May 10, 2009
by David J. Rusin
IslamistWatch.org

On May 5 the British Home Office published a list of "individuals banned from the UK for stirring up hatred." The inclusion of radio host Michael Savage has garnered most of the press, given his placement alongside terrorists such as Samir Kuntar. However, another American on the roster deserves some attention of his own: Abdul Alim Musa.

Born Clarence Reams, Musa converted to Islam in jail and now heads a D.C. mosque. He founded the radical organization As-Sabiqun, which seeks the "establishment of Islam as a complete way of life in America," citing Muslim Brotherhood thinkers and Ayatollah Khomeini as influences. According to the Washington Post, Musa "has been trying for years to build an Islamic community [in D.C.] ... that he would like to see replicated nationwide until the United States becomes an Islamic state."

In contrast to typical "lobby group" Islamists, Musa could not be clearer about his actual views:

• Praising terrorists: Musa described Osama bin Laden as "definitely misconstrued" and remarked, "I have to like him." With respect to Hamas, Musa said, "They are nice people. Very nice people." He also called Hezbollah "a good group of people practicing Islam."

• Accusing President Bush of staging 9/11: "Just like Hitler burned the Reichstag ... to gain full power over the people ... George Bush brings down the World Trade Center, blames it on us [Muslims], and then claims himself dictator over the world."

• Fingering Jews for the slave trade: "Who ran the slave trade ... who funded [it]? You'll study and you will find out: the Jews. ... It was the Jewish bankers ... in Vienna, with pockets full of money, funding and insuring; that's who did it."

• Gleefully predicting America's demise: "If you were to say that the Soviet Union was wiped off the face of the earth ... people would have thought you were crazy, right? ... We saw the fall of one so-called superpower. Old Sam is next."

Islamist Watch highlighted Musa earlier this year for his 2007 sermon on "How to Punk the FBI," in which he counsels Muslims against cooperating fully with law enforcement. The irony is that he was a longtime board member of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), one of the groups threatening to end their allegedly cordial relationship with the FBI.

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's positioning of a loudmouthed radio host beside convicted murderers may seem a bit odd, but she is correct that "coming to the UK is a privilege." All in all, banning a true extremist like Abdul Alim Musa is no bad choice.

But do not celebrate too quickly. Now that Musa does not have to worry about planning any trips to Britain, he can focus on what he does best: radicalizing Muslims right here in America.
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ISLAMIST WATCH, a project of the Middle East Forum, combats the ideas and institutions of lawful Islamism in the United States and throughout the West. Arguing that "radical Islam is the problem, moderate Islam is the solution," we seek to expose the Islamist organizations that currently dominate the debate, while identifying and promoting the work of moderate Muslims. Islamist Watch specifically does not deal with counterterrorism but works to establish that lawful Islamism is by and of itself a threat.