by Steven Emerson
IPT News
March 26, 2008

The questionable associations and actions by many of its leaders cast serious doubt on CAIR's claims of moderation and restraint. Some have committed criminal acts themselves; others have ties to organizations with connections to Islamic extremism.

Those convicted of direct criminal activity include Ghassan Elashi, a founding board member of CAIR-Texas; Randall (Ismail) Royer, once a communications specialist for the national group, and Bassam Khafagi, the organization's one-time director of community relations.

In the more egregious cases, the organization has tried to distance itself from the individuals, contorting both logic and the English language. As the IPT's series on CAIR's history and activities continues, we look at the suspect nature of these examples and others close to the organization.

• Ghassan Elashi, who attended a 1993 Philadelphia meeting called by Hamas to discuss derailing U.S. peace initiatives, was convicted in 2004 on six criminal counts, including making false statements, conspiracy to violate the Export Administration Regulations and the Libyan Sanctions Regulations, and conspiracy to file false shipper's export declaration forms. He was a defendant again in the 2007 Hamas-support trial of the Holy Land Foundation (HLF), where jurors were unable to reach unanimous verdicts on the charges against him. [Read More!]

One of the goals in our 2008-2009 strategic plan is to launch ACT! for America chapters on college campuses. The article below is just one example of why this is so necessary. As has already occurred in countries like Australia and Great Britain, Muslims on American college campuses are increasingly demanding special treatment and accommodations, such as the request by some Muslim women at Harvard for women-only times at one of its gyms -- a request Harvard agreed to. The article below is an example of this, with a twist.

Other reasons why ACT! for America college chapters are needed include:

Politically correct “hate speech” codes, which are increasingly being used to silence critique and criticism of Islam on college campuses. The proliferation of Middle East and Islamic study departments that cover up the historical truth about Islam and whitewash what the Qur’an and the Hadith teach about jihad.

The blatant anti-Israel, anti-American, pro-Palestinian bias evident on so many campuses. We will need a presence on college campuses for patriotic students who agree with us and disagree with the elements of “cultural jihad.” Just as there is strength in numbers as we grow our national citizen action network, so a college chapter network will provide strength in numbers for those who now feel silenced and intimidated by what is happening on so many of our college campuses.

Islamofascism fraud at Wright State
By Patrick Poole
FrontPageMagazine.com | Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Power has its privileges. That’s no doubt what Mohammad “Moody” Kassem, a student government officer at Wright State University, thought a few weeks ago when he devised a plan to use his student government position to help promote the extremist agenda of another organization he is also a leader of – the Muslim Student Association.

In late February, Moody Kassem posted an online poll on the Wright State student government website directed exclusively towards Muslims which asked:

If you are of Islamic faith would you utilize a permanent prayer room? [Read More!]

Adapted from Dr. Peter Hammond's book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat...

The following analysis of how Islam progresses within a culture came to us via email over the weekend. While we have not yet read Peter Hammond’s new book, Slavery, Terrorism and Islam, the following is reportedly adapted from his book.

Irrespective of the source of this analysis, its conclusions are historically and empirically supported. As George Santayana wrote: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Regarding Islam, we don’t have to look back hundreds of years to learn from history. All we need do is look at what has happened in Great Britain over the past three decades.

Islam is not a religion nor is it a cult. It is a complete system.

Islam has religious, legal, political, economic and military components. The religious component is a beard for all the other components.

Islamization occurs when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate for their so-called "religious rights."

When politically correct and culturally diverse societies agree to "the reasonable" Muslim demands for their "religious rights," they also get the other components under the table. Here's how it works (percentages source CIA: The World Fact Book (2007).

As long as the Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone. In fact, they may be featured in articles and films, stereotyped for their colorful uniqueness:

United States -- Muslim 1.0%
Australia -- Muslim 1.5%
Canada -- Muslim 1.9%
China -- Muslim 1%-2%
Italy -- Muslim 1.5%
Norway -- Muslim 1.8%

At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs: [Read More!]

ED NOTE An Islamic school in Minnesota receives tax funding. We previously posted this story on our news site, as well as a commentary about some Islamic schools in Ohio receiving tax funding. More will be posted here - stay tuned.

It appears that the attention we and others have been drawing to the Islamic school in Minnesota has finally reached the ACLU, as evidenced by the ACLU press release below.

(From the ACLU) For Immediate Release
March 18, 2008

After receiving complaints that Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy in Inver Grove Heights is violating the Establishment Clause the ACLU-MN sent a letter to the academy questioning their practices. In the letter that was sent the ACLU-MN questions some of their practices, including addressing allegations that the school sponsors prayer.

Teresa Nelson, an attorney for the ACLU of Minnesota, says "We currently do not have enough facts to state whether or not the school is in violation of the establishment clause. The American Civil Liberties Union is a strong defender of separation of church and state and will take action if we find they are violating the establishment clause."

You can also read the letter that was sent to Tarek Academy.
(click the title for full article)

ED NOTE: After you have read this we suggest you print it out and tuck it away to refer back to whenever you hear the foolish voices of the politically correct - dismiss, rationalize or misunderstand the threat that is arrayed against us.

If They Don't Fool You, They Can't Defeat You March 11, 2008
by Barry Rubin, GLORIA, March 11, 2008

Radical forces in the Middle East have rewritten the international rulebook in a way designed so "they can't lose." That is, there's no easy response to their behavior and strategies.

What's even more worrisome is the widespread failure in the West even to realize this is happening. Hamas and Hizballah fire from among civilians and use civilian homes for military purposes; Syria or Iran deploy disinformation, radical regimes pretend moderation, and there are plenty of suckers to take the bait.

Extremism makes many believe that kind words and concessions can transform them; intransigence produces a response that if they won't give up we must do so.

Here are some new rules in which "we" represents such disparate forces as Hamas, Hizballah, Iran, Iraqi insurgents, al-Qaida, Syria, the Taliban, and others including radical Arab nationalists. These forces are not all alike or allied but do often follow a parallel set of rules quite different from how international affairs have generally been conducted.

1. We'll never give up. No matter what you do, we will continue fighting. No matter what you offer we will keep attacking you. Since you can't win you should give up. [Read More!]

Currently, some ACT! for America chapters in California are collecting and reviewing public school textbooks because of growing and justifiable concerns that Islam is receiving disproportionate coverage vis a vis other religious beliefs, and because frequently the way it is presented glosses over and even mischaracterizes the historical and doctrinal record of Islam.

For instance, one world history textbook devotes over 50 pages to Islam and about a half dozen pages to Christianity. Another textbook asserts that Muslims only use force in “self-defense.”

The story below raises another question: Are Islamic schools being funded by tax dollars?

[Note: if you want to go view the story online, you will have to register with the Star Tribune after you click on the link title.]

"Harvard tries women-only gym hours"
by Brigitte Gabriel - Act for America.

On February 26th we emailed you a story about Muslims in Australian Universities clamoring for classes to be scheduled to accommodate prayer times, and for segregated male and female dining rooms and recreation areas.

Today we bring you an AP story below, which describes how Harvard has adopted a policy of banning men from one of its gyms a few hours each week, to accommodate Muslim women.

The comment by one of the Muslim women who requested the change is particularly noteworthy:

“The majority should be willing to compromise," she said. "I think that's just basic courtesy. We must show tolerance and respect for all others."

But is this “respect for all others,” being “willing to compromise,” and “tolerance,” a two way street? As the Brits, the French, and the Dutch have learned, the answer is a resounding “no.” When the Archbishop of Canterbury stated that the imposition of sharia law is “unavoidable,” and necessary for “social cohesion” in England, he was acknowledging that the answer is “no.” [Read More!]