Bush, Saudia Arabia, & Religious Extremism

With Friends Like These: Stop Saudi jihad proselytizing in U.S.

09:23 PM CST on Sunday, February 6, 2005

The 9/11 Commission report said America isn't fighting a war on "some generic evil" called terrorism, but a war on Islamist terrorism. What are we to make, then, of the startling fact that some of our Saudi allies are seeding U.S. mosques with enemy propaganda?
The nonpartisan Freedom House recently released a report on the spread of Saudi-sponsored hate literature. In 2003, investigators visited leading American mosques and collected written material available to congregants. The documents, originating either with the Saudi government or Saudi-funded sources, advocate Wahhabism, the extremist form of Islam that Freedom House describes as a "fanatically bigoted, xenophobic and sometimes violent ideology."
According to the report (available at freedomhouse.org/religion), investigators gathered literature that teaches contempt for Jews, Christians and tolerant Muslims, as well as hatred for America. Material found in a Houston mosque even commands the faithful to establish a revolutionary fifth column.
Some of these documents came from the Dallas Central Mosque in Richardson. Unfortunately, this kind of thing is not altogether alien to this mosque. Last spring, it hosted a youth quiz competition, sponsored by two national organizations closely tied to the worldwide Islamist movement. Kids were tested on the work of premier jihad ideologist Sayyid Qutb.
The mosque's imam, Dr. Yusuf Kavakci, has publicly praised two of the world's foremost radical Islamists, Yusuf Qaradawi and Hasan al-Turabi, as exemplary leaders. Dr. Kavakci also sits on the board of the Saudi-backed Islamic Society of North America, described in congressional testimony as a major conduit of Wahhabist teaching. Yet Dr. Kavakci tells The Dallas Morning News he rejects Wahhabist teaching. Something doesn't add up.
To be clear, Freedom House's study is not comprehensive. It examined a small number of U.S. mosques, choosing the larger and more influential ones. It would be unfair to conclude that these findings represent all American mosques, or for that matter all American Muslims. The Saudis are the real villains in this study.
Still, these findings are alarming. The report identifies the spread of Wahhabist thought in this country as a national security threat. The war for the hearts and minds of Muslims is being fought here, too. The U.S. government allows the foreign enemies of freedom and tolerance to spread jihad ideology on the home front. Why? Congress should get to the bottom of this.

source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/020705dnedisaudi.9ded6.html

Letters for Sunday: Controversy over wahhabi writings
01:00 AM CST on Sunday, February 13, 2005

Stop the hate talk
Re: "Anti-American writings found at U.S. mosques – Wahhabi material also at Richardson center; imam says he doesn't follow teaching," by Jeffrey Weiss, Feb. 5 news story, and "With Friends Like These – Stop Saudi jihad proselytizing in U.S.," Monday Editorials.
The unrealistic connotation that the Dallas Central Mosque is Wahhabi or is teaching Wahhabism simply because an insignificant amount of outdated materials are found in the mosque library is absurd. I have been a member and visitor to this mosque for over 10 years and would like to remind readers that:
•Imam Yusuf Kavakci, in almost every sermon, reminds us that we are blessed to be in this country where we can practice our religion freely. As devout Muslims, we do not hate Americans or people of any other religion.
•Muslims are reminded to respect all other religions, and the mosque has very good relations with churches and synagogues. Imam has invited priests, rabbis and their followers to the mosque by holding several interfaith events and open houses.
•Finally, I hear more hatred preached against Muslims.
This hate talk should stop so we can live freely and love our religion, as well as our country.
Moaz Khan, Garland

Accusations not true
The finding of objectionable material at a mosque does not mean that the mosque administration subscribes to that philosophy. As a Muslim, I assure you that accusations made in the news story and editorial are not true.
Mosques across the United States promote tolerance and understanding, and to accuse them of promoting anti-Americanism is wrong. However, mosque administrations should do a better job of screening the material that is displayed on their premises.
There is a double standard, however. Anti-Muslim remarks are acceptable under the First Amendment, but American Muslims are subjected to harsh criticism in incidents like these. What about freedom of expression for American Muslims?
Abdul Hadi Khan, Frisco

Stop the generalizations
Merely having literature to "know" about a topic does not constitute support of it. If that is the case, all of our libraries must be shut down, including most church and seminary libraries.
What about books on the Ku Klux Klan? Does that mean that the Plano Public Library system is preaching those beliefs?
It's time we stop generalizations, specifically when it comes to Muslims. The writers of the news story and editorial have no clue about the scholars of Islam, specifically Dr. Yusef Qaradawi.
If we are talking about extremism and misrepresentation, how about Billy and Franklin Graham?
Mona Abou-Sayed, Plano

Wahhabis in control
This editorial was timely and right to the point. As American Muslims, we have to hang our heads in shame when we hear Wahhabi imams in our mosques castigating Christians and Jews and condemning fellow Muslims who think otherwise.
Most of the big mosques in America have been taken over by the Saudi-funded Wahhabi lobby. As one who knows, I would add that most of the major U.S. Muslim organizations – ISNA, AMA and CAIR – are controlled by the hateful Wahhabis, while moderate Muslims are left with no voice.
The officials of most Muslim organizations have two faces: one for the American public as peace-loving, tolerant and law-abiding citizens; and the other, true face of hate, vengeance and intolerance.
Their activities under the garb of minority rights pose a serious threat to our security. Do not be fooled by the pious faces of these radical Islamists in our midst.
K. Khan, Arlington

More Islam-bashing
Right now, anyone can write or say anything negative about Islam and cash it. Islam-bashing is the new fad among money-hungry writers.
The article refers to having collected Saudi-sponsored literature in 2003. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Dallas Central Mosque and all other mosques in the area held open houses for the public and media. All literature is placed in the rotunda of the mosque and publicly available.
People from Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and all other faiths visit the mosque regularly.
As to the contemptuous reports of preaching hate against other faiths, it is not exclusive to Islam fanatics. You will find that fundamentalism within most groups.
As a responsible newspaper, I am glad The News chooses to publish another point of view. I do hope, if a group is accused of anything, it will be checked out first.
Mike Ghouse, Carrollton

Letters for Monday
08:33 PM CST on Sunday, February 13, 2005

Muslims angry, too
Re: "Too many Muslims in denial," by O.A. "George" Lively, Wednesday Letters.
It is people like Mr. Lively with their invective that make people like his neighbor so apprehensive. It is not the Islamic religion that espouses such heinous actions as 9-11, but terrorists who misconstrue its preaching.
Not all Muslims are terrorists and support attacking America. Terrorists can be of any race or religion. Muslims all over the country are probably angrier at the 9-11 terrorists than you are, for not only did they kill so many innocent people, they alienated their religion in the eyes of many ignorant people like Mr. Lively.
Gurpreet Singh, Dallas

Try condemnation
Since the Feb. 7 editorial concerning Saudi Arabian-produced Wahhabi materials being found in U.S. mosques, few Muslims have condemned the practice and many attempt to blame Americans for "whipping up a frenzy against Muslims" or discount the materials as minor and unimportant.
Were I to enter my place of worship and find materials displayed from radical American organizations – say, any group that advocates death to or superiority over any other group – I would be infuriated. I would demand the materials' removal and an apology.
Why have so many Muslims writing in done everything but condemn the fact that these materials are in their place of worship?
Robert Thickman, Murphy

Don't tread on me
It does not matter to me if one worships Christ, Buddha, Islam, Wicca or a pecan tree, but when any faith teaches that my country and family are evil, then, Houston, we have a problem.
Warren D. Caldwell, Richardson

source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/letters/stories/021405dnedimonletters.9d156.html