Campbell's Islamist 'Outreach'

The great thing about climbing into bed with Islamists is that it affords you so many "diverse" marketing oppportunities.

Update: From the Toronto Star:

...In 2007, ISNA was named as an “unindictable co-conspirator” by U.S. prosecutors in a case against a charitable organization that allegedly funneled money to Hamas.

The organization has denied any ties to Hamas, a listed terrorist organization in Canada. It has also specifically condemned religious extremism.

Muhammad Haroon, a spokesman for ISNA Canada, reiterated: “We don’t have any links to any of these kinds of organizations.”

Since its creation Oct. 5, a Facebook group called “Boycott Campbell Soup” had garnered just over 4,000 “likes” as of Tuesday, not to mention offensive images such as a Campbell’s soup can adorned with a logo displaying a machine gun.

The soup giant is standing behind the ISNA Canada halal certification, in turn giving the organization its stamp of approval.

“We did our due diligence at the time we certified and we’ve subsequently asked additional questions,” said Faulkner. “We’re confident that there’s no truth to the accusations.”

According to Campbell Canada spokeswoman Melanie Rockliff, using ISNA came at the recommendation of other companies which also carry their halal certification, like packaged meat producer Maple Lodge Farms.

Faulkner said the backlash from the blogosphere hasn’t affected the bottom line and that the company will continue producing halal products in its Toronto plant for Canadian consumers.

He noted there is a sizeable Muslim population in Toronto and Montreal, a market the company wanted to tap into...

No doubt. As for there being no truth in the accusations re ISNA's propensities--dream on, Mr. Faulkner, dream on.

Update: From JihadWatch:

We call upon Campbells to

1. Investigate ISNA;

2. Offer the infidels, kuffar, non-believers, and victims of jihad a formal written apology;

3. Review the documentation and evidence entered into the largest terrorist funding trial in human history, the Holy Land Foundation trial;

4. Participate in FDI's sensitivity and diversity training.

Good luck with that, FDI. You're far more likely to get more of the same--stonewalling, delusion and denial.

Update: From ISNA's 2005 taqiyyah-replete Fatwa against terrorism and religious extremism:

"Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilian life and property through suicide bombings or any other method is haram - or forbidden - and those who commit such barbaric acts are criminals, not 'martyrs'.

In the light of the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah we clearly and strongly state:

All acts of terrorism targeting civilians are haram (forbidden) in Islam.

It is haram for a Muslim to cooperate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence.

It is the civic and religious duty of Muslims to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to protect the lives of all civilians.

We issue this fatwa following the guidance of our scripture, the Qur'an, and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him."

They must be reading from a different Koran than the one in my local library--the one with Mo's take on "terror" ("And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to terrorize thereby the enemy of Allah"; 8:6), the one with the passage (the notorious "Verse of the Sword," 9:5) comanding the faithful to wage jihad on the kafir until such time as Islam prevails everywhere, for all time.