Haitham Bundakji
Encyclopedia
Haitham Bundakji was President of the Islamic Society of Orange County, the largest Muslim
organization in the western United States
, located in Garden Grove
, California
. Among the members of his mosque in 1997 were Adam Yahiye Gadahn and Joseph Adams
, who he initially helped teach. When Bundakji later found out how violent the men were, he permanently kicked them out of the ISOC mosque.
Bundakji was born in Jerash
, Jordan
, but his ancestors are from Syrian decent.
He has acknowledged hating Jews, assaulting them and getting into fist-fights, when he was younger. But he later renounced extremism and violence, and has become known for his work to build bridges with other faiths. He publicly apologized for his behavior and admitted his wrong doing. Bundakji now works as a volunteer Chaplain for the Garden Grove Police Department concerning public welfare and advocates world peace among all people of the world, especially to the Middle East.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
organization in the western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
, located in Garden Grove
Garden Grove
There are at least three places in the United States named Garden Grove:* Garden Grove, California* Garden Grove, Iowa* Garden Grove, Florida"Garden Grove" could also refer to:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Among the members of his mosque in 1997 were Adam Yahiye Gadahn and Joseph Adams
Khalil al-Deek
Khalil Said al-Deek – , aka Joseph Adams after 1996 was a dual US-Jordanian citizen who came to USA to study computer science....
, who he initially helped teach. When Bundakji later found out how violent the men were, he permanently kicked them out of the ISOC mosque.
Bundakji was born in Jerash
Jerash
Jerash, the Gerasa of Antiquity, is the capital and largest city of Jerash Governorate , which is situated in the north of Jordan, north of the capital Amman towards Syria...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, but his ancestors are from Syrian decent.
He has acknowledged hating Jews, assaulting them and getting into fist-fights, when he was younger. But he later renounced extremism and violence, and has become known for his work to build bridges with other faiths. He publicly apologized for his behavior and admitted his wrong doing. Bundakji now works as a volunteer Chaplain for the Garden Grove Police Department concerning public welfare and advocates world peace among all people of the world, especially to the Middle East.