Hundreds protest Fairfax imam giving prayer in Va. House tomorrow

Hundreds of people are urging House of Delegates leaders to revoke an invitation to a Falls Church imam to give the prayer tomorrow, accusing him of condoning violence and defending the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Johari “Abdul-Malik demonstrates regularly his contempt for the rule of law and his support for terrorist acts against America,” writes James Lafferty, chairman of the Virginia Anti-Shariah Task Force. “Speaking before the General Assembly is an honor which should be reserved for those who have done something worth honoring.”

Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) said he asked Abdul-Malik of the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center to give the opening prayer in the House tomorrow because many of his constituents attend the center. “He’s a great guy,” Ebbin said.

Ebbin sent a letter to his 99 colleagues this morning defending his choice of Abdul-Malik, and saying any concerns about him were driven by “false rumors propagated on the Internet.”

Many of the e-mails have asked Speaker William J. Howell to revoke Abdul-Malik’s invitation, but Howell’s chief of staff, G. Paul Nardo, said the House’s practice is generally to allow delegates to invite religious leaders of differing faiths if they choose.

Abdul-Malik would be the first imam to deliver the opening prayer in the House during this year’s legislative session, although others have done so in the past.

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