The global terrorist group Al-Qaeda has been issuing a series of statements from the 24-year old son of former leader Osama Bin Laden, Hamza Bin Laden, who is calling for a series of new terrorist attacks around the world on innocent people.
The son of the infamous mass-murder terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden seeks to rejuvenate the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization through his involvement, claiming credibility to other killers by being the son of this infamous terrorist.
SITE Intelligence has publicly shared that Hamza Bin Laden reportedly is calling for terrorists to “move the war” from Kabul, Gaza, and Baghdad, to Washington, London, Paris, and Tel-Aviv,” telling fellow terror supporters “this is your duty.” Terror supporter Hamza Bin Laden is also reported urging for terrorist “lone wolf attacks in the US and the West,” including “targeting of Jewish American interests globally.”
Wikipedia reports that “In a 2005 video titled The Mujahideen of Waziristan, Hamza is shown participating in an al-Qaeda assault on Pakistani security forces in the south Waziristan tribal region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In September 2007, it was reported that he was again in the tribal belt that encompasses the Pakistan/Afghanistan border region taking a senior role with al-Qaeda forces.” It also states: “Letters from the [Osama Bin Laden’s Pakistan] compound also confirmed that Osama was grooming Hamza to be his heir apparent following the death of Hamza’s older brother Saad in a 2009 US drone strike.”
Old Photo of Hamza Bin Laden, Son of Al Qaeda Terror Group Leader, Osama Bin LadenSITE Intelligence Tweet by Rita Katz on Hamza Bin Laden Message
Terrorist and extremist violence which seeks to deny our universal human rights, our human dignity, and religious freedom has no boundaries. It can strike anywhere against anyone of any faith. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) urges people of all faiths to stand together united for our shared Universal Human Rights and defy those terrorists of every kind who would deny us the inherent freedom that we share together.
On the morning on July 16, 2015, a terrorist attack by extremist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez murdered five members of the United States armed forces: Carson A. Holmquist, Thomas J. Sullivan, Squire K. “Skip” Wells. David A. Wyatt, and now Randall Smith.
Chattanooga Terrorist Attack Victims: David Wyatt, Thomas Sullivan, Skip Wells,
The terror attacks began with shootings on the Armed Forces Career Center, which recruits for branches of the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Tennessee National Guard. Terrorist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez drove his car and rammed it through the security gate at the naval reserve center on Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga, shooting into recruiting offices, and hitting several people. The terrorist Abdulazeez was stopped by responding police officers and was fatally shot by them.
Terrorist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez was a young man representing an extremist ideology. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen, who was a Jordanian citizen born in Kuwait.
Reuters has reported that the SITE Intelligence Group said a July 13, 2015 Terrorist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez wrote about the call for those who “fought Jihad for the sake of Allah.” Reuters could not independently verify the blog postings. His father was investigated twice, and cleared, of suspicion of funding terrorist organizations.
The local Islamic Center of Greater Chattanooga’s president Bassam Issa urged all Muslims in the community to attend an interfaith gathering Friday night to show solidarity after what he called an act “of cowardice and hate.”
All people of conscience reject such violent attacks, extremist hate, and terrorist attacks on our shared human rights, dignity, security, and lives. We urge all of our fellow human beings to speak on this issue and remain Responsible for Equality And Liberty.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns the latest terrorist attacks by the global terrorist organization Boko Haram, which has killed a reported 200 people in northeastern Nigeria state of Borno. This has included terrorist attacks on several Islamic mosques in the Kukawa town with 97 men, women, and children killed, as well as another 48 killed in two towns near the town of Monguno. AFP also reported terrorist attacks killing 50 in the village of Mussa, with the Boko Haram shooting villagers and burning their homes.
The recent attacks on mosques took place during the Islamic holiday of Ramadan, while people were praying. One news source stated “a witness called Kolo said they killed men and young boys in the mosques and then proceeded to burn the corpses they had killed. They then indiscriminately attacked women and children who were at home.”
Nigeria Mosques Attacked by Boko Haram Terrorist Group – Men and Boys Killed and Corpses Burned (Source: Reuters)
World Bulletin reported that the Boko Haram terrorist attacks on mosques during Ramadan “occurred around sunset time as Muslims offered the Maghrib prayer just shortly after opening the day’s Ramadan fast Wednesday night. Abba Kyari, one of the hundreds of locals who fled to Maiduguri, capital city of Borno state, said that the attack took place when Muslims were praying.
‘Very few of us got away with slight injuries as we made away. But we cannot account for our family members now. The mosques are littered with corpses and our houses have been burnt,’ Kyari, who spoke in the local Hausa, said.”
AFP reported that Boko Haram terrorists were “gunning down worshippers at evening Ramadan prayers, shooting women in their homes, and dragging men from their beds in the dead of night.” AFP also reported that a young “female suicide bomber also killed 12 worshippers when she blew herself up in a mosque in Borno.”
The Boko Haram organization has also pledged its allegiance to the ISIS terrorist organization. The global terrorist organization Boko Haram is led by Abubakar Shekau, who was reportedly killed in the past, but apparently the military forces killed a double of him.
Boko Haram Terrorist Abubakar Shekau Leader Pledges Allegiance to ISIS
The latest attacks in Borno are also the area where Boko Haram kidnapped 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in April 2014. As previously reported by R.E.A.L., the terrorist group has a pattern of kidnapping women as slaves, raped, or killed, including selling such women as slave “brides” to terrorists for $10 per human being.
Nigerian Girls Kidnapped and Enslaved by Global Terrorist Organization Boko Haram
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) also released a report in April 2015 detailing patterns of widespread atrocities by Boko Haram global terrorists in northeast Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. The UN reported on “gruesome scenes of mass graves and further evident signs of slaughter by Boko Haram,” as well as Boko Haram murders of women “their so-called ‘wives’ – in fact women and girls held in slavery.”
Nigeria – Kano Mosque attacked by Boko Haram Terrorists in November 2014 – Muslim worshippers gunned down by Boko Haram as they tried to flee
The UN report also stated that “Support was also needed to address the plight of 1.5 million internally displaced persons and 650,000 refugees. The international community should be concerned about the networks that Boko Haram had created with other international armed groups, such as with Al-Shabab and the Islamic State.”
Nigerians Flee Country from Boko Haram Terrorism (Source: UNCHR, Chad Red Cross, H. Abdoulaye)
Additional new reports to BBC from escaped Boko Haram captives have stated that some of the kidnapped girls have been brainwashed to perform fighting, beatings, and killings for the global terrorist group, including flogging young girls unable to recite the Qur’an. Miriam,” a former captive of a Boko Haram, also stated that some of the girls were forced to kill Christian men.
R.E.A.L. has previously reported on other terrorist attacks by Boko Haram in that area.
In January 2015, we reported that 135,000 have fled Nigeria due to terrorist attacks, with 10,000 killed in the past year.
In November 2014, we reported that an estimated 2,500 Christians had been killed with 100,000 Catholics displaced and over 50 churches destroyed.
In October 2014, we reported on 185 Christian churches which had been burned and destroyed after attacks by Boko Haram in Borno and Adamawa states.
In May 2014, we reported that 50 churches and 500 Christians were killed by the Boko Haram group.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports the universal human rights of all people around the world, and we defy and oppose the efforts by terrorists and tyrants to seek to refuse such human rights, human dignity, as well as their violent efforts to rape, murder, destroy, and enslave. We call upon the Nigerian government to step up efforts to protect Nigerian people from such Boko Haram terrorism, and we call for the all of the world and governments to condemn the terrorist acts of Boko Haram.
In Saudi Arabia, a terrorist bombed the the minority Shia Imam Hussein mosque, the only Shia mosque in the region, resulting in four killed. This terrorist attack comes just a week after another device was detonated by ISIS terrorists in the nearby village of al-Qudeeh, killing 21 mostly Shia Muslims. The ISIS terrorist group since claimed responsibility for the attack on the Facebook page of member stating that a “soldier of the caliphate,” blew himself up among “an evil gathering of those filth in front of one of their shrines in Dammam.”
The four people were killed outside the Shia mosque, by the terrorist, reportedly dressed in a burka, who tried to drive into the mosque and kill worshipers, but was stopped by security. The terrorist detonated the bomb in the car while in the parking area outside of the women’s entrance to the mosque.
Saudi Arabia: ISIS Terrorist Attack on Minority Shia Imam Hussein mosque – Dammam (Source: Reuters)
Terrorist and extremist violence which seeks to deny our universal human rights, our human dignity, and religious freedom has no boundaries. It can strike anywhere against anyone of any faith. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) urges people of all faiths to stand together united for our shared Universal Human Rights and defy those terrorists of every kind who would deny us the inherent freedom that we share together.
The London-based Al-Khilafah Publications group is the publishing arm of the extremist anti-democracy group Hizb ut-Tahrir. The HuT’s extremist publications were a favorite in the library of the mass-murdering terrorist Osama Bin Laden, as has been revealed by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
The notorious extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir is based in London, with branches in Pakistan, Middle East, Asia, and throughout the world including the United States.
Terrorist Osama Bin Laden kept copies of these Hizb ut-Tahrir publications as his inspiration, as well as those from other extremist groups.
Khalifah Publications, Accountability in the Khalifah by Abdul-Kareem Newell
Khalifah Publications, The Method to Appoint a Khalifah
Khalifah Publications, The Khalifah is Not a Totalitarian State
Khalifah Publications, The Islamic Reformation
Khalifah Publications, Geopolitical Myths by Adnan Khan
Khalifah Publications, Communique from Hizb-ut-Tahrir to Colonel Gadaffi (1978)
Khalifah Publications, The Turbulence of Stock Markets, Their Causes and Sharia Rule Pertaining
Khalifah Publications, Thinking
Khalifah Publications, The System of Islam
Khalifah Publications, Presence of Mind
Khalifah Publications, The Khalifah is the Answer
Khalifah Publications, Jihad and the Foreign Policy of the Khalifah State
Khalifah Publications, The Inevitability of the Clash of Civilisations
Khalifah Publications, The Global Credit Crunch and Crisis of Capitalism by Adnan Khan
Khalifah Publications, Da’wah to Islam
Khalifah Publications, Dangerous Concepts to Attack Islam and Consolidate the Western Culture
Khalifah Publications, Concepts of Hizb ut-Tahrir
Khalifah Publications, A Warm Call from Hizb ut-Tahrir to the Muslims
Al-Fajr Media, Martyrdom Message of Abdo Dujanah al-Khurasani
Al-Fajr Media, Quiraidhah and America by Abu Yahya al-Libi
Al-Furqan Media, Judgment Is for None but Allah by al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) leader Abu Hamza al- Mujahir (Nov 2006)
Al-Furqan Media Interview with AQI leader Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi
The America I Have Seen by Sayyed Qutb
Arabic language tutorial for violent jihadist extremists on how to use Google
As-Sahab Media, A Testimony to the Truth by Usama bin Ladin (2006)
As-Sahab Media, The Realities of the Conflict Between Islam and Unbelief by Ayman al-Zawahiri (2006)
Assorted content from the al-Fallujah online extremist forum
The Defense of Muslim Lands by Abdullah Azzam
Democracy: A Religion by Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi
Inspire Magazine Fall 2010 issue
Islamic Ruling on Permissibility of Martyrdom Operations
Join the Caravan by Abdullah Azzam
“The Life of Baitullah Masood,” from the Global Islamic Media Front website
Summary of Mustafa Hamid’s 1994 book about his time at the al-Faruq Camp
“Video: Omar Won’t Let His Al-Qaeda Brother Adam Gadahn (Assam the American) Ruin His Life,” blog entry from www.tvzee.blogspot.com (2 September 2006)
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) will continue to use our own free speech to challenge the anti-democracy and anti-human rights view of the extremist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir.
A video of Al Qaeda American terrorist Moner Mohammad Abusalha aka “Abu Huraya al-Amriki” shows him ripping and burning his passport, and stating “You think you’re safe where you are, in America or Britain… You think you are safe, you are not safe.” NBC reported that the terrorist stated in a video ranting in English against the West, warning that it is ‘going to the dirt’ and to prepare ‘to enter the hellfire of Allah.’ ‘We are coming for you,’ he tells the camera. ‘Mark my words.’ ”
A report on the case of American terrorist Moner Mohammad Abusalha aka “Abu Huraya al-Amriki” from Florida indicates that he was responsible for a suicide bombing against a Syrian government building. The terrorist was affiliated with Al-Qaeda backed group al-Nusrah Front.
NBC reported: “The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the suicide bombing and said they have identified the American. They declined to release his identity or hometown. Word of the American’s death in the suicide bombing first surfaced Tuesday in tweets from the al-Nusra Front, an al Qaeda-linked group fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The tweets identified the bomber only by his Arabic nom de guerre, “Abu Hurayra al-Amriki,” (Abu Hurayra the American) and said he carried out one of four suicide bombings of Syrian government sites in Jabal al-Arbaa’in in Idlib Province — the scene of heavy fighting in recent weeks and months. “Abu Hurayra Al-Amriki performed a martrydom operation in Idlib, Jabal Al-Arba’een. May Allah accept him,” it said. he tweet included an image of a young, bearded and smiling Caucasian man holding a cat, as well as images of the bombing it said he had carried out. (One U.S. official pointed out that “Abu Hurayra” translates from Arabic as “father of the kitten” or “of the kitten,” and was the name adopted by a cat-loving companion of Muhammad, the founder of Islam.) Another tweet, this one in Arabic, included a photo showing the same light-skinned man sitting on the ground wearing what appeared to be a suicide vest.” “The incident is believed to be the first suicide bombing by a U.S. citizen in the Syrian civil war. Three Americans were confirmed to have carried suicide attacks in Somalia on behalf of another al Qaeda linked group, al Shabab, between 2009 and 2011.” “Syrian rebel sources based in London tell NBC News that other jihadi tweets suggest the American was of Palestinian descent.”
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have reportedly publicly murdered a 22-year old woman Najiba, who was gunned down in the streets while in her burqua. Media reported that the woman was surrounded by 100 Taliban men who cheered when the helpless woman was gunned down in the street.
This is yet another disgrace against women’s human rights and dignity, with this latest atrocity by the Taliban committed on June 23 village of Qimchaq (Qimchok), in Parwan province’sShinwari district in Eastern Afghanistan, just an hour’s drive from the Afghanistan capital of Kabul.
In the video, the Taliban extremists can be heard chanting “Allahu Ahkbar,” (God is Great) during the shooting, as also reported by CNN. Their actions and words disgrace peaceful Muslims respecting human rights around the world.
Afghanistan Woman Najiba Publicly Murdered by Taliban in Qimchaq Village - A Disgrace to Human Rights and Dignity Everywhere
The Los Angeles Times reported that a video of the Taliban murder showed “a woman in a white shawl kneeling in the dirt. Crouching in terror, she could not speak even a word in her own defense. She then crumples after apparently being shot dead at close range by a gunman before a crowd of more than 100 shouting men arrayed on a dusty terraced hillside.”
CNN reported that the defenseless woman was shot more than 9 times by the cowardly Taliban murderers. CNN also reported that the woman was murdered because of dispute over her between two rival Taliban gang leaders. CNN reported that after the Taliban murder, the killers concocted a story of crimes of “adultery” to rationalize their public murder. In the CNN report, the Parwan province governor Abdul Basir Salangi was quoted: “In order to save face,” they accused her of adultery, Salangi said. Then they “faked a court to decide about the fate of this woman and in one hour, they executed the woman..”
This is another in the many instances of the World War on Women. In this case, the oppressors of women are the Taliban extremists and their ideological acceptance of hate and violence to rationalize their actions. The Taliban have a long history of their organized and institutional War on Women. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) urges all Afghan people, all Muslim believers, and all human beings around the world to renounce the cruel and violent ideology and activity of the Taliban.
The amateur video was loaded onto YouTube. It is, and photos of such abuse, are disturbing and revolting to all decent human beings. But for those who think the Taliban is simply a different cultural group, it is important for them to see the abuses that the Taliban perform:
In addition, R.E.A.L. continues to caution the American government, its leaders, and other world leaders regarding the fallacy of negotiations with a Taliban organization that rejects and renounces our Universal Human Rights for all people, and that has continued a ceaseless campaign of deliberate and methodical violence and terrorism against fellow Afghani citizens, Muslims, and other fellow human beings. This is a women’s rights issue and a human rights issue.
R.E.A.L.' s Jeffrey Imm Outside White House in Washington DC Protesting Calls for Taliban Reconciliation, Concern for Impact on Women's Rights
President Obama: Afghanistan Women's Rights Matter
We urge members of the Taliban to renounce their ways, renounce their ideology of hate and violence, and to accept Universal Human Rights and Dignity for all people.
We offer compassion and prayers for the victims in Nigeria of terrorist atrocities, where over 178 have been reported killed, with the Bin Ladenist extremist group Boko Haram taking responsibility for the bloodshed and murder. Boko Haram has declared war on the Nigeria government and the Nigerian people. In the latest attacks which Boko Haram takes responsibility, it launched coordinated attacks on Nigerian government offices and police stations. During Christmas 2011, Boko Haram launched attacks on Christians and their churches, and in August 2011, Boko Haram launched an attack on a United Nations office in Abuja. Boko Haram has proven that they don’t stand for any religious or culture principals, other than their views of seeking death, destruction, and the end of human rights for Nigerians.
We need people of all faiths, all religions, all conscience, and all identity groups to stand against such violence, murder, and hatred.
We need our voice of hope, compassion, and dignity to be more than a whisper to the shouts of those who would seek to destroy and hate our brothers and sisters in humanity.
Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.
Terrorist Attacks in Nigeria - with Boko Haram Taking "Credit" for Death and Destruction (Photo: Reuters)
Nigeria: Over 178 Dead After Bomb Blasts – Islamist Boko Harum Group Takes Responsibility
— Reuters…. “Islamist insurgents kill over 178 in Nigeria’s Kano”… “Gun and bomb attacks by Islamist insurgents in the northern Nigerian city of Kano last week killed at least 178 people, a hospital doctor said on Sunday, underscoring the challenge President Goodluck Jonathan faces to prevent his country sliding further into chaos. … “The scale of the carnage makes this by far the deadliest strike claimed by Boko Haram, a shadowy Islamist sect that started out as a clerical movement opposed to western education but has become the biggest security menace facing Africa’s top oil producer. ‘We have 178 people killed in the two main hospitals,’ the senior doctor in Kano’s Murtala Mohammed hospital said following Friday’s attacks, citing records from his own and the other main hospital of Nasarawa.”
Boko Haram spokesperson Abul Qaqa takes credit for weekend attacks killing 178 in Kano State in Nigeria
— Vanguard… “Nigeria: Why We Attacked Kano – Boko Haram.. Maiduguri — The Boko Haram sect has given reasons for its weekend attacks, which led to the killing of about 162 people in Kano State, saying it was to avenge the persecution of its members. Spokesman of the group, Abul Qaqa, made this known in a telephone interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, yesterday. Claiming responsibility for the attacks and multiple bombings on police stations, State Security Services, SSS, and passport office buildings in Kano metropolis, Qaga said: ‘Last night’s (Friday) attacks and bombings of Kano city followed our warnings in the second week of December, 2011.'”
Whispered prayer against Boko Haram needs to be spoken with louder conviction against violence
— “The emir of Kano has led a prayer service asking for God to help end attacks by a radical Islamist sect across Nigeria’s north. The ceremony by the senior Muslim religious official was held Monday in the city of Kano, where more than 150 were killed in a series of coordinated attacks Friday by Boko Haram. The emir spoke only for one minute in a voice so soft those gathered inside the half-emptied mosque could barely hear.”
Los Angeles Times
— “Reporting from Kano, Nigeria, and Johannesburg,— A militant Islamic group whose almost daily attacks have put Nigerians on edge left the country stunned Saturday after a well-coordinated strike with disturbing echoes of Al Qaeda’s brand of mayhem.” Daily Telegraph Report
— Many people are feared dead after a series of explosions outside of police stations in the largest city in Nigeria’s Muslim north.
Boko Haram’s Rise in Nigeria Sparks Civil War Fears — “Friday’s deadly bomb attacks in Nigeria’s second largest city, Kano, are the latest in a series of spectacular strikes by the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram. The coordinated series of assaults on police stations and other government offices killed at least 200 people. The rise of Boko Haram is sparking concerns that Africa’s most populous country may be edging closer to civil war… The radical Islamist Boko Haram has made headlines with increasing frequency lately for a series of audacious terrorist strikes. Among them, a Christmas Day bomb blast that killed worshippers at a Catholic Church and a deadly suicide bomb last August at a U.N. headquarters in Abuja.”
You make this announcement while the world is preparing to celebrate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights next week.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), agreed to by the United Nations on December 10, 1948, was created in response to the “disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind” begins with an opening article that applies to ALL of humanity. It states “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
This includes you, me, and Warren Weinstein.
We all have the same responsibilities to human dignity and to act in a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood to all of our fellow human beings.
Dr. Warren Weinstein, USAID contractor, allegedly kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan
Your actions to kidnap USAID contractor Warren Weinstein are not only criminal actions, but they are also actions that defy the very universal rights and dignity that all human beings have.
Certainly most of the world rejects and condemns the actions of Al-Qaeda. Certainly most of the world rejects and condemns cowardly kidnapping and attacks on elderly individuals who seek to improve the lives of others, such as Mr. Weinstein.
But also the world must be consistent in extending our love and human dignity to all people. So, as with all others in the world, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, I urge you too to look within your heart. I urge you too, to free your heart from the burden of disrespect to others, the press of indignity towards others, and disease of hate towards others. I urge you too, to act as a decent human being and find the human decency and conscience to release Mr. Weinstein.
As the Egyptian public has continued nationwide uprisings for freedom, jobs, and a better standard of life, too many freedom supporting people found it “awkward” to support the Egyptian people’s struggle for freedom. On January 29, Reuters reported that “Egypt protests leave West in awkward position.”
The only thing “awkward” about this is the very idea that free people would find it “awkward” to support people anywhere around the world protesting for freedom. That speaks volumes, and demands that we reflect on where we stand as people responsible for equality and liberty.
Free people must reject dictators – without question, without caveat, without reservation. But in too many parts of the world, too many free people are willing to view that dictatorship is not such a bad thing.
Egyptian Protester Rejects Hypocrisy (Photo: Getty) -- By The Way - Many Americans Also Reject Hypocrisy
The root of many of these arguments are the existence in Egypt of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood political group, which promotes a political Islamist, pro-Violent Extemism view. The fear of some of these who are reticent to back the Egyptian public in their uprising for freedom is that it will somehow empower the Muslim Brotherhood political leaders (who reportedly have had minimal role in the uprising), or that backing the Egyptian public will undermine counterterrorism agreements or treaties on Israel.
I feel sorry for those people who misunderstand the point of freedom. Freedom is not about how selfish and self-centered we can be. Freedom is not about how secure we can be or how our foreign policy interests can be best served. Freedom is about giving everyone a chance and voice in their own destiny.
January 2011 Egypt Protesters
On Saturday night, January 29, I watched in shock as Egyptian Christian broadcasterMichael Youssef spoke during CNN’s global broadcast about how the Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was really not that bad (compared to Nasser), how the Egyptian people’s standard of living had somehow “improved” under Mubarak. He also stated how the protesters were really lucky that Mubarak was letting them speak out in public as they are doing (after the oppressive Egyptian police had fled). The CNN broadcast studio is in Atlanta, and Michael Youssef lives in Atlanta; I am sure that was a major factor in having him on CNN on Saturday night. But I will tell you I have not seen his views as being representative of the Egyptian Christian Copts around the world. I have shared the struggle with Egyptian Christian Copts who have suffered mightily under the Egyptian dictator Mubarak. I have joined Egyptian Copts at protests at the White House when Mubarak has visited in every type of weather. I have prayed with Egyptian Copts in Washington DC for release of their people from oppression and abuse in Egypt. I will tell you one thing – most of Egyptian Copt diaspora does not think life has “improved” under the dictator Mubarak, no matter what Michael Youssef tells CNN. On Michael Youssef’s website, much of it is dedicated to his opposition to Islam, “Muslim Zealots,” and “Islam vs. Christianity.” In his other public statements, Michael Youssef has sought to object to all of Islam. On CNN on January 29, he dismissed the Egyptian protesters by telling the world that “democracy is a Western idea.” If Michael Youssef believes this, then what type of democratic rights have we been fighting for Christian Copts in Egypt?
These ugly fractures behind claims of supporting freedom versus actual support for freedom demonstrates a hypocrisy that must not go unchallenged.
A significant element in this hypocrisy is how some have hijacked the defiance against political Islamist extremists as a challenge against all of Islam and all Muslims. While there is not space to address this very important and complex subject justice in this posting, those who have chosen to attack all of Islam and all of its diverse followers as a monolithic entity has been a key mistake and misstep in political debate on this topic. Moreover, objecting to the Islamist extreme views and ideologies is no more anti-Islam than objecting to Dominionist Christian extreme political views and ideologies would be anti-Christian. Many of those objecting to Islamist views are Muslims. Many of those, like myself, who object to Dominionist Christian views are Christians. Many human beings can stand solidly behind both our religion and human freedom for all.
As free people, we can respect pluralism for diverse religions and beliefs, while challenging those who would use religious views as a rationalization to justify denying human rights to others based on their different religion, race, nationality, gender, or other identity. That was the initial intent behind most of those who challenged the political Islamist views. However, the SIOA and other anti-Islam organizations and their leaders have sought to reframe that human rights debate into a debate that is anti-Islam and anti-Muslim.
Therefore, from the anti-Islam groups’ perspective, any activity that could conceivably allow a political Islamist group to gain power must be wrong, even if millions of other non-Islamists gain freedom. This Mutually Assured Destruction type of thinking is the root behind those who are most wary of the Egyptian protests today.
With freedom, we are also free to disagree and protest against groups whose views we object to. In my own case, that has included my own protests and my many articles challenging the views of the Muslim Brotherhood and their political Islamist views that I believe are anti-democratic. Unlike Pamela Geller, my defense of democracy and freedom does not call for cheers of “good news” when Egyptian protesters are rounded up by the oppressive Egyptian police force. I can object to and disagree with the Muslim Brotherhood, while believing in human freedom, human dignity, and democracy.
To those who have worried about a Muslim Brotherhood takeover in Egypt as a result of the current protests, well-known anti-Violent Extremist Dr. Walid Phares has also stated on Facebook: “I caution against reaching any final conclusions in any direction yet because it is evolving, and there are several forces pushing their agendas. And yes of course you have the Islamists (MB and others) rushing, Iran applauding, but you have youth which has never been so explosive as before. And of course you have an incredibly ‘lost’ US policy which is adding to the equation. What we see is going to last, and final outcomes are not yet around the corner. More in my book and in pieces coming soon…(bottom line: do not let past historical experiences take over your analysis. No doubt about it, the Islamists are all over the map, but the context had changed. We’re gonna see something new, complex, and long…).”
Dr. Phares and I, in our own different ways, different opinions, and different directions have challenged Islamists’ views repeatedly. There are certainly things on which we will disagree, but anyone who looks into the history of either of us will see clearly that neither I nor Dr. Phares have been appeasers of Violent Extremists or Islamists. We see threats, but more importantly we can also see the need for engagement, encouragement, hope, and mutual respect for people who genuinely seek freedom and democracy.
Dr. Phares has stated on al Arabiya TV: “We need to engage the real leadership of the young demonstrators. We need to identify them and have them represented in the new process. But civil society should form its own leadership beyond the existing movements and parties.”
It is important for all of us who love freedom to realize that there can be NO deals with dictators.
The price to pay of losing our credibility on freedom, democracy, and human rights will always be too high. People, especially young people, around the world are watching to see if we can have the conscience that we claim and if we really do support defense of democracy that we urge others to risk their lives to pursue.
For those who have also been concerned about Islamist views and the Muslim Brotherhood, this is also your opportunity to demonstrate the courage of your convictions on human freedom for ALL people. It is certainly possible that Muslim Brotherhood extremists may grab power in Egypt, but let’s not forget that there are millions of other Egyptians who simply seek a better life and freedom in their nation. If freedom supporting people in America and around the world can’t be there to support the Egyptian people, then who are we to then be surprised if the Muslim Brotherhood gains power?
We must not let fear define our position on the truths that we hold self-evident of universal human rights for all people. If we want others to aspire to a standard of human freedom, human dignity, and human rights, we must first set an example of this for the world ourselves and stand united with those struggling for freedom everywhere.
Be Responsible for Equality And Liberty – for All.
