Obsession: A Misleading Agenda - 23 Feb 08

Saturday night, Imam Mohamed Al-Darsani and members of the Islamic Center for PEACE attended a program sponsored by the Southwest Florida citizens group “Voices against Jihad” and the Florida Security Council.  The event drew about two hundred guests and was held at Barron Collier High School. The theme of the night was “Radical Islam” and the danger it poses to the American way of life.

The panel made sure to let the audience know that there was a difference in “Radical Islamists” and mainstream “moderate” Muslims. However, the event was undeniably designed to instill fear into the hearts and minds of those in attendance. A public viewing of the documentary/Movie Obsession- Radical Islam's War Against the West helped to support and propagate the anti Islamic agenda and tone.

Islam does not condone terror or terror related activities and any one who commits a terrorist act in the name of Islam is not a Muslim. The Movie Obsession- Radical Islam's War Against the West is a gross oversimplification of “radical” Islam.  It fails to offer an explanation as to what may have caused this new movement of extreme hostility towards the west and Israel. Instead the movie jumps into drawing parallels to Nazi Germany and comparing “Radical Islam” to the most vile acts committed in the history of mankind. To add insult to injury, the video also shows strategically placed footage and sound bites of men, women, and children chanting anti western slogans and praising martyrdom as well as news clips from Iranian and Arabic television stations.

It is an undeniable truth that these things happen. However this is not unique to “Radical Islam.”  One need look no further than YouTube or Google video to find similar examples of the “Christian Right” demonizing Islam. Or, to conservative pundits like Anne Coulter, who once suggested of Muslims that “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity”.

Anyone with the budget and a deceitful heart can compile enough discrediting information and create a similar video about Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. The difference is that if anyone dared do so, about Judism, for example they would be labeled anti Semitic and instantly dismissed.

Immediately following this indirect attack on Islam, the event’s main speaker, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, who is a self proclaimed “Moderate” Muslim from Arizona, clarified his views on Islam which are well outside the scope of the mainstream Muslim world. With poise and eloquence, armed with his own interpretation of Islam he defended what was shown in the video. Dr. Jasser does not support terror nor does any true and practicing Muslim.

However, he feels that it is necessary to reform Islam, and strongly suggested that there is room for personal interpretation within Islam. He also proclaimed that no American Imam would debate his views, and that every time such a debate was arranged, the Imams would not show. 

When the panel opened for questions, Imam Al-Darsani invited Dr. Jasser to have an open dialogue about Islam. The panel, with Dr. Jasser ‘s approval, accepted the invitation, and God willing he will follow through with his commitment.

If you have any questions regarding this event or would like to get more information about Islam please contact Imam Mohamed Al-Darsani at 239-671-1761, or visit the Islamic Center for PEACE in Fort Myers at 2056 Linhart AVE. Fort Myers, Fl 33901. For more information about this event you can read the article written by the Naples Daily News online by clicking here.

Watch Dr. Jasser accept Imam Mohamed Al-Darsani's invitation to an open dialogue about Islam.