Chairman’s Report for November 23, 2011

 PRESERVING FREEDOM CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

SUCCESS DESPITE HOTEL CANCELLATION – The Constitution or Sharia Conference in Nashville, Tennessee on November 11, 2011 was a great success with far more participants than would have been possible at the original venue at the Hutton Hotel.  Just two weeks prior to the conference, the Hutton Hotel refused to honor the contract it had signed with the Sharia Awareness Action Network. The Hutton Hotel’s parent company, Amerimar Enterprises, determined that it would better benefit financially by being Sharia compliant.

Sharia law forbids any critical voice against Islam. Amerimar’s largest hotel is located in London, UK and caters to the Islamic community, particularly the rich from Saudi Arabia and other nations that hold human rights in contempt. Amerimar’s compliance to Sharia insures continued Islamic business in the U.K.

The cancellation by the Hutton Hotel did not have a negative impact on attendance. Almost 500 attended the daylong conference at the Cornerstone Church in Madison, just outside Nashville, while only 300 were anticipated previously at the Hutton Hotel. In addition, about 1,000 attended the evening portion of the Constitution or Sharia Conference.

The conference was truly an international event. Barrister Paul Diamond from the United Kingdom spoke of the Islamization of London and his struggle in the courts to represent Christians whose rights have been taken from them.  He presented the case of British Airlines, which permits employees to wear Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and other religious clothing, but prohibits them from wearing any cross or other item identifying them as Christians. The courts actually upheld British Airlines’ right to discriminate only against Christians. After several such cases Diamond founded Christian Concern in the United Kingdom to assist Christians who are persecuted as the United Kingdom becomes more Islamist oriented.

Reverend Mark Durie, an Australian Anglican Priest and scholar, discussed the Australian fight against Sharia. Durie has written several books including The Third Choice, which details how non-Muslims in the West are accepting the status of dhimmis (becoming second class citizens to Muslims) in their own nations.

Dr. Justin Akujieze, a Nigerian, discussed the horrid oppression in Nigeria as one Christian village after another has been destroyed and entire states have declared Sharia as the core of their laws.  Half of Nigeria is now ruled under Sharia courts. Tens of thousands of Christians, particularly Igbo Christians, have been murdered since 1975.

The Constitution or Sharia Conference hosted both speakers and panels. Most panels were concerned with the United States and the current struggle to deal with Sharia law at a time when the entire liberal elite and mainstream media encourage compliance.  A legal panel dealt with “lawfare,” both in defense and offense against the advance of Sharia in America. Noted legal expert David Yerushalami, as well as J. Thomas Smith of the U.S. Justice Foundation,  spoke on the use of the legal system to stop Sharia law in the United States.

A legislative panel discussed how to initiate legislation to protect our rights versus Sharia.  Even a separate system of Sharia law just for Muslims would be unconstitutional, as all the rights of Muslim women would be lost. One of legislative panel speakers was Tennessee state Representative Rick Womick who authored the legislation that passed that state’s legislature to ban state courts from using any foreign laws to determine the outcome of a case. This in effect blocked Tennessee Courts from using Sharia Law to determine outcome in cases involving Muslims, however, courts in other states continue to refer to Sharia law.

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges wants the nation’s judges to determine if there is “a culturally-based explanation” when deciding whether or not a child needs to be removed from the home because of abuse or neglect. The NCJFCJ wants judges to use the Council’s “benchcard” as a legal tool and checklist on abuse and neglect cases. Under the benchcard’s heading “Legal Threshold for Removal” is the inquiry: “Have the family’s cultural background, customs and traditions been taken into account in evaluating the event and circumstances that led to the removal? Have the parent(s) cultural or tribal liaison/relevant other(s) been asked if there is a culturally-based explanation for the allegations in the petition?” In some jurisdictions, the terms of Sharia or Islamic law are already being offered as a defense for criminal abuse and forced marriages of minors.

Noted women’s rights activist Wafa Sultan told of the horrid abuse of women under Sharia in the Middle East where she was raised.  She noted that Muslim women in America should have the same rights as other women and that separate domestic courts using Sharia law should not be allowed as they are now in the United Kingdom. She explained the testimony of a woman is not accepted in a Sharia Court unless it is verified by a two men. She also touched on polygamy under Islam and how women are treated as property.

Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy used a Power Point to demonstrate the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood into the highest levels of governments. He showed photos of numerous Muslim Brotherhood leaders with President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush. Former FBI agent John Guandolo also presented aspects of the Muslim Brotherhood’s operation of influence on the George W. Bush and Barack Obama Administrations. Guandolo was an integral part of the F.B.I.’s anti-terrorism unit for many years after the 9-11 jihad attack. He highlighted the current Administration’s efforts to remove any reference to Islam from all terrorism training manuals.

The evening session included keynote remarks by me, Pastor Maury Davis, Paul Diamond and by Brigitte Gabriel who discussed her terrible childhood being raised as a Christian in Lebanon during a period of Muslim aggression. Her family had to live in a bomb shelter for years. She discussed her fight to overcome the advance of radical Islam in the United States. Waffa Sultan also spoke on women’s rights at the evening event.

I am enclosing with this Chairman’s Report the speech I delivered at the close of the Preserving Freedom Conference on the evening of November 11, 2011.

         William J. Murray, Chairman

Religious Freedom Coalition, 601 Pennsylvania Ave, NW  #900 , Washington, DC 20004 * (202) 742-8990