Philadelphia City Commission Probing ‘Disturbing’ Video At Philly Islamic Center

The Bobster

Senior News Editor since 2004
https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/05/06/philadelphia-city-commission-islamic-center/

Philadelphia City Commission Probing ‘Disturbing’ Video At Philly Islamic Center
May 6, 2019 at 6:54 pm

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — A Philadelphia city commission said Monday it’s investigating an event last month at which Muslim children were captured on video speaking in Arabic about beheadings and the liberation of Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.

The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations launched a probe into the April 17 gathering at the Muslim American Society’s Philadelphia chapter. A video uploaded to the chapter’s Facebook page shows children moving to a revolutionary anthem often used by Islamist groups, and two young girls reading from a prepared text. One says, “We will chop off their heads, and we will liberate the sorrowful and exalted Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

The contested site, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The compound is the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site for Jews. It has been a flashpoint of violence in the past.

The Muslim American Society took the video down and said in a statement it “rejects what happened,” calling it an “unintended mistake and an oversight in which the center and students are remorseful.” They also said a school that rented space in the building was responsible for the program. It said the person in charge of the event had been dismissed.

The society also called the school, which it did not name, a “separate entity.” But old Facebook posts that have since been taken down show that a school called MAS Leaders Academy operates at the Muslim American Society’s Philadelphia location. Muslim American Society officials did not return phone calls and email messages seeking comment Monday on the relationship between the Philadelphia chapter and the school.

“Unfortunately, the video from the school was uploaded to the chapter’s Facebook page without verifying the content of the video for appropriateness and making sure it conforms to our hate-free policy and values. The chapter will take further steps in assuring strict adherence to publishing and posting policies,” according to a weekend statement from the society’s national headquarters.

The Muslim American Society also shares space with the Al-Hidaya mosque, which serves a large number of Palestinian immigrants, according to Jacob Bender, executive director of the Council on Islamic American Relations’ Philadelphia chapter.

He said Monday that the mosque has asked the council to hold a “workshop on diversity and religious tolerance” to help “members of the immigrant Muslim community have a better understanding of Jewish sensitivities and anti-Semitism, so that events like this don’t repeat themselves.” :rolleyes:

Bender, who is Jewish, also said the incident “was not an example of radicalization,” noting the mosque has good relations with Philadelphia city officials.

“This was a stupid decision by an untrained pedagogue and volunteer teacher,” he said.

The city’s human relations commission, meanwhile, said it is gathering information about the April 17 “Ummah Day” event at the center of the controversy. The commission works to mediate conflict among groups, among other things.

“The city of Philadelphia condemns bigotry in all its forms,” Democratic Mayor Jim "Banana Nose" Kenney said in a statement Monday. “Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. For this moniker to ring true, all our brothers and sisters — regardless of their background — must feel safe and welcome. We are committed to working together with partners representing all our communities to make this happen.”
 
https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/05/15/philadelphia-muslim-leaders-apology/

‘Mistake Is Ours To Own’: Muslim American Society Apologizes For Video Of Children Reciting Violent Poem
May 15, 2019 at 7:45 pm

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Declaring “the mistake is ours to own,” Muslim leaders :eek:sama: in Philadelphia apologized Wednesday for an event last month at which children were captured on video speaking in Arabic about beheadings and the liberation of Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. :rolleyes:

The Muslim American Society’s Philadelphia chapter and the Leaders Academy, a gathering place for cyberschooled children that rents space at the site, issued a joint statement Wednesday that sought to explain how the questionable material found its way into an annual event meant to celebrate diversity in Muslim communities.

A video uploaded to the chapter’s Facebook page showed children dancing to a revolutionary anthem often used by Islamist groups, and two young girls reading from a prepared text. One said, “We will chop off their heads, and we will liberate the … Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

The contested site, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The compound is the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site for Jews. It has been a flashpoint of violence in the past.

The Facebook video, which has since been taken down, sparked outrage and an ongoing investigation by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.

“Over the last decade our members have poured their soul and resources to create a harmonious, peaceful and engaged community,” the statement said. “We are very sad that within minutes all of this work was tarnished and we realize the mistake is ours to own … we are deeply saddened to have hurt our partners in the Jewish community and beyond.”

The April 17 “Umma Day” event was intended to showcase diversity, with 18 countries represented and children singing songs from various Muslim cultures and wearing customary dress, according to the statement. Officials said a volunteer aide selected the songs out of a desire to represent Palestinian people, “feels terrible she made a mistake” and has since stepped down. A large number of Palestinian immigrants attend the Al-Hidaya mosque at the site.

“The children did not understand this song as their command of Arabic is not advanced,” the statement said. The speech, it said, “was likewise a selection that primarily sought to highlight the children’s capacity to read and project Arabic rhetoric; however, they have not yet mastered enough grammar to comprehend the words.”

The Muslim American Society’s lawyer, Timothy Welbeck, said Wednesday he didn’t know who chose the speech, or why it was selected.

The Leaders Academy does not consider itself a school — a designation that would require it to register with the state Department of Education — but a gathering place for children following a state-approved cyber school curriculum. The academy supplies tutors to keep the students on task and answer questions, according to Welbeck, and also provides Arabic language and religious instruction.

The Leaders Academy and the Muslim American Society said they have taken steps to prevent a repeat of what they called a “grave mistake,” including new operating procedures, a new advisory council and sensitivity training.

“We appreciate the very detailed and thorough statement and apology that was released today,” said Nancy Baron-Baer, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia. “We understand that people make mistakes. With that said … it’s incumbent on the adults in the room to understand what was being said and recognize that words like that are absolutely unacceptable at any time, in any language.”

The statement from the Muslim groups also said it has been targeted with abusive phone calls in the wake of the video, and two protests at the building in which crowds shouted “hateful messages.” It said security has been increased.
 
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