by Andrew Walden

Islamists—including the webmaster of the Hawaii “Islamic Information Office” (IIO) website are on line celebrating the Hawaii Legislature’s vote to designate September 24 as “Islam Day.”

"City of Brass" blogger Aziz Poonawalla of Madison, Wisconsin May 19 writes: “Naturally, there are some (conservative, Republican) people who see this as dhimmitude incarnate. This fellow for example warns starkly of burkas and bikinis (maybe he should read my essay...) and intones seriously, "the muslims are laughing". Why, yes, we are indeed.”

The first commenter on Poonawalla’s blog post identifies himself as Hawaii IIO webmaster Abdul Rashid Abdullah.  The Islamic Information Office (IIO) website is tied to the Hawaii-based Muslim initiators of the “Islam Day” resolution.  Abdullah provides a link to a Honolulu Star-Bulletin poll on Islam Day and urges Poonawalla’s readers to vote.

The next morning “Indira” comments: “Nice work, that is also September 11 on the Julian calendar, no wonder you are laughing at kufr.” (Kufr is a derogatory term for non-Muslims.)

In another post, Poonawallah boasts "The Washington Post has a fantastic profile and interview of my friend Shahed Amanullah, founder of altmuslim.com and my partner in running the anual Brass Crescent Awards for the Islamic Blogsphere."  Poonawallah explains the project goal of the Brass Crescent Awards: "...forging a new synthesis of Islam and modernity...."  In other words a synthesis of Islamists and liberals.   

In addition to his work for the IIO, Abdul Rashid Abdullah is Deputy Director of American Muslims Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs Council—the organization responsible for recruitment and training of the Muslim Chaplains in the US Armed Forces. One of the tiny group’s most active members is former Muslim chaplain Army Captain James "Yousef" Yee who was charged with espionage at GTMO—though chages were later dropped for ‘national security reasons’. The groups’ co-founder, Abdurahman Alamoudi, was busted in Britain in 2003 with a suitcase full of money from Libya. Alamoudi, a former associate of Presidents Clinton and Bush is now serving a 23-year sentence for his involvement in a Libyan-backed effort to assassinate Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.  

The signature line on Poonawalla’s “City of Brass” website is “Principled pragmatism at the maghrib (sunset) of one age and the fajr (dawn) of another.”   

This is all a coincidence, of course. 

As Islamists spread the word from site to site to vote “yes” in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin poll, many let slip with even more revealing comments.

At “TurnToIslam.com” “MrMuslim” writes: “Please take a moment to vote for this as many people will be looking at this poll for future strategies. It is very crucial that the people supporting this resolution far exceed those opposing it hence please send it to any and all people you believe will vote positively. So far the people opposed are greater in numbers. Please vote YES! to this poll….”

The demonstration project for “future strategies’ began to work. By the evening of May 21”Diane” writes at “Sodahead”: I'm seeing Twitter posts from Muslims telling each other to vote on the poll regarding the Islam Day resolution. Another commenter chimes in: “The site is obviously being swarmed.”

The “project” is quickly understood and generates even more commentary at TurnToIslam.com:

• UK based “TeenagerMuslim” writes: “I voted - 'Yes'. It seems to be a great project once accepted. Insha'Allah, in the end we will get the results that are best for us as a Ummah.”
• “AishaAnastasia” writes: “salam aleikum I voted and sent it to others ... Let's see how many votes it will be at the end ..
  Jazakallah khair waaleikum salam”
• “Yellow Flower” writes: “Alhamdulilah, i just voted and like an hour later or so, i voted again. then in like five minutes later after the second vote, it will tell you that you already voted. but i suppose that you can vote more than once in every hour or something. =D”

Yellow Flower’s internet signature includes a video titled: “Judgement Day - The Promised Day”.  This video consists of a tidal wave destroying the World Trade center and the rest of Manhattan as Koranic verses are recited in the background.

This is all a coincidence of course.  Islam is just like other religions.  Really.

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