On the Job Training

/0 Comments/in /by

On-the-Job Training

by M. Zuhdi Jasser

It is sad that President Obama and his team are still going through on-the-job training a year into their administration. Despite the fact that Janet Napolitano, our homeland-security secretary, bizarrely tried to nix the use of the term terrorism and despite the fact that his own White House dubiously dubbed this global conflict “an overseas contingency operation,” the president has finally learned to use the most obvious term – terror- this week. Mr. President, if you are listening, here are a few more thoughts from a concerned Muslim.

You cannot just stay hunkered down at your “beachhead” in Hawaii after another virulent byproduct of global political Islam attacked on our homeland. While no one was really hurt, you don’t exactly look like you are taking the issue seriously when your photo of the day captures a romp on the beach. It was not a coincidence that this was attempted on Christmas day, yet you ignore the religious struggles in this conflict. It is time that our commander-in-chief and the leader of the free world come to terms with the reality that this is the greatest conflict of the century and a battle of ideas between western liberal secular democracies and political Islam.

While you and your colleagues are stymied by the question of whether to even use the term “terror,” the ideology of al-Qaeda (violent political Islam) is spreading exponentially. Your systematic failure to advance American security against ideologies that threaten us may turn catastrophic. In fact the Christmas bomber said so himself, telling an investigator that “there are more just like me who will strike soon.” By all means, Mr. President, fix the holes in our security that we know are there – but terrorists who are suicidal religious zealots and very creative will sadly very likely strike again soon. This year certainly proves that.

Our nation is clearly becoming more and more anxious and concerned over the rash of radicalized Muslims. Is it not time for you to acknowledge that terror is a simply a symptom of a more profound deeper underlying disease? That disease is political Islam.

Hopefully you will realize that we can only defeat an enemy we can name, describe, and understand. As Thomas Friedman and others have recently reminded us, the only answer to jihadists, Salafists, and Islamists is a narrative from within America, and most important from within Islam, that counters the global supremacism of political Islam. Until you say exactly that, we will continue to flail in this conflict.

I hope after Nidal Hasan, after the American jihadis in Pakistan, and now after the Christmas bomber radicalized in London, that you see our need for clear leadership against political Islam and its ubiquitous permeating militant manifestations. We need a leader who recognizes that this conflict is most significantly within Muslim communities as we Muslims struggle with the conflict between theocracy and democracy, sharia and liberty, Islamism and freedom, and salafism and modernity. The longer you squander your leadership and stay silent on this, the more vulnerable we will be.

– M. Zuhdi Jasser is president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, which is based in Phoenix, Ariz. He is a former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander and a physician in private practice.

This blog commentary appeared online at the National Review Blog “The Corner” on November 30, 2009. It can be found at this link [http://corner.nationalreview.com]

AIFD President to Speak at 9/11 Never Forget Coaltion Rally

/0 Comments/in /by

WHO: Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser is the founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) and a devout Muslim. Dr. Jasser will be addressing the 9/11 Never Forget Coalition Rally on December 5, 2009. Dr. Jasser will be a Muslim voice calling on President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to change their decision to hold trials for the conspirators in the 9/11 attacks in civilian courts on US Soil. Dr. Jasser adamantly supports the use of Military Tribunals to bring the conspirators to justice.

The 9/11 Never Forget Coalition is a diverse group of 9/11 victims, family members, first responders, active and reserve members of the military, veterans, and concerned Americans. The organization sent a letter signed by 300 family members of 9/11 victims to President Obama, Attorney General Holder and Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking them to reverse course on holding the terror trials in New York. The letter has now been signed by over 120,000 Americans and is posted at http://www.keepamericasafe.com.


The following is the latest list of confirmed speakers for Saturday’s rally in New York City.

DAVID BEAMER-David Beamer is the father of Todd Beamer, a passenger on United Flight 93, which was hijacked on September 11.

TIM BROWN-Tim Brown is a retired, decorated 20-year FDNY firefighter and a survivor of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

DEBRA BURLINGAME-Debra Burlingame is the sister of Charles F. “Chic” Burlingame, III, pilot of American Airlines flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

CURTIS SLIW-Curtis Sliwa is a national radio talk show host heard in 20 cities around America. He is founder and director of the Guardian Angels.

RON AND ROBIN GRIFFIN-Ron and Robin are the Gold Star Parents of Army Specialist Kyle Andrew Griffin, 20, Bronze Star recipient killed in Iraq on May 20, 2003.

JAMES HANSON-Jim served as in U.S. Army Special Forces and is the co-founder of the Warrior Legacy Foundation.

LEE A. IELPI-In March 2004, Lee, along with Jennifer Adams, co-founded the Tribute WTC Visitor Center located across from the World Trade Center site in New York.

DR. M. ZUHDI JASSER-Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser is the Chairman of the Board, founding member, and President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD). He is one of the moderate, anti-Islamist Muslims featured in the controversial PBS film, Islam v Islamists.

EDITH LUTNICK-Edie Lutnick is a Co-founder, Officer, and the Executive Director of The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, a 501 (c) 3 charity established September 14, 2001.

STEVE MALZBERG-Steve Malzberg, one of America’s most recognizable faces and voices on the political talk scene, is a talk show host on WOR Radio in New York City and on the WOR Radio Network.

ANDREW C. McCARTHY-Andrew C. McCarthy is a former federal prosecutor and a Contributing Editor with National Review Online.

LAUREN MANNING-Lauren Manning is a former Managing Director and Partner at Cantor Fitzgerald. On September 11, 2001, Lauren was catastrophically injured in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

GREG MANNING-Greg was most recently Partner at Cantor Fitzgerald. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller, LOVE, GREG & LAUREN: A Powerful True Story of Courage, Hope, and Survival.

TERESA MULLAN-Teresa Mullan is the mother of FDNY Firefighter Michael Dermott Mullan, 34, Ladder 12 in Chelsea, who responded to the World Trade Center and perished on September 11, 2001.

PETER REGAN-Peter Regan is an active FDNY firefighter, and U.S. Marine who served two tours in Iraq and is a 9/11 family member. He lost his dad, Firefighter Donald Regan, FDNY Rescue Co. 3.

DANIEL RODRIGUEZ-Daniel Rodriguez is an operatic tenor from New York City. In the aftermath of September 11, he received widespread attention with his rendition of “God Bless America.”

SOURCE The Never Forget 9/11 Coalition

WHAT: The 9/11 Never Forget Coalition is holding a rally protesting the plan to bring the 9/11 terrorist conspirators to trial in New York City. The Coalition formed to fight the decision of President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to try the 9/11 co-conspirators in New York City’s federal court, effectively giving war criminals the same rights as American citizens while endangering the safety of all New Yorkers.

WHEN: December 5, 2009

12 Noon – 3:00 PM

WHERE: Foley Square

111 Worth St

New York, NY 10013-4008

ABOUT DR. JASSER: Dr. Jasser is a nationally recognized expert in the contest of ideas against political Islam and American Islamist organizations. He has spoken at hundreds of national and international events including colleges and universities, places of worship, government venues and many other public functions. On October 1, 2009, Dr. Jasser briefed members of Congress on the threat of Political Islam. He regularly briefs members of the House and Senate congressional anti-terror caucuses. In 2007 and 2008, Dr. Jasser lectured on Islam to deploying officers at the Joint Forces staff college. And In 2007, Dr. Jasser was part of a select group that briefed Admiral Mike Mullen on the “Contest of Ideas with the Muslim World.” Dr. Jasser’s writing and commentary appears in major media outlets such as Fox news, CNN, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, The Washington Times, National Review, TheHill.com, Family Security Matters (FSM.com), Islamist Watch, and the HuffingtonPost.com.

ABOUT AIFD: AIFD’s mission is to advocate for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States Constitution, liberty and freedom, through the separation of mosque and state. AIFD is the most prominent American Muslim organization confronting the ideologies of political Islam and openly countering the belief that the Muslim faith is inextricably rooted to the concept of the Islamic State.

UN Treaty would be a significant blow to Religious Freedom and Individual Liberty

/0 Comments/in /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The American Islamic Forum for Democracy unites with organizations around the world to protest its signing.

Phoenix, Ariz. (November 11, 2009) – The United Nations has continuously passed non-binding resolutions on “defamation of religions” since 1999. However, for the first time ever this year, a UN body proposed a binding treaty to combat the “defamation of religions.” Over 100 NGOS from over 20 countries have signed a Common Statement protesting the resolution . In a Geneva meeting that concluded on October 30th 1, Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and Nigeria, on behalf of the Africa Group, proposed a binding treaty amendment to the ICERD, an existing international treaty on racism.2

Meanwhile, in New York on October 29th, Syria, on behalf of the OIC, along with Belarus and Venezuela, proposed yet another General Assembly resolution “combating defamation of religions.” The resolution lends credibility to the proposal of a binding treaty and continues to provide international cover for domestic anti-blasphemy laws in countries like Pakistan and Sudan. A preliminary vote on the resolution is expected before Thanksgiving, and a final plenary vote is expected in early to mid-December.

In response, the American Islamic Forum for Democracy has joined over 100 other human rights organizations in a common civil society statement against the concept of “defamation of religions.” This coalition is indeed an odd group of bedfellows, both religiously diverse with Muslims, Christians, Baha’is, Jews, Hare Krishnas, Atheists, Humanists, and non-religious organizations, and also regionally diverse, hailing from over 20 countries around the world. The civil society statement is available below and at www.whatisdefamationofreligion.com.

“Human rights are meant to protect the individuals, not ideas or governments or even religions,” said Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, President and Founder of AIFD. “The moment governments begin to determine what is and what is not ‘defamation of religions’, we will have ushered in the end of free speech and the end of religious freedom.”

“It is the moral duty of all human rights defenders and advocates for genuine liberty around the globe to unite against this flawed concept before it becomes binding law.”

1 This meeting was convened by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards, a

committee created by the Human Rights Council to identify gaps in international law for the protection

against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and other forms of intolerance.

2 ICERD is an acronym for the International Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial

Discrimination, which was adopted in 1965 and entered force in 1969.

AIFD Honors Soldiers and Families from Fort Hood

/0 Comments/in /by

Shooting Rampage is latest example that clearly points to need to address Muslim radicalization in America

Phoenix, Ariz. (November 6, 2009) – The American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) sends its deepest, heartfelt condolences and prayers to the soldiers and families of the Fort Hood massacre. The soldiers who lost their lives or were injured yesterday are patriots who protected America’s freedoms and liberties at all cost. AIFD is horrified by this attack and the fact that it is an American Muslim who carried it out.

While many are struggling with the politically correct way to address Maj. Nadal Malik Hasan’s faith, AIFD believes that the ideology of Political Islam is at the heart of this incident. Whether Hasan was overtly radical or not is irrelevant. His actions were clearly influenced by Islamist beliefs. The Muslim community needs to not only condemn Hasan’s actions, but the ideology that spawned them.

“The Fort Hood shootings, the honor killing of Noor Faleh Almaleki in Arizona, the Abdullah shootout in Detroit and the rash of recent terror arrests across the United States share one common thread, the influence of Islamism on American Muslims,” said Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, President and Founder of AIFD. “Until that influence is diminished we are going to see an escalation of these events.

Political Islam (Islamism) is an ideology that at its core believes that the Koran and shar’iah legal interpretations should be the basis of government and the legal system. Islamism’s end goal is the establishment of a theocratic Islamic State. In America, that would be mean the complete rejection of the United States Constitution and the liberties and freedoms that Americans cherish.

“American Muslims can no longer deny the impact that Islamism is having on our community,” said Dr. Jasser, “We must confront the ideology that is radicalizing our faith and not allow Islamism to dictate the future of Islam in America.”

About the American Islamic Foundation for Democracy

AIFD’s mission is to advocate for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States Constitution and demonstrate that the separation of mosque and state and the tenets of Liberty and Freedom are integral to the Muslim Faith.

AIFD Congressional Briefing (October 1, 2009): Islamist Terror cannot be defeated without addressing Political Islam

/0 Comments/in /by

WHO: Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) will be hosting Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, President, AIFD for a Briefing to Congress. Confirmed attendees thus far include Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) and Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN). Other members of Congress and staff are also invited for this briefing by AIFD.

WHERE: Rayburn Building, Room 2203

WHEN: Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 1:30 PM

This event is open to the public. Please RSVP to Micaela Cordoba, AIFD at Micaela@aifdemocracy.org

WHAT: Since September 11th, U.S. Government officials have actively pursued a relationship with the Muslim community in America. This outreach has generated much discussion over the role of the U.S. Government with regards to the balance of national security and a concern about any infringement upon the rights of Muslims. Of equal importance, but so far entirely missing in this public discussion of the U.S. Government’s role, has been any tangible discussion with leading Muslims about the responsibilities and roles of American Muslims in countering the national security threat emanating from within the Muslim community itself. On the heels of a number of arrests last week around the country of radical Islamist plots and on the heels of the largest gathering of Muslims at the “Islam on Capitol Hill” prayer service of September 25, 2009, this briefing will open a public discourse focusing on the roles and responsibilities of American Muslims in their communities, mosques, and organizations both inside and outside the nation’s Capitol.

The problem of Muslim radicalization has not gone away since 9/11, and by some estimations the arrests and foiled terror plots by the FBI and Homeland Security are at a frequency not seen since 9/11. Yet, there has been little to no substantive discussion about what exactly fuels this unending and increasing incidence of radical Islamist terror plots.

Some Muslim American groups claimed that the NYPD report, Radicalization in the West: the Homegrown Threat, and the later U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security Study, Violent Islamist Extremism, The Internet, and the Homegrown Terrorist Threat, were “alarmist”. Yet, the fact remains that there is an urgent need to counter many of the Islamist ideologies which contribute to this radicalization and to protect those within the Muslim community in America who have been intimidated and silenced by such extremism.

This briefing to Congress by the American Islamic Forum for Democracy will begin a discussion about what the role of American Muslims should be in countering the ideologies which these reports revealed as threatening our homeland security.

ABOUT AIFD

AIFD is the most prominent American Muslim organization confronting the ideologies of political Islam and openly countering the belief that the Muslim faith is inextricably rooted to the concept of the Islamic State. AIFD believes that Muslims can better practice their faith when they are liberated by the separation of mosque and state.

AIFD seeks to fuel a movement within the Muslim consciousness and community which separates mosque and state. AIFD will accomplish its mission by educating Muslims on the value of Liberty and Freedom to the expression of faith and through the contest of ideas among non-Muslims and Muslims.

AIFD’s mission is to advocate for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States Constitution and demonstrate that the separation of mosque and state and the tenets of Liberty and Freedom are integral to the Muslim Faith.

For more information, please visit the Web site at www.aifdemocracy.org or call 602.254.1840.

‘Islam on Capital Hill Event” does not represent all American Muslims

/0 Comments/in /by


NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Islam on Capitol Hill Event” does not represent all American Muslims

March on Washington is just another cover for Islamist agenda

Phoenix, Ariz. (September 25, 2009) – The event in Washington D.C. that is supposedly bringing together thousands of American Muslims to pray for the “soul of America,” has at its core an agenda of political Islam, which is in direct conflict with Western democracy. The American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) is today speaking out against the event and the ideologies that are behind it.

The threat of Islamist inspired homegrown terror is growing in the United States with new arrests almost every month if not every week. The Capitol Hill event would be infinitely more impactful if its leadership focused on rallying against the ideologies within our own Muslim communities which fuel terrorism and radicalization and how we as American Muslims need to be the instrument of that change. Instead the organization is focused on a message of supremacy of Muslims saying “Our time has come.” They are propagating a message of Muslim first and American as necessary for political gain.

“If this event were about Muslims owning up to their responsibility to counter the Islamist ideas which fuel terrorism committed by Muslims, I would be all for it,” said Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, President of AIFD. ‘That simply is not the case though. This organization is just another example of how Islamists politicize the faith and seek to centralize their political power as a faith group.”

The organizers identified thus far are proven radical Islamists. One of the planned speakers Imam Sheikh Ahmed Dewidar advocated for conspiracy theories about 9/11 stating on the Muslim Brotherhood website (ikhwanonline.com):

“Whether or not these events were planned, or pinned on the Muslims, or something else-[it] provided an opportunity for the American government to legislate dubious laws that restrict the growth and presence of Islam in the U.S.”

Hassen Abdellah is an attorney who has represented convicted and suspected terrorists. Abdellah came up with the idea for the rally with Imam Abdul Malik. His own Facebook page attributes to him the following, “So no we don’t want to democratize Islam, we want to Islamize democracy. That’s what we want.”

Other more covert Islamist groups like ISNA have refused to participate but suspiciously avoided the topic of political Islam and seem in their comments to only have a quarrel over strategy. CAIR originally linked the prayer announcement on their site but has recently removed it.

“This event shows no condemnation by name of Muslim terrorist organizations, or any condemnation of core Islamists ideologies which fuel Islamist separatism and radicalism like the treatment of apostates and blasphemy under shar’iah law (Islamic jurisprudence), the abuse of women’s rights, and the incompatibility of the Islamic state and shar’iah with western democracy.” said Jasser. “I challenge the organizers to condemn political Islam so we know where they stand on this central fuel of Islamist terrorism.”

AIFD is the most prominent American Muslim organization confronting the ideologies of political Islam and openly countering the belief that the Muslim faith is inextricably rooted to the concept of the Islamic State. AIFD believes that Muslims can better practice their faith when they are liberated by the separation of mosque and state.

About the American Islamic Foundation for Democracy

AIFD’s mission is to advocate for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States Constitution and demonstrate that the separation of mosque and state and the tenets of Liberty and Freedom are integral to the Muslim Faith. For more information on AIFD, please visit our website at http://www.aifdemocracy.org/

###