The Curious Incuriousness of the Denver Post
This morning, in a series leading up to the 10th Anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Denver Post begins a series on Muslims in America, with an article profiling some prominent members of the Denver Muslim community. Yours truly makes a cameo appearance, in the profile discussing a well-publicized 2008 primary race for the State House. Mrs. Barakat-Sinclair's offenses against civility and the truth extend far beyond what was noted in the article, and include denying on air that the Hamas Charter called for the destruction of Israel, and the claim in a Jordanian newspaper interview that American support for Israel is a result of Jews like Rupert Murdoch (sic) investing in the media. More recently, she claimed in a Syrian newspaper interview that Syria's troubles were the result of a neo-con plot to destroy the Arab world in order to make the neighborhood safe for Israel. There's a reason she lost that primary 71-29, and it's because I wasn't the only one to take notice of her history. But it was the first profile that really caught my attention. It's of one Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni, a local Iraqi Shiite imam, who emigrated from Iraq to Iran to study in madrassah, thence to London, and finally to Denver. The article focuses on his interfaith, ecumenical efforts. It ignores a more sinister side of the Imam, one that emerges when he his talking to Muslim audiences. While in London, Kazerooni delivered a religious address celebrating the anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. Yes, the one in 1979. At such speeches, it's not unusual to, essentially, deliver an address previously given by a highly-regarded religious leader. Kazerooni chose to do so, and the speech he chose was by a Mullah named Mezbah Yazdi. Mezbah Yazdi is the spiritual advisor to one Mahmud Ahmedinejad. That Kazerooni was chosen to give a talk of this nature says something about the status he acquired in London's Shiite community during his stay there. That he chose to relay the words of someone like Mezbah Yazdi says something about his beliefs and opinions. You can download and listen to the entire talk here . More recently, Kazerooni gave a talk at a Dearborn, Michigan religious center, where he encouraged Muslims to “infiltrate” (his word, not mine) the academy, in order to prevent the Koran getting the same rough treatment that the Bible has at the hands of academics. After the obligatory blessings, he began the talk with the following: Permit me to begin, with a celebratory note.
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on August 19, 2011. Filed under