A special interest organization purportedly founded to promote Islamic jurisprudence, the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA) claims to “lead the Muslim community into a better understanding of the practice of the religion of Islam in Western societies.” The organization refuses to condemn Hamas. In 2009, AMJA issued a fatwa which urged the reader not to criticize Hamas, saying it “is not the time to discuss the errors of Hamas or any other Palestinian groups.” AMJA member Waleed Basyouni taught that Hamas is not a terrorist group.