Harvard University’s largest student-run organization will bestow a prestigious award on Nihad Awad, the Hamas-linked founder and executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has proven ties to Islamic extremist and terror organizations.
FreeBeacon (h/t Marvin W) The Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) will be giving its Robert Coles “Call of Service” award to Nihad Awad, for his work to “defend the rights of Muslims” and for advancing “justice and mutual understanding.”
An online petition with over 500 signatures outlines the concerns some have with Awad, including the fact that he and the organization he created were named as unindicted co-conspirators in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terror-financing case. Five Holy Land Foundation executives were found guilty of funneling millions of dollars to the terror group Hamas.
Awad also explicitly stated his support for the “Hamas movement” during a 1994 speech, write the petitioners. (See video below)
These are influential recognitions for a man with past ties to Hamas, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in 1995. In fact, Awad publicly declared “I am in support of the Hamas movement,” during a March 1994 symposium at Barry University
He has repeatedly defended the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which was accused of illegally funneling millions of dollars to Hamas. On November 24, 2008, jurors in Dallas convicted the HLF defendants on 108 counts tied to its Hamas support. In handing down lengthy sentences to each defendant, U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis said it was clear “[t]he purpose of creating the Holy Land Foundation was as a fundraising arm for Hamas
Prior to founding CAIR, Awad worked as the public relations director for the Islamic Association of Palestine, which the petition notes was directly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
“While CAIR presents itself as a civil rights organization defending Muslims from discrimination, Awad’s organization has been criticized by many Muslims for claiming to speak in their name,” write the petitioners, citing a Gallup poll that showed fewer than 15% of Muslims think of CAIR as their voice.
Zainab Al-Suwaij, cofounder and executive director of the American Islamic Congress, said she was surprised a liberal university would give such an honor to an organization with CAIR’s history of ties radical Islamism.
“Especially considering the moment we are in right now, where we are all concerned with violent extremism and radicalization, in particular that of radical Islam,” said Al-Suwaij.
Al-Suwaij said she doubted any malice on the part of those who had decided to applaud Awad, chalking it up to ignorance. “But they had to educate themselves about the history of who they are dealing with,” she said.
Al-Suwaij believes her organization, founded in the wake of 9/11 following what she described as disappointment with the her community’s “very defensive response,” is more representative of the average American-Muslim than CAIR.
“We have no history of supporting political Islam, and we don’t share CAIR’s victimhood [mentality],” she said. “CAIR jumps at every occasion to play the Islamophobia card. We don’t.”
Awad went on national TV to claim that Muslims were in America before Columbus and they helped discover America:
Awad of shit is at it again, trying to rewrite American history. Now he gets an award from Harvard, bought by the Saudis. Supposedly the Saudis are against the Muslum brotherhood, i.e. CAIR. I guess not so much.
Bonni, you are a very brave woman and your revelations are much appreciated in these dark days when the truth is twisted and smothered.
As Shakespeare said ‘Thus shines a good deed in a naughty world’.
Thanks, Etti.
Harvard is just a nothing, mus slum controlled den of d’himmis to award a mus slum coward like awad. No support for Harvard needs to be ranked as a 0.
Several of us went to Harvard to protest this event. From our count, Awad appears to have got only about 50-60 attendees at his big award ceremony, much less than we might have expected. We took extensive video from outside and had productive conversations with several people either going into the event or passing through the Science Center where it was held. It’s important to turn out to protest and educate people when these opportunities arise.
RRA, is the video posted online anywhere?
revere, glad to hear of your protest. It takes courage to do something like that and I applaud you.
The ceremony was held in the Science Centre? I’m surprised that Harvard has a Science Centre as I cannot see much sign of rational thinking in that establishment.
Another great name being dragged in the gutter.
Good job, Revere!
Ni Had a Wad …. and his hijab covered wife …. Noor Had a Wad ?
Awad, nattering nabob, awad of puke, awad that needs to be ?????
with prince under arrest…the one who gave money for obama’s harward education…they might be playing with fire…I hope
This ‘centre of learning’ will honour a moslem, an enemy? Could be construed as treason.
Reason enough for Harvard to be closed down.
Bill de Blasio also violates the Foreign Agent Registration Act and should be penalized accordingly. ~ The most noxious lie of islamists is that the Pope promised North America to their reptiles.
So much for the prestige they once held. Just another shariah indoctrination center, now.
Did you see the big news out of Saudi Arabia today? Could this be the start of something positive. Big names arrested and one of them was funding mosques in US. http://www.forexlive.com/news/!/arrests-threaten-major-turmoil-in-saudi-arabia-20171105?utm_campaign=pro_feed&utm_medium=partner_feed&utm_source=benzinga