Los Angeles, CA – Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl, often ‘celebrated’ for his contributions to Islamic law and human rights and recognized as a distinguished professor at UCLA’s School of Law, is increasingly becoming a subject of controversy. Despite being lauded with honors and distinctions for his Islamic academic work and advisory roles, growing concerns suggest that Dr. Abou El Fadl’s achievements are a veneer for advancing authentic militant Islam.
As a naturalized U.S. citizen from Kuwait, his public persona, marked by anti-Western, anti-Hindu, and anti-Jewish sentiments in his Islamic sermons, raises critical questions. These sermons, often overlooked by Western institutions, suggest a strategic approach to Islamic jihad cloaked in the respectability afforded by his scholarly and legal accomplishments. However, this façade of so-called “moderate” Islam does not fully conceal the underlying parallels with the goals of overtly Islamic supremacist groups.
Controversial Statements and Views
In a January 12, 2024, sermon streamed live on the YouTube channel of the Usuli Institute, Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl made startling claims that have left many shocked. He asserted that Indian Hindu nationalists volunteer to fight alongside the Israeli army in Gaza ‘for the joy of killing Muslims.’ He claimed that some of the ‘worst massacres’ committed against Palestinians were, in fact, carried out by such volunteers, allegedly in preparation for the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Kashmir. Dr. Abou El Fadl also stated that Israel has broadcasted pornography on Palestinian television channels, citing studies that suggest pornography makes people less religious and less inclined to think about martyrdom.
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl elaborated: ‘Some of the worst massacres committed against Palestinians in Gaza are by Indian soldiers serving in the Israeli army. Indian Hindu nationalists are volunteering to fight in the Israeli army for the joy of killing Muslims. Hindu nationalists openly and loudly celebrate what Israel is doing to Palestinians and are saying openly and loudly: ‘Israel is giving us lessons in ethnic cleansing because this is exactly what we are going to do to Muslims in Kashmir. We will send Hindu fanatics to fight side by side, raping, killing, and murdering [Palestinians] because this is what we intend to do to Muslims.’
Furthermore, he remarked on the use of pornography as a weapon: ‘Studies have shown that pornography makes men less religious, that pornography creates a problem in a person’s relationship with God, that pornography makes people have a crisis of faith, that pornography makes people pray less, and think of things like martyrdom less. So, the Israelis took over Palestinian channels in Hebron, took them over, and broadcast on these channels pornography to be consumed by Palestinians.’
Associations and Connections
Dr. Abou El Fadl’s commentary on controversial subjects was not limited to this instance. In a sermon on December 22, 2023, also live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Usuli Institute, he continued to express his provocative views. Dr. Abou El Fadl asserted that the rhetoric used by Israelis and Americans against Palestinians/Hamas mirrors that which the Germans used against the Jews during World War II. He emphasized a recurring pattern of dehumanization and blame-shifting, a theme he argues is prevalent in both historical and current contexts.
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl stated, “The Germans blamed the Jews for their own slaughter. The Germans insisted that what they did in the countries they occupied wasn’t their fault. It was always the fault of the occupied. The rhetoric of the Germans is indistinguishable from the rhetoric that Israel uses about Palestinians and from the rhetoric that the United States uses about Palestinians.” He condemned the global inaction and silence over these issues, particularly criticizing the United States for its stance on events in Gaza.
Further intensifying his critique, Dr. Abou El Fadl remarked, “The entire world witnesses and knows that Israelis executed Palestinians in front of their families. They had the women and children go to a particular building on a particular floor and bombed that building, killing the women and children. And the same United States that lied about beheaded babies... And the same United States that lied about raped women is silent.”
Many are shocked by his inflammatory and polarizing, especially given his influential positions in American academia and institutions. Dr. Abou El Fadl’s views have prompted questions about how a naturalized U.S. citizen who holds positions of influence can hold such power and influence over leaders and institutions.
Notably, Dr. Abou El Fadl was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom, adding another layer of complexity to the controversy surrounding his statements. Questions arise about his fitness for such a role, given his anti-Hindu and anti-Semitic views.
During Bush’s presidency in 2004, Andrew Bostom, an American author, medical doctor, and Islamic expert, expressed concerns about Dr. Abou El Fadl. In a Middle East Forum report, Bostom criticized Dr. Abou El Fadl’s portrayal as an enlightened reformer of Islam, arguing that his views on jihad and the jizya (poll tax) were historically inaccurate and dangerously misleading. Bostom accused Dr. Abou El Fadl of ignoring centuries of Islamic jurisprudence linking jihad and the jizya and of whitewashing the suffering inflicted on non-Muslims under this system. He contended that Dr. Abou El Fadl’s revisionism undermined genuine Islamic reform efforts and perpetuated a distorted view of its history and doctrines.
Also in 2004, Daniel Pipes, founder of the Middle East Forum, detailed a series of deeply troubling aspects concerning Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl’s positions and views. These concerns revolve around Dr. Abou El Fadl’s seemingly contradictory stance, where his reputation as a “Muslim moderate” stands in stark contrast to his advocacy for Islamic ideologies. While Dr. Abou El Fadl is known for his opposition to Wahhabism and the Saudi regime, he offers curious excuses for their actions. Furthermore, his support for Sharia (Islamic law) comes with an unsettling tendency to blur its less palatable aspects, such as punishments for adultery and the discriminatory jizya tax.
Shari’a contradicts the principles of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and the free exchange of ideas upheld in the United States. As RAIR Foundation USA has previously reported, Sharia is known for being violent, discriminatory, and openly bigoted toward non-Muslims, as well as unapologetically sexist.
It’s crucial to recognize that Sharia is the religious legal system that governs faithful Muslims’ political, social, and moral duties. It is often referred to as “Allah’s Law” and is firmly grounded in the Sunnah, the way of life of the Prophet Muhammad as recorded in the Hadith (traditions). Sharia is an organized body of rules derived from various Quranic verses and historical narrations.
For Muslims, Sharia is not optional; it is prescribed for believers (Quran 5:48). Although individual Muslims may choose which aspects to follow or ignore when living outside an Islamic state. However, Quran 33:36 emphasizes that it is not fitting for a believer to disregard any matter already decided by Allah.
Furthermore, any government that limits or opposes the implementation of God’s Law, as defined by Sharia, is viewed as an enemy of Allah and must be fought. The establishment of Sharia is a fundamental objective of Islamic terror groups and Muslims worldwide. Once an Islamic state is in place, Quran 9:29 and Sharia (o9.8) make it mandatory for Muslims to engage in combat against those Jews and Christians who refuse to convert or accept an inferior status.
Pipes also highlights Abou El Fadl’s hostility toward the West, his criticisms of Muslim liberals and freethinkers, and his cordial relations with terror Islamic organizations, such as the Holy Land Foundation and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Perhaps most concerning is Abou El Fadl’s promotion of the view that Muslims bear no responsibility for terrorism, even when evidence suggests otherwise. These revelations paint a complex picture of an individual whose public image as a so-called “moderate” scholar is at odds with his underlying true Islamic supremacist beliefs, raising significant questions about his influence and agenda within America.
Dr. Abou El Fadl’s Islamic Academic Roles
Despite these controversies, Dr. Abou El Fadl continues to hold prominent positions. He is the Omar and Azmeralda Alfi Distinguished Professor in Islamic Law at the UCLA School of Law, where he teaches courses on international human rights, Islamic jurisprudence, national security law, law and terrorism, Islam and human rights, political asylum, and political crimes and legal systems. Additionally, he holds the Chair in Islam and Citizenship at the University of Tilburg in The Netherlands.
His associations with universities, presidential administrations, government positions, schools, and organizations have also been scrutinized. Critics question why he has been allowed to represent these institutions without more extensive scrutiny, given the contentious nature of his statements.
Dr. Abou El Fadl holds a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University, a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Islamic law from Princeton University. He has received systematic instruction in Islamic jurisprudence, grammar, and “eloquence” in Egypt and Kuwait. Following his legal education, he practiced immigration and investment law in the U.S. and the Middle East and taught Islamic law (Sharia) at various institutions.
Questions About National Security
The ongoing debate surrounding Dr. Abou El Fadl’s positions and influence in the United States has led to calls for reevaluation. How can the U.S. government and elite academic institutions esteem someone like Dr. Abou El Fadl, who openly advocates for Sharia, holds radical Islamic beliefs, and has connections to terrorism? This raises significant concerns about national security and potential threats to Western governments and societies.
Call for Scrutiny
As Dr. Abou El Fadl continues to hold prominent roles, it’s essential to question the institutions, organizations, mosques, and leaders that promote and support him.
The ongoing debate about Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl’s controversial sermons and advocacy for Sharia raises urgent questions about his influence in Western academia and policy circles. His position as a distinguished professor and advisor, along with his connections to Islamic groups with terrorism allegations, requires a critical reevaluation of his roles. The discourse surrounding Dr. Abou El Fadl underscores the importance of diligence and scrutiny in safeguarding national security and upholding Western societies’ foundational values.”
