Muzammil Siddiqi-"Humanitarian"

On May 5, the Orange County Human Relations Commission will honor Imam Muzammil Siddiqi as one of  Orange County's "humanitarians". This has unleashed much critical comment among those in Orange County who are familiar with Siddiqi's background.

To many, Siddiqi is a peaceful, moderate Muslim. He was invited to the White House by President George W. Bush in the days following 9-11. He is polite, soft-spoken and is involved in many interfaith dialogues in Orange County. I attended one such event at Chapman University two years ago. Siddiqi speaks of the common Abrahamaic origins of the three religions of Islam, Judaism and Chrsitianity. He speaks of the times when Jews lived in Muslim countries in peace and harmony. He will stand and embrace the gullible Jewish rabbi on the panel. It's all peace and mutual respect. Ask him hard questions, however, and he does a tap dance.

However, according to sources like Steve Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism and other terror experts, there is another side to Siddiqi. There is the former president of the Islamic Society of North America, which calls itself moderate, but is identified as a creation of the Muslim Brotherhood. That organization was also named as an un-indicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation trial involving money funneled to terrorist groups in the Middle East by Islamic charities.

There is the Siddiqi who spoke in Washington in October 2000, appearing on the stage with known radical cleric Alim Musa. In this speech, which Emerson has posted and is linked on my previous article today, Siddiqi gives a thinly veiled warning to America to stop supporting Israel or incur the wrath of God.

There is the Siddiqi who reportedly hosted the Blind Sheikh, Omar Abdul Rahman, at his mosque in December 1992 and translated in real time Rahman's sermon on violent Jihad.

All of which apparently means little to the OCHRC, who insist that the award will go forward. Of course, OCHRC director, Rusty Kennedy previously, according to several reports, traveled to South Africa to attend a fete honoring Yasser Arafat on the occasion of his Nobel Peace Prize (another great humanitarian).

But there is more that should appeal to women's groups like N.O.W. and gay rights groups.

Here is what Siddiqi is quoted on the subject of homosexuality (Investigative Project on Terrorism).

http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/171

"I ask those people to repent, turn to God and take Islam seriously," said Muzammil Siddiqi, president of the Islamic Society of North America and the director of the Islamic Society of Orange County in Garden Grove. "Being gay and Muslim is a contradiction in terms. Islam is totally against homosexuality. It's clear in the Koran and in the sayings of the prophet Mohammed."


Siddiqi said he did not condone violence against gays, but supported laws in countries where homosexuality is punishable by death. As in the Bible, Siddiqi said, the Koran includes the story of Lot, in which men who have sex with men are punished.

Now I realize that many Christian pastors have made similar statements about homosexuality based on what they perceive as Christian principles. Rick Warren is just one example, and his church was the object of protests from gay rights groups. Do you think they will rise up and protest this award to Siddiqi?

Don't hold your breath.

Here is what Siddiqi is quoted on beating wives (Jihad Watch):

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2004/03/muslim-clerics-on-the-religious-rulings-regarding-wife-beating.html

"It is also important to note that even this 'light strike' mentioned in the verse is not to be used to correct some minor problem, but it is permissible to resort to only in a situation of some serious moral misconduct when admonishing the wife fails, and avoiding from sleeping with her would not help. If this disciplinary action can correct a situation and save the marriage, then one should use it." [16]

Do you think N.O.W. and the other feminist groups are going to come out and protest giving this humanitarian award to Siddiqi?


Don't hold your breath.

Then there is the Orange County Register, which apparently wishes this story would go away. Columnist Frank Mickadeit wrote a sarcastic article last week about the opposition to this award. In his column, he only mentioned about half of the material that was provided to him. He ended his column by saying that he had left messages with Siddiqi's secretary to get back to him for an interview. Apparently, Siddiqi has not returned the call or Mickadeit has decided this story is too hot to handle.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/siddiqi-296283-amundson-group.html