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March 11, 2006
In New York Alarm Spreads Over Remarks Of Jail Imam
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Extremist remarks made by the head imam of the city's jail system are generating alarm about whether inmates are being recruited as Islamic fundamentalists.
Mayor Bloomberg announced yesterday that the city has suspended Imam Umar Abdul-Jalil of the city's Department of Correction until officials can get more information about his remarks and determine whether he violated any regulations.
"We can't prejudge but we are going to look at it this afternoon," Mr. Bloomberg told reporters yesterday. "Having said that, this morning, so that he would not go back into the jails, we put him on paid administrative leave at least for the day."
The move by the city came after the New York Post reported that Mr. Abdul-Jalil declared in a speech that the White House is run by terrorists and that Muslims were tortured in Manhattan prisons after the World Trade Center attacks.
He also reportedly urged Muslims in America to stop letting "the Zionists of the media to dictate what Islam is to us." The Investigative Project on Terrorism obtained a recording of his speech, a senior researcher with the organization, Tamar Tesler, confirmed yesterday.
The imam, who has been with the department since 1993 and has been overseeing all clergy members at the agency since 2004, could not be reached yesterday.
Abdul-Jalil, 56, who is also imam of the Masjid Sabur mosque in Harlem, initially denied making the comments - but later admitted to The Post that the tape was most likely accurate and said his words are being "taken out of context."
The outlandish remarks were made by one of the city's most prominent Islamic leaders, Imam Umar Abdul-Jalil, the executive director of ministerial services for the city Department of Correction.
Abdul-Jalil is the latest Muslim chaplain working for city and state agencies to come under fire.
Last year, the city Fire Department forced Imam Intikab Habib to resign as chaplain for publicly doubting that al Qaeda hijackers brought down the World Trade Center towers and suggesting there was a broader "conspiracy."
Three years ago, Pataki fired Imam Warith Deen Umar, the former chief Muslim chaplain for the state prison system, after it was reported he was expressing support for the 9/11 terrorists.
The director of Simon Wiesenthal's New York Tolerance Center, Mark Weitzman, said, if true, the statements are cause for worry about possible recruitment of Islamic fundamentalists in city jails.
Wild Thing's comment.......
Chuck Colson, co-founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries,"...the Islam being preached is neither "noble" nor "peaceful." The "Islamic prison outreach, as recommended by Al Qaeda, is taking place - the most prominent ministry being the National IslamicPrison Foundation."
Their report indicated "there are approximately 350,000 Muslims in Federal, state and local prisons -with 30,000-40,000 being added to that number each year." Interestingly, the prisoners came to prison as non-Muslims.
And guess who is the main provider for funds to the National Islamic Prison Foundation is? Saudi Arabia
"Al Qaida continues to recruit members in U.S. prisons despite a government crackdown, FBI officials told a congressional panel." This from the World Tribune
Posted by Wild Thing at March 11, 2006 01:10 AM
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Comments
These Black muslims, Nation of Islam, are as nutty as the Mid-East variety. So much of their recruiting is in prisons. It seems it does turn some of them against further crimes when they get out, but they seem to also be more anti-American culture. I worry where this islamic off- shoot will lead, and also wonder how it is regarded in the predominantly Protestant Black community.
Posted by: TomR at March 11, 2006 03:00 AM
Hi Tom, they sure are, just as crazy.
I guess how it is regarded by the Protestant Black community depends if they truly understand what Islam is about. And how those that are good Muslims are the ones that follow the Quran that says to hate Jews and Christians and to destroy them throughout the world. And their plan to rule the world at any cost. My gut feeling is there are many that do know this and are concerned about what is going on.
It reminds me of several months ago a Black soldier had been killed and when his family was interviewed (the media hoping for verbal attacks about the war I am sure) the mother and father spoke with pride of their son, tears streaming down their faces and pride in America and how it was worth fighting for.
It had me crying too for their loss but also tears of pride in them and how tall they stood in their grief.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 11, 2006 09:50 AM