dr. maher hathout

Former LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Downing on Police Reform, Counterterrorism & ICE

civil liberties

Community Policing

Counterterrorism

dr. maher hathout

muslim public affairs council

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

On August 25, 2026 By MPAC

In this episode of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with longtime colleague Mike Downing, former LAPD Deputy Chief and head of the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. Reflecting on a 35-year law enforcement career spanning the 1965 Watts Riots to the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising, Downing breaks down what it takes to build authentic community-led policing, why federal consent decrees were essential to institutional LAPD reform, and the critical difference between local community police and militarized agencies like ICE. Salam and Mike also engage in a direct, candid discussion regarding post-9/11 counterterrorism policies, intelligence gathering, the roots of radicalization, and the ongoing stigmatization of American Muslim civil rights organizations. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & 35 Years on the LAPD Force 03:56 - Smart Policing vs. Hunting & Pursuing 08:32 - The 1992 Uprising, Christopher Commission & Federal Consent Decree 12:12 - America’s Homelessness Failure & Systemic Solutions 16:36 - Defund the Police Debate & Quasi-Military Structures 19:12 - Suspicious Activity Reporting, Intelligence & Community Trust 28:23 - Comparing Gang Dynamics to Counterterrorism & Radicalization 30:08 - The Problem with ICE: Excessive Force & Lack of Accountability 36:47 - Civil Rights Engagement: CAIR, MPAC & The Legacy of Dr. Maher Hathout Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Extremism: Between Wrong Policy and Corrupt Ideology (Dr. Maher Hathout)

dr. maher hathout

islamic terrorism

Muslim Public Affairs Council (Organization)

muslim terrorism

muslim terrorists

religious freedom

On December 31, 2014 By MPAC

-- A session from MPAC's 2014 Convention -- Dr. Maher Hathout, MPAC Senior Adviser, discusses religious freedom and the root causes of extremism.

Convention Banquet: “25 Years on the Road Less Traveled”

all saints church

california muslim judge

dr. maher hathout

hoda elshishtawy

judge halim dhanidina

On December 23, 2013 By MPAC

Featuring highlights from MPAC's 25 years of service, the banquet showcased a poignant video sharing MPAC's early days with a modest $30,000 budget to today's major inroads in politics, media, law enforcement and interfaith work. A Community Leadership Award was presented to Judge Halim Dhanidina, the first Muslim judge appointed in California. The climax of the evening took place when three speakers stepped forward to honor the man who played a central with the establishment, growth & success of MPAC. This included poet and hip-hop artist Omar Offendum, who also performed one of Dr. Hathout's poems for the audience; Hoda Elshishtawy, MPAC's National Policy Analyst; and the Rev. Ed Bacon of All Saints Church, Pasadena. To continue the celebratory tone of the evening, the audience enjoyed the music and dance of AKNU. A trio of Muslim brothers from Los Angeles, AKNU is a high-spirited group that performed in the 2013 season of "The X Factor."

A Message from Dr. Maher Hathout

dr. maher hathout

Muslim Public Affairs Council (Organization)

On October 22, 2013 By MPAC

As some of you may have heard, our beloved leader, Dr. Maher Hathout, has recently taken ill. He has been diagnosed with a form of liver cancer and is undergoing consultations with appropriate specialists to determine a further course of action. Dr. Maher and his family would like to express their overwhelming appreciation for your love and concern. Due to his condition at this time, he will not be receiving any visitors or taking any phone calls. Also, we ask that you refrain from sending any cards, flowers or gifts. If you would like to send a message, please email hathoutfamily@mpac.org or you may share your thoughts & prayers in the comment section below. We continue to be blessed with his wisdom and spiritual leadership.