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CAN activist reports confrontation at Islamic camp

(Christian Action Network) YORK South Carolina – A CAN field activist visiting Muslims of America camp properties Wednesday, Oct. 24, in response to an open invitation from Sheikh Mubarak Ali Shah Gilani, reported a frightful confrontation after leaving one of those compounds.

Jason Campbell said after a cordial visit to the Muslim closed community in York, South Carolina, as he was driving away on Charlotte Highway, leaving David Street, a “maniac driver” was soon tailing him.

His visit to the camp had yielded little or no activity taking place, the men of the camp were conspicuously absent. Several women and children on location were very kind, and Campbell was able to visit a compound shop as well.

The confrontational incident took place on the road after leaving the camp.

He was on the phone to CAN President Martin Mawyer at the time, and he was honestly unaware at first of any connection between the driver and the Muslims of America camp he had just left.

As a precaution, a CAN News reporter began noting the incident, and calls went out to local police – CAN office personnel were soon alerted, and Campbell fired up a video recorder to document the incident.

“He’s from the compound?” Mawyer said.

“I think he’s from the camp,” Campbell replied, “I’m really worried about this guy.”

Campbell took a faster pace on the rural road, at times topping 60 m.p.h. – and he cut to the center to keep the pursuit vehicle from drawing along side.

“Is he still following you? Why don’t you pull over and see what he wants,” Mawyer said.

“I don’t think I want him up along side me – you never know, he might be trying to shoot me,” Campbell said.

A stopping point presented itself as both vehicles approached a lighted intersection. With Campbell’s video rolling, the pursuing vehicle drew along side him and the window went down.

A man called out, “If you get back on that property, I’m going to get you. You’re not allowed there, it’s private property.”

“Well, Sheikh Gilani said anyone’s allowed to visit, that it’s welcome to anyone,” Campbell replied.

“No, not you, it’s not open to you,” the man said. “If you come back again, I will have you arrested.”

Mawyer heard portions of the altercation over the phone. “So, they weren’t as nice to you as you thought they’d be?” he asked, and the two shared a moment of laughter. “So, are your nerves calmed down yet?”

Campbell said he was eager to visit another camp, but he had had enough for one day. “I think I like this, I want to do this again,” he said.

“Are you telling me you’re becoming an adrenaline junkie?” Mawyer said.

A missed opportunity: the pursuing man missed his chance to yell out in a deeply Pakistani accent, “You – you are very, very bad man!”

CAN activists are attempting to visit and report on the Muslims of America camps out of concern for possible paramilitary activities including training suspected as taking place at the camps.

Visit footage as well as other material information is being gathered as part of a major CAN fact finding project, details of which are soon to be published.