It appears that the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood has formed yet another one of its innumerable front groups, this time calling itself the Muslim American Citizens Coalition and Public Affairs Council (MACCPAC). According to a press release, MACCPAC hosted a recent dialog with unidentified U.S. government agencies:
Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The Muslim American Citizens Coalition and Public Affairs Council (MACCPAC) in collaboration with the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy (ICRD) hosted a post election dialogue between both local and national Muslim leadership and various U.S government agencies on Wednesday, November 14th, in Washington, D.C. The discussion focused on ways both sides could increase cooperation and effectiveness on issues of common concern. Speakers also reflected on the role minority communities have played in shaping American politics and suggested ways in which American Muslims could help move the country’s national agenda forward. Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang, MACCPAC chairman and Howard University professor, said that MACCPAC has made significant progress toward creating and implementing a dialogue between the Muslim community and the political leadership in the U.S. ‘Three things have become clear: (1) we are now very constructively engaged with legislative and executive leaders on the issues affecting our people; (2) we have fully expressed and heard back from those leaders or their representatives on our concern about Islamophobia, issues relating to Shariah and other pressing matters; (3) we have succeeded in mobilizing our community for the presidential elections, and have seen America’s national leaders give credit to our participation as a key part of the record turnout that led to results likely to be of great interest and benefit to the community,’ he added. At the conclusion of the event, MACCPAC circulated and later passed a resolution that read, in part: ‘…MACCPAC urges US Government agencies through elected and appointed officials to cooperate regularly with the Muslim community in extending dialogue over policies and actions in order to address critical issues affecting American Muslims, the US and the Muslim World. MACCPAC urges the US Administration and Congressional leaders to consider assigning advisory tasks in different areas of public life to Muslim-American experts of proven professional capabilities and integrity to ensure both Muslim representation in policy process and to broaden the base of policy alternatives. MACCPAC urges members of Congress and the Administration to work together to find Legislative and Executive branch solutions to the discriminatory and burdensome system of profiling and watch lists, to ensure a safer and more just America for all citizens…’ MACCPAC’s mission is to promote mutual understanding and engagement in national security, human rights, justice, peace and democracy in the public squares all across the United States, and in other Muslim countries around the world.
An MACCPAC web pages expresses its desire to become an intermediary for the Muslim community that would meet regularly with the U.S. government and claims that it “regularly participates in White House conference calls on issues that affect millions of American lives, such as financial reform, health care reform, engagement with the Muslim world, environmental protection, immigration law reform etc.” and has “has met with the Department of Homeland Security officials on community engagement on national security issues and has outlined a series of engagement programs.”
The media contact identified for MACCPAC is Rabiah Ahmed who in 2005 was listed as a spokeswoman for the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a part of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood while MACCPAC Chairman Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang has numerous ties to the USMB, including serving on the Advisory Council for the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). A March MACCPAC event featured the following speakers:
- Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) (close to the Muslim American Society)
- Douglas Johnston (International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, close to IIIT)
- Imam Yusuf Kavakci (ISNA board member at large, imam of the Dallas Central Mosque that is close to Hamas)
Also featured at the event were two U.S. government officials- D. Paul Monteiro (White House Office of Public Engagement) and Arsalan Suleman (US Deputy Special Envoy to OIC).
A Hudson Institute report details how the forming of front organizations has long been a tactic of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood.
GMBDW notes the MACCPAC recommendation that “US Administration and Congressional leaders to consider assigning advisory tasks in different areas of public life to Muslim-American experts of proven professional capabilities and integrity” meaning no doubt those tied to the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood.