Posted on 08/22/2007 7:10:29 PM PDT by neverdem
An NYPD report issued last week shined a spotlight on the growing threat of homegrown radicalism. As a member of the city's Muslim community, I must say: By describing the problem clearly, the report is an important contribution to our understanding of the terrorist threat.
Indeed, I am honored the report cited an article of mine, published in the Daily News last year, as evidence that the city's Islamic community sees a real danger in its midst. My commentary singled out a local radical group, the Islamic Thinkers Society, and warned against other poisonous elements.
In the wake of the NYPD report, people throughout the city's Muslim community must now ensure an ongoing, aggressive effort to root out radicals in the five boroughs.
New Yorkers should understand: Some of this is already underway. Many prominent Muslim leaders are fully aware of a fringe element whose sentiments stem primarily from a misinterpretation of religious teachings as well as from international political tensions.
To counteract these influences, we have taken progressive, positive steps - working closely with youth to educate and advise against the dangers of radical ideas. We understand that if we consider confronting this hatred a job for the police alone, they - and we - will fail. It is neighbors, clerics, family members and friends who see dangerous patterns as they emerge. We are the ones clued into potential problems before they might turn deadly.
Regrettably, some in the Muslim community have had a one-sided reaction to the NYPD report. One prominent organization issued astatement saying the "sweeping generalizations and mixing of unrelated elements may serve to cast a pall of suspicion over the entire American Muslim community."
While I agree with some of those words, it is critically important that we in the Muslim community acknowledge the undeniable scourge ofhomegrown radicalism even as we criticize others for making generalizations.
Yes, it is true: At times the NYPD report paints the Muslim community with too broad a brush. It fails to take note of the many changes that have taken place within our community over the years. I believe radicals are much more marginalized today than they were, for instance, 12 months ago.
And the report broadly identifies Muslim student associations, mosques, bookstores and other locations as possible hotbeds of radicalism. Such generalizations are not helpful. Finally, while the report correctly identifies "salafis" - members of a narrow strain of Islam - as the source of many radical views, it incorrectly identifies two prominent Muslims, Sayyid Qutb and Abul A'la Maududi, as salafis.
But on the central question, let there be no doubt: The Police Department has it right. Radicals who seek to incite hatred have been and remain a danger to New York.
Last September in these pages, I wrote: "There are local preachers who distort our faith to foment hatred of America. There are people who, rather than encouraging young people to build better lives for themselves, irresponsibly egg them on toward an angry and narrow view of the future. I see this danger every day."
We must communicate clearly that such views have never and will never be accepted by mainstream Muslims. And the police must have more trust in - and a more nuanced understanding of - us. Only when we work hand in hand can we eradicate this very real threat.
Ali is deputy imam of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and director of the Jamaica Muslim Center in Queens.
To much blood on their hands for a cease fire now.
The supposedly “peaceloving” Islamist have supported these Murderers for decades. And since when is the JIHAD suppose to end...... isn’t it convert or be murdered creedo.
Groups Rally For & Against Planned Arabic-Themed Public School (Dem: The School's A "Dangerous Idea"
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
Thanks for the ping!
This might be a beginning, but history is clear that Muslims practice Al tarkaaya and kitman.
Those nasty notions translate to “holy hypocrisy” - means it is OK to lie to the non-Muslim.
“Islam Delenda Est” - must become America’s battle cry in this latest Crusade forced upon us by Islam.
I hope no one is holding their breath..
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