New Moderate Muslim Group Rejects CAIR, Violent Jihad

18 Dec, 2015 by William Teach

Print this article Font size -16+

Others and myself often wonder “where are the moderate Muslims?” in the wake of terrorist attacks. We know they’re out there. But, they seem to be outnumbered by those who celebrate attacks and/or those who say “this has nothing to do with Islam”. But, so few seem to denounce the actions of hardcore Islam. Here’s a group which isn’t hiding

(Fox News) In the days following the Dec. 2 attack in San Bernardino, Council for American-Islamic Relations representatives partially blamed U.S. policy for terrorist attacks, accused gunman Syed Rizwan Farook’s co-workers of making fun of his beard and sought to downplay comments by Farook’s father linking him to ISIS. Like Muslims throughout the U.S., CAIR officials condemned the attack, but too often with what sounded to critics like subtle caveats.

“CAIR is a primary obstacle in the effort of many honest American Muslims who recognize our need to own up and lead long-overdue reforms against the root causes of radicalization: Islamism and its separatism,” said Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, an ex-U.S. Navy officer who founded and heads the American Islamic Forum for Democracy.

Let’s not forget that CAIR is an un-indicted co-conspirator in providing material support to Hamas, a status that has been confirmed by the DOJ, which cut ties to CAIR, and federal courts.

For would-be reformers like Jasser, reclaiming the faith begins with taking back control of Islam’s image. He and other increasingly outspoken Muslim-Americans say true moderates must be honest and unequivocal in condemning acts of violence carried out in the name of Islam. Most of all, they are tired of the Washington-based nonprofit claiming to speak for them.

At it’s very roots, Islam is a violent political religion, based on the actions and words of Mohammad. The Quran itself promotes violence. But, that doesn’t mean that Muslims cannot, and have not, moved beyond the dictates of the Prophet Mohammad and his writings. Christianity had its own violent past, and, of course, there will always be nutjobs within any organization, some violent. Can Islam reduced the number of violent jihadis well below the 1% mark? More importantly, can they move beyond the calls for Sharia law, a caliphate, and its treatment of women and gays, among others? These hardcore attitudes seem to lead many Muslims down the path towards violence.

“CAIR’s information is marketed and packaged so it seems that they speak for all of us, but they don’t speak for me and my group,” said Raheel Raza, president of the Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow. “CAIR does not and has never represented the majority Muslim voices which are as diverse as Muslims in America.”

How would a group that is based on Muslim Brotherhood principles and supports terrorist groups be able to speak for all American Muslims?

Muslims Facing Tomorrow is one of more than a dozen moderate Islamic groups from the U.S., Canada and European countries that have joined the Muslim Reform Movement, an alliance put together by Jasser.

The Muslim Reform Movement rebukes violent jihad, advocates for a separation of “mosque and state,” and celebrates individual freedom, human rights and gender equality, and secular democracy, according to its founders, who also reject the idea of an Islamic State and its Sharia Law.

Sadly, this kind of information on these new groups hasn’t hit most mainstream media outlets yet. In fact, there are virtually no articles featuring any of these groups, other than Fox and a few conservative leaning news outlets. These are the types of groups that should be promoted, showing that there is more to Islam, giving Muslims an outlet other than turning radical. The group released a statement saying “We are in a battle for the soul of Islam, and an Islamic renewal must defeat the ideology of Islamism.” Good for them. I hope they succeed.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach.