Rallying to the defense of Hathout

Re “Plans to Honor L.A. Muslim Leader Bring Out Animosity,” Sept. 12

I watch my father, Maher Hathout, defend himself against vile and defamatory attacks. What has he done to bring on this wrath?

He has spent the entire span of my life speaking the truth about Islam and defining the Muslim American identity. He has started interfaith dialogues, met with presidents and led the Muslim community. For these and other activities, the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations sought to honor him.

The wrath of these extremists is because my father, an American, exercised his right to free speech and criticized the government of Israel for atrocities against Palestinian civilians.

My father fled Egypt to escape tyranny. What a shame it followed him here.

SUMMER HATHOUT-BLACKSHIRE

Pasadena

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Hathout is an American citizen being honored by an American organization for his work to build bridges between American people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds. What does Israel have to do with this? And please don’t go calling me an anti-Semite because, as someone of Arab ethnicity, I am also a Semite -- a fact that seems to escape much of the world.

DIMAH ATAWNEH-SHARIF

Glendale

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As an active member of the Los Angeles Jewish community, I thank Daniel Sokatch for his Op-Ed article, “The right men for the awards” (Sept. 14). I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I have worked with Hathout and Salam Al-Marayati. As Sokatch points out, we don’t necessarily agree on every issue -- but then I don’t agree with L.A.’s Jewish leadership on every issue either. However, I have found Hathout, Al-Marayati and the Muslim Public Affairs Council to be active, gifted, courageous and thoughtful contributors to building better interfaith relationships in our complex, diverse community. They deserve to be supported, not undermined. How better to work through our disagreements?

CLAIRE E. GORFINKEL

Altadena