LETTER: Imam's visit to Missoula seen as worrisome

When we heard that Montana World Affairs Council had invited Feisal Abdul Rauf to speak on Oct. 21, a dozen Flathead residents drove to Missoula.

Rauf is a New York City imam associated with the proposed construction of a “Ground Zero Mosque.” He has also praised Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a Muslim scholar associated with the Muslim Brotherhood who supports Palestinian suicide bombings.

One major donor to the Montana World Affairs Council is the Turkish Cultural Foundation. For the seventh year the Turkish Cultural Foundation has provided training for Montana teachers and students on Turkish culture. Over 2,700 US teachers and 5,000 students attended programs last year.

Mr. Hussein Ibish has also been a speaker for the Montana World Affairs Council, talking about Palestine and Israel. He was vice president of Sami al-Arian’s National Coalition to protect Political Freedom (2001-2004). In 2006 al-Arian signed court documents admitting “to raising money and lending support to Palestinian Islamic jihad.” Why would the Montana World Affairs Council sponsor a speaker with a known bias as evidenced by working with al-Arian?

Montana World Affairs Council volunteers are most likely unknowing of the tenets of Islam in these relationships. They view Islam through the words of those who give only one view of Islam. Leaders in the community have an obligation to do their own research, to verify what they are being told is true. Otherwise the public and children will be deceived.  

Imam Rauf also visited Missoula high schools during his visit.

We were led to believe there would be a one-hour Q and A and we would be able to “ask” questions and be part of the “conversation.” Unfortunately, this did not happen. The questions had to be “written” and then “some hand-picked” ones were “handed to the moderator.” Taqiyya was on full display. The concept of taqiyya (deception) is closely associated with the sharia doctrine about lying and deception. They say, “We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them.”

Please email the Montana World Affairs Council and demand they “invite” a speaker who can set the record straight at info@montanaworldaffairs.org.

The time to ACT! to preserve our U.S. Constitution and freedoms is now. —Caroline Solomon, Bigfork