: The Kabbani Affair: Escape From Malaysia

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Remember the controversy in 1999 surrounding Shaykh Hisham Kabbani’s allegations of extremism among US Muslims? Well, it’s happening again, but this time in Malaysia. Apparently Shaykh Kabbani appeared on Malaysian TV and accused “a certain ex-Malaysian Minister of funding US Islamic terrorist groups” to the tune of $10 million. As in 1999, the minister and US terrorists remain conveniently unnamed. It’s a very complex tale – Shaykh Kabbani likes Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed, Mahathir jailed former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on trumped-up sodomy charges, Anwar (thinking the reference is to him) now wants to sue Kabbani over his allegations. Perhaps a more detailed analysis would be better left to those who understand Malaysian politics. But this much is clear: vague statements made in public forums nearly always come back to haunt you if you don’t back them up with facts. It’s a lesson Shaykh Kabbani could have learned in America. Perhaps the Malaysians will be more persuasive.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.