Posted on 06/27/2002 6:20:25 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
ASHINGTON, June 26 — A planned appearance by Director Robert S. Mueller III of the F.B.I. at a meeting of the American Muslim Council has prompted protests because of accusations that the organization supports extremist groups and has antipathy toward Israel.
Mr. Mueller is scheduled to speak Friday at a luncheon during a meeting of the council in Alexandria, Va. In the past, the council has urged members to contribute to certain charities, some of whose assets have since been frozen by the United States for links to terrorists. Some members of the council have been accused of supporting militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Today, a Democratic state assemblyman, Dov Hikind of Borough Park, said Mr. Mueller should cancel his appearance because another speaker at the meeting has expressed strong anti-Israel views. "This is really outrageous," Mr. Hikind said. Faiz Rehman, communications director for the council, said it is a mainstream group that has cooperated with the Bush administration since Sept. 11. "If you want to characterize us with all these negative comments because of the comments of one or two individuals," he said, "that should not be."
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