Zuhdi Jasser's Nomination To USCIRF Criticized

Zuhdi Jasser participates in a news conference in front of police headquarters in New York, Monday, March 5, 2012. Jasser was there with dozens of activists to demonstrate support for the NYPD and its surveillance of Muslim groups across the Northeast. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

By Omar Sacirbey
Religion News Service

(RNS) More than 1,800 people have signed a petition asking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to "reconsider" his appointment of Zuhdi Jasser, a prominent critic of U.S. Muslims, to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

"How can an individual who supports the curbing of Muslim civil and religious liberties at home be trusted as a 'commissioner' to review and analyze violations of religious freedoms abroad?" the petition writers ask in their appeal.

Jasser, a physician in Phoenix, Ariz., and president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, has angered many Muslim Americans for his work with groups they say demonize Muslims, and for supporting policies that they say infringe on their civil liberties.

Jasser narrated "The Third Jihad," a documentary widely considered to be Islamophobic, and sits on the board of The Clarion Fund, which funded the film, and has received funding from organizations with anti-Islamic sentiments. He has also defended the New York City Police Department against attacks that it spied on Muslims, and testified on Capitol Hill on the problem of Muslim "extremism" in the U.S.

The petition is sponsored by www.Islamophobiatoday.com.

"A man who breeds fear and hate of any people, cannot possibly serve as an unbiased contributor to a commission dedicated to religious freedom," wrote Saosan Suhrawardye, in a comment explaining his signature.

Jasser denounced the attacks as "a defamation campaign," and has also garnered support. "I would defy any of those spreading those smears to look my children in the eye after we say prayers or read the Quran and say such nonsense," Jasser said.

Anne Taylor, a Christian Scientist who with Jasser sits on the board of the Arizona Interfaith Movement, said she was "deeply saddened about the bad press" Jasser had received.

"Dr. Jasser is not only well informed and a clear speaker on issues of international concern, but also just a genuinely good person," she said.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent watchdog panel that makes recommendations to Congress, the White House and the State Department. Its nine unpaid commissioners are appointed by the president and Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress.

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Comments

[AZRINO]

09:53 PM on 08/10/2012

If Dr Jasser was a Christian he'd be a saint! Being from Phoenix I have followed his career with interest. He is a powerful voice in our community. He Heals people both as a physician and as a spokesman for his religion. Our community has a much better understanding of Islam because of his teaching. He has written extensively and served freely on panels and commissions to assist his community. He has been a teacher, a mentor and a good listener. I can think of no better person for that position!

[Shadhili2003]

03:33 PM on 04/13/2012

The harder you fight against Shariah the faster Muslims will return to it. Keep up the good work.

[naaman3]

07:39 PM on 05/08/2012

Written like a true shariah lover.

[SteveDietrich]

03:38 PM on 04/10/2012

If CAIR & NIAC hate him, then you know he's a really good man for the job !!!

[Shadhili2003]

03:31 PM on 04/13/2012

No that just means white power neo-cons like yourself like him.

[SteveDietrich]

07:44 PM on 04/13/2012

Actually, Dr Jasser may help to bring an end to more than 1,000 years of poverty and death.

[naaman3]

07:22 PM on 05/08/2012

Your reply tells a lot about you. One thing is you're a race hustler. Another is you're pro-shariah. Just to name a couple. Cheers, Shad2003

[naaman3]

07:19 PM on 05/08/2012

Absolutely correct. He's great; I've heard him. Rule of thumb: If CAIR is opposed to someone, then he/she has to be an honest, open & free thinking individual.

[patriotrebel]

03:31 PM on 04/10/2012

Dr. Jasser embraces the U.S. Constitution over Shariah Law. It's as simple as that. Those who attack Dr. Jasser are either ignorant or in favor of Shariah Law being established in the U.S.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:45 PM on 04/13/2012

==
"Those who attack Dr. Jasser are either ignorant or in favor of Shariah Law being established in the U.S."
==

Completely false.

Many of us simply point out that he's a mouthpiece for the professional anti-Islam movement in this country, and the things that that movement has made up about Muslims and Islam.

He spreads misinformation, including the idea false that Muslims are "promoting Sharia law" (over the U.S. Constitution).

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/08/pdf/islamophobia.pdf

http://www.publiceye.org/liberty/training/Muslim_Menace_Complete.pdf

(I'm not religious, myself -- I just support the right of my millions of fellow Americans who worship as Muslims not to be lied about.)

[Abdul-Halim Vazquez]

08:54 PM on 04/13/2012

Jasser was in favor of the Oklahoma anti-Shariah referendum and opposed to the Park 51 Mosque project. He doesn't really embrace the Constitution as a whole. When he speaks, he makes a point of embracing the EStablishment Clause without mentioning the Free Exercise Clause. If you want to see an example of full-throated support for the Constitution, look at the ACLU's positions on these issues.

[naaman3]

07:43 PM on 05/08/2012

The ACLU? You think the ACLU is pro-Constitution in everything? --- (NOPE!)

[dnorah]

08:41 PM on 04/09/2012

Fantastic! Dr. Jasser is perfect for the job!

[Brightening]

03:40 PM on 04/09/2012

His intolerance for religion means he surely can't believe in the first amendment. That says it all.

[dnorah]

08:42 PM on 04/09/2012

His intolerance is for people who want to control others. You're just scared of truth.

[patriotrebel]

03:35 PM on 04/10/2012

Dr. Jasser is against the establishment of Sharia Law in the U.S., which is NOT religion. Since you obviously support Sharia Law, you must have a tolerance for the mistreatment and oppresion of women.

[Brightening]

04:38 AM on 04/11/2012

I don't support any law that is to do with an established religion - that supports or oppresses it. The government must maintain equal standing with all faiths and none.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:47 PM on 04/13/2012

LOL!!

Disagreeing with the approach of people who make up things about Muslims and Islam has nothing at all to do with "supporting Sharia law".

Do you even know what Sharia law is?

If you go by the anti-Islam-fiction version ..... you don't.

You do know that one guy made up that whole "Muslims are promoting Sharia law over the Constitution" meme, right?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/us/31shariah.html?pagewanted=all

[3in1]

07:10 AM on 04/06/2012

Balance people, we need balance. Whites helping the NAACP has helped the problem.

[Abdul-Halim Vazquez]

11:03 AM on 04/05/2012

I experienced the greatest loss of respect for Jasser when I read how his AIFD endorsed the Oklahoma anti-shariah law which was (happily) ruled unconstitutional. He doesn't really believe in the first amendment.

[dnorah]

08:47 PM on 04/09/2012

You obviously want shriah - radical Muslim much, Abdul? We have one law in this country, not yours! You want your Islamic law, live in a Muslim country. --- Leave & take your bigoted, hateful shariah with you.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:48 PM on 04/13/2012

There's no reason to spend tax dollars on meaningless legislation, to fight against a non-existent threat.

http://prospect.org/article/court-overturns-oklahoma-ban-sharia-law

[patriotrebel]

03:37 PM on 04/10/2012

You don't believe in the U.S. Constitution; you believe in Shariah Law. You do not belong in the U.S.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:50 PM on 04/13/2012

Why would you say that?

I'm an atheist, and I agree with him completely.

Just because an "anti-Sharia law" law sounds like a good idea to you, based on things that professional anti-Islam pundits have made up about Islam and Muslims, doesn't mean that it is.

A lot of people agree with Abdul, and with me, here.

That's probably why that law was overturned.

http://prospect.org/article/court-overturns-oklahoma-ban-sharia-law

[Nezar Hamze]

10:23 PM on 04/04/2012

I have never met Dr.Jasser nor have I been successful in reaching him. He has aligned himself with the countries most rabid Islamophobes under the guise of "There needs to be a discussion" narrative. He consistently speaks in the abstract and is either ignorant to the difficulties the Muslim community is facing or ignoring them. Either way he has lost all credibility with the majority of the Muslim community in the US. When his name is mentioned in Muslim gatherings people actually say " I seek refuge from the accursed Satan". No matter what my feelings are, this is pretty bad.

InshaAllah he is guided back on the straight path and away from the individuals that hate Islam and detest Muslims. Ameen !

[dnorah]

08:52 PM on 04/09/2012

Sweetie, we don't hate Muslims. We do hate people who come to our country and try to turn it into theirs. You see, Nezar, not every Muslim wants your suffocating shariah. You want it, move to a Muslim country! - What bothers you is we know what you're trying to do, and it won't work. You've failed in infuencing anyone with intelligence.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:51 PM on 04/13/2012

Do you have any examples (other than the pathetic ones from anti-Islam sources) that Muslims are attempting to "promote Sharia law", in the U.S.?

[patriotrebel]

03:49 PM on 04/10/2012

Islamofascists, such as yourself, obviously do not embrace freedom and the U.S. Constitution. You believe only in your oppressive Shariah Law. Go back to where you came from. My son, a U.S. Marine, took an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution against enemies, foreign and domestic--radical muslims like you are the enemy of the U.S. Dr. Jasser and AIFD are the voice of the modern and peaceful Muslims who embrace the U.S. Constitution and reject the evil Shariah Law. I will continue to provide financial support to AIFD and ACT.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:52 PM on 04/13/2012

You're pretty funny.

Anyone with a view that differs from yours is an Islamofascist?

Do you understand American values at all?

[naaman3]

07:49 PM on 05/08/2012

Please thank your son for me.
Excellent post.

[Matt Hugh]

08:05 PM on 04/04/2012

And the alternative would be CAIR? Oh please!

[Doug Sandlin]

08:52 PM on 04/13/2012

Where'd you get that?

[Sulayman F]

07:31 PM on 04/04/2012

I really don't trust Dr. Jasser. He's aligned himself with some very anti-Muslim people, who find it useful to point to him as evidence that they're not total bigots.

For example, Congressman Peter King told reporters "there's too many mosques in America" and embarked on Homeland Security hearings to call into question the loyalty of the entire American Muslim community. For some reason, Dr. Jasser has seen fit to help him demonize the mainstream Muslim leaders and take part in movies like Third Jihad that are meant to spread fear of ordinary American Muslims.

If anything, he's leaned heavily partisan and been viewed by most American Muslims as a puppet mouthpiece. There are so many better choices in the Muslim community who could fill the role, and understand America's religious liberty better than he does.

[dnorah]

08:55 PM on 04/09/2012

Sulayman F - Strange how the Muslims on this blog don't like Dr. Jasser. Gee, maybe cause he speaks truth about the pro-shariah people, like you. Take your shariah & CAIR and go to country with Muslim law.

[AxisV]

01:55 AM on 04/13/2012

Strange how all the Muslim haters are in support of Jasser. Take your fascism and go back to 1940s Italy.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:54 PM on 04/13/2012

I'm an atheist, and I don't like him either.

Why?

Very simple:

I'm pro-fact, and anti-prejudice.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:53 PM on 04/13/2012

Completely agreed.

(And I'm not the least bit religious --- I just see Jasser as doing far more harm than good by supporting misinformation about Muslims and Islam).