Robert Spencer

OVERVIEW

Robert Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch, a program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He has no formal academic training in Islamic studies but has authored over 25 books, three of which reached the New York Times Best Seller list.

KEY ACTIVITIES

Spencer co-founded Stop Islamization of America / American Freedom Defense Initiative with Pamela Geller in 2010. He has given seminars to U.S. Central Command, the Army Command and General Staff College, the FBI, and the U.S. intelligence community.

BANS & CONTROVERSIES

Spencer was banned from the United Kingdom in June 2013 by Home Secretary Theresa May, whose office stated his presence was "not conducive to the public good." His books have been banned in Pakistan and Malaysia.

Anders Behring Breivik, the 2011 Norway attacker, cited Spencer 64 times in his manifesto.

DESIGNATIONS

The SPLC profiles Spencer in its Extremist Files. Both SPLC and ADL consider Jihad Watch an active hate group due to "extreme hostility toward Muslims."