Shaker Elsayed
Encyclopedia
Shaker Elsayed is a dual citizen of Egypt and the US, and has been the Imam
of the Dar Al-Hijrah
mosque
in Falls Church, Virginia
, since June 1, 2005. He is well known in the Muslim
community for his political activism.
in Texas. He has written his own English translation of the Koran.
, the man who killed Rabbi Meir Kahane, sent his children until early 1989. Elsayed argued that the killing of Kahane was not in violation of Islamic law
. Discussing how some Muslims viewed the killing, Elsayed said: "It was not a violation, in the sense that Kahane adopted a position against all Arabs and Muslims. He put himself in that category." Nosair was subsequently convicted of Kahane's assassination and involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing
.
(MAS), a Washington-based national educational, social, and religious organization that promotes community development through the development of the individual and the family, from 2000–05. While still at MAS, in 2004 Elsayed was also on the mosque's Executive Committee.
When federal agents raided a series of homes and offices in March 2002, looking for evidence of Sami Al-Arian
's terrorist links and other terrorist fronts, Elsayed said: "This is becoming a war on Muslim institutions." Al-Arian ultimately made a plea agreement
, pleading guilty to conspiracy to help a "specially designated terrorist
" organization, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
When three defendants who were part of the Virginia Jihad Network
were convicted in March 2004 of conspiring to help wage violent jihad in Kashmir
and possibly against American troops in Afghanistan
, Elsayed said "It is evident that Muslims should not expect justice. Muslims are besieged after 9/11, for no fault of their own."
In April 2005 Ali Al-Timimi went on trial for treason
for, in the week following the 9/11 attacks, telling a group of Northern Virginia Muslims that it should train for violent jihad abroad and wage war on the US. Elsayed said: "He is not accused of anything except talking. It's all about him saying something. If this isn't a First Amendment
issue, I don't know what is." After Al-Timini's conviction, Elsayed said that "Ali never opened a weapon or fired a shot, and he is going to get life imprisonment
for talking. What kind of country are we turning the United States into today?"
in Michigan, said Elsayed is not a typical American imam. "Shaker Elsayed is more like a political figure than a religious figure," said Khan, who worshipped at Dar al-Hijrah for several years. "Dar al-Hijrah is a very Arab-centric mosque, very much centered on Arab politics."
Elsayed also served as an unofficial spokesman for the family of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali
, who was convicted of plotting to assassinate President Bush. Abu Ali worshipped at Dar al-Hijrah. Elsayed said the case against Abu Ali was based on a confession to Saudi authorities he termed "laughable," and accused the Justice Department
of unfairly targeting Abu Ali and other young Muslims for prosecution.
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
of the Dar Al-Hijrah
Dar al-Hijrah
The Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center is a mosque in Northern Virginia. It is located in Culmore, Lake Barcroft area of unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, directly between the Bailey's Crossroads, and Seven Corners, Virginia, US Post Offices.-Background:...
mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in Falls Church, Virginia
Falls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
, since June 1, 2005. He is well known in the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community for his political activism.
Educational background and scholarship
Elsayed has an undergraduate degree in Economics and Independent Islamic Studies from Cairo, and has done graduate work in Educational Administration and Psychology at the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in Texas. He has written his own English translation of the Koran.
Comments on Kahane killing
In 1990, he was the Principal of the Al-Ghazly Islamic School in Jersey City, where El Sayyid NosairEl Sayyid Nosair
El Sayyid Nosair is an Egyptian-born American citizen, convicted of involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing...
, the man who killed Rabbi Meir Kahane, sent his children until early 1989. Elsayed argued that the killing of Kahane was not in violation of Islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
. Discussing how some Muslims viewed the killing, Elsayed said: "It was not a violation, in the sense that Kahane adopted a position against all Arabs and Muslims. He put himself in that category." Nosair was subsequently convicted of Kahane's assassination and involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing
1993 World Trade Center bombing
The 1993 World Trade Center bombing occurred on February 26, 1993, when a truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The 1,336 lb urea nitrate–hydrogen gas enhanced device was intended to knock the North Tower into the South Tower , bringing...
.
Muslim American Society Secretary General
Prior to becoming imam at the mosque, Elsayed was Secretary General of the Muslim American SocietyMuslim American Society
The Muslim American Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 that describes itself as an Islamic revival and reform movement....
(MAS), a Washington-based national educational, social, and religious organization that promotes community development through the development of the individual and the family, from 2000–05. While still at MAS, in 2004 Elsayed was also on the mosque's Executive Committee.
When federal agents raided a series of homes and offices in March 2002, looking for evidence of Sami Al-Arian
Sami Al-Arian
Dr. Sami Amin Al-Arian , is a former resident of Temple Terrace, Florida, now living in Northern Virginia, who is a Muslim activist, and former University of South Florida professor of computer engineering...
's terrorist links and other terrorist fronts, Elsayed said: "This is becoming a war on Muslim institutions." Al-Arian ultimately made a plea agreement
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
, pleading guilty to conspiracy to help a "specially designated terrorist
Specially Designated Terrorist
A Specially Designated Terrorist is any person who is determined by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to be a specially designated terrorist under notices or regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ....
" organization, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
When three defendants who were part of the Virginia Jihad Network
Virginia Jihad Network
The Virginia jihad network was a network of jihadists centered in Northern Virginia.Ali al-Timimi was convicted in 2005 of exhorting his followers to join the Taliban and fight US troops. The young men played paintball in 2000 and 2001 as a means of training for holy war around the globe...
were convicted in March 2004 of conspiring to help wage violent jihad in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
and possibly against American troops in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Elsayed said "It is evident that Muslims should not expect justice. Muslims are besieged after 9/11, for no fault of their own."
In April 2005 Ali Al-Timimi went on trial for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
for, in the week following the 9/11 attacks, telling a group of Northern Virginia Muslims that it should train for violent jihad abroad and wage war on the US. Elsayed said: "He is not accused of anything except talking. It's all about him saying something. If this isn't a First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
issue, I don't know what is." After Al-Timini's conviction, Elsayed said that "Ali never opened a weapon or fired a shot, and he is going to get life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
for talking. What kind of country are we turning the United States into today?"
Dar al-Hijrah mosque
Some commentators say that Elsayed's sermons take a political tone. "Islam forbids you to give allegiance to those who kick you off your homeland, and to those who support those who kick you off your homeland," Elsayed told worshippers. "We do have license to respond with all force necessary to answer our attackers." M.A. Muqtedar Khan, an expert on Islam and a political scientist at Adrian CollegeAdrian College
Adrian College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church in the city of Adrian, Michigan.-Campus:The school is approximately a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio, and 90 minutes from Detroit...
in Michigan, said Elsayed is not a typical American imam. "Shaker Elsayed is more like a political figure than a religious figure," said Khan, who worshipped at Dar al-Hijrah for several years. "Dar al-Hijrah is a very Arab-centric mosque, very much centered on Arab politics."
Elsayed also served as an unofficial spokesman for the family of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali
Ahmed Omar Abu Ali
Ahmed Omar Abu Ali is an American who was convicted of providing material support to the al Qaeda terrorist network and conspiracy to assassinate President George W. Bush.-Background:...
, who was convicted of plotting to assassinate President Bush. Abu Ali worshipped at Dar al-Hijrah. Elsayed said the case against Abu Ali was based on a confession to Saudi authorities he termed "laughable," and accused the Justice Department
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
of unfairly targeting Abu Ali and other young Muslims for prosecution.