Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Gleanings for May 31, 2005

Daniel Pipes discovers the Muslim American Society - Daniel Pipes has directed most of his attention to CAIR, no doubt because CAIR has made him one of the prime targets of its attacks (the other being Steven Emerson). Consequently, the Muslim American Society has not been in his sights, although he has written that if he had enough time, he'd investigate other Muslim organizations. He comments in the May 25 entry The Muslim American Society's Goals in his weblog:

"Those of us who watch the growth of radical Islam in the United States tend to focus on the noisy organizations like CAIR, MPAC, and ISNA. The Muslim American Society, which claims 53 chapters and 10,000 members, tends to go about its work quietly; it is none the less dangerous – and perhaps more so – for that."

Will wonders ever cease? NPR has long been one of my pet peeves. The last straw was WETA's dropping its classical music programming. From Dr. Pipes's May 23 entry MSM Criticizes CAIR, CAIR Brazens It Out in his weblog, NPR's Day to Day program reported on how CAIR uses any incident to inflate the number of hate crimes against Muslims. Pipes noted that Day to Day is broadcast at 4 am, but here in DC, WETA broadcasts Day to Day at Noon weekdays.

Wash Times article on ISA - Readers from Springfield notified Northern Virginiastan via Email about the article Critics want probe of Alexandria Islamic school, which was published in the May 29, 2005 edition of the Washington Times. Thanks, friends!

Planned updates include ICE Ice Baby (which has nothing to do with Vanilla Ice), DC native Dave Chapelle's "crisis" about reconciling his TV show's humor with his newfound Islamic faith, and Jihad Watch's bringing our article Fundraising for the HAMAS Fundraiser to a broader audience.

Friday, May 27, 2005

Another Big Meeting on the Wahhabi Corridor

Just who owns the Sheraton Premier Tysons? Do we need to add this luxury hotel to the Wahhabi Corridor (aka Leesburg Pike/Route 7) list already posted on http://www.sperryfiles.com/corridor.shtml ?

Below is word of yet another CAIR convention at the Tysons Sheraton. Notice the interesting guest list.
http://www.cairmd.org/new/Index.asp :

CAIRMaryland-Virginia-DC
2005 Annual Fundraising Banquet

"Establishing Trust, Building Partnerships"

Saturday, June 4th 2005 at 5 PM
Sheraton Premier @ Tysons Corner
8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna VA 20178

Imam Abdalla Idris Ali
Congressman Elijah Cummings
with Joshua Salaam of Native Deen

Local Launch of Bridges TV Network

Malcolm X Award Presented to: Dr. Ahmad El Bendari (President of Islamic Relief)

Invited Guests:
Congr. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Barbara Mikulski
Attorney David Cole, Mayor O’ Malley (Baltimore)
Senator John Warner, Chaplain James Yee

Somehow I find it difficult to establish trust and build partnerships with CAIR, which has terrorist affiliations. Our U.S. Senator from Virginia is far more trusting than I am.


A short time ago, Kawal Nawash's Free Muslim March, unaffiliated with and unsupported by CAIR, got very little coverage and, in terms of numbers, was pretty much a fizzle.
http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18209 :

"In the first of its kind for an event organized by a major national Muslim organization, Kamal Nawash and the Free Muslims Coalition (FMC) recently held the Free Muslims March Against Terrorism. Not surprisingly, the leaders of every other major Muslim organization shunned the march and declined to take a public stand against terrorism and extremism. Noticeably missing from the list of over 80 sponsors Nawash rounded up was any of the Muslim groups that claim to be moderates, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Though these groups pay lip service to opposing terrorism, they couldn’t put their money where their mouth is and bring themselves to stand side-by-side with the Free Muslim Coalition....If other Muslim groups could even go as far as condemning specific acts of Islamic terror, that would be a step in Nawash’s direction. But organizations such as CAIR, for instance, have pointedly refused to condemn Islamic terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, or even specific Islamic terrorist attacks...."

I suppose that CAIR is too busy with its fundraisers for "misunderstood and persecuted" Muslims to be bothered with voicing support for peace. And our elected officials are patronizing CAIR's events, not those of the FMC.
Talk about head-in-the-sand syndrome! [Pun intended.]

Monday, May 23, 2005

Once Muslim, Always Muslim?

More than once, Osama bin Laden has referred to the Reconquest of Spain as the "Andalucian Atrocity." The first time I heard him use that phrase, I thought that he was referring to a military defeat. Later I realized that he meant more than that: Muslims are duty bound to take back any land that was once under Muslim rule.
Now I'm wondering if that same principle could be applied to cemeteries here in the United States.
Note the following excerpts from http://www.washtimes.com/world/20050520-090732-4620r.htm :

Hindus, Muslims in Taj Mahal Tussle
By Palash Kumar
AGRA, India
"An ownership battle has erupted over the world's most famous monument to love, the Taj Mahal, as it celebrates its 350th anniversary. The magnificent 17th-century structure built by Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved queen, Mumtaz Mahal, is owned and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India as a national monument. But the Sunni Waqf Board, which oversees Sunni Muslim graveyards and mosques throughout India, has staked a claim to the white-marble tomb, saying since the monument houses Muslim graves, the Taj belongs to it...."

Many cemeteries here in the D.C. area have Muslim sections. I believe that National Memorial Park in Falls Church has such a section. In other states, entire cemeteries are exclusively used for the burial of Muslims; one such proposed cemetery in Tennessee encountered citizen opposition, but I don't recall the outcome.

Yes, it sounds unreasonable to wonder if such a foothold in a cemetery presents a problem because Americans feel that different cultures should be allowed to bury their dead as they see fit, here on American soil. We respect the right of families to note the passing of loved ones, according to various cultural rituals. Do Muslims have a different view about the land on which their families are buried? After reading about the dispute over the Taj Mahal, "since the monument houses Muslim graves," I wonder if there might be a hidden agenda.

And what about the land on which sit various Saudi-owned institutions including schools, mosques, and businesses, even if those institutions promote activities which are treasonous and subversive in nature? My understanding is that Saudi owns the land itself. Is it against Muslim law for a non-Muslim organization to buy that land or for our government to seize that land, should the necessity arise? I've read--though I don't remember where--that once property is Muslim-owned, sharia law can be applied to that particular parcel of land, even if the nation itself is not a caliphate.

India is not a caliphate, yet the questioned ownership of the Taj Mahal may well go to that nation's Supreme Court. Again quoting from the above article: "Waqf Board Chairman Hafiz Usman said the body would do everything it could to establish its claim to the Taj and says 'we will go all the way to the Supreme Court to get the Taj.' The Waqf Board is also laying claim to 7 percent of the around $3 million paid annually by the 2.3 million tourists it draws each year."

Arabic, the language of Allah, doesn't have a past tense, at least not in the sense that we Westerners understand past tense. (See Raphael Patai's The Arab Mind) Such a linguistic anomaly goes far to explain why Muslims never see anything as over and done with. And if their preferred language doesn't have a past tense, can they ever, in the eyes of sharia law, ever cede that land to someone else?

We need to be careful about allowing Muslim ownership of land, particularly if such ownership can be used to justify, however obliquely, statements such as Osama bin Laden's. And, harsh as it may sound, we need to check our cemeteries too. The principles behind the dispute over the ownership of the Taj Mahal may, one day, extend to land here in the United States.

Many times, we learn after the fact about the far-reaching effects of Muslim laws and Muslim customs. I hope that United States land dedicated for cemeteries will not be justification for something we didn't expect. Such conflicts get very ugly.

Friday, May 20, 2005

CPB looking into NPR programming

From The New York Times via LGF.

The board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has told staff that it should consider redirecting money away from national newscasts and toward music programs produced by NPR stations. So maybe WETA had it wrong when it abandoned its music programming.

So what does this have to do with Northern Virginiastan? I believe our western culture, as expressed by its arts, is something to celebrate. Find out What's at Stake as Islamicists take over Europe, and imagine how grim life would be without these wonders. Now let's build a list of what we'd lose if Islamicists took over the U.S.

Best wishes for your recovery, Always on Watch

Our team member Always on Watch was recently injured in a car accident. Please send greetings and best wishes for recovery on AOW's blog.

Best wishes for your recovery, Always on Watch! I look forward to future articles both here on Northern Virginiastan and on your own blog.

Fundraising for the HAMAS fundraiser


Abdulhalim Ashqar - fundraising for the HAMAS fundraiser

On Sunday, May 22, a fundraising dinner to support Abdulhalim Ashqar, charged with raising funds for HAMAS, and aspiring assassin Ahmed Abu Ali, will be held at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Tysons Corner. Confirmed speakers include our old buddies Shaker Elsayyed and Mahdi Bray and Imam Seraj Wahhaj, identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 WTC bombings.

What makes the Sheraton Premiere, aside from its central location, the "go-to" place for holding Islamic functions? CAIR is hosting two events - its MD-VA chapter annual fundraiser and its "Islamophobia" conference there. Does the Sheraton Premiere not have any scruples about who books its facilities?

As noted by Caroline Glick in her article Wake up Washington! (thanks to Jihad Watch), HAMAS and Al-Qaeda share ideological roots in the Muslim Brotherhood (as does the Muslim American Society), and financial and operational networks. HAMAS is not just a danger to Israel, HAMAS is a danger to the US.

Our reporting on Northern Virginiastan has made apparent these connections:

Ideology from the Muslim Brotherhood (which of course is based on the Quran and Sunnah)
Operations by HAMAS and Al-Qaeda
Funding from Saudi Arabia

and it's all happening here in the DC Metro area!

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Seeking reports on Muslim events for May 13-15, 2005

Northern Virginiastan is seeking first-hand accounts of CAIR's Islamophobia/Anti-Americanism conference and the Free Muslims March against Terror, both scheduled for this weekend, March 13-15, 2005.

You may use the Haloscan commenting facility to submit reports - standard HTML tags enabled.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Won't--or Can't?

Despite the title of the article cited below, "Terror Suspect's Attorneys Link FBI to Alleged Torture by Saudis," no such link has been definitively established. The title should more accurately read "Terror Suspect's Attorneys Claim FBI Link to Alleged Torture." Absolutely no evidence has been produced to substantiate the Washington Post's headline.

Furthermore, I predict that the defense attorneys for Islamic Saudi Academy valedictorian and aspiring Presidential assassin Ahmed Abu Ali will play every angle to get their client off the hook. My first reading of the Post article made me wonder if the case might be heading for a temporary-insanity or post-traumatic-stress-disorder defense in order to negate Abu Ali's confession. Apparently, a recent challenge from federal prosecutors has gone unanswered.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/10/AR2005051001463.html :

"Prosecutors asked a judge yesterday to order Abu Ali to produce his medical records to see whether he had 'pre-existing medical problems.' They said Abu Ali's attorney's won't provide the records."

Medical problems? As in psychiatric ones? No doubt, the rot of Al-Qaeda's hateful ideology, an inherent part of the Wahhabist curriculum at the ISA, poisoned Abu Ali's mind. How many other minds have been poisoned, or continue to be poisoned, at Saudi-run schools here in the United States?

According to the article, "Abu Ali confessed to the assassination plot against Bush and admitted discussing with members of al Qaeda his plans to conduct a Sept. 11-style terrorist attack in the United States." The defense attorneys do not deny that Abu Ali confessed, but they "signaled in the filing that they intend to use the torture allegations to get Abu Ali's statements to Saudi interrogators thrown out."

Voluntarily subscribing to a treasonous ideology--and Abu Ali clearly did so--is not a mental illness. It's a choice. Preceding the alleged torture, Abu Ali made it quite clear that he subscribed to Wahhabism and its annihilistic doctrines.

Of course, the alleged medical records could relate to the alleged torture, which federal agents have denied. Supposedly, that alleged torture led to a false confession. The fact remains, however, that Abu Ali is an American citizen who had ties with Al-Qaeda. Furthermore, he actively pursued his Wahhabi teachings, well ingrained by the ISA, by going to Saudi Arabia, the heart of Wahhabism.

Monday, May 09, 2005

Jihad Watch: The Free Muslims March

Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch takes a skeptical view of the The Free Muslims March Against Terror to be held in DC this Saturday, particularly after Kamal Nawash's hostile reply to a writer's concerns about the implications of certain statements about jihad on the Free Muslims Against Terror website. Here is a more conspiratorial view from the Augusta Free Press, a newspaper serving Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County, Virginia.

Daniel Pipes is more optimistic, and even Little Green Footballs is urging participation.

Friday, May 06, 2005

More on Mahdi Bray

This fellow really gets around! According to http://masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=2410 , the website of the Muslim American Society, Bray is quite a busy man as he campaigns for his particular ideology.

According to the above site, on May 6, he appeared in NYC's Freedom Times' Square to "address a rally in support of protecting places of worship." On May 7, he will be appearing at a Speak-Out in Washington, D.C., at the Plymouth Congregational Church. Notice the oxymorons: he's appearing in Freedom Square and at a church. Just who sets up these schedules? Is there a satirist on the staff of the Muslim American Society? Exercising great restraint, I'll refrain from stating the obvious pun as to the name "Bray."

The D.C. event's special attraction seems to be the presence of Ahmed Abu-Ali's father, "who will tell the story of his son's current incarceration and tragic ordeal." Tragic ordeal? Really? Never mind that Abu Ali is currently under investigation for various treasonous crimes, including consorting with Al-Qaeda and plotting the assassination of President Bush. Had Abu Ali succeeded with some of his plans, we would indeed have seen a tragedy, but not of the type alluded to in the MAS announcements.

Perhaps the above event in Washington, D.C., is a precursor to the upcoming May 15 CAIR Conference at the Tysons Corner Sheraton Premeire. This MAS Freedom Action Weekend will focus on the "continued erosion of civil rights and civil liberties, and the unjust social and economic policies espoused by the current Administration." Sounds like CAIR's line, doesn't it? No surprise there.

Makes one wonder just how many "special visitors" the D.C. area will be hosting over the course of the next week. Attention, Homeland Security!

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Jihad Watch: Fitzgerald: Mahdi Bray: Just a country Muslim from Norfolk, Virginia

Hugh Fitzgerald of Jihad Watch examines the two faces of Muslim activist Mahdi Bray: as folksy, ecunemically-minded, civically-oriented representative of the Muslim community (to dupe non-Mulsims) and radical Islamicist (to fellow Muslims).


Mahdi Bray

Bray, an American convert to Islam, has championed Omar Abu Ali, Abdurrahman Alamoudi, and Ali Al-Timimi, all of whom have been discussed here on Northern Virginiastan. He is a confirmed speaker for the fundraiser for Abu Ali and Abdulhaleem Ashqar to be held May 22 at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Tysons Corner.

Like our old buddy Shaker Elsayyed and Sayyid M. Syeed, Bray is a consummate multi-tasker, playing prominent roles in several Muslim organizations. He also uses his status to worm his way into other areas of influence:

"Imam Mahdi Bray is a long time civil and human rights activist. He is currently the Executive Director of the Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation, and the President of the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations (CCMO). He also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice and the Interfaith Alliance, and also on the Advisory Board of the American Muslim Council and Muslim Public Affairs Council. He is a Washington, DC, Television and Radio Talk-Show Host.

He has served as a major consultant and a political advisor to Bonner & Associates, Washington’s largest grassroots lobbying firm, the National Center for Housing Management, Alexandria City Redevelopment & Housing Authority, Community Relations Department, The City of Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Community Improvement, and the Independent Voter League. He has also served as a Political Advisor and Strategist, to several national, state, and local political campaigns. He is also the author of, ‘The Masjid (Mosque) Voter’s Guide’ and ‘The Political Guide for Masjid (Mosque) Activists.’"

Of particular interest here are the Washington, DC Muslim Community connections:

Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation

Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations (CCMO) - no postal address supplied; I found it interesting that Afeefa Syeed's Al-Fatih Academy is listed as a member - another indication that she cannot plead ignorance concerning the centrality of dawah to Islam.

Washington, DC, Television and Radio Talk-Show Host - he hosts a radio program The Crescent Report

Bray is also the contact for the "National Islamic Prison Foundation" (NIPF) - a website for NIPF could not be readily found.

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

HAMAS preparing for terrorist attacks in the U.S.?

Daniel Pipes writes that HAMAS is preparing for terror attacks in the U.S. in his article Hamas vs. America, and among the evidence he provides is the arrest of Ismail Selim Elbarasse for capturing details of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on video last year.


Ismail Selim Elbarasse

Northern Virginiastan has reported on Ismail Selim Elbarasse (who lives in Annandale) on several occasions - search the blog. It is intriguing that Ismail Selim Elbarasse was arrested for videotaping the details of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge the weekend immediately after he was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment of Musa Abu Marzook (a former resident of Falls Mosque, er, Falls Church), Muhammad Hamid Khalil Salah, and Abdelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar of Alexandria for fundraising for HAMAS (refer to UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. Marzook, et al.), Surely the motorists on a weekend getaway who observed the suspicious behavior of Elbarasse and his wife and notified authorities could not have been aware of that fact.

Monday, May 02, 2005

"Rejoice today but cry for eternity"

Read the article by Abu AbdirRahman concerning Ali Al-Timimi's conviction on his defense committee website altimimi.org:

"Those rejoicing today’s unjust verdict are ruining their hereafter by exchanging this world for the next – whether they claim to be believers or not - by transgressing upon the innocent believers for the sole reason that they proclaim “Our Lord is Allah.” These “rejoicers” should also know that a day will come when this moment of rejoicing will turn into distress. This apparent victory is not everlasting. Did you not pay heed to the statement of Allah, And so are the days. We give to men by turns, that God may test those who believe (3:140). So the disbelievers will have their day but so will the believers who rely upon none other than God and seek his reward."

Echoes of how Sayyid M. Syeed threatened Sherrie Gossett of Accuracy in Media, but these sorts of threats permeate the Qur'an.

The mailing address for the defense committee is:

Al-Timimi Support Committee
P.O. Box 1758
Centreville, VA 20121
USA

The Zip code corresponds to the Clifton Annex Post office at 13826 Braddock Rd Ste B, Centreville, VA 20121-2400

No contact name is provided.