Difference between revisions of "American Islamic Forum for Democracy"

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'''American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD)''' is phoney right-wing lobby group, founded in 2003 by [[M. Zuhdi Jasser]], which works in collaboration with notorious Islamophobe [[Daniel Pipes]] through his front group, [[Center for Islamic Pluralism]] (CIP). The group claims to battle "Islamo-facsism" and to be "a leading voice for liberty-minded Muslims in America in the war on terror."[http://www.aifdemocracy.org/about/] In the "members" section on its website, it lists only one individual -- its founder, Zuhdi Jasser[http://www.aifdemocracy.org/about/members.php], who is also "one of the founding members" of CIP, by his own account.[http://www.aifdemocracy.org/news.php?id=1879] The group also has Pipes' endorsement of course.[http://www.islamicpluralism.org/news/2005n/urgentrejasser.htm]
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[[Image:AIFD_logo_.png‎‎||250px|thumb|right|American Islamic Forum for Democracy logo circa 2015, Source: [http://aifdemocracy.org/about/ AIFD] ]] '''American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD)''' is an Israel Lobby Letter Head Organization (LHO) founded in 2003 by [[M. Zuhdi Jasser]], which works in collaboration with notorious Islamophobe [[Daniel Pipes]] through his front group [[Center for Islamic Pluralism]] (Jasser lists himself as one of its 'founding members'.)<ref>[http://www.aifdemocracy.org/news.php?id=1879]</ref> The group claims to battle "Islamo-fascism" and to be "a leading voice for liberty-minded Muslims in America in the war on terror."<ref>[http://www.aifdemocracy.org/about/ About]</ref>
  
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The group seems to have no support at all beyond right wing publications such as National Review Online, or the New York Sun. Working in close concert with the Israel lobby, its raison d'etre seems to be the targetting of mainstream Muslim organizations, such as CAIR.  
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Until 2007 it only had a single 'member' -- its founder, Jasser himself. It now has one other member: [[Sid Shahid]], who is designated Director of Research and Publications<ref>[http://www.aifdemocracy.org/about/members.php Members]</ref>. The group also has Pipes' endorsement of course.<ref>[http://www.islamicpluralism.org/news/2005n/urgentrejasser.htm]</ref>
  
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In his critique of [[CAIR]], Zuhdi Jasser writes:
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==Radical right political agenda==
  
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:We need to create organizations — high-profile, well-funded national organizations and think tanks — which are not afraid to identify al Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah by name, and by their mission as the enemies of America.
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For Tikun Olam blogger Richard Silverstein, 'AIF’s political agenda is barely concealed radical-right Republicanism' and its founder Zuhdi Jasser is 'a Muslim neocon.'<ref>Richard Silverstein, [http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/10/02/radical-islam-wants-youand-america/ Radical Islam wants you...and America], ''Tikun Olam'', 2 October 2008</ref>. Silverstein highlights the following passages from AIFD's 'Founding Principles and Resolutions'.<ref>[http://www.aifdemocracy.org/about/principles.php 'Founding Principles and Resolutions'], AIFD, accessed 19 July 2010</ref>
  
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The conflation of al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah is interesting, as two of them have nothing to do with the United States; their adversary is only Israel.  
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<blockquote>As United States citizens we support our American armed forces.
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As United States citizens we support absolute and literal adherence to our citizenship pledge.
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…We will work to educate the public regarding the current threat to America of radicals who exploit Islam through militancy.
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…We will work to express the consistency of the principles of Islam with economic principles of free markets and capitalism.
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…We will work to promote the appreciation of the integral role of American patriotism and nationalism in the life of Muslim youth in America.
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…we feel it is necessary to make a foundational position statement regarding the state of Israel. We stand in support of the existing unqualified recognition of the state of Israel.</blockquote>
  
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==Key Associations==
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The group seems to have no support at all beyond right wing publications such as National Review Online, or the New York Sun. Working in close concert with the Israel lobby, its raison d'etre seems to be the targetting of mainstream Muslim organizations, such as CAIR.
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AIFD was a member of the [[Coalition Against Terrorist Media]], a project of the [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080516153727/http://www.stopterroristmedia.org/About/default.aspx Coalition Members], Coalition Against Terrorist Media website, accessed via the Web Archive 17 February 2015</ref>
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It was also listed as part of the [[Coalition to Stop Shariah]], a project of the [[Center for Security Policy]].<ref>[http://usastopshariah.wordpress.com/coalition/ Coalition], Stop Shariah website, accessed 17 February 2015.</ref>
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==Personnel==
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*[[M. Zuhdi Jasser]]
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*[[Sid Shahid]]
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==Key associations==
 
*[[Daniel Pipes]]
 
*[[Daniel Pipes]]
 
*[[Center for Islamic Pluralism]]
 
*[[Center for Islamic Pluralism]]
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*[[Coalition Against Terrorist Media]]
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*[[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]] - member of its [[Coalition Against Terrorist Media]]
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*[[Center for Security Policy]] - member of its [[Coalition to Stop Shariah]]
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*[[Abstraction Fund]] - received funding from this organisation
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*[[Klarman Family Foundation]] - received funding from this organisation
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==Funding==
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===2010===
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Received $377,341 in funding <ref> American Islamic Forum for Democracy, 990 Form, 2010 </ref>, including:
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*[[Abstraction Fund]]: $5,000<ref> Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2010 </ref>
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===2011===
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Received $265,034 in funding <ref> American Islamic Forum for Democracy, 990 Form, 2011 </ref>, including:
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*[[Abstraction Fund]]: $10,000<ref> Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2011 </ref>
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*[[Klarman Family Foundation]]: $75,000 <ref> Klarman Family Foundation, 990 Form, 2011 </ref>
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===2012===
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Received $320,217 in funding <ref> American Islamic Forum for Democracy, 990 Form, 2012 </ref>, including:
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*[[Abstraction Fund]]: $30,000<ref> Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2012 </ref>
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*[[Klarman Family Foundation]]: $75,000 <ref> Klarman Family Foundation, 990 Form, 2012 </ref>
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*[[Alan and Hope Winters Family Foundation]]: $25,000 <ref> Alan and Hope Winters Family Foundation, 990 Form, 2012 </ref>
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===2013===
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Received $186,657 in funding <ref> American Islamic Forum for Democracy, 990 Form, 2013 </ref>, including:
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*[[Abstraction Fund]]: $20,000<ref> Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2013 </ref>
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===2014===
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*[[Abstraction Fund]]: $20,000 <ref> Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2014 </ref>
  
 
==Contact==
 
==Contact==
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*'''Phone:''' 602-254-1840
 
*'''Phone:''' 602-254-1840
  
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==Related Articles==
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==Related articles==
 
M. Zuhdi Jasser, [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjlmMTQzN2IxMTFlZTFlNzZiZmEzMjEzY2I2MDkzOWE= Why Do They CAIR about Jack Bauer?], National Review Online, January 29, 2007
 
M. Zuhdi Jasser, [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjlmMTQzN2IxMTFlZTFlNzZiZmEzMjEzY2I2MDkzOWE= Why Do They CAIR about Jack Bauer?], National Review Online, January 29, 2007
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==Notes==
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<references/>
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[[category:Israel Lobby]]
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[[Category:Counterjihad]]
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[[Category:Islam Critics]]

Latest revision as of 01:01, 8 March 2017

American Islamic Forum for Democracy logo circa 2015, Source: AIFD

American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) is an Israel Lobby Letter Head Organization (LHO) founded in 2003 by M. Zuhdi Jasser, which works in collaboration with notorious Islamophobe Daniel Pipes through his front group Center for Islamic Pluralism (Jasser lists himself as one of its 'founding members'.)[1] The group claims to battle "Islamo-fascism" and to be "a leading voice for liberty-minded Muslims in America in the war on terror."[2]

Until 2007 it only had a single 'member' -- its founder, Jasser himself. It now has one other member: Sid Shahid, who is designated Director of Research and Publications[3]. The group also has Pipes' endorsement of course.[4]

Radical right political agenda

For Tikun Olam blogger Richard Silverstein, 'AIF’s political agenda is barely concealed radical-right Republicanism' and its founder Zuhdi Jasser is 'a Muslim neocon.'[5]. Silverstein highlights the following passages from AIFD's 'Founding Principles and Resolutions'.[6]

As United States citizens we support our American armed forces.

As United States citizens we support absolute and literal adherence to our citizenship pledge. …We will work to educate the public regarding the current threat to America of radicals who exploit Islam through militancy. …We will work to express the consistency of the principles of Islam with economic principles of free markets and capitalism. …We will work to promote the appreciation of the integral role of American patriotism and nationalism in the life of Muslim youth in America.

…we feel it is necessary to make a foundational position statement regarding the state of Israel. We stand in support of the existing unqualified recognition of the state of Israel.

The group seems to have no support at all beyond right wing publications such as National Review Online, or the New York Sun. Working in close concert with the Israel lobby, its raison d'etre seems to be the targetting of mainstream Muslim organizations, such as CAIR.

AIFD was a member of the Coalition Against Terrorist Media, a project of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.[7]

It was also listed as part of the Coalition to Stop Shariah, a project of the Center for Security Policy.[8]

Personnel

Key associations

Funding

2010

Received $377,341 in funding [9], including:

2011

Received $265,034 in funding [11], including:

2012

Received $320,217 in funding [14], including:

2013

Received $186,657 in funding [18], including:

2014

Contact

Related articles

M. Zuhdi Jasser, Why Do They CAIR about Jack Bauer?, National Review Online, January 29, 2007

Notes

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ About
  3. ↑ Members
  4. ↑ [2]
  5. ↑ Richard Silverstein, Radical Islam wants you...and America, Tikun Olam, 2 October 2008
  6. ↑ 'Founding Principles and Resolutions', AIFD, accessed 19 July 2010
  7. ↑ Coalition Members, Coalition Against Terrorist Media website, accessed via the Web Archive 17 February 2015
  8. ↑ Coalition, Stop Shariah website, accessed 17 February 2015.
  9. ↑ American Islamic Forum for Democracy, 990 Form, 2010
  10. ↑ Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2010
  11. ↑ American Islamic Forum for Democracy, 990 Form, 2011
  12. ↑ Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2011
  13. ↑ Klarman Family Foundation, 990 Form, 2011
  14. ↑ American Islamic Forum for Democracy, 990 Form, 2012
  15. ↑ Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2012
  16. ↑ Klarman Family Foundation, 990 Form, 2012
  17. ↑ Alan and Hope Winters Family Foundation, 990 Form, 2012
  18. ↑ American Islamic Forum for Democracy, 990 Form, 2013
  19. ↑ Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2013
  20. ↑ Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2014
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