WHO IS DANIEL PIPES? Why the Islamic organizations don't like him.

WHO IS DANIEL PIPES?

Throughout his career, Daniel Pipes has exhibited a troubling bigotry toward Muslims and Islam. As early as 1983, even an otherwise positive Washington Post book review noted that Pipes displays "a disturbing hostility to contemporary Muslims...he professes respect for Muslims but is frequently contemptuous of them." Pipes, said the reviewer, "is swayed by the writings of anti-Muslim writers...[the book] is marred by exaggerations, inconsistencies, and evidence of hostility to the subject." (The Washington Post, 12/11/83)

In The Weekly Standard (1/22/96), Pipes offered a glowing review of the infamous anti-Muslim book "Why I Am Not a Muslim." The National Catholic Reporter (11/17/95) called that book "the literary equivalent of hate radio...literary warfare against Islam," useful only to those "interested in returning to the polemical past to do battle with Islamic believers." Pipes called the book "quite brilliant" and "startlingly novel." "This religion would seem to have nothing functional to offer," remarked Pipes.

Recently, Pipes questioned the origins of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, and questioned whether the Prophet Muhammad ever existed.

He wrote: "The Koran is a not 'a product of Muhammad or even of Arabia,' but a collection of earlier Judeo-Christian liturgical materials stitched together to meet the needs of a later age...A few scholars go even further, doubting even the existence of Muhammad." (The Jerusalem Post, 5/12/2000)

According to Pipes, the night journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem referred to in the Quran (17:1) never occurred. This event, known as "al-Isra wa al-Miraj," is marked each year by millions of Muslims worldwide. In the Los Angeles Times, Pipes wrote: "The Prophet Mohammed never went to the city, nor did he have ties to it." (7/21/2000)

Pipes also displays a racist's distaste for Muslim immigrants who "wish to import the customs of the Middle East and South Asia." (Los Angeles Times, 7/22/99) For Pipes, this sort of raw bigotry is nothing new.

In 1990, he said: "Western European societies are unprepared for the massive immigration of brown-skinned peoples cooking strange foods and maintaining different standards of hygiene...All immigrants bring exotic customs and attitudes, but Muslim customs are more troublesome than most." (National Review, 11/19/90)

In a review of a book that called for dialogue with the Muslim world, Pipes objected to the fact that the author: "...fails to...consider the implications of growing Muslim populations in the West. [The book], in other words, provides little guidance to the Islamic threat." (Wall Street Journal, 10/30/92)

On a radical pro-Israel web site, Pipes claims that "as the population of Muslims in the United States grows, so does antisemitism."

("The New Anti-Semitism," http://freeman.io.com/m_online/jan98/pipes.htm)

He does not limit this claim to Arab Muslims alone. Pipes wrote that "Iranians and Pakistanis, to take two groups of non-Arabs, are at least as widely conspiracy-minded and as anti-Semitic as, say, Tunisians and Kuwaitis." (Commentary, 9/1/99)

Of African-American Muslims, Pipes wrote: "...black converts tend to hold vehemently anti-American, anti-Christian, and anti-Semitic attitudes." (Commentary, 6/1/2000)

In an editorial in Canada's National Post, Pipes implied that the Canadian Muslim community could pose a threat to that country. He wrote: "Following Marxism, Leninism and Fascism comes Islamism...Islamism is a...phenomenon that has the power to do mischief...right here in Canada." (8/7/99)

(Pipes now claims all these quotes were taken out of context.)

This is the same "expert" who claims Muslims have no real religious attachments to the city of Jerusalem and who recently argued that American Muslims pose a threat to the Jewish community. ("If I forget thee: does Jerusalem really matter to Islam?" The New Republic, 4/28/1997, and "America's Muslims against America's Jews," Commentary, 5/01/1999)

In response to a suggestion that American Muslim voter registration drives are a positive development, Pipes wrote: "I fail to see how conducting voter registration drives implies the Islamists are not 'bad.' The CPUSA [Communist Party USA] also staged registration drives, and for similar reasons." (MSANEWS, 8/18/99)

Following the arrest of two Arab graduate students on a flight bound for Washington, D.C., (the airline later apologized for the incident) Pipes supported the practice of religious and ethnic profiling.

According to the Baltimore Sun: "'It seems well worth it in order to keep would-be terrorists off guard,' said Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum, a think tank. He defended the close monitoring of Arab passengers, arguing that 'the record shows over the last generation that the great acts of violence are coming from the Middle East...'" (The Baltimore Sun, 11/24/1999, Page 1A)

Noted scholar and author Edward Said, whose works include "Covering Islam" and "Orientalism," wrote that Pipes is one of a group of anti-Muslim pundits who seek to "make sure that the '[Islamic] threat' is kept before our eyes, the better to excoriate Islam for terror, despotism and violence, while assuring themselves profitable consultancies, frequent TV appearances and book contracts." (The Nation, 8/12/1996)

A former director of Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies (and one of Pipes' instructors) had this to say:

"...to speak for myself, I have been appalled frequently by his [Pipes] polemical stance on almost everything having to do with Islam, Muslims, or the Palestinian/Israeli issue...

"...The irony in [an article written by Pipes] is of course that Dr. Pipes and other radically and blindly pro-Zionist American Jews are much farther along the chauvinist and ultimately anti-American spectrum than are even radical American Muslims.

"Yet Dr. Pipes, despite his own apparently strong, even blind, support for the Israeli state and its policies -- even those policies that are attacked by thoughtful Israelis themselves as racist and oppressive -- sees no incongruity in his condemnation of many Muslim Americans as a threat to the American state and democracy..." (Posted on Arabic-Info, PNET and Arab Nationalist lists, 9/10/99)

One of the anti-Muslim pundits supported by Pipes is Steven Emerson. Emerson is best known for his 1994 PBS production "Jihad in America." Muslims say he has a long history of defamatory and inaccurate attacks on the Islamic community in this country.

Emerson was the "journalist" who fueled anti-Islamic hysteria by blaming Muslims for the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. He also said Muslims were responsible for the downing of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.

Emerson's organization, the Investigative Project, is a spin-off of Pipes Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum (MEF). In an investigative report by iViews.com, Emerson confirmed that MEF funded his activities in the past and said: "Clearly I had a very close relationship with them (MEF) and I continue to have a very close relationship."

Emerson is currently involved in a multi-million-dollar defamation lawsuit against a Florida newspaper, its senior editor, and a former investigative reporter for The Associated Press (AP).

The complaint centers on allegations published by the newspaper that two AP reporters said Emerson gave them a document on terrorism supposedly from FBI files. The reporters said the document was actually authored by Emerson. The lawsuit also disputes allegations that Emerson gave false information to a Senate subcommittee during testimony in 1998.

He has recently been forced to retract accusations he made last year about a former journalism lecturer at California State University in Hayward, Ca.

Of Emerson, Pipes says: "I am proud to work with him." (MSANEWS, 9/2/99)

Pipes also seeks to silence those who oppose his one-sided view of Islam. In 1996, he attacked the Council on Foreign Relations for publishing a newsletter that he accused of "giving voice to Muslim fundamentalists." ("Fundamentalist Flap Roiling Council on Foreign Relations," Forward, 5/10/1996)

American Muslims recall Mr. Pipes finger-pointing following the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. (Pipes now admits that he was wrong on this point.) As The Village Voice noted: "Leaping directly into hysteria was the right-wing Daniel Pipes...who told USA Today...'People need to understand that this is just the beginning. The fundamentalists are on the upsurge, and they make it very clear that they are targeting us. They are absolutely obsessed with us.'" (5/2/95)

It would seem Mr. Pipes is the one with the obsession.

Given this history of hostility toward Muslims in general and to the American Muslim community in particular, it is not surprising that Pipes paints a black and white image of good "integrationist" or "traditional" Muslims who love mom and apple pie versus bad Muslim "chauvinists" and "Islamists." This distinction without a difference is merely a smoke-screen for attacks on any Muslim who would defend Islam.

In his writings to date, Pipes has never offered objective criteria that would distinguish between "integrationist" and "chauvinists." His definition of "chauvinist" must be fairly broad. In his National Post article, Pipes wrote: "The Internet boasts hundreds of Islamist [chauvinist] sites; I doubt whether there is a single one that is traditional [integrationist] Muslim." (8/7/99)

Pipes obviously hopes to convince people of other faiths that the bad American Muslims are in the majority since he claims they "run most of the Muslim institutions in the United States." (Los Angeles Times, "It Matters What Kind of Islam Prevails," 7/22/99)

In a commentary on Pipes' claim that Muslims wish to take over America *8/17/2000), San Francisco Chronicle writer Vlae Kershner said: "...Daniel Pipes baldly states that Muslim claims that they face discrimination and harassment in the United States are 'false.' He gives no supporting evidence.

"Pipes goes on to write: 'all Islamists (fundamentalist Muslims) have the same ambition, which is what they call 'the Islamization of America.' By this, they mean no less than saving the US through transforming it into a Muslim country.'

"Where'd he find that, some pseudo-document called the Protocols of the Elders of Mecca?"

The kind of agenda-driven polemic offered by Pipes only serves to fan the flames of ignorance and prejudice. But perhaps that is his intent.

-----

CAIR

Council on American-Islamic Relations

453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.

Washington, D.C. 20003

Tel: 202-488-8787

Fax: 202-488-0833

Page: 202-490-5653

E-mail: <mailto:cair1@ix.netcom.com>

URL: <http://www.cair-net.org/>

I received the following by email, because I do not have permission by the author to post this I am with holding his name:

Our government is now blaming Islamic terrorists for the heinous crimes of last Tuesday. Because of the immense, intimidating power of the Islamic world, our media is allowing Muslim clerics a platform to say that what happened Tuesday has no basis in Islam. (They never do this for pro-life groups when an abortion clinic is bombed!)

To find the truth, one only has to turn to the Holy Book of Islam, the Qur'an (or Koran).

Terrorism is a logical outcome of putting the Qur'an into practice. The Qur'an promotes permanent struggle against non-Muslims - or at least until non-Muslims are converted to Islam, subjected to Islamic authority, or killed. Here is a listing of relevant verses:

Islam promises hell to non-Muslims 3:85, 4:56, 5:37, 5:72, 8:55, 9:28,15:2,21:98-100,22:19-22,22:56-57,25:17-19,25:55,29:53-55,31:13,66:9,68: 10-13,72:14- 15,

Islam warms against mixing with non-Muslims 2:21,3:28,3:118,5:51,5:144,9:7,9:28,58:23,60:4.

Islam calls on Muslims to wage war against non-Muslims 2:191, 2:193, 4:66, 4:84, 5:33, 8:12, 8:15-18, 8:39, 8:59-60, 8:65, 9:2-3, 9:5, 9:14, 9:29, 9:39, 9:73, 9:111, 9:123, 25:52, 37:22-23, 47:4-5, 48:29, 69:30-37.

Islam encourages war against the non-Muslims by glorifying it 2:216, 9:41, 49:15,

or by promising lust in paradise to the Shaheeds who die in such a war 3:142,3:157-158,9:20--21.

For those without a handy Koran, here are just a few examples: "O ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers .... and let them find harshness in you." [Koran, "Repentance" (chapter 9): 123]

"Humiliate the non-Muslims to such an extent that they surrender and pay tribute. [Koran, Repentance: 29]

"O believers, do not treat your fathers and brothers as your friends, if they prefer unbelief to belief, whosoever of you takes them for friends, they are evildoers. [Koran, Repentance: 20]

"Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends.... whoso does that belongs not to God. [Koran, The House of Imram: 60]

As hundreds of thousands of Iranian Bahais found out when Ayatollah Khomeni took power, any non Muslim who is not a Jew or a Christian is to be immediately executed if they do not convert on the spot to Islam. Jews and Christians are allowed to keep their religion as second class slaves with no civil rights and extra taxes not paid by Moslems. A non-Muslim's testimony is not acceptable or even allowed in court against Muslims or even against other non-Muslims. Non-Muslims do not have the right to assume leading jobs in the state. A Muslim's life is spared even if he kills a Christian intentionally while a Muslim may only be required to die if he kills another Muslim. The reason, as Muhammad said is that "only Muslims' blood is regarded equal." Thus, no Muslim should be killed for murdering a non-Muslim. On the other hand, if a non-Muslim merely curses a Muslim, he must either be sentenced to death or be converted to Islam! However, if a Muslim murders a non-Muslim, he will only pay a fine.

Dr. Abdul Moumin says, "All Muslims Jurists agree that a judge should be a Muslim and it is forbidden for a non-Muslim to be a judge according to the Qur'anic verse: "There is no authority of the infidels over the Muslims not have the right to propagate their religion in Muslim lands."

It is apparent to everyone, therefore, that the position of a judge is prohibited for a non-Muslim or a woman because Muhammad said plainly, "May God curse the people who appoint a woman to govern them" (Bukhari, Volume 6, p. 10, and Volume 9, p. 70).

A well known saying of Muhammad is: "Do not meet Jews or Christians with greetings. If you ever meet them in the street, force them to the narrowest part of it" (refer to Sahih of Muslim, "Interpretation of Nawawi", Vol. 5, p. 7; also Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya: Zad al-Ma'ad, Part 2, pp. 424, 425).

This sentiment is also backed up in the Koran: "They [the Children of Israel] were consigned to humiliation and wretchedness. They brought the wrath of God upon themselves, and this because they used to deny God's signs and kill His Prophets unjustly and because they disobeyed and were transgressors" (Sura 2:61).

According to the Koran, the Jews try to introduce corruption (5:64), have always been disobedient (5:78), and are enemies of Allah, the Prophet and the angels (2:9798).

Here are some of the claims that Islam makes against Christians. Some Christians will steal if entrusted with money (3:75). Most Christians are wicked in their lifestyles (3:110; 5:59,66; 57:27). Christians have a great hatred for Muslims in their hearts which they deceitfully hide (3:118,119). Christians rejoice when disaster befalls Muslims. They also act toward Muslims with guile (3:120). Christians compete with one another to make illicit profits (5:62). Christian priests don't forbid their people's sins and instead commit them themselves (5:63). Christian monks devour wealth wantonly and bar people's way to the truth (9:34). Christians display pride, enmity and hatred in their factionalism among themselves (5:14; 30:32).

No wonder there is dancing in the streets of Nablus, Palestine and everywhere in the Muslim world after the events of Tuesday! The whole history of Islam is summed up in their flag--the sword (conquest by force) and crescent (the deceit and stealth of a night attack barely lit by a crescent moon). If you have a "friend" who says he is a good Moslem, he's lying.

No good Moslem could be a real friend unless he can convert you to Islam. If he can't convert you, then anything--lying, cheating and killing--is permissible to him to bring you and yours under Islamic domination.

The men who perpetrated this horrible crime are the real face of Islam. Don't let the Moslem clerics fool you. As Abraham Lincoln said "A house divided against itself can not stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free." Substitute "world" for "government".

Fascism, Communism are nothing to Islam which in terms of deadly devotion of the masses is like Fascism AND like Communism in its universalism. War with Islam is inevitable because it's totally incompatible with the Biblical basis of our Western Civilization They must conquer us or be conquered by our values and beliefs.

Jesus said "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." The Lord doesn't want "any to perish but everyone to come to repentance". He commands us to "make disciples of all nations".

In dealing with the 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, we must follow the way of the Gospel and as best we can, love them into His Kingdom. Of course, the Bible allows us self-defense. But we must defend ourselves in sorrow rather than in anger. Before we begin to defend ourselves, we should look to God and repent of our national sins. We are the biggest purveyor of pornography and other disgusting "entertainment" in the world. We have the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world and nearly the highest abortion rate. It's understandable how many Muslims can view America as the "Great Satan", the cesspool that is polluting the world. We can not over come evil with evil, but only with hearts clean before the Lord. We must fast and pray and be ambassadors for Christ as we have never done in the past. Only then can we hope to defeat the greatest anti-Christ force in the world today.

Subject: The Copts need a Strong and Clear voice
From: <Philopater@copticdigest.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 17:32:22 -0400

Dear Readers:

An old proverb says that lies have short legs or in Arabic Elkidib Regleeh
Kosiera. Over the past few years an organized and well-financed public
relations campaign has been orchestrated in the United States media. It has
been proclaiming that there is a strong and large Muslim Arabic voting
block in the US. One will have to admit that they did a decent job as their
exaggeration of the numbers of Muslims and Arabs may have even persuaded or
deceived some members of the media and the Congress.

The recent terrorist attack seems to have torpedoed among other things the
US Arab and Muslim groups self proclaimed importance and political clout
based on numbers. For a starter, many of the papers admit now that the
majority of the so-called Arab Americans are actually Christians not
Muslims. Using data published by the Economist magazine of September 22,
2001 page 31, a breakdown by religion of those so called Arab Americans are
42% catholic, 23% orthodox, 12% protestant and 23% Muslim, i.e. 77% are
Christian and only 23% are Muslim. Furthermore a breakdown by origin is as
follows: 56% from Lebanon, 14% from Syria, 11% from Egypt, 9% from
Palestine, 4% from Jordan, 2% from Iraq, and 4% categorized as other.
Furthermore, most of the Muslims in the US are blacks not Arabs.

Most of the Christians who left their homelands in the Middle East have
done so, because of the persecution of the Arabs and Turks for the
Christian minorities for centuries. The Christian minorities cannot by any
extent of the imagination called as Arabs. They are the descendants of the
original population of the Middle East when the Arabs conquered it circa
638 AD, and who survived the centuries of persecution, impoverishment by
the levied taxation, and forced Islamization and Arabization.

It is interesting to note that the public relations and propaganda campaign
in the US has been exaggerating its strength and political clout for so
long using the mostly Christian population which immigrated from the Middle
East, while denying the facts of ongoing discrimination, persecution and
out right violence committed against the very same population in their own
countries in the Middle East. Again regardless of its lack of truth, one
will have to admire the well-organized Arabic and Islamic propaganda
machine in the US for its effectiveness.
Only recently groups of Christians from Middle East origin including the US
Copts started banding together to defend the human rights of the Christian
minorities in the Middle East. I urge all the readers to consider most
carefully the consequences of this situation. We are being used against our
own will and interest by a well-financed Arabic and Islamic public relation
campaign. A strong and clear voice for the Copts in the American media is
needed. You all have a role in educating the media and public at large
about the Copts and their quest for human rights and equality in their own
homeland. I ask you all to support the US Copts and the Coptic Information
Center. Please check the US Copts web page on www.copts.com and contribute
generously. You can also send your contribution by mail to
The US Copts Association
8116 Arlington Blvd #155
Falls Church, VA 22042
U.S.A.

Philopater
A proud Coptic-American

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