Militant Islam Monitor > Weblog > Radical Islamist Groups Welcome Appointment of Rashad Hussain as Special Envoy to the OIC
Radical Islamist Groups Welcome Appointment of Rashad Hussain as Special Envoy to the OIC
March 3, 2010
MIM: Rashad Hussain is the newly appointed envoy to the Islamist and anti Western Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).In 2004 he made comments criticizing the prosecution of convicted terrorist and head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in America, Sami Al Arian. After denying the comments and having asked that they be deleted from an WRMEA article in which the quotes were reported, he was forced to admit he made the remarks after the Politico blog obtained a recording of the event at which he had spoken.
He now claims that "I made statements on that panel that I now recognize were ill conceived or not well formulated." http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/19/obama-envoy-admitss-ill-conceived-past-remarks-defending-terror-suspect/
According to David Horowitz's News Real blog:
"Second, the cover-up is intriguing because the reason why Hussain admitted to making the statements was not out some sense of duty or honor, especially after having shifted the blame to another person, but because he got caught red-handed. Josh Gerstein of the Politico obtained audio from the 2004 Muslim Students Association conference at which he made the remarks. (Hat tip: Creeping Sharia.)"
Click on the link to hear the audio of Hussain adressing the MSA conference:
http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/02/22/obamas-oic-envoy-didnt-just-defend-al-arian/
"In 2004, Rashad Hussain, then a Yale law student, declared that the investigation and prosecution of University of South Florida professor Sami al-Arian, who ultimately pled guilty to charges involving his activities as a leader of the terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was a "politically motivated persecution" designed "to squash dissent." http://frontpagemag.com/2010/02/17/rashad-hussain%E2%80%99s-samigate/
"Rashad Hussain, the newly appointed U.S. envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference, has admitted that he both made the 2004 controversial remarks about convicted terrorist leader Sami Al-Arian and that he had complained about the reporting of those comments to a magazine on Middle East issues which were later deleted by the magazine. Both issues were first reported by the GMBDR on Sunday. Mr. Hussain made the acknowledgement after first saying he had no recollection of the comments but has changed his story after the POLITICO blog obtained a recording of his presentation to a Muslim Student Association (MSA) conference in Chicago. According to the POLITICO report:" http://globalmbreport.org/?p=2269
"The Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report took a look at Hussain's official biography and found several concerning affiliations. The first is that in October 2000, Hussain spoke at a conference sponsored by the Association of Muslim Social Scientists, which was listed in an internal Muslim Brotherhood document as one of "our organizations and the organizations of our friends," and the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding of Georgetown University, which receives Saudi funding and is directed by prominent Muslim Brotherhood advocate, John Esposito."http://frontpagemag.com/2010/02/18/rashad-hussains-troubling-ties/
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| CAIR Welcomes Appointment of U.S. Envoy to World Muslim Body |
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(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/15/10) -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group today welcomed President Obama's appointment of Rashad Hussain as special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Hussain, who is currently a deputy White House counsel, will be in a position to strengthen positive outreach to the Islamic world and will be able to provide the president with direct access to the views and concerns of Muslims worldwide. "The appointment of such a respected and experienced member of the American Muslim community as OIC envoy sends the message that President Obama is serious about constructive engagement and cooperation with Muslim nations," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
MANA Congratulates Rashad Hussain on His Appointment to U.S. Envoy to OIC
The Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA) today congratulated Rashad Hussain, a White House lawyer who was recently appointed to serve as President Obama's special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Hussain, a 31-year old Muslim, will play a key role in developing and fostering new partnerships between the U.S. and the Muslim world.
"We offer congratulations to Rashad Hussain, whose appointment demonstrates President Obama's commitment to engaging the Muslim world ," said Ihsan Bagby, Secretary General of MANA. "The appointment of Hussain also demonstrates the growing positive role American Muslims play in our society."
Bagby noted that Hussain, who is a hafiz (a Muslim who has memorized the Quran), is as an example for American Muslim youth who wish to aspire to achieve great things all the while staying true to their faith.
Hussain attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned his law degree from Yale Law School. He holds a master's degrees in public administration and Arabic and Islamic studies from Harvard University.
MANA is a national network of mosques, Muslim organizations and individuals committed to working together to address social and economic challenges facing American Muslims in the inner city and to develop community service projects that are aimed at improving society as a whole.
http://www.mana-net.org/pages.php?ID=&NUM=1217
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ISNA Welcomes the Naming of Rashad Hussain Special Envoy to OIC
Press Release
(Plainfield, IN – February 14, 2010) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) welcomes the appointment of Rashad Hussain as the US envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Hussain is the second special envoy to the OIC, the world's second-largest intergovernmental body after the U.N., representing 50 member states.
"Improving relations with Muslim countries is crucial to advancing world peace, and Rashad Hussain is an excellent choice for contributing to this task," ISNA President Ingrid Mattson asserted.
Mr. Hussain is an accomplished lawyer and a respected member of the American Muslim community. He is the son of first generation Muslim immigrant parents and grew up in Plano, Texas.
He has been serving as a deputy associate White House counsel since the start of the Obama administration. He has worked extensively on Capitol Hill, both as an intern and then as a legislative aide on the House Judiciary Committee. He served as a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, and his most recent appointment
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