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Anti-Muslim
Group Pushes For Returning Muslim Donations
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Moran
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By
Neveen A. Salem, IOL Correspondent
WASHINGTON,
March 29 (IslamOnline) - In another attempt to undermine the
American Muslim community's participation in U.S. politics, the
American Jewish Committee (AJC) called on U.S. President George W.
Bush and Virginia Congressman Jim Moran (D) to return campaign
donations given by American Muslims.
IslamOnline
learned Thursday that the AJC, a pro-Israeli interest group that
frequently solicits the services of self-stylized "terrorism
expert" Steven Emerson, called on Bush and Moran to return
political campaign donations contributed to them by members of
American Muslim organizations raided by U.S. federal agents last
week - despite the fact that no charges have been made against any
of the organizations.
"We
urge Congressman Moran to look carefully at his receipt of campaign
contributions and return money from individuals connected to these
organizations," David L. Bernstein, Washington area director of
the American Jewish Committee, told the Washington Post.
"Recognizing
that the president has been the leading voice worldwide in the
campaign against terrorism, we also would call upon the president to
return the contribution," the paper reported.
However,
the White House informed the Washington Post Thursday that Bush has
not returned the $1,000 donation given to him in February. Claire
Buchan, the White House spokesperson also went on to tell the daily
that the raids constitute on "ongoing investigation" and
that "there have not been any charges made" against any
individuals or organizations.
Moran
asserted that he would not return the $1,800 contribution given to
him by members of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)
and Saar Foundation, both of which were raided last week by federal
agents.
"These
individuals have not been arrested or detained and charges have not
been filed against them. I believe that people living in the United
States of America are innocent until proven guilty and until there
is sufficient evidence to show that these individuals were involved
in criminal activity, I do not intend to return the
contributions," Moran said in a statement sent to IslamOnline.
"In
our system of justice, you're innocent until proven guilty - not the
reverse.
"We
are an open democracy and Muslim-Americans should feel free to
express their political views without intimidation," Moran
said. "My whole involvement with the Muslim-American community
is to show how democracy works, participate peacefully in our
political system and to ensure that people living in this country
can express their political viewpoints in a constructive
manner."
American
Muslim and Arab leaders told IslamOnline they were outraged by the
latest in a long line of attempts by special interest groups to
blacklist American Muslims/Arabs from political participation in the
most racial and biased of means.
Jim
Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute told IslamOnline he
was appalled at the attempt by the AJC to discredit reputable
organizations in order to "close the political circle."
"This
call by the AJC is an effort to close the political circle as they
are the ones creating incitement by trying to paint groups with the
taint of guilt.
"They
are trying to force politicians to eliminate these individuals and
groups from political constellation and that is simply
unacceptable."
He
also went on to spotlight the hypocrisy of the AJC and other Jewish
groups, saying, "They need to remember that this [exclusion and
discrimination] was done to them [Jews in the U.S.], and it is
tragic that they are doing it to others."
Zogby
also told IslamOnline that he has discussed the matter with Moran
and that he is pleased with this longtime friend of the Muslim/Arab
community.
"I
had long talk with Moran and I am pleased that he has refused to
return the donations.
“The
people [who have been raided] in northern Virginia are guilty of
nothing [and] have not even been charged with anything."
He
also went on to further slam the AJC for being "arrogant enough
to place itself in the position of prosecuting attorney, judge, jury
and now finally executioner. That is an outrage.
Hussein
Ibish, media director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee (ADC) told IslamOnline that, "There is no possible
basis for returning a campaign contribution because a search warrant
has been executed. No charges have been made."
He
also went on to say that the only seeming "evidence" that
there is to have justified the warrants in the first place exist in
"sealed affidavits that no one has even read."
Ibish
went on to stress that systematic calls for American Muslim/Arab
exclusion from the political process cannot be tolerated.
"Major
Jewish organizations have a long history of excluding Arab and
Muslims from the political process by using any means at their
disposal.
"They
have slandered outstanding citizens, including Salaam Al-Marayati
[executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) who
was removed from a position on the U.S. Commission on Terrorism
after strong pro-Israeli entities voiced opposition to his
appointment] and Maher Hathout [MPAC head].
"They
have urged politicians to refuse to accept contributions from the
most mainstream Arab and Muslim organizations and have demanded that
candidates like George Bush not meet with Arab and Muslim
organizations, including ADC.”
Ibish
went on to say that such efforts by Jewish organizations, even those
that tout themselves as "mainstream" are only attempts to
preserve a monopoly for support for Israel in the decision-making
process in the U.S.
"This
latest outburst is a transparent part of that campaign since it is
based on nothing more substantial than the execution of a search
warrant," Ibish concluded.
Yahya
Basha, Chairman of the American Muslim Council (AMC) brushed aside
AJC's calls as a sign of the group's "political
immaturity."
He
also went on to slam AJC for imposing "political
terrorism" on American Muslims and the entire political
process, as "They have no right to subject the community to
their inventions of what groups, people, ethnicities or religions
are allowed to be a part of the political process.
"Such
actions on behalf of AJC exhibit the group's politically immature
philosophy and we hope they stay away from merely trying to push
their political agenda in regards to the Middle East and concentrate
on a common domestic agenda that sees all peoples treated fairly and
equally."
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