voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/03/whos_the_extremist_here.html

Who's the extremist here?

By Ann Delorey
Arlington

I am writing as a Virginia resident who is deeply disturbed by the protests of James Lafferty and others who objected to a well-respected imam offering an opening prayer in the House of Delegates [“Boycott of imam’s house prayer urged,” Metro, March 11].

Contrary to the accusations being made by these protesters, I know Imam Johari Abdul-Malik to be an advocate of interfaith understanding, civility and peace. I have had the pleasure of working with the imam for years through the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. The charges levied against him are pure character defamation.

It is clear to me that those opposed to Mr. Abdul-Malik’s prayer are themselves extremists who use fear and hate to create division.