1. What's your general take on the issue of Islam in American society?
What could be a vibrant Muslim community is dominated by Islamists, thereby damaging both the United States and the umma.
2. How do you see the influence of Islam in American society on the future of US\Israeli relations?
Polls show Americans so consistently and overwhelmingly favorable to Israel over the Palestinians that it will be very hard for anyone to change this.
3. How do you see the issue of Muslims rising in the ranks of the US political system either by election or appointment?
This process has already started, especially in the Democratic Party. It will undoubtedly continue and expand.
4. The CAIR report mentions that organizations that they describe as anti-Muslim have had access to over $119 million between 2001 -2008. Do you consider this a correct figure? And do you think that his figure reflects your concerns about Islam in America or is not even enough?
As I have documented (see the bibliography here), CAIR has a long history of manipulating the truth; and so it is with this fantasy number.
Of much greater importance is the report by Charles C. Johnson that came out almost simultaneously with CAIR's showing that, by concealing donations from overseas "through a series of shell organizations," it collects "millions of dollars in overseas contributions and tens of millions in pledges from overseas." This is the news that Al-Jazeera should be reporting and investigating possible illegalities.
5. One of the criticisms that the CAIR report raises is that organizations like yours have pushed for or supported 78 bills or amendments that were introduced to the legislatures of 29 states and the US Congress and were designed to ban Islamic religious practices in 2011 and 2012, how do you respond to such criticism?
The question is wrong: those bills do not "ban Islamic religious practices" but deny the Shari'a a role in U.S. courts. I believe this to be a very important goal - only American laws should be applied in American courts - and am proud to have had a small part in this effort.
