A prominent Los Angeles Muslim is the center of a growing controversy over an award to him for promoting understanding between faiths. Maher Hathout, chairman of the Islamic Center of Southern California, was selected by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission to receive the John Allen Buggs Leadership Award for "encouraging inter-faith understanding and audiences." However some Jewish organizations were denouncing his selection because of alleged statements critical of Israel in support of Hezzbollah. "Dr. Hathout is a radical Islamic leader masquerading as a moderate and deceiving the American public," said Sherry Weinman, president of the Los Angeles office of the American Jewish Committee.
Other religious leaders, Christian, Muslim and Jewish, rallied to Hathout's support. Among them was Father Alexei Smith, director of ecumenical and interreligious affairs for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. "I've repeatedly heard Dr. Hathout denounce violence and the taking of human life by anyone and everyone," said Smith. "It's high time that the county of Los Angeles recognize him."
The Human Relations Commission has received a large number of communications from the public about the award, and plans to consider them at its public meeting on Monday. "It's a very, very difficult situation," said Commissioner Donna Bojarsky. "It's clearly hit a nerve among a variety of communities in Los Angeles and our job is to be a force of unity and tolerance."
Hathout, 70, said he has long denounced violence by any organization, including Hamas and Hezbollah, against innocent civilians. That, he said, includes suicide bombings against innocent Israelis. When he called Hezbollah "freedom fighters" in 1998 and 1999 he was referring only to their actions on Lebanese soil against Israeli soldiers who had invaded the country, he said. He acknowledged calling Israel an apartheid regime but said, "That's my opinion and I'm entitled to it." |