question about Ali summary

Reader comment on item: Muhammad Ali's "Beautiful Soul"

Submitted by Robert (United States), Dec 1, 2005 at 17:03

"The man who compelled him to do so had conspired with the Japanese and cheered them on at Pearl Harbor. "

What does this refer to? thank you.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

This is a reference to Elijah Muhammad. I discuss the matter briefly at http://www.danielpipes.org/article/341:

"[Elijah] Muhammad hated the United States and loved its enemies, especially non-Caucasian ones. And so he rejoiced in the Japanese victory at Pearl Harbor in 1941, not only refusing to register for military service but instructing his followers to do likewise. Arrested for draft evasion in May 1942, he spent three years in jail on sedition charges, getting out in August 1946. "