Florida Atlantic Terror University

One year ago, I wrote a piece exposing radical Islam within Florida Atlantic University (FAU). My goal was twofold: [1] to bring awareness concerning a growing problem within FAU [2] to push the university to take action so that this problem ceases to exist. Unfortunately, only the first part of my goal was accomplished, as FAU is continuing to allow radicals on its campus, the latest being this Saturday’s (Jan.22, 2005) return engagement of potential co-conspirator to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, Siraj Wahhaj.

In recent times, a fairly large list of Islamist radicals and/or those that sympathize with the Islamist cause have passed through the university.

This list includes professors that the university had itself hired to teach its students (two of which still teach there).

Professors such as: 1. Mustafa Abu Sway, who was discovered to have had numerous ties to the terrorist organization HAMAS 2. Khalid Hamza, who had used a Texas A & M internet forum to defend Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Sami Al-Arian 3. Bassem Alhalabi, who was found guilty of exporting a $13,000 thermal imaging device to Syria 4. Imadeldin “Imad” Mahgoub, who was featured on a panel discussion with HAMAS fundraiser Raed Awad

At least one FAU student, Syed Khawer Ahmad, was found to have played a role in the world of radical Islam. While Ahmad was attending classes at FAU, he was the webmaster of the homepage for the Islamic Society, the Palestinian group that spawned HAMAS.

The final bunch are those that were invited by the FAU Muslim Student Organization (MSO) to speak on campus. This is the same MSO that created two Islamic centers in Boca Raton, one of which houses two “religious leaders” that have been accused of having direct ties to terrorist organizations.

The guest lecturers included: 1. Rafil Dhafir, the past Vice Chairman of the Islamic Assembly of North America (IANA), who was convicted of raising money for terrorist organizations through an Iraqi children’s charity called Help the Needy 2. Al-Haaj Ghazi Khankan, the Executive Director of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who is quoted as having pledged his support for the HAMAS and Hezbollah terrorist groups 3. Kathy Kelly, the co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness, who served time in a federal prison for trespassing onto the Ft. Benning military base in Georgia 4. William Baker, who has been described by many as a “neo-Nazi” for his hate-filled writings and his involvement in a white-supremacist organization Siraj Wahhaj

The most disturbing of all of those that have made their way to FAU’s campus is yet another guest lecturer that the MSO invited to speak, the Imam of Masjid Al-Taqwa in Brooklyn, Siraj Wahhaj.

Wahhaj is best known for having his name on the list of potential co-conspirators in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, as compiled by the office of then-U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White.

During the 1996 trial for the World Trade Center bomb plot, Wahhaj served as a character witness for the leader of the conspiracy, Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman. He testified that it had been an honor to host Rahman at his (Wahhaj’s) mosque, and he described Rahman as a “respected scholar.”

In addition, he called another convicted member of the bomb plot, Clement Rodney Hampton-El (a.k.a. Dr. Rashid), “one of the most respected brothers [of his congregation].”

It was around this time that Wahhaj was recorded in a speech he gave at a mosque as saying, “I see the demise of the Soviet Union as a sign for the American people that what happened in the Soviet Union will definitely happen in America unless America changes its course from the new world order and accepts the Islamic agenda.”

Other statements Siraj Wahhaj has made include: 1. About the United States government: “In time, this so-called democracy will crumble, and there will be nothing. And the only thing that will remain will be Islam.” 2. About Osama bin Laden’s involvement in the September 11th attacks: “I'm just not so sure I want to be one of the ones who say, ‘Yeah, he did it. He's a horrible man.’” 3. About the stoning of women accused of adultery: “If Allah says stone them to death, through the Prophet Muhammad, then you stone them to death, because it's the obedience of Allah and his messenger -- nothing personal.”

Wahhaj also speaks about the glories of jihad and martyrdom.

About killing oneself in the cause of Allah, he is quoted, “I once (had) heard the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘When a Muslim dies as a Martyr, gives his life for the will of Allah, the pain that he suffers is like the bite of an ant.’ I said, ‘Isn't this something, you mean I could die for Allah and all I would feel is the pain of an ant.’ I said, ‘Yeah this thing is nice.’ And you know something, brothers and sisters, I believe what Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘No one who dies and go to Paradise is going to want to come back to this world, except a Martyr, a person who gave their life for Islam, for Allah, they will want to comeback to the earth and die ten more times in the way of Allah, because of the great gifts Allah has given them in Paradise.’”

And he currently has audio tapes on sale affirming such beliefs, including such titles as: ‘Are You Ready To Die?,’ ‘The Blessing Of Death!,’ and ‘The Easy Way To Paradise – How To Get There.’

And he has tapes on sale extolling the virtues of polygamy, as well.

Wahhaj has served or currently serves on the boards of the following militant Islamist organizations: Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), American Muslim Council (AMC), and North American Islamic Trust (NAIT).

In addition, Wahhaj was also a longtime member of the Nation of Islam, the anti-Jewish, anti-white hate group headed by Louis Farrakhan. His name, while with the Nation, was Jeffrey 12X.

Radical Islam Continues at FAU

Wahhaj spoke at FAU, in April of 2003.

Wahhaj is now set to speak once again at FAU, this coming Saturday.

This last bit of information was derived via an e-mail that was sent out by the President of the FAU Muslim Student Organization (MSO), Asmaa Metwally, an individual whose name appears on an endorsement of a 2003 event put on by the rabidly anti-Israel group, the Palestine Solidarity Movement (PSM).

The e-mail states that the event is to be held in the Life Long Learning Auditorium of FAU. This is the same place where Wahhaj and all the other radicals previously spoke.

The e-mail also states that the event is being co-sponsored by the M.A.S. Youth Group of South Florida. The M.A.S. or Muslim American Society is an Islamist organization that publishes materials calling suicide bombings against Israelis “justifiable.”

It’s surprising that this event is even taking place. It was under Metwally’s leadership that alleged neo-Nazi William Baker was also invited to make a return appearance/speech at FAU. However, the event was later cancelled after community pressure was placed on the school.

Why would FAU allow Wahhaj to speak? Is a potential bombing conspirator somehow better than a neo-Nazi?

Take Action!

FAU must stop this event and any further events like it from occurring. And an investigation must ensue upon the university and its policy of allowing Islamist fanatics to teach, study and give guest lectures there.

And furthermore, an investigation must ensue upon the FAU MSO itself… from its leaders, including Metwally, to its advisor, Rodney W. Desmond, who is a prodigy and past colleague of both Bassem Alhalabi and the previous advisor to the MSO, Khalid Hamza, to Desmond’s own prodigy, Hanadi Kassem Saleh, who led an “educational study” entitled ‘University Students in Lebanon, Background and Attitudes,’ which repeatedly refers to the Hezbollah terrorist organization as a “political party.”

Until then, and only until then, this school will be known as ‘Florida Atlantic Terror University’ or short ‘Terror U.’