LA Synagogue Asked to Drop Anti-Islam Speaker
Anaheim , CA: The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) has called on Sinai Temple in that city to drop an anti-Islam speaker who was scheduled to appear at the synagogue.
CAIR-LA said the speaker, Brigitte Gabriel, heads the hate group ACT! for America and has stated that Muslims should not be allowed to hold public office, that an American Muslim "cannot be a loyal citizen," and that Islam is the "real enemy." She has also claimed that Arabs "have no soul" and that Muslims worship "something they call 'Allah,' which is very different from the God we believe [in]."
SEE: A Case Study in Sincere Hypocrisy: Brigitte Gabriel
http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/04/a-case-study-in-sincere-hypocrisy-brigitte-gabriel/
Video: Brigitte Gabriel Says Arabs Have No Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaocTdWOtJ4
One of ACT! for America 's Florida representatives recently bragged in a YouTube video that he desecrated the Qur’an, Isl am 's revealed text, and urinates in the washing stations Muslims use to perform their ritual ablutions (wudu) for prayer. Gabriel has not repudiated those in her group who produced and distributed the video.
SEE: ACT! for America Fla. Rep Brags of Desecrating Quran
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn5UfW6GOc4
"Religious leaders and houses of worship should promote tolerance and mutual understanding, not the type of hatred and bigotry spread by fear-mongers like Brigitte Gabriel," said CAIR-LA Executive Director Huss am Ayloush . " Sinai Temple has the right to host an anti-Muslim bigot, but we hope the synagogue would also feel a sense of responsibility to act in a manner that does not harm relations between faith communities or give aid and comfort to those who demonize a religious minority."
Sinai Temple Rabbi David Wolpe, when contacted by CAIR-LA, said he wasn’t aware of the Islamophobic comments made by Gabriel and that the event could not be canceled on short notice. The rabbi also said he was going to ask Gabriel about her hateful comments on Islam and Muslims. A meeting is being set up between the rabbi and Southern California Muslim leaders to clarify the synagogue’s position on inviting the anti-Muslim speaker and how the synagogue can work to bring area Muslims and Jews together.
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