UCF Makes National News for Inviting Controversial Imam to Speak

Beyond UCF, News, Politics, Tuition, UCF SGA — By Staff on February 25, 2011 at 1:26 pm

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FoxNews.com has determined UCF’s decision to invite an imam Fox says is connected to a 1993 World Trade Center bombing is one of the most important stories going on in the country right now.

The nation’s top-rated cable news organization has placed the story as one of the most prominent on its home page this noon, under this headline: “Students to Protest Speech From Controversial Imam”.

KnightNews.com has uncovered video showing UCF police using physical force during the last time a speaker, who many considered controversial, was invited to UCF. The video shows several UCF police officers removing someone who opposed the speaker’s message from the room.

The imam is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the Communications building, room 101. The speech is part of a month-long Islam Awareness Month put on by the Muslim Student Association which was funded by public money collected by the UCF Student Government Association.

According to Fox News, the speaker, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, was a character witness for Abdel Rahman, known as the Blind Sheik, in addition to being an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Fox reported he was invited by the Muslim Student Association to dispel misconceptions about the Islamic faith.

Fox reported, “Wahhaj is an African American convert to Islam and imam of the Masjid Al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, New York. He denounced the World Trade Center terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 but his critics say he remains neutral about Usama Bin Laden and his role in the attacks.”

The Muslim Student Association released a statement to Fox News defending the invitation and purpose of the event.

“The members of the Muslim Student Association are excited about or future speaker during Islam Awareness Month,” the statement read. “Imam Siraj Wahhaj has a long record of being a positive force in our community and has made frequent college visits to encourage all students to live positive lives. We think that once you get a chance to hear his message, you will agree that he is a good choice as our speaker for this important month.”

KnightNews.com will be at the event and let you know how UCF handles the protests which are planned.