Washington, USA – Two individuals with past links to terrorist organizations, al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), have been appointed to the US President's Advisory Committee. One is Ismail Royer, who previously served a prison sentence for involvement in terrorism-related activities, and the other is Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, a former extremist associated with Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Their appointments were made under the Trump administration to the Advisory Board of Lay Leaders, which operates under the Religious Liberty Commission. Both individuals are recognized figures in Islamic scholarship in the United States. However, their inclusion has sparked criticism, with concerns raised over allowing individuals with extremist backgrounds to be part of a presidential advisory group. This development is cited as another sign of disorder during Trump's second term. The committee’s role is to advise the President on matters relating to religious freedom and belief systems.
Who is Ismail Royer?
Born Randall Todd Royer, he is an American citizen who converted to Islam in 1992 and took the name Ismail. He has had connections with Lashkar-e-Taiba, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, the Virginia Jihad Network, and Hamas in Palestine. In 2000, he went to Pakistan for terrorist training and aimed to recruit others to fight against the US. He was also involved in training someone for an RPG attack on military sites in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2003, he was arrested for allegedly supporting al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba, received a 20-year prison sentence, and was released in 2017. He now serves as a director at the Religious Freedom Institute in the US.
Who is Sheikh Hamza Yusuf?
Yusuf co-founded Zaytuna College, the first Muslim liberal arts college in the US, which includes teachings of Sharia law. He has been linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, with reports suggesting ongoing associations. His teachings reportedly influenced individuals with extremist tendencies. Additionally, he once voiced support for Jameel al-Amin, who was convicted of killing a US law enforcement officer—an event that occurred shortly before the 9/11 attacks. Yusuf was questioned by the FBI and remains one of the most influential Islamic scholars in the Muslim world.
