. She should go to her ancestral homeland permanently..
Clayton Norcroft says
In the days when communists looked like America’s and democracy’s most dangerous opponents, did they ever blatantly express the anti-Americanism and anti-democracy, did they ever cause the division and antagonism, did they ever express anything like the vicious hatred of the one member of the international community they despised most (I am referring to the Jewish one) that Muslims do? Are we ever to stop hearing this kind of direct attack on the Western nations and peoples who have welcomed them from the followers of the prophet of jihad?
All honour to jihadwatch for the work it does, but, I have to say that I am glad that this article also got some visibility in The American Spectator. It should be required reading in secondary schools.
gravenimage says
The Soviet Communists were very antisemitic, as well.
Ravi says
Democratic Party a magnet for Stone Cold Losers.
Robert_k says
She names a school after a famous Christian Lebanese author Khalil Gibran, yet she fosters a Islamic agenda there.
gravenimage says
Yes–more Taqiyya.
Wellington says
She’s just another Muslim deceiver (excuse the redundancy). Notice how she paraphrased Sura 5:32 respecting how killing one human being is like killing all of humanity. Aside from the fact that this was an instruction to Jews, it’s perfectly OK for Muslims to kill or mutilate human beings who impede or criticize Islam (“make mischief in the land”)—or leave Islam per Sura 4:89. Sura 5:33 is also instructive here. This is all wrapped up with who is innocent and who is not and indicative of how Muslims play many word games.
A Muslim-free America would be a better America. One knows this or should know it. Muslims bring virtually no good to America or to the West in general. I wish they weren’t here. A la Bob Dylan, they’re such a drag to look at and have around. They are an impediment to America and the West.
James Lincoln says
Wellington says,
“A Muslim-free America would be a better America.”
I agree 100%. Just think of the coefficient of drag that it puts on our law enforcement, politics, government programs, and general psyche – just to name a few things.
All downside, no upside that I can see…
Wellington says
Thanks for your reply, James. Yeah, Muslims in the West (even in Islamic lands) are a downer all around. I hope that Islam’s final legacy will be that it was the ultimate “downer” over the longest period of time. A beautiful sentiment I would contend. A necessary one too if liberty is to survive.
To make things temporarily a little better in the mad world we live in don’t forget that great combination of beer plus pierogies. And a little NC pork BBQ would aid matters in this respect most definitely (and offend Muslims too, as the beer would, and offending Muslims is always a bonus whether by way of culinary delights or whatever).
Always good to read your comments. Take care.
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
Much thanks.
Friday night, great time for beer, pulled pork – and pierogies…
Keep posting – and enjoy your evening!
gravenimage says
Agreed, Wellington and James.
David says
James, look at what China are doing to tackle the problem: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-china-48696184/faith-in-ruins-china-s-vanishing-mosques
No Muzzies Here says
The only explanation for this is that her gray matter is not functioning properly. Too bad she didn’t choose to direct her energy into something that benefits mankind, instead of promoting a violent world-view.
Geoffrey Britain says
Another snake in the grass…
“And yet, teachers’ unions and academia are promoting Almontaser’s monotone tales of victimhood while ignoring or even suppressing more critical voices among America’s Muslims, who struggle against Islamist attempts to dominate their faith.”
“Islamist attempts to dominate their faith”?
Please. Islamists are the most devout of Muslims. Those who oppose them are willfully blind to the inherent nature of the monstrous ideology they still embrace.
Walter Sieruk says
When this Muslim Debbie Almontaser intentionally misleading uninformed, naive and gullible Westerners with her miseducation , disinformation ,efforts she is engaging in the sly insidious yet subtle stealth jihad is based on the Islamic dogma called Taqiyya .This is the Islamic doctrine the deception is a good thing to do as long as it’s done for the advancement of Islam.
In strong contrast to this practice of Taqiyya is the teachings found in the Bible . For the Bible informs its readers in Proverbs 11:18. “The wicked worketh a deceitful work…” Likewise, the very next chapter[12] of the same book of Proverbs it reads in verse 5 “The counsels of the wicked are deceit .” Also further on verse 20 it instructs “Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil…” [K.J.V.]
Geoffrey Britain says
There is no doubt in my mind that Islam is the work of the devil. In every respect, he could not invent a ‘religion’ more in keeping with his goal of destroying humanity.
gravenimage says
Debbie Almontaser: Misleading While Muslim
………………
She’s a nasty piece of work. “Intifada NYC” was, of course, a call to terrorize Jews in New York–or worse.
CTTV15@Hotmail.com says
The Propaganda millers at work.. They never quit complaining, while engaging in their mischief..
Prabh says
Punch into google “NASA DNA Vadakayil” for the rest of the story.
The Creation story is complicated, lol rofl…
Interesting tidbit of info: Hands of DevaDevian Gods from Devalok played a key role in construction of DarbarSahib Complex Amritsar Panjab. Source: Katha (discourses by Gyani on t v) Gyani is one with knowledge.
Even star of atheism Dr. Dawkins admits he is agnostic. It is good to be Godfearing and prudent for sake of one’s spiritual upliftment to not tolerate atrocities against anyone. Issrilecommits genocidal atrocities daily against small children. This will only harden World sentiment against jews. For four centuries Dr. Duke explains maidens of what is now Poland were targeted by jews (loss of honour, groomed, raped))stolen genetics is how jew waz Whitifyed.
gravenimage says
I see the grotesque Prabh is ranting about Jews and lauding the KKK again, What a creep.
David says
A muslim just raped a 7 year old girl! Just emulating the prophet Mo!
David says
Look at what China is doing to tackle the problem. Drastic but fantastic!: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-china-48696184/faith-in-ruins-china-s-vanishing-mosques