Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, was booked as the keynote speaker for an Islamist event on May 30. The event honored Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who rose to prominence as the former leader of the “Ground Zero Mosque” project.
Rogers represents the 8th district in Michigan, which includes Dearborn --- an Islamist stronghold in America.
Frank Gaffney, President of the Center for Security Policy and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy under the Reagan Administration, was the first to bring attention to the matter. He wrote a letter to Rep. Rogers asking him to cancel his appearance at the event.
The organization he embraced was the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD). It has a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), a U.S. Muslim Brotherhood entity that was once the subject of a federal terrorism-financing investigation. Its leaders met with then- President Morsi in September 2012, the Brotherhood leader of Egypt, where he “welcomed the participation of IIIT in the reform of higher education in Egypt.”
A confidential source inside the Muslim Brotherhood informed the FBI that IIIT is a Brotherhood front as early as 1987. The source reported that IIIT sought to “institute the Islamic Revolution in the United States,” with one stepping stone towards that end being to “peacefully get inside the United States government and also American universities.” The informant said IIIT leaders already “claimed success in infiltrating the United States government with sympathetic or compromised individuals.”
The IIIT representative who signed the Memorandum of Understanding with ICRD is Jamal Barzinji. The FBI’s informant specifically named him as a Brotherhood operative. In 2002, his home was raided by federal authorities, along with six other IIIT officials. The affidavit of U.S. Customs Service Special Agent David Kane says Barzinji “is not only closely associated with PIJ [Palestinian Islamic Jihad]…but also with Hamas.”
IIIT Executive Director Abubaker al-Shingieti is the ICRD’s Vice President for Preventative Engagement, according to its website.
Before joining IIIT, al-Shingieti held various positions in the government of Sudan. During his tenure, the U.S. labeled Sudan a State Sponsor of Terrorism, as the regime hosted Osama Bin Laden and other terrorists. His final position was Director of Political Affairs for President Omar Bashir, who is now indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide. Sudan remains listed as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
Al-Shingieti is also the President of American Muslims for Constructive Engagement, which acts as a central hub for American Islamist leadership. Its officials hold various positions in other Islamist groups with radical histories like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Alliance in North America and the Islamic Society of North America.
The purpose of ICRD’s Faith-in-Action Award Dinner is to honor Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife, Daisy Khan. As mentioned earlier, Rauf was once the leading spokesperson for the “Ground Zero Mosque” project. Rauf has some moderate positions, but supports the elimination of the state of Israel and has radical associations. The couple’s finances have also come under scrutiny.
In 2006, Khan took part in a debate arguing against the premise, “Freedom of expression must include the right to offend.” Her examples of speech that should not be permitted include anti-Muslim sentiment and the Danish cartoons mocking Mohammed because they are “fueling extremist sentiments.”
Rep. Rogers’ previously displayed hostility to those speaking about the Muslim Brotherhood in America in 2012. When five members of Congress asked for reviews of the U.S. government’s relationships with Brotherhood-tied individuals and groups, he was among a horde of Republican and Democratic officials that blasted them.
When asked about the Brotherhood lobby influencing the policy-making process, Rep. Rogers answered, “That kind of assertion certainly doesn’t comport with the Intelligence Committee, and I can say that on the record.”
The House Intelligence Committee’s website describes it as the “House’s primary panel responsible for authorizing the funding for and overseeing the execution of the intelligence activities of the United States government.” Rep. Rogers, as its chairman, “continues to be a leader in shaping U.S. national security policy.”
Rep. Rogers attendance at this event—and more importantly, his refusal to cancel after being given the facts—is a testament to the growing political influence of Islamists on members of the U.S. Congress from both political parties.
