Islamic society’s ties fuel concerns

Some Jews and conservative Christians are questioning a pro-family group’s association with an Islamic organization.

Rabbi Marc Gellman, a syndicated columnist who makes frequent TV appearances as half of “The God Squad,” resigned last month from the advisory board to the Alliance for Marriage (AFM) because it includes a representative of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

Steve Emerson, author of a book about terrorism, accused ISNA of links to extremist groups, a charge the Islamic group’s leaders strongly deny.

In a statement published by the Jewish weekly the Forward, Mr. Gellman said: “My moral conscience cannot allow me to be associated with an organization, ISNA, that terrorist experts like Steve Emerson, whom I respect greatly, consider a front for Hamas and other hateful terrorist groups.”

Sayyid M. Syeed, secretary-general of ISNA and the AFM board member, said “it’s very unfortunate that some people might have been misled” about the Islamic group.

“We are celebrating our 40th anniversary and we have a record of credibility, trustworthiness, balance and moderation,” Mr. Syeed said.

Matt Daniels, director of AFM, said that the organization’s attorneys had advised him against commenting to the press. But he released a copy of a letter from attorney Chuck Allen, citing “many nationally respected experts and scholars on Islam” — including University of Maryland professor Charles Butterworth and Georgetown University professor John Voll — who deny that ISNA has terrorism ties.

“ISNA has not been listed or identified as a terrorist group” by any federal department or agency, Mr. Allen wrote, and added that “the FBI and the Department of Defense have worked with ISNA on issues related to Islam and the Muslim community.”

Conservative leaders Paul Weyrich and Gary Bauer have questioned ISNA’s inclusion in AFM — an organization that supports a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit recognition of same-sex “marriage.”

Mr. Weyrich, chairman of the Free Congress Foundation, said he was worried that questions about ISNA would hinder the move to pass the marriage amendment.

“I hope that concern over ISNA doesn’t lead to division in the pro-family movement at the very time we need unity to fight for this amendment,” the longtime conservative activist said. “I don’t want to see the pro-family movement damaged because of this. If you have a problem, acknowledge it, and move on.”

Mr. Bauer, president of American Values, said it “would be a mistake, I think, to brush off or ignore the concerns that have been raised” about ISNA.

“I understand coalition politics, but you have to have standards,” said Mr. Bauer, who ran as a Christian conservative candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000.

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