Focus Article: Bent on Confusing the Public about Islam: The Far Right Exploits Rifqa Bary’s Case to Distort Islam
Louay Safi
The Center for Security Policy (CSP) published recently an article on Rifqa Bary who converted to Christianity and ran away from her family with the help of an evangelical group based in Florida. The article, titled “Florida Department of Law Enforcement Earns an F,” provides yet another example of CSP’s practice of using half truth and innuendo to confuse the public on matters relating to Islam and Muslims.
CSP is led by Frank Gaffney, a well known Muslim basher and a neoconservative alarmist, has repeatedly attacked Muslim Americans and their national organizations, suggesting that any efforts by Muslims to practice their faith should be seen as a step to control and dominate the American public. Gaffney, for instance, contended in recent Washington Times editorial that the efforts to use non-interest measures to do banking transactions was a Muslim conspiracy to impose Islamic law on the United States, and went all the way to accusing President Obama of “embracing the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood.” Obama’s guilt stems from his efforts to bridge the divide that Gaffney and his ilk in the neoconservative movement worked hard to deepen in the last two decades.
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