The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) released its second statement in the last couple of months saying that its leadership is “appalled” by Donald Trump’s politics against radical Islamic extremists.
The ICNA called Trump out for issuing what they deem “Islamophobic statements,” calling them “preposterous, xenophobic, and borderline-fascist.”
Last month, the group issued a statement against Trump’s campaign in general saying his “racist, bigoted politics of division will separate Americans rather than focusing on the immense challenges facing our nation.”
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This all seems pretty rich considering the ICNA most recently appeared in stories involving the San Bernardino terrorists. Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik (aka Jihadi & Clyde), along with Farook’s mother, Rafia Farook, had certificates of appreciation from the ICNA, which they proudly displayed in their home.
The group’s ties to terrorism don’t end with San Bernardino either. They have known ties to terrorist organizations and have hosted speakers that included Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical preacher who had significant ties with three of the 9/11 hijackers.
The ICNA has also been promoting a program called WhyIslam, a billboard campaign to “reclaim the message of Islam” after it had been tainted by events such as those in Paris.
The WhyIslam campaign however, has controversy of its own. The group’s former chair, Amir Mertaban, has referred to Hamas terrorists as freedom fighters who have “done a lot of good” in Palestine, refusing to denounce the group. Hamas appears on the U.S. Department of State’s official terrorist watch list.
In 2008, WhyIslam ran a series of Muslim subway ads, promoted by a Brooklyn imam whom federal officials had linked to a plot to blow up city landmarks. That Brooklyn imam is the aforementioned Wahhaj.
The WhyIslam message is run under the umbrella of the ICNA, which promotes some very controversial ideas by some very controversial individuals. Various reports show that the ICNA has a prolific resume that, in addition to the items mentioned so far, include:
- Supporting the imposition of sharia law.
- Demonstrating deep ties to the fundamentalist Pakistani political party,
- Maintaining close ties to international groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood.
Here is some more background reading about the key players at the ICNA.
It took the ICNA eight years to issue statements denouncing radical terrorist mentor Anwar al-Awlaki. For Trump, they issue statements persistently and immediately.
Cross-posted at the Mental Recession
