Donald Trump and Muslim immigration
Donald Trump and Muslim immigration

This article is being written in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the the hottest topic in the news, as it is in the media all across the USA, is President Trump's executive order of three weeks ago, banning immigration to the USA from seven Islamic countries which he claims are terror-ridden. The countries on the list are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. This order is in line with the promise Trump made to his voters during the election campaign, a promise made in answer to the growing fears Americans have regarding Muslim immigration. 

The source of the fears is a combination of four factors:

1. The extreme violence characterizing those countries, their spawning of terrorist organizations and the large number of refugees attempting to leave them for other countries. 

2. The terrorist attacks perpetrated on American soil by Muslims: 9/11, Fort Hood, the Boston Marathon bombers, Times Square and others.

3. Awareness of the negative effects this immigration has in Europe: large numbers of immigrant families living on welfare, violence, crime, sexual harassment, urban terror (Paris, Toulouse, Brussels and more) and successful recruitment to ISIS.

4. Statements by Muslims to the effect that they intend to take over America and turn it into an Islamist state.

The first three factors seem rational, but the fourth seems, on the surface, to be unfounded and hysterical.

The truth is that most of the Muslims arriving in the USA are fleeing fractured countries, endless wars, violence, persecution, unemployment and neglect in order to begin a new life in a stable, secure and democratic environment in which they are able to support themselves, put a roof over their heads, obtain medical care, education and social welfare benefits. They generally blend in socially and economically and their children speak English without foreign accents and see themselves as entirely American. They pose no problem.

The problem lies with those Muslims who do not want to blend into American society because they see it as materialistic, permissive and degenerate and fear their children will be drawn into the society surrounding them.The organization that expresses this most vociferously is the Muslim Brotherhood, and many of the Muslims living in the USA identify with that organization's goals and objectives, revealed to American investigative authorities during the 2007 US v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development lawsuit, in which the foundation was found to be collecting funds to support Hamas activists.    

During the investigation, a document written in Arabic with the title "Explanatory Document of Strategic Goals for the North American Group" was confiscated. It was written on May 22, 1991, a quarter of a century before it reached the hands of the US government, and it is safe to assume they knew nothing about it before the investigation.

Here are some of the most salient points in the document (with my additions in parentheses, M.K.)

Preface: The strategic goal of the group is described in several steps:

"1. To establish a stable and effective Islamic movement to be led by the Muslim Brotherhood

2. To adopt the interests of Muslims in the US and the rest of the world

3. To increase the organization's base of Muslims who adhere to the Koran and its commandments

4. To unify and direct Muslim efforts

5. To present Islam as an alternative to the prevailing culture

6. To support the establishment of the Global Islamic state worldwide

We must "inculcate" or "strengthen" Islam and the organization in this part of the world...in order to explain the strategic goals - all six of them, as mentioned above - of the movement in North America (the USA and Canada).

The inculcation process: In order for Islam and the Movement to become a deep-rooted, permanent part of the homeland in which they now live, entering the hearts and souls of the people, based on organizations that reflect its structure...the movement must plan and struggle to find the key to the process that will advance "cultural Jihad," the responsibility of all Muslims and headed by the Muslim Brotherhood in that country.  Some of the key factors lie in...4. Understanding the duty of a Muslim Brother in North America: the process of inculcation is a "process of cultural Jihad" with all the implications of the word. The Brothers must understand that their work is a form of greater Jihad whose goal is to destroy and eliminate western civilization from within by having her miserable home shaken by the very hands of her people and those of believers (see Koran, Chap. 59, verse 2) And Allah will force the rule of his religion on all the other religions (see Chap. 9, verse 33)... every Muslim must do Jihad...and act anywhere he is and in any place he reaches until Judgment Day. There is no escaping this lot.

7. The self persuasion that Islam's inculcation succeeds in accomplishing in this country is the success of the World Muslim Brotherhood and tangible support for the Islamic World State that we hope for.."

At one point in the document there is a list of about 30 organizations established by the Muslim Brotherhood in order to carry out their plan to gain control of America from the inside, including financial, charitable and student organizations.

It doesn't stop there. Another document that was found in American mosques is a book called "Four Hadiths (oral traditions) on Jihad. This book describes Jihad, in Hebrew and English, its positive aspects, its goals and the rewards that Jihad fighters are to receive. Jihad against whom? The book does not explicitly say so, but it is clear as day to any Muslim: Against the unbelievers, a category that includes the American people.

Another booklet found in several mosques bore the title: "What should you do if you are caught by the fascist, racist, criminal police or by the fascist, racist, criminal FBI?" In this book the author suggests that the reader learn methods that will enable him to withstand investigations without revealing secrets connected to his being a Muslim and his actions against the US government.

These are just a few examples taken from a long list of Islamist publications that appear in the USA, taking advantage of the protection of free speech and expression that the American Constitution grants every man, even if he plans to destroy the rule of that very Constitution and replace it with Islamic rule.

President Trump made the decision to put an end to this untenable phenomenon, not by limiting free speech but by limiting the ability of Muslims to inculcate the United States. Liberals, Progressives, Democrats and human rights activists have united to oppose him, refusing to accept the election results, and refusing to stop demonstrating against him, vilifying him, and putting spokes in the wheels of the elected government. They have increased their protests since his entrance to the White House, and are perfectly willing to cause harm to America and its government if they can bring about his comedown. There have been much-publicized protests of non-Muslims, including Jews, who carried signs saying "I am a Muslim."

Trumps opponents have enlisted local legal entities and international figures, including the Pope and the UN Secretary General, but it looks as though he has no intention of giving in. And if the courts freeze or annul his executive order to control Muslim immigration, he still has enough power and means to limit their arrival to the USA significantly.

The public controversy in the USA can be heard in the streets, restaurants and even within family units. It seems to me that it has been a very long time since any issue caused such loud-voiced and serious argument within the American public, one that will not die down in the near future. It joins other factors evident in Trump's attitude towards the Islamic world: his opinion of the Iran Nuclear Deal, his relations with Israel, the issues of moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, the "settlements," and his relations with Putin who is mercilessly destroying Syrian cities.

It appears to me that the current American government's attitude towards the Islamic world in general and to Muslim immigration in particular will keep Trump occupied for most of his term in the White House, and from these pages I want to wish that he and the United States are granted the wisdom and understanding to keep America united and to safeguard her goals and destiny.

Written for Arutz Sheva, translated by Rochel Sylvetsky, Op-ed and Judaism Editor

Appendix: Text of the Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America

Government Exhibit

003-0085

3:04-CR-240-G

U.S. v. HLF, et al.

Bate #ISE-SW 1B10/0000416

An Explanatory Memorandum

On the General Strategic Goal for the Group

In North America

5/22/1991

…..

Two: An Introduction to the Explanatory Memorandum: - In order to begin with the explanation, we must "summon" the following question and place it in front of our eyes as its relationship is important and necessary with the strategic goal and the explanation project we are embarking on. The question we are facing is: "How do you like to see the Islam Movement in North America in ten years?", or "taking along" the following sentence when planning and working, "Islamic Work in North America in the year (2000): A Strategic Vision". Also, we must summon and take along "elements" of the general strategic goal of the Group in North America and I will intentionally repeat them in numbers. They are:

l- Establishing an effective and stable Islamic Movement led by the Muslim Brotherhood.

2- Adopting Muslims' causes domestically and globally.

3- Expanding the observant Muslim base.

4- Unifying and directing Muslims' efforts.

5- Presenting Islam as a civilization alternative

6- Supporting the establishment of the global Islamic State wherever it is.

- It must be stressed that it has become clear and emphatically known that all is in agreement that we must "settle" or "enable" Islam and its Movement in this part of the world. Therefore, a joint understanding of the meaning of settlement or enablement must be adopted, through which and on whose basis we explain the general strategic goal with its six elements for the Group in North America.

The Process of Settlement: - In order for Islam and its Movement to become "a part of the homeland" in which it lives, "stable" in its land, "rooted" in the spirits and minds of its people, "enabled" in the life of its society and has firmly-established "organizations" on which the Islamic structure is built and with which the testimony of civilization is achieved, the Movement must plan and struggle to obtain "the keys" and the tools of this process in carrying out this grand mission as a "Civilization Jihadist" responsibility which lies on the shoulders of Muslims and - on top of them - the Muslim Brotherhood in this country. Among these keys and tools are the following:

……

4- Understanding the role of the Muslim Brother in North America: The process of settlement is a "Civilization-Jihadist Process" with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and "sabotaging" its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions. Without this level of understanding, we are not up to this challenge and have not prepared ourselves for Jihad yet. It is a Muslim's destiny to perform Jihad and work wherever he is and wherever he lands until the final hour comes, and there is no escape from that destiny except for those who chose to slack. But, would the slackers and the Mujahedeen be equal.

7- The conviction that the success of the settlement of Islam and its Movement in this country is a success to the global Islamic Movement and a true support for the sought-after state, God willing: There is a conviction - with which this memorandum disagrees - that our focus in attempting to settle Islam in this country will lead to negligence in our duty towards the global Islamic Movement in supporting its project to establish the state. We believe that the reply is in two segments: One - The success of the Movement in America in establishing an observant Islamic base with power and effectiveness will be the best support and aid to the global Movement project. And the second - is the global Movement has not succeeded yet in "distributing roles" to its branches, stating what is the needed from them as one of the participants or contributors to the project to establish the global Islamic state. The day this happens, the children of the American Ikhwani branch will have far-reaching impact and positions that make the ancestors proud.

8- Absorbing Muslims and winning them with all of their factions and colors in America and Canada for the settlement project, and making it their cause, future and the basis of their Islamic life in this part of the world:

12- Agreeing on a flexible, balanced and a clear "mechanism" to implement the process of settlement within a specific, gradual and balanced "time frame" that is in-line with the demands and challenges of the process of settlement.

15- Agreeing on "criteria" and balances to be a sort of "antennas" or "the watch tower" in order to make sure that all of our priorities, plans, programs, bodies, leadership, monies and activities march towards the process of the settlement.

17 - Understanding the role and the nature of work of "The Islamic Center" in every city with what achieves the goal of the process of settlement: The center we seek is the one which constitutes the "axis" of our Movement, the "perimeter" of the circle of our work, our "balance center", the "base" for our rise and our "Dar al-Arqam" to educate us, prepare us and supply our battalions in addition to being the "niche" of our prayers.

This is in order for the Islamic center to turn - in action not in words - into a seed "for a small Islamic society" which is a reflection and a mirror to our central organizations. The center ought to turn into a "beehive" which produces sweet honey. Thus, the Islamic center would turn into a place for study, family, battalion, course, seminar, visit, sport, school, social club, women gathering, kindergarten for male and female youngsters, the office of the domestic political resolution, and the center for distributing our newspapers, magazines, books and our audio and visual tapes. In brief we say: we would like for the Islamic center to become "The House of Da'wa" and "the general center" in deeds first before name. As much as we own and direct these centers at the continent level, we can say we are marching successfully towards the settlement of Da'wa in this country. Meaning that the "center's" role should be the same as the "mosque's" role during the time of God's prophet, God's prayers and peace be upon him, when he marched to "settle" the Da'wa in its first generation in Madina. from the mosque, he drew the Islamic life and provided to the world the most magnificent and fabulous civilization humanity knew. This mandates that, eventually, the region, the branch and the Usra (=Family) turn into "operations rooms" for planning, direction, monitoring and leadership for the Islamic center in order to be a role model to be followed.

20- Understanding the importance of the "Organizational" shift in our Movement work, and doing Jihad in order to achieve it in the real world with what serves the process of settlement and expedites its results, God Almighty's willing:

The reason this paragraph was delayed is to stress its utmost importance as it constitutes the heart and the core of this memorandum. It also constitutes the practical aspect and the true measure of our success or failure in our march towards settlement. The talk about the organizations and the "organizational" mentality or phenomenon does not require much details. It suffices to say that the first pioneer of this phenomenon was our prophet Mohamed, God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon him, as he placed the foundation for the first civilized organization which is the mosque, which truly became "the comprehensive organization". And this was done by the pioneer of the contemporary Islamic Dawa', Imam martyr Hasan al-Banna, may God have mercy on him, when he and his brothers felt the need to "re-establish" Islam and its movement anew, leading him to establish organizations with all their kinds: economic, social, media, scouting, professional and even the military ones. We must say that we are in a country which understands no language other than the language of the organizations, and one which does not respect or give weight to any group without effective, functional and strong organizations.

For instance, We have a seed for a "comprehensive media and art" organization: we own a print + advanced typesetting machine -t audio and visual center + art production office + magazines in Arabic and English [The Horizons, The Hope, The Politicians, Ila Falastine, Press Clips, al-Zaytouna, Palestine Monitor, Social Sciences Magazines.,.] + art band + photographers + producers + programs anchors +journalists + in addition to other media and art experiences".

Another example: We have a seed for a "comprehensive Dawa' educational" organization: We have the Da'wa section in ISNA + Dr. Jamal Badawi Foundation + the center run by brother Harned al-Ghazali + the Dawa' center the Dawa' Committee and brother Shaker al-Sayyed are seeking to establish now + in addition to other Daw'a efforts here and there...".

And this applies to all the organizations we call on establishing.

Or, for the shift and the change to occur as follows:

1 - The Movement Department + The Secretariat Department - The Organizational & Administrative Organization - The General Center

2- Education Department + Dawa'a Com. - Dawa' and Educational Organization

3- Sisters Department - The Women's Organization

4- The Financial Department + Investment Committee + The Endowment - The Economic Organization

5- Youth Department + Youths Organizations Department - Youth Organizations

6- The Social Committee + Matrimony Committee + Mercy Foundation - The Social Organization

7- The Security Committee

8- The Political Depart. + Palestine Com.

9- The Group's Court + The Legal Com.

10- Domestic Work Department

1 1 - Our magazines + the print + our art band

12- The Studies Association + The Publication House + Dar al-Kitab

13- Scientific and Medial societies

14- The Organizational Conference

15- The Shura Council + Planning Corn.

16- The Executive Office

17- The General Masul

18- The regions, branches & Usras

Attachments area