Activism by US Muslims shifts focus: Mosque leaders lobbying for civil rights protection

AP ^ | June 9, 2003 | Rachel Zoll

[sarcasm]

LEXANDRIA, Va. -- Before the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Islamic immigrants generally felt so safe in the United States that they focused much of their political activism on helping Muslims back home.

A meeting this weekend of the spiritual leaders of US mosques indicates an abrupt shift. With some of their civil rights restricted by the war on terror, they're now lobbying to protect themselves.

[LibertyThug]

Great (major sarcasm here).

[tkathy]

They have hopped on the bandwagon of victimhood.

[Madame Dufarge]

The event was organized by the Washington-based American Muslim Council:

"The tale of the mad autopen comes on the heels of additional information about Abdurahman Alamoudi of the American Muslim Council (AMC).

The Clinton campaign returned his $1,000 contribution after learning of his sympathies for Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group responsible for at least 130 deaths and over 600 injuries in a variety of Israeli bomb attacks. The Clinton campaign's June 30 filing with the Federal Election Commission lists Alamoudi's occupation as "American Museum Council" rather than "American Muslim Council." Just a typo, the First Lady's campaign has said.

Alamoudi, for his part, embarrassed Clinton further with his remarks at an October 28 rally at Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House. "I have been labeled by the media in New York to be a supporter of Hamas," Alamoudi said. "Anybody support Hamas here?" Alamoudi thrice asked the crowd of 3,000 as it screamed with excitement. "Hear that, Bill Clinton?" he continued. "We are all supporters of Hamas. I wish they added that I am also a supporter of Hezbollah...Does anybody support Hezbollah here?"

American Muslim Council

[holyh2o]

Because we don't accept their moon god, their lies and hatred, does that make us oppressors. To them it does, this is a free country where ideas flow and folks make up their own minds. I say if you can't stand in the arena of ideas because Islam is indefenceable too bad, I want civil rights from having my kids even hearing about Mohammed , he disgust me and so does Islam. To me it is no different than having MANBLA teach at school, they aren't allowed, why is Islam? Long live The USA and Israel. May we find patriots to rise up, speak up, and save this country until Christ returns. we don't let pedophiles roam, why do we allow Islam free reign to destroy our childrens minds. That's no religion, its a cult.
God, May Islam rot into dust ....
Don't go away mad, just go away...

[DonQ]

Good idea. Let's pass a law guaranteeing Moslems in America exactly the same civil rights that are enjoyed by Christians and Jews in Moslem countries.

[dennisw]

How come they always make the reporterettes write the immigrant sob stories? Now the Muslim symp stories too? As predictable as the sun's gonna rise.

[dennisw]

Right ... evict Jews from the MidEast via destroying Israel but we have a divine right to exploit Western democracies and flood into them via immigration ... and do our own special thing. Even set up schools that teach Jihad and Jew hatred and set up bases of Jihad funding and operation. United Kingdom and London in particular. USA, Canada too with their fundraising for Hamas only recently banned.

[dennisw]

Right ... evict Jews from the MidEast via destroying Israel but we have a divine right to exploit Western democracies and flood into them via immigration ... and do our own special thing. Even set up schools that teach Jihad and Jew hatred and set up bases of Jihad funding and operation. United Kingdom and London in particular. USA, Canada too with their fundraising for Hamas only recently banned.