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| Islamic conference speaker draws wrath | |
| 2003-12-03 | |
| More fun in Florida, EFL: 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. Outraged, yes. Surprised, let me check....nope. A newly formed group, the Universal Heritage Foundation, is sponsoring the conference and an appearance by Shaikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais. Foundation leaders say the conference could bring thousands of people to 31 acres on U.S. Highway 192 near Florida’s Turnpike, site of a former culinary school that most recently housed a homeless shelter. How fitting. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, chairman and chief executive officer of the foundation and former president of the Islamic Circle of North America, envisions a home base in Florida’s tourist corridor that would attract Islamic scholars and promote tolerance among religious groups. Florida sure does seem to attract islamic types. Must be the weather. Some anti-hate groups, however, fear Shah may be inviting radicals to Central Florida who will stir up prejudice and divisiveness. "It raises questions and concerns for us about what the ultimate goal and message of the Universal Heritage Foundation is," said Mark Medin, Florida regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. "The message may not be of tolerance and respect. It may be a message of intolerance and antisemitism." Not when the cameras are running. Medin said several of the more than two dozen announced speakers have links to groups that have preached hatred. The list of speakers also raised eyebrows with some terrorism experts. "All those targets in one place. Sigh...." Shah 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." Sure you weren’t. Al-Sudais is senior imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. In contrast with his previous incendiary comments, Al-Sudais spoke in Lancashire, England, in October where he preached peaceful coexistence with neighbors and respect for the law before 8,000 people at one mosque and 4,000 at another, according to published reports. One speech when you’re in front of the infidel TV cameras, another for the faithful back home. Guess which one is real. A promotional flier says Al-Sudais was invited to the Osceola conference along with consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who ran for president in 2000 under the Green Party banner. Just need to add some arabic script to that green banner. Nader representatives said he does not plan to attend. Wonder if Dean or Clark are available? Shah said Tuesday he isn’t sure whether Al-Sudais would attend, either. If he does, Shah said Al-Sudais would be required to conform to the theme of the conference, "Islam for Humanity." Is that like that Twilight Zone cookbook "How To Serve Mankind"? 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 Wahhabi sect of Islam. Humm, because the Wahabis are funding the show? 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. When ever I hear the phrase "Open Season", somehow I always want to add "No Bag Limit". "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." Must be the company you keep.
Drumroll, please: 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.You know, the AF Weapons Test Center is right up the road at Eglin AFB. Maybe the MOAB needs one more test. | |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #3 I pastor a church and am director of our Christian school that is ON the 31 acre campus of this conference. We joke that we have the only church and Christian school on the campus of an Islamic College. Yes, we have already been interviewed by newspaper and TV. There goes the neighborhood. |
| Posted by: Pastor Lee Wasson 2003-12-9 7:31:20 PM |
| #2 Floridans: please advise your local FBI office, to blitz the conference grounds with camera and audiotape bearing agents. |
| Posted by: Vlad the Muslim Impaler 2003-12-3 9:09:46 PM |
| #1 Sami Al-Arian hails from central Florida. He's in jail for now, but I bet plenty of his Islamic Jihad friends aren't... |
| Posted by: seafarious 2003-12-3 1:44:19 PM |