An ongoing controversy over Dr. Parvez Ahmed being appointed to Jacksonville’s Human Rights Commission might spark controversy between council members themselves Tuesday night.
Councilman Ray Holt called Channel 4 Monday afternoon to say he is changing his vote to approve Ahmed’s nomination.
“I don’t want to put somebody on there who might someday rationalize or minimize violence in Jacksonville,” Holt said.
Holt said he changed his vote from yes to no after he e-mailed Ahmed about his views on issues concerning many issues on terrorism and the Middle East. Holt said Ahmed e-mailed him back a document he wrote.
“I read through it. It’s 30 pages long, but I read through it,” Holt said. “I think he minimizes terrorism. I think he rationalizes terrorism. And it just showed poor judgment.”
Holt said one of his concerns is Ahmed calls the Iraq war a “U.S.-led fiasco.” Another concern is a quote by Ahmed saying, “Both Hamas and Hezbollah have conducted suicide bombings that killed civilians. Unlike al-Qaida, however, they do not embrace such violence as a matter of policy.”
“Well I don’t care if it’s their stated policy. They do it. And it’s wrong and for you to rationalize it by saying it’s not their stated policy,” Holt said. “I think that shows a real gap in judgment.”
Ahmed, a Muslim, has addressed the controversy over his nomination in the past, particularly when a number of people criticized his background in a council meeting.
“It’s quite disturbing that the City Council chambers were used to disparage a religion,” Ahmed said earlier this month.
Those who spoke out against Ahmed maintain they’re not against his religion but organizations he may have links to.
Ahmed has received high-profile supporters, including former Mayor John Delaney, who has come to bat for him in recent weeks.
“There’s some here that believe they caught somebody who’s an evil person,” Delaney said at a meeting last week. “That’s simply not the case. It has the feel of a lynching.”
City Council members Kevin Hyde, Johnny Gaffney and Warren Jones have told Channel 4 they will vote yes Tuesday night. Don Redman, Holt and Clay Yarborough said they plan to vote no. Ronnie Fussell and Daniel Davis said they’re still undecided.
Channel 4 has yet to hear back from the remaining council members.