In a program at least partially underwritten with federal funds, the University of Minnesota is holding an event entitled Shared Cultural Spaces, “Islamic developments in architecture, the arts, sciences and theater will be the topics of a federally-funded conference at the University of Minnesota Feb. 24-26.” [see, U of M conference to explore Islam and the humanities, http://www1.umn.edu/news/news-releases/2011/UR_CONTENT_290651.html]
We are concerned that these federal funds are being used to further the Islamist ideology of Dr. Ingrid Mattson, one of the program’s “presenters.”
We call special attention to Ms. Mattson’s long association with the Islamic Society of North America [ISNA] which mainstream news organizations including the Chicago Tribune, have linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Some of those organizations eventually would distance themselves from the Brotherhood. The Islamic Society of North America, the umbrella group for the Muslim Youth of North America and the Muslim Students Association, says Brotherhood members helped form those groups but that their overall influence has been limited...” [source, Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Sam Roe and Laurie Cohen, Chicago Tribune, September 19, 2004 A Rare Look At The Secretive Brotherhood In America
The University of Minnesota, at the time of this writing, has not responded to numerous requests for an official statement regarding this matter.
