Unification Church

=== Islam ===

The ''Divine Principle'' lists the [[Muslim world]] as one of the world's four major divisions (the others being [[East Asia]], [[Hinduism|Hindu]], and [[Christendom]]).<ref>[http://www.unification.net/dp96/dp96-1-3.html#Chap3 Exposition of the Divine Principle 1996 Translation Chapter 3 Eschatology and Human History], accessed September 3, 2010</ref> Unification movement support for [[Islamist]] [[anti-communists]] came to public attention in 1987 when church member [[Lee Shapiro]] was killed in [[Afghanistan]] during the [[Soviet–Afghan War]] while filming a documentary.<ref name="findarticles.com">[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1079/is_n2132_v88/ai_6536321/pg_29 Afghanistan: eight years of Soviet occupation], [[United States Department of State]], March 1988, The campaign to target foreign journalists had more tragic results. Two American filmmakers, Lee Shapiro and Jim Lindelof, were apparently killed by a regime attack while traveling with the mujahidin. In 1986, Lindelof had been named paramedic of the year for his efforts training Afghan medical workers. In response to protests, Kabul stated it could not "guarantee the security of foreign subjects" who enter illegally, whose presence it views as "evidence" of "external interference".</ref><ref name="2 Americans killed in ambush">[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=glp&search=lee%20shapiro%20afghanistan&img=\\na0041\6800035\56050638_clean.html 2 Americans killed in ambush], ''Pacific Stars and Stripes'', October 29, 1987</ref> The resistance group they were traveling with reported that they had been ambushed by military forces of the [[Soviet Union]] or the [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghan government]]. However, the details have been questioned, partly because of the poor reputation of the group's leader, [[Gulbuddin Hekmatyar]].<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/1987/1028/oed.html Two US journalists reported killed in Afghanistan; details murky], ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', October 28, 1987 "Two American journalists are believed dead in northwest Afghanistan, diplomatic and resistance forces say here. Filmmaker Lee Shapiro and his soundman, Jim Lindalos, both of New York, were killed Oct. 11, reportedly in a Soviet or Afghan government ambush, according to United States consular officials. However, the resistance group that accompanied the film team has a poor reputation among most informed observers, and doubts have arisen over whether the two Americans did indeed die in an Afghan government or Soviet attack."</ref><ref>Kaplan, Robert, ''Soldiers of God : With Islamic Warriors in Afghanistan and Pakistan,'' New York : Vintage Departures, 2001, p. 170</ref>

The Muslim advocacy group [[Council on American–Islamic Relations]] listed ''The Washington Times'' among media outlets it said "regularly demonstrates or supports Islamophobic themes."<ref name="deseretnews.com">{{Cite news|last=Winston|first=Kimberly|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656561/Report-says-list-of-6Islamophobic-groups7-reaches-new-high.html|title=Report says list of 'Islamophobic groups' reaches new high|date=June 20, 2016|work=[[Deseret News]]|access-date=December 25, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418035701/https://www.deseret.com/2016/6/20/20590586/report-says-list-of-islamophobic-groups-reaches-new-high|archive-date=April 18, 2020|agency=[[Religion News Service]]}}</ref> In 1998, the Egyptian newspaper ''[[Al-Ahram]]'' wrote that its editorial policy was "rabidly anti-[[Arab people|Arab]], anti-Muslim and pro-Israel."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nafie|first=Ibrahim|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1998/403/op1.htm|title=The same old game|date=November 12–18, 1998|work=[[Al-Ahram]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215193404/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1998/403/op1.htm|archive-date=February 15, 2009|issue=403|author-link=Ebrahim Nafae}}</ref> In 1997, the ''[[Washington Report on Middle East Affairs]]'' (which is critical of United States and Israeli policies), praised ''The Washington Times'' and the ''Times''{{'}} sister publication ''[[News World Communications|The Middle East Times]]'' (along with ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' owned by the [[Church of Christ, Scientist]]) for their objective and informative coverage of Islam and the Middle East, while criticizing the ''Times'' generally pro-Israel editorial policy. The ''Report'' suggested that these newspapers, being owned by religious organizations, were less influenced by pro-Israel pressure groups in the United States.<ref name="wrmea.com" />

In 2000 the FFWPU co-sponsored the [[Million Family March]], a rally in [[Washington, D.C.]], to celebrate [[family]] unity and [[Race (classification of human beings)|racial]] and [[Religion|religious]] harmony, along with the [[Nation of Islam]].<ref name="archives.cnn.com" /> [[Louis Farrakhan]], the leader of The Nation of Islam, was the main speaker at the event which was held on 16 October 2000; the fifth anniversary of the [[Million Man March]], which was also organized by Farrakhan.<ref name="ReferenceC" /> Unification Church leader [[Dan Fefferman]] wrote to his colleagues acknowledging that Farrakhan's and Moon's views differed on multiple issues but shared a view of a "God-centered family".<ref name="clarkson" /> In 2007 Rev and Mrs Moon sent greetings to Farrakhan while he was recovering from cancer, saying: "We send love and greetings to Minister Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah."<ref>[http://www.frostillustrated.com/full.php?sid=443&current_edition=2007-01-31 Prayers for Minister Farrakhan health, recovery continue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711045256/http://www.frostillustrated.com/full.php?sid=443&current_edition=2007-01-31 |date=2011-07-11 }}, ''Frost Illustrated'', January 31, 2007</ref>

In the 1990s and 2000s the Unification Movement made public statements claiming communications with the spirits of religious leaders including [[Muhammad]] and also [[Confucius]], the [[Buddha]], [[Jesus]], and [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]], as well as political leaders such as [[Karl Marx]], [[Friedrich Engels]], [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]], [[Joseph Stalin]], [[Leon Trotsky]], [[Mao Zedong]] and many more. This was reported to have distanced the movement from Islam as well as from mainstream Christianity.<ref>[http://www.uc-history.us/ Unification Church of America History] by Lloyd Pumphrey</ref> From 2001 to 2009 the Unification movement owned the [[American Life TV Network]] (now known as Youtoo TV),<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966145.html?categoryid=2522&cs=1|title=American Life TV targets baby boomers|first=John|last=Dempsey|magazine=Variety|date=2007-06-01|access-date=2007-10-09}}</ref> which in 2007 broadcast [[George Clooney]]'s documentary ''[[A Journey to Darfur]]'', which was harshly critical of Islamists in [[Darfur]], the [[Republic of Sudan]].<ref name="variety.com">[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966145.html?categoryid=2522&cs=1 American Life TV targets baby boomers: Channel airing Clooney's Darfur docu] [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]], June 1, 2007</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100/article/0,28804,1595326_1615754_1615880,00.html|title=The 2007 Time 100 |first=Ishmael|last=Beah|magazine=Time|date=3 May 2007|access-date=19 January 2019|via=content.time.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/11/ap/entertainment/mainD8MJ771O0.shtml Clooney's Docu on Darfur to Air Monday] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101030249/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/11/ap/entertainment/mainD8MJ771O0.shtml |date=2008-11-01 }}</ref> It released the film on [[DVD]] in 2008 and announced that proceeds from its sale would be donated to the [[International Rescue Committee]].<ref>[http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Americanlife-Tv-838350.html AmericanLife TV Network (ALN) Donates Proceeds From "A Journey to Darfur" DVD to the International Rescue Committee] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113181149/http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Americanlife-Tv-838350.html |date=2009-01-13 }}</ref> In his 2009 autobiography Moon praised Islam and expressed the hope that there would be more understanding between different religious communities.<ref name="moon-peace" /> In 2011, representatives of the Unification Church took part in an international seminar which was held in [[Taiwan]] by the [[Muslim World League]]. The said purpose of the seminar was to encourage interfaith dialogue and discourage people from resorting to [[terrorism]].<ref>[http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=151185&ctNode=445 World Muslim League plans seminar for Taiwan], ''Taiwan Today'', February 16, 2011</ref>