Islamophobia Watch

Jewish leaders are condemning e-mails attacking Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for secretly being a radical Muslim who attended a Wahhabi madrassa, false allegations that have been circulated on many Jewish and other list-serves.

Referring to "hateful e-mails that use falsehood and innuendo to mischaracterize Senator Barack Obama 's religious beliefs and who he is as a person," officials from nine national Jewish organizations sent an open letter to the Jewish community Tuesday "reject[ing] these efforts to manipulate members of our community into supporting or opposing candidates."

The non-partisan, multi-denominational coalition of leaders noted that they were not endorsing any candidate, but felt that "attempts of this sort to mislead and inflame voters should not be part of our political discourse and should be rebuffed by all who believe in our democracy."

Obama, whose middle name is Hussein and who spent some of his childhood in Islamic Indonesia, has faced a whispering campaign about his background since before he even announced his candidacy for president. But the volume and vitriol of the attacks have intensified following his victory in the Iowa caucuses earlier this month, which has propelled him in the polls.

Safiya Ghori, the government relations director for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said the debate has been framed as refuting "allegations that Barack Obama is a Muslim," continuing, "It's as if that's a stain, and nobody wants that stain."

Jerusalem Post, 17 January 2008