Ashcroft's big fish returns home

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Tuesday August 11, 2009 · 6:55 AM PDT

2009/08/11 · 06:55

On March 10, 2005, Muslim cleric Sheikh Mohamad al-Moayad and his assistant Mohamad Zayad, two Yemeni citizens, were convicted for 75 years and 45 years, respectively, on accusations of funding terrorists. Today they returned to Yemen and have been greeted by thousands of supporters in the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

On the eve of the 2004 elections Attorney General John Ashcroft claimed that Sheikh al-Moayad had admitted to funding al-Qaida to the tune of $20 million before the September 11 attack. This was Ashcroft's "big fish" in the war on terror.

It was a period of feverish Islamophobia in the US that reflected itself in the trial and treatment of Sheikh al-Moayad---one of Yemen's most senior clerics. The story of al-Moayad and Zayad is likely to re-echo from mosque back to mosque reverbing from generation to generation. It has been etched in the memories of Arab American New Yorkers.

palestinian professor

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Friday June 05, 2009 · 3:18 AM PDT

2009/06/05 · 03:18

I don't know many people in the Middle East that did not listen to Obama's speech in Cairo. The people that I know think highly of President Obama and his speech was well anticipated.

I have been trying to gauge serious reaction to the speech. Not official government reaction nor the reaction on main street or the Hara as we say in Arabic.

I read some Arabic language internet forums frequented by political activists where the speech is being taken very seriously. For me, however, the most important response that I eagerly anticipated was that of Azmi Bishara. This brief diary highlights parts of that response.

palestinian professor

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Wednesday May 20, 2009 · 10:16 AM PDT

2009/05/20 · 10:16

In the last eight years interest groups that enjoyed access to the Bush administration sought to facilitate their agenda and interests by vilifying Islam and Muslims in general.

They did so very successfully. It is clear to me that many of the abominations committed during the last eight years, including horrible wickedness we see in Iraq, were committed by individuals whose willingness was influenced by injurious pervasive rhetoric on Islam. The vilification of Islam and Muslims greased the wheels of torture and war crimes.

In a few weeks Obama will address the Muslim world in a major speech in Cairo. This will be an important speech that will hopefully mend fences between the US and the billion or so Muslims including American Muslims.

In this diary I will attempt to convey my own understanding of Islam in a sympathetic way.

I will focus on three issues. The perception of Islam in Christian Arab discourse. Islam as a reformation of the Catholic church and the related genderless God in Islam, which contrasts with the paternal masculinity of God in the Christian tradition. I will also summarize a few points to keep in mind when addressing the Muslim world.

palestinian professor

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Wednesday April 29, 2009 · 9:39 AM PDT

2009/04/29 · 09:39

I was urged by Assaf recently to write a diary to provide my perspective. I am a Palestinian Israeli.

What is my narrative? What story do I have that is shared, or not, by others? Do I long to return even though I'm fortunate enough to have never been dispossessed?

I am a privileged Palestinian. A free Palestinian.

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