Saturday, July 24, 2010

Imam Feisal and the Ground Zero Mosque

It's amusing that Charles Johnson, who was once perhaps the country's lead anti-jihad blogger, has done a 180 degree turn, and is now an apologist for radical Islam. Here's his post today (at a Google-safe link): "An Interview with the Lead Developer of Park51." C.J. smears Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer (and their supporters) as members of the "Bigot Brigade." And his "evidence" is an interview with Sharif el-Gamal, who is the CEO developer of the "interfaith" center at Ground Zero: "Q&A with Sharif el-Gamal about Park 51, NYC." Sharif waxes profoundly about what a uniter is Imam Feisal, chief sponsor of the Cordoba Initiative.

Don't believe it for a second.

I've previously laid out my position on the topic ("
To Build or Not to Build? Mosque Protests Go Nationwide"). I'm not one to back suppression of Islam in America, although my commenters have been extremely critical of Islam, at a 2-1 ratio. I do have problems with the Ground Zero project. It's especially chilling how the left has used this to demonize those still recovering loved once from Ground Zero. In any case, we have more in the news, for example Frank Gaffney's new video, "Center says ‘No’ to ‘Shariah Beachhead’ at Ground Zero":

Plus, see Andrew Bostom at yesterday's NY Post, "Behind the mosque :Extremism at Ground Zero?":

Imam Feisal Rauf, the central figure in the coterie planning a huge mosque just off Ground Zero, is a full-throated champion of the very same Muslim theologians and jurists identified in a landmark NYPD report as central to promoting the Islamic religious bigotry that fuels modern jihad terrorism.

This fact alone should compel Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg to withdraw their support for the proposed mosque.

In August 2007, the NYPD released "Radicalization in the West -- The Homegrown Threat." This landmark 90-page report looked at the threat that had become apparent since 9/11, analyzing the roots of recent terror plots in the United States, from Lackawanna, NY, to Portland, Ore., to Fort Dix, NJ.

The report noted that Saudi "Wahhabi" scholars feed the jihadist ideology, legitimizing an "extreme intolerance" toward non-Muslims, especially Jews, Christians and Hindus. In particular, the analysts noted that the "journey" of radicalization that produces homegrown jihadis often begins in a Wahhabi mosque.

The term "Wahhabi" refers to the 18th century founder of this austere Islamic tradition, Muhammad bin Abdul al-Wahhab, who claimed inspiration from 14th century jurist Taqi al-Din Ahmad Ibn Taymiyyah.

At least two of Imam Rauf's books, a 2000 treatise on Islamic law and his 2004 "What's Right with Islam," laud the implementation of sharia -- including within America -- and the "rejuvenating" Islamic religious spirit of Ibn Taymiyyah and al-Wahhab.
RTWT.

Also, previously at NY Post, "
Imam Unmosqued: Ground Zero Booster Tied to Sea Clash":
The imam behind a proposed mosque near Ground Zero is a prominent member of a group that helped sponsor the pro-Palestinian activists who clashed violently with Israeli commandos at sea this week.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is a key figure in Malaysian-based Perdana Global Peace Organization, according to its Website.

Perdana is the single biggest donor ($366,000) so far to the Free Gaza Movement, a key organizer of the six-ship flotilla that tried to break Israel's blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip Monday.

Nine passengers aboard the largest ship died in clashes with Israeli commandos, and a new confrontation loomed today, when another Free Gaza Movement ship was due to reach Gaza waters in defiance of Israel.
RELATED: At Discover the Networks, "FEISAL ABDUL RAUF."

3 comments:

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

It's amusing that Charles Johnson, who was once perhaps the country's lead anti-jihad blogger, has done a 180 degree turn, and is now an apologist for radical Islam. Here's his post today (at a Google-safe link): "An Interview with the Lead Developer of Park51." C.J. smears Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer (and their supporters) as members of the "Bigot Brigade." And his "evidence" is an interview with Sharif el-Gamal,

CJ is not an "apologist for radical Islam". For him to be such, he'd first have to believe that Rauf himself is a radical. And he doesn't need this interview to (quite fairly) attack Geller as an Islamophobe. The proof is right there in all her written glory and "Stop the Islamization of America" slogan.

although my commenters have been extremely critical of Islam, at a 2-1 ratio.

Yes. The "bigot brigade". They're going to lead the conservative movement straight off a cliff and give legitimacy to the charge of bigotry from the race-card carrying liberals.

Interesting how Bostom is trying to associate Rauf with extremism and wahhabism. Rauf has said more things "right" than naught; but the Islamophobes don't want to hear that side; so they selectively pick and choose any "gotcha" quotes they can find that can pin Rauf into a corner as being an Islamic radical.

The funding issue has also been stretched by those with an agenda.

Read Mata's arguments regarding the funding issues here and here.

AmPowerBlog said...

I'll check the links, Word.

Anonymous said...

My fear is giving them an opportunity to have a building close enough to do more damage. Surely they aren't finished yet. Why else would they want to build it there?