Photo by Joshua Lawton

Self-proclaimed former Muslim terrorist Kamal Saleem presents his argument on why terrorists "want to kill" Americans as fellow speaker Walid Shoebat listens at the Glenn Miller Ballroom on Tuesday at the University of Colorado.

In preparation for unpredictable actions born out of controversy, CU's College of Republicans made every effort to curb potential outcry from disrupting "Why We Want To Kill You" Tuesday night. The provocatively titled event took place under a heavy security blanket. Between the gated rails corralling attendees through metal detectors, signs stood posted that outlawed everything from book-bags to water bottles, and pink slips waiting on every seat in the Glenn Miller Ballroom warning people that "any disruption of a University event constitutes a violation . . . subject to appropriate penalties."

The stage was set for former terrorists Walid Shoebat and Kamel Saleem to proceed with expressing their views on the nature of Islamic terrorism against America and Israel.

"To hear from ex-terrorists, what a privilege for us; and to hear their perspective on what they were taught and the lives they lived as to hear it from the source... I don't think you can get more credible than that," said Kathleen Patrick, Chair of CU's College of Republicans.

Patrick described the extra security at the event as prompted by the Boulder Police Department and staff at the University Memorial Center (UMC) where the event was held to quell disruptive activities from the "controversy generated by misrepresentation of the event and its speakers in the media."

Misrepresentation was also a concern of many student members of CU's Muslim Student Association (MSA), who were discouraged by the prospect of the visiting speakers potentially misrepresenting Islam to audience members who have little to no other perspective on the religion.

"I hope, in walking away from this event, people will make an effort to do their own research about what they hear and not just accept it as truth without double-checking," said Amr Fayez, MSA President, who told the Colorado Daily he would not be attending the event because of his frustration with similar campus events in the past.

However, several members of the MSA did attend the event.

"I am afraid that people who came here tonight with no previous knowledge of Islam will walk away afraid of it or hating it," said Asia, CU student and MSA Member. "I almost feel like at my classes tomorrow I need to stand up and ask if anyone came here tonight to see if they want to talk to me about anything."

The evening began with Saleem's testimony of having grown up with an extremist Muslim family in Sudan, where he was taught to hate Americans and the Jewish people from an early age.

"We learned America and Israel are the Great Satan," he said, singing quotes from the Koran in Arabic. "From our childhood we were taught to fight for what is right and what is ours."

Frequently encouraging the audience to go home and "Google it," Saleem went on to cite his participation in recruiting and leading Muslim children to fight in Israel in the late '60s, followed with an explanation of how Muslim terrorists are recruited in America primarily at high schools, colleges, and prisons.

Saleem closed with a brief mention of his conversion to Christianity, his evolution past the ideals of hatred he grew up with after experiences with "three kind people" who aided him and exemplified America in the wake of a car crash he was in, and a charge for those in attendance to wake up and realize the scope of terrorism at home and abroad.

Shoebat, both more renowned and controversial in the public eye due to appearances on CNN and FOX News, began his speech with a charge to his critics, stating that they used to criticize him for not having proof of being a terrorist -- and now that it has been proved, they want him put in prison.

"These people want to put repentant terrorists in prison and free Guantanamo Bay," he said. Going on to reference his poor reception at American universities for criticizing Islam -- even though he stated specific efforts at previous speeches to criticize the evils of the history of Christianity as well -- Shoebat cited the First Amendment, saying "The day you can't criticize a religion is the downfall of this country."

The reception of Saleem and Shoebat among audience members was mixed -- nearly half of those in attendance giving standing ovations following both presentations while the other half sat quietly, clapping only when defense of Islam was offered during the lively question and answer period following the speeches.

"I thought it was great," said Erik Knutson, Senior at CU-Denver, who told the Colorado Daily following the event that he was walking home with a renewed enlightenment from previous studies of Koran.

UCSU Tri-Executive Charles Gilford III stood with MSA students near the back of the auditorium during the question-and-answer period, telling the Colorado Daily that, although the overall discussion is warranted, he felt many of the premises were biased, false and misleading to people's perceptions of an already marginalized group of people on campus.

Neither the UCSU nor the MSA are planning events in response to Saleem and Shoebat's visit.

Contact Lance Vaillancourt about this story at (303) 443-6272, ext. 125, or at vaillancourt@coloradodaily.com.