http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=229873An upcoming Los Angeles conference designed to combat Islamic "radicalization" features a pair of "radical" Muslim leaders who have openly supported terrorists and advised American Muslims against cooperating with law enforcement.
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, in coordination with the FBI and LAPD, will host the two-day event next week at a resort in Pismo Beach, Calif. It's slated as the "Radicalization Conference 2010: Radicalization and Homegrown Violent Extremism."
The controversial guest Muslim speakers, who were invited to lecture law-enforcement officials about countering homegrown terrorism, are leaders of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Los Angeles-based MPAC says it is a "moderate" group, but critics charge it is a "propaganda arm" for the radical Muslim Brotherhood in America.
Get "Muslim Mafia," the book that exposed the Muslim Brotherhood and organizations like the Council on American Islamic Relations from the inside out, autographed, from WND's Superstore!
According to the conference agenda, the MPAC officials are scheduled to head a police workshop entitled, "Muslim American Perspective on Radicalization." One of them – MPAC programming director Edina Lekovic – in 1999 published a pro-jihad organ praising Osama bin Laden as a "freedom fighter" and urging Muslims to "defend our brother," while the other – MPAC president Salam al-Marayati – was kicked off a 1999 terrorism commission for espousing radical views.
Al-Marayati was denied a leadership post on the National Commission on Terrorism by then-House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt when it came to light that al-Marayati claimed that Hezbollah was a legitimate organization and had the right to attack Israel.
On 9/11, he blamed Jews for the attacks, telling a Los Angeles radio station, "I think we should put the state of Israel on the suspect list."
Al-Marayati has defended several terrorist suspects, even after their convictions, and has been an outspoken critic of FBI investigations in the Muslim community, claiming agents use "McCarthy-era tactics."
He has advised Muslims against informing on their brothers.
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L.A. sheriff invites Muslim 'radicals' to cop workshop
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Posted: November 18, 2010
12:30 am Eastern
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An upcoming Los Angeles conference designed to combat Islamic "radicalization" features a pair of "radical" Muslim leaders who have openly supported terrorists and advised American Muslims against cooperating with law enforcement.
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, in coordination with the FBI and LAPD, will host the two-day event next week at a resort in Pismo Beach, Calif. It's slated as the "Radicalization Conference 2010: Radicalization and Homegrown Violent Extremism."
The controversial guest Muslim speakers, who were invited to lecture law-enforcement officials about countering homegrown terrorism, are leaders of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Los Angeles-based MPAC says it is a "moderate" group, but critics charge it is a "propaganda arm" for the radical Muslim Brotherhood in America.
Get "Muslim Mafia," the book that exposed the Muslim Brotherhood and organizations like the Council on American Islamic Relations from the inside out, autographed, from WND's Superstore!
According to the conference agenda, the MPAC officials are scheduled to head a police workshop entitled, "Muslim American Perspective on Radicalization." One of them – MPAC programming director Edina Lekovic – in 1999 published a pro-jihad organ praising Osama bin Laden as a "freedom fighter" and urging Muslims to "defend our brother," while the other – MPAC president Salam al-Marayati – was kicked off a 1999 terrorism commission for espousing radical views.
Al-Marayati was denied a leadership post on the National Commission on Terrorism by then-House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt when it came to light that al-Marayati claimed that Hezbollah was a legitimate organization and had the right to attack Israel.
On 9/11, he blamed Jews for the attacks, telling a Los Angeles radio station, "I think we should put the state of Israel on the suspect list."
Al-Marayati has defended several terrorist suspects, even after their convictions, and has been an outspoken critic of FBI investigations in the Muslim community, claiming agents use "McCarthy-era tactics."
He has advised Muslims against informing on their brothers.
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"We reject any effort, notion, and suggestion that Muslims should start spying on one another," he told a Muslim audience in 2005.
Al-Marayati advised arranging more public outreach with law enforcement officials, more open-dialogue forums, "so they come through the front door and you prevent them having to come from the back door."
Terrorism expert Steven Emerson says al-Marayati has a history of opposing U.S. counterterrorism efforts, and therefore has no business lecturing counterterrorism officials.
"MPAC has no place at a conference focused on countering Islamic radicalization," Emerson said. "In featuring MPAC officials as speakers, the organizers confer respectability on an organization that has helped foster radicalization, not counter it."
Several U.S. officials involved in counterterrorism also expressed concerns. MPAC, they note, was founded by Hassan Hathout, who has described himself as "a close disciple" of Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna. Additionally, former MPAC political director Mahdi Bray, a three-time felon and ex-con who's done serious time in prison, is now political director of the Muslim American Society, the Brotherhood's main U.S. branch.
Asked about the decision to invite MPAC leaders, a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department spokesman said he would have to consult with the captain of the public affairs division before making a statement. He did not respond by deadline.
Critics say Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca is too cozy with suspect Muslim groups. During congressional testimony earlier this year, he defended the Council on American-Islamic Relations against FBI charges it's a terrorist front group. "When you attack CAIR," he said, "you attack virtually every Muslim in America."
CAIR's membership had dwindled in recent years as terror charges have taken a toll on its popularity in the Muslim community. According to the book, "Muslim Mafia," membership dues have plummeted to less than 1 percent of CAIR's total revenues.
When a lawmaker pointed out that the Justice Department had designated CAIR an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terror-financing case in U.S. history, Baca shot back: "CAIR is not a terrorist-supporting organization."
The sheriff has attended at least 10 CAIR fundraisers.
Baca in 2007 established a Muslim Community Affairs Unit to better serve area Muslims facing "hate crimes" and "discrimination."
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