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ORIGINAL HEADLINE: “Imam at the Capitol? Sure, but this imam?”
The prayer to begin this morning’s Texas Senate session was given by Imam Yusuf Kavakci, a Turkish-born Muslim preacher who runs the Islamic Association of North Texas.
In 2004, Kavakci was a featured speaker at a conference in Irving entitled “A Tribute to the Great Islamic Visionary.” The conference, honoring Ayatollah Khomeini, discussed such moderate, genteel topics as… worldwide Islamic revolution.
The guy also has an ugly tendency to praise guys like Hasan al-Turabi (Osama’s buddy who helped establish sharia in Sudan) and Yusuf Qaradawi (who thinks suicide bombings are just peachy.)
Muslim apologists constantly lecture America that jihadists are a tiny minority of Muslims, that the overwhelming majority are moderate, peace-loving folks.
Out of all those moderate Muslims, we couldn’t do any better than this guy?
Rod Dreher, of the Dallas Morning News, wants Kavakci to answer some tough questions:
Does he think that urging murder of Jews is consistent with being the kind of Islamic scholar fit to guide US Muslims? Sen. Shapiro should also ask Imam Kavakci about his similar “quality scholar” praise for the Sudanese Islamist leader Hasan al-Turabi, who gave Osama bin Laden sanctuary when he ruled Sudan, and who instigated jihad against Sudanese Christians and animists. How does Imam Kavakci reconcile this aspect of Turabi’s life and belief with his (Kavakci’s) praise for his brilliance as an Islamic scholar? Or does Imam Kavakci agree with him?
Good questions, all. And how has Kavakci responded, Rod?
Every time I’ve tried to get him to answer these simple and legitimate questions, he’s refused, and on several occasions accused me of Islamophobia for daring to ask. He shouldn’t be allowed to bluff and bully his way around giving a straight answer to perfectly reasonable questions.
Damn skippy.
UPDATED BY BENZION AT 2:50 PM–At least one man in Austin–my State Senator–had the common sense to excuse himself.
Update via Texas Monthly’s Patricia Kilday Hart, over at Burkablog:
This morning’s opening prayer by Imam Yusuf Kavakci of the Dallas Central Mosque sparked a flurry of meetings this morning after Sen. Dan Patrick vowed in conversations with fellow senators to “make a statement” in protest of what he considered an inappropriate prayer.
In the end, Patrick was absent from the floor and the prayer went off smoothly… The only evidence of controversy came in Sen. Florence Shapriro’s welcoming remarks after the prayer, in which she assured the Imam that his presence was appreciated by her and “28 of my colleagues on the Senate floor.”
… Wait … Did she say twenty-eight colleagues? Not counting Mario Gallegos, who has been absent for medical reasons, there should have been a total of thirty senators: Shapiro plus twenty-nine. She explained later than she had been informed by several members of the Senate that Patrick had approached them, expressing outrage that the Dallas Muslim leader had been selected to lead the Senate prayer. Patrick showed several senators a 2005 Dallas Morning News column accusing the Imam of extremist beliefs of a particular sect, though the News included the Imam’s denial.
Click here to download and read a copy of the Dallas Morning News editorial on Kavakci.
Kilday-Hart continues with this gem:
The issue made some morning talk shows, apparently, and inspired this email to Shapiro’s office: “I am a southern baptist and iraqi war veteran. I totally support your request to have a muslim start the daily session with a prayer. Our country prides itself on freedoms which the US forces and I have defended to the death. I support any freedom that has not been perversed or manipulated to personal benefit. Thank you for standing your ground against the opposition.”
Here’s my response:
Dear Southern Baptist Iraqi War Veteran,
Thank you for your service, and Happy Easter.
As a Jew, I share your support for allowing a Muslim to start the daily session of the Texas state senate with a prayer.
I just wish next time they’d find an Imam who is willing to forthrightly condemn Islamic radicals, doesn’t have a history of legitimizing Ayatollah Khomeini, and who clearly has no sympathies for the supremacist Muslim Brotherhood or Wahabbism.
Given your honorable service in defense of our freedoms, surely that isn’t too much to ask.
Sincerely,
David Benzion
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45 Responses to “Dan Patrick absent from Imam’s prayer”Search
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Of course there are those who will write on their own blog that I’m just an outright bloodthirsty Nazi like individual if I suggest that someday Islam will need to be virtually wiped from the face of the earth to keep us safe. Never mind that it is Islam that is displaying the Nazi like behavior by saying they will kill anybody who doesn’t do it their way, and it is Muslims around the world who are either too afraid to be loud and opppose them in public - or they tacitly agree with the concept. Rather like the Germans exclaiming, “Oh, we didn’t know what was going on in those camps, and even if we had, what could we have done about it?”.
I would simply point to the Americans of Japanese descent who found so bravely as a unit during WW2.
One question. Who invited and booked this guy? LST should track that person down and put their name up. He didnt just show up unannounced.
Dan said this morning that he would not attend today’s Senate session. Good for him.
2. gregg
I would like to know the protocol, too. Republicans, who control the chamber, presumably had to approve/acquiesce in this event for it to happen. Another example of spineless, cowering GOP leadership.
Today’s Chronicle has a story with several persons commenting on how close the date of imam’s praying in the Texas Senate is to Easter, the Christians’ most holy day.
Had any of them done his homework — like a quick Web search on Yusuf Kavakci (standard spelling) — the story might have been about something other than conservative Christians whining.
I’m one of those conservative Christians … and am bothered by THIS imam a lot. The timing is immaterial to me; there probably is a religious holiday that’s important to someone 365 days a year.
Isn’t it wird that we, as a nation, are embracing a religion and a culture that has pretty much said outright that its aim is to change our society and topple our country. I’m VERY glad that I’m on the downward side of my time here on earth. This country will be gone in 30 years time. Watch, if you’re still around.
#2…name is Shapiro…It seems a direct slap in the face to Christians as Shairo is a Jew. Invite this clown during the Jewish holy days instead. And trust me, I’m no bible thumper.
The Imam is a constituent of Shapiro’s, so she had to be the one that “invited” him.
Today is “legislative day” for Muslims at the capitol… they’ve all arrived to advocate their agenda.
Point being, it wasn’t Shapiro’s idea to “invite” the Iman right before Easter.
Passover is a Jewish Holy Day.
Would they let David Duke speak? didn’t think so…
Only muslim hate speech is allowed. Freedom of speech is the domain of the left. Everyone else should shut their racist islamophobic noise holes!
The timing of all this is ironic. I would guess Shapiro is not extremely bright and it never occurred to her or her aides that this was Easter week. We expect elected officials to use common sense……. foolish of us. Dan is an excellent example of a man of principle. The only one with a backbone it seems. Something about the Austin water must disolve republicans back bones. To let this imam conduct anything in the name of respect and prayer is idiotic. Thank you Ms. Shapiro, I hope your constituents are given a daily picture of this imam praying when you run for re-election.
I think Benzion’s point is well-taken: For most folks, it’s not that a Muslim was asked to pray, it’s that THIS Muslim was asked.
I need to second Matt’s point in #8
Shapiro did NOT choose to invite the Imam right before Easter. There is a larger gathering of Muslims in the Capitol today… THEY are the ones that decided what day they would all be in Austin.
They asked to have an Imam lead the prayer… and because the Imam lives in Shapiro’s district, she’s the one given the “honor” of officially inviting him.
ok so let me get this straight. The Imams called the shot totally on this? They decided what week they needed to come to pray……. and the politicians said ok? Shapiro was given the honor of inviting this radical without checking up on him? I don’t want to be arguementative here, maybe I just need this explained to me in another way. How many weeks did the Islamic leaders have to choose from? So it’s no ones fault that we have this particular Imam representing Islam at our capital with prayer?
http://www.590klbj.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=66069
Said Iman needs to be asked when they are inviting a rabbi, priest, or protestant pastor to speak at their mosque. Then we should get all the liberals to hold their breath until it happens.
Hey! Let them radical head choppers pray! What’s wrong with you guys? Islobophobes!
Now, time for some cartoons:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2VEBE-qX8
So, at the next muslim holiday wuyold they invite Rabbi Greebnberg to open with prayer?
We have all read about the Mosques in this country where Imam’s spew radical hate in the name of their religion. Why would anyone assume the Imam leading the prayer is peaceful without checking up on him? Maybe the Imams really wanted to see the interior of the building to figure out how it would work for them when USA is an Islamic state and they are in charge.
I don’t know why this is so complex.
Yes, the Muslims picked which day they were going to make their “Legislative Day.” Don’t know why they picked this day.
Imam Kavakci appears (unfortunately) to be a very high profile community leader of Dallas Muslims.
Muslims told legislative leadership “We’re going to be in Austin lobbying on Tuesday, April 4th, and would like to have our Imam lead the opening prayer.”
It’s customary for the Senator who represents the constituent set to speak to be the one who “invites” them to do so. And whereas, and wherefore, and harumph harumph harumph.
Guy lives in Shapiro’s district, so she ends up being the one “inviting” him.
Do I wish leadership had said “You are welcome to have an Imam lead the prayer, but not this one–pick somebody without taint of extremism”?
Yes, I do.
Do I wish Shapiro would have said, “Sorry, I’m not going along with this–pick somebody else.”
Yup.
So I think leadership and Shapiro can rightly be faulted and criticized for not standing up to this and insisting that a clearly moderate Muslim lead the prayer.
But the day, and the selection of Kavakci is the responsibility of the Muslim groups that organized the lobbying activity, not Shapiro of legislative leadership.
I agree BZ…. but finding a moderate muslim imam is like finding a 15 yr old virgin in Arkansas…..
OK Now I understand it and I do Fault leadership and Shapiro for not standing up to this and insisting a moderate muslim( maybe they are almost extinct) lead the prayer.
Moderate muslims:
http://www.byzantines.net/byzcathculture/images/moderate_muslim.gif
http://www.geocities.com/realtrueactuality/BelieveItOrNot-X.gif
Hmm. Shapiro had nothing to do with this except have the “honor” of introducing the terrorist. Well, then, why this?
And, is there really a question as to why they chose Easter week?
I have to wonder if this IMAM had the power to prevent it, would he ever allow a Christian Prayer?
#22 Jolly Gigante: Politicians…
Like I said, MY Senator had the common sense to excuse himself.
I’ll promise you this– it is only a matter of time before, at the very LEAST, someone connected to Imam Kavakci does or says something that is going to cause a “headache” (at a minimum) for the politicians who acquiesced.
So they bought themselves some non-controversy and Kumbaya this morning… but the bill will eventually come due.
#7 left2right
Uh, I just wanted to remind you Pesach (Passover) began at sundown on Monday. These are some of the holiest days of the Judaic calendar. Florence Shapiro has been a state senator representing the Dallas area for years. Her actions in this event are incomprehensible to me, but to construe this as some kind of Jewish insult Christianity is ridiculous.
Good for the Senator. This Imam is a poor soul.
That does it. Name change time. Now you are picking on Kumbaya, the greatest song in the history of campfires. And for the record, in open comments before this was posted, JG said that it was okay to have an Islam pray. Just don’t like the terrorist.
How soon we forget that not so long ago, under Ronald Reagan, it was the Americans training and funding these radical jihadis - because, of course, they were fighting the Communists. Then, people with such views and far worse were not only tolerated, but encouraged, promoted and even armed with US tax dollars.
To me that’s a hypocritical part of the “war on terror.” We supported the jihadi cause for years, particularly in Afghanistan. America is in bed with Saudi “Wahabbism” up to our eyeballs. Every Saudi prince you’ve ever seen hugging the president is a Wahabbi. But now anybody associated with political Islam is suspect? I don’t buy it.
And for the record, I say the same thing to liberals who want to write off extremist pro-lifers as wingnuts or theocrats. Either you believe in religious freedom and free speech and open the door to all views, or you don’t. It creates a more stable political system in the long run if you do. best,
#28 Gritsy,
I don’t see the hypocrisy.
1980’s: Fund jihadis to advance America’s self-interest by defeating the Soviet Union
2000’s: Kill jihadis to advance America’s self-interest by defeating Islamic radicalism
Consistent Principle: Advance America’s self-interest.
BTW, I’m not denying the “blow-back” or unintended consequences, nor even necessarily accepting in full the “wisdom” of the decision to fund the jihadis back then… but it wasn’t hypocrisy. We weren’t in favor of radical Islam back in the 1980’s only to subsequently betray our Wahabbist brothers… then, as now, we were trying to defeat the enemy we perceived to pose the biggest threat.
Trust me, there’s no love lost between David Benzion and the Saudi regime… but there too, unfortunately, we are stuck working with the imperfect chess board that confronts us.
The day some Jew figures out how to make gasoline out of salt-water will be a happy one indeed.
I don’t have a problem with “political Islam,” as long as it conducts itself and seeks to uphold the classical liberal tradition of individual rights, limited, constitutional government, and the rule of law. Same as I don’t have (anything other than an intellectual) problem with political Socialism, so long as its advocates are willing to use persuasion, not force.
I’m glad to see though that you are (appropriately) a critic and opponent of Saudi/Salafist totalitarianism.
Surely, then, you stand beside the President and me as we work to implement the Neoconservative project of securing America’s long-term security by liberalizing the Islamic world in general and the Middle East in particular?
There is no political freedom for a Christian. It’s only in recent years that radical Islam has come to the surface and set its sights on the USA. Religious freedom does not mean beheading, slaughter, and mayhem. Religious freedom means you get to practice your faith without being harmed. It does not give you the right to impose your belief on others,in the name of God. Christians have lost the right to pray at school functions. Christians have lost the right to have their Christian symbols displayed at Christmas The name Christmas play has been banned in schools and we now have winter carnival. When u review the years when these types of Christian activites were allowed in this country, life was better. My country says it’s 80% Christian….. yet we have no freedom.
Ah, David nails Grits! Superior intellect will win overall! Ah, David, i am not worthy…
American woman
#30
Unfortunately, you are right. There are rights for everyone in this country except Christians and/or “evangelicals”. Screw diversity. Let’s get back to our judeo/christian values.
I meant to capitalize “Judeo/Christian”. Sorry!
Okay, I’m just going to come out and say it. Why are we letting a religion who is hell-bent on destroying us, who wants us dead, who sees the US as the great satan, speak in our governmental house? Why is it tolerated that their prayers are in some freakin’ language and not in English?
/spits!
Ms Shapiro is much too clever a politician to allow herself to be roped into something that she did not want to do. Can I decide when my legislative lobbying day is going to be and then be honored by my Senator? Doubtful.
#34…great post…so true they should pray in English - praying in public in another language especially in an American legislative session should be prohibited. We need to know what they are really saying.
#35…LOL…we should all be so celebrated. Imagine how much time it would take for activists to be honored. Perhaps we could have a “Special Session” for such activities.
#1: I AM argumenative. And the very idea of inviting an imman to “pray” in our state assembly hall makes me nauseous! The God of this country is the God of the Bible; Jehovah; The Lord God Almighty; the Creator of the Universe. It is He who we pray to. Not some false god….
#2: I AM “Islamophobic” It really gets my attention when a group of radical, fanatical, murdering SOB’S state - and state very clearly - that their goal in life to to destroy my country, my religion, and my freedom!!!!!
I BELIEVE they mean what they say - and I’m frightened and disgusted that my government is doing absolutely nothing to stop them. On the contrary - my government seems to be doing everything it can to aid and abet!!!
Makes me wonder - are the folks in D.C. and Austin on the take? (from CAIR) Or deaf, dumb and blind? Or just plain stupid?
Joshua said: “As for me and my house, we’ll follow The Lord.” Isaiah said: “Woe to them who call good evil and evil good.”
Good advice - from both of them.
Glad to know I’m not the only one outraged by this travesty; but I’ll give you the reason: weapons of mass distraction. That is, the filthy-scum-sucking-yellow-journalistic-lying-cockroachs that comprise the media, and that includes FOX News.
And I’ll give you an example: the article on worldnetdaily today that as evidence emerges from testimony of people who we’re there, it refutes Jacka$$ Murtha’s claim those Marines murdered civilians in Iraq in ‘05.
But of course, it didn’t keep them from ruining everyone’s Independence Day with headlines screaming in every major news venue, remember? Now turns out, doesn’t look like the info was true, but Murtha convicted them in the media, the treasonous pig!!
But the damage is done, they have done their nefarious work. Newsweek has been printing the enemies propaganda with impunity since the war began!
Only by having leaders that are weak-minded, deluded fools like Florence Shapriro can we have a treasonous act foisted on us with utter contempt to all Texan’s while fiegning indignation.
She is a fool because if the Imam had his way, he’s shut her stupid pie-hole first chance he got while making her cover her stupid looking face(maybe not such a bad idea after all!).
The only wat is to take back our government, and thanks to Dan Patrick for getting that process started by doing all he has done, he is to be commended. But we must face it: we’re in for a fight to preserve our way of life.
Time to take the gloves off, NOW!!!
WOW PBFloyd, I am in agreement!
I am not a scholar of theology but it seems to me that Christianity was in existence long before the Islamic religion of peace was formed so what makes them so special Just passing it along, Before AD to 1000 years later. WTF
WB. have a great day
wlliebill
Exactly!
Not to jump in here but Shapiro had a duty to not only say no but to put this guy in his place by inviting any Muslim other than a rabble rouser to speak about peace and love of family the two common themes Islam has with other religions
It was a day for statesmenship, not boycotts and if I were Dan I would have stayed and challenged this man with questions about these themes and gotten him in front of his flock to admit, admit he believed in peace and love of family.
Not make another useless gesture.
But thats me
Eric
#42
I would have done the same!
The only true way to peace is to let them know that the fundamentalist rhetoric is wrong - Dan is a kind and sincere man who cares about people passionately and it would have been a sharp contrast to a whabbist want a be
#44 Well said Eric