In Washington, DC, the long debated public Muslim prayer session “Islam on Capitol Hill” has come and gone without incident.
The anti-Islam Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group led by Daniel (“DL”) and Kendra Adams, had announced efforts to seek to disrupt a Muslim public prayer session in Washington DC on Capitol Hill on September 25, 2009. INN reported that the original SIOA plans to disrupt Muslim prayer on Capitol Hill on the SIOA website stated that SIOA members sought “every protest of this takiya-jihad-dawa event… [to] include some component of donkey, dog, and women.” INN also reported “The reason for this unusual suggestion is made clear on the SIOA site as well: Muslim doctrine, according to the SIOA, says that ‘Islamic prayer is nullified if a dog, a woman, or a donkey are present.'”
However, it appears no animals were brought to disrupt the prayer session, and while there were some protesters, they essentially did not interfere with the Muslim worshipers’ Constitutional right of freedom of religion. Instead, they choose to hold an event of their own in a Congressional Office Building.
FOX News reported that the SIOA held an event at the Rayburn Congressional Office building instead. FOX News reported: “There was also no denying that the day of prayer attracted some individuals and groups fanatical in their hatred of Muslims. At a separate event, held simultaneously in a conference room at the Rayburn House Office Building, a group calling itself Stop Islamization of America warned about the supposedly hateful, violent, and anti-Western teachings of the Koran.” Another FOX News report on the Muslim prayer session stated “the most organized pushback so far is from a new organization of a nativist bent called Stop Islamization of America, or SIOA.” The FOX News report said that “SIOA is using Friday’s event, ‘Islam on Capitol Hill,’ as a launchpad for the group and to stage a counterprotest.”
According to the SIOA announcement, “Seven experts are scheduled to speak on the subjects of Islam, terrorism and civic responsibility. Rabbi Jon Hausman – Conservative political moderator Rebecca Bynum – Publisher, Senior Managing Editor – New English Review Dave Gaubatz – Veteran counter-terrorism investigator, author Catherine Martin – Veteran grass roots activist, Northern Virginia John Cosgrove – Counter-terrorism consultant Martin Mawyer – Founder, Christian Action Network Jerry Gordon – Senior Editor – New English Review.”
On September 27, 2009, the New English Review reported on the September 25 launch of the SIOA group at the Rayburn Congressional Office Building, including photographs and synopsis of speakers’ comments. The New English Review reported on on another related new group “Former Muslims United” (FMU) that launched on September 24, in the House Longworth Office Building. The new group “Former Muslims United” (FMU) is being led by Nonie Darwish and was attended by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer.
It is not known who sponsored the SIOA conference on Capitol Hill, but the New English Review references a press release by Congresswoman Sue Myrick in their report.
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has made its position clear on those who promote “Islamophobia” as the parent group of the SIOA, Stop Islamization of Europe does. We are not afraid. While we challenge those religious extremist of ANY religion that seek to deny our universal human rights, we will not attack or demonize any religion or any identity group.
R.E.A.L. has also made its position clear on those who seek to only promote “Western civilization” as SIOA states that it does. R.E.A.L. supports our universal human rights for all people, everywhere, including our freedom of religion and freedom from religion for all.
On the SIOA website, a leader and attendee at a European SIOE event states that “multiculturalism, tolerance, and ‘niceness’ are destroying the foundations of our cultures,” but that misses the point. In fact, our iberties are based not on individual “cultures,” but on our universal human rights of equality and liberty.
Our challenge to groups and ideologies that defy such universal human rights are not because we reject diverse cultures, not because we reject tolerance, and not because we reject “niceness.” Our challenge to groups and ideologies that defy such universal human rights is because we consistently support universal human rights as being Responsible for Equality And Liberty.
That includes challenging those who promote “Islamophobia.”
We urge all to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty.
