Islamic Thinkers Society

Islamic Thinkers Society
ITS
Headquarters New York City
Ideology Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah (organisation)
International affiliation Worldwide
Website

The Islamic Thinkers Society is a Muslim group based in New York City that seeks the goal of restoring the Islamic Caliphate to create what it calls "an ideal Islamic society." Its members are located mainly in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, United States.

Islamic Thinkers Society is an offshoot of Al-Muhajiroun, a pro Al-Qaeda British Islamist extremist group.[1]

According to Michael Kenney, a scholar of Islamist extremism at the University of Pittsburgh, by 2014 the group had "fallen apart."[2]

Platform

The group states that it wishes to see a reversal of the Balfour Declaration, the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the San Remo conference. Its members allege that these agreements are part of 'Colonialist Designs' on the Islamic world, and they urge Muslims to consider them illegal, null and void. The group calls for an end to what it says are "Colonialist-Imposed Borders," "Colonialist-Imposed States," and "Colonialist-Imposed Rulers." Its members also show dislike for Jews, Christians, homosexuals and Shi'ites.

IT calls on Muslims to oppose the United States, Christianity and Western society and culture, especially homosexuality, which it sees as Western. IT is also notable for its hostility to Shi'ites whom its members view as not true Muslims.

Controversy

IT is suspected of being an American offshoot of the London-based Al-Muhajiroun, a group that celebrated the 9/11 attacks, referring to the hijackers as "the Magnificent 19," and posted a burning picture of the United States Capitol on its website. The Islamic Thinkers Society also used to fly the Al-Muhajiroun flag and distribute Al-Muhajiroun tracts. The Anti-Defamation League called ITS "a pseudonym or an offshoot of the British-based Al Muhajiroun, a now-disbanded radical Islamic group that supported terrorism and the imposition of Islamic hegemony worldwide." [3]

In the CNN program ParkerSpitzer, the ex-leader of Al-Muhajiroun, Anjem Choudary, was interviewed with the title "heinous terrorist" and linked to militant groups like Al-Qaeda.[4] Choudary however, denounced these allegations in a press release on his personal website.[5] The ITS has also published a press release in response to the CNN interview supporting Al-Muhajiroun's former leader Anjem Choudary, but denouncing links to violence in a similar fashion, stating "as the struggle [of ITS] is always intellectual and political." [6]

When the group still called itself Al-Muhajiroun, its members held an event at Queensborough Community College, during which an Al-Muhajiroun speaker said, "We reject the U.N., reject America, reject all law and order. Don't lobby Congress or protest because we don't recognize Congress! The only relationship you should have with America is to topple it!"

Observers such as the Intelligence Summit have called the Islamic Thinkers Society a Fundamentalist Islamic group.

Activities

The group is based in the largely immigrant community of the Jackson Heights neighborhood in Queens, New York City but operates in the wider New York area. It is composed mainly of second-generation young Arab, Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani Muslim immigrants with a few converts.[7]

2005

2006

See also

References

  1. "N.J. suspects attended protests organized by radical Islamic group – This Just In – CNN.com Blogs". News.blogs.cnn.com. June 11, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  2. Conte, Andrew (27 September 2014). "Arrest of British Islamic radicals might spur attacks against Western targets". Pittsburgh Tribune. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. "Anti-Israel Protests – 2005". Anti-Defamation League. May 13, 2005. Retrieved September 12, 2007.
  4. ParkerSpitzer - Anjem Choudary's "heinous terrorist" interview
  5. CNN LIES IN ATTEMPT TO ENTRAP A MUSLIM
  6. Press Release: CNN Lies and Spitzer's Entrapment
  7. Elliott, Andrea. "Queens Muslim Group Says It Opposes Violence, and America." The New York Times, June 22, 2005 pB1
  8. Elliott, Andrea. "With Women at the Forefront, a Muslim Service Challenges Tradition." The New York Times, March 19, 2005 pB3 col 02.
  9. Elliott, Andrea (March 6, 2006). "To Lead the Faithful in a Faith Under Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  10. Fahim, Kareem. "More Than 1,000 Protest Cartoon Depiction of Prophet." The New York Times, Feb 18, 2006 pB3.
  11. "Interview With Steve Emerson." Hannity & Colmes. Televised on FOX News. 04/24/2006

External links

Press releases

Press Release 10.31.2010: CNN Lies and Spitzer's Entrapment

Press Release 09.11.2010

Press Release 06.11.2010

Press Release 11.12.2007: On the Crisis in Pakistan

Press Release 10.15.2007

Press Release 11.14.2006: I.T.S. Press Release to the Muslim Communities of North America

Press Release 10.11.2006: I.T.S. Press Release to the Media

Press Release 06.15.2006

Press Release 03.16.2006: Press Release on the UK Arrests

Press Release 02.15.2006: Refuting Shia Heretic Claims of I.T.S. Linked to Al-Qaeda

Press Release 09.03.2005: I.T.S. Press Release on Katrina

Press Release 09.03.2005: Press Release on FCNA & Their Pathetic Fatwa

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