Southern California InFocus - Florida AG to establish Muslim advisory group

March 08

Local

Northern California

National

Syndicate

Florida AG to establish Muslim advisory group

By InFocus News Staff

TALLAHASSEE, Fl. — In a meeting with state and national Islamic leaders, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum agreed to establish a Muslim community advisory group. The meeting came following a controversy in which McCollum’s office reportedly directed staff throughout the state to view the controversial anti-Islam film "Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West."

Muslim leaders asked for the meeting after confirming that the screenings were held for the Attorney General’s more than 500 employees across the state. During the meeting with representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, and the Florida Muslim Bar Association, McCollum also agreed to offer educational programs on Islam and Muslims to his staff and to help build better relations between the Muslim community and law enforcement agencies.

"The challenge for all state and federal law enforcement agencies is to treat Muslim Americans as partners in keeping our country safe," said MPAC Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati, who took part in the meeting. "Reliance on propagandistic films like ‘Obsession’ is an obstacle to that objective."

"We commend Attorney General McCollum for taking the time to meet with us and to address our concerns," said CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier, another meeting participant.

Interfaith leaders who took part in the hour-long meeting included Rabbi Steven Jacobs and Rev. Dr. Sandra Hulse.

"We ought to be obsessed with the truth, not distortions that lead to demonization and hatred of any group," said Rabbi Jacobs.

Critics of the "Obsession" film say it offers an inflammatory portrayal of Islam and stigmatizes all Muslims as potential terrorists.

The film includes interviews with Nonie Darwish, Walid Shoebat, and Daniel Pipes, among others. Darwish once wrote that "Islam is cruel, anti-women, anti-religious freedom and anti-personal freedom in general."

Walid Shoebat’s claims of being a former terrorist have been questioned. Critics say Shoebat, who tells audiences "I am a proud Islamophobe," is an evangelical Christian who falsely claims to be a former Muslim terrorist.

Daniel Pipes claimed the "presence" and "enfranchisement" of American Muslims present "true dangers to American Jews." Pipes once wrote on his website, "Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II."

Current Issue