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Indybay Feature

Bay Area Congressman Accused of Racism

by Concerned Citizens
Rep. Tom Lantos, a militant supporter of Israeli nationalism in the Middle East, even though, he claims to be an American, smears all Arabs through his remarks.
CONGRESSMAN LANTOS ATTACKS PROPHET MUHAMMAD\'S (PBUH) TREATY AS \"TREACHEROUS\"
Muslims urged to demand apology for Islamophobic remarks made to pro-Israel
group

(WASHINGTON, DC - 8/3/2001) - CAIR today demanded that Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA)
retract and apologize for \"deeply disturbing\" remarks in a speech to a pro-
Israel lobbying group describing a treaty signed by Prophet Muhammad as
\"treacherous.\"

In a speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that
just came to light, Lantos said:

\"So let me sketch for a moment how we in Congress see the last few months.
Arafat walked away from a dream deal. Apparently, his approach to the peace
process was based on the Treaty of 628 at Hudaibiyah, which was a treacherous
treaty. Islamic forces made truce with non-Islamic elements, and they had no
intention of keeping that agreement. They went on to attack, and destroyed those
with whom they had made the treaty.\"
SEE: http://www.aipac.org/result.cfm?id=1120

\"It is deeply disturbing that an elected official defames the Islamic faith and
its final Prophet. This demonstrably false smear on the Prophet Muhammad\'s
reputation is a common \'talking point\' promoted by the pro-Israel lobby as
justification for that state\'s brutal and racist policies,\" said CAIR Board
Chairman Omar Ahmad.

In a letter to Lantos, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad wrote:

\"The Prophet Muhammad never broke any agreement, regardless of strength or
weakness. There is not one shred of evidence to back up this false allegation.
With reference to authorities such as Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Saad, Al-Hakim and Bukhari,
the following is an outline of the events surrounding the Treaty of Hudaybiah,
the usual basis for this false allegation:

1) The Prophet and his companions were prevented by the pagan Arabs from
performing their pilgrimage to Mecca (Umrah). Instead of fighting, and despite
the willingness of his followers to enforce their religious rights, the Prophet
chose a peaceful settlement.

2) Two years later, the pagan Arabs broke the treaty by attacking and killing 20
allies of the Muslims as they slept. It is internationally recognized that when
one party breaks a treaty, the other party is released from its obligations.

3) Even after this attack, no bloody revenge was taken against those who broke
the treaty. In fact, when the Muslims finally entered Mecca, amnesty was granted
to nearly all former enemies. The Quran states: \'Yes, whoever fulfills his
pledge and fears Allah much; verily, then Allah loves those who are the pious.\'
3:76. Also: \'And fulfill (every) covenant.\' 17:34\"

In 1996, U.S. News & World Report editor-in-chief Mortimer Zuckerman also
claimed the Prophet Muhammad had a \"doctrine\" of deceit in making treaties with
enemies while he was weak and violating them when he was strong. In the
magazine\'s June 24, 1996, issue, this claim was retracted. The editors wrote:
\"...We deeply regret any ambiguity in the language; Mr. Zuckerman meant no
insult. He was referring to Mr. Arafat\'s reference to the Prophet and did not
intend to state that this was the doctrine of the Prophet...it was the Meccans,
not the prophet Muhammad, who broke the peace of Hudaybiah of 628.\"

In 1999, Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ) clarified similar offensive remarks claiming the
Prophet Muhammad upheld terms of a treaty only when it was politically expedient
to do so. The clarification came after Saxton\'s office received hundreds of
faxes, emails and phone calls from concerned Muslims.

ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be FIRM, but POLITE. Hostile comments can and
WILL be used to harm the image of Islam and the American Muslim community.)

Contact Rep. Lantos to demand that he retract his offensive remarks and
apologize to Muslims. CALLS ARE BEST, followed by faxes and then e-mails. Imams
and leaders should encourage community members to take a few to defend Prophet
Muhammad\'s reputation. Muslims in California should make a special effort to
contact Lantos.

CONTACT:

Rep. Tom Lantos
U.S. House of Representatives
2217 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

TEL: (202) 225-3531
FAX: (202) 226-9789

E-MAIL: matt.gobush [at] mail.house.gov, bob.king [at] mail.house.gov,
HIRC [at] mail.house.gov, cair1 [at] ix.netcom.com

URL: http://www.house.gov/lantos/
by Justice
Tom Lantos is a Democrat. Like most Democrats, he claims to be liberal on domestic issues, which is a lie, but that is the sales pitch for getting votes as the Democrats exist to keep the Reds out of office. On foreign policy, there is not even a pretense of difference between the Democrats and Republicans. Both Al Gore and George Bush promised to make more war and pay for Israel's existence to protect oil profits. We American taxpayers give Israel $4 billion annually above the table and $4 billion annually below the table to perpetrate a theocratic, racist, militaristic, capitalist state so oil imperialism may prevail. The name of the game is always money in a capitalist society. Oil is the primary commodity in the Middle East. When you vote for Democrats, you vote for a pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian party. In San Francisco, we have an Arab-American Democratic Club, which votes for Democrats yet claims to support the Palestinians. You cannot have it both ways. The reason they vote Democrat is of course because they support capitalism. The Democrats and Republicans are the twin parties of capitalism. Since the war and peace issue is decisive in that we cannot have both guns and butter, and thus there can be no liberal domestic program if the money is spent on war, when you vote for Democrats or Republicans you vote for war and against the Palestinian liberation struggle.

If you want to be part of a party that supports the Palestinian liberation struggle, join the California Peace & Freedom Party now. We are always for labor, peace, the environment, gay rights, women's rights, all other civil rights, socialism and the Palestinian liberation struggle. Just check "other" on your voter registration form and write in Peace & Freeddom Party. For more information, see http://www.peaceandfreedom.org
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