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| Home Front: WoT |
| Judge orders man to leave Irvine mosque alone |
| 2007-07-01 |
| At the beginning, worshipers at the Islamic Center of Irvine said, they thought Craig Monteilh was just an overzealous convert when he criticized U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. But when he started talking about jihad and dropped oblique references to violence, congregants contacted authorities. On Friday, an Orange County judge issued a restraining order barring Monteilh from going near the mosque and its employees. Members of the mosque testified Friday in court that the FBI opened an investigation earlier this month. An FBI spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny that an investigation was underway. Monteilh, 44, has not responded to numerous telephone calls and e-mails seeking comment and did not appear at the hearing. He told mosque members he worked as a personal fitness trainer. In interviews and testimony at Friday's hearing, four men said Monteilh appeared at the Islamic Center in September and said he wanted to convert. Mohammad Elsisy, a mosque volunteer who teaches Arabic, said Monteilh wanted to be called Farouk Monteilh and appeared eager to learn about Islam. But earlier this year, Monteilh began shifting religious discussions to jihad, or holy war, talking about "operations" against U.S. military targets, and suggested that he had access to weapons, said Ashruf Zied. No weapons were seen, Zied said in an interview. "I said, 'Dude, stop right there, What are you talking about?' " said Zied, a software engineer who said that he was born in Ohio and that his father worked for NATO. "I was trying to steer the guy in the right direction. He was talking about something that's taboo." Zied, who testified at the court hearing, said that he was frightened by Monteilh's rhetoric, and that it was the last discussion between the two. They used to socialize, but after that talk, Zied said, he changed his phone number so Monteilh could not contact him. Former Islamic Center president Asim Khan testified that several worshipers felt threatened by Monteilh and that he talked about getting involved "in a 9/11-type operation." Some stopped attending mosque because of him, Khan said. "We're members of the American community, and it's our duty as Americans to make law enforcement aware of these activities," he testified. In an interview, Elsisy recalled driving Monteilh and another Muslim to Friday prayers at King Fahd Mosque in Culver City. The three men discussed the war in Iraq. "It was a serious discussion. But when [Monteilh] asked if we knew of an operation because he was ready to help us, the conversation stopped," said Elsisy, an architect. Elsisy said he and the other man reported Monteilh's comments to mosque officials. The Islamic Center of Irvine has had a contentious relationship with the FBI. Members believe the mosque is under surveillance, a charge that the agency had denied. J. Stephen Tidwell, FBI assistant director in Los Angeles, presided at a town hall meeting at the mosque in June 2006 and assured the community that there was no monitoring going on. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #7 With the US government and media themselves trying to empower radicals, it is little wonder moderates have been afraid to assert themselves. They see the State Department sucking up to Soddy, the media selecting the tiny terrorist front CAIR as official spokes-gang for American Muslims, American professors preaching jihad in public classrooms, and they naturally have to wonder whether it is safe or profitable to speak out. Were French anti-fascists likely to denounce the Nazis while Vichy was in charge? |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2007-07-01 18:47 |
| #6 Ah yes, there are countless episodes through the centruies in the ME where Muslims were "good neighbors" and "responsible citizens" until they gained sufficient influence to take over. Then it was total Sharia, decent meant death. These people are the Islamic pioneers of America. Get along with the "Indians" until someday we have enough power to put them on the reservation. |
| Posted by: Helmuth, Speaking for Chusoling1715 2007-07-01 16:10 |
| #5 Doing right, bless them. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-07-01 12:06 |
| #4 I heard on the radio newscast here yesterday that an iman at a local mosque had publicly stated (in English - unknown if he also knows Arabic) that they are Americans, they don't approve of this crap, and he personally would turn in to authorities anyone he heard of planning something illegal. I know a number of muslims here, and they all like the American way of life and have no desire for the extremists to take over. It appears decent nuslims are beginning to feel safe enough from the idiots - at least in some places - to speak up publicly. Hope it spreads. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-07-01 10:11 |
| #3 But when he started talking about jihad and dropped oblique references to violence, congregants contacted authorities. That's what's supposed to happen. Perhaps they thought he was a spy or a provocateur, but they did the right thing this time. So long as the change in behaviour occurs, the self-censorship, the change in attitude can follow after. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-07-01 09:12 |
| #2 "It was a serious discussion. But when [Monteilh] asked if we knew of an operation because he was ready to help us, the conversation stopped |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-07-01 08:05 |
| #1 He was talking about something that's taboo. At least in front of us Infidels. Not "evil", "vile" or "sinful", just "taboo". |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-01 04:50 |