Three Muslim faith-affiliated U.S. Congress members
By Nancy Thorner –
Recently I came across a book by Stephen M. Kirby, PhD which every voter should read. The Center for Security Policy announced on December 4, 2019, the publication of Kirby's new monograph, Islamic Doctrine versus The U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials.
It was written in anticipation of the 2020 election season to come, with consideration given of how starkly Islamic Law differs from the U.S. Constitution in a work that is at once informative, sober, and scholarly.
The Center for Security Policy, a non-profit, non-partisan 501C3, non-profit think tank, is going into its 33rd year. It was founded and led by Frank Gaffney who has now stepped back from day-by-day duties, although he is still involved as Executive Chairman of the Center. Fred Fleitz is its current president and CEO.
On December 29, 2019, Clare M. Lopez, Vice President for Research & Analysis at the Center for Security Policy, joined Hal Shurtleff to discuss Kirby's new book.
Clare Lopez was previously a Senior Fellow with the Center as well as with the London Center for Policy Research, member of Sen. Ted Cruz’ 2016 presidential campaign national security advisory team, Executive Director of the Iran Policy Committee, and a career operations officer with the CIA. Read her complete bio here. Follow Lopez on Twitter @ClareMLopez.
In addition, Clare Lopez is either author, co-author, or editor of all the books at the Center. All publications can be downloaded free as a PDF at the Center's website or ordered from Amazon in a paperback book.
Hal Shurtleff is director of Camp Constitution. Both Shurtleff and Lopez have been speakers for 'Spotlight on Special Americans' speaker series started 6 years ago.
Here is the December 29, 2019 interview with Clare Lopez, Center for Security Policy: Islamic Doctrine Versus the U.S. Constitution.
Initially discussed were the number of Muslim office holders. There are three in Congress and a good number of legislators around the country, some of whom are converts.
Asked of Ms. Lopez was whether it was possible to be a Muslim of good faith and still take an oath to a non-Muslim document.
As to Ms. Lopez's response, she referenced Dr. Stephen M. Kirby's book, Islamic Doctrine Versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials, published by the Center for Security Policy, as presenting some of the key points about the issue.
As related by Ms. Lopez: "The doctrine of Islam obligates faithful, practicing, and devout Muslims to prioritize faithfulness and allegiance to the legal system of Islam which is Sharia (Islam law), as is written, taught in universities, and preached in mosques and Islamic Centers. Accordingly, all practicing Muslims are obligated to prioritize Sharia law above every other law including our U.S. Constitution."
A question of importance is how then can Muslims be elected as public officials in the United States, honestly taking an oath to the Constitution which is antithetical to Islam Law? There are now three Muslims in Congress: Andre Carson, Indiana; Rashida Tlaib, MN; and Ihan Omar, MI.
At this point interviewer Hal Shurtleff asked Lopez about a belief held by many that Muslims are family oriented, homosexuality is taboo, and free enterprise is supported; however, in looking at their voting records this is not the case. The three Muslims in Congress are hard core Democrats, even Socialists.
According to Lopez, a large number of Democrat representatives in Congress are members of the Democratic-Socialist Party of America, which is essentially the Communist party of the U.S, definitely Marxist.
How then do Muslim candidates reconcile a liberal leftist agenda when running for office? As addressed in Chapter 3 of Dr. Kirby's book, Muslims are permitted and even obligated to lie to infidels, that is Islamic law. As Ms. Lopez revealed, "one of the 99 names of Allah is the "great deceiver", an attribute in Islam doctrine."
In addressing the swearing in of Muslims, whether on the Bible or Koran, Lopez explained: "A new class of freshmen congressmen coming in for the first time will assemble on the floor of the House of Representative. It is there they take the oath of the Constitution. It is when Muslims go to their new chambers that they may opt for a photo depicting an oath taken with their hands on a Koran."
Another question posed by moderator Hal Shuetleff was if Muslims have, as we do, a concept of sovereignty? When Muslims come to a "free country like this nation, why are they still hanging on to remaining a Muslim, even if they no longer believe in the doctrine? They probably don't have to fear the death penalty for leaving Islam.
It was then that Ms. Lopez defined the meaning of “Muslim” in the Arabic language. The literal definition is "one that obeys Sharia."
As to the concept of sovereignty, Lopez spoke about the Peace Treaty at Westphalia in 1648 which said that "nation states are sovereign and what goes on within their borders is the prerogative of the people of the nation and their government."
While this concept applies to our nation, it does not apply to Muslims who embrace the idea of "ummah", meaning “one world under one God" (exclusively Allah), further implying the global coming together of all Muslims wherever they are in the world under Islamic law, like globalism without borders. It is also important to understand that Islam is not a race.
It is difficult to be critical of Muslims in any way for fear of being called "Islamophobic". It was explained by Lopez that " Islamophobic is a word created by the Muslim Brotherhood to stop all criticism and conversation."
Ms. Lopez highlighted two chapters in Dr. Kelly's book:
Chapter 2, Understanding Islam, was pointed out by Lopaz of great importance because it covers the Doctrine of Abrogation. "It is important to understand that the Koran is not put together in chronological order. It is organized from the largest chapter (surah) to the smallest one. Often there are verses that do not agree with other verses. The Doctrine of Abrogation dictates that verses that come later supersede all verses that come earlier, as a way of getting around attributing mistakes to Allah."
Although Dr. Kirby's book has informative chapters about Islam covering Amendments 1 through 14, Lopez chose Chapter 4 to discuss: Islam and the 1st Amendment. Although Americans are granted five liberties, not one of them applies to Islamic law. As to Freedom of Speech, it is not allowed in Islam, nor does Islam allow it here in the U.S. Muhammad did not like to be criticized or rebuked and ordered the killing of many non-Muslims because they had criticized or mocked him.
Freedom of Religion is also not allowed in Islam for Muslims who want to leave their faith. A death penalty for Muslims who wish to leave is still a valid punishment today. This is found both in the Koran and in the teachings of Muhammad.
As more and more Muslims are entering politics, it does seem fitting to ask each one how they view this nation's Constitution.
