Sami al-Arian is a Muslim paradox. He is, he says, an "enlightened Islamist," a computer-engineering professor who leads interfaith community projects in Florida, puts women in leadership positions at his Tampa mosque, praises America and actively campaigned for George W. Bush in 2000. "Most hard-line Muslim fundamentalists would shy away from me," he admits. Yet to many Americans he fits the profile of a militant Muslim. The Palestinian activist who now resides permanently in the U.S. has given incendiary speeches that trumpeted "Death to Israel!" His mosque is named for Sheik Izz al-Din al-Qassam, a martyred guerrilla leader who preached holy...
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