Imam Luqman A. Abdullah fell before a fusillade of FBI bullets during a raid on a Dearborn warehouse October 28, 2009. To the FBI Abdullah was a radical, advocating attacks on federal agents and the forceful establishment of a separate Islamic state within this country. It was to that end, the FBI claims, that he was raising money by dealing in stolen goods, breaking federal laws in the process. Thus the raids, aimed primarily at capturing Abdullah and nearly a dozen core followers.
Yet many in the Islamic community did not see Abdullah in the same light. A memorial to him drew overflow crowds to the Islamic House of Wisdom, where Imam Mohammad Elah spoke of a quest for "justice" in the fatal shooting. To family members, justice would include an independent investigation into the imam's death. This also appears to be the position of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections, which wants "the exact circumstances in which (Abdullah) died" made public.
While not disputing whether Abdullah fired the first shot, family members averred to the Detroit Free Press that the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office told them Abdullah had been shot 18 times. The Freep tried to confirm this with the ME's office, but was told that while the imam was shot "multiple times," the autopsy report was not yet complete. Family members also allege that as the dog Abdullah shot was airlifted for medical treatment, Abdullah was handcuffed and put on a stretcher. "It really is ridiculous," said one of Abdullah's sons, Omar Regan.
The dead Imam's supporters are also dubious about claims that he was a violent separatist. Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Michigan chapter, claimed he had no information of illegal activities going on at Abdullah's Masjid Al-Haqq mosque. "I knew him as a respected imam in the Muslim community," he said.
Walid and others also extolled Abdullah's community work, feeding the hungry and working with troubled youth. He "would give the shirt off his back to people," Walid said.
Comments
Simply Amazing. We have Dawud Walid, an officer from the front group created for Hamas - CAIR - telling us of the virtues of a "Imam" packing heat and firing on FBI agents.
Complaining that Abdullah was shot "multiple times" is interesting considering that several Agents confronted Abdullah, (as many as 6)and when Abdullah fired at the agenst he was fired upon. Training to win the gunfight would take over for these Agents, which would dictate at least 2 shots per agent fired in return.
"Multiple times" indeed.
Simply Amazing. We have Dawud Walid, an officer from the front group created for Hamas - CAIR - telling us of the virtues of a "Imam" packing heat and firing on FBI agents.
Complaining that Abdullah was shot "multiple times" is interesting considering that several Agents confronted Abdullah, (as many as 6)and when Abdullah fired at the agenst he was fired upon. Training to win the gunfight would take over for these Agents, which would dictate at least 2 shots per agent fired in return.
"Multiple times" indeed.
Good riddance.
This country is a far better place with people like this rotting 6 feet deep. These arent isolated incidences here or abroad, so why are we surprised? All of these middle-east based religions are centered around violent groups, so who is actually shocked that this loser opened fire on agents? The middle east has been a war zone for centuries, and now their violence is spreading to this country...with attempts to kill innocent people on a "faith" based message of murder.
We can only expect more of these radical groups acting up now that we have a fox in the hen house, so to speak.
Its just a shame that more of his followers werent there to head off to hell with him.
To RJ & Alex:
Please do not rush to judgement until the investigation is complete. while it is good to have the FBI protecting us, our history is full of discriminating stories and how many times the FBI stormed compunds and killed and burned people.
The Middle East was a very peaceful place 94 years ago, until the COLONIAL POWERS headed by the SUPREME ANGLOSAXONIANS decided to annex those places and create everlasting turmoil, the people of the Middle East are human like us, they wanna live peacefully, they want to have justice applied to everyone and get rid of the puppet heads supported by The Colonial mentality we inherited from the Anglosaxonians.
Just imagine if there were no oil or holy sites over there, would we have our noses in that area.
Just try to stick your finger in your eye, it will hurt you as much as sicking it in other people's eyes.
Let's be human for God's sake and feel for other people.
What happened to us?? we were a nicer nation!!!!
Brian,
A little perspective maybe?
First, Abdullah wasn't from the middle east. He was pure American.
He was a thief and a liar. He openly stated that he hated the concept of the United States of America. He posed as a peaceful Imam and man of God while walking around ARMED. He dealt in stolen property and used the poor and desperate to get those goods.
He tried to kill FBI agents. If his death has caused the people who knew and loved him pain, they should be looking at him for causing the pain, and nobody else. Abdullah lived the life he chose freely. He could have taken a different path. He did not.
It sounds like many of the posts here are full of hatred. And you are worried about these people?
What America do you come from that you do not tolerate religious diversity?
Where is your defense of the 1st Amendment?
None of us were there and if the family so desires a full investigation, what is the beef about? If your family member were to die this way wouldn't you want to make sure the statement was accurate?
Don't you want to have better relations with the different aspects of the community? It would not be the first time excessive force had been used against black people now would it! If this established better relations wouldn't it be worth it to reexamine this?
Who has the problem here? You people commenting on this scare me, because you live in a Country that was built on diversity of thought and belief and cannot be tolerant of anything yourselves.
Heather, there is a vast difference between accepting other people and a willingness to harbor and welcome terrorists.
I'm seeing a lot of comments here that purport to know or have knowledge of the Imam firing on FBI agents. Not even the FBI press release states that the Imam fired at agents. The press release says he fired a gun. In other words, he shot at the dog which was the pretext for shooting the Imam 18 times. Was this raid a "No Knock" raid? People here should look up what happens during "No Knock" raids before opening their mouths. One of the things that happens is that the police usually kill any dogs present in the suspect's house (the police will claim they feel threatened by the presence of dogs). "No Knock" raids have become standard operating procedure for law enforcement and the frequency of occurrence has gone from about 3,000 to 50,000 per year in the last 30 years. These raids are dangerous for both police and suspects since many suspects believe they are victims of a criminal home invasion and may try to defend themselves. They also provide a cover to murder radicals.
don't believe everything you hear on the news
I'm seeing a lot of comments here that purport to know or have knowledge of the Imam firing on FBI agents. Not even the FBI press release states that the Imam fired at agents. The press release says he fired a gun. In other words, he shot at the dog which was the pretext for shooting the Imam 18 times. Was this raid a "No Knock" raid? People here should look up what happens during "No Knock" raids before opening their mouths. One of the things that happens is that the police usually kill any dogs present in the suspect's house (the police will claim they feel threatened by the presence of dogs). "No Knock" raids have become standard operating procedure for law enforcement and the frequency of occurrence has gone from about 3,000 to 50,000 per year in the last 30 years. These raids are dangerous for both police and suspects since many suspects believe they are victims of a criminal home invasion and may try to defend themselves. They also provide a cover to murder radicals.
Dawud Walid is a WHORE and a known liar. He shouldn't be defending anyone's character.
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