... Continuing in its efforts to help sanitize radical Muslims and present them as mainstream voices, the Washington Post and Newsweek, in their "On Faith" blog, published a piece from long-time Imam of the Islamic Society of Orange County, Muzammil Siddiqi.

... "On Faith" describes Siddiqi as involved in "inter-faith initiatives, including participation in an inter-faith prayer service with President George W. Bush" and as the "Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America, a body tasked with interpreting religious law throughout the continent." (For more information on the pro-terrorism background of the Fiqh Council, read, "The American Islamic Leaders' 'Fatwa' is Bogus").

And speaking of that Fatwa, Siddiqi writes in his post:

Terrorism, suicide bombings or any other kind of bombings, shootings or violence that target civilians are totally forbidden in Islam and there is no justification for these acts. A body of Muslim jurists known as the Fiqh Council of North America has issued a strong Fatwa (religious ruling) against terrorism and suicide bombing. This Fatwa has been endorsed by hundreds of Islamic centers and mosques throughout North America.

If we are to trust that Siddiqi really believes what he writes, one would expect to find a string of denunciations by Siddiqi against terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, who have specifically targeted civilians for murder. Yet not only has that never happened (nor does the Fiqh Council's "anti-terrorism" fatwa name Hamas, Hezbollah or any Islamic terrorist group), but when Siddiqi was President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in 1997, his organization received special thanks from Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook, who wrote that ISNA supported him through his jailing and extradition process, writing that such efforts "consoled" him. (That fact is likely one of the many reasons why federal prosecutors named ISNA an un-indicted co-conspirator in the current trial against the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development.)

And Siddiqi has made numerous pro-jihad statements in the past and has denied that 9/11 was carried about by Muslims.

... one must be very suspicious when the media and the FBI tell you they have found, or are dealing with, mainstream Muslim leaders, involved in "inter-faith" activities. They are often suckers for polite smiles and Western business suits, but pull back the covers, and the truth is, all too often, much more sinister.

I suggest that they are more like useful idiots for our enemies, and moderate Muslim activist M. Zuhdi Jasser (AIFD) would surely agree.

Cross posted from Hyscience