Jul 19, 2009 5:44 pm US/Central
Islamic Group Meeting Brings Out Protestors
Hizb ut Tahrir Officials Discount Any Terrorist Ties
OAK LAWN, Ill. (CBS) ―
An Islamic group banned in a number of countries held their annual conference for the first time in the U.S. and it was right here in a Chicago suburb. And as CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli explains the conference touched off a firestorm protest.
Protestors are angry because some believe actual terrorists gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Oak Lawn Sunday. That's because for the first time ever the Islamic political party Hizb ut Tahrir is holding its annual political convention in America. They say they come in peace and that reports linking the organization to Al Quaida are false.
"The links that they have to terrorism to 9/11 are absurd, baseless and without credibility whatsoever," said Mohammad Malkawi, a Hizb ut-Tahrir deputy spokesman
But critics say the group is made up of Islamic extremists hellbent on destroying America's way of life.
"I now see an Islamic gathering storm and it frightens me – these people make no bones about what they want to do, they want to take over our country Just like Winston, Islamic..they want to take over our country," said Rachel Lampman of Orland Park.
Hizb ut-Tahrir officials say that's not true and that their goals are not expansionist. They say their goal is to create a unified Muslim state governed under Muslim religious law but only in existing Muslim countries.
"The target is not the U.S., nor Great Britain, nor Australia, nor Japan, or any of these -- not at all," said Malkawi.
About 700 people are attending the conference in a room under a banner saying "Fall of capitalism, Rise of Islam." The room is divided with men sitting in the front and women in the back -- most wearing traditional Muslim garb.
When protestor Dan Favia of Plainfield was asked if those in attendance are terrorists, he said, "I believe this could be a fertile recruiting ground for terrorists."
"We have never indulged in recruiting people for Jihad, we call them Jihadists or for violent acts," Malkawi said.
There was a heavy police presence Sunday to insure that all the talk of violence and terror remained just that -- talk.
"...They're allowed to meet in a basement here in Oak Lawn. Why? Heaven forbid that America doesn't let a group of terrorists meet," said one protestor.
Malkawi refused to specifically condemn Al Qaida and the Taliban Sunday. But he also said he wouldn't condemn the Israeli army either despite the fact that he vehemently disagrees with their policies in the West bank and their treatment of Palestinians.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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