Inside the state Capitol on Tuesday, more than 100 Florida Muslims joined the ranks of dozens of other groups who make the trek to Tallahassee during session to lobby their legislators. The Florida Muslim Capitol Day attendees were largely indistinguishable from the other groups throughout the building as they met with lawmakers, studied appointment calendars and waited for the Capitol's astonishingly slow elevators.

But their visit prompted House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, of Delray Beach, to hold a press conference on the west steps of the capitol to question the group's leader, Ahmed Bedier.

"I've said it all along and I will say it again: Everyone, every Floridian has the right to come to Tallahassee and to petition their government," Hasner said. "And I encourage all Floridians to participate and to have their voices heard on the issues that are important to our state. But what is fundamental to our democracy is responsibility, accountability and transparency, and the people of Florida and my fellow legislators have the right to know about the well-documented information about the person who is leading this group."

Last month, in an e-mail that was forwarded to Jewish lobbyists,
Hasner asked about starting “an information campaign in opposition to”
Florida Muslim Capitol Day, sponsored by the Tampa-based nonprofit
United Voices for America.

The group was founded by Bedier, who once led the Tampa office of the Council on American-Islamic relations.

Tuesday’s press conference brought in several people who study
terrorism to outline what they say are links between Bedier and the
terrorist group Hamas, because of his former job at CAIR.

Bedier has called the allegation “ridiculous” and “nonsense,” and he
has said his job with CAIR was to advocate for equal rights for Muslims.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Bedier said:

“This day is about including all Floridians in the political
process, celebrating diversity and promoting civic participation for
the betterment of the entire state. … All people of conscience should
unite in repudiating those who seek to divide Floridians along ethnic,
racial or religious lines.”

BREANNE GILPATRICK