Mobile Islamic Leader Calls Hammami An "Outlaw"

The imam of the Islamic Society of Mobile said Omar Hammami is ignorant, an outlaw and a "low-life."
Sheikh Ghassan Al-Barqawi spoke Wednesday night at the University of South Alabama on current events in Islam.
Al Barqawi said Hammami "is not associated with me in any way, shape, or form. I will not allow my name to be associated with such kind of low-lifes."
The imam said Hammami hadn't associated with the Islamic Society of Mobile since the end of 2001.
He said he saw the video where Hammami pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden and concluded, "You are telling me nothing but you are an ignorant person; that people are taking advantage of you because you are an American and you have a very, very white skin."
Al-Barqawi also said Hammami's family, including his father who's the president of the Islamic Society of Mobile, should not be blamed for Hammami's actions.
The imam said. "I challenge anyone to find a better citizen of this country. To have a son, an outlaw son? So what? In almost every family, there is a bad apple."
What about the fact Hammami comes from our area?
Al-Barqawi said, "What surprises me is that people are all jumping, 'Look, he's from Daphne.' The local criminals, the local terrorists come from all villages of America."
And he said he's even offering to help authorities find Hammami.
The imam said, "I am offering my assistance, including going to Somalia to pick up that person and bring him back to America."
In a written press release, Al-Barqawi said the society has fully cooperated with federal authorities in the Hammami case from day one.