UCI College Republicans sponsor "terrorists"

By Mohamad Abdelfattah

After attending a wonderful ceremony celebrating and affirming religious tolerance at UCI, I decided to check out an event being put on by the College Republicans featuring three self-proclaimed former terrorists. I was disturbed to find out that the event was completely dedicated to demonizing the religion of Islam and its followers. It was the furthest thing from the spirit of the ceremony I had attended earlier that morning.

The alleged former terrorists Walid Shoebat, Zak Anani and Kamal Saleem each discussed their supposed radical Islamic lives of the past. The first to speak was Kamal, who described his intense childhood. He claimed, "at 7 years of age, I went on my first mission into Israel…we went through an underground tunnel with 50 kg of TNT on my back." I find it difficult to believe that at seven years of age this guy held 110 pounds of explosives on his back, when my own seven year-old brother has difficulty carrying his backpack to school everyday. Kamal's story seemed to be staged as part of a play – he kept referring to his notes and would raise his voice at certain times to dramatize his act.

Next up was Zak Anani who who told us that he grew up in Lebanon and at age thirteen joined a radical Islamic movement. Interestingly, his biography on Shoebat’s website indicates his level of “religiosity”: he refused to pray and actually killed a fellow Muslim for asking him to pray the early morning prayer! Yet, he claimed that his religion inspired him to kill hundreds – by the age of eighteen, he was allegedly personally responsible for the deaths of 223 people. By the way, he does not provide the context. Apparently his activities occurred during the civil war when most factions, Muslim and non-Muslim, were all busy killing each other; yet, somehow his actions committed as a Muslim stand out and indict the entire religion.

His hatred of Islam is intense. He said, "There isn't really radical Islam, they're either Muslim or non-Muslims.” In other words, our fight terrorism is in reality a war against all Muslims. The neo-con mantra “You’re either with us or you’re against us” has been translated into “You’re either Muslim or you’re non-Muslim.” Talk about religious intolerance.

The final person to speak was Walid Shoebat, a self-professed ex-PLO fighter. Walid claims to be Palestinian. He also makes the claim that he used to be a terrorist with the PLO, but provides absolutely no documentation or proof that would support his claims.

I will spare the readers the details of the terrorists’ stories and why I think they are mostly lies and fabrications. The more important issue is the point behind “touring” those three self-proclaimed terrorists around US college campuses. Even if the stories told by the speakers are true, it is obvious that such events are staged by intolerant right-wing groups to promote Islamophobic sentiments and justify the discrimination against Muslims in America and abroad.

Members of the Muslim Student Union (MSU) are always accused of being hypocritical in that they organize events attacking Zionism and Zionists yet criticize events against Islam or Muslims. To rational human beings, the difference should be obvious.

Unlike Islam, Zionism is not a religion but a man-made political ideology (just like socialism or capitalism). An attack on Zionism is an attack on its racist ideas and the oppressive practices of its subscribers, not an attack on a specific religion or its followers.

On the other hand, events such as the one recently sponsored by the College Republicans that equate Islam, one of the three Abrahamic religions, to terrorism promote religious intolerance, to say the least. Had the College Republican event targeted political parties or groups (PLO, Hamas, Hizbullah for example) the situation would have been different and I may have considered some of the arguments presented. However, their speakers chose to misrepresent the whole religion of Islam and its 1.5 billion followers worldwide. That is straight up Islamophobia.

As an Muslim American I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know Muslims from all over the world, but I have yet to meet a "radical Muslim". Yes, we have all seen them on CNN and FOX News, but I am yet to see one in person. I am yet to meet a Muslim who declares "jihad" on innocent civilians or vows to kill every “infidel”. I am yet to see the avocation of killing Americans along with the "death to America" cry that our media portrays of every other Middle Eastern man with a beard or woman with a scarf.

I went to the College Republican event hoping to get a glimpse of what I have so often heard and read about. I must say I was disappointed. The speakers at Monday night’s event are well-overpaid. I could easily find ten people with Middle-Eastern accents to put on a more convincing act. And if their stories are indeed true, why aren’t these people rotting in Guantanamo?

The Islamic obligation to defeat Zionism

Words to consider...

The Islamic obligation to defeat Zionism

The zionist state of Israel has existed in Palestine for nearly 60 years - more than the lifetimes of most Muslims. It is treated as an integral and permanent part of the world map in the hegemonic discourse of the modern West, and all too often by many Muslims as well. A. K. KURTHA reminds us of the Islamic obligation to defeat zionism.

As Muslims we implicitly believe in the Holy Qur'an as the final word of Allah (swt). Every word of the Book, from the first word to the very last, is the word of the Creator of the universe.

If any Muslim doubts any portion, be it an ayah or a surah, of the Book, then the implication is that the doubter doubts the Author of the Book; and so he or she ceases to be a believer (Muslim). The Holy Qur'an is not to be questioned or doubted. Muslims accept the Qur'an in its entirety and haveto live and abide by its injunctions.

Allah says in Surah Bani Israil: Glory be to Allah Who transported His servant [Muhammad] by night from the Sacred Masjid [in Makkah] to the Distant Masjid [ie. in Jerusalem], whose surrounding territory [ie. Palestine ] We have blessed, in order to show him Our signs. Surely He hears and sees [all]. (al-Qur'an 17:1.)

In a nutshell, the spiritual significance of the miraculous night journey is to establish the sovereignty of Allah (swt), and thereby of Islam, over the entire Holy Land of Palestine. The political implication is to demonstrate to all the peoples of the world, including Christians and Jews, that Muhammad (saw) is the final Prophet and the Imam and leader of all the viceregents (khulafa') of Allah (swt) by his leading of the congregational salah in Masjid al-Aqsa with all the Anbiya' in attendance.

Allah and His beloved final Rasool (saw) do not recognise the existence of such a state as Israel; so by what right or on whose authority can a follower of Muhammad (saw) accord the right of such a state to exist? For the follower of Muhammad there is no middle road or fence-sitting. There is only right or wrong, and Muslims must (for want of a better metaphor) "nail their colours to the mast" and boldly state that there can be absolutely no compromise on the issue of Palestine. The Holy Land is the land of Islam, where all its citizens, Muslims, Christians and Jews, can enjoy protection from persecution, freedom and peace as guaranteed by Allah (swt).

Allah reminds us in Surah al-Ma'idah: O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he among you who turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust. (al-Qur'an 5:5)

This is a reminder to all believers: do not follow the path of the munafiq Arab governments who have failed utterly to support the cause of Palestine, and who are in league with the enemies of Islam. These are indeed difficult and testing times for Muslims in general and our leaders in particular; any compromise with the illegitimate zionist state and its supporters will undermine the faith and imaan of the believers. No matter how unbearable the oppression and how difficult or seemingly insuperable the odds, Allah the Merciful has given us His promise.

Again, Allah tells us in Surah al-Ma'idah:

O ye who believe! If any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they love Him, lowly with the Believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth. And Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things.

Your [real] friends are [no less than] Allah, His Messenger, and the [fellowship of] believers – those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly [in worship].

As for those who turn [for friendship] to Allah, His Messenger and the [fellowship of] believers – it is the fellowship of Allah that must surely triumph. (al-Qur'an 5:54-56.)

Thus believers have no choice but to take a stand. We have to contribute in the struggle against the zionist state in any way possible, from boycotting zionist merchandise and produce, to lobbying against zionist groups and supporters, and offering our total support to the Islamic movement in Palestine.

We have to raise the awareness of family, friends and acquaintances to participate wherever possible to debunk the legitimacy of the zionist state. Let us be proud of the role that we play to free the oppressed people and land of Palestine, and ensure the demise of this ungodly state, as we witnessed the the demise of the apartheid state.

Let the believers participate and take delight in seeing the zionists swallow the bitter pill of justice, and freedom for the oppressed people of Palestine.