Anwar Al Awlaki’s Latest Message of Hate

by Sheila Musaji

It was reported this afternoon that the infamous Anwar Al-Awlaki has issued a message focusing on the American Muslim community.  He is quoted as saying in part:  “To the Muslims in America, I have this to say: How can your conscience allow you to live in peaceful co-existence with a nation that is responsible for the tyranny and crimes committed against your own brother and sisters? How can you have your loyalty to a government that is leading the war against Islam and Muslims?”  As a Washington Post article stated, this is a call for a U.S. Muslim revolt.

MPAC has already issued a brief statement on this nauseating and traitorous statement from al Awlaki:  “We reject Al-Awlaki’s message as destructive, appalling, and a violation of core Islamic teachings. Muslim Americans are active citizens who believe in working for change through civic and political engagement with our elected leaders. Al-Awlaki represents no one but himself, and his wicked attempt to exploit political frustrations will not be tolerated by Muslim Americans.”

MPAC and other national Muslim and Arab organizations - ISNA, ADC, AMAF&VAC, UMAA, APAAM, MAS, AAI, Congress of Arab-American organizations, ASMA, etc.  condemned the Fort Hood shooting, and every other act of terrorism and violence committed by individuals claiming to be Muslim.  National and International Muslim organizations have condemned extremism and terrorism.  Muslim scholars have condemned extremism and terrorism.  Individual Muslim activists and leaders have condemned extremism and terrorism.  (You can read a collection of key quotes from many of these individuals here. 

The American Muslim community also forcefully repudiated al Awlaki’s praise for the Fort Hood shooter.  Here are a few of the condemnations from that incident:

CAIR: “As American Muslims said with one voice when this cowardly attack first occurred, no ideology could ever justify or excuse such violence. To call the alleged killer a ‘hero’ makes a mockery of every Islamic principle of justice. The twisted and misguided views in Anwar al-Awlaki’s posting are not those of American Muslims and do not reflect mainstream Islamic beliefs or sentiments.”

MPAC: “Awlaki’s statement is deplorable and sickening, and has no place in our country or in Islam,” said MPAC Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed as well as to those wounded and their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with law enforcement and the US military to maintain the safety and security of all Americans.”

Dar al Hijrah Mosque (where Al Awlaki once taught):  “After the recent tragic events in Fort Hood, Texas a hate-filled statement was made by a former imam of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, Anwar Al-Awlaki. As we understand the teaching of the scriptures our mission and method as Americans of faith is to enrich our society with faith, service, wisdom and beautiful preaching of God’s love and mercy to all of mankind.    We openly denounce the statement of Mr. Al-Awlaki as posted on his website and those who may follow him.  During Mr. Al-Awlaki’s employment his public speech was consistent with the values of tolerance and cooperation.    Mr. Awlaki now claims that the American Muslims who have condemned the violent act of Major Hassan “committed treason against the Muslim Umaah and have fallen into hypocrisy”.  With this reversal Mr. Al-Awlaki has clearly set himself apart from this community. He served a brief term of employment at Dar Al-Hijrah from January 2001 until his departure in April 2002.”

All of these statements apply equally to Al Awlaki’s most recent tirade.  “The twisted and misguided views in Anwar al-Awlaki’s posting are not those of American Muslims and do not reflect mainstream Islamic beliefs or sentiments.”  ” Awlaki’s statement is deplorable and sickening, and has no place in our country or in Islam”  “Mr. Al-Awlaki has clearly set himself apart from this community.”

The American Muslim has collected 105 fatwas from Islamic scholars, 75 statements by Islamic Organizations (many of these signed by anywhere from 50 to 500 scholars from around the world), and 142 statements by individual Muslims.  These are from 30 countries including:  Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Britain, Chechnya, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, New Zealand,  Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, U.S., Yemen. 

Al Awlaki took Hamza Yusuf’s advice “If you hate the west, emigrate to a Muslim country”.  He needs to stay wherever he is and the Muslim leadership needs to continue to do everything in their power to counteract his message of hate.

Al Awlaki is a traitor to our country, and hopefully will be brought to justice before he can infect others with his hateful venom.

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This article will be updated as more information comes in.