From the October 24, 2003
Wall
Street Journal we learn about one of the most prominent Moslem clerics in America:
But to his followers in Brooklyn's inner-city Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood and
elsewhere, the imam sometimes shows a different side. He has proclaimed that the
"real
terrorists" are the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency.
In another of his sermons, widely available for purchase on audiotape, he says, "In
time, this so-called democracy will crumble, and there will be nothing. And the only
thing that will remain will be Islam."
...
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz proclaimed this Aug. 15 "Siraj Wahhaj Day,"
in honor of his "lifetime of outstanding and meaningful achievement."
...
Five months later, the imam appeared as a defense witness in the landmarks-
conspiracy
trial, held in a packed Manhattan courtroom heavily fortified against possible
terror
attacks. The imam testified that it had been honor to host Sheik Abdel-Rahman at
Masjid At-Taqwa, and described him as a "respected scholar" known for having memorized
the Quran. "He is bold, as a strong preacher of Islam, so he is respected that way,"
Imam Wahhaj testified.
The imam called Mr. Hampton-El "one of the most respected brothers" in his
congregation.
He also testified that he had met a third defendant, Siddig Ibrahim Siddig Ali, and that
he had a favorable impression of a fourth, Ibrahim El-Gabrowny. All four were convicted
and sentenced to prison terms.
In the burgeoning world of Islam in America, Imam Siraj Wahhaj is a star. In 1991,
he
was the first Muslim ever to lead a prayer before the start of a session of the House of
Representatives. Four years ago, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright hosted
him
and other Muslim notables at a State Department banquet of lamb, lentils and saffron
rice to break the Ramadan fast. One of the country's most popular Muslim preachers, he
travels widely, extolling the Quran to large crowds at immigrant Islamic centers,
conventions and universities.
Islam is lucky not to have a hierarchy. If it did, I think we would clearly see that
even American Moslems are anti-American. As it is, we cannot point to an official
position. More, and more, though, it is becoming clear that while there are many leading
Muslims in America who are anti-American, there are few, if any, that are pro-American.
In the war against terrorism, we have seen many American Muslims help the enemy by
killing American soldiers, spying, or sending money to help terrorism. This is
unprecedented in American wars. In World War II, what American Germans, Italians, or
Japanese helped the enemy? How about World War I? The Spanish-American War? The Korean
War? The Vietnamese War? (Well, there were a few propagandists-- but Jane Fonda going to
Hanoi is mild compared to spying, funding, or killing.)
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