Several organizations of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood have issued statements condemning a plot by U.S. Muslim converts to blow up two synagogues in New York while at the same time continuing to follow the same rhetorical strategies toward terrorism usually employed by the global Muslim Brotherhood. For example, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued the following statement:
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today applauded efforts by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies that apparently thwarted an alleged plot to attack Jewish institutions in New York. Four men were arrested Wednesday for allegedly plotting to bomb a synagogue and a Jewish community center. The men also allegedly planned to shoot down military planes. In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said: “We applaud the FBI, the New York Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies that took part in the investigation for their efforts in helping to prevent any harm to either Jewish institutions or to our nation’s military.
However, the statement continued by denying any association of Islam to violence:
“We repeat the American Muslim community’s repudiation of bias-motivated crimes and of anyone who would falsely claim religious justification for violent actions. Members of the American Muslim community should remain vigilant in reporting any activities that could harm the safety and security of our nation or its citizens.” CAIR also requested that media outlets and public officials refrain from linking this case to mainstream Islam and to challenge those who will inevitably exploit this disturbing incident to promote anti-Muslim fear and stereotypes.
As discussed in an earlier post, such denials represent the first of four parts of the Brotherhood rhetorical strategy towards terrorism:
1. DENIAL- Since the Brotherhood is pursuing Islamization and eventually Shariah (Islamic Law), it is necessary at all costs to deny that Islam as a religion has any connection to violence or terrorism. Of course, the Brotherhood represents Islamism as opposed to Islam in this regard but since the general audience does not understand that distinction, it is Islam which is the Brotherhood reference. They cannot afford to fail in this denial and the denial strategy is usually pursued through sophistry. That is, the Brotherhood claims that Islam is unfairly associated with terrorism while Christianity, Judaism, and other religions are not (e.g. Abortion bombers are not called Christian Terrorists) and/or that other religious terrorism is just as dangerous as Islamic terrorism. The Brotherhood may be winning this battle (see here.)
The statement also went to claim that CAIR has a history of positive behavior with respect to terrorism:
Along with innumerable condemnations of other terror incidents, CAIR has in the past launched an online anti-terror petition drive called “Not in the Name of Islam,” initiated a television public service announcement campaign of that same name and coordinated a “fatwa,” or Islamic religious ruling, against terrorism and religious extremism.[NOTE TO EDITORS: American Muslims are often accused of not speaking out forcefully against acts of terror committed in the name of Islam. This statement, along with the many other past anti-terror statements by mainstream Muslim groups, reaffirms the American Muslim community’s unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms.
In fact, a report recently issued by the Hudson Institute discusses the origins of CAIR and its founders/leaders in both the Palestine Committee of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood and the U.S. Hamas support infrastructure. Investigative research posted on GMBDW had determined that CAIR has a long history of support for fundamentalism, anti-Semitism, and terrorism.
The Islamic Society of North America(ISNA) issued its own statement condemning the terrorism plot:
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is relieved to learn that law enforcement agencies were able to foil a plot to blow up two synagogues in New York, and is appalled that suspects planned to attack places of worship and to commit crimes against national institutions. We commend the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for preventing the planned acts of violence by fanatics,” Dr. Ingrid Mattson, ISNA president stressed. “We reject unequivocally such violence or any attempt to undermine public safety and national security. We are repulsed by the hatred directed towards the Jewish community and stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors,” she added…..
Like the CAIR statement however, the ISNA statement also went on to deny an association with Islam and terrorism:
Several media reports referred to the suspects as Muslim. ISNA rejects the association of Islam with such criminality, hatred and bigotry .ISNA has been working actively with Muslim leaders to foster inter-communal harmony and to introduce effective measures to counter extremism. Among other interfaith initiatives, ISNA values our ground-breaking partnerships with the American Jewish community to foster mutual respect and understanding.ISNA held today at 1:00 pm a Press Conference to address this incident in collaboration with the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU). FFEU was represented by Rabbi Mark Schneier. The Press Conference was held at the Islamic Culture Center in New York City and Imam Shamsi Ali representing the Center as well as the Muslim community.
As with CAIR, the Hudson Institute report referred to above identifies ISNA as a part of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood and investigative research posted on GMBDW has detailed a long history of fundamentalism, anti-semitism, and support for terrorism on the part of ISNA.