The Pentagon is set to host an essay competition at the National Defense University to come up with a fitting tribute to the life and leadership of Saudi Arabia's late King Abdullah who died on January 23 but Muslim American groups have slammed the move.

General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the sponsor of the essay competition, was slammed by the group which said the essays would only serve to highlight Saudi's monarchy.

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The President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, released a statement saying the essay competition is a misguided attempt to honor the leader as his regime was one of the worst totalitarian regimes in the world.

"If Gen. Dempsey wants an essay about the inhumanity of the king's reign, that would be fine," said Jasser.

Jasser, an American citizen, has served 11 years in the U.S. Navy. 

Jasser's statement presents a stark contrast to the Pentagon's press release about the essay writing last week, which explained that the contest will focus on the issue of the Arab-Muslim world and that it would honor the late King Abdullah.

Gen. Dempsey described the late king as a man of courage and remarkable character. The press release also said that it would challenge the writers to think strategically and to research about a "crucial part of the world".

According to the press release, the essay writing competition is set to transpire in the next academic year and will be open to all the students of the said university. However, the executive director of the Muslim American Society Immigrant Justice Center, Khalilah Sabra, said the essay contest will only maintain the false story about Abdullah being a moderate leader and an ally to the West.

On the other hand, Col. Edward W. Thomas, Jr., the spokesman for Dempsey, said the essay contest aimed to encouraged people to write about thoughtful discussions regarding the many issues of the Middle East.

TagsKing Abdullah, essay contest, National Defense University