Memphis professor and cleric Yasir Qadhi is being targeted by the Islamic State group for condemning the Paris attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine.
The terrorist organization, also known as ISIS or ISIL, calls for Mr. Qadhi’s assassination in the name of Islam in its online propaganda magazine Dabiq, local NBC affiliate reported.
“Once the ISIS magazine came out with my name on it, I was actually contacted by the FBI, and informed that I should take certain precautions,” said Mr. Qadhi, a professor of religious studies at Rhodes College and resident scholar of the Memphis Islamic Center.
“I was one of two clerics that they targeted in their latest magazine, two American clerics, and basically called for my assassination,” he told the station. “And they have said this is an act of of worship...that if somebody kills me, God is going to reward them.”
Campus Reform reports that the other cleric shown in the magazine is Hamza Yusuf, president, co-founder and senior faculty member of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California.
The article, titled “The Extinction of the Grayzone,” was released Feb. 15 and promises a heavenly reward for those who killed apostates.
Mr. Qadhi said he has taken precautions for himself and for the Memphis Islamic Center. He said he’s received similar threats before from right-wing extremist groups and said he wouldn’t let it stop him from speaking out against radicalism.
“I’m not worried too much. I understand these people who are threatening me are thousands of miles away,” he told the NBC affiliate. “Contrary to popular opinion, ISIS does not have support in the American Muslim community.
“ISIS does not represent my faith, their actions are in contradiction to my faith, and I’m appalled at what they are doing in the name of my faith,” he added.
