A reader of Jihad Watch picked up the phone and called the Johnstown Islamic Center, and who should answer but Imam Fouad ElBayly, who said publicly that Islam critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali should be executed: A conversation with Imam Fouad ElBayly.

I called the number and someone picked up and said hello. I said I was calling with regard to Imam Fouad ElBayly. The person on the other end said, “Speaking.” (!!!!)

Me: Is this Imam Fouad ElBayly?

ElBayly: Speaking.

Me: I understand that you called for the murder of Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

ElBayly: Oh no no, that was not correct.

Me: I have the quote right here. You said, “She has been identified as one who has defamed the faith. If you come into the faith, you must abide by the laws, and when you decide to defame it deliberately, the sentence is death.”

ElBayly: Yes, but that is not my word. That is the call of God.

Me: So you said that.

ElBayly: Before anybody gets into the relations with Islam [I couldn’t type fast enough to type everything he said] ... you don’t get into the relationship with Islam [...] what Ali did is called corruption on earth. It is worse than murder. She was disturbing the peace. That is not a peaceful life.