WICHITA –According to the website of the Islamic Society of Wichita (ISW), the ISW has scheduled a fundraising event featuring Sheik Monzer Talib. The fundraiser is to be held at the Muslim Community Center. It is sponsored by the Islamic Society of Wichita and scheduled from 8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m, according to a media release from the office of Congressman Mike Pompeo.
In response to this scheduled event, Pompeo issued the following statement:
“I am profoundly disappointed and disturbed by both the content and the timing of the Islamic Society of Wichita’s decision to bring Sheik Monzer Talib to Wichita, Kansas. On one of the most holy days on the Christian calendar, and only days after radical Islamic extremists murdered dozens of innocents of many faiths in Brussels, Belgium, they chose to bring a Hamas-connected sheik to their community center here in Wichita. They should cancel his appearance.
In response to Pompeo, the Islamic Society’s School issued an alert to parents of students on Thursday. “Due to the concerning media statement regarding planned protest and the potential for security concerns and a possibility of a protest tomorrow during Friday prayers, we will dismiss school at 11:00am to err on the side of caution.
At AIS we put student safety first and it’s our top priority. We rely on Allah and He is the best of protectors.”
“I have, for years and continuously, implored leaders of the Islamic faith here in Kansas and around the world to stand with leaders of all faiths in condemning terrorist attacks by radical Islamic groups,” said Pompeo. “I can find not a mention of the Brussels murders on ISW’s website, facebook page or twitter account. This is unconscionable. ISW and its leaders should use this time to condemn this attack instead of celebrating Sheik Taleb.”
“But worse, now, in my own community, rather than make clear that violence in the name of Allah is always wrong, the Islamic Society of Wichita has chosen the day, when millions of Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross, to bring a cleric who has claimed his commitment to Hamas, to lead their services. Hamas is a designated terrorist organization that has the destruction of Israel as its core tenet and terror and murder as its core operating principle. This decision by ISW is horribly misguided and puts at risk much work that has been done to improve relations among members of all faiths here in Kansas.
“I am a passionate believer in the First Amendment. I acknowledge and support ISW’s right to hold this service with Sheik Talib. But having this right to do so does not mitigate the harm that will be done to our community if the ISW leaders move forward with this event on Holy Friday. They will be responsible for the damage among religious faiths that is sure to follow.
“Mr. Talib has a long history of association with radical Islam. He was named as a co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism finance case in which millions of American dollars were funneled to the terrorist organization Hamas. He was also a member of an organization that advocated for the destruction of Israel and is on videotape affirming his allegiance to Hamas that has killed thousands of Westerners.
“The leaders of the ISW surely know what they are doing in bringing this hateful man to help them raise money on this day so important to Christians. While I do not know their motives, I do know that they should reconsider. The ISW can help everyone focus on uniting all faiths against such barbarism – this scheduled event does exactly the opposite.
“I call on the Islamic Society of Wichita to show its commitment to uniting believers of all faiths and to cancel the appearance of Sheik Monzer Talib.”
Pompeo serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Select Committee on Benghazi. He is a graduate of West Point and an Army veteran.