Its clearly evident that the self-proclaimed “expert on Islamic extremism” Hussein Solomon, is running out of time in his crusade against Muslims as the clock ticks away towards the countdown of the Fifa World Cup.
In addition it is also known that his credibility as a serious researcher and academic on the subject of “Islamic terrorism” –” an oxymoron –” has suffered a great deal ever since his outrageous allegations were uncovered and challenged by us. It is thus pertinent to recall where and in whose company those ridiculous allegations were made!
Herzliya in Israel is the setting where annually many of the leading Islamophobes from America and Europe congregate with their Zionist counterparts to spell doom and gloom emanating from this oxymoron dubbed “Islamic terrorism”. Solomon, much to his shame –” if indeed he possesses any – was exposed then by our team of researchers alongside Steven Emerson, Daniel Pipes, Benjamin Netanyahu and many more scare-mongers!
Since then Solomon has attempted to exploit huge public support of vast numbers of South Africans to the soccer showpiece by repeating his alarmist charges without any shred of evidence. One presumes, if I may be as presumptuous as he is, that his current rhetoric of hate could be to create a wedge between Muslims and the soccer spectacle. In this he errs yet again, for Muslims cannot be classified as a homogenous category distinctly different to soccer lovers.
Nevertheless, it seems that Solomon does not distinguish this basic fact, as indeed he fails to distinguish between general assumptions and empirical evidence. It’s a disgrace to his profession to make loud public pronouncements dressed up as “warnings” when this is informed by conjecture.
That The Citizen chose to dramatise Solomon’s archaic script by leading with a front-page story is therefore baffling.
The only mitigating factor in this report was the contrasting view expressed by Strategic Forecasting’s sub-Saharan Africa expert for private intelligence, Mark Schroeder.
I am certain most South Africans will concur with his adamant view that crime, not al-Qaeda terrorism, should be the major concern for tourists and the South African security services.
And in case Solomon missed out on previous reassurances provided by government officials, let me remind him that National police Commissioner Bheki Cele told Parliament recently the al-Shabaab threat “was not credible”.
Where does it leave Solomon’s credibility?