Last week, the White House held that infamous meeting with so-called US Muslim leaders that included the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and the Islamic Cultural Center of Boston. They have emerged with a program called Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) with pilot programs in Boston, Minneapolis and Los Angeles supposedly designed to head off the radicalization of American Muslims.
Now other Islamic organizations are coming out against the program including the Southern California chapter of CAIR, the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, and the Western chapter of the Muslim Student Association. They say it unfairly targets and stigmatizes Muslims. The Shura Council of Southern California lists some major US Muslim figures in its ranks.
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12876-california-muslim-groups-vote-to-oppose-federal-cve-program.html
Interesting. Salaam al Marayati, the CEO of MPAC, is based in Los Angeles. He attended the White House conference. Does this put him at odds with CAIR, the Shura Council and the MSA West? They don't support the program and want no part of it.
Hussam Ayloush (CAIR-LA), of course, feels that it is unfair to have programs like these that concentrate on the Muslim mosques. Why, he has asked, are there no similar programs designed to counter violent extremism in Christian churches and Jewish synagogues-especially with all those young Jewish men going to join the Israeli Defense Forces.
Answer: Because there are no violent extremists (terrorists) coming out of those churches and synagogues, Mr Ayloush.
At any rate, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Will this program (which is probably cosmetic to begin with) cause a rift between these organizations? We shall see.
Update: Here is a statement from MPAC. It seems they have misgivings about CVE too even though Al Marayati participated in the conference.
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