Ali Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf were recently appointed to the newly established Advisory Board of Lay Leaders in the White House by US President Donald Trump, according to the Religious Liberty Commission. The announcement comes as conservative commentator Lara Loomer’s claims that both officials have ties to extremist ideas and” jihadist” actions have come under increasing scrutiny. Royer is named as the chairman of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute in a formal declaration from the White House, highlighting his campaigning efforts and efforts to advance interracial peace. With a long history of scientific engagement, including as an assistant at Berkeley’s Center for Islamic Studies, Haykh Hamza Yusuf is described as a renowned Islamic scholar and co-founder of Zaytuna College, the second accredited Muslim democratic arts college in the United States. However, their meetings have drawn criticism because of their alleged previous associations. Salim Royer, who is he?
- Ali Royer, who was born Randall Todd Royer, converted to Islam in 1992.
- He afterwards joined a number of Muslim advocacy organizations after receiving instruction from conventional Muslim scholars.
- Yet, Royer’s history has a dark side; in 2004, he admitted guilt to terrorism-related costs and received a 20-year prison sentence for his involvement in the so-called” Virginia Jihad Network.”
- In a statement from the US Department of Justice, Royer admitted to helping others with recruiting at a Lashkar-e-Taiba ( LET ) training camp in Pakistan.
- He also acknowledged aiding a co-defendant in training for rocket-propelled grenades in connection with a Jammu and Kashmir conflict with the American troops.
- Before being freed in 2017, he served 13 years and has since publicly distanced himself from aggressive fanaticism, focusing on his job for religious freedom.
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf: Who is He?
- Hamza Yusuf is well known in Western Muslim circles as a proponent of interfaith dialogue and historical Muslim scholarship.
- He converted to Islam, co-founded Zaytuna College in California, and has held several consulting positions in the state department, including on the state agency’s Commission on Rights Rights during the Trump presidency.
- Despite his widespread appeal, Lara Loomer and other critics have accused Yusuf of downplaying ideology ideas and maintaining direct ties with organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, accusations he has not immediately addressed.
- However, his supporters see him as a moderate voice who has regularly condemned extremism and promoted tolerance among beliefs.
