Orange County Man Claims to Have Infiltrated Local Mosque

Federal agents at the home of Ahmadullah Sais Niazi


Today's Orange County Register is reporting an interview (yesterday) with an Orange County man who claims he acted as an FBI informant infiltrating an Irvine mosque from July 2006 to October 2007. The interview comes in the wake of the arrest this past week of Afghan national Ahmadullah Sais Niazi of nearby Tustin on immigration-fraud charges. (Niazi is charged with lying in his application for US citizenship and a US passport and hiding connections to terrorist organizations. Niazi also reportedly has a brother-in-law believed to be Osama bin Laden's security coordinator.)

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/monteilh-niazi-informant-2319851-islamic-center

The Register has concluded that the man who was interviewed yesterday, Craig Monteilh (46), was also acting as the specific informant who had recorded conversations in which Niazi allegedly talked of conducting Jihad, blowing up empty buildings, and setting off explosives in shopping centers.

The FBI will neither confirm nor deny that Monteilh has acted as their informant. However, according to the Register, the testimony of an FBI agent in a bail hearing for Niazi seems to confirm Monteilh's claims.

What is known is that Monteilh is a convicted felon and has served time in prison for fraud and grand theft.

In 2007, the Islamic Center of Irvine, along with the Council on Islamic American Relations (CAIR), took out a restraining order on Monteilh and reported him to the FBI, stating that he held violent views and was making references to Jihad. Monteilh claims that the mosque was beginning to suspect they were being monitored.

There have been reports in the past couple of years (and complaints from the local Muslim community) that the FBI was investigating the Irvine mosque. This article would seem to confirm that suspicion.

As for Mr Monteilh, his credibility automatically comes into question based on his criminal history and this curious interview (informants don't normally give newspaper interviews publicizing their actions.) It appears, however, that his cooperation with the FBI was already known to those he was attempting to infiltrate and with whom he was recording conversations. The burning question is whether the mosque and CAIR came forward because they wanted to turn in a terror suspect or because they knew or suspected that he was an informant.


Should Monteilh be called as a witness, the jury will be properly instructed to consider his testimony with great scrutiny due to his criminal past. Ultimately, Monteihl's credibility will rest on whatever corroborating evidence the FBI and police have gathered-including of course, the tape recordings, which will be crucial to any future prosecution.

This is a case that bears following.

Another Victim to Our Lax Illegal Alien Policy

Miguel Alexander Vargas
Another one slips through the cracks-another innocent person dies


It's happened again. First we have the senseless murder of Jamiel Shaw Jr in Los Angeles by an illegal alien gang member fresh out of jail without being turned over to ICE. Then we have the murder of a father and 2 sons (Bologna family) in San Francisco by an illegal alien gang member who had been released from jail in the Bay Area without ICE being notified. Now this.

Miguel Alexander Vargas (25), a native of El Salvador and illegal alien, is charged with the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend, Annette Angelina Alvarado (23) in Placentia, California near Los Angeles. On January 27, 2009, Vargas pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic violence against Alvarado. Nine days later, he killed her, stabbing her over 20 times in front of her two small children.

At this time, an internal ICE review is underway to determine why ICE did not deport Vargas after the January 27 plea. At this point, we don't even know if he was actually in ICE custody.

Oh, by the way. This was not the first time Vargas had run afoul of the law. He had a US arrest record going back to 2002 for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, driving without a license, a conviction for felony gang assault in 2007 and, according to the Orange County Register article, was sentenced to a year in prison on November 21, 2008 for violation of probation. Why was he on the streets 3 months later? You're asking me?

Vargas was arrested (after the murder) in Tijuana on February 16 and turned over to American authorities.

So here we have yet another case of a gang-banger with multiple arrests going through the justice system and being turned back onto the streets of our cities without being deported. And yet another victim has paid with her life for our negligence.

The depressing details can be found here in an article by the Orange County Register

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/vargas-guilty-jail-2319973-placentia-officials

When do we as a people say to our elected leaders, "Enough"?

Israeli Apartheid Week is Coming to a Campus Near You

San Francisco, January 10, 2009


The week of March 1, university campuses all over the US and Canada are going to witness what is called "Israeli Apartheid Week". This will be a week chock full of Israel-bashing put on by local campus Muslim Student Associations aided by their allies on the radical left-professors, radical left students and "community members" with time on their hands to join any event that bashes "The Establishment."

So, if you study in a university where these events will take place, what can you expect to see and hear? Well, to begin with, you will witness a sea of Palestinian flags. There will be an occasional Hamas flag as well as an occasional Hezbollah flag (the organization that was implicated in the Marine barracks bombing that occurred in the 1980s in Lebanon and killed over 200 of our Marines.

You will hear the usual chants, "Free free Palestine" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", the latter of which, if analyzed, means all of present-day Israel will be eliminated and the Jews driven out or killed. You will see posters decrying the "genocide" that Israel is carrying out against innocent Palestinian men, women and children. You will see pictures of civilians killed in recent military action in Gaza. Of course, nothing will be said about the fact that Hamas and Hezbollah deliberately set up their operations in mosques, schools, hospitals and other civilian centers in order to maximize their own civilian casualties for public relations effect.

And there will be speakers galore-all dedicated to the end of Israel as a nation. Who will these speakers be? First, there will be radical Islamic imams, many of whom are on the lecture circuit spreading their message of hate. Not only against Israel, mind you, but against America as well. There surely will be people like Amir Abdel Malik Ali, an Oakland imam who goes from campus to campus in California calling for the destruction of Israel, glorifying suicide bombings and railing against "Zionist Jews". There will also be Mohammed al-Asi, an American-born imam who calls Jews, "low-life ghetto-dwellers" and warns young Jewish students that they face the wrath of the Muslim world because of their support for Israel.

There will also be radical leftist professors like Norman Finklestein and Ward Churchill, who not only hate Israel, but hate their own country as well. There will be a host of Arab professors who hold teaching jobs at American universities, spreading their propaganda in the classroom.

And as always, they will drag in Jewish figures (like Finklestein) who oppose Israel thinking that it adds credibility to their cause.

On many campuses, you will see a mock wall set up to represent the wall Israel built (quite successfully) to keep out suicide bombers who were blowing up buses and pizza parlors in Israeli cities. This will be their symbol of Israeli "Apartheid", a term made popular by our misguided ex-president Jimmy Carter. You will see photos of dead civilians on that wall, quotes from Martin Luther King and others.

Virtually everything you hear said will be negative-anti-Israel, anti-American and occasionally anti-Semitic. You will hear George Bush called an "idiot". You will hear black members of Bush's administration called "Uncle Toms". Of course, most of the speakers have learned to disguise their anti-Semtism by using the adjective "Zionist" when referring to Jews. Example:

Amir Abdel Malik Ali at UC-Irvine: "Rupert Murdoch is a Zionist Jew." No anti-Semitism there, right?

Possibly, you will see a group of Jewish students bravely carrying Israeli flags and warning listeners that hate speech is being spoken. They may or may not be the only Jewish counter-protesters you will see. At UCI, they occasionally (but not always) turn out to carry out a silent and lawful counter-protest. Some of them simply choose not to get involved for a variety of reasons.

Lately, however, we are seeing a more disturbing trend in the wake of the Gaza fighting. In many of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations held in Europe, America and Canada, we heard things like, "Long Live Hitler", Hitler rest in peace" (Los Angeles), "Go back to the ovens", "You need a bigger oven" (Ft Lauderdale), and "Jewish child, you are gonna F---ing die" (Toronto).

In Europe, in cities like London, Paris and Malmo, the protests turned into violent riots. In many European cities, Jews are afraid to venture out of doors-reminiscent of the 1930s in Germany.

Even in North America, the protests are becoming uglier. There have been violent incidents at UC Berkeley and San Jose State where just recently a talk by an Israeli diplomat was disrupted to the point where he had to leave the stage. Also just recently, a group of Jewish students at York University in Toronto were chased by a pro-Palestinian mob into the campus Hillel building where they remained barricaded until police could escort them out. At my campus (UC-Irvine)there has been a string of ugly incidents in recent years in which Jewish students have been insulted, intimidated, harassed and occasionally physically assaulted with impunity. Last month at a meeting on campus with Anteaters for Israel, Jewish students were asked if they felt intimidated on campus. About half of them, almost all females, raised their hands.

This is a situation that exists on many campuses all over the US and Canada where thuggish Muslim Student Associations have their way with no repercussions. Why is that, you ask. How can this be tolerated? It is tolerated for a variety of reasons. First of all, there is a paucity of decent faculty-even Jewish faculty-who are willing to speak out, condemn and demand that university administrators crack down on hate speech and intimidation toward a particular group (Jewish). Indeed, many university teachers, especially in the Humanities, are openly supportive of the Arab side and participate in their events.

Another problem is that university administrators-in many cases, intimidated by their own faculty, refuse to get involved. To them, it is all free speech (which is considered sancrosanct). They insist that the university must remain "content neutral" whatever that means. So they stand back, say nothing, hide under their desks and allow their campus to be run by thugs. When Jewish students go to administrators and complain about the intimidating environment they are exposed to, they are considered "hysterical Jews", told that it is free speech and all part of the education process-or simply ignored.

Another thing to remember is that the mainstream media is not reporting these events. It goes against their liberal agenda, and they, like the universities are deathly afraid of offending the Muslim community and possibly being sued by that "watchdog" of human rights, CAIR-always looking for someone to sue for "discriminating against Muslims". As a result, one must go onto the Internet to even know these things are happening unless one accidentally finds themselves in the middle of a street demonstration.

What we are witnessing in our own country is a resurgence in anti-Jewish sentiment as a result of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, fueled by radical elements within the Muslim community, aided by their left-wing allies on the radical left and enabled by pusillanimous university administrators.

So if you happen to be present at one of these protests, take careful note of what is said and done. Note which side defames not only Israel, but America as well. If there are anti-Semitic expressions or acts of intimidation or violence against Jewish students, speak out. At this point, I don't know if there will be events at UC-Irvine. If there are, I will observe as much of it as I am able, note what is said, probably confront a speaker or two and report it on my blog. The public has to know what is going on.

Regardless of what one thinks about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to allow that conflict to bring about a resurgence in anti-Semitism against our fellow Jewish citizens on our shores is unthinkable and unacceptable. We all know where that kind of sentiment can take us. It is up to us who are aware to spread the news to the American public that may not be aware of what is happening. It is time for many in the Jewish community to stand up and defend themselves and demand that those in authority to do the right thing. And it is time for the millions of decent Muslims in America to stand up to those who are doing so much to discredit Islam and say "Enough", we love our adopted country, which has given us so much, and we refuse to engage in hatred toward our fellow Americans who happen to be Jewish.

I hope everyone will follow the events of the coming week.

Keith Olbermann-Beating a Dead Horse

Is the above photo Keith Olbermann beating up on George Bush-or me beating up on Keith Olbermann? Sometimes, even I'm not sure.


I turned on Keith Olbermann tonight because I wanted to see how he would handle the Chris Matthews "Oh God" comment last night on MSNBC. Of course, it didn't occur to me to turn on Chris Matthews to see what he would say, but I never watch "Hardball" anyway. As for "Countdown", it was the same old dog and pony show. It's getting to be like "I Love Lucy".

(* Matthews, on "Hardball", skillfully and disingenuously told his viewers tonight that he was reacting to the staged backdrop for Jindal's speech; the antebellum appearance of the Governor's mansion, the winding staircase, the hallway from which he emerged. Yet, those images were on the screen at least a full minute before Jindal appeared-at which time, Matthews made his comment.)

First, Keith brought on his old stand-by, Newsweek Editor Richard Wolffe (2 f's) to help Keith pound on Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's speech in response to President Obama's address to Congress. Keith charged that Jindal made up a story about being with a local sheriff when he told a government bureaucrat over the phone to go pound sand-or something like that. It never happened, said Keith, later adding that the sheriff is now dead,(so I guess we'll never really know, will we Keith). Then he and Wolffe (2 f's) talked about how even Republicans thought that Jindal's speech was awful and he looked like some sophomoric TV character (somebody the page). Finally, they concluded that Jindal's political career was now doomed (knowing that the governor is considered a rising star in the Republican Party). Wolffe (2 f's) also made a passing joke about Matthews' comment about Jindal's entrance to the podium and Keith laughed. (It's not so funny, Keith. You should be embarrassed. But more on that later.)

Eugene "Chuckles" Robinson and Jonathan Alter apparently had the night off, so Keith then brought in the "always fair and balanced" Paul (the worm) Krugman to help him beat up on those awful Republicans some more (as if they matter, for cryin' out loud).

Then there is poor old George Bush, who used to be president. Keith can't let go. He talked about some nursing home law that was passed under Bush. He showed a clip of Rachel Maddow interviewing Nancy Pelosi about this so-called "Truth and Reconciliation" nonsense that Patrick Leahy is proposing (What are we, Argentina?) . Pelosi is "concerned" that in the end, no one will go to prison, a concern we know Keith shares.

"Worst Person in the World"? Bronze goes to Politico.com's Michael Calderone for incorrectly identifying the "Oh God" speaker as Keith then correcting it to Matthews. Hey Keith, how about Matthews as "Worst Person in the World" for saying it? Silver to-who else, Bill O'Reilly-just for being Bill O'Reilly. This must have been the 2,283rd award to O'Reilly. Never let it be said that Keith Olbermann holds a grudge. The Gold to Sean Hannity ("The Manitee") for being a conservative-or some other infraction.

And as further evidence that Keith can't let go of the Bush thing, he again signed off by reminding us it was the 467,126th day since George Bush declared, "Mission accomplished".

Good night, Keith.
Good night, Richard.
Good night, Chris.

MSNBC-"Oh God!"

The above picture shows:

a Bleacher Bums at Wrigley Field
b Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and other MSNBC commentators reporting politics

Answer? Why "b" of course.


Once again, MSNBC's co-anchors, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, showed why they were kicked off the election campaign reporting shtick last year. They are so openly biased that their only proper place is in opinion-oriented forums. Now that the election is over, they are back off their leashes.

Last night was just another in a long string of anecdotes involving these two pundits. After the speech by President Obama (who makes Matthews feel orgasmic sensations run up and down his leg-by his own admission), Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal gave the Republican response. As Jindal walked to the microphone, one of our two "professional" commentators (believed to be Matthews) was heard to mutter over the good old open mike, "Oh God!"

This is the same guy who in the 2006 elections, was heard to exclaim, "Yea!" when another Democratic election victory came over the wires.

Isn't MSNBC, in spite of its open bias, embarrassed when these two reporters act like cheerleaders and bleacher bums when reporting political events in venues where the public expects straight reporting?

Apparently not.

More Beer!!!

Sailors spending like drunken Congressmen

President Obama's Change

We have had a lot of fun recently mocking the "Change" mantra that propelled Barack Obama to the White House. In one respect, it is a joke that President Obama will change the insider culture of Washington. One needs look no further than his cabinet selections to see that clearly. The revolving door of lobbyists in and out of government (Daschle) to the back room deals (Hillary Clinton) to the tax cheats (Daschle and Geithner) put the lie to any notion that the Obama Administration is going to change Washington. Yet, when we look at the first 30 days of the Obama Administration, it is undeniable that he is charging full-speed ahead for his version of change. That is the drive to move this country into socialism.

Where do we start? Do we begin with the so-called Stimulus Bill-almost 800 billion dollars of pork, earmarks, welfare and government spending gone wild? How about the nationalization through bailout of our banking system and our automobile industry? Even more stimulus bills are on the way. More spending, more give-aways, Fannie, Freddie, etc. All those homeowners who couldn't pay the mortgages? Government is going to take care of them. In Obama's speech tonight, I hear him blast certain bankers who made bad loans. He didn't say one word about people like Barney Frank, who forced bankers into making bad loans.

Yes, let the good times roll! After all, the tax-payers are footing the bill. You know, the people who work, pay their bills, pay their taxes and make their mortgage payments. The producers of our society. They got it covered. As we speak, Congress is sending another, slightly less blockbuster spending bill to Obama for his signature. It contains thousands of earmarks-those little things the President assures us are not in the Stimulus Package.

In the wake of all this, Obama holds a White House conference yesterday. The topic?

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY!!

Did you know Obama is going to send 900 million dollars to Gaza? Not one dime to Hamas, we are assured. Never mind that Hamas runs Gaza. Of course, there will be appropriate safeguards. Right. He is also going to open the floodgates for "refugees" from Gaza to come to the US so they can take over our streets and campuses with their anti-Israel protests. Just what we need. Don't take my word for it; read the executive order.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-2488.htm

What we are witnessing is the transfer of wealth through government spending programs and taxes. It is called socialism in its milder form and Marxism in its more extreme form. At this point, I am not sure where Obama falls in between the two.

Say what you will of Obama. He is moving boldly. His will not be an insignificant presidency.

Concordia University, Montreal-September 2002

The video below was shot at Concordia University in Montreal in September 2002. The incident happened when Former Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was scheduled to give a speech. Because of the riot that occurred, the speech was cancelled at the last minute because of safety concerns.

Two years later, (2004) another scheduled speech at Concordia by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was cancelled due to the threat of violence. So much for the right of free speech in Canada.

But, you say, that was 2002. Yes, but not much has changed since then, has it?

Toronto, January 10, 2009

Yes, there is anti-Semitism in Canada too. This video is courtesy of Five Feet of Fury blog. Pay particular attention to the chant, "How many Gazans blood did you drink today?" (4 minutes 30 seconds into the video)That is a clear reference to the old Jewish blood libel. Also note the screams of a woman to a Jewish child threatening the child with death. "Jewish child. You are gonna F---ing die!" (6 minutes 20 seconds into the tape.) The child was standing next to the author of Five Feet of Fury blog, Kathy Shaidle.

Boycot Durban II

The below message and video comes to us from International Christian Embassy Jerusalem of Murfreesboro, TN.

"In the picturesque Swiss city of Geneva this coming April 20, the United Nations is due to hold its second global summit on racism a 'human rights' gathering designed to review the outcomes of the hate-filled fiasco held in Durban, South Africa in the week before the 9/11 attacks of September 2001.

UN Human Rights Council chair Libya is in the driving seat and has gladly handed the wheel over to Iran rendering the so-called Durban II conference little more than a UN-sponsored show-trial of Israel and the West.


As in 2001,
...only one nation is singled out for condemnation: Israel
…only one cause merits attention: Palestine
…and only one religion merits protection: Islam

This weekend the State Department announced that President Obama is content to go along with it.

The Durban II Declaration will make it an act of racism for the Jewish people to live in a land of their own and a hate-crime to condemn the Islamic terrorism that targets them.

Not in our name. Tell President Obama to boycott Durban II."






Boycott Durban II from ICEJ USA on Vimeo.


Fousesquawk comment: I heartily concur. This conference is nothing more than the Arab world (using the feckless United Nations) forcing the West to turn its back on Israel. They are even drafting a resolution that would make any criticism of Islam a criminal offense.

It behooves the US and the Obama Administration to lead the way in stripping this show trial of any legitimacy. No US representative should attend.

The Oscars-Narcissism and Rhodesians

"Hey, here's a star arriving now!"


"Fousesquawk, over here!"
(Tip of the hat to Hardrockhaven.com)


I wasn't going to watch the Oscars last night. I usually don't. As it was, I ended up watching the last couple of hours simply because there wasn't much else going on. I had gone out for Pollo Loco and finished off a bottle of wine with dinner. The blog was slow, so I figured what the hell. Might as well see who makes the biggest ass out of him/her self this year.

First the compliments: It was nice to see Jerry Lewis, who has been in ill health for many years, receive recognition for his humanitarian work. I also thought it was nice to see the Indian film industry (Bollywood) get attention with the movie, Slum Dog Millionaire (which I haven't seen yet. In fact, I haven't seen any other movies and probably won't.) And how about those hot Indian babes? (I know. I'm a sexist. Save the cards and letters.)

By the way, I heard a few references to Mumbai. If anyone mentioned the slaughter that took place there, it must have been in the first hour when I wasn't watching.

Now the bad news. As always, it was an exercise in narcissism and mutual ass-kissing playing to the monumental egos of the "stars". Thank God I missed the pre-Oscars with all those boobs prancing into the theatre and showing off what they were wearing. Angelina Jolie was wearing huge emeralds probably stolen from some temple in the jungles of South America, while some babe named Jenny Beer or something like that was outfitted in a shower curtain. I always get a kick out of watching the close-up audience shots of some star listening with rapt attention to whoever has the mike and is giving one of those "save the world" speeches. Jolie was doing that while making sure we all saw that obscene emerald on her hand matching the obscene ones hanging on her ears.

I was also dumbfounded by all the Rhodesians who were either receiving awards or handing them out. (I can always tell a Rhodesian by the accent.) Every five minutes there was another Rhodesian who had forgotten to comb his hair on the stage. Even the producers of Slum Dog were Rhodesians. They're taking over, I tell you. Where is Robert Mugabe when we need him? Of course, a lot of what I call the *Mox Nix awards went to mostly Rhodesians. Award for best cinematography? A Rhodesian. Best documentary? A Rhodesian. Best actress? A Rhodesian. Best grip? A Rhodesian. Even the MC, some guy named Jack Hughes or something like that, was a bloody Rhodesian. I missed who got best supporting actress, but I bet it was some Rhodesian.

I'll tell you another low point-which usually is done well-but not this year. The list of those who passed on. This year, the names and photos passed so quickly, and the lettering was so small, it was hard to keep up. Of course, Charlton Heston's name got little or no applause. (He was a conservative, you know.)

As for who made the biggest jerk out of himself (at least in the part I watched), it had to be none other than Sean Penn (who I wish were Rhodesian). He got best actor for his portrayal of Harvey Milk. Of course, Penn used his soapbox to tell us about some hateful signs he saw when he arrived (about what I have no idea). Then the man who cozies up to Hugo Chavez told those of us who voted against Proposition 8 that we "would stand in shame before our grandchildren".

JERK.

Second place would have to go to Bill Maher (also a jerk), who just had to take a shot at believers with his reference to "silly Gods who cost us greatly."

So the 181st Oscars is in the books-"one for the ages" as they say in Hollywood. Somewhere Cary Grant is rolling in his grave.

Say....wasn't he a Rhodesian?



* Mox Nix- a bastardization of macht nichts-in German meaning something that doesn't matter.

The Beheading in Buffalo

Muzzammil Hassan, Aasiya Hassan

Was it an honor killing?


This month, Muzzammil Hassan (44) was arrested and charged for the murder of his wife, Aasiya Hassan (37). Mrs Hassan's body was discovered by police in the Orchard Park (suburb of Buffalo) office of the cable TV network, "Bridges". She had been beheaded. The Hassans were owners of the network, which was devoted to providing a positive look at Islam and Muslims in the US. Why was this murder committed? At this point, the motive is believed to be the fact that Mrs Hassan wanted a divorce. The question is whether this was just a tragic case of domestic rage-or whether it was done as an act of "honor-killing".

Below is a statement by Imam Mohamed Hagagid Ali, Vice President of the Islamic Society of North America. It also appears on CAIR's website.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



RESPONDING TO THE KILLING OF AASIYA HASSAN: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LEADERS OF AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITIES
By Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali
Executive Director, ADAMS Center
Vice-President, The Islamic Society of North America
Source: www.isna.net


"The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is saddened and shocked by the news of the loss of one of our respected sisters, Aasiya Hassan whose life was taken violently. To God we belong and to Him we return (Qur’an 2:156). We pray that she find peace in God’s infinite Mercy, and our prayers and sympathies are with sister Aasiya’s family. Our prayers are also with the Muslim community of Buffalo who have been devastated by the loss of their beloved sister and the shocking nature of this incident.

This is a wake up call to all of us, that violence against women is real and can not be ignored. It must be addressed collectively by every member of our community. Several times each day in America, a woman is abused or assaulted. Domestic violence is a behavior that knows no boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, or social status. Domestic violence occurs in every community. The Muslim community is not exempt from this issue. We, the Muslim community, need to take a strong stand against domestic violence. Unfortunately, some of us ignore such problems in our community, wanting to think that it does not occur among Muslims or we downgrade its seriousness.

I call upon my fellow imams and community leaders to never second-guess a woman who comes to us indicating that she feels her life to be in danger. We should provide support and help to protect the victims of domestic violence by providing for them a safe place and inform them of their rights as well as refer them to social service providers in our areas.

Marriage is a relationship that should be based on love, mutual respect and kindness. No one who experiences a marriage that is built on these principles would pretend that their life is in danger. We must respond to all complaints or reports of abuse as genuine and we must take appropriate and immediate action to ensure the victim’s safety, as well as the safety of any children that may be involved.

Women who seek divorce from their spouses because of physical abuse should get full support from the community and should not be viewed as someone who has brought shame to herself or her family. The shame is on the person who committed the act of violence or abuse. Our community needs to take a strong stand against abusive spouses. We should not make it easy for people who are known to abuse to remarry if they have already victimized someone. We should support people who work against domestic violence in our community, whether they are educators, social service providers, community leaders, or other professionals.

Our community needs to take strong stand against abusive spouses and we should not make it easy for them to remarry if they chose a path of abusive behavior. We should support people who work against domestic violence in our community, whether they are educators or social service providers. As Allah says in the Qur’an: “O ye who believe! Stand firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do” (4:136).

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never hit a women or child in his life. The purpose of marriage is to bring peace and tranquility between two people, not fear, intimidation, belittling, controlling, or demonizing. Allah the All-Mighty says in the Qur’an: “Among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are signs for those who reflect” (30:21),

We must make it a priority to teach our young men in the community what it means to be a good husband and what the role the husband has as a protector of his family. The husband is not one who terrorizes or does harm and jeopardizes the safety of his family. At the same time, we must teach our young women not to accept abuse in any way, and to come forward if abuse occurs in the marriage. They must feel that they are able to inform those who are in authority and feel comfortable confiding in the imams and social workers of our communities.

Community and family members should support a woman in her decision to leave a home where her life is threatened and provide shelter and safety for her. No imam, mosque leader or social worker should suggest that she return to such a relationship and to be patient if she feels the relationship is abusive. Rather they should help and empower her to stand up for her rights and to be able to make the decision of protecting herself against her abuser without feeling she has done something wrong, regardless of the status of the abuser in the community.

A man’s position in the community should not affect the imam’s decision to help a woman in need. Many disasters that take place in our community could have been prevented if those being abused were heard. Domestic violence is not a private matter. Any one who abuses their spouse should know that their business becomes the business of the community and it is our responsibility to do something about it. She needs to tell someone and seek advice and protection.

Community leaders should also be aware that those who isolate their spouses are more likely to also be physically abusive, as isolation is in its own way a form of abuse. Some of the abusers use the abuse itself to silence the women, by telling her “If you tell people I abused you, think how people will see you, a well-known person being abused. You should keep it private.”

Therefore, to our sisters, we say: your honor is to live a dignified life, not to put on the face that others want to see. The way that we measure the best people among us in the community is to see how they treat their families. It is not about how much money one makes, or how much involvement they have in the community, or the name they make for themselves. Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said, “The best among you are those who are best to their families.”

It was a comfort for me to see a group of imams in our local community, as well as in the MANA conference signing a declaration promising to eradicate domestic violence in our community. Healthy marriages should be part of a curriculum within our youth programs, MSA conferences, and seminars as well as part of our adult programs in our masajid and in our khutbahs.

The Islamic Society of North America has done many training workshops for imams on combating domestic violence, as has the Islamic Social Service Associate and Peaceful Families Project. Organizations, such as FAITH Social Services in Herndon, Virginia, serve survivors of domestic violence. All of these organizations can serve as resources for those who seek to know more about the issues of domestic violence.

Faith Trust Institute, one of the largest interfaith organizations, with Peaceful Families Project, has produced a DVD in which many scholars come together to address this issue. I call on my fellow imams and social workers to use this DVD for training others on the issues of domestic violence. (For information, go to the website: http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/). For more information, or to access resources and materials about domestic violence, please visit www.peacefulfamilies.org.

In conclusion, Allah says in the Qur’an “Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction… O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong; and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs” (31:17). Let us pray that Allah will help us to stand for what is right and leave what is evil and to promote healthy marriages and peaceful family environments. Let us work together to prevent domestic violence and abuse and especially, violence against women."
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Imam Ali's statement is welcomed, but it overlooks the central question; are we dealing with a case of "honor killing"? If so, it behooves the imam to say forcefully not only that domestic violence is wrong, but that the idea of taking the life of a family member for purposes of "honor" will be vigorously prosecuted in the United States. If this is some sort of "custom" that existed in the mother country, which was accepted or dealt with leniently there, such will not be the case in America.

This is not the first incidence of so-called honor killings carried out in America-or Europe for that matter. Our country has enough problems with every-day street crime that leads to a shameful murder rate for a civilized country. We don't need any new forms of murder.

I applaud Imam Ali's statement regarding domestic abuse. I wish, however, that he had gone further into the problem and issued a clear statement that "honor killings" are to be condemned. American imams are the leading voices of the American Muslim community. They need to join together and lead the way to fighting not just domestic abuse, but this custom called "honor killing" that can never be accepted in the United States-or anyplace else for that matter.