Islam in Oklahoma
America is tolerant of Islam but is the Islamic world tolerant of America?
Let me start this off by saying there are many fine Muslims who live in Oklahoma who bring a richness to our community. Those who simply want to practice their religion, as we all do, are welcomed in our state.
Sometimes, though, we get mixed messages. Often we hear Muslim leaders speak of interfaith goals and community service. Yet, some of their associations may be with rigid hard-liners who speak ill of those outside of Islam - some even support martyrdom! Their associations might even be linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, a global Islamic organization, whose ultimate goal is Islamic rule.
Are you paying attention?
None of the Islamic groups in Oklahoma have adequately discussed Islamism (the march toward Islamic rule), that I'm aware. Their recent partnership with the Council of American Islamic Relations, an organization with roots firmly from the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, as identified by the federal government in court documents is troubling. They may even invite a known Muslim Brotherhood member like Jamal Badawi to represent them in public as did the Islamic Society of Tulsa.
Not too long ago a former member of the Islamic Society of Tulsa said:
"In public they go to interfaith meetings and make speeches for co-existence of Muslims, Christians and Jews. And in private they curse the very same people and sow seeds of hatred in the young minds of the vulnerable - the ultimate objective."
Let's face it, Islam is under scrutiny. There have been over 11,665 attacks carried out in the world in the name of Islam since 9/11/01! That's a hell of lot of attacks. The global reach of Islamic terrorism is unprecedented in history.
The vast majority of Muslims do not become terrorists, of course, but do some support certain terrorist activities behind the scenes for the cause of Islam?
It's important to note there have been terrorists living among us. You can read here, here and here, for a partial listing of those who have been caught.
Do any Muslims in Oklahoma believe in Islamism? Or will they call this an insult to Islam if asked or dance around it? Do they associate with those who do?
The Islamic Society of Tulsa in their 2007 August newsletter stated that fighting and dying for the sake of Allah or for Islam was a good way to die as a Muslim! Islamic fighters are considered martyrs and held in high esteem, apparently, even by the Muslims in Tulsa.“At college I would face innocent, honest questions about my faith, and now I face much tougher questions – a lot come from ignorance.” said Razi Hashmi, the new Executive Director of CAIR Oklahoma.
Ignorance? We shall see.
There are numerous experts, including President Bush, presidential candidate Barack Obama and others who believe there are world-wide efforts to create an Islamic caliphate (Islamic rule/Islamism). Historically there have been a number of such caliphates that expanded and ruled over countries.
But if you are critical of Islamism you likely will be called an Islamophobic or a bigot. Additionally, and I don't know if you've notice, the public discussions about Islam given by our Muslim neighbors doesn't match any version of Islam practiced in the entire Islamic world.
In the summer of 2007, the Islamic societies in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman, Ada, Ardmore, and Stillwater, as well as the American Muslim Association of Oklahoma City teamed up with the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR was spun-off by employees of the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP). IAP was started by Hamas operatives in the U.S., Mousa Marzook and Sami al-Arian. These employees are still in top leadership positions at CAIR. One, Nihad Awad, spoke about his support for Hamas at Barry University while still an employee at IAP and has been to Oklahoma several times.
To learn more about what seems to be the anti-West history of CAIR, which continues today, go here. It is disturbing to see the Muslims in Oklahoma align themselves with this organization. It's beyond disturbing.
Most of the activities by CAIR-Oklahoma and Oklahoma Muslims are published on Dubai-based Islamonline.net or the Qatar-based Islamonline.com so the Islamic world can read about the advance of Islam in little ole' Oklahoma. Isn't that lovely?
Sheryl Siddiqui of Tulsa, known for her community service in Tulsa, lists the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Oklahoma Chapter as one of her main board affiliations. Yikes!
Considering the associations of some Muslims in Oklahoma, one has to wonder if they are more in-line with the Islamic world rather than America.
Note: This page is a listing of some of the public activities in Oklahoma carried out by our Muslim neighbors that have caught my attention. This page strives to provide only factual information. If you see an error (OMG, I am only human) please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail (ztruth@ymail.com), and provide me a link to the proof source so I can see where I messed-up. Upon verification your proof source is accurate, I will glady correct any and all mistakes.
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11/03/08: Jamal Badawi met with Yusef Qaradawi in Qatar zTruth
11/03/08: Proud Tulsa Muslim: "Being martyred protecting Islam is a good thing..." zTruth
10/15/08: Imam Mohamed ElGhobashy of the Islamic Society of Tulsa zTruth
09/24/08: Oklahoma Islamic societies: War & fighting in Islam zTruth
09/17/08: Jackie Cooper Imports of Tulsa employee promoted hate-filled Occupation 101 zTruth
09/16/08: 2nd meeting of the Islamic Association of Palestine zTruth
09/13/08: Tulsa's Sheryl Siddiqui mentioned in leading Saudi online paper. zTruth
09/12/08: CAIR ignores 9/11 7th Anniversary. zTruth
09/11/08: Ten points about the Islamic Society of Tulsa's newest anti-terror statement zTruth
09/09/08: Muslim dinner in Oklahoma featured Rep. Keith Ellison. zTruth
09/08/08: Tulsa World article on Ramadan featured on CAIR's website. zTruth
09/07/08: Islamonline features Muslim Brotherhood Leader Jamal Badawi. zTruth
09/06/08: Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City's links page shows their Muslim Brotherhood connection. zTruth
09/02/08: Andrew Rice's Islamist mistake zTruth
09/01/08: Jamal Badawi defends fighting in the Quran zTruth
09/01/08: One of the first jihadists meetings in Oklahoma zTruth
08/30/08: Tulsa World fails to provide context to CAIR zTruth
08/29/08: Dubai-based Islamonline covers alleged discrimination case in Oklahoma zTruth
08/26/08: The Islamic Society of Tulsa's Muslim Brotherhood predicament zTruth
08/18/08: Political Forum sponsored by CAIR-OK Let's show Oklahomans we are a political organization, too.
8/26/08: The Islamic Society of Tulsa's Muslim Brotherhood predicament zTruth
8/18/08: Political Forum sponsored by CAIR-OK. Let's show Oklahoma we are also a political organization, too:
When Oklahoma Republican party chairman Gary Jones encouraged people attending a Sunday night political forum not to vote a straight party ticket, Democrats on hand took it to mean that he would vote for a Democrat.---
Ben Odom, a spokesman for the Democratic party didn't let up and in the regular 7:35am segment on First News pressed Jones a third time, suggesting that because Jones encouraged voters to look at the candidate and not the party, he would vote for a Democrat.
The two spoke at the 4th Biennial Political Forum sponsored by CAIR or Council on American-Islamic Relations of Oklahoma. Democrats and Republicans were on hand.
ktok.com (OKC) (update 8/31/08: KTOK removed the last paragraph from the article for some strange reason. Not cool.
8/16/08: Did 9/11 truthers introduce Allison Moore, of the Islamic Society of Tulsa, as a member? Or how many ways can this Tulsa Muslim claim Muslim victimazation? zTruth
8/9/08: Students forced to listen to Islamic lessons in public schools. The Islamic Society of Tulsa has an Islamic guide for your school! zTruth
8/6/08: Does the Islamic Society of Tulsa want Oklahomans to be against Israel? So not cool. zTruth
8/5/08: Christian-Muslim debate in Tulsa featured on Yusef Qaradawi's Islamonline! Hey, we don't this website tracking stuff in Oklahoma. zTruth
8/2/08: Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas linked CAIR files discrimination case in Tulsa, Oklahoma What??? zTruth
7/25/08: On Wednesday, July 23, District Judge Linda Morrissey denied motions by the Islamic Society of Tulsa, Mujib (Mujeeb) Cheema, and the North American Islamic Trust to dismiss Jamal Miftah's lawsuit against them. Go Miftah, go! Batesline
7/23/08: FBI memo on the North American Islamic Trust Not good news. zTruth
7/23/08: Andrew Rice's praise for CAIR clouds appeal for Christian voters Mr. Rice could you explain to us Okies why you attended and spoke at CAIR's first fund-raising banquet last year? zTruth
7/20/08: Good grief: Islamic caliphate lessons at the Islamic Society of Tulsa zTruth
7/11/08: Government says facts support Islamic organizations ties to the Muslim Brotherhood zTruth
7/09/08: "Union of Good" funds Hamas; chaired by Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi zTruth
7/7/08: Another free medical clinic offered by Muslims zTruth
6/23/08: Norman Police Department gets diversity training from CAIR. Oh please. zTruth
6/7/08: The Islamic Society of Tulsa and the far-left zTruth
6/6/08: Shiek Yusef Qaradawi's "Fatawa on Palestine" zTruth
5/26/08: OKC Muslim community continues to grow (another CAIR fluff piece, Edmond Sun)
While most of the guests were immigrants, there also was a sizable contingent of young Muslims in attendance who had grown up in Oklahoma and have remained in the state to become members of a variety of professions. College and high school students were present as well. Several elected officials, including Oklahoma House of Representatives member Shane Jettof Tecumseh also attended. The gathering was addressed via viedeotape by Keith Ellison, a Muslim member of Congress from Minnesota, who urged the attendees to get involved in the political process as a means to improve American society. Ellison’s sentiments were echoed by the banquet’s keynote speaker, University of Wisconsin Chancellor Don Betz, who said “The call tonight to civic engagement is intense and important and each one of us should not look across the table and say that it is a job for someone else to do.”
5/10/08: Dr. Don Betz, keynote speaker at CAIR-OK fund-raising dinner, is the new president of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah! Yet CAIR and the Oklahoman left this off their press release. This pro-Palestinian advocate spoke along side Hamas supporter Nihad Awad, Executive Director of CAIR zTruth
5/7/08: It's official - Shiekh Radwan Kouatli has moved to Tulsa. zTruth
5/5/08: The Oklahoman shills for the Council of American Islamic Relations zTruth
4/23/08: CAIR's support for convicted terror supporter and co founder of CAIR, Sami Al-Arian, is unmistakable. zTruth
4/20/08: Dubai-based Islamonline covers CAIR-Oklahoma's daw'ah work zTruth
4/10/08: Hamas: President Carter will meet with Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal who is the older half-brother of former Oklahoman Mufid Abdulqader. zTruth
3/29/08: As late as June 2005, CAIR-Canada Advisory Board Member Jamal Badawi questioned responsibility for 9/11. Calling the attacks "un-Islamic" and declaring, "I strongly condemn" them, he told the Saudi Gazette it had not yet been confirmed who was actually behind the actions. FSM or Investigative Project
Note: Badawi was hand-picked by the Islamic Society to Tulsa to represent them at a debate a few of their members demanded with Christian pastor, Reza Safa, in January.
3/27/08: Rep. Rohrabacher's Oklahoma City Bombing investigation stonewalled.
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher has made a serious charge against the administration. He pointed out that Ramsey Yousef, who was a top lieutenant of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of 9/11, is in federal prison. He has pretty substantial material suggesting that Mr. Yousef was also involved in the Oklahoma City bombing. zTruth
3/27/08: CAIR-OK co-sponsors conference on the Islamic perspective on terrorism. zTruth
CAIR-OK secured Muhammad Abu Laylah of Al-Azhar University, Egypt for the conference. In an article in a Egyptian weekly, Roz Al-Youssef, progressive writer Sayyed Al-Qimni wrote in 2004 that the curricula of Al-Azhar University encourage extremism and terror.
3/10/08: CAIR, the political organization, prepares thousands of letters to send to Congress - just sign them at the mosque and CAIR will mail them for you. zTruth blog
CAIR's letters are to urge Congress to put pressure on Israel to end their blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza.---CAIR volunteers will provide letters at mosques to be signed by individuals. CAIR will then send these letters to Congress.
3/6/08: CAIR-OK must include America's early struggle against Islamic aggression in their discussion on Islam zTruth blog
To bring fair balance and proper context to the film's discussion, which CAIR won't do, would include a thorough discussion about the decades of enslavement and war experienced by Americans at the hands of aggressor Muslims as our nation was formed which lasted 40 years.
3/3/08: Radwan Kouatli and the Islamic Society of Tulsa zTruth
...After a little snooping around, I found a troubling article written this month from PipelineNews who said that the Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR) has remained a hotbed of radical Islamist activity even after the former Imam left in 2005 leaving Kouatli in charge. Alert: Kouatli may be living in Tulsa now, best I can tell, although the Islamic Society of Tulsa is mum.
Kouatli's goal is to share Islamic truths with the people so they know Islam as it is, not as the ignorant forces portray it. How ignorant forces portray it? Seriously how do these people think they can convince us about Islam when in Islamic countries, where it originated and where they are from, keeps its people in bondage to Islam? Can they name even one country where Islam is practiced as they try to portray it?
3/1/08: Can Christians and Muslims be friends? zTruth
3/1/08: The Governor's Ethnic American (Muslim) Advisory Council are a wee bit behind in their minutes. This council was formed by the governor at their request and is made up of Muslims. They offered every state legislator a copy of the Quran last fall which caused quite a stir.
2/22/08: Jamal Badawi's compatriot, Yusef Qaradawi, states again his support for martyrdom operations zTruth
"I have supported this for more than 20 years - our Palestinian brothers are forced to turn themselves into bombs---God has given them this means as a kind of just devine compensation---turn himself into a human bomb. This is devine justice. Yusef Qaradawi - close associate of Jamal Badawi
2/15/08: Rejected Quran goes to an Oklahoma prison. KSWO
1/30/08: CAIR, the political organization, to host voter registration drive at mosque - Dubai-based Islamonline
CONTACT: CAIR-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi, Tel: 405-248-5853, E-Mail: rhashmi@cair.com; CAIR-OK Chairperson Lobna Hewedi, E-Mail: lhewedi@cair.com; CAIR-OK Board Member Saad Mohammed, 405-210-4775, E-Mail: islam68@cox.net
1/25/08: Debate between the Islamic Society of Tulsa's hand-picked representative - Muslim Brotherhood's Jamal Badawi and Pastor Reza Safa took place before a packed audience.
1/23/08: The Islamic Society of Tulsa (has been outed) zTruth
1/20/08: Fooling the masses in Oklahoma (there's more to Jamal Badawi) zTruth
1/10/08: The works of Jamal Badawi zTruth
1/01/08: Letter to the Editor: Syeda's Miftah (Letters, Dec. 19) demonstrates that many Oklahoma Muslims are loyal Americans with concerns about weeding out terrorists in the mosques of Tulsa. Her father, Jamal Miftah, was ostracized by the Islamic Society of Tulsa because he wanted them to pay closer attention to activities in the mosques, "as some were exploited by unscrupulous organizations to raise funds." Tulsa World
1/01/08: William Webb, aka Suhaib Webb The Muslim American Society sponsored Webb’s move to Egypt in an attempt to cultivate leaders among American Muslims and deal with a crisis facing modern Muslims in the West. Egypt Today
12/19/07: Letter to the Editor from Syeda Miftah about the Islamic Society of Tulsa kicking Jamal Miftah out of the mosque and in response to Brad Pratt's LTE (letter to editor). Tulsa World
Pratt was incorrect when he claimed that my father, Jamal Miftah, said all American mosques fund terrorism. He was also incorrect when he claimed that my father was not banished from the Tulsa mosque and that he continued to attend it. My father was ostracized by the leadership of the Islamic Society of Tulsa for condemning terrorism, including suggesting that Muslims pay attention to activities around mosques as some were exploited by unscrupulous organizations to raise funds.
He was referring to the five mosques in the United States that were closed for such activities. The Imam and president of the mosque called my dad anti-Muslim/Islam in order to provoke others and finally expelled him to make an example of him. Since then no one from our family has been to mosque.
12/15/07: Jesus removed from Tulsa City Council meetings Tulsa World
12/10/07: Is fighting and "dying" for the sake of Allah endorsed by the Islamic Society of Tulsa? zTruth blog
10/31/07: Oklahoma House of Representative Media Division: Muslim activist linked to over $100,000 in campaign donations. okdata
11/28/07: The Letter Tulsa World
11/23/07: Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe's Democratic opponent befriends CAIR. zTruth blog
11/22/07: Media's misrepresents Islam (here is a good example of a Muslim claiming that all Muslims are victims, one more time):
...as Muslims we are minimalized in the media and so our frequent condemnation of terrorism is either ignored or made fun of. Tulsa World
11/18/07: Ad scolds reaction to gift Qurans. A group that includes Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Secretary of State Susan Savage bought an half-page advertisements in the state's two largest Sunday newspapers condemning the manner in which some state legislators refused copies of a commemorative edition Quran.
Retired Oklahoma Baptist University professor Mack Roark, who drafted the letter that appears in the ad, said the group was also motivated by public reaction to the incident. Tulsa World
11/16/07: Are there two faces to the Islamic Society of Tulsa? zTruth Blog.
11/15/07: Sending a Message Tulsa World
11/15/07: Oklahoma Lawmaker's Koran Comments Draw Fire NPR audio
11/8/07: "If anybody is going to tear a religion apart like that, they should have some type of academic stature to at least talk about the religion,” said Seirafi-Pour, a Muslim. "Our prophet (Muhammad) did not resort to violence unless he was attacked. ... I guess no one can talk about Islam unless they are an expert? Hmmm. NewsOK
11/8/07: Too Many Americans Just Don't Get Jihad! Published in the Islamic Society of Tulsa November Newsletter. zTruth Blog.
Download november_2007_final_draft.pdf
11/07/07: Urban Tulsa Weekly asked the Governor Ethnic American Advisory Council Chairwoman Seirafi-Pour about the name chosen but her reply makes it clear that the council is all about - Islam:
"The name wasn't of my choosing, but we were happy with it. You'd have to ask the Governor why we're called that," she said.
She offered her best guess, though.
"The thing is, Islam is not limited to the Middle East--there are Muslims of West African descent and other nationalities from around the world," said Seirafi-Pour.
"If it had been called the 'Middle Eastern American Advisory Council,' it would have limited membership to Muslims of Middle Eastern descent," she added.
11/4/07: Worldwide notice of Quran flap surprises all involved
11/3/07: A Ponca City lawmaker said Friday that he will accept a centennial copy of the Quran, then return the favor by presenting a copy of the Bible to the governor's group that offered the Islamic book to legislators.
"I am excited about the opportunity to share my personal Christian faith with members of the Ethnic American Advisory Council, and I am interested in hearing from them about their beliefs," said Democratic Rep. Ken Luttrell.
The purpose of the council is to work with the government and others to build understanding of Islam, members have said.
11/1/07: Oklahomans learn the rather generically named Governor's Ethnic American Council is made up of only Muslims.
The family of one Muslim member of this Council has spent nearly $100,000 to influence elections since 2002!
Marjan Seirafi-Pour, the chairwoman, said in the Tulsa World the intent of the council is to work with the government and others to build understanding of Islam.
Isn't this another way of saying teaching or advancing Islam?
Council member, Malaka Elyazgi's, husband, Mohamed Elyazgi, was a business partner of Mufid Abdulqader, a defendant in the Holy Land Foundation trial and half-brother to Hamas's supreme political leader, Khaled Meshal. A 1992 video places Abdulqaderand Khaled at a major Hamas fundraising conference in Oklahoma City.
10/31/07: More information on these contributions and a e-mail Rep. Reynolds received from Zia Muneer, an attorney he later learned works for Farzaneh, the McCarville Report
10/30/07: Video 1 Video 2of the Islamic Society of Tulsa/CAIR OK press conference regarding the Quran rejections where posted on YouTube. No questions were allowed to be asked at the press conference. Found these first on Batesline.
The press conference is basically scolding those legislators who refused a copy of the Quran.
10/29/07: In a show of solidarity with the Muslim community, representatives of Jewish and interfaith organizations condemned Oklahoma lawmakers who turned down a copy of the Quran, U.S. press reports said. Alarabiya News Channel
10/29/07: Governor won't disband Council Tulsa World
10/29/07: Oklahoma legislators being called 'Islamaphobic' KFSM
The group's letter to legislators reads that if they do not wish to receive the Qur'an, to let them know. But lawmakers who are declining the gift are being labeled Islamaphobic.
"We are troubled by individuals who disrespect our holy book the Qur'an and who quote verses out of context," a Muslim woman (Allison Moore) told reporters at an interfaith press conference in Tulsa today.
10/27/07: Quran rejection is criticized Tulsa World
10/26/07: Hanging tough in Oklahoma by Diane West
10/25/07: A number of Oklahoma lawmakers declined an offer for a personalized copy of the Quran. Read more about the Governor's Ethnic American Council here, here, here, and here.
10/25/07: Blogger Bates Examines Council's Muslim Agenda The Macarville Report
10/25/07: Diana West - Islam proselytizing Oklahoma representative? CBG
10/11/07: Legislation sponsored by Senator Tom Coburn blocks the Justice Department from providing financial support to participate in conventions held by groups designated by the government as unindicted co-conspiratorsin federal court cases. The measure is in response to the department's recent participation in a convention held by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Critics say ISNA is the North American affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood. This affiliation led to the designation as unindicted co-conspirators in this case.
The Justice Department named ISNA as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation, which the government is prosecuting for raising $12 million for Hamas. The trial ended in a mistrial. Prosecutors have said they will retry the case.
09/12/07: CAIR Oklahoma Pushes to Get Islam into Oklahoma Public Schools. Press release found on Middle East Website owned by Muslim Brotherhood Spiritual Leader. zTruth Blog
08/25/07: The Islamic Society of Tulsa, CAIR OK honor Tulsa 9/11 conspirator theorists. "In their quest for truth [TulsaTruth.orq] have given Tulsa Muslims a forum to voice their views, actions and reactions to the horrific events of September 11th. " zTruth Blog
08/9/07: "A mosque in America in a need urgent for the support for the mosque." Islamic Society of Stillwater plea for financial help for their mosque. ce4arab
08/01/2007: Islamic Society of Tulsa's August newsletter: under the heading of 'Signs of a Good End" present a review how best to die as a Muslim.
"Dying as a fighter for the sake of Allah because Allah says : Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.
#7... the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The martyrs are five: the one who dies of plague, the one who dies of a stomach disease, the one who drowns, the one who is crushed by a falling wall, and the one who is martyred for the sake of Allah.” ( Bukhaari,Muslim)
#8: ...The Prophet (pbuh) said: ”Being killed for the sake of Allah is martyrdom ; the plague is martyrdom; drowning is martyrdom; dying of a stomach disease is martyrdom; and the woman who dies in childbirth...11. Dying guarding the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Guarding the borders of Islam for one day and one night is better than fasting and praying at night for a whole month, and if he dies (while performing this duty), he will go on receiving the reward for this great deed and his provision (continually), and he will be spared the questioning in the grave.”
The first 3 reasons to die well as a Muslim; utter a certain Islamic phrase or prayer, with sweat on the forehead, and on a Friday.
07/2007: The Islamic Trust of North America. the Islamic Society of North America, the Council of American Islamic Relations and a number of other national Islamic organizations are named by the Federal Government as unindicted co-conspirators in the Holy Land Foundation Terrorism Funding Trial for their relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood. Only one of the organizations named in this case as unidincted co-conspirators has denied their affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, ISNA.
One of the members of HLF, an Oklahoma doctor, Ahmed Agha from Ponca City, is named on the federal government’s list of unindicted co-conspirators for the HLF case.
Mufid Adulqadir, is on trial in Dallas for the HLF case as a top HLF and Hamas fund-raiser. Abdulqadir worked at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at the time.
In December 2003, the chairman and ranking Democrat of the Senate Finance Committee, Senators Charles Grassley and Max Baucus, respectively, listed ISNA as one of 25 American Muslim organizations that "finance terrorism and perpetuate violence." ISNA said they were cleared.
In the constitution of the Islamic Society of Tulsa it states it has a continuous affiliation with the Islamic Society of North America.
6/23/07: Where are all the moderate Muslims in Tulsa?
6/22/07: Jamal Miftah files lawsuit against the Islamic Society of Tulsa, the Islamic Society of North America, the North American Islamic Trust, FAROOQ ALI, JAVED JALIWALA, SHERYL SIDDIQUI, SANDRA RANA, TARIQ MASOOD, MUHAMMAD ASHWAIT, HOUSSAM ELSOUIESSI a/k/a ABU WALEED, MUJEEB CHEEMA and AHMAD KABBANI, Imam. Story here.
...Following prayers, the Iman of the Mosque, Ahmad Kabbani,a defendant herein, confronted Jamal Miftah in the Mosque and stated that he “should be ashamed” of the aforementioned op-ed piece, which was “anti-Islamic”. 9. Following the lead of Ahmad Kabbani, Houssam Elsouesssi, a defendant herein, and two other members of the Mosque, Abdullah Roe and Nooruddin Doe, defendants herein, confronted Jamal Miftah. lawsuit
5/2/07: The Governor's Ethnic-American Advisory Council requested a chance to set the record straight after previewing the series before it ran on the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority from April 15 through 20.
"We thought there were a couple of segments that did not put Islam in a positive light,” said Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour, the council's chairman.
05/07: CAIR announces plans to open an office in Oklahoma
04/27/07: The City of Stillwater proclaims every Friday "Islam Awareness Day"
04/02/07: What the Media Doesn’t Tell You, RSU lecture by Sheryl Siddiqui
03/22/07: Front Page Interview with Jamal Miftah
3/16/07: Oklahoma law enforcement officers need to learn more about Muslims, and Muslims need a better understanding of how law enforcement works. That was the major agreement this week at a closed-door meeting between the FBI's Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force and Oklahoma City Muslim leaders. Archive
2/18/07: We are Trying to Get the Word Out Reader Forum article in the Tulsa World by Allison Moore
2007: New Blog of former Oklahoman William Webb. Webb is now Imam Suhaib Webb, the former Imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City (ISGOC).
In 2004, he moved with his wife and children to Cairo, where he studied at Al-Azhar Islamic University. He is employed by Muslim American Society. Videos of Webb from Hala Tube. FBI interview with Webb following 9/11.
Mufid Abdulqader was one of the incorporators of the ISGOC mosque where Webb once was the Imam. Abdulqader is currently under Federal indictment in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) case out of Richardson, Texas near Dallas. Abdulqader’s half brother, Khalid Mishaal, is a Syrian who is a high ranking Hamas military executive and a known terrorist.
A co-founder of the ISGOC along with Abdulqader is Mohammed Elyazgi who, like Mufid was, is an engineer at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. His wife Malaka is on current governor Brad Henry’s Ethnic Advisory Board. source
12/19/06: Letter-to-the-editor: Jamal Miftah ("Message of Islam is not jihad, fatwahs" Oct. 29) achieved his goal in getting media attention, and I congratulate him for that. As Sheryl Siddiqui and Mujeeb Cheema stated, with this individual having been in the U.S. only three years, how could he make an opinion about mosques and Islamic organizations collecting money for terrorists? Miftah's generalizing the claim is totally unacceptable and has no foundation. Khaled Ghanem, Tulsa
12/16/06: Post by Fooad Muhammad regarding Jamal Miftah. Post by Jamal Miftah in response where he disputes statements made by some members of the mosque. emdasheryblog
12/14/06: Imam Imad Enchassi Muslim in a Red State Arab News
12/13/06: Mosque of Peace
"...During prayers, Nuredin Giayash, principal of Peace Academy (Tulsa, OK) , began a prayer called Dua-e-Qunut, a prayer for the deliverance of Muslims from their adversaries. According to Miftah, he followed the set prayer with prayers (in Arabic) for the destruction of Christians and Jews.
The Middle East Media Research Institute (Memri.org) has documented how some leaders in the Middle East will speak peace and tolerance in English while spewing hatred for the West in Arabic. It's stunning to think that the same thing may be happening here."
12/01/06: Ban against Jamal Miftah lifted by the Al-Salam mosque Tulsa World E-mail from Miftah sent to the Tulsa World (scroll past 1st article). I don't believe this was published by the World.
Video: Jamal Miftah in his own words
11/24/06: Jamal Miftah said he got kicked out of the mosque at the Islamic Society of Tulsa.
10/29/06: Jamal Miftah's article, "Message of Islam is not jihad and fatwas" appears in the Tulsa World
07/12/06: Story posted on Islamonline by Houssam Elsoueissi's wife about being in Lebonon during a trying time
08/26/06: Sandra Rana is a delegate, board member and past president of TMM, a member of Tulsa Interfaith Alliance, chairwoman of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council, contributor to Tulsa Global Alliance and Kids World, facilitator and co-convener of Tulsa Talks, and Shura member for the Islamic Society of Tulsa.
11/11/05: City cuts ties with relief organization-- Staff support for TeamRelief.org ends amid questions about a possible requirement regarding Christian services.
11/09/05: Muslim presence growing in Oklahoma The Edmond Sun
10/01/05: Joel Hinrichs blows himself up outside OU Football Stadium - much speculation about his intentions, however, the FBI ruled terrorism out.
08/24/05: Siddiqui and Houssam Elsoueissi, head of operations of the Islamic Society, said that ever since Sept. 11, 2001, Tulsans have been supportive of Muslims living in the area.
05/05: Muslim-Christian Initiative on the Nuclear Weapons Danger
Over 2000 Muslims and Christians have joined together to endorse "We Affirm Our Belief in the One God: A Statement Regarding Muslim-Christian Perspectives on the Nuclear Weapons Danger." Read the statement, view endorsers and add your endorsement - www.mci-nwd.org. Mujeeb Cheema has endorsed this initiative
12/05/04: Al-Jazeerah.info - Tulsa, Kansas, Police Chief Irresponsible
| By Nabil Seyam The Islamic Society of Wichita and more than 5000 Wichita Muslims condemn The allegations and false accusations that were made By Tulsa ... Note: the link doesn't work anymore but this story was carried in the Middle East. |
12/03/04: On a Thursday morning KRMG, 740 AM, radio show, Police Chief Dave Been said terrorist sympathizers -- both foreign and domestic -- who would support terrorism philosophically and economically probably are in Tulsa.
"We have nationwide seen evidence of terrorist support, even here in the heartland," Been said on the show, which was hosted by John Erling. "The whole point was the heartland as opposed to the coast, and, boy, do I regret dragging in Wichita."
The Islamic Society of Wichita also issued a statement Thursday condemning Been's remarks at the luncheon.
Been's "comments are not just humiliating and insulting to the Muslim Americans of Wichita, but an insult to all of our friends within the FBI, and the local police department whom we are partners with," the statement from spokesman Nabil Seyam says.
Tulsa Police Chief Dave Been backed off Thursday from the comments he made about terrorism Wednesday, saying there is no evidence that al-Qaida cells exist in Tulsa or in Wichita, Kan.
He said he meant only that terrorist sympathizers might be in Tulsa. He said he was urging Tulsans not to be complacent about the possibility of terrorism here.
10/23/04: The Islamic Society of Tulsa will not renew the contract of its first full-time imam, spokeswoman Sheryl Siddiqui said this week. Tulsa's Muslim mosque hired Sheikh Ameen Aziz, from Pakistan, on a one-year contract a little over a year ago, culminating a three-year search for a full-time spiritual leader.
10/12/04: Some Union teachers attend Arab workshop - content draws fire. In the case of the Arab world workshop, the Islamic Society of Tulsa offered to sponsor the presentation by Audrey Shabbas, an official of the Washington, D.C.-based Middle East Policy Council.
10/08/04: TU Mosque dedicated
9/14/04: Sandra Rana of the Islamic Society of Tulsa said Muslims and people who appear to be Middle Eastern have been increasingly targeted by law enforcement officers. Rana said airport security officers two years ago targeted her son -- then 8 -- taking apart his boxed Boy Scout wooden derby car in front of him.
She said she does not wear her Muslim hijab or carry the Quran in an airport and tells her children not to speak Arabic "because it might arouse suspicion."
9/08/04: Representatives from the Islamic Society of Tulsa said Muslim students who leave school early to attend Friday prayer services about 16 days out of the year could be targeted for "academic surveillance" by school administrators under the original policy proposal.
"You are telling our students that because you're a minority religion and your holidays are not recognized that somehow you are different," said Sandra Rana, who said she was also representing the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry.
7/27/04: Oklahoma Doctor Denounces Indictment Of Islamic Charity.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Tuesday afternoon that the Holy Land Foundation and seven of its members are charged with providing support to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Dr. Ahmad Agha, a pediatrician in Ponca City, is one of 10 board members who direct the Richardson, Texas-based Holy Land Foundation. KOCO News
Note: Dr. Agha was name an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Terror funding trial and his name is on a record listing the Palestinian Committee under Mousa Marzook/Hamas (see Azzam 1988 below)
6/25/04: Sheikh Ameen Aziz, imam of the Islamic Society of Tulsa, this week condemned the recent beheadings of a South Korean civilian contractor in Iraq and of American engineer Paul Johnson in Saudi Arabia.
5/29/04: ..."Women were oppressed all over the world until Islam was revealed, giving many women rights." Muhsen Ziyada, letter-to-the-editor
4/27/04: Sheryl Siddiqui receives award from Hope Unitarian Church. She has been active with the National Conference for Community and Justice, the Tulsa Interfaith Alliance, the Say No to Hate Coalition, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, and the Tulsa Human Response Coalition, in addition to being a Girl Scout leader and volunteer in the Jenks Public Schools system.
01/07/04: Dr. Ashraf Abdelmonem deported from Tulsa.
12/09/03: Cheema's response to a story on IslamDaily
Factual inaccuracies regarding the North American Islamic Trust abound in the story. To correct the record:
The North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) has no relation with the government of Saudi Arabia, and has not been funded by it or by any other government. NAIT espouses no particular theology, including "Wahhabism.'' Identifying NAIT with "Wahhabism'' exhibits the writers' ignorance about both the NAIT and "Wahhabism.'' NAIT is a non-profit Waqf...in compliance with the American law and the very best Islamic traditions of adherence to Shari'ah (Islamic law) in a tolerant and judicious manner. NAIT accepts titles to endowed properties for the benefit of the local Muslims to facilitate perpetual conformity to the Islamic purposes that their founders established them for, and to avert their neglect or disposition. NAIT does not administer, control or influence the institutions, nor interfere in the communities' activities that use these properties. Finally, NAIT is not a subsidiary of the Islamic Society of North America, a reputable national organization.
Mujeeb Cheema Executive Director, NAIT
10/4/03: Story about Cheema's hiring as executive director of NAIT. The story also says: "The titles to Tulsa's Al-Salam mosque and Peace Academy school properties are held by NAIT, [Cheema] said."
9/27/03: Cheema as spokesman for IST in a story about the mosque's new imam.
9/14/03: Ahmed Agha: excerpt from LA Times article: ...Despite Baker's denials, Ahmed Agha, an Oklahoma doctor and former Holy Land treasurer, recalls that (Hamas's) Marzouk was involved in early general discussions and ...
LATimes archives ($)
6/30/03: Wahhabism and Islam in the U.S. NRO
This is the text of testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security on Thursday, June 26, 2003.
03/05/03: "We appreciate the fact that Muslim women will not have to violate their religious beliefs when obtaining an Oklahoma driver's license or a green card. We hope that other states and government agencies will follow suit in providing explicit policy guidelines allowing religious attire of all faiths in official photographs," said CAIR Board Member Dr. Mujeeb Cheema, an Oklahoma resident.
9/23/02: Mosque to be built on the campus of the University of Tulsa
..." supporting the effort has been Mujeeb Cheema, chairman of the Islamic Society of Tulsa, who said the TU mosque might become the first building constructed on an American college campus for the specific purpose of serving as an Islamic mosque. “The possibility of this becoming such a landmark is based on the many conversations we have had with other Muslim groups across the nation,” he said."
06/20/02: Just weeks before Timothy McVeigh bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995, U.S. authorities received several warnings that Islamic terrorists were seeking to strike on American soil and that a likely target was government buildings, documents show.
The U.S. Marshals Service issued an alert on March 15, 1995, to federal courthouses it protects, including the one in Oklahoma City across the street from where McVeigh's truck bomb killed 168 people, the documents show. USA Today
09/18/01: The vice president of a flight school in Oklahoma told The Boston Globe yesterday that three weeks before Tuesday's suicide hijackings, FBI agents interviewed him about a suspected terrorist who had trained at the school.
...In addition, Davis said that FBI agents visited his flight school two years ago to ask questions about a former student who had been identified by federal authorities as an associate of Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born dissident who is the prime suspect in organizing last week's hijackings.
Davis said FBI agents had visited his school just two years earlier to inquire about Ihab Ali Nawawi, who took flight training there in 1993 and was later charged in connection with the 1998 US Embassy bombings in Africa, which were blamed on bin Laden's group.
Davis also confirmed that Atta and another suspected hijacker, Marwan al-Shehhi, visited Airman Flight School, staying overnight at the school's dormitory in the nearby Sooner Inn, before deciding to train at another facility. Boston Globe
10/10/00: MSA organizes peaceful protest TU MSA President Hisham Bamufleh
02/12/97: Oral Robert University Students Anger Muslims
02/07/97: Police called when ORU students surround Tulsa mosque CAIR's response.
03/21/96: Cheema Family Limited Partnership, Mujeeb Cheema 400 S Boston Ste 800 Tulsa OK 74103.
1996: Mufid Abdulqader leaves Oklahoma City for Dallas
1996: Khaled Meshal, Meshaal, Abu'l Walid, elected chairman of Hamas's political bureau, which directly controls its "military" operations.
1995: Nihad Awad, of CAIR, gave Oklahoma governor Frank Keating $20,000 at memorial services in OKC just after the OKC bombing on April 19, 1995. Keating accepted another check for $22,000 at the ISGOC just after the 9/11 attacks and told the Muslim audience he hoped one of them would become governor of Oklahoma one day. Keating stated “This is a gift from good people to good people” according to a Tulsa World newspaper article of September 22, 2001.
1994: Terrorists Among Us - Jihad in America is a documentary by counter-terrorism expert Steven Emerson. It first aired in the United States in 1994 on the PBS series Frontline.[1] The film has won numerous awards for journalism, including the George Polk Award. [2][1]
According to Emerson, the impetus for the film came in 1992, when he happened to come across a conference of Arab youths in Oklahoma City. After gaining entrance by pretending to be Muslim, Emerson said that he found tables of pro-terrorism literature from groups such as Hamas and heard speeches calling for death to Americans.[1]
Attention to Emerson and his work were renewed following the September 11, 2001 attacks by terrorists on the United States; later in 2001, Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey credited Emerson's film with helping to pass a recent anti-terrorism bill in the House.[1] Emerson has also given briefings to both chambers of Congress and to the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.[1]
1993: Osma bin Laden's pilot, Ihab Ali, trained in Norman, Oklahoma.
1992: Video places Mufid Abdulqader, and his half-brother, Khaled Meshal, at a major Hamas fundraising conference in Oklahoma City. This conference or one similar was happened upon by a CNN reporter on another assignment. What he saw shocked him and caused his career path to make a drastic change. Today, Steve Emerson, is a leading terror experts.
Abdulgader has been alleged to be one of the incorporators of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City.
1992: Kamal Hilbawi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, told thousands of radical fundamentalists in Oklahoma City in December 1992, that the Palestinian cause is conflict "between truth and falsehood. Between two inclinations -- one Satanic, headed by Jews and their [Christian] co-conspirators and the other -- religious, carried out by Hamas, the Islamic people in general and the Islamic movement in particular."7...Documents from the World Trade Center trial show that several of the conspirators attended the MAYA convention in Oklahoma City in December 1992; there is good reason to believe that they discussed the World Trade Center attack at that time. MEF
1988: Abdullah Azzam, mentor to Osama Bin Laden, speaks in Oklahoma about Jihad. He makes repeated trips to the US and other countries, building up his Pakistan-based organization, Maktab al-Khidamat (MAK), or “Services Office” in English. It is also known as Al-Kifah, which means “struggle.” Azzam founded the Al-Kifah/MAK in 1984 (see Late 1984). Branches open in over 30 US cities, as Muslim-Americans donate millions of dollars to support the Afghan war against the Soviet Union. The most important branch, called the Al-Kifah Refugee Center, opens in Brooklyn, New York (see 1986-1993). Azzam is assassinated in a car bomb attack in late 1989 (see November 24, 1989). Bin Laden takes over control and it morphs into al-Qaeda. Cooperative Research
From the NEFA Foundation:
The Islamic Association of Palestine or IAP hosted Azzam at its 1988 conference (watch video) in Oklahoma City and held a conference named after him following his death.
In this speech at the IAP conference, Azzam counseled, "O, people of Palestine, it is time for you to pledge death. Live with self-respect or die honorably between piercing lances and fluttering flags." In a similar vein, he said, "O children of Palestine, no retreat after today...It is time...for you to rise to the level of preparation, martyrdom and seriousness. And, by God, seriousness and desire for death will only add life and honor to you...the life that the God of glory has referred to...is the Jihad..." Azzam also said, "the Jihad with one's own life and the jihad with the money, they are both obligations." He continued, "the donation of money is a sunna of the Chosen One...it is an obligation that came down from the top of the seven levels. Come, light and heavy, and commit jihad with your possessions and your lives in the cause of God..."
Along with Usama bin Laden, whom he mentored, Azzam co-founded Makhtab al-Khidamat (a.k.a. the AL-Kifah Refugee Center), considered the "precursor organization to al Qaida." What's more, according to the U.S. government, Azzam is "regarded as a historical leader of HAMAS..." Azzam is listed as a member of the Palestine Committee "outside America" in this document. (Note: there are 3 Oklahomans listed on this document, on page 4.
Azzam is considered the historic leader of Hamas
Makhtab al-Khidamat
MAK was co-founded by Sheikh Abdullah Azzam and UBL in the 1980s and served as the precursor organization to al Qaida.1980s: Muslim Brotherhood members hold several training camps in Oklahoma until they arise the suspicions of authorities - FBI Muslim Brotherhood document, page 15.
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Well known Muslims in Oklahoma
Allison Moore
...ICBR's overseeing Imam Radwan Koualti runs a da'wa [Islamic conversion] website called "Love Allah." Koualti's web presence showcases the extreme nature of his beliefs.
"As believers, our mission is to completely and fully enslave ourselves to Allah…The nature of believer's love for Allah is sacrificial.
Sheryl Siddiqui board member of CAIR
Mujeeb Cheema is the Executive Director / Chairman of the Islamic Trust of North America
Noureddin Gayash
Br. Gayash is the Principal of Peace Academy in Tulsa, OK. Former Chairman of MAS Board of Director. MAS is a Muslim Brotherhood front goup.
Mohammad Hasanji, Board Member, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, OK
Saad Mohammad, Vice President, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, OK
John Graff, Youth Director, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, OK
Mohammad Saleem, Principle, Mercy School, Oklahoma City, OK
Hussein Khattab, Chairman, Peace Academy, Tulsa, OK
Nazih Zuhdi Liver Transplant at Baptist
The American Muslim Association of Oklahoma City
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Mitchell Grey: A Tangled Web of Deceit
Anne Jacobsen: How Normal is Norman (Ok)?
Norman, Oklahoma, is mentioned in the http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/911rpt/ intelligence report prepared by the House and the Senate on the 9/11 terrorist attacks; this report, which Congress has declassified, references known terrorists' activities in Norman, Oklahoma, no less than 17 times. In examining this and other U.S. government documents, a disturbing portrait emerges: Norman, Oklahoma, has been associated with terrorist activity ever since Osama Bin Laden's personal pilot, Mohamed Ihab Ali, went to Norman to take flying lessons back in 1993.
Patrick Briley: The Oklahoma City Bombing Revelation
"I stopped after you called Bush an expert."
Islamist or Islamist sympathizers would write what you just wrote. Politically, in America that would be the Democratic party.
Posted by: Larsen | October 28, 2008 at 08:11 AM
I stopped after you called Bush an expert.
Posted by: Anon Y. Mous | October 26, 2008 at 02:05 PM
The following link is from the wife of Houssam El Soussi who is linked to the Miftah case. I saw that you were missing that one :)
http://www.islamonline.net/english/In_Depth/news/
Posted by: Zena | November 14, 2007 at 02:36 PM