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AMP Report – September 28, 2007
Islamophobes smear Muslim leader
Dr. Esam Omeish, national leader of the Muslim American Society (MAS), was forced to resign from a Virginia immigration commission on September 27, 2007 after being subjected to a smear campaign by anti-Islam bloggers and Muslim-bashers like Steven Emerson who distorted past comments he made about Israel’s brutal treatment of the Palestinian people and about jihad.
Dr. Omeish resigned from a Virginia immigration commission after videotapes of him making remarks about Israel surfaced on the Internet.
He told a news conference in Washington on Sept. 28 that he has never promoted violence and his remarks were taken out of context. Although he is a fierce critic of Israeli military force against Palestinian civilians in Lebanon and the occupied territories, Omeish said he has consistently pushed for a peaceful solution to conflict in the Middle East.
The allegations, lodged primarily by a member of the state assembly, centered around a public speech made by Dr. Omeish at a rally condemning the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Clarifying his use of the term 'Jihad' while referring to solidarity with the Palestinian people, Dr. Omeish explained that, in the context of his public criticism of the Lebanon invasion and the oppression of Palestinians, it meant "total resistance to oppression and dedication to the struggle for justice", rather than a call for violence.
Dr. Omeish was joined in his presentation by prominent members of the interfaith community of Northern Virginia and Washington D.C., including Rev. Graylan Hagler, Senior Minister of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Washington, D.C., Brian Becker of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, as well as leading Virginia clergy members, and a prominent Latino immigrant rights leader.
Affirming the importance of the Commission on Immigration, Dr. Omeish stated that he resigned so that the "controversy" surrounding his statements in support of the people of Lebanon would not become a distraction to the work of the committee for immigration reform and justice.
Dr. Omeish also further clarified that MAS "is an American organization, completely transparent and above-board, and committed to the civic engagement of Muslims for the betterment of all of American society."
Other speakers condemned the "politics of division" pursued by organizations and individuals who attempt to silence and intimidate Muslims, for the purpose limiting and their ability to impact formation of national policies, as well as contribute to the civil society as a whole.
Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of MAS Freedom, framed the press conference event by recounting Dr. Omeish's long and distinguished career as a surgeon, a humanitarian, and a respected and innovative young leader in the national Muslim community who has dedicated his life to humanity and nonviolent social justice. Bray also defended the right of Muslim Americans to speak out in opposition to objectionable national policies, while working constructively to change them.
Bray asserted that MAS "will not be deterred from exercising our freedom of speech or our work to serve and empower the Muslim community and increase our level of civic engagement throughout the United States."
Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations in a statement said that Islamophobes, who seek to demonize and marginalize the mainstream Muslim community and its leaders, are attacking Dr. Omeish.
In a statement of support, CAIR said:
“The scurrilous smear campaign against Dr. Omeish is only the latest episode in a sustained effort by a vocal minority of Islamophobes who seek to demonize and marginalize the mainstream Muslim community and its leaders.
“These hate-mongers target any Muslim individual or institution seeking to offer an Islamic perspective on issues of importance to our society. It is a dirty political game in which our entire society is the loser.
“Unfortunately, the hysteria that has been created about ‘jihad’ and the fear generated by the domestic lobby in support of Israel’s Apartheid-like polices only serve to preclude reasoned public discussion once this type of smear campaign has been initiated.
“At the same time that we see a respected community leader and physician forced to resign an appointed post, we see national politicians claiming there are too many mosques in America, demanding that the Quran not be used to swear in the first Muslim congressman and suggesting that Islamic holy sites be bombed.
“We also see an advisor to a major presidential candidate support the internment of Japanese-Americans in World War II and advocate the ‘razing’ of Palestinian villages. Another presidential candidate has expressed discomfort about a Muslim in the White House.
SEE: John McCain: Constitution Established a 'Christian Nation' (Beliefnet)
“None of these individuals has been forced to step down from their respective positions.
If we are to remain an inclusive society that respects differences of faith and political opinion, we must move beyond the tactics of fear-based intimidation and exclusion,” the CAIR statement concluded.
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