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| Islam in Conflict in Cleveland |
| 2004-02-25 |
| by Stephen Schwartz at Tech Central Station; EFL An historic series of events is taking place in the largely-hidden world of Islam in America, and in a place many people would consider unlikely: Cleveland, Ohio. The incidents in question involve Imam Fawaz Damra, 41, a Palestinian-born religious officer of the Islamic Center of Cleveland -- described as the biggest mosque in Ohio. Damra was arrested for false statements on his citizenship application, where he failed to disclose his ties to Hamas, the Holy Much of an unsavory nature about imam Damra had already been disclosed in the wake of September 11, 2001, when a video in which he threatened and insulted Jews was broadcast on television. They showed in on the 11-o’clock news on Channel 3. It was the usual descendants-of-apes-and-pigs, kill-them-all seethe-spew-spittle stuff you can get on the streets of the Gaza strip on any given Friday. (You’d think the guy could at least come up with something original!) But Damra then apologized for his remarks, and thereafter worked mightily to cultivate an image of moderation. He’s the Slick Willie of imams, and he nearly pulled it off. Jewish leaders nevertheless expressed shock to learn that the imam with whom they had engaged in extensive dialogue was charged with al-Qaida involvement. After seeing the video, my surprise meter was off-scale low when I heard about the al-Qaida ties. The sincerity of the Cleveland Jewish leaders in seeking interfaith civility with the city’s Muslims cannot be doubted. But even more interesting about the Damra case is that it has brought about a significant split within the Islamic Center. Here comes the good part. Members of the mosque’s board of trustees suspended Damra after the indictment was handed down. [It was sort of the least they could do from a PR/damage control perspective. Damra protested; lawyers were summoned; lawsuits were threatened; he was reinstated on a limited basis, yadda yadda yadda . . . .] But to emphasize, the real story in Cleveland is less the exposure of an extremist imam, than the willingness of mosque congregants to stand up and call for his removal. Islam in America suffers from the domination of radical leaders, grouped in organizations I have called "the Wahhabi lobby" -- mainly, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Authoritative sources in the Muslim community have long argued that up to 80 percent of the main mosques in America are controlled by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), which has been targeted for a tax investigation by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee as a probable recipient of funds from outside the U.S. -- i.e. from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. None of this is news to us Ranters, but go on . . . ISNA and the mosques it controls work day and night to maintain ideological dominance over Muslims in America, in the interest of Wahhabism -- the official Saudi sect, which preaches hatred and violence against non-Wahhabi Muslims, who are the vast majority in the U.S. and in the Islamic global community or ummah, [and (2) everybody else]. A similar group, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) functions among Pakistani-American Muslims to enforce conformity to jihadist ideology. This does not mean 80 percent of Muslims in America are radicals. They are not. But even after September 11th, Muslims in America were reluctant to stand up and challenge the virtual dictatorship of the Islamist ideology. This was not because of sympathy for Wahhabism, but because of more complex sociological issues. Which are really not all that complex. Immigrant Muslims come to America to escape Islamist radicalism, and are shocked and intimidated to discover the extent of extremist influence in their community. Most of them would never have believed, in the countries from which they came, that the American authorities would permit an Islamist conspiracy to take control of their faith on our shores. Further, they are naturally concerned that if they openly oppose extremist influence, their relatives in their countries of origin, as well as their families right here, will suffer threats and worse, since it is not unheard of for dissident Muslims in America be killed. Wahabbis are control freaks, in other words. But the two-and-a-half years since September 11th have begun to wear down the habits of submission and conformity that have been drilled into American Muslims. An understandable fear of government sanctions and a simple weariness with having the jihadist ideology on their backs has finally induced some Muslims to step forward. I recently obtained a letter from mosque congregants in Cleveland that plaintively, but eloquently, expressed the dilemma facing the local Muslims. The authors, whose names cannot be disclosed, wrote, "our community is being tested to its limit. May Allah help us all in this time of turmoil
In September of 2001 when issues surfaced with the media and Imam Damra, there was a great deal of dissent and upheaval about the retention of Imam Damra as the Imam of the Center
The Board decided to retain the Imam and as a result a great deal of tension and upheaval occurred within our Community
On Tuesday, January 13, 2004, Imam Damra was arrested at his home and indicted
After the presentation and discussion the joint Boards voted 10 to 4 to ask Imam Damra to take a voluntary paid leave of absence until his legal issues are resolved. Imam Damra rejected the decision and the Board was then forced to place Imam Damra on an involuntary paid leave of absence. The decision to ask the Imam to temporarily step down was a difficult one for the Board to take, and when it was defied we were left with no alternative but to seek legal recourse." Most Muslims came to America seeking economic opportunity, security, and a better education for their children. Most of them want the chance to become real Americans, to affirm their loyalty and to participate according to the rules that govern the country as a whole. They should be assured of that chance. Muslims in Cleveland have, by calling for the removal of Fawaz Damra, demonstrated that they have had enough of the politicization of their faith, and deserve the support of all Americans. What he said. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #12 Re: #8 "more likely was muttering something that I made sure my mother couldn't quite understand." It wasn't Revenge. Revenge! DIRE REVENGE!!? |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-2-25 2:29:46 PM |
| #11 TU, anyone from Akron knows that Islam has an open invitation to purchase this in Cuyahoga Falls, light-heartedly known as Rex Hubbard's Erection. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-2-25 1:50:14 PM |
| #10 "Islam in Conflict..." Now there is a self evident truth. In conflict with their women, their countries, other countries, other religions, this world. Hell if a formation showed up on Mars photo that even resembled a Star of David or a cross, they'd figure out a plan to bomb it too. Pathetic lot. |
| Posted by: dataman1 2004-2-25 12:23:09 PM |
| #9 Sounds like the Board was under pressure by a large portion of the enslaved. That shows a willingness to support damra's views. Prolly more ashamed about his being caught then anything else. BTW I was raised in a church that got rid of their pastor. Big church too. Turns out the reverend was a part owner of a used car lot. Figures. People started boycotting the church. Took about 60 days before the deacons were able to get him to hit the road. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-2-25 12:22:28 PM |
| #8 I live in Chicago now but grew up in Cleveland. I was at Municipal Stadium for a few games but I usually didn't leave ululating -- more likely was muttering something that I made sure my mother couldn't quite understand. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-2-25 11:29:20 AM |
| #7 I'm always a little suspicious of Schwartz, though he is an excellent investigative reporter. He's like Friedman (sp?) When he's good he's very good...but when he's bad... well ok...maybe Freidman was a bit harsh...but you know what I mean. |
| Posted by: B 2004-2-25 10:51:51 AM |
| #6 Actually, if you get a chance, you should read Schwartz's book The Two Faces of Islam. He gives a pretty good look at the history of Islam and Wahhabism. He also has many good points to make out on how Wahhabism is spread, and what Muslims in other countries are doing to fight it. He points out the Sufis in Bosnia and Sarajevo as two prime examples of Muslims who spit back in the Wahhabis faces their ideologies. I've read Dore Gold's book also on the subject of Wahhabism and Suadi Arabia, and I do have to say I learned more from Schwartz. Just wondering, does anyone have any other suggestions for good reads on the subject? |
| Posted by: Lil Dhimmi 2004-2-25 10:45:40 AM |
| #5 Mr. K: I'm originally from Youngstown ("Proud Home of Rep. James Trafficant and Ray 'Boom-Boom' Mancini!") and I now live in Medina County and work in Akron. We get Cleveland channels on the cable system, like 'em or not, which is why I was watching Channel 3. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-2-25 10:39:54 AM |
| #4 tu- "Cleveland: 1,345,980th Most Holy Place in Islam." Trust me, it is. Allah alone knows how many times I left Lakefront Stadium after a Browns game going, "Inshallah", and ululuating. Aside to Mike : I noticed your post about Channel 3 - what part of town you from? I grew up south side, down in Slavic Village. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2004-2-25 8:53:47 AM |
| #3 Mike - good post. "Boards voted 10 to 4 to ask Imam Damra to take a voluntary paid leave of absence until his legal issues are resolved. Imam Damra rejected the decision and the Board was then forced to place Imam Damra on an involuntary paid leave of absence." snicker "The decision to ask the Imam to temporarily step down was a difficult one for the Board to take, and when it was defied we were left with no alternative but to seek legal recourse"." Huh? Don't most board directors have to be elected and have bylaw provisions for removal?? What about a special election, etc?? I'd want to know who elects their board and what their bylaws say about removing one. Somebody can do it if they want to. Who is the somebody not doing it? I don't know for sure, but if they are a public corp, it's probably public record. Before we become too critical of our Muslim neighbors- I've seen many a story of how difficult it is to get rid of a bad priest/pastor, because the congregation rallies around no matter how obvious the ugly truth. "ISNA and the mosques it controls work day and night to maintain ideological dominance over Muslims in America, in the interest of Wahhabism -- the official Saudi sect, which preaches hatred and violence" That the congregation is upset with the direction set by their leaders really isn't so different than paralysis we see in the Catholic Churches/perverted priests or Epsicopalian/gay etc issues. |
| Posted by: B 2004-2-25 8:45:07 AM |
| #2 Immigrant Muslims come to America to escape Islamist radicalism, and are shocked and intimidated to discover the extent of extremist influence in their community How friggin hard is it to create grass roots organizations that expose and remove the extremists?! Even "moderate" (i.e., unarmed) muslims don't seem to want to take action. They'd rather either stick their head in the sand or point fingers. All I saw/heard after 9/11 was 1. "there's no proof it was islamic" and/or 2. "the Jews did it." Where the hell are activist muslims who will take back their so-called "religion of peace" (and why do they have to keep telling us it's a religion of peace? mebbe cuz no one would know if they didn't point it out?) |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2004-2-25 8:33:49 AM |
| #1 Cleveland: 1,345,980th Most Holy Place in Islam. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-2-25 8:28:38 AM |