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Waging Jihad Through the American Courts
March 31, 2010 | 18 comments
Feature
A Palestinian in Texas
My legal battle with a suicidal maniac provides a case study for Islamist attempts at speech suppression.
ON APRIL 14, 2008, Riad Elsolh Hamad, 55, left his family’s apartment in Austin, Texas, to get some prescription drugs. The immigrant from Lebanon and middle school computer teacher never returned home. Three days later, the police found his body, bound with tape, floating in nearby Lady Bird Lake, and concluded that “all signs indicate this may have been a suicide.”
His family expressed that he had been under stress lately and even suicidal. And with good reason: The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service had searched his house on February 27, 2008, when the FBI declared him a “person of interest” in a criminal investigation.
Despite this cloud around the dead man, local news outlets reported nothing but kind words and high praise for him. After Hamad’s family issued a statement describing Riad as a “peace activist who worked tirelessly on behalf of those less fortunate than him and was loved and admired by many members of the local, as well as international…community.” The press duly picked up on this moniker and regularly called him a “peace activist.”
Television station KVUE quoted Joshua Howell, assistant manager at the office where Hamad had a postal box, recalling him as “always in a good mood. Never upset. Never even heard him say a harsh word about anybody.” The principal at the school where he taught sent a letter to students’ parents calling Hamad “a longtime and valued” member of the faculty whose “love and passion for education touched us all.” At Hamad’s memorial service, retired Episcopal priest Edward M. Hartwell praised “his humanitarian work to help the children of Palestine [as] some of the most creative and effective work that I know of.”
Hamad himself had boasted of his peaceable approach to politics: “All of our work is very transparent. We don’t work with any militant group or violent group, or anybody with a militant affiliation.”
That was the Riad Hamad praised by family, friends, admirers, and even himself. But Hamad had another side, the one that brought the FBI to his house, that got him fired from Austin Community College for “making racist slurs and sexist jokes in the classroom,” and that made him a foul and unwelcome presence in my life. Thanks to the recent testimony by a former ally of Hamad who has turned against him, several years later, we now know something approaching his full story.
The Summons
HAMAD BROUGHT HIMSELF to my attention in early June 2006 by
sending me, via certified mail, a summons to
appear in court in Austin. The document bore scrawled, unkempt
handwriting on a form issued by the U.S. District Court, Western
District of Texas, informing me that Hamad was suing me and Campus
Watch (a project of the Middle East Forum, which I founded) for
libel.
This turned out to be the second amended complaint; I found myself in good company, as the summons also listed the Center for the Study of Popular Culture (now known as the David Horowitz Freedom Center), David Horowitz personally, the Center for Jewish Community Studies, the State of Texas, Joe Kaufman, Americans Against Hate, MilitantIslamMonitor.org, and an internet provider called CB Accounts. Hamad proceeded to file another three amended complaints, and in them he tacked on yet more defendants.
His was a pro se summons, meaning that Hamad, a non-lawyer, had filled it out by himself and was representing himself and that it had cost him next to nothing to sue one and all.
Hamad charged each of us with 21 offenses, including libel and slander, defamation of character, interference with a business contract, invasion of privacy, fraud, and negligence.
In compensation for this long list of alleged abuses, Hamad demanded from his many defendants $5 million in compensatory damages, $10 million for his loss of income, and $50 million in exemplary and punitive damages. Nor was that all: He sought a permanent injunction against our calling his business an “Islamic charity” or him personally a “Muslim fundamentalist.” He wanted a Department of Justice investigation into us for “criminal and racketeering work as lobbyists for a foreign country [i.e., Israel] without the proper permits and licenses.” He also insisted on public apologies by us in 10 media outlets chosen by him.
Hamad gave insight into his mentality and motives in the course of his lawsuit. His discovery requests of David Horowitz are particularly colorful, including:
- Document the “Religious affiliation of members of the board of CSPC, its affiliates and editors of Frontpagemag.org.”
- Provide a “Blood and urine sample of David Horowitz…to identify his ethnicity and religious affiliations.”
- “Identify any and all staff of the Israeli embassy that David Horowitz and CSPC are associated with, amounts of money paid for their services by the Israeli embassy.”
- Answer whether “David Horowitz is a devout Jews [sic] and observes the Sabbath.”
- Answer whether “David Horowitz eats pork and violates Jewish traditions.”
- Answer whether “David Horowitz is not a Semite and pretends to be Jewish to gain sympathy for his views and make money.”
This summons came as a total surprise, as I had previously never heard of Riad Hamad. Sleuthing revealed only the slightest and most indirect connection between us: Hamad had created and headed an organization called the Palestine Children’s Welfare Fund (PCWF), and in a 2004 weblog entry, “Lamyaa Hashim, Supporting Burqas and Suicide Bombers,” I had quoted Joe Kaufman who alluded to PCWF as follows: “The site belongs to the medical director for the Palestine Children’s Welfare Fund, Rosemary Davis (Shadya Hantouli), and features a picture gallery of past suicide bombers.” That’s it. I quoted a few dozen words from someone who mentioned someone who worked for Hamad’s organization. For this glancing reference, my pro-rated share of payments to Hamad would come to about a million dollars per word.
About the Author
Daniel Pipes is a columnist for the Jerusalem Post, director of the Middle East Forum, and Taube distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.
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John786| 11.9.12 @ 6:39AM
Another story to fuel Islamophobia. Its been only a few days since we had electoral armegedon. Give it a rest guys.
JD| 11.9.12 @ 11:42AM
Truth is truth.
This guy was personally put through a lot of pain by a bad man, and the media isn't reporting the truth, so he took it upon himself. I'm sorry the truth doesn't fit your political agenda, but that's your problem.
Jack in Wi| 11.9.12 @ 7:37AM
What a pile of crap. Daniel Pipes, Kristol, Wolfowitz, Perle, Podoretz can take all their race baiting an warmongering somewhere else. They cost the Republicans the election. People are sick of Israel, war, and warmongers. You can all go to hell. 70% of Jews voted for Obama and gave him huge funds in his re-election. Republicans get nothing from endless backing of the most extreme elements in the Jewish community. Pipes and his gang are a cancer on the country but most of all in the Republican party.
Alej| 11.9.12 @ 8:58AM
"Republicans get nothing from endless backing of the most extreme elements in the black community."
Fixed it for you.
You are sick of Israel. I am sick of you. Neither will go away, I suppose.
Haven't yet figured out that
A) Israel is the only outpost of democracy/freedom in the sewer that is Muslim territory, and may soon be a necessary base for actions that Western civilization will be forced by muslims to take, and that
B) American Jews for the most part don't give a rat's ass about Israel, America, or anything but their own bank accounts ?
Jack in Wi| 11.9.12 @ 12:14PM
Israel is a facist, racist state run by money lauderers, pimps, thieves and murderers. It was founded by atheists, socialists, and communists. It does nothing but cause trouble for us. The Republican Party gets nothing from its idiotic backing of Israel since 2000. Before that Republicans were wary of Israel and kept their distance. Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, and old man Bush didn't want to get involved with them to any extent. G W Bush, Cheney, McCain, Romney got nothing but trouble with their slavish devotion to this mess of a country. It is time to give the USA our attention and let Israel fend for itself. It is not worth one drop of American blood or one American dollar.
Rhoetus| 11.11.12 @ 5:47PM
How do you really feel Jack in Wi? WOW [This just in] A majority of American Jewish voters voted for the Democratic Party. Wow, who woulda thunk it?
jothepro| 11.9.12 @ 9:54AM
What a pile of crap you are Jack....
loulou| 11.9.12 @ 10:58AM
Jacksh*t in Wi is an angry little muslim-symp. Best to ignore him.
Gary B| 11.10.12 @ 3:27AM
I don't want to ignore him. Jack, would you have voted for Ron Paul, had he been a choice on the ballot? Are you a libertarian?
Tom Kyba| 11.9.12 @ 11:22AM
I have just read the last post of yours I will read Jack. I expect sick nut 786 to make a stupid comment, but I gave you some credit for having some principles despite your constant Jew-baiting. Enough!
I wish there was a way I could understand just how far some evil Islamic fundamentalist has to go before people like you open your eyes, but this knee-jerk reaction was the last straw. You are a sick anti-semite mental degenerate just like your comrade-in-hate 786. To hell with you sir. You and super-sicko 786 are the cancer on the entire human speciees. Once again, go to hell both of you.
John786| 11.9.12 @ 12:21PM
Tiny tim,
I don't hate anybody. These nonsensical stories only purpose is to spread hate against muslims and to close discussion down. In the ME I support a single state for all the people in historic Palestine. And I'm also willing to support a state on the 67 line. Occupation, murder and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the 21st century is no longer acceptable. The massive desecration of islamic heritage in palestine has to stop. In the heart of the Islamic world, an ideology, wants to snuff muslims out- as if we do not exist. This, can't work, will not work anymore. Zionism needs to move on. The US can have a positive role here. The right of all complectiins continues to demonise people. You can't win elections or influence the world by spreading hate.Demographics for the GOP & Israel are moving in the wrong direction. Time to evolve....
SCPOret| 11.9.12 @ 4:28PM
I guess you are not a student of history. When Israel was formed in 1949 the Jews wanted to live in peace with the arabs/muslim and co-inhabit the area. There was no such thing as a Palestinian at the time. The Arabs instead of accepting a peaceful solution instead attacked and killed jews and then fled to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and other countries as refugees. They are still refugees because the various arabic nations would not accept them as brothers and they refused to return to Israel when it was offered. So read your history and you will find that the Israelis have offered peace many times but the arabs/muslims have refused it.
John786| 11.9.12 @ 8:14PM
History. I don't think we'll ever agree on history. The present situation for Israel is untenable. There are presently more Palestinian in the land controlled by Israel then Jews. That's Zionism f*****. You would have thought that Israel would jump at the chance of a settlement. But, zionism keeps sowing the seeds of its own destruction. It really is 67 or bust.
Ryan| 11.12.12 @ 8:34AM
When the Palestinians cease their tactics of randomly firing into Israel, placing military assets in civilian populations and buildings, reject the Protocols of the Elders (a known hoax) and other similar issues, then they can have a seat at the table.
They have made no moves to sue for peace in this matter.
MelvinNC| 11.9.12 @ 8:04AM
I remember observing the attack on the World Trade Center, pregnant women were jumping out of the skyscraper to their certain deaths to avoid the flesh searing heat from the burning jet fuel.
Those on the ground who witnessed this horror, described when these womens bodies hit the cold concrete sidewalk they're bellies burst forth and it sounded like popcorn popping.
These poor women were someones wife, daughter, or aunt. No human being should have to face a self imposed death like that.
I also remember many on the Left in a brief moment of sanity calling for vengeance against the Islamic religious fanatics who carried out this horror upon our society.
Now a Palestinian extremist off's himself and apparently trying to incite his sympathizers into further bloodshed against American, Zionist cabal.
He is lionized as a hero on the Left, but in reality Riad Hamad was a thief, and fraud deceiving those who he conned into his cause. Now the Left accuses Hamad of being a victim of the American, Jewish cabal sending agents out to off one little insignificant Palestinian thief.
I guess I should take some sort of solace in that the Left didn't accuse members of the Tea Party forming a Islamic assassination hit team.
Damn, just when I thought I could trust those Iowan farmers.
loulou| 11.9.12 @ 10:55AM
"Most Muslim immigrants are law-abiding and constructive citizens in the West."
Are you sure? Granted, when Muslims are an overwhelming MINORITY they tend to be law-abiding but to make a blanket statement like that...?
Tom Kyba| 11.9.12 @ 11:25AM
Loulou, I believe this is called the elephant in the room.
RCV| 11.9.12 @ 1:17PM
Thanks, Daniel, for this fascinating story. We are all better off that this vile human being took his own life.
Seek| 11.9.12 @ 3:29PM
The late Mr. Hamad qualifies as a pure sociopath. I shed no tears for his passing. His behavior is all too typical of Muslims in this country who refuse to assimilate. Even those who construct a facade of normality eventually reveal their true colors.
Rhoetus| 11.11.12 @ 5:49PM
SEEK: BHO is a psychopath and he's POTUS.