c. 2000 Religion News Service
NEWARK, N.J. _ A New Jersey congressman who is a leading critic of the persecution of Christians abroad is coming under fire for his ties to a lobby that espouses anti-Muslim rhetoric as part of its campaign to highlight violence against Christians, especially in Islamic countries.
The Council of American-Islamic Relations, a leading Muslim advocacy group,has asked Rep. Christopher Smith, a Republican, to repudiate the fundamentalist Christian lobby, International Christian Concern, or ICC.
Smith, the chairman of the House Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, distanced himself from the group’s beliefs but refused to sever all ties with the ICC, which further angered the Islamic group.
CAIR noted that Smith has worked closely with ICC and its founder, Steven Snyder, whose Web site contains harsh stereotypes about Muslims, including the argument that Islam “promotes violence and bloodshed” and that it is responsible for starting the slave trade.
ICC also contends African-Americans are converting to Islam to satisfy “two primeval lusts: power and possessions.”
When questioned about the group’s beliefs, Smith, a conservative Roman Catholic, said he did not support the group’s claims about Muslims but refused to say that he would not work with the ICC in the future.
Smith’s response left CAIR “dissatisfied.”
“We appreciate his condemnation of ICC’s views, but that condemnation will not ring true if he continues to work with the group itself,” said CAIR’s executive director, Nihad Awad, in a statement.
The Washington-based CAIR says Smith has a long-standing relationship with Snyder and notes the congressman is listed as an honorary board member of the group on the ICC Web site. On the site, Smith, who has traveled frequently with Snyder to China and Russia, praises Snyder’s “experience and understanding of the issues of human rights and religious liberty.”
Reached for a comment recently, Smith said he is “dead-set against what he says,” referring to Snyder’s anti-Muslim statements on the Web site. “But if you single out radical Islamic behavior … it’s beyond the pale what they do.”
Smith also said that despite Snyder’s views, he would continue to work with him and the ICC on religious freedom issues, and said that work could entail strong criticism of some Muslims.
Ibrahim Hooper, a CAIR spokesman, said Smith’s affiliation with Snyder’s group simply doesn’t make sense.
“It is so ironic that someone who clearly fights for religious tolerance around the world would be associated with a group like this,” Hooper said.
In his writings, Snyder portrays Islam as leading a campaign for religious,political and social domination, and he depicts Muslims as schemers who are dedicated to promoting their faith through terrorism.
“At first glance,” he says, “Islam can appear to be a wholesome religion. However, there is a dark side to Islam that is often distorted or omitted.
“Within this dark side,” Snyder says, “lies the real truth concerning Islam.”
KRE END GIBSON