As-Sabiqun

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As-Sabiqun
Founder
Abdul Alim Musa
Religions
Islam
(Islamic fundamentalism)

The As-Sabiqun Liberation Movement, also known simply as As-Sabiqun (Arabic: السَّابِقُونَ), is a small American fundamentalist Muslim organization under the leadership of founder Imam Abdul Alim Musa, based in Washington, D.C., and with branches in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and Oakland (led by Amir Abdul Malik Ali).[1]

As-Sabiqun is identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.[2] The group says its "paramount goal" is the "establishment of Islam as a complete way of life in America"; its leader Abdul Alim Musa has frequently promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories.[1]

History[edit]

The organization was created by African-American Imam Abdul Alim Musa (born Clarence Reams), who converted to Islam while serving a federal prison sentence for drug trafficking. Musa established the Masjid Al-Islam mosque in southeast Washington, in 1995. The name As-Sabiqun means "the vanguard" in Arabic.[1]

Activities[edit]

One of As-Sabiqun’s major ongoing projects is its support of Jamil Al-Amin, once known as H. Rap Brown. Al-Amin was a Minister of Justice for the Black Panther Party in the 1960s, currently serving a life sentence for the March 2000 murder of Georgia sheriff's deputy, Ricky Kinchen. As-Sabiqun believes that Al-Amin was falsely targeted and convicted.[3]

The group also speaks on college campuses (notably UC Irvine) against Israel[4][5] and Jewish Americans and in support of Hamas,[6] Hezbollah, the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (see below).[7] Malik Ali expressed contempt for the two-state solution.[8] Furthermore, Malik Ali supported the notion of "jihad on the UCI campus."[7] In response, UCI Chancellor Michael V. Drake issued a statement condemning Malik Ali's "remarks supporting terrorism [as] deplorable."[7]

Allegations of Antisemitism[edit]

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes the Sabiqun as an "anti-Semitic Muslim group that advocates for the creation of a global Islamic state" and notes that their leaders have recently become popular speakers on college and university campuses and that they use that platform to promote hostility toward Israel and American Jews.[9]

The ADL and Southern Poverty Law Center have characterized statements attributed to the leaders of the As-Sabiqun organization, and specifically Imams Amir Abdul Malik Ali and Abdul Alim Musa, as anti-Semitic.[9][10] According to the ADL, Malik Ali has suggested numerous times that Jews control the media, government, and economy of the United States.[6][11] He also expressed support for the conspiracy theory that Israel was responsible for the September 11 attacks.[10]

On March 13, 2010, Malik Ali, as a guest of the Muslim Student Union at UC Irvine, gave a speech on the campus and made remarks advancing his belief that Jews were involved in the execution of the September 11 attacks, as well as indicating his support for the Hamas (a group listed on the U.S. State Department's as a terrorist organization), and for the destruction of the State of Israel.[12][13] Many, including administrators at UCI, considered this an "endorsement of terrorism."[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Heidi Beirich with Brian Levin, Grown at Home: Profiles of 10 Leading Domestic Jihadists, Intelligence Report, Southern Poverty Law Center (fall 2011).
  2. ^ Active Hate Groups 2016, Intelligence Report (February 15, 2017).
  3. ^ Sabiqun.Net Forgotten Hero: Imam Jamil Al-Amin Archived September 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Leonard, Karen. AMERICAN MUSLIMS MOBILIZE: CAMPUS CONFLICTS IN CONTEXT Archived June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. 2006. Royal Holloway College. DOC file.
  5. ^ Antisemitism Worldwide 2009: General Analysis Archived July 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. 2009. Tel Aviv Univ., Tel Aviv. PDF file.
  6. ^ a b "Anti-Semitism at UC Irvine." Anti-Defamation League, 2013. 27 May 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "UCI Chancellor Denounces Speaker’s Endorsement of Terrorism." Jewish Journal. 19 May 2010.
  8. ^ Ballon, Marc. "CampusTurmoil." Jewish Journal. 10 March 2005. 20 July 2009.
  9. ^ a b "Sabiquin and Anti-Semitism on ...." ADL. 18 November 2020.
  10. ^ a b Beirich, Heidi and Brian Levin. "Grown at Home." Southern Poverty Law Center. 24 August 2011. 18 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Imam Amir Abdul Malik Ali." ADL. 15 June 2007. 20 May 2009.
  12. ^ "ADL Calls On UC Irvine to Denounce Anti-Semitic Speaker and Pull Charter of Muslim Student Union." ADL. 14 May 2010. 23 June 2010.
  13. ^ "ZOA Praises ADL For Joining ZOA's Call: UC Irvine Chancellor Should Denounce Muslim Student U..." Zionist Organization of America 24 May 2010. 23 June 2010.
  14. ^ UCI Chancellor Michael Drake, 15 May 2010. "Response to Thursday’s Remarks" University Press Release Archived June 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
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