Rick Perry and Islam redux
Recently, I published a post about a blog war between Pam Geller of Atlas Shrugs and Ace of Spades. The subject of the war was Texas Governor Rick Perry - the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination for President - and his connections with Muslims and Islam in Texas.
Iranian-born Amil Imani says that he's not concerned about Perry's Islamic connection, because the sect to which Perry is connected - the Ismailis - is a marginal sect, and because the Islamic groups that have supported terrorist organizations have all attacked Perry. Imani goes on to show that the curriculum that was the subject of the blog war is not anti-Israel. In fact, if anything, it's pro-Israel.
The facts are that Perry has indeed had a cordial relationship with Muslims. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims live in the Lone Star State. And a governor is to serve every segment of the population in accordance with the law. I grant that. But, is Governor Perry being even-handed with Muslims, as he is expected to be, or is he favoring them?And here's what Imani has to say about the Texas curriculum and Israel.
He is reported to be particularly friendly with the Ismailis, a relatively small sect of Shi’a Islam. Is there something fishy about that? There are roughly twenty to thirty thousand Ismailis who live in Texas, a small percentage of the Muslims in the state. Besides, if Perry wanted to curry favor with Muslims, why would he hitch his wagon to the Ismailis? Ismailis are persecuted and castigated by major Islamic sects such as the Sunnis who rule Saudi Arabia and the Twelve Imamates Shi’a who run Iran.
The Ismailis are hardly a significant Islamic force, as compared to the other sects. They number around fifteen million in the world and are splintered into several sects. By far the largest of the Ismaili sects is the Nizari Ismaili with its followers adhering to dual loyalties. Their spiritual allegiance is to the Imam of the Time (Imam az Zaman) who is believed to be the interlocutor between Allah and the people. The position of the Imam az Zaman is hereditary from male to male, purportedly tracing back to Muhammad. Ismailis also owe allegiance to their countries as a fundamental obligation.
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Although Perry’s cordial relationship with the Ismailis is indeed true, it hardly warrants alarm. What is more disturbing is the claim, nearly all of it originating from one source, that Governor Perry is supported by CAIR.
Facts show the contrary. There are reports that CAIR, the Islamist organization, was upset for not being invited to Perry’s Response prayer event in Houston. CAIR has teamed up with the ACLU protesting the exclusion.
And with regards to the concern that the education curriculum Perry promoted is pro-Arab and against Israel, the evidence is exactly the opposite. The lesson on Israel reads:I've said before that I do not want to declare for one Republican candidate or another right now. And with over a year to go until the election, I will stick to that. At least for now. But given what Imani has written, I will have no problem voting for Rick Perry if he is the Republican nominee. No problem at all.
“Since the end of World War One Palestine had been under the control of Great Britain, who at first welcomed the hardworking Jewish settlers. They made the most of the harsh conditions, bringing economic success to an area that had for a very long time been poor. Arab natives also welcomed the newcomers. But as the number of Jewish settlers increased and their economic success contrasted sharply with the economic backwardness of the Palestinian Arabs, the Arab attitude began to change.
Immediately, all its Arab neighbors declared war on Israel. As a result of this war, the territory of Israel expanded somewhat, and many Arab citizens of Israel fled to a small corner of Israel called the Gaza Strip. The Arab states refused to admit these refugees, preferring them to stay there as a testimony to the evil of the Jewish state. They are still there. These Arabs began calling themselves Palestinians and demanding a state of their own.”
Read the whole thing.
Labels: Amil Imani, Campaign 2012, Ismaili Muslims, Rick Perry, Texas, Texas Muslim history curriculum
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:01 AM
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