cair-net Digest of: get.1001_1100
Topics (messages 1001 through 1100):
CAIR-NET: Muslims Urged to Participate in Primaries
1001 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: DC Charity Event May Have Terror Link
1002 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Arab Group Endorses Kucinich/Perle Must Resign
1003 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'I Am Muslim, I Am American, I Vote'
1004 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Louisiana Teacher Removed After Hijab Incident
1005 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Seeking Electoral Clout, Muslims Register to Vote
1006 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Mother in Ohio Forced to Leave Children
1007 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Rulings Halt Deportation of Ohio Muslim Mother
1008 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ask Congress to Defend Religious Freedom in France
1009 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Writers Smear Islam and Hajj
1010 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Calif. Contest Shows Muslim Hopefuls' Plight
1011 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Vote May Shift to Dems/Reps Sign Hijab Letter
1012 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: One Person Can Make a Difference
1013 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NY Rep Calls Mosque Leaders 'An Enemy Amongst Us'
1014 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Alabama License Hijab Ban Draws Protest
1015 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Award for Robertson Irks Muslims/Rep. King Responds
1016 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: DNC Condemns NY Rep's 'Hate-Filled' Remarks
1017 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ask Your Senator to Defend Academic Freedom
1018 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ohio Muslim Mother Will Sue to Halt Deportation
1019 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. May Veto Islamic Law in Iraq/Don't Misread Quran
1020 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Form Election Task Force
1021 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Chaplain's Hearing Postponed for 5th Time
1022 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Athlete in GA Strives for Olympic Gold
1023 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Response to Rep. King - Who's 'Extremist?'
1024 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Alabama Driver's Photo Rule Changed to Allow Hijab
1025 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: VA Paintballer Acquitted/Apartheid Enforcers in Iraq
1026 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NJ School Board Debates Adding Muslim Holidays
1027 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Corzine, Pascrell Condemn Anti-Muslim Smears
1028 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Scam Targets U.S. Muslims/Islamic Democracy
1029 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Californians to Protest Dornan's Islamophobia
1030 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FBI Director Thanks U.S. Muslims/MD Muslims Sue
1031 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Fire at Texas Mosque 'Intentionally Set'
1032 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Imam Shares 'Passion' Reaction/Don't Blame Islam
1033 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CA College Investigates Anti-Muslim Discrimination
1034 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ohio School's Mosque Trip Yanked
1035 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NY Muslim Worker Allowed to Attend Friday Prayers
1036 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Anti-Hijab Prof Resigns/Muslim Worker Wins Suit
1037 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Urged to Vote on 'Super Tuesday'
1038 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Getting Out the Muslim Vote/Charities 'Witch Hunt'
1039 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Killings in Iraq, Pakistan
1040 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Rep. King's Book Creates Stir/'Torture Lite' Takes Hold
1041 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Capital One Apologizes/CAIR Opens Office in Tampa
1042 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ohio Muslim Mother's Appeal Denied
1043 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Guilty Plea in NY Anti-Muslim Hate Crime Case
1044 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Girl Scouts Harassed in Virginia
1045 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Texas Mosque Vandalized with Racist Graffiti
1046 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Kucinich Meets TX Muslims/King Renews Attacks
1047 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Post-9/11 Opposition to Mosques/DNC Condemns King
1048 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ann Coulter Says Muslims 'Smell Bad'
1049 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Rep. King Receives 'Thousands of E-Mails'
1050 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Madrid Bombings Condemned/Muslim Political Clout
1051 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: RCMP Asked to Stop Con Artist Who Targets Muslims
1052 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Foster Parents Needed/Muslims in Mississippi
1053 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Army Wrong to Ask for Texas Islam Meeting Info
1054 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FCC Complaint Filed Over Islamophobic Radio Skit
1055 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Calif. Radio Station Apologizes for Islamophobic Skit
1056 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Arab-Americans Carry Weight in Pivotal States
1057 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Meet Spanish Ambassador to Offer Condolences
1058 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: West Must Back 'Modernist' Muslims - Study
1059 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Against Terror/Army Drops Charges Against Yee
1060 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Assassination of Sheikh Yassin
1061 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'Dear Abby' Reader Praises Muslim Kindness
1062 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Publish 'Jesus' Ad in California
1063 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Cincinnati Muslims Host Share-a-Meal Feast
1064 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Interfaith Leaders Refute Rep. King's Remarks
1065 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Troubled by U.S. Veto of U.N. Resolution on Israel
1066 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Ask Police to Investigate Mosque Hate Crime
1067 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Conference Stresses Open-Mindedness
1068 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Minnesota Mannequin's Garb Angers Muslims
1069 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Welcome Justice Dept. Hijab Defense
1070 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Mutilation of Bodies in Iraq
1071 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Group Protests Deportation of OH Woman
1072 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Major Study of American Muslims to be Released
1073 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Seek Probe of Iraq Photo/Anti-Islam E-Mail Rejected
1074 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FBI Urged to Investigate Texas Arson Fires
1075 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: EEOC Files Burger King Suit/CAIR-Cincinnati Opens
1076 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Third Muslim Business Torched in Texas
1077 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Deported Ohio Muslim Mother Spends Night in Park
1078 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Florida Muslim Woman Assaulted in Mall
1079 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Since '94 Horror, Rwandans Turn to Islam
1080 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Imam's Wife Assaulted at Maryland Mosque
1081 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: MD Lawmakers Issue Rebuke Over Islam E-Mail
1082 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR to Call for Release of Iraq Hostages, Ceasefire
1083 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims in U.S. Voice Concern About Iraq
1084 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Anti-Muslim Arson Suspect Caught in Texas
1085 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Americans Will Flex Political Muscle
1086 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Florida Muslim Child Assaulted in School
1087 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Important Alert for CAIR-NET Subscribers
1088 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Marine Under Investigation for Iraq Photo
1089 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 5 Years for Blades in Carry-On/Islamic Texts Crumble
1090 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Secret Service Bars Muslim Guard From DC Hotel Floor
1091 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Restricts Detentions/Correction to 'Secret Service'
Story
1092 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Chaplain Cleared of All Charges
1093 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Mosque Leaders Asked to Sign Up 100 CAIR Members
1094 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Launches 'Hate Hurts America' Radio Campaign
1095 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR-Ohio to Announce Diversity Contest Awardees
1096 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: AZ Police Reach Out to Muslims/Turning Into Israel?
1097 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Will See Bush 'Green Light' for Assassination
1098 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Yee's Muzzle/Jewish Group Cancels Anti-Muslim Speaker
1099 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FBI Probes Threat Against Texas Muslims
1100 by: cair.cair-net.org
---------------------------------
Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast
with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut.
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
<br><p>
<hr size=1>
Don't get soaked. Take a<a href="
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/?fr=oni_on_mail&#news"> quick
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In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #413
MUSLIMS URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN PRIMARIES
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/29/2004) - CAIR is urging American Muslims who are
registered voters to exercise their civic duty by taking part in state
primary elections. (See the schedule of state primaries at the end of
this
alert.) Beyond voting, a citizen may also get involved in the political
process at the grassroots level.
Those who voted in their primary should attend precinct conventions.
Precinct conventions are the building blocks of political parties. The
purpose of the precinct convention is to: (a) elect delegates to the
county
convention (b) make a party platform
Anyone who votes in a party’s primary is eligible to participate in the
party’s precinct convention. Precinct conventions are usually held in
the
polling place the day of the primary election after the polls close.
Rules
governing precinct conventions vary depending on the state. SEE:
http://www.statelocalgov.net/
To find out more about becoming a delegate for the Democratic,
Republican,
Libertarian, or Green Party, go to:
http://www.democrats.org/
http://www.gop.com/ContactUs/Default.aspx
http://www.gp.org/
http://www.lp.org/
Schedule of Primaries
February 3
Arizona
Delaware
Missouri
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
February 6-9
Democrats Abroad
February 7
Michigan
Washington
February 8
Maine
February 10
Tennessee
Virginia
February 14
District of Columbia
Nevada
February 17
Wisconsin
February 24
Hawaii
Idaho
Utah
March 2
California
Connecticut
Georgia
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New York
Ohio
Rhode Island
Vermont
March 8
American Samoa
March 9
Florida
Louisiana
Mississippi
Texas
March 13
Kansas
March 16
Illinois
March 20
Alaska
Guam
Wyoming
April 13
Colorado
April 17
Virgin Islands
April 27
Pennsylvania
May 4
Indiana
North Carolina
May 11
Nebraska
West Virginia
May 18
Arkansas
Kentucky
Oregon
June 1
Alabama
South Dakota
June 6
Puerto Rico
June 8
Montana
New Jersey
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
--- CLIP AND MAIL/FAX/E-MAIL ---
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$___________. Enclosed is my check, payable to CAIR. Basic CAIR
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SEND TO: CAIR, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
FAX: 202-488-0833 E-MAIL: membership@cair-net.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/29/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LITTLE AND SUFFICIENT
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: MICHIGAN
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: ‘MOHAMMEDANS’ IN FL ELECTION (SP Times)
* CAIR-OHIO: VIGIL FOR FAMILY FACING DEPORTATION
* CAIR-LA: MISCONCEPTIONS OF JIHAD (Daily Bruin)
- Cultural Groups Bring Laughs (Daily Northwestern)
- Speaker Explores Mid-East Culture (Daily Nebraskan)
* DC: CHARITY EVENT MAY HAVE TERRORIST LINK (Wash. Post)
- The Iran Connection (Washington Post)
* FBI CHIEF PULLED OVER HANDLING OF TERROR CASE (Detroit News)
* DC-AREA MUSLIMS MARK END OF HAJJ WITH PRAYERS, FESTIVAL
- CAIR-LA: Muslims Urge Voter Registration (PE)
- Muslims From Around World Gather For Hajj (AP)
- FL: Islamic Group Plans Open House (Orlando Sentinel)
- TX: Muslim Anticipates Holy Journey (SA Express)
* CAIR-CAN WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC ARAR INQUIRY
- Canada Will Probe U.S. Deportation Case (AP)
* PATRIOT ACT AUTHOR SUPPORTS SOME CHANGES IN LAW (VOA)
* AL HIJAB: 'I WILL NOT COMPLY' (Selma Times Journal)
* WHITE HOUSE APPOINTS PAKISTANI AMERICAN TO COMMITTEE
* EXPLOSIVE CHARGE NEAR HOME OF FRENCH MUSLIM PREFECT (AFP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LITTLE AND SUFFICIENT
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that angels call out each
day:
"O people, come to your Lord. What is little and sufficient is better
than
what is abundant and causes negligence."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1368
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,189 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Michigan. 324 covered, 339 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: ‘MOHAMMEDANS’ IN FLORIDA ELECTION
Elections Have a Baptist Flavor
Will Van Sant, St. Petersburg Times, 1/29/04
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/29/Hernando/Elections_have_a_Bapt.shtml
BROOKSVILLE - In Hernando County, local Democratic and Republican
executive
committees usually get the headlines during campaign season, but a
cadre of
Christians affiliated with a single church is quietly making a push for
victory in November.
Three members of Landmark Baptist Church, housed in a single-story tan
stucco building on Candlelight Boulevard in Brooksville, have filed to
run
for local office. A fourth church member is considering a run, while a
sometime attendee of Landmark Baptist is also seeking office.
In District 3, Phillip Johnson, a Democrat, hopes to beat sitting
Democratic Commissioner Diane Rowden in the August primary. In District
5,
Richard A.
Power, who filed with no party affiliation, seeks to defeat Democratic
Commission Chairwoman Betty Whitehouse…
The failure by some to recognize that the war on terrorism is a
religious
war, Power said, is one example of how the country has strayed too far
from
the biblical teachings that are the basis of his beliefs.
Power said not all Muslims, whom he called Mohammedans, are guilty of
the
crimes committed by fellow Muslims, but that too many have failed to
speak
out and condemn terrorism.
"I don't hate Mohammedans," he said. "But he has to abide by our rules.
We
don't accommodate our culture to adapt to anyone."
-----
VIGIL FOR OHIO MUSLIMS FACED WITH DEPORTATION
Cleveland Church and Immigrant Rights Groups to Show Support for Muslim
Mother of Three Facing February 4 Deportation Order
(WASHINGTON, D.C. 1/29/04) – A vigil will be held on Monday, February
2, to
show support for Amina Silmi, a Palestinian Muslim woman in Cleveland
facing a deportation order that would separate her from her children.
Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich wrote a letter to the Director
of
Homeland Security regarding her case. The Ohio casework offices for
Senators DeWine and Voinovich are now involved. Silmi, who must
surrender
herself to ICE on February 4, has three US-born children and was a
victim
of domestic violence.
WHEN: Monday, February 2, 2004
TIME: 5:30–6:30 PM
WHERE: Trinity Lutheran Church 16400 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio
44107
CONTACT: CAIR-OHIO, Cleveland office, Julia A. Shearson, Director,
216-440-2247
-----
SPEAKER OVERTURNS MISCONCEPTIONS OF ISLAMIC JIHAD
Caitlin Roberson, Daily Bruin, 1/29/04
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=27136
The Muslim Student Association hosted an informational forum –
"Operation
Jihad: Misconceptions of a Peaceful Intention" – in honor of Islamic
Awareness Week on Wednesday night.
The forum, held in the Computer Science building, was the third forum
hosted by MSA this week.
Speaker Husam Ayloush – a member of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations – discussed the meaning of Islamic Jihad and addressed common
misconceptions of the term.
"The word 'jihad' makes most people think of Islamic extremists and
events
like Sept. 11," Ayloush said.
"But they do not remember that the image of long-bearded men carrying
machine guns is media-produced," he added.
In Arabic, "jihad" means the exertion of effort for the sake of God,
and
has no implications of war or violence, Ayloush said.
The forum began with an Arabic hymn and a scripture reading from the
Koran.
Many individuals in the predominantly Muslim audience bowed their
heads.
Ayloush mentioned that many individuals incorrectly associate jihad
with
the idea of a holy war.
This term "holy war" does not exist in Islamic terminology and was only
written to describe the Crusades in the 1400s, he said.
Jihad ultimately promotes peace and justice in everyday activities,
such as
loving Allah above everything else and resisting worldly temptations,
he
added...
ALSO SEE:
CULTURAL GROUPS BRING LAUGHS
Robert Samuels, Daily Northwestern, 1/28/04
http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/01/28/40175f124aec
4
For some cultural student groups dealing with stereotypes, a little
laughter could lighten the mood.
A week after journalist-turned-comedian Ray Hanania brought their
culturally driven humor to campus, another minority comic used similar
techniques to raise awareness Tuesday night at Norris University
Center's
Gathering Place.
The events represent a growing trend among Northwestern cultural groups
to
bring more entertainment-oriented speakers to campus.
Muslim comic Azhar Usman, who performed Tuesday, is becoming a popular
presence on the comedy circuit, said Danish Qureshi, co-president of
Muslim-cultural Students Association, the event's sponsor. Although
Usman's
approach to Muslim culture differs from most speakers McSA brings to
campus, Qureshi said he thought Usman's presentation would have just as
much impact for audience members.
"He does a good job of dispelling stereotypes," said Qureshi, a
Weinberg
junior. "He gets people to laugh at their own fears of Muslim people
and
gets them to see that those fears are irrational."
Cultural comedy shows are not unknown on campus. Both the Latino
student
group Alianza and the black student group For Members Only have comedy
shows every Spring Quarter. But at least three additional groups known
for
bringing academics and intellectuals have joined FMO and Alianza in
featuring humorous events...
---
SPEAKER EXPLORES MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURE, STEREOTYPES
Andrew Moseman, Daily Nebraskan, 1/28/04
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/01/28/401737aa6059d
The Middle East consists of more than one country and more than one
culture.
Hesham Khadawardi said it was critical for Americans to know this to
understand the region.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln English graduate student spoke at
Middle
Eastern Night on Tuesday in Neihardt Residence Hall's Blue TV Lounge.
Khadawardi, a Saudi Arabia native, said differences in religious views,
society and history distinguish each Middle Eastern country. Because of
this, he said, it is a mistake to consider the whole region as one.
"It's very dangerous to say the Middle East feels a certain way,"
Khadawardi said.
Americans also have difficulty comprehending small aspects of Middle
Eastern cultures, he said, without perceiving the society as a whole.
Many people, he said, have difficulty understanding arranged marriages,
a
practice common in Saudi Arabia. But Khadawardi said it made more sense
when people understand Saudi society is not as individualistic as
American
culture.
When Saudis marry, he said, it is not only the two individuals who are
joined, but also two social circles...
-----
CHARITY EVENT MAY HAVE TERRORIST LINK
Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, 1/29/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58296-2004Jan28.html
Pentagon adviser Richard N. Perle, a strong advocate of war against
Iraq,
spoke last weekend at a charity event that U.S. officials say may have
had
ties to an alleged terrorist group seeking to topple the Iranian
government
and backed by Saddam Hussein.
The event, attended by more than 3,000 people Saturday at the
Washington
Convention Center, generated enough concerns within the administration
that
officials debated whether they had the legal authority to block the
event,
U.S. officials said yesterday. FBI agents attended it and, as part of a
continuing investigation, the Treasury Department on Monday froze the
assets of the event's prime organizer, the Iranian-American Community
of
Northern Virginia.
Perle, in an interview, said he was unaware of any involvement by the
terrorist group, known as the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), and believed he
was
assisting the victims of the Bam earthquake when he delivered the paid
speech.
"All of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross," Perle said. Informed
that
the Red Cross had announced before the event it would refuse any monies
because of the event's "political nature," Perle said: "I was unaware
of
that." Perle declined to say how much he received.
The Web site for the $35-a-person event, billed as "a night of
solidarity
with Iran," flashed between references to support for "the Iran
earthquake
victims" and "a referendum for regime change in Iran." One
administration
official said that the FBI determined that at least three of the
sponsoring
organizations were associated with the MEK, while a senior Treasury
official said "there were general indications the MEK may have an
interest
in the event," but it could not yet prove it...
SEE ALSO:
THE IRAN CONNECTION
Richard Leiby, Washington Post, 1/29/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58692-2004Jan28.html
Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), who helped put "Freedom Fries" on House
restaurant
menus in the run-up to the Iraq war, is championing a new patriotic
cause.
He wants Fox News to fess up about the controversial past of one of its
commentators on Middle Eastern affairs.
In a letter last week to Attorney General John Ashcroft, Ney identified
Alireza Jafarzadeh as the head of an Iranian exile group that the U.S.
government lists as a terrorist organization. It's a Marxist Islamic
outfit
called the Mujaheddin el-Khalq, once allied with Saddam Hussein. "The
MEK
has killed United States military and civilian personnel in the past,
aided
in the overthrow of the American Embassy in Tehran and targeted
American
civilians for murder," wrote Ney, who used to teach English in
pre-revolutionary Iran.
"I watch Fox News, I like Fox News, but I was shocked to see him on
there,"
the congressman told us. Ney demanded that the network inform viewers
about
Jafarzadeh's background, saying, "I don't think they're fair and
balanced
on this issue…"
-----
D.C. PULLS DETROIT FBI CHIEF
Norman Sinclair and David Shepardson, Detroit News, 1/28/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0401/28/a01-48394.htm
DETROIT — In a widening investigation into the handling of terrorism
cases
in Detroit, the agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan was transferred
to
bureau headquarters in Washington, D.C., and temporarily was replaced
by
another senior agent from outside the state.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Willie Hulon’s sudden transfer to
headquarters
came after two separate teams of agents arrived in Detroit to
investigate
the local FBI office.
A team from the Office of Professional Responsibility, which
investigates
criminal or serious misconduct, arrived in the city unannounced late
last
week. Its investigation is expected to last at least several weeks.
A second team of agents from the Office of Inspector General of the
Department of Justice, which has similar responsibility for
investigating
complaints of fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct, is also in the city
conducting a separate investigation into other allegations of
misconduct
involving agents, federal sources told The Detroit News.
Federal sources confirm the Office of Professional Responsibility
investigation centers on the Jan. 20 arrests of two Dearborn brothers
suspected of links to Hezbollah and amid the disclosure by an FBI
informant
claiming he was told to break the law in gathering evidence against
others
suspected of terrorism.
Detroit FBI spokesman David Brooks would only confirm that Hulon was on
a
temporary assignment assisting the Bureau’s Criminal Investigative
Division
in Washington...
-----
DC-AREA MUSLIMS MARK END OF HAJJ WITH PRAYERS, FESTIVAL
WHAT: On Sunday February 1, 2004, thousands of people from the Muslim
community in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area will celebrate the
close
of the pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with communal prayers and a
multicultural festival and bazaar. (22,000 People attended last year's
Eid
celebrations.) A canned food drive for the needy will also be held at
the
prayer and celebration. There will also be an exhibit about the history
of
Muslims in America and an open house for Churches, Synagogues, and
other
religious groups. SEE: www.dceid.org
The prayers mark the beginning of the three day Eid ul-Adha
(eed-al-adha)
holiday, in which Muslims exchange social visits and seek to strengthen
the
community feeling. During this holiday, Muslims greet each other by
saying
"Eid Mubarak" (eed-moo-bar-ak), or "blessed Eid."
The multicultural festival bazaar will feature games and rides for
children, clowns, gift items, clothing, and foods from around the
Muslim
world. The bazaar is open to the public. People of all faiths are
encouraged to attend and sample the diversity of Islamic culture
WHEN: On Sunday, February 1, 2004
1st Prayer at 7:45 a.m., 2nd Prayer at 8:45 a.m.
3rd Prayer at 9:45 a.m., 4th Prayer at 11:00 a.m.
Festival and Bazaar begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.
Open House for Churches, Synagogues and other Religious group, 2-5 p.m.
Blood Drive from 9:30am to 3:30 p.m.; Food Drive Collection For the
Needy -
All day
WHERE: Prayer and Bazaar: DC Armory, 2001 E. Capitol St. Washington DC
(Next to RFK Stadium.) Please check in at Media Desk.
CONTACT: Primary Contact: Priscilla Martinez - 703-622-8984, Secondary
Contact: 703-624-6352
MAIN SPONSORS: ADAMS, Dar Al-Hijrah, Masjid Muhammad, Manassas Mosque,
Dar
Al-Noor, Dar Ul-Salaam, and Southern MD Islamic Center
LOCAL CO-SPONSORS: Masjidush-Shura, Howard University Muslim Community,
Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations of the Washington DC Metro
Area, DC Council of MSA's, Islamic Schools Council of Greater
Washington
Area
NATIONAL CO-SPONSORS: CAIR, MPAC, AMS, MAS
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Muslims from America and many different countries
come
to prayers in colorful and cultural clothing. The prayers themselves
are
quite visual, with worshippers arranged in neat rows and bowing in
prayer
in unison. Participants exchange embraces at the conclusion of the
prayers.
NOTE: Because this is a religious service, reporters and photographers
both
male and female should dress modestly. That means no shorts for men or
short skirts for women. Photographers should early. to get into
position
for best shots. Photographers are advised not to step directly in
front of
worshippers and to ask permission for close-up shots.
ALSO SEE:
INLAND MUSLIMS URGING VOTER REGISTRATION
Bettye Wells Miller, Press-Enterprise, 1/29/04
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_vote29.a0e24.html
Information about Muslim voter registration drives is available online
at
www.muslimvote2004.com and www.cair-net.org.
Inland mosques will urge their congregations to register to vote on
Sunday
as part of holy day observances marking the end of Hajj, the annual
pilgrimage to Mecca.
"It's absolutely critical for us as a community to have our voice
heard,"
said Omar Zaki, a member of the Mosque of Riverside and director of
governmental relations for the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
Southern California region.
Eid ul-Adha (pronounced EED-al-ODD-ha), signifies completion of the
main
portion of Hajj. It is one of two Muslim holidays of religious devotion
and
typically draws large numbers of people to local mosques, Zaki said.
CAIR is urging Muslims nationwide to use the holiday to distribute
voter
registration materials in their communities.
"Muslim voters are becoming more influential in every election as our
numbers continue to grow," Zaki said. "We still have a young community
and
an immigrant community that hasn't fully grasped how the political
system
works.
"Part of our message is to get them to understand that voting is their
way
of speaking. If there are things we don't like, laws we don't like, the
effective way to have our voice heard is to vote," Zaki said...
---
MUSLIMS FROM AROUND WORLD GATHER FOR HAJJ
Rawya Rageh, Associated Press, 1/28/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/7824591.htm
MECCA, Saudi Arabia - About 2 million Muslims from around the world
gathered Thursday at the start of the annual pilgrimage, with security
forces at a heightened state of alert to ensure smooth and safe
proceedings.
The pilgrims - men dressed in identical seamless white garb and women
covered except for their hands and faces - were to circle the Kaaba at
the
Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, in the first ritual of the
pilgrimage,
or hajj.
The Kaaba is a large cube-like structure that Muslims face during their
five daily prayers. Muslims consider the Kaaba the house of God and
believe
it was built by Ibrahim and his son Ismail...
---
ISLAMIC GROUP PLANS OPEN HOUSE
Orlando Sentinel, 1/19/04
www.orlandosentinel.com
ORLANDO - The Islamic Society of Central Florida will host an open
house
Friday and community prayers Sunday in commemoration of the Muslim
holiday
Eid al-Adha. The holiday is celebrated at the end of Muslims' annual
pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, known as the hajj.
The Islamic faith requires individuals to visit Mecca once in their
lifetime, in a celebration of unity and sacrifice, symbolized by
communal
prayer.
The Islamic Society's open house is from 4 to 5 p.m. at the
organization's
Center for Peace, 1021 N. Goldenrod Road, Orlando. Holiday prayers will
take place at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at the soccer fields next to the Central
Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando.
For more information, visit www.iscf.org or call 407-273-8363.
---
S.A. MUSLIM ANTICIPATES HOLY JOURNEY
Rachel L. Toalson, San Antonio Express, 1/29/04
http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=1120513
For 14 years, Ismaial Nezar has said his daily prayers in San Antonio,
facing east. This year, he'll see what he's been facing.
He'll join more than 2 million Muslims for the hajj, a pilgrimage to
Mecca,
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of the prophet Mohammad.
As part of the religion's five pillars, or obligations, of faith,
Muslims
are required to make the hajj at least once in their lifetimes if they
are
healthy and can afford it.
"For the past year I have wanted to go to hajj," said Nezar, a San
Antonio
businessman. "But somehow the loving of this life and the fear that I'm
going to lose my money would stop me. But one of the prophets in Koran
says
there are three things you have to use before it's too late: your
health,
your wealth and your youth.
"I have the money, the health and the time. I may break my back or lose
all
my money tomorrow, but I have to take my chances for this."
He left about two weeks ago with a group from Chicago. He'll travel to
the
Grand Mosque in Mecca, where he'll circle a cubic stone called the
Kaaba,
which Muslims face during daily prayers.
The events of the pilgrimage, expected to begin today, also include
praying
at Mount Arafat on Saturday, the ninth day of Dhul-hijja, the last
month in
the Muslim year. Arafat, 12 miles from Mecca, is where Muslims believe
Mohammad gave his last sermon...
-----
CAIR-CAN WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC ARAR INQUIRY
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 29/1/2004) - The Canadian office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) today welcomed the decision by
the
Canadian Government to hold a public inquiry into the case of
MaherArar.
Arar, a Canadian citizen of Syrian origin, was deported to that country
by
the United States following a stopover at New York's JFK Airport. He
alleges that he was tortured while in Syrian custody. Since his release
from Syria in October, Arar has repeatedly called for a full public
inquiry
into his ordeal.
"CAIR-CAN has been calling on the Canadian Government to conduct the
public
inquiry into the Case of Maher Arar for some time. We expect this
process
to uncover the truth as to exactly what happened to Mr. Arar, why he
was
deported to Syria instead of being allowed to return to Canada, the
role of
Canadian security agencies in this case and whether those agencies
contributed to his ordeal," said CAIR-CAN spokesperson Hadeel
Al-Shalchi.
"Canadians have long awaited this decision and we hope that it will
signal
a recommitment on the part of our government and law enforcement
agencies
to fairness and greater accountability. The pursuit of greater security
must not come at the expense of civil liberties, due process and the
rule
of law," said Ms. Al-Shalchi.
CAIR-CAN is a Canadian grassroots Muslim advocacy organization based in
Ottawa, Ontario.
- END -
CONTACT: Naeem Saloojee at 613-254-9704; E-mail: canada@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CANADA WILL PROBE U.S. DEPORTATION CASE
Colin McClelland, Associated Press, 1/27/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3681518,00.html
TORONTO - Canada said Wednesday it will hold a full public inquiry into
the
deportation of an Ottawa engineer to Syria, where he says he was
tortured -
an incident that has rankled Canadian-U.S. relations.
Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian, was detained by U.S. authorities in
New
York in 2002 while on his way home from a visit to Tunisia.
Intelligence
officials had raised suspicions about alleged links to al-Qaida.
U.S. authorities deported him to Syria, where he says he was tortured.
Released Oct. 5 and now back in Canada, Arar has vehemently denied
being a
terrorist and has not been charged with any crime.
``I want the facts,'' Prime Minister Paul Martin said Wednesday. ``I
want
to know exactly what did happen.''
Arar, 33, welcomed the announcement as ``a great day for Canadian
justice.
``It is ... very important to ensure this inquiry can, indeed, clear my
name and answer all of our questions so that we can begin to rebuild
our
lives,'' Arar said.
Justice Dennis O'Connor, an Ontario Court of Appeal judge, was
appointed to
head the inquiry.
Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said O'Connor ``will assess the
actions
of Canadian officials in dealing with the deportation and detention of
Maher Arar.''
``He will have all the powers set out in the (Inquiries) Act, including
the
authority to hold public hearings, summon witnesses, compel testimony
and
to gather such evidence as needed to conduct the inquiry,'' said
McLellan,
who is also minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
O'Connor will not be able to force U.S. authorities to participate in
the
inquiry. A public investigation into how intelligence on both sides of
the
border tracks suspected terrorists is not expected to be welcomed by
Washington...
-----
USA PATRIOT ACT AUTHOR SUPPORTS SOME MODIFICATIONS OF CONTROVERSIAL LAW
Jenny Falcon, Voice of America, 1/29/04
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=A54874DF-FFF9-4610-ADF507C199FA6
027
The main author of the controversial USA Patriot Act, the
post-September
11, 2001 legislation expanding U.S. government powers to combat
terrorism,
says he supports some modifications of the law.
A panel of supporters and critics of the USA Patriot Act debated the
legislation after the Justice Department said Tuesday it had found no
incidents in which the law had been invoked to abuse civil rights.
Earlier, a federal judge in California tossed out parts of the Patriot
Act
which prohibit attorneys from providing expert advice to groups that
may
have ties to terrorist organizations. The judge's ruling indicated that
the
section was constitutionally "vague."
President Bush has called on Congress to renew the counter-terrorism
law
which expires in 2005. The former Justice Department official, who
wrote
much of the Patriot Act, Viet Dinh, says the courts and Congress may
have
to clarify some aspects of the legislation, such as parts that deal
with
material support for terrorists and the use of evidence.
But Mr. Dinh also defended the legislation, which was passed by
Congress
soon after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United
States,
to expand law enforcement officials' ability to fight terrorism,
increase
surveillance, and encourage intelligence-sharing between agencies.
Mr. Dinh, currently a Georgetown University professor in Washington
D.C.,
joined the New York panel discussion by telephone. He warned against
diluting the Patriot Act. "I think that we can all agree that there are
certain core activities that constitute material support for
terrorists,
which should be prohibited, and others which would not be prohibited,"
he
said. "Congress needs to take a hard look and draw the lines very
clearly
to make sure that we do not throw out the baby with the bath water."
Still, critics argue that some aspects of the USA Patriot Act have led
to
an infringement on individuals' civil rights...
-----
HOLMES: 'I WILL NOT COMPLY'
Robert Bullock, Selma Times-Journal, 1/29/04
http://www.selmatimesjournal.com/articles/2004/01/29/news/news27.txt
"I will not comply," Rajeeyah Holmes said flatly, about an Associated
Press
story reporting that some Alabama driver's license officials are
requiring
Muslim women to have their pictures taken without their head scarves.
"I'm disappointed; it's not justified," she said.
Holmes, who is part of the Selma Islamic Center, said she fully
understands
why the state would want to have the face exposed in the picture, and
she
does not object to having the picture taken without the face scarf.
But to ask her to remove her head scarf, which is always worn outside
the
home, is a violation of her religious principles -and of the
Qur'an-Islam's
sacred scriptures. And, she added, the picture would not depict here as
she
would appear while driving a car.
"To me it feels like bigotry," said Holmes. "I understand the fear
people
have since 9/ll, but not all Muslims blow up buildings or themselves
up.
It's contrary to the teaching of the Qur'an."
Holmes recalls that the last time she had her picture taken for her
driver's license, she was asked if she always wore the head scarf. When
she
replied yes, there was no objection, she said.
The Associated Press story reported that 10 Muslim women from Mobile
and
Birmingham had complained to the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations, which in turn wrote to Alabama Public
Safety
Director Mike Coppage asking that the state end its requirement for
women
not to wear their head scarf, or hijab, when having the driver's
license
picture taken.
A department spokeswoman said officials were reviewing the matter,
according to The Associated Press.
-----
WHITE HOUSE APPOINTS PAKISTANI AMERICAN TO PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE
National Council of Pakistani Americans, 1/28/04
http://www.ncpa.info/default.asp
WASHINGTON: The White House has appointed a prominent Pakistani
American to
a Presidential Committee. The appointment of Mr. Hanif Akhtar as a
Member
of the US President's 'National Hire Veterans Committee was announced
by
the US Secretary of Labor. He will be sworn in at a formal ceremony at
the
White House on February 19th.
Mr. Akhtar is a successful businessman and a respected
Pakistani-American
community leader, and also the President of Pakistan American Business
Association (PABA).
-----
SMALL EXPLOSIVE CHARGE NEAR HOME OF MUSLIM PREFECT
Agence France Presse, 1/29/04
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=41
59
NANTES, France - For the third time in ten days, a small explosive
charge
detonated Thursday near the home of France's only Muslim prefect,
destroying
a letterbox at a nearby school.
Police in the western city of Nantes were investigating if there was a
link
with charges that destroyed the car of Aissa Dermouche and damaged the
entrance to the business school which he ran.
Two weeks ago the Algerian-born Dermouche was appointed prefect -- or
governor -- of the department of Jura on the Swiss border, in the midst
of
a heated debate over positive discrimination.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/30/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LIFE IS FLEETING
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: GEORGIA
* CAIR-MD SEEKS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/SECRETARY
- CAIR-St. Louis to Meet with Foreign Journalists
- CAIR-Houston Needs Volunteers
* NY: HUDSON VALLEY MUSLIMS TO HOLD VOTER DRIVE
- IL: Volunteers Needed For Eid Voter Drives
- CAIR-OH Holds Vigil for Amina Silmi
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: SHARPTON ON CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM
- Arab-American Group Endorses Kucinich (AP)
* IL: MUSLIMS VIEW POOL AS UNUSABLE (Chicago Tribune)
* MI: DOUBTS CAST SHADOW OVER TERROR CONVICTIONS (AP)
- Court Keeps Guantanamo Suspects Isolated (AP)
* ASHCROFT: BUSH WILL VETO CHANGES TO PATRIOT ACT (Fox)
- Justice Warns Against Civil Rights Apathy (AP)
- Patriot Act Should Be Repealed (Pantagraph)
- Paranoid America Threatens Muslims (John Hopkins)
* PERLE MUST RESIGN OR BE FIRED... (Antiwar.Com)
* MUSLIMS GATHER IN MINA FOR PILGRIMAGE (AP)
- Sacred Sacrifice (Herald Tribune)
- NJ: Muslims Mark Hajj Tomorrow (Jersey Journal)
* CA: ISLAMIC LEADER BUILDS BRIDGES (Daily Bruin)
* VA: MUSLIM MARKET BLOSSOMS (FCNP)
- CA: Muslims Acquire Burial Ground (NC Times)
* BUILDING A WALL, BREAKING A RELATIONSHIP (Wash Post)
- UK Opposes Court Review of Fence (Guardian)
- Indiscriminate Killing (Haaretz)
* IRAQI CITY REFLECTS NATION'S FAULT LINES (Wash. Post)
* 4th ANNUAL IOWA CONFERENCE ON ISLAM
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LIFE IS FLEETING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who loves his
worldly
life (too much) does damage to his (life in the world to come)...So
prefer
what is lasting to what is fleeting."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1343
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,189 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Michigan: 182 sponsored, 204 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org
-----
CAIR-MARYLAND SEEKS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/SECRETARY
The ideal candidate will be a person just graduating from college and
looking for an entry level position in a grassroots organization. Past
volunteer work or community service work will be a qualification. The
applicant must be a willing worker who can work under pressure and
always
be a part of a solution.
For more information, e-mail: rizwan@cairmd.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-ST. LOUIS DIRECTOR TO MEET WITH FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
(ST. LOUIS - 1/30/2004) - The executive director of CAIR-St. Louis is
scheduled to meet with a group of foreign journalists today as part of
the
U.S. State Department's International Visitor Program to discuss
grassroots
organizing and the participation of Muslims in the U.S. political
process.
The St. Louis chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, a
Muslim civil rights group, was asked to meet with the delegation of
journalists from India and Pakistan as part of the State Department's
Foreign Policy Decision-Making Process - South-Asian Regional Project
program.
CAIR-St. Louis has also made arrangements for the journalists to attend
the
upcoming Eid ul-Adha prayer service on Sunday, February 1, 2004, and to
observe CAIR's efforts to register voters at that time.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-St. Louis, James Hacking, 314-602-3794, E-mail:
admin@cair-stl.org
---
CAIR-HOUSTON NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS/OUTREACH
CAIR-Houston is in need of volunteers to both promote and participate
in
our events and activities.
We need help in four areas: to advertise; to facilitate feedback; to
schedule outreach campaigns; to volunteer during an event.
If interested, send your contact information to info@cairhouston.org
and
specify which areas are of interest to you.
---
LOCAL MUSLIMS TO HOLD VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
Effort designed to coincide with end-of-pilgrimage festival
WHAT: On Sunday, February 1, 2004, the Greater Hudson Valley Muslim
community will hold a voter registration drive following Eid ul-Adha
(EED-al-ODD-ha) prayers marking the end of the Islamic pilgrimage to
Mecca,
or Hajj.
Eid ul-Adha, or the "feast of sacrifice," commemorates the Prophet
Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command.
The
holiday is celebrated with the prayers, small gifts for children,
distribution of meat to the needy and social gatherings.
Festivals following Eid ul-Adha prayers draw thousands of Muslims in
local
communities and offer an excellent opportunity to distribute voter
registration materials.
The voter drive is part of an effort coordinated by the
Washington-based
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Mid-Hudson Muslim
Women's
Association is also supporting this drive.
There are more than 5,000 Muslims in the Greater Hudson Valley, an
estimated seven million in America and some 1.2 billion worldwide.
Demographers say Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in this
country and around the world.
WHEN: Sunday, February 1, 2004, between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM
WHERE: Casperkill Country Club, 575 South Road (Route 9), Poughkeepsie,
NY 12601
CONTACT: Masjid Al-Noor (845) 297-0882
NOTE: Because the prayer portion of the Eid festival is a religious
service, reporters and photographers of both sexes should dress
modestly.
SEE ALSO:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR EID VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES
WHAT: Volunteers are needed to help carry out voter registration during
the
Eid-ul-Adha prayers on Sunday, February 1, 2004, at all prayer
locations.
Visit: http://www.mcrcnet.org/votervolunteer.htm
Volunteers are also requested to attend an orientation to know the
voter
registration requirements, to receive voter registration packets and to
be
able to answer any questions.
WHEN: January 30, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Foundation (Cafeteria), 300 W. Highridge Road, Villa
Park,
IL 60181
---
CAIR-OH HOLDS VIGIL FOR AMINA SILMI
Associated Press, 1/30/04
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio, will hold a candlelight
vigil
for Amina Silmi, a Palestinian facing deportation and separation from
her
children, 5:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 16400 Detroit Ave. on
Monday,
February 2. Contact: Julia Shearson, (216) 440-2247.
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: SHARPTON ON CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM
"...Mr. Bush and some of his crowd have said they represent a Christian
view against the Islamic…I don't think Christ could join most of their
churches..."
- Al Sharpton at the Democratic Candidate debates in South Carolina,
1/29/04
ALSO SEE:
ARAB-AMERICAN POLITICAL GROUP ENDORSES KUCINICH
Tarek El-Tablawy, Associated Press, 1/29/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/7827811.htm
DETROIT - Surprising even leaders of their own community, Arab-American
political activists have endorsed Ohio U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich as
their
Democratic candidate for president.
Kucinich, who finished sixth in New Hampshire, came away with more than
two-thirds of the votes cast by members of the Arab-American Political
Action Committee, the group's head, Osama Siblani, said Thursday.
Kucinich
was followed by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. Retired Gen. Wesley
Clark
took third in the voting Wednesday in Dearborn.
"It was not a strategy endorsement, it was an endorsement of
principle,"
said Siblani, who also is editor-in-chief of The Arab-American News.
"The argument we had yesterday was should we stand by our principles or
cast a vote based on electability," he said. "But this was a group that
voted for (President) Bush in 2000 and were stung by the Bush
administration."
"They decided that they needed to make it clear that this community
will
vote for the candidate that best represents its interests, not
necessarily
the one that may be elected," Siblani said.
Siblani said while representatives from the campaigns of U.S. Sen. John
Kerry, Dean and Clark were on hand Wednesday to lobby for their
respective
candidates, there was no one representing Kucinich...
-----
MUSLIMS VIEW POOL AS UNUSABLE
Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune, 1/30/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0401300162jan30,1,2070617.story
When the University of Chicago opened its state-of-the-art Gerald
Ratner
Athletics Center in the fall, university officials celebrated its
dramatic
curved roof and soaring masts as a modern interpretation of the
university's predominant Gothic architecture.
Sloping floor-to-ceiling glass walls surrounded the center's crown
jewel--a
50-meter handicapped-accessible indoor pool with a shallow center.
But it didn't take long for one group of students to realize the
limitations of the designer natatorium.
For Muslim men and women, the notion of passers-by watching them do the
butterfly stroke through the glass walls defies modesty, a key tenet of
their faith.
"Ratner is off limits," said Isra Bhatty, a senior member of the
college's
Muslim Student Association. "When you're swimming, you're in weird
positions. You [have to] bypass shady glares."
Complicating matters, the University of Chicago is one of a handful of
schools in the nation that calls for students to pass a swimming course
to
graduate.
The school offers an exemption on religious grounds, and this year
Bhatty
and about two dozen other Muslim students submitted letters from
clerics to
apply for it.
Brian Baldea, associate chairman of physical education and athletics
for
the university, said providing the religious exemption has nothing to
do
with the new building...
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said the prophet Muhammad taught that each
religion has an innate characteristic at the core of its faith. For
Islam,
it is modesty, Hooper said.
-----
DOUBTS CAST SHADOW OVER TERROR CONVICTIONS
Sarah Karush, Associated Press, 1/30/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/7827989.htm
DETROIT - Just six days after the World Trade Center crumbled, FBI
agents
raided an apartment and uncovered what they said was evidence of more
plots, helping launch a case that would be hailed as a major victory in
the
war on terror.
Now, seven months after two Arab immigrants were convicted of being
part of
a terrorism conspiracy, investigations into the lead prosecutor in the
case
and the FBI's Detroit offices have intensified doubts that those
convictions will hold up.
As U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen considers whether to grant the
defendants a new trial, new allegations of misconduct by Assistant U.S.
Attorney Richard Convertino are being investigated by the Justice
Department.
The public disagreement between Convertino and his superiors is highly
unusual and could indicate the government is trying to distance itself
from
the prosecutors, some observers said...
ALSO SEE:
COURT KEEPS GUANTANAMO SUSPECTS ISOLATED
Gina Holland, Associated Press, 1/29/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/7819503.htm
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court stepped in Wednesday to temporarily
continue
the isolation of terrorism suspects at the Navy base in Cuba.
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor granted a request from the Bush
administration
to stop a lower court from communicating with a detainee at Guantanamo
Bay,
Cuba.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had planned to notify the
detainee of
that court's ruling in December that Guantanamo prisoners should be
allowed
to see lawyers and have access to courts.
O'Connor granted the government's request to put that ruling on hold,
but
she said the high court could reconsider after it hears from lawyers
for
the detainee, Falen Gherebi.
O'Connor has jurisdiction over appeals from the San Francisco-based 9th
Circuit.
Solicitor General Theodore Olson had asked the high court earlier
Wednesday
to block any developments in a class-action case over treatment of the
Guantanamo detainees until the Supreme Court decides this year, in a
separate case, whether Guantanamo detainees may contest their captivity
in
American courts.
The government has been holding about 650 men, mostly Muslims,
essentially
incommunicado at the prison in Cuba.
The military maintains that because the men were picked up overseas on
suspicion of terrorism, they may be detained indefinitely without
charges
or trial.
The Supreme Court announced in November that it would consider appeals
on
behalf of Guantanamo inmates. A month later, a panel of the 9th Circuit
issued the ruling in favor of Gherebi, a Libyan captured in
Afghanistan...
-----
ASHCROFT: BUSH WOULD VETO CHANGES TO PATRIOT ACT
FOX News, 1/29/04
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,109857,00.html
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration intensified its defense of the
anti-terrorism Patriot Act on Thursday, threatening to veto legislation
in
Congress that would scale back key provisions.
Attorney General John Ashcroft, in a letter to Senate leaders, said the
changes proposed in the Security and Freedom Ensured Act, known as
SAFE,
would "undermine our ongoing campaign to detect and prevent
catastrophic
attacks."
Ashcroft told reporters that President Bush would veto the bill if it
reached his desk.
The threat came a week after Bush, in his State of the Union address,
urged
Congress to reauthorize the Patriot Act before it expires in 2005. A
few
months earlier, Ashcroft embarked on a 32-city speaking tour in a bid
to
answer critics who contend the law threatens civil liberties and
privacy
rights.
Ashcroft said the political offensive "reflects the stakes America has
in
the war on terror. When American lives are at stake, we need to have
all
the capacities to disrupt and to defeat terrorism that we've been
successfully using over the last 28 months."
The Patriot Act, passed shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror
attacks,
expanded the government's wiretap and other surveillance authority,
removed
barriers between FBI and CIA information-sharing, and provided more
tools
for terror finance investigations.
Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties
Union
and a staunch critic of the new law, said the veto threat shows that
the
Bush administration is on the defensive. The ACLU has filed a lawsuit
in
federal court challenging a key portion of the law, and 241 state and
local
governments also have gone on record opposing it...
ALSO SEE:
JUSTICE WARNS AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS APATHY
Gina Holland, Associated Press, 1/30/04
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=558&u=/ap/20040130/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_ginsburg
NEW YORK - Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Thursday that
people concerned about losing freedom to government anti-terrorism
efforts
should speak out.
The Supreme Court is taking up several terror-related cases this
spring,
including challenges to the government detention of terror suspects
without
legal rights.
Ginsburg, speaking to a group of women's rights lawyers, was asked if
people's rights were in danger.
"On important issues, like the balance between liberty and security, if
the
public doesn't care, then the security side is going to overweigh the
other," she said.
That would change, Ginsburg said, "if people come forward and say we
are
proud to live in the USA, a land that has been more free, and we want
to
keep it that way."
Ginsburg, who argued women's rights cases at the Supreme Court several
decades before former President Clinton named her to the court in 1993,
said "an active public" made the difference in the victories of
feminism...
---
PATRIOT ACT CURTAILS CIVIL LIBERTY, SHOULD BE REPEALED, PANEL SAYS
Sharon K. Wolfe, Pantagraph.com, 1/29/04
http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/012904/new_20040129027.shtml
BLOOMINGTON -- The USA Patriot Act was adopted to fight terrorism in
the
wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but it goes too far in
curtailing civil liberties, the Bloomington Human Relations Commission
said
Wednesday night.
The commission voted unanimously to draft a resolution calling for the
act's repeal and to send that resolution to the city council.
Some audience members went further, calling on the commission to ask
the
council to look into how it can prevent enforcement of the law within
the
city's limits.
"As city officials, you are responsible for what happens in this
community," said Victor Connor of Normal. "It (enforcement of the law)
needs to be monitored in this community."
About a dozen people stepped to the podium at City Hall to express
their
fears of the law giving the federal government more power to monitor
religious and political institutions without probable cause to suspect
criminal activity. Other said they worry the government can seize any
American's papers, personal effects, medical and financial records and
even
a library's list of who checks out what books.
"It's not the just Patriot Act -- it's the path it's on," said Gregg
Brown,
Bloomington. "There's a nightmare scenario as each of us becomes more
watched."
Tom Eimermann, a professor of constitutional law at Illinois State
University, said the act has provisions to help protect borders and
fight
terrorism, but "some of the investigative tools go too far. It allows
the
FBI got get information on a person's Internet surfing, what they
read," he
said.
He said certain ethnic and religious groups are more likely to be
targeted...
---
PARANOID AMERICA THREATENS MUSLIMS
Zainab Cheema, Johns Hopkins Newsletter, 1/30/04
http://www.jhunewsletter.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/01/30/4019b71a819c6
Report Suspicious Activity. Call 1-800-492-TIPS." This message,
courtesy of
the Homeland Security Department, was emblazoned on a billboard near
I-95,
just before the highway roars into Washington, D.C. On a whim I decided
to
call the number and air some technical reservations. The man who picked
up
had a warm, folksy drawl reminiscent of Mayberry; "Detective Taylor
here."
"I have to say, I am really confused by the word "suspicious,'" I said.
"Well, there's no textbook definition of what "suspicious is," he
explained. "It's when you see anything going on which doesn't look
normal,
or raises the hair on the back of your neck." Suspicious equals not
normal.
Uh-oh.
"I'm a little nervous by all this," I told Taylor, "isn't it possible
for
someone to make a mistake about "suspicious activity" and inform on
some
innocent person?" "Sure can," he patiently explained, "but that's what
we're here for. We decide if something is suspicious or not." "How can
you
tell?" "Ma'am, after you've been a cop for 22 years, it comes naturally
if
someone is being suspicious or not."
But perhaps it doesn't come as naturally as Taylor thinks it does. As
any
veteran of the civil rights struggle in the South can tell you, cops
were
often on back-slapping terms with Klansmen. The FBI's campaign to
neutralize Martin Luther King as an effective civil rights leader under
COINTELPRO included attempts to blackmail him into committing suicide.
The
state has a less than spotless record in discriminating between the
guilty
and the innocent when certain groups are broadly perceived as dangerous
and
threatening, such as its actions regarding the Japanese-Americans
during
World War II.
Post-Sept. 11, we fear Muslims. While President Bush's rhetoric has
distinguished between terrorists and law-abiding patriots, his policies
have tarred all with a wide brush. The Justice Department detained and
expelled 13,000 Arabs and other American Muslims overstaying their
visas,
after they voluntarily turned themselves in. Not all absconders were
seen
as equally illegal, though. Only recently, Bush courted the Latino bloc
by
offering temporary green cards to illegal Hispanic immigrants in the
nation. Apparently, the White House believes Hispanic farm laborers and
hotel maids are less dangerous than Arab cab drivers...
------
PERLE MUST RESIGN OR BE FIRED...
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 1/30/04
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=1804
When Richard Perle, high-visibility neocon and co-author of a recent
book
that faults the Bush administration for being soft on terrorism, spoke
at a
rally associated with the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), an Iranian terrorist
group once allied with Saddam Hussein, the "mainstream" media was
nowhere
to be seen. The music-oriented event, billed as a fundraiser for
victims of
the Iranian earthquake - and, incidentally, calling for "regime change"
in
Tehran - was held this past weekend, and had generated a fair amount of
controversy before the curtain opened on the first act.
Representative Bob Ney (R-Iowa) - who sounded the alarm on the MEK long
ago
in Washington - called for an official investigation of the terrorist
fundraiser: the Red Cross, originally slated to accept funds raised at
the
rally, withdrew. So did La Leche International. But Perle claims that
he
gave the keynote speech at the event anyway, because he was "unaware,"
as
the Washington Post put it, of the group's terrorist connections:
"'All of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross,' Perle said. Informed
that
the Red Cross had announced before the event it would refuse any monies
because of the event's 'political nature,' Perle said: 'I was unaware
of
that.' Perle declined to say how much he received."
According to the Post, "FBI agents attended it, and, as part of a
continuing investigation, the Treasury Department on Monday froze the
assets of the event's prime organizer."
Perle claims to have been contacted by the Premiere Speakers Bureau,
and,
when he requested more information from them about the sponsors, he was
told the rally would be in "solidarity with earthquake victims in Iran
and
an evening for Iranian Resistance." The "Resistance" is one of many
well-known pseudonyms of the MEK and is the name of their principal
front
group: the National Council of Resistance (NCR)...
-----
MUSLIMS GATHER IN MINA FOR PILGRIMAGE
Rawya Rageh, Associated Press, 1/30/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/7833293.htm
MINA, Saudi Arabia - The hajj pilgrimage began in earnest Friday as
Muslims
from around the world arrived in the tent city of Mina, where many
prayed
before dawn in cloud-covered valleys outside the holy city of Mecca.
It was their last stop before heading to Mount Arafat for a day of
prayers
and soul searching that is the main ritual of the annual gathering.
Police forces were on alert following the death Thursday of five Saudi
security agents in a shootout with terror suspects in the Saudi
capital,
Riyadh.
The militants exchanged fire with Saudi security forces raiding a
house,
and five Saudi agents and the father of a suspect were killed,
according to
the Interior Ministry. Several others were detained.
But 500 miles to the west, pilgrims said they were too overwhelmed by
the
spiritual experience to be worried about terrorism.
Egyptian computer science professor Do'oa Labib, one of nearly 2
million
Muslims in this Arab nation for the hajj, said he felt close to God.
``These holy lands fill your heart with such genuine emotions,'' he
said.
``I feel that with every step I take my heart is gradually purified
from
any blemishes and becomes totally dedicated to God...''
ALSO SEE:
SACRED SACRIFICE
Steve Heisler, Herald Tribune, 1/30/04
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040129/NEWS/401290385/1034
Would you kill for God? It's a question raised by the experiences of
Ibrahim (Abraham), recognized as the father of monotheistic religions.
Celebrated in the Koran, the Bible and the Torah, his choice of Allah
(God)
over the material world and his willingness to kill a son helped
Muslims,
Christians and Jews come to terms with their own spirituality.
Ibrahim's odyssey comes sharply into focus now, as a billion Muslims
worldwide celebrate Eid al-Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice). The
Muslim
holiday coincides with the upcoming new moon and begins with al Hajj --
the
pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that all Muslims must make at least
once in their lifetimes, according to Islamic law.
The experience, during which the actions of Ibrahim's wife and then
Ibrahim
are duplicated, is unique among the major monotheistic religions.
"This is fascinating within the Muslim tradition, that everyone should
take
that pilgrimage," said Susan Marks, a religion professor at New College
and
an expert on early Judaism and Christianity. "It's a very strong
principle;
it's very different."
As Marks is quick to point out, differences abound in the distinct
versions
of the story of Ibrahim, or Abraham.
In the faith of Islam, for example, Ismail (Ishmael) is the son who
came
under the knife of this, the first prophet, during the renowned test of
faith, and yet was spared by God.
In Judeo-Christian takes on Abraham's life, it is Isaac whom the
prophet
nearly sacrifices...
---
MUSLIMS TO MARK EID UL ADHA STARTING TOMORROW
Stephanie L. Daye, 1/30/04
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1075461065189570.xml
Muslims will celebrate the Eid ul Adha, or festival of sacrifice, on
Sunday
with prayers, gifts and distribution of meat to the needy.
In Hudson County, the holiday will be celebrated at the following
events:
SATURDAY
The Altawheed Center, 984 West Side Ave., Jersey City, will present
lectures by imams from various mosques at 8:30 a.m. They will also
engage
in a daylong fast. For more information, call (201) 432-1773.
SUNDAY
The Altawheed Center, 984 West Side Ave., Jersey City, will open its
doors
for prayer at 8:30 a.m.
The Altawheed Center and the Islamic Center of Jersey City will be
celebrating the holiday at the Rex Plex Indoors Amusement and
Recreation
Park in Elizabeth from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, call the
Altawheed Center, at (201) 432-1773; the Islamic Center of Jersey City,
at
(201) 892-8951; or Rex Plex, at (877) 739-7539, Ext. 233.
The Islamic Education Center of North Hudson County, 4613 Cottage
Place,
Union City, will hold prayer services at 8:30 a.m. and at 9:45 a.m.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Islamic Education
Center
will hold a voter registration drive from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Afterward,
they
will host a community gathering at their future Youth Center, 2102 83rd
St., North Bergen, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call
Yousef
Abdallah at (201) 658-4544.
MONDAY
The Islamic Center of Jersey City has reserved space at the Rex Plex
Indoors Amusement and Recreation park, Elizabeth, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For
more information, call the Islamic Center, at (201) 892-8951, or Rex
Plex,
at (877) 739-7539, Ext. 233.
-----
ISLAMIC LEADER, SCHOLAR BUILDS BRIDGES OF KNOWLEDGE
Rogelio Morales, Daily Bruin, 1/30/04
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=27153
After a busy day that ended at 1:30 a.m., Hisham Mahmoud speaks
enthusiastically about his passion: educating others about his culture.
As a respected leader in the community, Mahmoud - a graduate student in
Islamic studies at UCLA - is driven to fight ignorance and help educate
people about Islam.
"I'm just the guy they call when the scheduled speaker doesn't show
up,"
Mahmoud said during a phone interview.
But Mahmoud isn't just a second-place choice to absentee speakers. He's
developed a reputation among the local Muslim community and beyond for
his
scholarship and activism.
Having acquired a command of five different languages and an
international
educational experience that has taken him to Europe and the Middle
East,
Mahmoud said he feels an immense sense of responsibility whenever he's
called upon for leadership.
"I've been blessed to meet, talk, and study with many intelligent
scholars.
... I feel a great sense of accountability, not pride," he said.
Mahmoud continues to respond to the increasing interest in Islamic
culture
in the United States...
-----
LOCAL MARKET BLOSSOMS FROM SMALLER TO SUPER
Peter Laub, Falls Church News Press, 1/30/04
http://www.fcnp.com/347/news5.htm
Once was a time (January 1999, to be exact) when the Southgate Village
Shoppes, a small strip mall in Falls Church on East Fairfax St., was
dubbed
by The Washington Post as a "destination for all things Middle
Eastern."
Shortly thereafter, however, in January of 2000, the Falls Church
Episcopal, Southgate's neighbor across East Fairfax Street, purchased
the
shopping center and informed the seven tenants it would not renew their
leases. All seven businesses there have since either closed their doors
permanently or found a new home. The church's plan is to demolish the
center and build a new parish life center.
In the case of Mateen Chida, it turned out to be rather providential.
He
didn't have to go far to find a bigger, better location for his Halal
Meat
Market.
In October of 2003, Chida relocated his business to 155 Hillwood Ave.,
in
the Tower Square Shopping Center, just behind the Southgate Center, in
the
space formerly occupied by the Galaxy Restaurant.
The lease buyout by the Falls Church Episcopal worked out as a blessing
for
Chida's business, now the Halalco Supermarket...
With 12,000 sq. feet, Halalco has more than tripled the space it had at
its
former Southgate location and the amenities it has added for its
costumers
include a brand new, expansive produce section, an expanded, convenient
self-service meat counter, and bookshelves lined with the one of the
most
extensive collections of Muslim-related literature this side of
Riyadh...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS ACQUIRE BURIAL GROUND IN OCEANSIDE
Agnes Diggs, North County Times, 1/29/04
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/01/29/special_reports/religion/1_28_0421_53_38.txt
There is a symmetry to Muslim burial ceremonies that results from
strict
observation of centuries-old customs.
"We don't believe in burning the body," explained Toufeeq Khan during a
discussion after services at the Masjid (mosque) Al-Ittehad in Vista.
"It
has to go into the ground again. And that's why we need a place."
Burial is a collective obligation for Muslims, he said, and the mosque
has
recently contracted for an exclusive burial area in Eternal Hills
Memorial
Park in Oceanside. The allotted space, which will include "72 spaces
with
some land around it," will be enclosed by a fence. A sign outside will
indicate that it is a Muslim burial ground.
"The fencing is because Muslim burial grounds have to be identified
differently," Khan said. "No other graves are allowed."
Muslim scholars say the burial segregation is to maintain the placement
of
the bodies in an unbroken pattern.
All the spaces will be aligned toward the Ka'ba, or Kaaba, the place in
Mecca toward which Muslims turn when they pray. The body rests on its
back,
but the face is turned toward the right. The depth should be at least
half
the body's length, but deeper is better. This is according to the
Islamic
Sharia, or law.
Burials are not extravagant. If not for the fence, it might be
difficult to
discern what lies beyond it. Markers, statues and mausoleums are not
used
to mark graves. And the amount of earth mounded above the grave should
not
be higher than the breadth of a man's hand, said Imam Nader Dehaini.
"You don't want people to dwell on the dead," Dehaini said. "The dead
are
dead. You don't want to worship them. Essentially the poor and the rich
go
into the ground the same way, and that's the important thing."
The mourning or grieving period should last no more than three days.
After
33 years, the space can be used to bury another person, scholars say...
-----
BUILDING A WALL, BREAKING A RELATIONSHIP
David Ignatius, Washington Post, 1/30/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61947-2004Jan29.html
Israel's plan to build a security fence inside the West Bank is
beginning
to bulldoze its friendly relationship with neighboring Jordan, which
for
decades has been one of its few reliable Arab partners.
With Israel under continuing assault from suicide bombers (such as the
terrorist who attacked a Jerusalem bus yesterday, killing at least 11
people), Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has pressed ahead with his plans
for
the barrier. Sharon argues that if the Palestinians won't control the
suicide bombers, then Israel must take unilateral steps to protect
itself
-- including the fence.
But to Israel's consternation, Jordan has taken a leading role in
opposing
the barrier. The Jordanian foreign minister, Marwan Muasher, told his
country's parliament on Jan. 21: "Construction of the wall would kill
every
opportunity for a viable Palestinian state." He said it would pose a
"direct threat . . . to Jordanian national security because it might
revive
the transfer option [of Palestinians to Jordan] despite all Israeli
assertions to the contrary..."
ALSO SEE:
BRITAIN OPPOSES INTERNATIONAL COURT REVIEW OF SECURITY FENCE
Ewen MacAskill, Guardian, 1/30/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1134708,00.html
The British government will today infuriate Arab opinion by supporting
Israel in a legal challenge to the construction of its controversial
wall
along the West Bank.
The Foreign Office is to lodge an objection at the international court
of
justice in The Hague, which is scheduled to review the barrier's
legality.
Israel has repeatedly argued that it needs the wall to protect it from
suicide bombers, such as the one responsible for yesterday's carnage in
Jerusalem.
But the Foreign Office minister Lady Symons, in an interview with the
Jewish Chronicle published today, says a hearing at the international
court
on the issue of the wall would "serve to politicise the court in a way
for
which it was not designed." The objection comes in spite of repeated
declarations by the Foreign Office that the wall's encroachment onto
Palestinian land is illegal...
---
INDISCRIMINATE KILLING
Haaretz, 1/29/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/388246.html
The dry account provided by the army said an armored force entered the
Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza early yesterday morning to strike at
Islamic
Jihad activists. According to the Israel Defense Forces report, a
firefight
ensued between armed Palestinians and the armored force and the IDF
identified direct hits on 10 armed men. The result is that at least
nine
Palestinians were killed in the incident, five of them from the Islamic
Jihad. The Palestinians said an 11-year-old boy and three workers were
killed and an ambulance driver was wounded.
It was another one of those routine reports that the Israeli public has
grown used to. Apparently the public is accepting a situation in which
military activity in Palestinian towns is accompanied by indiscriminate
killing.
With a kind of collective shrug, the killing is excused as something
self-evident in the circumstances of the war, in which it is difficult
to
distinguish between terrorists and innocent civilians. Nobody disputes
the
need to chase down activists from terror groups that want to strike in
Israeli population centers, and the circumstances of the incident are
such
that occasionally innocent civilians can be accidentally harmed because
terrorists operate in their midst.
But lately, there's a growing impression that the army's finger is too
quick on the trigger and its senior commanders are forgiving toward
soldiers and junior officers responsible for the fighting and its
consequences. The IDF must provide a more serious explanation about the
unnecessary deaths left behind after its operations…
-----
IRAQI CITY REFLECTS NATION'S FAULT LINES
Anthony Shadid, Washington Post, 1/29/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61704-2004Jan29.html
NASIRIYAH, Iraq - Sabri Rumayidh, the beleaguered provincial governor
in
this southern Iraqi city, barked into the telephone Thursday with the
urgency of a man under the gun. Many guns.
On the roof of his office were two rocket-propelled grenade launchers,
shouldered by tribesmen whom Rumayidh had called in as muscle after a
protest by 4,000 people a day earlier and rumors of another on Thursday
demanding that he resign and make way for elections. In the courtyard
were
two dozen more tribesmen with AK-47 assault rifles, some of them
sporting
bandoliers over their traditional gowns. A gaggle of smiling men hung
out
in the deserted lobby with heavy machine guns, their ammunition
spilling
across the floor.
"Did you send the patrol?" Rumayidh pleaded with the city's police
chief,
his second call in a few minutes. "There's only four policemen here
with
one Kalashnikov and 20 bullets. Send 10 or 15 if you want to protect
the
building."
With that, Rumayidh packed up and departed, his entourage followed and
the
gate of the office was padlocked. But left behind was a standoff over
the
question at the heart of the plan for Iraq's political transition: Who
leads the country, and who chooses the leaders? Guns were drawn,
clerics
promised more protests and civil disobedience until elections were
held,
and the U.S.-led administration acknowledged its difficult task in
bringing
legitimacy to the process it is trying to oversee.
"No bullets have been fired, and that's worth recording," said John
Bourne,
the coordinator for the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in
Nasiriyah, a Shiite Muslim city about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad.
But,
he added: "It is a question of acceptance. The ultimate test of
legitimacy
is: Do they accept it? Do a sufficient majority of the people accept
the
results?"
The fault lines that have emerged in Nasiriyah reveal the forces -- and
dangers -- shaping the U.S. plan to create an Iraqi government and turn
over sovereignty this summer. In streets along the Euphrates River,
Nasiriyah's assertive Islamic parties have proved their ability this
week
to rally followers, with or without the blessing of the country's
leading
cleric. Violence lurks under the surface. And the U.S.-led
administration,
residents say, has little goodwill on which to draw in advocating
anything
short of direct elections...
-----
4th ANNUAL IOWA CONFERENCE ON ISLAM
WHAT: The theme of the 4th annual Iowa conference on Islam is "Islam:
Unity
of Diversity."
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: Lectures & Workshops, Distinguished Local &
National Speakers, Introductory Sessions on Islam, Interactive
Sessions,
Quran Recitations, Private Consultations, Movie Showing, Bazaar &
Cultural
Exhibition, Youth Program, Interfaith Dialogue, Basketball Tournament
for
Males, Private Swimming for Females, Fieldtrip to the Mother Mosque of
America, Babysitting Available.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Aminah Assilmi, Siraj
Wahhaj,
Dr. Jeffrey Lang and many more!
WHEN: Friday, March 26 to Sunday, March 28, 2004
WHERE: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
No Registration Cost!
REGISTER ONLINE: http://www.iowamuslims.org
Website: http://www.IowaMuslims.org
Email: questions@IowaMuslims.org
Phone: (319) 621-6375, (312) 375-2615
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/2/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: CONSULT WITH THEM
* 'I AM MUSLIM. I AM AMERICAN. I VOTE' (LA Times)
- CA Eid Appeal for Political Involvement (SJMN)
- TX Muslims Raise Political Awareness (DMN)
- WI Muslims Hope to Build Political Power (MJ)
- Hundreds of NY Muslims Register to Vote (PJ)
- ST. Louis Muslims Register to Vote (Post-Dispatch)
- CA Muslims Line Up to Register (Press-Enterprise)
- IL Muslims Mix Prayer, Politics (Chicago Tribune)
- FL Muslims Mix faith, Politics at Eid (Sun-Sentinel)
- DC-Area Muslims Register to Vote (Wash. Post)
* FL CANDIDATE REVEALS IGNORANCE OF ISLAM (SP Times)
- CAIR-FL: Eid and Voter Registration (WFLA 970)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: CONSULT WITH THEM
And it was by God's grace that you [Prophet Muhammad] dealt gently with
thy
followers…Pardon them and pray that they be forgiven, and consult with
them
in all matters of public concern.
The Holy Quran, 3:159
-----
'I AM MUSLIM. I AM AMERICAN. I VOTE'
PATRIOTIC TOUCH IN A HAJJ EVENT
As Southland Muslims mark an annual pilgrimage, those attending an
Anaheim
service can also register to vote.
Kimi Yoshino and Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 2/2/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hajj2feb02,1,2929458.story
Thousands of Southern California Muslims gathered Sunday to mark one of
their most important holidays and the end of hajj, the yearly
pilgrimage to
Mecca.
They came - young and old, men and women - to celebrate Eid al-Adha, a
holiday that honors Abraham, the prophet who was willing to sacrifice
his
son at God's request.
But one gathering proved to be more than merely religious observances,
as
the Muslims demonstrated their increasing political involvement. At the
Anaheim Convention Center, where about 8,000 Muslims came together, the
Council on American-Islamic Relations sponsored a voter registration
drive,
which also took place at gatherings in New York and Washington, D.C.
"This is part of our nationwide effort to get Muslim voices out through
voting, especially this election year," said CAIR spokeswoman Sabiha
Khan,
who stood next to a sign that read: "I am Muslim. I am American. I
vote…"
SEE ALSO:
ON HOLY DAY, AN APPEAL FOR POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
Matthai Chakko Kuruvila, San Jose Mercury News 2/2/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/7854605.htm
On one of the holiest days of the Muslim calendar, Eid-Ul-Adha, nearly
5,000 Muslims gathered to celebrate the life of Abraham in an
auditorium at
the Santa Clara County fairgrounds.
Helal Omeira was there to call upon his fellow Muslims to renew their
trust
in American politics. Omeira sat behind a table in the middle of the
34,000-square-foot hall, in front of a sign that said "Register to
Vote."
"If you don't vote as an American, what right do you have to complain?"
said Omeira, executive director of the Bay Area chapter of the Council
on
American Islamic Relations, which coordinated similar registration
efforts
nationwide. "You have to be a participant in the system…"
At the county fairgrounds on Sunday, resentment of the Bush
administration
was palpable. Person after person, including many registered
Republicans,
denounced the erosion of civil liberties. The U.S. government has
forced
more than 80,000 men and boys from dozens of Muslim countries to
register
at immigration offices and placed more than 13,000 in deportation
hearings
for immigration violations. American Muslim charities have been frozen.
American Muslim leaders have been arrested.
"We're not asking for special treatment," said Shafath Syed, 37, who
moderated Sunday's events and who voted for Bush in 2000. "We just want
them to be fair."
Complaining is worthless, voting is essential, he said.
"If you don't like how things are going, either shut up or do something
about it," he said. "Politicians aren't going to care about Muslims
unless
we vote."
---
MUSLIMS MARK SACRED DAY AND RAISE POLITICAL AWARENESS
TOYA LYNN STEWART, Dallas Morning News, 2/1/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/dn/religion/stories/020204dnmeteid.72af1.html
For North Texas Muslims, Sunday's annual Eid observance included a
little
patriotism along with the traditional prayers...
This year's festival included a voter registration drive held to bring
a
different sense of unity.
"It's extremely important that the Muslim community unite and make our
voices heard as Muslim Americans," said Amina-Marisol Rojas, executive
director of the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
"It is important we exercise our rights as U.S. citizens instead of
leaving
the decisions to others."
The local drive was part of a national effort organized by the council.
"CAIR has encouraged communities to hold voter registration drives in
the
past," said Hasan Mansori, a spokesman for the national organization.
"What
is different this year is that promoting civic participation is a top
priority.
"Muslim communities are now embracing the opportunity to get registered
to
vote and that is reflected in the number of drives going on this Sunday
and
the amount of enthusiasm we hear from volunteers to make this a
success.
This is the biggest voter registration drive we've ever seen."
"In the past, some citizens may have seen voting as an option," he
said.
"Today we are increasingly concerned about the deteriorating state of
our
civil liberties, the economy, our schools and health care, and our
relations with the global community. Our rapidly growing community is
well
aware that they can make an impact in the presidential election,
particularly in swing states such as Michigan, California, Wisconsin
and
Florida..."
---
MUSLIMS HOPE TO BUILD POLITICAL POWER
Voter drive seen as way to boost their influence
GEORGIA PABST, Milwaukee Journal, 2/1/04
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/feb04/204402.asp
Joining more than 5,000 Milwaukee-area Muslims, Yusra Abdel Sabar went
to
Wisconsin State Fair Park Sunday to pray and celebrate the religious
holiday of Eid al-Adha, which marks the completion of the annual
pilgrimage
to Mecca.
But Abdel Sabar participated in another ritual Sunday. She registered
to vote.
A native of Palestine, she became a citizen 25 years ago. But she said
she
was never really encouraged to vote before. Issues of safety, security
and
war have made her realize she needs to exercise her voting privilege,
said
the mother of six, who has a son in the U.S. Army.
"Now more than ever, my community needs to have a voice and help people
chose the right leaders," she said. "The community is trying to
improve. We
need to show the world that the Islamic community is here to help
everyone."
With concern about civil rights, the USA Patriot Act, discrimination,
stereotyping of Arab-Americans and the 2004 election, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C., urged Muslim
communities
around the nation to conduct voter registration drives Sunday in
conjunction with the religious celebration.
The CAIR Web site provided a model press release for organizations to
use,
along with instructions on how to conduct a voter registration drive
and
who can vote…
Janan Najeeb, director of the Muslim Women's Coalition, said this was
the
first year a concerted voter registration drive had been mounted.
"The situation for American Muslims is a difficult situation with the
violation of civil rights, the Patriot Act. And so we need to mobilize
our
community," she said. "Before, a lot of Muslims felt disconnected from
the
political process," she said. With the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11,
2001,
that changed."
"Our religion is under attack, and we as Muslims must face this
campaign of
hate with love, mercy and truth," said Ziad Hamdan, the acting imam for
the
Islamic Society, in his khutba, or sermon, after prayers Sunday.
"Muslims
must fight oppression."
In urging others to register to vote and get involved, he said: "Our
participation as American Muslims is no longer an option; it's a
necessity.
We have to participate and be active in this country. We need to stand
as
one and unite our hearts and minds..."
After the celebration, Ahmed Azam, 22, and his sister Rabia Azam, 21,
went
to the voter registration tables, raised their hands and became new
voters.
The two said they and their family became citizens in November and look
forward to voting.
"It's the only way to make a difference," said Ahmed, a computer
programmer. His sister, a Marquette University student, said: "I just
don't
want another president like Bush."
---
HUNDREDS REGISTER TO VOTE AT DRIVE
Rasheed Oluwa, Poughkeepsie Journal, 2/2/04
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/localnews/stories/lo020204s3.shtml
Although Sunday was a day of spiritual awareness for local Muslims, it
was
also a day of political awareness.
A voter registration drive was held in conjunction with Sunday's Eid
al-Adha celebration at the Casperkill Country Club.
The drive was sponsored by the Mid-Hudson Islamic Association and is
part
of larger effort coordinated by the Council on American Islamic
Relations,
based in Washington, D.C., and the Mid-Hudson's Muslim Women's
Association.
"We're really focusing on the national election," said Aziz Ahsan, a
spokesman for the Mid-Hudson Islamic Association. "(Bush) completely
ignored some of the issues of the Muslim community. At the national
level
they have to realize our issues."
These issues include the detaining of hundreds of Arab Americans,
attacks
on Muslim charities and the signing of the Patriot Act…
---
ST. LOUIS MUSLIMS REGISTER TO VOTE
THOUSANDS CELEBRATE MUSLIM HOLY DAY
Aisha Sultan, Post-Dispatch, 2/1/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/0B998E87E798254986256E2E001203EB
Those expecting prayer got a dose of politics as well Sunday morning as
thousands of Muslims gathered downtown for one of their largest holiday
celebrations of the year.
"Are you a citizen? Are you registered to vote?" Umer Farouq, a
volunteer,
called out to people entering the Millennium Hotel ballroom being used
as a
prayer hall. The St. Louis chapter of the Council on American Islamic
Relations set up the booth as part of a nationwide effort to register
Muslim-American voters for the coming presidential election. A steady
stream of people filled out the voter registrations cards.
"We want to get as many Muslims involved as we can," said James
Hacking,
executive director of the St. Louis chapter of the council. "We're
really
trying to encourage greater participation in the political process."
That message was reiterated inside during a sermon that stressed the
importance of getting involved in one's society…
---
MUSLIMS LINE UP TO REGISTER FOR VOTING
Services held at area mosques feature encouragement to show up at the
polls.
ELENA ARNOLD, Press-Enterprise, 2/1/04
http://www.pe.com/breakingnews/local/stories/PE_News_Local_vote02.d892.html
With thousands of Muslims celebrating the holy day marking the end of
Hajj,
mosques took the opportunity Sunday to get members to register to vote.
"The voice of Muslims must be heard," said Ahmed Radwan, a member of
the
Islamic Society of Corona-Norco.
Radwan joined about 600 others who gathered at a dirt lot at the corner
of
Garretson Avenue and Santana Way Sunday morning to pray, celebrate Eid
ul-Adha, which signifies the completion of the main portion of the Hajj
-
the pilgrimage to Mecca, and to break ground for a mosque.
Congregation members could visit a table just outside the worship tent
where they could register to vote.
Eid ul-Adha is one of two Muslim holidays of religious devotion and
typically draws large numbers of people to their mosques.
The surge in membership in the Corona area that is making the new
mosque
possible also is a reminder of the impact Muslims can have at the
polls,
Radwan said.
"We made a big difference in the Bush election," he explained. "Now
it's
time for us to elect a president that will support peace."
Moutaz Herzallah said he has been a voter for "a long time." He just
recently moved to Corona, however, and took the opportunity Sunday to
register as a Riverside County voter.
Shaking his head while recalling recent low voter turnouts, Herzallah
said
all Americans should realize the importance of getting to the polls.
"Every citizen must participate in democracy," he said. "Voting turnout
is
always low, less than 50 percent, but people will complain about who
was
elected."
Senad Ajanovic came to the United States from Bosnia several years ago.
He
said Sunday was the first chance he'd had to register as a voter.
"I just want to vote," Ajanovic said. "I'd like to see some change..."
---
MUSLIMS MIX PRAYER, POLITICS
Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune, 2/2/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0402020212feb02,1,7631758.story
Thousands of Muslims dressed in colorful formal garb prayed together in
mosques, convention centers and other meeting places Sunday to mark Eid
ul-Adha, a holiday celebrating sacrifice and thankfulness to God.
During this election year, politics played a role in the festivities,
too,
with voter registration booths set up at most sites and political
candidates speaking at larger forums, such as at the Rosemont
Convention
Center, where up to 15,000 Muslims were expected for three prayer
services…
Before the prayers began, Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Barack
Obama,
Gery Chico and Dan Hynes addressed the crowd. They paid their respects
and
criticized some federal policies, such as the Patriot Act, instituted
after
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Aurelia Pucinski, running for a judge's position, also worked the
crowd.
Muslim organizers welcomed the candidates, using bullhorns to beckon
people
toward the voter registration table. Many announced their displeasure
with
President Bush's policies, opposing the war in Iraq and saying that
Muslims
have been unfairly targeted since the terrorist attacks.
Dr. Navid Rashid, 28, of Chicago, a resident physician at the
University of
Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, was among those who signed up to
vote.
"I've never voted before," said Rashid, who grew up in Philadelphia.
"The more aware I become about the political news in this country, the
more
important for me to be informed and have an opinion. The war concerns
me.
Foreign policy concerns me. Profiling and discrimination disturb me.
Lack
of cooperation with other countries concerns me."
---
S. FLORIDA MUSLIMS MIX FAITH, POLITICS AT HOLY DAY FESTIVAL
Peter Bernard, Sun-Sentinel, 2/2/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cmuslim02feb02,0,2556255.story
On Friday about 900 Muslims registered to vote at the Miami Gardens
mosque
alone, Ali said.
"Many Muslim-Americans were not really involved with government or
politics," Ali said. "But after 9-11, many Muslims have suffered
difficulties at the hands of the government. We want our political
voices
to be heard so we can keep people like John Ashcroft and Donald
Rumsfeld
out of office."
Ali cited the example of Adham Hassoun, a Palestinian computer
programmer
from Sunrise who has suffered a year and a half in immigration
detention
and allegations of terrorist ties. Hassoun, 41, is known for
associations
with terror suspects and his strong rhetoric on the Palestinian cause.
The
government, however, has never brought a terrorism charge against
Hassoun,
and he has denied any connection to terrorism.
"They're still trying to deport him, and he's an innocent man," Ali
said.
Ali and other local Muslims feel a unified voting bloc could do more to
prevent such abuses. Similar voter drives took place Sunday in
conjunction
with Eid festivities in other parts of the state...
---
DC-AREA MUSLIMS REGISTER TO VOTE
MUSLIMS MARK HOLIDAY WITH CALLS FOR UNDERSTANDING
Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 2/2/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4404-2004Feb1.html
A call for community action punctuated a traditional day of prayer and
family gathering at Washington's largest annual assembly of Muslims
yesterday, as thousands of worshipers from the District, Maryland and
Virginia filled the D.C. Armory to celebrate the close of hajj, the
yearly
pilgrimage to Mecca.
In between booths stocked with Islamic calligraphy, ornamental clothes
and
bottles of perfumed oils, volunteers for Muslim organizations
registered
new voters. In addition to annual blood and food drives, organizers
allowed
representatives for Democratic presidential candidates to address the
crowds of people who sat and knelt shoeless for morning prayers over a
30,000-square-foot floor.
Organizers said the heightened political awareness is part of an
assertive
election-year appeal by American Muslims to the U.S. public, almost
three
years after the September 2001 attacks. With each new day seeming to
bring
reports of new terror threats, suicide bombings by Iraqi insurgents and
federal investigations into alleged al Qaeda sympathizers, ordinary
Muslims
say they want to tell their neighbors the truth about their faith and
defend their community from misunderstandings spawned by radical
fundamentalism.
"It is a complicated time for all Americans. Every community has faced
challenges, and today Muslims have their time of challenge," said
Rizwan
Jaka, 31, a systems engineer who is president of the Adams Center
mosque in
Sterling and an event coordinator.
"We've got to get that message out so people understand who we are and
don't get confused with information from the wrong people," he said.
"We
have to stand up for justice, human rights and democracy. Otherwise,
things
will get worse…"
---
CANDIDATE'S WORDS REVEAL HIS IGNORANCE
Ahmed Bedier, St. Petersburg Times, 2/1/04
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/01/Hernando/Candidate_s_words_rev.shtml
Ahmed Bedier is Communications Director Council on American-Islamic
Relations - Florida
Re: Elections have a Baptist flavor, Jan. 29 Times:
Editor: I was deeply concerned after reading the recent Hernando Times
article, wherein County Commission candidate Richard Power incorrectly
referred to Muslims as "Mohammedans," and alleged that not enough have
condemned terrorism. Mr. Power went on to add that "Mohammedans" have
"to
abide by our rules," a statement suggesting that Muslims are foreign
guests.
Mr. Power's statements portrayed his ignorance and bigotry to other
religions, politics, and history of this great nation.
The educated know that the followers of Prophet Muhammad are called
Muslims, and that their religion is Islam. Just as they know that the
followers of Jesus are called Christians. Islam is an Arabic word that
means submission (to God), those who submit (to God) are called Muslim.
Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray to him; they simply believe
that
he (like Noah, Abraham, and Moses) was a messenger and prophet from
God.
Islam is more than 1,400 years old, and is the fastest-growing religion
in
the world, with more than 1.2-billion adherents.
The tragic attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, on our nation were not only
crimes
against Americans, they were crimes against all humanity. People of all
colors, nations and religions (including Muslims) died on that
ill-fated
day. The Muslim-American community responded immediately by condemning
the
attacks with public statements and full page advertisements. Muslims
across
the nation held blood drives, fundraisers and interfaith events to aid
the
victims, while fostering understanding and with healing.
Locally, Muslims in Hernando have done their share of giving, such as
the
Ramadan-Thanksgiving Food Basket Program, which was intended to help
feed
local needy families. In November the Hernando County Commission
adopted
Resolution 2003-310, praising the program, which is now in it's third
year.
Mr. Power makes a familiar argument often used by radical right-wing
conservatives, suggesting Muslims have not done enough to condemn
terrorism. Have we, as a nation, demanded similar condemnations from
Christians for the acts of Timothy McVeigh or Paul Hill? Neither
represents
Christianity, just as the hijackers of 9/11 did not represent Islam.
Mr. Power fails to recognize that an elected official is a public
servant,
and is expected to serve his constituents. Hernando County is home to a
number of Muslim families, many of whom are professionals serving the
needs
of the community, while adding to its economic development.
As a political candidate, Mr. Power should understand that we live in a
great nation built upon democratic values, where "all men are created
equal." Muslim-Americans are not foreign guests in Mr. Power's home,
where
he sets the rules; they are part of that constitutional phrase "We the
people," and that gives them the right to help set America's rules and
its
culture.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: EID, VOTER REGISTRATION AND THE SUPER BOWL
http://www.cair-florida.org/audio/04-01-31_970wfla_eid_drive.wma
CAIR Florida Communications Director Ahmed Bedier interviewed by Tampa
Bay
Talk radio station 970 WFLA.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOUISIANA TEACHER REMOVED AFTER HIJAB INCIDENT
Teacher allegedly told Muslim student: 'I hope Allah punishes you'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/3/2004) - A prominent national Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group today applauded the actions of a Louisiana high
school
that removed a social studies teacher who allegedly pulled on the
Islamic
head scarf, or hijab, of a Muslim student and made offensive remarks
about
her faith.
The 17-year-old student at West Jefferson High School in Harvey, La.,
told
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that the teacher
pulled
back her religiously-mandated head scarf during a world history class
on
January 30th. After pulling on the student's scarf, the teacher
allegedly
said: "I hope God punishes you. No, I'm sorry, I hope Allah punishes
you. I
didn't know you had hair under there." The student, who is of Iraqi
heritage, told CAIR that the teacher had previously made offensive
remarks
about other students' ethnic or religious background.
West Jefferson High School Principal Lale Geer today told CAIR that the
teacher had been removed from the school. Geer also stressed that his
school respects students of all cultures and that such behavior will
not be
tolerated.
"We appreciate the school's swift and decisive action in response to
this
shocking incident," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim
Hooper. "All students, regardless of their religious or ethnic
background,
should feel safe in our nation's classrooms."
Hooper said a similar incident occurred recently in the United Kingdom.
In
that case, the teacher allegedly pulled off the hijab of a teenage
student
and called Islam "a joke."
SEE: "TEACHER ACCUSED OF ASSAULT ON MUSLIM GIRL"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1131901,00.html
He added that CAIR is also challenging bans on Islamic head scarves in
Alabama driver's license photographs and in French public schools.
SEE: "ALABAMA MUSLIMS DENIED RIGHT TO ISLAMIC ATTIRE"
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=158&page=AA
"U.S. MUSLIMS MEET FRENCH AMBASSADOR ON HIJAB BAN"
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1039&page=NR
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/3/04
* CAIR-LA: 2004 ELECTIONS TOWNHALL MEETING
- CAIR-LA Spring Internship Program
* SEEKING ELECTORAL CLOUT, MUSLIMS REGISTER TO VOTE (AP)
- Getting Out the Muslim Vote (MSNBC)
- Religious Groups to Launch Voter Drive (TIA)
- FL Voter Drive Coordinated With Eid (Times Union)
- Presidential Message: Eid Al-Adha
* LA TEACHER REMOVED OVER HEAD SCARF INCIDENT (AP)
* CAIR-CAN: MUSLIMS THANK PM FOR LAUNCHING PUBLIC INQUIRY
- Mr. Arar's Lawsuit (Wash. Post)
* IL MUSLIM APPEALS TO SUPREME COURT (Daily Southtown)
- Army Chaplain's Dad Blames Profiling (AP)
* JDL ACTIVIST SUSPECTED IN 1985 KILLING (Jerusalem Post)
* FEDS PROBE CYANIDE IN TEXAS TERROR CASE (AP)
- Pair Linked To Texas Arsenal Bust (Union Leader)
* VIOLENCE IS A HUMAN, NOT AN ISLAMIC TRAIT (Phil Inq)
- Media Aren't Telling Whole Story (Phil Inq)
- Arabs Feel Profiled By 9/11 Measures (Phil Inq)
* MOROCCAN PARLIAMENT MEMBERS HELD IN ORE (AP)
* ISRAEL WANTS U.S. REPORT HELD (Haaretz)
- Media Ignore Israeli Terrorism (Hartford Courant)
- Displaced at the Birth of Israel (LA Time)
* TX SCHOOL TEACHES MORE THAN THE THREE R'S (Star-Telegram)
* FIRST MINARET ON MONTREAL SKYLINE (Montreal Gazette)
-----
CAIR-LA: 2004 ELECTIONS TOWNHALL MEETING
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations Southern California
office
(CAIR-LA), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), American Muslim
Alliance
(AMA), and community activists and leaders are hosting an elections
townhall meeting with federal and state officials.
This is one of the most important community gatherings of the year for
American Muslims. Come and listen to political candidates discuss their
vision and views and how this affects our community.
WHEN: Sunday February 22, 2004, 3pm-6pm
WHERE: Sequoia Conference Center, 7530 Orangethorpe Avenue, Buena Park,
CA
90621. (714) 670-5594
For more information, contact: CAIR-LA at 714-776-1847 or
socal@cair.com
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-LA SPRING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Southern California (CAIR-LA)
is
seeking applicants for its spring internship program. The program is
open
to Muslim college or university students age 18 and older who have
legal
status in the US to receive monthly stipend. CAIR's internship program
provides first hand experience and training in Community Outreach,
Education, Governmental Relations, Lobbying, Public and Media
Relations,
Legal and Civil Rights, Research and Leadership Training. The
application
deadline is February 27, 2004.
Interested and qualified applicants should contact Alia Aboul-Nasr at
aliaa@cair.com or call 714-776-1847 for an application.
-----
SEEKING ELECTORAL CLOUT, MUSLIMS REGISTERING TO VOTE
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 2/3/04
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1075849444266341.xml
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Stung by a backlash after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror
attacks and hoping to increase their clout in this year's presidential
election, Muslim groups are signing up new voters in New Jersey and
across
the nation.
Several thousand Muslims filled out voter registration forms during
sign-up
drives last weekend that coincided with a major Islamic holiday, the
Eid-ul-Adha.
Thousands more took the forms home and said they would complete and
mail
them to local election boards in time to register to vote in the
November
presidential election…
Across the nation, similar voter registration drives were held over the
weekend, including in the suburbs near Dearborn, Mich., home to the
nation's second-largest Arab-American community after New York City.
"They realize that the more we are in numbers, the more people are
going to
listen to us," said Celena Khalib, assistant director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations' Michigan office.
The goal is simple: Bring more Muslims into the political system so
they
can help decide the future direction of the nation.
Muslims in cities across the nation voiced concern over an anti-Muslim
backlash after the 9/11 terror attacks, and what they call the
subsequent
attack on civil liberties by the Bush administration. Of the more than
1,200 detainees caught up in the post 9/11 dragnet, most were Muslims
or
people from Arab or southern Asian nations…
"The atmosphere we find ourselves in, people realize we need to have a
voice, to make sure our rights are protected," said Yaser El-Menshawy,
chairman of the Majlis-Ash-Shura of New Jersey, the state's council of
mosques…
In New Jersey, the Majlis-Ash-Shura signed up 160 new voters at a drive
near Princeton. They also held drives in Hasbrouck Heights, Edison,
Union
City, Elizabeth and Newark, and distributed another 1,200 voter
registration forms to would-be voters, El-Menshawy said.
The drives were held as Muslims gathered for prayers on the
Eid-ul-Adha, or
the Feast of the Sacrifice, commemorating the prophet Abraham's
willingness
to sacrifice his son at God's command.
Workers were still counting completed registration forms on Tuesday,
but
according to preliminary totals, 1,000 new voters were signed up in Los
Angeles; in one mosque alone in the Miami area, 900 registered.
In Ohio, 350 new voters were registered, in Maryland, at least 300 new
voters signed up, and an additional 125 were registered in Sacramento,
Ca.
The local CAIR office in Albany, N.Y., reported 95 new voters, San
Antonio
registered 70, Columbia, S.C., registered 50, and St. Louis another 35,
according to Hasan Mansori, CAIR's government affairs coordinator.
SEE ALSO:
GETTING OUT THE MUSLIM VOTE
Kari Huus, MSNBC.com, 2/2/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4137092/
With the start of the annual Muslim festival of Eid al Adha on Sunday,
drawing thousands of believers from around Washington state to Seattle
for
prayer, political activists saw an opportunity. A team of volunteers
roamed
the crowd, or manned booths, signing up those qualified to vote. A
major
push for Muslim voter registration drive was on at similar gatherings
throughout the country.
Coming on the heels of the Hajj, the holiday draws out devout Muslims
as
well as more casual followers. "It's a perfect opportunity for people
to
exercise their responsibility and become more politically aware," says
Hasan Mansouri, government affairs coordinator for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), one of the national groups running
the
registration drive. "And it comes at a perfect time, about a month
before
Super Tuesday."
Never before have the stakes seemed so high for Muslim Americans.
"There is a sense of crisis in the Muslim community," says Jamal
Gabobe, a
U.S. citizen born in Somaliland. Gabobe, who teaches comparative
literature
at the University of Washington, has been in the country for decades
but
says he is registering to vote for the first time in 2004. "There are a
lot
of issues coalescing, with the Iraq war and the war on terrorism. Being
a
Muslim, even if you are not interested in politics, you have to react,
to
be heard."
To the extent that the get-out-the-Muslim-vote effort succeeds, it will
largely benefit the Democrats because it is energized by anger over the
Bush administration's Patriot Act and what is perceived as an
anti-Muslim
bias behind the Iraq Iraq war and Israeli-Palestinian policy.
According to Nuom Fariz, a long-time citizen who was born in Jordan,
this
is the most political interest she's seen in the U.S. Muslim community
since her arrival in 1973. She says the majority of Muslims are
interested
in Dennis Kucinich and Howard Dean. "But if it comes down to it, they
will
vote against Bush... The vote is heavy on our minds."
According to CAIR, 78 percent of Muslims voted Republican in 2000. It
was a
departure from previous elections, when this community tended to side
with
the health and education policies of Democrats. But conservative family
values that Bush touted were attractive, as was his hints that he would
seek to eliminate the 1996 Secret Evidence Act, which many Muslims
believe
targets members of their community...
---
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO REGISTER VOTERS FOR THE 2004
ELECTIONS
WASHINGTON, DC - People of faith will play a vital role in the 2004
elections. Several of the nation's largest and most influential
interfaith, ecumenical, and denominational organizations are joining
together to announce new voter registration and mobilization
initiatives.
This group of religious leaders will outline their voter registration
programs and pledge their support for action by members to encourage
voter
education throughout the primary season and general election. With the
heightened public attention to religion as a factor in the 2004
Presidential campaign, these leaders will discuss voting as an act of
faith
and challenge candidates to engage, rather than manipulate, the faith
community.
WHAT: Religious support for Democracy - Voter Registration 2004
Speakers: 1. Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary, National
Council
of Churches; 2. Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President of The Interfaith
Alliance; 3. Ibrahim Hooper, National Communications Director, Council
on American-Islamic Relations; 4. Rev. William Sinkford, President,
Unitarian Universalist Association
Representatives from other religious organizations representing a
variety
of faith traditions and other voter registration groups will also be
present to field questions from the media upon request.
WHEN: 10:00 a.m., February 4, 2004
WHERE: The Marvin Center, 3rd Floor Amphitheater, The George
Washington
University, 800 21st St., NW Washington, D.C. 20052
Contact: John Lynner Peterson or Don Parker 202-639-6370
---
VOTER DRIVE COORDINATED WITH END OF HAJJ
Cynthia L. Garza, Times-Union, 2/1/04
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/020204/met_14701036.shtml
2/1/04
The thousands of Muslims drawn together Sunday by communal prayers and
celebration marking the end of hajj -- the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca
--
gave organizers the opportunity this year to begin voter registration
drives for the Muslim community in anticipation of the upcoming
election year.
"I think Muslims are realizing the importance of becoming a full
participant in American democracy," said Parvez Ahmed, chairman of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations in Florida. Ahmed said that was
exemplified at the day's ceremony by Muslims' ability to gather and
worship
and having a say in public affairs.
Ahmed said the voter registration drive is a significant change for the
community and that local efforts will continue until election time. The
local drive is part of a nationwide effort coordinated by the
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
About 4,000 Muslims gathered Sunday in a temporary location in the
Regency
area that was big enough to hold the mass turnout to celebrate Eid
ul-Adha,
or the feast of sacrifice. The holiday is celebrated with the prayers,
small gifts for children, distribution of meat to the needy and social
gatherings...
---
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE: EID AL-ADHA
I send greetings to all Muslims celebrating Eid al-Adha.
As part of the Hajj, or pilgrimage season, Eid al-Adha commemorates
Abraham's obedience to God and his willingness to sacrifice. During
this
three-day festival, Muslims around the world remember God's greatness
and
perform acts of charity and goodwill.
As families and friends gather to share in the traditions of Eid
al-Adha, I
encourage people of faith to help those in need and give thanks for the
blessings God has granted.
Laura joins me in sending our best wishes for a joyous celebration.
To view this message on the White House website, please go to:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040128-9.html
-----
TEACHER REMOVED OVER ALLEGED HEAD SCARF INCIDENT
BRETT MARTEL, Associated Press
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1075847651258200.xml
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A teacher at a suburban high school was removed from
his
classroom because of accusations that he yanked off a Muslim student's
head
scarf and allegedly told her, "I hope God punishes you."
West Jefferson High School principal Lale Geer confirmed Tuesday that
social studies teacher Wes Mix had been sent home a day earlier, but
declined to go into detail about the incident.
"All I can tell you is he's no longer at my school, and that's the way
we
handled it," Geer said. "The school is a good school, and we appreciate
diversity. We have all different ethnic groups in our school."
The alleged victim, Marym Matar, 17, told The Associate Press that the
alleged incident occurred Friday as Mix was giving a test in his 10th
grade
world history class.
Matar said Mix had a habit of tossing test sheets at students, with the
tests often scattering on the floor.
"I never thought it was my obligation to pick it up from the floor, so
I
snatched it from his hand," she recalled. Soon after that, the teacher
allegedly pulled back her scarf, or hijab, and said, "I hope God
punishes
you - sorry - I hope Allah punishes you ... I didn't know you had hair
under there..."
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in Washington, D.C., applauded Geer's decision…
"The scarf is not a religious symbol but an obligation," Hooper said.
"People try to make it into what it isn't - that it's some symbol of
radicalism or a propensity toward violence. That's why it's essential
to
defend the right of Muslim women to wear them."
-----
MUSLIMS URGED TO THANK PRIME MINISTER PAUL MARTIN AND DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER ANNE MCLELLAN FOR LAUNCHING PUBLIC INQUIRY
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 2/2/2004) - The Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) is calling on Canadians to thank Prime Minister
Paul
Martin and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan for the decision to
conduct
a public inquiry into the case of Maher Arar.
Suggested talking points:
* All across Canada, people have been urging the government to call a
public inquiry.
* This decision shows that our government is committed to fairness and
accountability of our security agencies.
* The pursuit of greater security must not come at the expense of Civil
liberties, due process and the rule of law.
* Maher Arar, his family and all Canadians deserve an answer for Mr.
Arar's ordeal.
* By uncovering the truth as to what happened to Maher Arar, we can
build a
stronger and safer Canada.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED
1. CONTACT Prime Minister Paul Martin and Deputy Prime Minister Anne
McLellan and thank them for calling a public inquiry into the case of
Maher Arar.
Prime Minister Paul Martin
Tel: 613 992-4284
Fax: 613 992-4291
Email: Martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan
Tel: 613 992-4524
Fax: 613 943-0044
Email: McLellan.A@parl.gc.ca
2. COPY CAIR-CAN - canada@cair-net.org - on all correspondence.
ALSO SEE:
MR. ARAR'S LAWSUIT
Washington Post, 2/1/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4328-2004Feb1.html
THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT filed last week by Maher Arar -- the Syrian-born
Canadian whom the federal government deported to Syria -- offers a good
opportunity to shed some light on one of the more peculiar civil
liberties
cases to arise during the war on terrorism. Mr. Arar and the U.S.
government agree on the barest outlines of his story: He was flying
home
from Tunisia to Canada in the fall of 2002 on a path that took him
through
New York. He had, however, been placed on the terrorist watch list.
When he
presented his Canadian passport, he was detained for more than a week
and
-- despite his pleas to be sent to Canada -- was sent to Syria. There
he
was held for 10 months until intervention by the Canadian government
secured his release.
That is where agreement ends. Mr. Arar denies any connection to al
Qaeda.
He claims to have been savagely tortured in his country of birth. And
he
alleges that he was sent to Syria, rather than to Canada, precisely so
that
he would be tortured -- to be precise, "so that Syrian authorities
would
interrogate him in ways that [American officials] believed themselves
unable to do directly." All of which, if true, would violate this
country's
international treaty obligations, which prohibit turning someone over
to a
government likely to mistreat that person. In Canada, Mr. Arar's case
has
become a cause, cited as an example of American arrogance and contempt
for
Canada's interests and citizens...
-----
EXILED ORLAND MAN APPEALS CASE TO U.S. SUPREME COURT
Allison Hantschel, Daily Southtown, 1/29/04
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/291nd4.htm
The south suburban Muslim leader exiled from the United States last
year
appealed his immigration case to the nation's highest court Wednesday.
Sabri Samirah, formerly of Orland Park, is asking the U.S. Supreme
Court to
consider whether the federal government acted legally in keeping him
out of
the country for more than a year.
"We think the government is wrong on the law, and we think we're right
on
the law," said Samirah's attorney, Mark Flessner. "This case has
serious
implications for a million immigrants living in this country, and the
courts have left important legal issues unaddressed."
Samirah, who lived in the United States for 15 years with his wife and
three children, traveled to Jordan in December 2002 to visit his
mother.
Because he was not yet a citizen, he obtained permission from the
authorities to travel, but on his way home last January, immigration
officials stopped him and told him he could not re-enter the country.
Samirah was deemed a "national security risk," but government officials
refused to say why.
Samirah sued to obtain an immigration hearing to consider the evidence
against him, and a circuit judge agreed, but a federal appeals court
overturned that ruling and refused Samirah's request to reconsider.
In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Flessner criticized the
government's
position that the courts do not have jurisdiction to "second-guess" the
attorney general in security matters, the argument used by federal
attorneys...
---
ARMY CHAPLAIN'S DAD BLAMES PROFILING
Richard Pyle, Associated Press, 2/1/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/7857544.htm
NEW YORK - The father of a Muslim Army chaplain accused of mishandling
classified information said the charges against his son are based on
ethnic
and religious profiling.
Capt. James Yee, 35, is Chinese-American who had been serving as a
chaplain
to suspected terrorists at the military's detention camp at Guantanamo
Bay,
Cuba.
Joseph Yee, 76, of Springfield, N.J., called on the government Monday
to
drop charges against his son.
A Pentagon spokeswoman referred questions to a spokeswoman at
Guantanamo,
who did not immediately return a call for comment.
The elder Yee spoke at a news conference before flying to Fort Benning,
Ga., for the resumption Wednesday of a hearing in his son's case.
Capt. Yee was arrested in September at the Jacksonville, Fla., airport
on
suspicion of espionage. Customs officials confiscated notes found on
him
during a search.
The elder Yee said he believed his son was held in isolation because of
his
race and ethnicity. He said he wants to know why another Army officer,
Col.
Jack Farr, accused of mishandling classified material and making false
statements was allowed to remain on duty...
-----
JDL ACTIVIST SUSPECTED IN 1985 KILLING
Tom Tugend, Jerusalem Post, 2/2/04
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/
ShowFull&cid=1075730353516&p=1006688055060
LOS ANGELES - Federal prosecutors are putting pressure on an imprisoned
Jewish Defense League activist in hope of solving the 19-year-old
killing
of an Arab-American official. The case involves Earl Krugel, the JDL's
former West Coast coordinator, and Alex Odeh, the former Western
regional
director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Odeh was killed in 1985 by a bomb that detonated when he opened the
front
door to his office in Santa Ana, California.
In a separate case, Krugel pleaded guilty nearly a year ago to
conspiring
with JDL national chairman Irv Rubin to bomb a Los Angeles mosque and
the
field office of US Rep. Darrell Issue (R-CA), who is of Lebanese
descent.
Krugel and Rubin were arrested before the alleged plan could be carried
out.
Over the years, the FBI has investigated several JDL members in
connection
with the Odeh murder, which has become a cause celebre in the Arab
American
community. No charges have ever been filed and the
JDL has steadfastly denied involvement...
-----
FEDS PROBE CYANIDE IN TEXAS TERROR CASE
Lisa Falkenberg, Associated Press, 1/31/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-texas-terror-probe,0,5134186.story
NOONDAY, Texas - William Krar and Judith Bruey assembled a frightening
arsenal in three rented storage units in this East Texas town, and
federal
authorities are trying to figure out why.
A raid in April found nearly two pounds of a cyanide compound and other
chemicals that could create enough poisonous gas to kill everyone
inside a
space as large as a big-chain bookstore or a small-town civic center.
Authorities also discovered nearly half a million rounds of ammunition,
more than 60 pipe bombs, machine guns, silencers and remote-controlled
bombs disguised as briefcases, plus pamphlets on how to make chemical
weapons, and anti-Semitic, anti-black and anti-government books.
The findings have led to one of the most extensive domestic-terrorism
investigations since the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Federal investigators believe conspirators may remain free, and one
question lingers: What did the couple intend to do with the weapons?
"There's no other reason for anyone to possess that type of device
other
than to kill people," said Brit Featherston, a federal prosecutor and
the
government's anti-terrorism coordinator in Texas' eastern district.
"The
arsenal found in those searches had the capability of terrorizing a lot
of
people..."
ALSO SEE:
FORMER NH PAIR LINKED TO TEXAS ARSENAL BUST
The Union Leader, 1/31/04
http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=32629
NOONDAY, Texas - An arsenal of weapons, explosives and enough sodium
cyanide to kill thousands has been traced to a former New Hampshire
couple
who now live in Texas.
The common-law couple - William Krar, 62, and Judith Bruey, 54 - have
pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges stemming from the discovery
last
April. Authorities yesterday said Krar and Bruey lived in New Hampshire
until the fall of 2001, when they moved to east Texas.
The raid of three rented storage units in Noonday capped an extensive
federal investigation that involved hundreds of leads in every state in
the
country, said Brit Featherston, a federal prosecutor and the
government's
anti-terrorism coordinator in Texas' eastern district.
The nearly two pounds of the cyanide compound and other chemicals could
create enough poisonous gas to kill everyone inside a big-chain
bookstore...
-----
VIOLENCE IS A HUMAN, NOT AN ISLAMIC TRAIT
Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/1/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/7844277.htm
Hussein Ibish is communications director for the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee
The idea that Islam, and by extension Muslims, are inherently violent
and
irrational has become commonplace in our culture.
This misperception, with deep origins in the historical rivalry between
Christian Europe and the Muslim Middle East, was intensified by the
Arab-Israeli conflict and a slew of bigoted Hollywood movies, and
gained a
solid foothold in the minds of many Americans after 9/11.
Since 9/11, right-wing evangelical preachers such as Pat Robertson and
Jerry Falwell, and commentators such as Robert Spencer and Daniel
Pipes,
have spared no effort to spread fear and hatred of Islam and the
growing
American Muslim community.
This defamation probably has its greatest parallel in the anti-Semitic
ideas that took hold in American culture between the First and Second
World
Wars.
The charges directed against the American Jewish community - now eerily
echoed by anti-Muslim rhetoric - smeared a religious minority as
dangerous
and subversive aliens. The Father Coughlins and Henry Fords of that
era,
and ours, found the political space to promote prejudice yet remain
"respectable."
Certainly the 19 hijackers responsible for the carnage of 9/11 saw
themselves as Muslims. But so, of course, did about 300 of their
victims...
ALSO SEE:
WESTERN MEDIA AREN'T TELLING THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT WOMEN IN ISLAM
Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/1/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/7844272.htm
Laila Al-Marayati is the spokesperson and past president of the Muslim
Women's League
At a recent event at our mosque here in Los Angeles, a TV camera
focused on
two women - out of hundreds - who had their faces covered. Yes, they
were
there. But if you were watching on TV at home, you might have thought
they
represented most of the women participating. Why did the camera choose
to
focus on the most extreme depiction? Because it's more interesting,
even if
less accurate.
To me, it was just another example of how the media can pass along
stereotypical and essentially negative views of Muslim women.
The problem is not that the media show these pictures, which, after
all, do
reflect a portion of reality. The problem is they don't tell the whole
story. As long as the American people rely primarily on mainstream
media
for information, they may never learn of the real social gains now
being
made by Muslim women.
In general, Muslim women either fill in the background of larger
stories on
the Middle East or are used as examples of miserable lives. After 9/11,
in
the run-up to the attack on Afghanistan, we learned of the harsh
conditions
for women under the Taliban. People approached me as if the problem had
just begun - when the Taliban had been abusing women's rights for five
years.
That abuse drew little attention at the time. So when all eyes turned
to
Afghanistan, people were shocked to hear of routine beatings, killings
and
deprivation...
---
ARABS FEEL PROFILED BY 9/11 MEASURES
Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/1/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/7844267.htm
Marwan Kreidie is executive director of the Philadelphia Arab-American
Corp.
Arab and Muslim Americans want this country to be secure. But the
ethnic
and religious profiling within the Bush administration's post-9/11
security
measures has come down too hard on us. It's unfair, it's
unconstitutional,
and it's a waste of time and money. Our community feels under siege,
not
from bigots and misguided patriots - but from the overzealous acts of
the
administration.
We were doubly damned by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Our initial
horror
was immediately followed by worries over retribution. In Philadelphia,
those fears were not realized. Instead of bricks through our windows,
neighbors and strangers gave us comfort and support. While there were
incidents of hate, they were overshadowed by acts of kindness that
highlighted the true nature and ideals of America.
Nationally, it was a different story. While officials preached
tolerance
immediately after 9/11, their actions spoke intolerance. Early on, the
Justice Department directed the roundup of more than 1,200 people of
Arab
background or Muslim belief. This was followed by "voluntary
interviews" of
more than 10,000 Arab and Muslim males - appointments that, to this
Arab
male, felt anything but voluntary. And last year, there was a special
registration process for 80,000 Arab and Muslim visitors to this
country.
What resulted? Not one of the 1,200 individuals detained, nor any of
the
80,000 people fingerprinted, nor any of the 10,000 interviewed, have
been
charged with anything more than visa violations. This is clearly a
waste of
taxpayer money and valuable law-enforcement time - resources that
should
have been spent making our nation safer. And we still have to contend
with
the ill-defined consequences of the Patriot Act, which has infuriated
both
the left and the right.
Racial profiling feeds bigotry, casts suspicion on our community, and
engenders fear among many in our community, especially immigrants, who
came
here for the opportunities and freedoms that are uniquely American...
-----
MOROCCAN PARLIAMENT MEMBERS HELD IN ORE
Associated Press, 2/1/04
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110106,00.html
PORTLAND, Ore. - Seven delegates from the Moroccan parliament were
detained
at Portland International Airport for several hours in what appeared to
be
a mix-up involving language barriers.
The group, which was visiting the country as part of a goodwill tour,
departed Saturday night after the FBI searched and interviewed them.
The visitors were about to board a 7 a.m. flight when one of the
members,
Abdellah Abbassi, left his carry-on bag behind while he got coffee,
said
Andrew Coose of the Transportation Security Administration.
The other six boarded the flight before he returned; in the meantime,
someone reported the unattended bag.
Authorities refused to allow Abbassi to board, and the pilot ordered
the
other members of the delegation off the flight along with their
luggage,
said Coose, the TSA's deputy security director in Portland.
Authorities who searched their bags became alarmed when they found
documents written in Arabic with 911 written on them, Coose said. The
delegation could not speak English to explain the documents, he said.
It turned out that the group's host in Dallas, a previous stop, had
given
them instructions to call 911 if they got into trouble, but it was
mistaken
for a reference to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Coose called the incident ``absolutely unfortunate.''
-----
ISRAEL WANTS U.S. REPORT HELD UNTIL AFTER HAGUE HEARING
Aluf Benn, Haaretz, 2/1/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/389620.html
Israel has asked the U.S. administration to postpone publication of the
State Department's annual report on human rights around the world,
fearing
it will be used against Israel in the discussion on the separation
fence at
the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
The report is expected to harshly criticize the operation of the fence
and
the humanitarian suffering it causes the Palestinians, and Israel wants
the
State Department document to see the light only after the ICJ
discussion to
prevent it from having any influence over the judges.
The request was raised in recent weeks during the course of discussions
held by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Foreign Ministry
Director-General
Ilan Biran and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon
with
senior U.S. administration and Congress officials. Jerusalem has yet to
receive a response to its request.
One of Israel's friends in Congress has also approached the State
Department with a similar request, criticizing the report's negative
slant
on the fence and demanding that publication of the document be
postponed by
a few weeks.
The report is prepared by the State Department's Bureau of Democracy,
Human
Rights, and Labor, which is headed by Lorne Craner. Bureau officials
have
completed the second draft of the document, which reviews the human
rights
situation throughout the world. The third draft of the report is the
one
that is published each year, and according to information that has
reached
Jerusalem, the target date for the document's publication is February
25 -
two days after the opening of the debate on the fence in the ICJ.
Israel has promised it will take into consideration the practical
arguments
raised by the Americans and will improve the fence's operation. Among
other
promises, Jerusalem has said it will transfer responsibility for
operating
the fence's gates from the Israel Defense Forces to a private company.
In
addition, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has appointed Brigadier General
(ret.) Baruch Spiegel to handle complaints against the fence raised by
Palestinian residents...
ALSO SEE:
NEWS MEDIA IGNORE ISRAELI TERRORISM
Mazin Qumsiyeh, Hartford Courant 2/2/2004
http://www.ctnow.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-mazin0202.artfeb02,1,351974.story
On Jan. 28, Israeli occupation forces killed eight (some reports said
13)
Palestinians in an assault on a neighborhood in the Gaza Strip. Among
those
killed were three teenagers: Sami Badawi, 16; Akram AbuAjami, 17; and
Sameh
Toteh, 16. Like many other such assaults, the mainstream media in the
United States ignored this event or made cursory mention of it. No
mainstream newspaper mentioned names of those killed, let alone
described
the Israeli assault as terrorism.
The next day, a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 10 Israelis. These
and
other attacks inside Israel have been described in detail in major
newspapers. The media have never shied from allowing the use of such
labels
as "terrorism" in those instances.
The net result is that Israeli lives and deaths become valued while
Palestinian lives and deaths are diminished or erased from our
conscience. According to human rights organizations, four times more
Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israeli forces as Israeli
civilians killed by Palestinian forces. These same organizations
(including
Amnesty International, B'tselem, and Human Rights Watch) have clearly
showed in past reports that Israeli forces do target civilians.
State-sponsored terror is an organic part of colonization of native
lands.
The Israeli colonization program, over five decades, has left 5 million
Palestinians as refugees or displaced people and cornered those
remaining
into ghettos surrounded by high walls and watchtowers.
There are individual acts of Palestinian terrorism, but the news media
do
not report on the more systematic Israeli terrorism or the reasons for
all
this violence. More than 530 Palestinian towns and villages have been
erased completely in the last 60 years. Residents have been driven out
by
careful use of massacres (33 between 1947 and 1949 and dozens more
since
then), intimidation, deprivation, land confiscation and outright
expulsions...
---
DISPLACED AT THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL
Rani El-Hajjar, Los Angeles Times, 1/31/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-palestinian31jan31,1,3321976.story
Re "In '48, Israel Did What It Had to Do," by Benny Morris, Commentary,
Jan. 26: I am the son of survivors of the ethnic cleansing committed by
Israel in the Galilee village of Suhmata on Oct. 29, 1948 - a village
that
existed before 612, and until October 1948. On that dreadful day, at
least
1,000 people (the entire population) were driven out of their homes and
their homes destroyed.
I am offended by the publication of Morris' commentary because I
believe
his ideas are very similar to the extremist Serb, Nazi or Klan
aspirations
to have ethnically pure "nations." The time for killing and ethnic
cleansing has to stop, and we cannot allow this kind of discourse to
continue. The only way forward is for Israel to acknowledge the past
and
make amends to its victims. Otherwise, the victims will never get
closure
and will always long for the day when justice will be served.
-----
SCHOOL TEACHES MORE THAN THE THREE R'S
Bob Ray Sanders, Star-Telegram, 2/1/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/7849682.htm
Just over 10 years ago, a group of Muslims purchased a 7-acre tract in
east
Fort Worth for $83,000.
They planted a fig tree on the property as a symbol of things to come.
That little tree didn't make it.
But the dream did not wither. It has blossomed beautifully and is
bearing
much fruit.
The land was to be the home of a new school, established a year
earlier,
and its founders wanted it to become a model institution, representing
an
idea that Muslims have cherished for centuries: superior education.
Now, Al-Hedayah Academy has a 12,000-square-foot building to house its
elementary school and a 15,000-square-foot facility for its middle
school,
multiactivity hall and dedicated worship area.
Short-term plans call for building a soccer field and bleachers in
July, a
learning resource center with an Islamic library and language
laboratories
in December, and a cafeteria building with commercial kitchen and
reception
area in 2005-06.
Trustees also envision trails and a jogging area on its wooded lot,
outdoor
tennis and basketball courts and an upper school building.
The school has 180 students in kindergarten through eighth grade who
look
like a mini-United Nations. Their families come from countries
including
every Middle Eastern nation, North Africa, India and Pakistan, and, of
course, the United States.
Last week, the school celebrated receiving its accreditation from the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, only the second Islamic
school in Texas to be so recognized...
-----
FIRST MINARET ON MONTREAL SKYLINE APPEARS IN ST. LAURENT ON CITY'S
OLDEST
MOSQUE
Harvey Shepherd, Montreal Gazette, 2/1/04
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id=0CCC7C71-64D9-4567-ADB5-9CB22E572423
The first minaret on Montreal's skyline is going up in an unlikely
corner
of the city - close to the high-tech businesses in St. Laurent's
industrial
park.
The 105-foot minaret, expected to be completed this spring, is being
added
to the Islamic Centre of Quebec Mosque, the oldest mosque in the city,
on
Laval Rd.
Partly completed, its distinctive crescent points the way to Mecca,
toward
which Muslims bow as they pray.
Mosque officials say the expansion, designed by Quebec architect Pierre
Desjardins, will blend Middle Eastern mosque motifs with Quebec
architectural traditions, reflecting how Islam is now rooted in Quebec.
The striking appearance of the big St. Laurent mosque is an exception
compared to the way many Muslim places of worship have developed in
this
city. They are often housed in unassuming former warehouses,
storefronts
and commercial buildings.
This is hardly surprising because they are financed largely by an
immigrant
community whose members must direct most of their energies to earning a
living and raising families.
There are also challenges specific to the Muslim religion...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/4/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: DELIVER ME FROM EVIL
* LIBRARY PROJECT: ILLINOIS
* INCITEMENT WATCH: EDITOR SAYS ISLAM ADDS LITTLE TO U.S.
* OH: MUSLIM MOTHER FORCED TO LEAVE CHILDREN (Plain Dealer)
- Mother Loses Fight to Stay in U.S. (Chicago Trib)
* AL TEACHER REASSIGNED IN VEIL CASE (Times-Picayune)
* MUSLIM STEREOTYPES CHALLENGED IN US (BBC)
* MI: FAITH FACTORS INTO PRESIDENTIAL VOTE (Detroit News)
- MI Arab Americans Consider the Dems (Village Voice)
- Patriot Act May Cost Bush Muslim Vote (Mich Daily)
* SUSPECT, ATTORNEYS MEET FOR 1ST TIME (Wash. Post)
- FL: Judge Won't Force Translation of Tapes (AP)
* 'ISLAMIC' COLAS TAKE AIM AT U.S. GIANTS (AJC)
* HIJAB DEBATE BEGINS IN FRANCE (NY Times)
* ABUSE OF IRAQI PRISONERS COMMON, MARINE SAYS (Union-Trib)
- Israel Misled US Over Iraq (The Age)
- Troops Apologize for Child Killed (AFP)
* A RESPONSE TO DANIEL PIPES' ALLEGATIONS (TAM)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: DELIVER ME FROM EVIL
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended the supplication:
"O
God, direct me in the right path and deliver me from the evil within
myself."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 777
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,273 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Illinois: 363 covered, 448 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: EDITOR SAYS ISLAM ADDS LITTLE TO U.S.
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040203-123048-6788r.htm
"Americans usually find Islam, with all its laws and orders, more fiat
than
faith, imposed by the state rather than something held precious in the
secret places of the heart. It's hard to see how Islam will ever add
very
much to the established Judeo-Christian traditions of the American
culture..."
Wesley Pruden, Editor in chief of the Washington Times
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Hostile comments can and WILL
be
used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
E-MAIL: letters@washingtontimes.com
COPY TO: cair-net.org
-----
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia Shearson, 216-440-2247; Jad Humeidan,
Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio, 614-451-3232 or 614-571-2770, E-Mail:
ohio@cair-net.org
WOMAN BEING DEPORTED SAYS SHE'LL LEAVE KIDS
Donna Iacoboni, Plain Dealer, 2/4/04
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1075890736204060.xml
A Palestinian woman said she will turn herself in to immigration
officials
at 8 a.m. today and leave her three U.S.-born children behind.
Immigration officials have ordered Amina Silmi to leave the country
because
her visitor's visa expired years ago.
"The travel documents are ready for her to go to Venezuela, where she
was
born," Greg Palmore said Tuesday. He is the spokesman for Immigration
and
Customs Enforcement, the investigative branch of the Department of
Homeland
Security.
Palmore said Silmi will be detained until she can be placed on a plane.
Silmi has no home, no job and no relatives there, she said. Her father
and
brother died last year.
Silmi said her sister, a mother of four sons who lives in North
Olmsted,
will take in Haiat, who turns 12 on Sunday; Fida, 6; and Belal, 5. They
are
currently attending Lakewood schools.
"Nobody loves me like my mom. She is a good mom," Haiat said Tuesday,
as
she nestled into her mother's arm.
Community groups have rallied around Silmi, circulated petitions and
planned a protest near the Federal Building at East Ninth Street and
Lakeside Avenue this morning.
"We are good citizens who are concerned that simple fairness and family
values prevail in this situation," said Brian Fry, justice coordinator
for
the Congregation of St. Joseph in Cleveland.
Julia Shearson, director of the Cleveland office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said, "This is unimaginable, to be forced
to
take your children into destitution or leave them behind."
Two marriages to legal immigrants kept Silmi here for 13 years, but her
second husband was deported in December after being convicted of
trafficking in food stamps prior to their marriage. Silmi has no
criminal
record. She earned a high school equivalency certificate last year...
ALSO SEE:
MOTHER OF 3 LOSES FIGHT TO STAY IN U.S.
Deborah Horan, Chicago Tribune, 2/4/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0402040328feb04,1,4481667.story
Amina Silmi never meant to make the journey that changed her from a
faceless illegal immigrant into a target of immigration authorities and
a
cause celebre for America's burgeoning Muslim activist community.
She was a passenger when her husband took a wrong turn during a family
vacation to Niagara Falls and suddenly found himself locked in a long
line
of cars inching toward the customs booth at the Ontario border.
"This is the bridge to Canada," Silmi recalled a border officer telling
them. "I said, `Oh my God, we can't go back. We can't go in reverse.'"
With that trip, Silmi, a Palestinian born in Venezuela and living in
Cleveland, was no longer one of thousands of illegal immigrants waiting
anonymously for federal bureaucrats to issue her proper papers. She had
caught the unwanted attention of immigration officials, who issued her
a
notice to appear in court and eventually ordered her deported.
Since that fateful day in 2000, she has become a symbol for many
Muslims
across America, including Chicago, who see in her treatment everything
they
have come to despise about the Bush administration's post-Sept. 11
policies.
On Wednesday morning, the 35-year-old Muslim mother of three
American-born
children will turn herself in to immigration authorities in Cleveland
for
deportation to Venezuela, where she holds citizenship...
On New Year's Eve, Kucinich heard Silmi's plea. The Ohio congressman
read
about her case in a newspaper and asked his chief legal counsel, Marty
Gelfand, to draft a letter to Ridge asking him to halt Silmi's
deportation.
By coincidence, Gelfand found a fax in the office from the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group known as CAIR,
explaining Silmi's case.
"This is a big lie that our security [requires us] to step all over
people," said Safaa Zarzour, spokesman for CAIR in Chicago...
-----
JEFF TEACHER REASSIGNED IN VEIL-PULLING CASE
Rob Nelson, Times Picayune 2/4/04
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-1/107587950930470.xml
Sitting in Wes Mix's 10th-grade world history class at West Jefferson
High
School in Harvey, Maryam Motar said she had become used to the "jokes."
First, there were the times when she said her teacher thought she was
of
Indian descent and called her "Little Curry One."
Then came jabs about how Motar, an Iraqi, hailed from a Third World
country, she said. Thursday's tease, the 17-year-old sophomore said,
was
about how she would "bomb us" if she ever went back to her country.
Motar said the final straw came Friday as Mix was passing out tests.
After
pulling back her religiously mandated head scarf, or hijab, Motar said
Mix
told her, "I hope God punishes you. No, I'm sorry, I hope Allah
punishes you."
Motar said the teacher later told her, "I didn't know you had hair
under
there."
West Jefferson Principal Lale Geer confirmed Tuesday that Mix was
removed
from the school on Monday, and school system officials said he was
transferred to another teaching position in an unnamed school after
Motar
and her family complained and sought support from the Council on
American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C.
Superintendent Diane Roussel said the incident is under
investigation...
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the national council, applauded Mix's
transfer and said the council became involved after outraged Muslims in
the
area contacted the agency.
"They view (the transfer) as a good step, but they want to know what
happens to this teacher and future students," Hooper said, calling the
school district's reaction to the case "unusually swift."
-----
MUSLIM STEREOTYPES CHALLENGED IN US
Jacky Rowland, BBC, 2/3/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3454115.stm
A training programme aimed at police officers and other public
officials is
seeking to increase understanding of Muslim culture, in the hope that
this
will defuse tensions.
Lobna Ismael is the daughter of Egyptian immigrants to the US. She is a
Muslim and she wears the traditional headscarf, the hijab.
"There's been a range of backlash toward Arab and Muslim Americans,"
she says.
"It has included verbal assaults, it has included physical assaults. We
had
a woman who just recently was walking down the street and wearing
hijab,
and was stabbed and called a terrorist. We've had our mosque defamed
with
graffiti and people shooting bullets into the windows of our mosque."
Now Ms Ismael is challenging those stereotypes, by carrying out a
series of
training workshops for the Department of Justice...
Captain Edward Coursey was one of her trainees.
Driving me around his Takoma Park beat, he acknowledged that there had
been
a tendency to view Muslims as potential terrorist suspects.
This training allows us to realise that the vast majority of people in
the
Arab American community have nothing to do with terrorism
"Particularly after the 9/11 attacks, we in the law enforcement
community
have obviously geared up to be on the lookout for terrorism. And I
guess
the immediate reaction might have been to look at Muslims in a
sceptical
way," he said.
"This training allows us to realise that the vast majority of people in
the
Arab American community have nothing to do with terrorism. They are
peace-loving people like ourselves, and they may need our protection…"
-----
FAITH TO FACTOR INTO PRESIDENTIAL VOTE
Kim Kozlowski, Detroit News, 2/4/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/religion/0402/04/a06e-55236.htm
As Michigan's Democrats cast votes in Saturday's presidential caucuses,
faith is likely to play a role in who is elected the next president...
Though religion has long played a role in elections, analysts say it is
going to be especially prominent in this election with religious-themed
issues such as the war on terrorism, the Middle East, faith-based
initiatives and gay marriage.
Religious swing voters - including Catholics and Muslims, two of Metro
Detroit's largest faith communities - are up for grabs.
Considerable analysis has been focused on what is being dubbed the
"religion gap." In the past, the gap was based on religious
affiliation,
whereas now it is in how often a person attends a house of worship.
Those
who attend regularly tend to vote Republican while less frequent
worshippers tend to vote Democratic...
One religious community that has yet to get much courting from the
presidential candidates thus far are Muslims. Many Muslims voted for
President George W. Bush in 2000 but since have become disenchanted
with
his post-September 11 policies that have led to some ethnic profiling.
Those who follow the Muslim faith say they are taking a closer look at
the
Democratic presidential candidates.
"Civil liberties have not exactly been held in our favor, where people
have
been held suspect because of their ethnicity, not any real issues,"
said
Abdullah Haydar, a Canton resident who is running for Congress. "People
are
saying, 'Anybody but Bush.' "
ALSO SEE:
FORSAKEN BY BUSH, MICHIGAN'S ARAB AMERICANS CONSIDER THE DEMS
Kareem Fahim, Village Voice, 2/4/04
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0405/fahim.php
Last week's meeting of the Arab American Political Action Committee
(AAPAC)
ran long, over three hours, and exposed the kinds of divisions that
roil
voters nationwide, according to those who attended. Over a hundred of
the
PAC's members had gathered in Dearborn, Michigan, intending to endorse
a
Democrat for president. But after a contentious first vote that failed
to
yield a winner, the group remained stuck between two minds.
"The discussion was very intense," said Osama Siblani, the outgoing
president of AAPAC who chaired the meeting. "One side was concerned
with
the 'electability' question. People asked, should we compromise on the
issues for the sake of electability? And the other group wanted to
focus on
matters of principle."
The issues that affect Arab Americans, according to Siblani and a
number of
other community members, are "first, the Patriot Act and the domestic
civil
rights agenda. And second, America's foreign policy."
It is still unclear what the political order will look like by February
7,
when Michigan holds its Democratic caucus, the first in a major
industrial
state. And while many of the state's unions have yet to endorse
candidates,
including the 450,000-member United Auto Workers union, many predict
that
the Arab American vote may be instrumental.
Michigan is home to the country's largest concentration of Arab
Americans,
a community that could represent upwards of 4 percent of voters in the
state's delegate-rich caucus, and the same percentage in a general
election. Nationwide, 3.5 million Arab Americans, by some estimates,
are
concentrated in other key states, including Florida, Pennsylvania, and
Ohio...
---
RENEWAL OF PATRIOT ACT MAY COST BUSH ARAB, MUSLIM VOTE
Farayha Arrine and Michael Kan, Michigan Daily, 2/3/04
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/03/401f4c8962ba9
As the election year begins, the Arab and Muslim communities on campus
are
gearing up to send President Bush a strong signal. Many have
reconsidered
their support for him, in part because of the Patriot Act that Bush has
asked Congress to reaffirm.
In the aftermath of Sept.11, 2001 the Patriot Act was almost
unanimously
passed by a Congress still shaken by the al-Qaida terrorist attacks.
Measures of the act allow for surveillance of suspected homes, tapping
of
phone lines and access to personal records to better protect against
future
terrorist attacks.
Many Muslim and Arab students claim the Patriot Act comes at the cost
of
everyone's civil rights and particularly their own. Because the Sept.
11
attackers were of the Islamic faith, many Muslim students said they
feel
that U.S. officials have used the Patriot act to target Muslims.
Last week's State of the Union address has only caused more frustration
as
Bush told Americans they must renew the Patriot act, alarming some
Muslim
student groups who were awaiting the expiration of certain parts of the
act
in 2005.
LSA senior Irfan Shuttari, a Muslim student on campus, believes the
continuation of the act will further endanger the rights of Muslims in
America...
-----
TERROR SUSPECT, ATTORNEYS MEET FOR 1ST TIME
Jerry Markon, Washington Post, 2/4/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10371-2004Feb3.html
A U.S. citizen jailed since he was captured with Taliban soldiers in
Afghanistan in 2001 met with his attorneys for the first time yesterday
in
a jailhouse session that marked a milestone in the government's war
against
terrorism.
Federal Public Defender Frank W. Dunham Jr. emerged from the one-hour
meeting with Yaser Esam Hamdi, whom the government has declared an
"enemy
combatant," and said he was pleased to finally see the man whose case
he
has litigated -- sight unseen -- for more than two years.
"This was becoming a hypothetical case to us, and now were are reminded
it's about a human being who happens to be a U.S. citizen," Dunham
said.
"Seeing the client in person, being able to put a human face on this
case,
had an effect on me that is not measurable."
Dunham and Assistant Federal Public Defender Geremy Kamens delivered
legal
papers and newspaper articles to Hamdi, who Dunham said seemed equally
happy to see his attorneys. "I'm sure it made an impression on a client
who
has been looking down a lightless tunnel for 21/2 years, not knowing
anyone
is doing anything for him, and now he knows that he has a case in the
U.S.
Supreme Court..."
ALSO SEE:
JUDGE WON'T FORCE PROSECUTORS TO TRANSLATE TAPES IN AL-ARIAN CASE
Associated Press, 2/3/04
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040203/APN/402030848
TAMPA, Fla. - A federal judge refused to force prosecutors to translate
evidence in the case of a former University of South Florida professor
accused of having ties to Palestinian terrorists.
Federal public defenders representing Sami Al-Arian co-defendant Hatim
Naji
Fariz had argued that prosecutors should translate the mostly
Arabic-language tapes of wiretap recordings. Lawyers also expect to
receive
numerous documents in Hebrew.
The public defender's office has declined to finance a team of
translators.
U.S. Magistrate Thomas B. McCoun III issued an order Monday saying
prosecutors are not required to provide the translations.
He repeated an earlier directive that the U.S. Attorney's Office
provide
summaries of about 800 tapes deemed particularly relevant...
-----
'ISLAMIC' COLAS TAKE AIM AT U.S. GIANTS
Scott Leith, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/4/04
http://www.ajc.com/wednesday/content/epaper/editions/wednesday/atlanta_world_0402a44791d40189001b.html
A woman named Firoza Ismail runs a small store in Surrey, British
Columbia,
where she relies on a clientele of Muslims who live in that corner of
Canada.
When a salesman showed up late last year and asked whether she would
sell
something called Qibla-Cola, Ismail agreed. She placed the soft drink
on
shelves right next to cans of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
This little bit of competition has been more of a cola skirmish than a
full-blown cola war, but the fact that Qibla has made it to Canada at
all
--- and could jump the border into the United States --- is a sign that
some products that popped up last year to protest U.S. policies in the
Middle East have survived, if not succeeded.
"We've had a lot of requests for it," said
truck-driver-turned-entrepreneur
Mohammad Jafar Bhamji, Qibla's first and so far only distributor in
Canada.
Qibla-Cola and other "Islamic colas" --- namely Mecca-Cola and Cola
Turka
--- have endured as small but high-profile symbols of those who are
against
U.S. policies. By going after those most-American of American products
---
Coca-Cola chiefly, but also Pepsi --- these companies hope to take
advantage of anti-U.S. sentiment in the world.
"The marketing perspective for our brands has been as an alternative
soft
drink to people of conscience," said Abdul-Hamid Ebrahim, a spokesman
for
Qibla-Cola, which is based in Derby, England.
To be sure, these products appear to pose little real threat to the
U.S.
giants. In Britain, Qibla's home market, the company claims to have
sales
of about 3.1 million gallons a year. Coke sells roughly that much in
Britain in less than two days...
------
DEBATE BEGINS IN FRANCE ON RELIGION IN THE SCHOOLS
Elaine Sciolino, New York Times, 2/4/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/04/international/europe/04FRAN.html
PARIS - Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin of France said on Tuesday
that
Muslim head scarves must be banned from public schools because they
undermine the French republican ideal of freedom and equality...
He rejected arguments from observant Muslims and Jews that their
religions
require head coverings and that the ban would violate their freedom of
belief. "Religion," he said, "cannot be a political project."
Until now, most French officials, including President Jacques Chirac,
have
avoided casting the debate on the banning of religious symbols as
singling
out Islam. But in "us against them" language, Mr. Raffarin spoke of
France
as "the old land of Christianity," and he called on France's Muslims to
behave like good citizens...
The bill, as drafted, would ban from public elementary and high schools
"ostensibly" religious symbols, including the Muslim head scarf, the
Jewish
skullcap and large Christian crosses. It would not apply to private
schools
or to French schools in other countries. The punishment for violators
of
the new law would range from a warning to temporary suspension and
expulsion.
With passion and anguish during the debate, which is expected to last
four
days, some speakers defended the measure as a necessary step to stop
the
spread of radical Islam, while others predicted it would be impossible
to
enforce...
-----
ABUSE OF IRAQI PRISONERS COMMON, MARINE SAYS
Rick Rogers, Union-Tribune, 2/3/04
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040203-9999_1m3marine.html
CAMP PENDLETON - A former Marine guard testified yesterday that it was
common practice in Iraq to kick and punch prisoners who didn't
cooperate -
and even some who did.
Lance Cpl. William S. Roy, granted immunity for his testimony, said
guards
often abused prisoners at the Camp White Horse detention center.
Roy testified on the sixth and last day of a preliminary hearing in the
death of Nagem Sadoon Hatab, an Iraqi prisoner at Camp White Horse.
Although guards beat and choked Hatab and although he died in their
custody, Col. William Gallo, the investigating officer, said he had not
seen evidence to substantiate charges of negligent homicide against two
Marines in the case: Maj. Clarke Paulus and Lance Cpl. Christian
Hernandez.
Gallo said there might be enough evidence, however, to send Sgt. Gary
Pittman to trial.
The Marines are facing charges arising from the death June 5 of Hatab,
a
ranking member of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, while he was at Camp
White
Horse near Nasiriyah, Iraq...
ALSO SEE:
CLAIMS ISRAEL MISLED US OVER IRAQ
The Age, 2/4/04
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/04/1075776090094.html
A government critic said that Israel was aware before the war against
Iraq
that Saddam Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction, but
Israel
did not inform the United States.
Israel put itself on war footing before the US invasion last year,
passing
out gas mask kits to its citizens and then ordering them to open the
kits,
a step that eventually will cost millions, since components would have
to
be replaced.
But lawmaker Yossi Sarid, a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defence
Committee, said that Israeli intelligence knew beforehand that Iraq had
no
weapons stockpiles and misled US President George W Bush.
In contrast, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud Party
said
Israel had shared its doubts with the Americans.
During the first Gulf war in 1991, Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at
Israel,
all with conventional warheads. Last year Israel appointed a stern
general.
Amos Gilead, as its liaison with the population. Gilead filled the
airwaves
with dire warnings of possible chemical or biological attacks from
Iraq.
Sarid, who represents the dovish opposition Meretz Party, said it was
just
a costly show - Israeli intelligence knew the threat was "very, very,
very
limited..."
---
US TROOPS APOLOGIZE FOR IRAQI CHILD KILLED DURING EID PICNIC IN KIRKUK
Agence France Presse, 2/4/04
KIRKUK, Iraq - US army Colonel William Mayville apologized Wednesday
for
the killing of an Iraqi child by mortar rounds fired by his forces as
the
boy's family picnicked in the northern oil region of Kirkuk.
Mayville told a meeting with local government officials, attended by an
AFP
correspondent, that he has ordered an investigation into Tuesday's
bombing
that also wounded the boy's mother and two brothers.
The family was out on a picnic for the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Adha
some
10 kilometers (six miles) south of Kirkuk when US mortar rounds landed
around lunch time, according to Iraqi police Lieutenant Laith Naji
el-Obeidi.
Mayville, speaking through a translator, said troops of his 173rd
Airborne
Brigade opened fire because they suspected insurgents were in the area.
He
said the soldiers found responsible for the deadly error would be held
accountable.
He added that he ordered the payment of 2,500 dollars in compensation
for
the family of the nine-year-old boy, Basssam Sami Awwad, and 1,500
dollars
for each of the three injured.
-----
A RESPONSE TO DANIEL PIPES' ALLEGATIONS
Sheila Musaji, The American Muslim, Jan-Feb 2004
http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2004jan_comments.php?id=458_0_24_0_C
I originally had no intention of replying to this as Mr. Pipes is
entitled
to his opinion no matter how much I may disagree with him. However,
after
the January 31st update was added to his site, I felt that I needed to
respond.
I will comment on this statement item by item to avoid any accusation
of
"making no attempt to refute the actual arguments" and therefore being
an
example of a "totalitarian mind at work" which might somehow put me in
the
same boat as "Fascists and Communists…"
SEE ALSO:
A RESPONSE TO DANIEL PIPES' ALLEGATIONS
Jeremy Henzell-Thomas
http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2004jan_comments.php?id=459_0_24_0_C
Dear Mr. Pipes,
Please allow me to respond to your puzzling accusation that I am a
"British
Islamist" with a "totalitarian mind". This assessment appears on your
website in response to an e-mail I wrote defending The American Muslim
against a previous allegation of yours that its logo was evidence that
American Muslims harboured an intention to take over America and
replace
the constitution with the Qur'an…
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
GOOD NEWS ALERT - 2/5/04
RULINGS HALT IMMIGRANT'S DEPORTATION (Chicago Tribune)
- Officials Halt Mom's Deportation (Plain Dealer)
-----
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia Shearson, 216-440-2247; Jad Humeidan,
Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio, 614-451-3232 or 614-571-2770, E-Mail:
ohio@cair-net.org
-----
RULINGS HALT IMMIGRANT'S DEPORTATION
Chicago Tribune, 2/5/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0402050316feb05,1,3957378.story
In a decision that halted her deportation, a federal judge agreed
Wednesday
to hear the case of Amina Silmi, an illegal immigrant whose plight has
galvanized Muslim activists.
And in a second development, the federal Bureau of Immigration Appeals
in
Arlington, Va., said Silmi, a Cleveland mother of three American-born
children, had the right to have her appeal heard. Silmi, 35, was in
Atlanta
en route to her native Venezuela, where she holds citizenship, at the
time.
The decision came hours after U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr.
said
he would hear a last-minute motion brought by Silmi's attorney
Wednesday
morning.
The 11th-hour developments cheered Muslim activists who have rallied
behind
Silmi's cause since she and her husband accidentally drove onto a
bridge
leading to Canada while on a family vacation to Niagara Falls in 2000
and
caught the attention of immigration officials.
"This is a great victory for the Muslim community," said Julia
Shearson,
spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a nationwide
activist organization.
SEE ALSO:
OFFICIALS HALT MOM'S DEPORTATION
Donna J. Iacoboni and Robert L. Smith, Plain Dealer, 2/5/04
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1075982140305081.xml
A day that started emotionally for a Lakewood woman being deported to
Venezuela ended emotionally as a panel of immigration judges suddenly
reversed themselves and stopped her deportation in its tracks.
Less than eight hours after Amina Silmi reported to immigration
authorities
to board a plane to South America, the confused and frightened mother
called a friend to relay the news that she had a temporary stay. She
was in
Atlanta, and was being given another chance to plead for permission to
stay
and raise her children in America…
A Muslim born in Venezuela to Palestinian parents, Silmi had been
ordered
to report to immigration authorities downtown by 8 a.m. Wednesday with
her
bags, weighing no more than 40 pounds, packed for South America. She
had
overstayed a visitor's visa by a dozen years and was ordered out of the
country.
Complicating the issue were her three American-born children, all of
whom
are U.S. citizens. With no home or job prospects in Venezuela, Silmi
decided to leave her children behind with a sister in North Olmsted.
"It's hard for me," said the sister, Jamila Jabr, 31. "I have four
kids. I
have a job to go to."
Outside the Federal Building early Wednesday, in the frigid chill of
morning rush hour, Silmi hugged Haiat, who will be 12 on Sunday, Fida,
6,
and Belal, 5. Then she walked inside, presumably out of their lives.
She was led away without a suitcase. She had not packed, re fusing to
accept what was happening.
"It's very hard when you separate mom from kids," said Raba Khatib of
North
Olmsted, Silmi's cousin. "There's no father either. And she loved this
country…"
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #414
ASK CONGRESS TO DEFEND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN FRANCE
(WASHINGTON, DC, 2/5/04) - CAIR is calling on American Muslims and
other
people of conscience to contact their representative in Congress TODAY
to
ask that he or she endorse a congressional sign-on letter to French
Ambassador Jean-David Levitte expressing concern over that nation's
proposed ban on Islamic head scarves in public schools.
SEE ALSO: "U.S. Muslims Meet French Ambassador on Hijab Ban"
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1039&page=NR
The bipartisan letter will be introduced by Reps. Michael Honda (D-CA)
and
Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) next week. If several other representatives sign
onto
this letter, a congressional resolution will be introduced. The
deadline to
endorse the letter is Friday, February 6th. The Honda/Ehlers letter
reads
in part:
"Dear Ambassador Jean-David Levitte:
"As Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, we are writing to
express
our concern about legislation pending before the French Parliament that
would ban religious dress and articles of faith in the country's
schools.
We respectfully ask that you convey our concerns to your government in
advance of this momentous vote.
"France has a proud modern tradition of isolating state institutions
from
religious influences in order to maintain a stable and secure
government
and to protect the rights of its people. However, the proposed law
threatens the religious rights of French children by forcing them to
choose
between school and religious practices that are central to their core
values.
"We are particularly concerned that this legislation appears to
represent a
backlash against one French minority: Muslims. Despite claims to the
contrary, this legislation would disproportionately affect Muslims,
especially Muslim women who often wear headscarves, known in Arabic as
hijabs. However, restricting religious garb would impact individuals of
all
faiths. Many Sikhs, for example, wear turbans as an expression of their
faith and religious identity. Compelling them to remove their turbans
in
school is contrary to the dictates of their faith. In essence, this law
would force Muslims, Sikhs, Jews, and members of other faiths to pursue
alternative forms of education, slowing their integration into French
society...
"In the event that this bill passes, we would respectfully urge your
government to present this bill to the Constitutional Council for
consideration…We trust that the French government will do its best to
protect the interests of its citizens and will provide the necessary
tools
to ensure that the religious norms each individual citizen wishes to
exercise are honored."
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED
1. CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TODAY to ask that he or she
sign
on to the "Honda/Ehlers letter" in defense of religious freedom. To
contact
your House member, go to: http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and then enter
your
ZIP Code.
NOTE: CALLS ARE BEST, followed by faxes and then e-mails.
2. THANK Reps. Honda and Ehlers for their efforts. Call Rep. Honda's
office
at (202) 225-2631, e-mail through: http://www.house.gov/honda/ Rep.
Ehlers
may be reached at (202) 225-3831, e-mail through
http://www.house.gov/ehlers/
COPY all correspondence to: cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/5/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE BLESSINGS OF PARADISE
* LIBRARY PROJECT: SOUTH CAROLINA
* INCITEMENT WATCH: ISLAM IS 'VIOLENT AND INTOLERANT'
- Is Islam Barbaric? (Opinion Journal)
- Dornan: The Dark Side of Islam? (AP)
- Islam: Archaic and Antediluvian (Daily News)
* CAIR-CAN: PROTEST ANTI-MUSLIM FLYER
* TEACHING INTOLERANCE IN LOUISIANA (Times-Picayune)
* U.S. MUSLIMS SIGNING UP IN VOTER DRIVE (Reuters)
- Faith Groups Announce Voter Drive (US Newswire)
- Democrats See MI as Test Run (Forward)
- Arab-Americans Want to be Heard in MI Caucuses (AP)
* THE RELUCTANT PILGRIM'S GRUDGING RETURN HOME (CSM)
- Kucinich Extends Eid Greetings to Muslims
* MUSLIM LEADER CALLS FOR UNITY (Herald Sun)
* U.S. IMAGE ABROAD WILL TAKE YEARS TO REPAIR (NY Times)
- U.S. To Reach Out to Arabs via TV (LA Times)
* NYC COUNCIL PASSES ANTI-PATRIOT ACT MEASURE (Wash Post)
* COURT PRESERVES GITMO ISOLATION, FOR NOW (AP)
* PENTAGON HIDING REALITY OF TOLL FROM IRAQ WAR (PB Post)
* MALNUTRITION AT AFRICAN LEVELS ISRAELIS (Independent)
- Orphanage Closures Render Many Homeless (AllAfrica)
* BALTIMORE MUSLIMS HOLD BLOOD DRIVE
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE BLESSINGS OF PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Paradise is surrounded
by
hardship and Hell is surrounded by temptations."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1313
The Prophet also said: "(A) person (experiencing even the smallest
blessings of Paradise) who previously led the most miserable life (in
this
world)...will be asked: 'O, son of Adam, do you (remember) facing any
hardship (in your previous life)? Or did any distress fall to your
lot?'
That person will reply: "No...my Lord, never did I face any hardship or
experience any distress.'"
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1304
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,273 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of South Carolina: 83 sponsored, 108 left to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: ISLAM IS 'VIOLENT AND INTOLERANT'
QUESTIONS MOUNT ON WHY U.S. WENT TO WAR
Nolan Finley, Detroit News, 2/1/04
http://detnews.com/2004/editorial/0402/01/a15-51414.htm
Liberation in a region of the world so controlled by a violent and
intolerant religion is too uncertain a prospect to risk American lives
and
resources.
An Islamic democracy is, for the most part, an oxymoron. It remains a
long
bet that freedom and democratic principles will take hold in Iraq. With
the
influence of the religious sects and their power-crazed clerics, it's
just
as likely the Iraqi people will end up enslaved to a different sort of
tyranny.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Hostile comments can and WILL
be
used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
E-MAIL: letters@detnews.com
COPY TO: nfinley@detnews.com, cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
INCITEMENT WATCH: IS ISLAM BARBARIC?
A GOOD REASON TO DODGE THE HAJJ
James Taranto, Opinion Journal, 2/2/04
http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110004636
Two hundred fifty-one Muslims are dead in Saudi Arabia--not in a
terrorist
attack, but in a religious ritual. Muslim pilgrims on the annual hajj
were
in Mina, near Mecca, for the rite, in which they throw rocks at two
pillars
that symbolize Satan. The victims were crushed to death in a stampede.
This was a normal occurrence, not a freak accident...
Isn't there something barbaric--in practice, if not in principle--about
a
religion whose rituals routinely result in such bloodshed? That seems
an
obvious question, and yet somehow we have the sense we're being either
daring or terribly rude by posing it.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Hostile comments can and WILL
be
used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
E-MAIL: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com, james.taranto@dowjones.com
COPY TO: edit.features@wsj.com, opinionjournal@wsj.com, cair-net.org
---
INCITEMENT WATCH: THE DARK SIDE OF ISLAM?
RIVAL REPUBLICANS COMPETE FOR ORANGE COUNTY CONGRESSIONAL SEAT
Laura Wides, Associated Press, 2/5/04
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher is an avid surfer, quick to wax on the
spirituality of catching a wave.
His opponent in the March Republican primary for the 46th Congressional
District is the less laid-back former congressman and talk show host
Robert
Dornan, who earned the nickname "B-1 Bob" in part for his virulent
attacks
on adversaries…
Where the two differ politically is on U.S. policy toward Israel.
Dornan, a
staunch supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, hopes that's
enough to catapult him past the popular congressman.
Dornan drew a reputation for making wild charges during his 18 years in
Congress, even on the floor of the House. He called his race against
Rohrabacher "a one issue campaign - terrorism." He said if elected, "I
would be the pre-eminent scholar on the dark side of Islam…"
---
ISLAM: ARCHAIC, ANTEDILUVIAN & ANTI-FEMALE
Lloyd Williams, Philadelphia Daily News, 2/5/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/7879057.htm
BELIEVE IT or not, right now I'm about as fed up with Islam as the
Revs.
Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and the rest of the Christian Coalition
combined. But for a different reason. I just can't stand the
unwavering,
arrogant contempt that that repressive religion exhibits toward women…
Listen, I know they're supposed to be our allies and are still
considered
the "good Arabs" even though 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 terrorists were
Saudis.
But I can't help wondering why we consider these particular
backward-thinking Neanderthals to be less of a threat than the rest of
the
designated Axis of Evil.
Tell me if I'm reading this wrong. The basic tenets of the faith
dictate
that half the population be subservient to the other half. That type of
logic reminds me of the brand of Christianity that once rationalized
slavery.
Sexism is as reprehensible as racism. If Islam doesn't get its act
together, Operation Saudi Freedom looms unavoidably on the desert
horizon...
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Hostile comments can and WILL
be
used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
E-MAIL: burgosf@phillynews.com
COPY TO: cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-CAN: PROTEST ANTI-MUSLIM FLYER
(Ottawa, Canada - 5/2/2004)- The Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations Canada (CAIR-CAN) is calling on Muslims to write to the
University of Western Ontario Student Council before its February 10th
hearing on the actions of The Israel Action Committee (IAC), a student
club. The IAC recently handed out a hateful and malicious flyer that
showed
a picture of the burning World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 while
clearly attributing the terrorist act to all Muslims and to Islam
as a religion.
See flyer at:
www.caircan.ca/downloads/UWO_scan.jpg
www.caircan.ca/downloads/UWO_scan2.jpg
The material was handed out on campus, with the effect of portraying
Islam
and Muslims as inherently violent and oppressive, thereby creating fear
and
hate. CAIR-CAN has contacted local police to investigate the incident
as a
hate-crime, and has called on the UWO Student Council to censure the
IAC.
On February 10, 2004, the University Students' Council will hold a
hearing
regarding the actions of the IAC. The Council will take into account
written opinions of the flyer in making a decision.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (Be polite, but firm):
1. CONTACT Rohan Belliapa (VP-Finance - USC):
A. Expressing outrage at the hateful flyer.
B. Demanding that the university uphold its commitment to providing a
harassment-free learning environment that does not tolerate the
expression
of such hateful stereotypes.
C. Demanding that the Israel Action Committee is strictly censured for
its
anti-Muslim conduct.
Rohan Belliapa
VP-Finance (USC)
Tel: (519) 661-3574 x83574
E-mail: usc.finance@uwo.ca
2. Send a copy of your letter to Jennifer Schroeder (Director of Equity
Services) and UWO President and Vice-Chancellor Paul Davenport:
Jennifer Schroeder
Director of Equity Services
Tel: (519) 661-3883 x83883
E-mail: jschroed@uwo.ca
Paul Davenport
President and Vice-Chancellor
Tel: (519) 661-3106 x83106
E-mail: pdavenpo@uwo.ca
3. COPY CAIR-CAN - canada@cair-net.org - on all correspondence.
-----
TEACHING INTOLERANCE
Times-Picayune, 2/5/04
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1075966342243360.xml
Maryam Motar attends school in the United States, not France, where the
government is considering a law that would forbid her to wear the head
scarf required by her religion.
The West Jefferson High School sophomore's attire still made her a
target
for ridicule, though, and according to Ms. Motar, her mistreatment came
at
the hands of her world history teacher.
The 17-year-old Muslim student says that last week, as teacher Wes Mix
was
passing out tests, he pulled back her head scarf and said, "I hope God
punishes you. No, I'm sorry, I hope Allah punishes you."
She says the teacher later told her, "I didn't know you had hair under
there."
Such insults are appalling. They have no place in a classroom --
particularly when directed against a student by a teacher...
-----
THOUSANDS OF U.S. MUSLIMS SIGNING UP IN VOTER DRIVE
Niala Boodhoo, Reuters, 2/4/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=4284500
WASHINGTON - America's Muslims are looking to expand their political
influence with a national voter registration drive, an effort that
could
have its first test on Saturday in Michigan, home to the largest
concentration of Muslims and Arabs outside the Middle East.
Thousands of Muslim Americans across the United States have signed up
ahead
of the presidential election, the first time the community of up to 7
million has formally organized.
"We're Muslims and our voices should be heard," Shazia Chughtai, 34,
told
Reuters as she signed up at a recent commemoration in Washington of the
Feast of the Sacrifice that ends the traditional haj pilgrimage to
Mecca.
"I'm an American and a citizen," said Chughtai, adding that in her
view,
"everything that goes wrong here is blamed on Muslims."
According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is
helping to
lead the effort, more than 3,000 new voters registered over the weekend
in
13 states and the District of Columbia.
Many more still had to be processed and counted, said Hasan Mansori,
CAIR's
governmental affairs coordinator. Further voter drives are planned for
the
coming weeks.
In Michigan, which on Saturday selects delegates to the Democratic
presidential nominating convention, the local CAIR chapter said
community
interest in the contest was high.
"People really seem to be motivated and mobilized at this point," said
Celena Khatib, a local CAIR official.
"At the mosques, people have been asking me, how do I vote in this
caucus?
What do I do?" she said by telephone.
"It gives me an optimistic feeling about the community now, that
they're
really excited about being politically involved and making a
difference..."
ALSO SEE:
RELIGIOUS GROUPS ANNOUNCE 2004 VOTER REGISTRATION PROJECTS
U.S. Newswire, 2/4/04
http://www.usnewswire.com
WASHINGTON -- The Interfaith Alliance brought together representatives
of
11 organizations Wednesday, including the nation's largest interfaith
and
ecumenical coalitions, to announce their voter registration projects.
"At stake in this year's elections is the fate of virtually every issue
of
social-moral-political significance to religious communities -- civil
rights, foreign policy, fair housing, taxation, religious liberty,
economic justice, education, poverty, health care, and a bright future
for
our nation's children," said Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of
The
Interfaith Alliance. "All people of faith and goodwill care about these
issues and want to see them addressed helpfully."
Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of
Churches quoted former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey: "The moral
test
of government is what we do to those at the dawn of life, our children;
those in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those in the shadows of
life, the poor and the sick and the disabled."
Edgar said that the moral task of the religious community is also to
care
for children, the elderly, and the poor, sick, and disabled and one way
to
do that "is to be faithfully registered and to faithfully vote."
"For American Muslims, voting is no longer an option," said Ibrahim
Hooper,
national communications director, Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"It's an absolute necessity. That's why we are taking part in this
effort
today and encouraging people of all faiths to register and then turn
out
during the election, and vote..."
---
DEMOCRATS SEE MICHIGAN AS TEST RUN FOR NOVEMBER
E.J. Kessler, Forward, 2/4/06
http://www.forward.com/issues/2004/04.02.06/news6a.html
Looking past Saturday's presidential caucuses in Michigan, Democratic
strategists were predicting this week that the results in the Wolverine
State would point the way for the party's strategy in the general
election.
What the Michigan campaign showed, pundits said, was that voters in the
center - "white, Catholic men who are disproportionately members of
labor
unions," in the words of Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf - will
determine who wins the White House in November. The campaign also
showed,
in searching for those voters, that candidates were eager to avoid
stepping
into ethnic or other squabbles that diverted them from the main goal.
In particular, Democrats tried hard to avoid antagonizing either Jewish
or
Arab American voters, both of which are heavily represented in Michigan
and
play active roles on the national stage. As a result, the Israeli-Arab
conflict appeared unlikely to figure as a major issue in the fall
campaign.
"Michigan is going to decide [the 2004] election," said Sheinkopf.
"It's a
dress rehearsal for fall."
Meanwhile, the Arab American community, which the 2000 census puts at
115,284 souls but communal officials estimate to be at least twice that
figure, was seen as a smaller part of the caucus electorate - 2% to 3%,
Brewer estimated - but an even more important factor than the Jews in
Michigan's general election vote...
---
ARAB-AMERICANS WANT THEIR VOICES HEARD AT THE MICHIGAN CAUCUSES
Tarek El-Tablawy, Associated Press, 2/4/04
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-11/107594454013
5031.xml
DEARBORN, Mich. - On those days when Nabil Mohammed is able get through
to
his family by telephone in the West Bank city of Nablus, he says all he
hears is bad news.
"Closures, Israeli soldiers breaking in doors, Palestinians being
killed, a
wall being built -- there's nothing but hardship," said the 32-year-old
Dearborn resident. "Then, there's the U.S. road map for peace (between
the
Israelis and the Palestinians), a map that doesn't seem to be guiding
anyone anywhere. With that kind of news, how can I not vote."
Bemoaning what he says is a lack of momentum on the part of the Bush
administration to pressure a settlement between Israel and the
Palestinians, Mohammed, a Palestinian-American, says he'll seize the
opportunity during the Feb. 7 Michigan caucus to make sure that he
votes
"for anyone, and I mean anyone, that can get President Bush out of that
office."
His comments echo those of many in the sizable Michigan Arab-American
community, estimated at up to 300,000 people. While the economy and
health
care are important issues, the overriding concerns are the United
State's
foreign policy in the Middle East and the perception of the erosion of
civil liberties in the post-Sept. 11 political climate...
-----
THE RELUCTANT PILGRIM'S GRUDGING RETURN HOME
Christian Science Monitor, 2/5/04
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0205/p07s02-wome.html
MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - At the goodbye circling of the Grand Mosque, the
final rite of the hajj, a Jordanian woman holding hands with her
husband
turns around for a last look at the Kaaba. Tears fill her eyes.
I know how she feels.
"Is that it? Aren't there any more rites we can do?" I ask my cousin
Allal.
He laughs, but he understands.
In the middle of our final walk around the Kaaba, the geographic and
spiritual center of Muslim prayers the world over, my cousin Allal
succumbs
too.
"God you are the Generous. God you are the Mighty. God, you who are
capable
of all things, help us defeat our enemies. Help us defeat our laziness.
Strengthen our faith and bring us back soon to visit your house," he
says
before his voice breaks from emotion.
I repeat after Allal, but my mind and eye wander, distracted by the
colors,
smells, and languages around me. In the mass of circling pilgrims, I
see
two Sufis in white turbans, their eyes closed, chanting in Turkish
accents,
"God is Great, God is Great, God is Great."
Tradition says that the Kaaba was built by Adam and rebuilt by Abraham
and
the descendants of Noah. It is known as the House of God and is the
center
of our circumambulations. At one point, the crowd circling the large
cube
slows as we make our way around four Lebanese women causing a traffic
jam.
They have stopped to pray, kneeling on the marble skirt that surrounds
the
Kaaba, and just in front of a shrine that contains the footsteps of
Abraham. Their husbands are standing and holding hands, forming a human
chain around them...
ALSO SEE:
KUCINICH EXTENDS EID GREETINGS TO MUSLIMS
The following is a message sent by presidential candidate Dennis
Kucinich
to the Muslim community in honor of Eid ul-Adha:
Assalaamu Alaykum...May Peace and Blessings be upon all...
As Muslim Americans across the country and Muslims around the world
gather
to celebrate, I extend my most sincere wishes for a meaningful and
joyous
Eid ul Adha this year. Health, happiness and peace to all!
Warmly,
Dennis Kucinich
www.kucinich.us
-----
MUSLIM LEADER CALLS FOR UNITY
Claudia Assis, Herald-Sun, 2/4/04
http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-443767.html
DURHAM -- Extremists have muddled Islam's message, said Imam W. Deen
Mohammed, a renowned Black Muslim spiritual leader who visited Durham
this
week to spread the word that Islam is a religion of peace and to bring
a
message of unity.
"Good people, no matter what label, what religion, need good people to
survive bad people," he said. "We are all one family ... We can
strengthen
each other against bad people."
Mohammed spoke Wednesday with The Herald-Sun, in between speaking
engagements at Duke University, visiting with local imams and
participating
in a WUNC radio show, "The State of Things."
For Durham Muslims, Mohammed's visit "straightened out the focus and
determination of our people as viable citizens in Durham," said Imam
Abdul-hafeez Waheed of the Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center on West Chapel Hill
Street. Waheed estimated that Durham's Muslim population is fewer than
5,000 people.
Mohammed, 70, is the son of Elijah Muhammad, who led the Nation of
Islam
until his death in 1975. Mohammed then took over the Nation of Islam,
leading many mosques toward more mainstream Sunni Islam and changing
the
way many American-born blacks practiced the religion.
Not long after, he founded the group that became the American Society
of
Muslims, and in 1978, Louis Farrakhan became the leader of the Nation
of
Islam...
According to the Council for American-Islamic Relations, based in
Washington, D.C., there are about 7 million U.S. Muslims, with a
variety of
ethnic backgrounds and national origins. In addition, there are nearly
2,000 mosques, Islamic schools and Islamic centers.
-----
U.S. IMAGE ABROAD WILL TAKE YEARS TO REPAIR, OFFICIAL TESTIFIES
Christopher Marquis, New York Times, 2/5/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/politics/05DIPL.html
WASHINGTON - Margaret D. Tutwiler, in her first public appearance as
the
State Department official in charge of public diplomacy, acknowledged
Wednesday that America's standing abroad had deteriorated to such an
extent
that "it will take us many years of hard, focused work" to restore it.
Ms. Tutwiler, the former ambassador to Morocco, was recently tapped to
try
to address rising hostility toward the United States in much of the
Muslim
world.
In testimony before a House appropriations subcommittee, she agreed
with
the main findings of an independent panel that American outreach has
suffered from budget cuts and neglect since the end of the cold war.
"Unfortunately, our country has a problem in far too many parts of the
world," she said, "a problem we have regrettably gotten into over many
years through both Democrat and Republican administrations, and a
problem
that does not lend itself to a quick fix or a single solution or a
simple
plan."
The findings were the result of an extensive bipartisan study led by
Edward
P. Djerejian, a former ambassador to Israel and Syria. The panel
asserted
that American prestige had dwindled, that much of its charity was
overlooked and that its overall approach lacked strategic direction...
ALSO SEE:
U.S. TO REACH OUT TO ARABS VIA TV
Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times, 2/5/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/whitehouse/la-fg-bush5feb05
,1,7146046.story?coll=la-news-politics-white_house
WASHINGTON - President Bush announced Wednesday that the U.S.
government
would next week begin broadcasting an Arabic-language satellite TV
channel
designed as an alternative to Middle Eastern broadcasts often critical
of
the United States.
At an appearance at the Library of Congress, Bush said the channel, Al
Hurra, would join other U.S. government broadcasts that are aimed at
cutting through the "hateful propaganda that fills the airwaves in the
Muslim world" and telling people "the truth about the values and the
policies of the United States."
Al Hurra, Arabic for "the free one," is the most expensive of a number
of
post-Sept. 11 efforts aimed at changing attitudes about the United
States
through government-supplied information. U.S. officials have
acknowledged
that they want the channel to be a rival of Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based
satellite channel, and Al Arabiya, based in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates.
The two Arabic channels have often drawn complaints about their
programming
from senior Bush administration officials.
The broadcasts will be transmitted from a facility in Springfield, Va.,
and
will cost the government $62 million for the first year of operation.
The
channel will be overseen by a Lebanese-born news director, who will be
hiring a staff of more than 200, including many Arabs...
Experts on the region have questioned whether the effort will draw
enough
viewers to justify the expense. Audiences in the Middle East are
generally
skeptical about America and have not responded well to other U.S.
government efforts to improve America's image.
Al Jazeera officials have dismissed the competitive threat, saying that
Arab listeners will not accept U.S. government broadcasts...
-----
N.Y. CITY COUNCIL PASSES ANTI-PATRIOT ACT MEASURE
Michelle Garcia, Washington Post, 2/5/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13970-2004Feb4.html
NEW YORK - New York City, site of the country's most horrific terrorist
attack, Wednesday became the latest in a long list of cities and towns
that
have formally opposed the expanded investigatory powers granted to law
enforcement agencies under the USA Patriot Act.
The New York City Council approved a resolution condemning the law,
enacted
by Congress six weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, with a voice
vote
in its chambers a few blocks from the gaping hole at Ground Zero.
"The Patriot Act is really unpatriotic, it undermines our civil rights
and
civil liberties," said council member Bill Perkins (D-Manhattan), the
bill's sponsor. "We never give up our rights that's what makes us
Americans."
The resolution criticized the Patriot Act for allowing infringements on
privacy rights. Among other provisions, the Patriot Act allows
investigators to see citizens' library records and eases requirements
for
search warrants. The council requested that Congress deliver periodic
reports accounting for the information and records on New Yorkers the
federal government has culled under the Patriot Act, but the measure
has no
means to enforce that request.
The vote follows months of negotiations between resolution supporters
and
New York City Council leadership. A major sticking point in the
original
proposal of the resolution centered on language prohibiting the New
York
Police Department from enforcing immigration laws, collecting
information
on activist groups and businesses, and refraining from establishing an
anti-terrorism reporting database.
After Wednesday's vote, City Council Speaker Gifford Miller (D) said
the
measure in its final version "strikes the right balance..."
-----
COURT PRESERVES GITMO ISOLATION, FOR NOW
Anne Gearan, Associated Press, 2/4/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3712418,00.html
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court said Thursday it will not allow a
potential
breach in the isolation of terrorism suspects at the Navy base in Cuba,
at
least until the justices decide whether to hear another legal challenge
to
treatment of the foreigners held there.
The full court granted a request from the Bush administration to stop a
lower court from communicating with a detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The
action underscored a temporary reprieve granted by a single justice,
Sandra
Day O'Connor, last week.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was poised to notify the detainee
of
that court's ruling in December that Guantanamo prisoners should be
allowed
to see lawyers and have access to courts.
The Supreme Court granted the government's request to put that ruling
on
hold, at least until the Bush administration files a full appeal in the
case of detainee Falen Gherebi...
-----
PENTAGON HIDING REALITY OF TOLL FROM WAR IN IRAQ
Palm Beach Post, 2/1/04
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/sunday/opi
nion_04a18dbd454ca0b51081.html
Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., a Vietnam veteran and senior member of the
Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, tried asking Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld about U.S. troops who have been wounded in Iraq.
He wanted to know the number of battlefield casualties, how the
Pentagon
was defining "wounded in action," the procedure for releasing
information
on wounded and how many Americans had received the Purple Heart. Sen.
Hagel
told National Public Radio that it took six weeks to get a response. A
letter from the Pentagon said: "At this time, we were unfortunately
lacking
in information, and we didn't have the information that you requested."
Sen. Hagel found the non-answers "astounding" and criticized a widening
credibility gap between the government and the American people over a
complete accounting of the war's toll.
The nation reached a sad milestone this month with the 500th death in
Iraq.
But the numbers of wounded continue to be lost beneath the headlines,
as
does the severity of the wounds. If Sen. Hagel can't get answers, what
chance does the public have? Military records suggest that about 9,000
U.S.
troops have been evacuated from Iraq for a wide spectrum of reasons,
including combat wounds, accident injuries, psychological problems,
infections and illness. At least 21 have committed suicide. About 3,000
U.S. soldiers are counted among the group wounded in battle or injured
in
accidents since the invasion...
-----
PALESTINIAN MALNUTRITION AT AFRICAN LEVELS UNDER ISRAELI CURBS, SAY MPS
Ben Russell, Independent, 2/5/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=487963
Malnutrition rates in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank are as
bad
as those in sub-Saharan Africa, MPs said yesterday. They warned that
the
Israeli security fence around the occupied territories was "destroying
the
Palestinian economy and creating widespread poverty".
The all-party Commons International Development Committee called for
European Union trade sanctions to be imposed on Israel until it allowed
the
free export of goods from the West Bank and Gaza.
The committee's report also condemned suicide bombings as "morally
abhorrent" and "a catastrophic tactic that has done great harm to the
Palestinian cause".
MPs called on the Palestinian Authority to be more vocal in its
condemnation of attacks. "Israel's security measures are preventing
Palestinians from accessing services as well as inhibiting humanitarian
and
development work," the MPs said. "They are destroying the Palestinian
economy and creating widespread poverty."
The MPs, who carried out a fact-finding trip to Israel as part of their
six-month inquiry, criticised corruption and mismanagement by the
Palestinian Authority, but also condemned the actions of the Israeli
government.
They said they understood why the Israeli government had decided to
build
its 425-mile security fence, but added that it had displaced
Palestinian
homes, destroyed farms and severely disrupted trade...
ALSO SEE:
SOMALIA: ORPHANAGE CLOSURES RENDER THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN HOMELESS
AllAfrica.com 2/5/04
http://allafrica.com/stories/200402050186.html
About 3,000 Somali orphans are facing an uncertain future after the
orphanages caring for them closed last week, for lack of funds. They
were
forced to cease operations because the Saudi-based Al-Haramayn aid
agency,
which was funding them, was banned from working in Somalia after the US
government said it had links with terrorists.
The Islamic agency closed its offices in Somalia in May last year, but
the
orphanages continued to take care of the children, "because the agency
left
enough money to run them for six months", Dahir Ghelle, who worked in
one
of the orphanages in Mogadishu, told IRIN on Thursday. "We had to
stretch
the money to last us up to now," he said.
There had been hope that the agency would succeed in clearing its name
and
return, Abdullahi Haji Abukar, who works with the children, told IRIN.
"I
think they [orphanages] have come to the end of the road, unless some
agency or individual intervenes."
Al-Haramayn first came to Somalia in 1992, at the height of a famine.
It
funded a total of eight orphanages nationwide, housing children between
the
ages of six and 13 years. Five of the orphanages were in Mogadishu and
the
rest in Marka in southern Somalia, and Burao and Hargeysa in the
self-declared republic of Somaliland, respectively. Most of the orphans
the
agency cared for, had lost one or both parents in war.
-----
YOUNG MUSLIMS SISTERS OF BALTIMORE'S 2ND ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE
The Young Muslims Sisters of Baltimore (YM) is organizing its 2nd
annual
blood drive on a Saturday in February/early March at the Islamic
Society of
Baltimore.
If you are at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, are
healthy
(not have any chronic medical conditions and if so, are being treated),
and
not have donated blood in the last 56 days, you are eligible to donate
blood.
If you are able to donate, please provide your full name and phone
number
and email your information to Farha Marfani at jannah007@yahoo.com.
We need to give the American Red Cross at least 80 names before they
even
agree to come.
Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB)
Tel: (410) 747-4869
Email: info@isb.org
Web: www.alrahmah.org
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/6/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S MERCY
* LIBRARY PROJECT: NORTH DAKOTA
- CAIR Job Opening: Civil Rights Coordinator
* AMINA SILMI: OH MOTHER REMAINS JAILED (Plain Dealer)
* CA CONTEST SHOWS MUSLIM HOPEFULS' PLIGHT (Chicago Trib)
- Kerry's Appeal to Jewish and Arab Voters (JTA)
- Arab-Americans Want to be Heard in Election (AFP)
- As Numbers Rise, Immigrants Gain Clout (Detroit News)
* REVIEW FINDS NSEERS RIGHTS VIOLATIONS (IABA)
- Pentagon to Alter Tribunal Rules (Wash. Post)
* ANTI-SEMITISM: THE SCARLET "A" (American Conservative)
- Khalidi Focused on Academics (Columbia Spectator)
* SHARING THE BLESSING OF EID-UL-ADHA (U Wire)
- CA Muslims Celebrate Eid (Gilroy Dispatch)
* ROBBERS HIT IL MOSQUE FOR SECOND TIME (Daily Ilini)
- Help Restore Chicago Mosque Destroyed By Fire
* IRAQI DETAINEES ALLEGE MISTREATMENT (LA Weekly)
* MOVE GAZA SETTLERS TO WEST BANK? (AP)
* IL: LATINO MUSLIMS AND THEIR ROLE IN AMERICA
* TEXAS: AMA VOTER REGISTRATION WORKSHOP
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S MERCY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God…has laid down
certain
obligations…set certain limits…forbidden certain things…and has kept
silent
about other things out of mercy for you…So (keep God's commandments
and) do
not seek to discover (what He has kept silent about).
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 577
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,278 SPONSORSHIPS
Now, let's help the state of North Dakota: 27 covered, 40 more
libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced dynamic person to fill
the
position of Civil Rights Coordinator. The position involves handling of
civil rights cases, doing research on issues pertaining to civil and
religious rights in America, maintaining a civil rights data base
system,
and generating reports, charts and graphs. Candidates should have a
Bachelor degree in a related field with general knowledge of the US
Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He or she should be
proficient in spreadsheet and database applications. Some travel
required.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience
CAIR offers an excellent health and dental benefit for its full-time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
hr@cair-net.org or by fax 202-488-0833. When applying via email please
ensure to write the position title "Civil Rights Coordinator" in the
subject line of the email.
-----
AMINA SILMI UPDATE: LAKEWOOD MOTHER REMAINS JAILED
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/6/04
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1076068520190950.xml
Amina Silmi's deportation remained on hold Thursday. The mother of
three is
in jail in Kennesaw, Ga., waiting for the Board of Immigration Appeals
to
decide if she can stay in the United States. Her attorney said she will
ask
Cleveland-based U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. to allow Silmi
to
return to Cleveland while her appeal is decided. Silmi, 35, has lived
in
the United States for a dozen years, bearing three children, on an
expired
visitor's visa. She was to be deported Wednesday. Immigration officials
halted her trip at the Atlanta airport, less than eight hours after
Silmi
turned herself over to authorities in Cleveland.
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia Shearson, 216-440-2247; Jad Humeidan,
Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio, 614-451-3232 or 614-571-2770, E-Mail:
ohio@cair-net.org
-----
CALIFORNIA CONTEST SHOWS MUSLIM HOPEFULS' PLIGHT
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 2/6/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0402060274feb06,1,6120071.story
SAN FRANCISCO - The name, Maad Abu-Ghazalah, doesn't exactly trip off
the
tongue, but that may prove a minor worry for the candidate running for
Congress in one of America's most open-minded cities.
When Abu-Ghazalah went door-to-door, greeting prospective voters, his
eyes
beaming, his light skin slightly tanned against his perfectly pressed
business suit, there was often the same reaction.
"With this name, I would say this guy doesn't have a chance," said Dan
Briesach, after opening his front door and glancing at Abu-Ghazalah's
campaign literature. "M-a-ad A-bu-Gha-za-lah, not a chance."
Without a flinch, Abu-Ghazalah replied matter-of-factly: "I was born in
Palestine. I live in San Francisco and graduated from Notre Dame. I'm
running for Congress because I'm concerned about our foreign policy."
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Muslims have become politically
active like never before, and they are hoping to influence elections in
a
number of states, including Michigan, which holds its caucuses
Saturday...
Islamic groups are behind the voter registration drives, which seek to
mobilize a potential electorate of 3 million. On Sunday, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations in Washington registered thousands of
Muslims in
mosques and community centers across the nation as they marked the
Islamic
holiday of Eid al-Adha...
"We have to vote in a bloc," says Omar Saki, head of the Los-Angeles
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We have to
motivate
people and make our community aware that this is a crisis."
ALSO SEE:
KERRY'S APPEAL TO COMPETING GROUPS EXTENDS TO JEWISH AND ARAB VOTERS
Ron Kampeas, JTA, 2/3/04
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Kerry+appeals+to+Jews%2C+Arabs&intcategoryid=3
WASHINGTON - A couple of weeks after eating lox and cream cheese at a
synagogue in Des Moines, John Kerry took on bitter Arab coffee and
baklava
among Muslims in Cedar Rapids.
Both appearances had a salutary effect on caucus night Jan. 19, when
the
majority of both Iowa's Jews and Arabs helped the Massachusetts senator
come out the clear winner.
It's a pattern repeating itself nationwide.
Kerry, who after Tuesday's primaries has solidified his position as the
front-runner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination,
appeals to competing constituencies otherwise at odds in the battle for
the
Democratic soul.
He is a friend to Jews and Arabs; a storied veteran of both the Vietnam
War
and of the movement that ended it; a fiscal conservative and an
advocate of
government spending for the disenfranchised; an opponent of President
Bush's handling of the Iraq War; and a supporter of an assertive U.S.
posture in the Persian Gulf.
Kerry's positions on the Israel-Palestinian conflict are a study in his
facility for casting his speeches according to his audience, and
filling
them with knowledgeable terms and detailed anecdotes.
His Jewish stump speech - delivered with vigor and passion, with barely
a
pause - cites the Roosevelt administration's decision to turn away a
ship
of Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe as a failure of U.S. policy he
would
never repeat...
-----
ARAB-AMERICANS WANT TO BE HEARD IN US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Jerome Rivet, Agence France Presse, 2/6/04
DEARBORN, Michigan - The three million Arab-Americans, who have felt
ostracized since September 11, 2001, want to show they can be a mighty
political force in this year's presidential election.
"Yalla -- vote February 7!" read a sign written in English and Arabic
that
was posted in a major street in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb.
Michigan is holding caucuses on Saturday for the Democratic
presidential
nomination, a hot contest with six candidates vying to represent the
party
against President George W. Bush, a Republican, in November.
With its red-brick buildings, wide roads with snow-covered sidewalks,
and
Ford Motor Company's factories, Dearborn looks nothing like an Arab
city.
Still, this industrial suburb is considered the Arab-American
community's
capital with 300,000 people of Arab origin from 22 different countries
living here or near Dearborn.
The country's three million Arab-Americans could represent a
considerable
political force, said Imad Hamad, Michigan director of the
American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).
Unlike blacks and Latinos, who are well organized and number in the
tens of
millions, Arab-Americans have never figured as political players...
Several organizations have rallied Arab-American voters, including the
Arab
American Political Action Committee and the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
---
AS THEIR NUMBERS RISE, IMMIGRANTS GAIN CLOUT
Francis X. Donnelly, Detroit News, 2/6/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/politics/0402/06/a02-57279.htm
Chased by famine or war or prejudice, they sought a better life in a
strange land that offered a promise.
First ostracized by political leaders in their new homeland, they
eventually were pursued by them.
It has been happening to immigrants in the United States for 160 years
and
it continues today with a star-spangled twist: These wary wanderers may
help elect a president in November.
Their numbers may be small but they could carry a lot of weight in a
tight
race, which the presidential contest in Michigan is likely to be.
Among these swing voters in a swing state are Arab- and
Muslim-Americans
and two of the fastest-growing minorities: Mexicans and Asian Indians.
"We have more visibility," said James Zogby, president of the Arab
American
Institute in Washington. "We're benefiting from the work we've done.
We're
picking the fruit from the trees we planted 20 years ago.'
So what do Michigan's 523,000 immigrants want from the nation's chief
executive?
They want what refugees have always wanted. Security. Freedom. It's why
they came to a place where they didn't know the language, customs or
laws
and, against long odds, staked a new life. They were drawn by America
as
much as they were pushed from their old homes.
To them, civil rights is more than an election issue. It's a symbol of
their adopted nation...
But then came September 11 and Bush, who won the election, changed his
tune. Arabs feel like they're bearing the brunt of profiling, an
immigration law crackdown and the USA Patriot Act, which allows the use
of
evidence kept secret from lawyers and the public...
-----
REVIEW FINDS EVIDENCE OF NSEERS CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
Iranian American Bar Association Study Reveals Iranian Nationals Were
Arbitrarily Detained and Mistreated
PR Newswire, 2/6/04
http://www.iaba.us
WASHINGTON - The Iranian American Bar Association (IABA) released
results
today from an independent review examining the implementation of the
special registration program under the National Security Entry-Exit
System
(NSEERS) by the INS in late -- 2002 and early -- 2003. The IABA
uncovered
substantial evidence of the arbitrary detention and mistreatment of a
large
number of Iranian nationals who had voluntarily appeared to register...
Thirty-four registrants representing a broad spectrum of Iranians
living in
the U.S. discussed their experiences during the special registration
process, including details of their interrogation as well as the
conditions
of their subsequent detention, in interviews conducted by the
organization's legal team which included attorneys from Wilmer, Cutler
&
Pickering, a Washington, D.C. law firm retained as pro bono counsel to
the
IABA. The Report summarizes evidence indicating improper interrogation,
arbitrary detention decisions, and poor detention conditions, as well
as
demeaning and humiliating treatment by INS officials.
Designed to track the identity and movements of certain categories of
non-immigrants living in the U.S., the "special registration" component
of
NSEERS was established in August 2002 and required males over the age
of 16
from 25 predominantly Muslim countries to appear and register at
specified
INS offices throughout the country. In December 2003, the Department of
Homeland Security temporarily suspended the annual re-registration
requirement of the special registration program.
Twenty-four of the 34 registrants were detained despite voluntarily
appearing to comply with the new registration laws. Twenty had pending
applications with the INS concerning their immigration status, and 16
had
lived in the U.S. for longer than five years. Twenty-three reported
having
immediate family members in the U.S. Notably, there has been no
indication
that any of the 24 detainees were deemed to pose a threat to U.S.
national
security.
The Report finds that in many instances the registrants were treated in
a
demeaning and humiliating manner, and that they were frequently
subjected
to arbitrary questioning going well beyond what was necessary to
accomplish
the purposes of the special registration program. In one case, a
registrant
was asked by an INS official whether he believed in the Bible. Another
INS
official reportedly referred to a group of Iranian registrants as
"animals"
that he was "tired of dealing with." Yet another stated, "Let me go
grab my
shotgun," upon hearing that members of the detained group of
registrants
before him were Iranian...
ALSO SEE:
PENTAGON TO ALTER MILITARY TRIBUNAL RULES
John Mintz, Washington Post, 2/9/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17260-2004Feb5.html
In response to complaints from civil libertarians, Pentagon officials
said
yesterday that they will change some of the rules governing the work of
lawyers representing alleged al Qaeda and Taliban fighters before
military
tribunals.
Under the new rules, attorneys for the defendants who will be tried
before
the special military courts at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will be notified
when
their conversations with clients are electronically monitored by
military
officials, a Pentagon source said. The old rules had not clarified
whether
the defense lawyers would be informed about such eavesdropping.
The government's ability to listen in on attorney-client talks was one
of
many provisions of the tribunal rules denounced by human rights groups,
some foreign officials and legal organizations such as the American Bar
Association.
With rare exceptions, conversations between defense attorneys and their
clients are confidential under military and civilian law. Last year,
when
military officials drew up the rules allowing the electronic monitoring
of
attorney-client sessions, some defense lawyer groups said they would
refuse
to participate.
Yesterday, some legal experts welcomed the rule changes but said they
do
not go far enough...
-----
ANTI-SEMITISM: THE SCARLET "A"
Taki, American Conservative, 2/16/04
http://amconmag.com/2_16_04/taki.html
An Israeli ambassador physically attacks an art display in a Stockholm
exhibit linked to an international conference on genocide-a display
created
by an Israeli artist, incidentally-and Sharon and his ilk denounce the
exhibit as anti-Semitic. (Dror Feiler, the artist, opposes the Israeli
occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.) Alicia Colon, a New York
Sun
columnist, writes that while Christians enjoyed the festive New Year
season
with good cheer, Jewish communities were being inundated with vicious
anti-Semitic vandalism. New York magazine runs a cover story about the
return of anti-Semitism, and announces that hating Jews has become
politically correct in many places. Abraham Foxman, national director
of
the Anti-Defamation League, calls the threat to the safety of the
Jewish
people "as great, if not greater, than what we faced in the thirties."
Arnold Beichman, writing in the Washington Times, asks if there will
never
be peace between Jews and the rest of the world. Finally, Israel
Singer,
chairman of the World Jewish Congress, levels charges against the
European
Union for recent decisions he has deemed anti-Semitic. What in heaven's
name is going on here?
It is an easy question to answer. The defamatory accusation of
anti-Semitism is the equivalent of a ninth-inning bases-loaded home run
when down 3-0 against those who charge that Israel is out of control
and
point out its misdeeds. If Ariel Sharon can claim anti-Semitism against
a
peace-loving Israeli artist living in Sweden, what is so surprising
when
American Jews accuse anyone criticizing Israel with the same charge?
Alas,
my co-editor Pat Buchanan and I are used to these labels. As are Gore
Vidal, Norman Mailer, Chronicles, and the Dartmouth Review, just to
name a few.
What is really going on is that the state of Israel has always
exploited
allegations of anti-Semitism, never more than when its policies against
the
Palestinians raise the eyebrows (nothing more would be tolerated) of
fair-minded people and governments throughout the world...
ALSO SEE:
KHALIDI STAYS FOCUSED ON ACADEMICS
Josie Swindler, Columbia Spectator, 2/6/04
http://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/06/402364547f5ba
A year after he accepted the position and a semester after he began,
Rashid
Khalidi, the inaugural Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies, has not
yet
escaped the controversy surrounding his new role.
Khalidi, also the director of the Middle East Institute at Columbia,
has
been under scrutiny for years. That scrutiny only intensified when
Columbia
hired him last July. Deemed too radical by his opponents and lauded as
a
scholarly genius by his supporters, Khalidi has faced opposition from
many
in his field and in the press who question the circumstances
surrounding
his chair.
Many challenged the initiation of an Edward Said chair, calling the
recently deceased Columbia literature professor too radical. During a
brief
teaching stint at Columbia in the 1980s, Khalidi had befriended Said,
but
emphasized that "he had very little to do with the Middle East field at
Columbia."
Other criticisms cite the chair's anonymous donors and a University
announcement saying donor names would not be disclosed...
Nearly a year ago, after multiple requests, Dean of the School of
International and Public Affairs Lisa Anderson said the names of donors
would be released shortly. The names, however, still have not been
disclosed.
Brinkley wrote in an e-mail Wednesday that the University has contacted
each donor about name disclosure. "That has taken a great deal of time,
but
we will be releasing the names soon," he said.
Khalidi, tired of what he called "unfounded falsehoods" and
"ridiculous,
wild allegations," refused to comment, saying only that the business
aspects of his chair should be taken up with the University's
administration...
-----
SHARING THE BLESSING OF EID-UL-ADHA
Sharlee Joy DiMenichi, U Wire, 2/5/04
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10921539&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=425716&rfi=6
Holiday celebrates the prophet Ibrahim, who sacrificed his son to
please
Allah.
The affluent and those in need are equal on Eid-ul-Adha.
On the holiday, called the Feast of Sacrifice in English, Muslims
traditionally slaughter an animal and divide the meat evenly among
family,
neighbors and those who cannot afford to buy food.
Magdy Hagag of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, a mosque on Route
1,
said dividing the meat enables those with limited means to enjoy as
nutritious a holiday meal as their wealthier counterparts.
"It becomes an equal thing," Mr. Hagag said.
During Eid-ul-Adha, which began Sunday and ended Tuesday, Muslims
commemorate the Koran's story of the prophet Ibrahim, who was willing
to
sacrifice his son, Ishmael, to please Allah. At the last moment, Allah
provided a sheep as a substitute for the young man. Believers may
slaughter
a sheep, goat or cow.
Modern Muslims imitate the practice of Prophet Mohammad, who recognized
Ibrahim's devotion by sacrificing an animal annually, Mr. Hagag said.
"He used to slaughter his sacrifice and give most of the meat to the
needy," Mr. Hagag said.
Rather than slaughtering an animal themselves, as Muslims in
agricultural
countries do, many ISCJ members pay to have an animal killed, according
to
Islamic dietary laws, at a slaughterhouse and have the butcher
distribute
the meat to those in need, Mr. Hagag said...
SEE ALSO:
CA: MUSLIMS CELEBRATE RETURN TO MECCA
Chuck Flagg, Gilroy Dispatch, 2/6/04
http://gilroydispatch.com/gilroylife/gilroylifeview.asp?c=94269
Thousands of South Bay residents gathered at the Santa Clara County
Fairgrounds on Super Bowl Sunday, but it wasn't to watch the game on a
jumbo television screen or to root on their favorite team. It was to
celebrate an important Islamic holiday.
Eid-ul Adha comes on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th and final
month
of the Islamic lunar calendar.
"It is time for reflection on the past year and enjoying all that Allah
has
given us, " said Muhammad Janjua, president of the South Bay Islamic
Center, sponsor of the event.
The month of Dhul-Hijjah, which began on Jan. 23, is when millions of
Muslims from around the world journey to the holy city of Mecca in
Saudi
Arabia to perform their obligatory Hajj (pilgrimage). The Eid prayers,
which are held on the last day of the pilgrimage, are the same in San
Jose
as those said by the pilgrims as they complete their pilgrimage.
The theme of the day is a commemoration of the story in Genesis in
which
Abraham, acting in obedience to God, prepares to sacrifice his son. On
God's command, a lamb was sacrificed instead, so the sacrifice of a
lamb or
goat is an important part of the festival.
Many families left the celebration early so they could go to local
farms or
ranches to personally sacrifice an animal in memory of the events
recorded.
Traditionally, the meat of the butchered animal is divided into three
portions: one-third for the family to eat, one-third for friends, and
the
remainder given to the needy.
The day consisted of many events. Foremost were four prayer services
led by
Tahir Anwar, director of religious services for SBIC. In his sermon the
imam cautioned participants that just as Abraham's faith was being
tested
thousands of years ago, the faith of people today is being tested as
they
are asked to be obedient to Allah's commands...
A number of exhibits provided information and shopping opportunities to
the
gathered community: voter registration, unique jewelry, traditional
clothing, music cd's, prayer rugs, prayer clocks, and books on Islam
and
the Qu'ran in various languages.
Two of the booths had particularly useful information:
o Guidance Financial Group addressed the topic of home ownership, which
can
be problematic for Muslims because the Qu'ran forbids paying of
interest. A
"Shia-Compliant Solution" allows money to be borrowed without
traditional
interest payments.
o The Council on American-Islamic Relations distributed several helpful
pamphlets for educators, employers, and law enforcement personnel. For
example, one booklet offered practical suggestions to protect the
religious
rights of Muslim students in public schools through accommodations like
school lunches (labeling clearly pork products), physical education
classes
(more modest uniforms) and scheduling (avoiding major tests during
religious holidays).
Islam is the second-most practiced religion on earth sharing many
traditions and beliefs with both Christianity and Judaism. Since 9/11,
however, Muslims have suffered much unwarranted suspicion and
persecution
due to unfortunate stereotypes. For more information check the Internet
at
www.sbia.net.
-----
ROBBERS HIT LOCAL MOSQUE FOR SECOND TIME
Craig Colbrook, Daily Illini, 2/6/04
http://www.dailyillini.com/news/story.php?story=420
The Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center was broken into for the
second time in two weeks Monday morning. While no arrests have been
made,
Urbana police and the mosque are taking action.
Mujahid Alfayadh, the imam (prayer leader) for the mosque, said the
first
burglary occurred on the morning of Jan. 30. The unknown perpetrator
forced
open a donation box and stole the cash inside.
On Monday, the offender broke into the mosque offices and stole more
cash
and other property.
While neither Alfayadh or the Urbana police would discuss what was
stolen,
Alfayadh said that a set of keys to the mosque is missing, though he
could
not say if they were stolen or misplaced.
Lt. Mike Metzler of the Urbana Police Department said the police were
contacted after both burglaries and have inspected the mosque. Metzler
said
he thought there was a "very good possibility" that both burglaries
were
committed by one person. While he couldn't release any names, Metzler
said
the police do have solid information...
ALSO SEE:
HELP RESTORE CHICAGO MOSQUE DESTROYED BY FIRE
http://www.mcrcnet.org/ENewsletters/ENews_details_2004.htm#14
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, Chicago's Masjid Al-Farooq was completely
destroyed in a fire that swept through multiple buildings on Chicago's
southeast side. The accidental fire began in a laundromat next door,
but
quickly spread to the building housing the masjid (located at 73rd
Street &
Bennet), engulfing it in fierce flames that fire fighters had
difficulty
controlling. No one was injured in the blaze, but the masjid's
property,
including prayer rugs, Qurans, and other valuables were destroyed.
Masjid
Al-Farooq was attended by about 150 worshippers and offered children's
classes as well as adult education programs. Since then, the
worshippers
have been left without a place to gather for prayers and classes. They
have
had difficulty identifying another suitable, affordable location in the
area. Eid al-Adha presented an especially difficult time. Masjid
Al-Farooq
was truly a unique place, where Friday khutbas were delivered in
several
languages: English, French, Mali, and Arabic. The majority of the
brothers
and sisters who attended Masjid Al-Farooq are recent immigrants from
various central African nations.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago appreciates and
values the rich cultural diversity that Masjid Al-Farooq members add to
the
Chicago area's vibrant Muslim community. The Council is extremely
concerned
about the loss of Masjid Al-Farooq and the difficulties facing the
worshippers.
Accordingly, the Council has resolved to establish a special account
designated as the Masjid Al-Farooq Reconstruction Fund. We urge you to
donate generously so that the masjid can resume its children's and
adult
education classes, and thrive as a Muslim institution on Chicago's
southeast side.
Please donate generously to reestablish the mosque. Please make your
checks
payable to CIOGC; designate the funds for "MASJID AL-FAROOQ
RECONSTRUCTION
PROJECT; and mail to:
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
330 East Roosevelt Road, Suite G5
Lombard, Illinois 60148
Tel: (630) 629.7490
Fax: (630) 629.7492
Email: Council@ciogc.org
Visit us on the web: www.ciogc.org
-----
IRAQI DETAINEES ALLEGE MISTREATMENT AND ABUSE
Ben Ehrenreich, LA Weekly, 2/6/04
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/04/11/news-ehrenreich.php
A widower and the father of two young boys, Baha al-Maliki worked as a
hotel receptionist in the Iraqi city of Basra until September 14 of
last
year. That day, British soldiers arrested him and seven other hotel
workers, saying they had found a stash of weapons hidden in the hotel.
His
family learned nothing of his whereabouts until three days later, when
British soldiers came to their door to tell them he was dead. When
al-Maliki's father retrieved his body from the hospital, according to
Amnesty International's Khaled Chibane, "it was severely bruised and
covered in blood." The cause of death listed on his death certificate,
says
Chibane, was asphyxiation, apparently from being hooded during his
interrogation. "It was obvious that he had died," Chibane says, "as a
result of torture."
Al-Maliki is not the only Iraqi to have died under disturbing
circumstances
while detained by coalition forces. Though they have received minimal
attention in the U.S. press, allegations of mistreatment of detainees
have
been surfacing persistently for at least the last six months. The
allegations range from generalized neglect - unsanitary conditions and
exposure to the elements - to beatings, electric shock and other forms
of
torture.
It was not until early this month, though, that the U.S. military's
Central
Command released a brief and tersely worded statement announcing, "An
investigation has been initiated into reported incidents of detainee
abuse
at a Coalition Forces detention facility."
The announcement, so vague as to be enigmatic, came after several days
of
Defense Department denials in response to repeated inquiries by the
L.A.
Weekly about allegations of the torture and mistreatment of Iraqi
detainees. Just two days earlier, a Defense spokesperson said, in
regard to
the over 13,000 Iraqis currently in coalition custody, "No rights have
been
violated to my knowledge."
A military spokesperson would say only that Lieutenant General Ricardo
Sanchez ordered the investigation following allegations of abuse at Abu
Ghraib, a Baghdad prison, and that investigators would look at all the
coalition's detention facilities...
-----
MOVE GAZA SETTLERS TO WEST BANK?
Israel Considers Relocating Settlers
Ramit Plushnick-Masit, Associated Press, 2/6/04
JERUSALEM - Under an emerging plan to dismantle settlements, Israel is
considering moving Gaza Strip settlers to West Bank areas that Israel
wants
to annex under a final peace deal, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's
spokesman
said Friday.
Sharon - who announced earlier in the week plans to dismantle 17 Gaza
Strip
settlements and some West Bank communities in the next two years - is
looking at several options and will present them to U.S. officials,
spokesman Assaf Shariv said.
Sharon's ideas have outraged his traditional right-wing and settler
supporters, some of whom accuse him of timing the announcement with a
bribery investigation.
Police questioned Sharon for a second time Thursday, and Israeli media
reported that the top investigator believes there is not enough
evidence to
indict the prime minister.
Last month, the real estate developer, David Appel, was indicted on
charges
of giving Sharon's son, Gilad, $690,000 and promising another $3
million in
exchange for help in a business deal...
-----
LATINO MUSLIMS AND THEIR ROLE IN AMERICA - MOSQUE FOUNDATION
WHAT: Rafael Narbaez, the former priest who reverted to Islam twelve
years
ago and currently serves as Director of ACCESS Michigan.
Refreshments will be served. Please urge your Muslim, non-Muslim and
Spanish speaking friends to attend.
WHEN: Friday, February 27, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mosque Foundation, 7360 W. 93rd Street, Bridgeview, IL 60455
For more information, please contact the Mosque Foundation at (708) 430
5666.
-----
AMA VOTER REGISTRATION WORKSHOP
WHAT: The AMA will be hosting a Voter Registration Workshop at the
Dallas
Central Mosque on Sunday February.
WHEN: Sunday February 8, 2004 from 10:30 am 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: IANT/Dallas Central Masjid, 840 Abrams RICHARDSON TX
(Multi-purpose
Hall)
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/9/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WORDS THAT GUARANTEE MERCY
* LIBRARY PROJECT: SOUTH DAKOTA
- CAIRDFW Annual Fundraising Dinner Feb. 15
- Have You Experienced Housing Discrimination?
* 47 HOUSE MEMBERS SIGN LETTER AGAINST FRENCH HIJAB BAN
* MUSLIM VOTE MAY SHIFT TO DEMS (Deseret Morning News)
- FL: Arab Group Rallies Voters (Sun-Sentinel)
- Rebellion Against the Patriot Act (Wash. Times)
* MUSLIMS FEEL EXCLUDED FROM IMMIGRATION PLAN (AP)
- NY Muslim Family Faces Deportation (NYT)
* SERIOUS MUSLIM SEEKS SPOUSE-ONLINE (Newsweek)
* RICIN: HOMEGROWN TERROR (Time)
* FEDS WIN RIGHT TO WAR PROTESTERS' RECORDS (AP)
* HOW ISLAM SEE DARWIN'S THEORY (AJC)
* HEAD SCARVES ARE PERSONAL, NOT POLITICAL (RFE)
- The War of the Headscarves (Economist)
- France has a State Religion: Secularism (NYT)
* 10,000 CIVILIAN DEAD IN IRAQ (Independent)
- Bush Aims for 'Greater Mideast' Plan (Wash. Post)
- UK Spied on UN Allies Over War Vote (Observer)
* ISRAELI OFFICIAL URGES MUSLIM CONVERSIONS (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WORDS THAT GUARANTEE MERCY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended the following
supplication: "I ask Thee for words that will guarantee Thy mercy,
actions
that will make certain Thy forgiveness, a supply of every virtue, and
freedom from every offense."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 401
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,280 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of South Dakota: 38 covered, 60 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
ALSO SEE:
CAIRDFW ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
WHAT: The Dallas Fort-Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-DFW) will hold its annual fundraising banquet on Sunday
Feb, 15 at 5:30 pm.
WHERE: Hilton Dallas Lincoln Center
5410 LBJ FRWY, Dallas, TX 75240 Ph: (972)-934-8400)
Tickets: $25 per person. ($30 at the door if available)
$250 for table of 10
Childcare Available-10yrs and younger. $5 per child
For more information, call 972-241-7233 or email info@cairddfw.org
---
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED HOUSING DISCRIMINATION?
American Muslims who have experienced or believe they may have
experienced
housing discrimination are urged to contact CAIR to give an account of
the
incident.
Please report housing discrimination to Roxanne Henry in CAIR's Civil
Rights Department and Hasan Mansori in CAIR's Governmental Affairs
Department. All names and other personal information reported to CAIR's
Civil Rights Department are always kept confidential unless the victim
grants us permission to share such information.
TEL: 202-488-8787
FAX: 202-488-0833
E-MAIL: hmansori@cair-net.org
-----
UPDATE: 47 HOUSE MEMBERS SIGN LETTER AGAINST FRENCH HIJAB BAN
Some 47 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed-on to
a
letter to French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte expressing concern over
that
nation's proposed ban on Islamic head scarves in public schools.
The bipartisan letter was circulated by Reps. Michael Honda (D-CA) and
Vernon Ehlers (R-MI). The Honda/Ehlers letter reads in part:
"Dear Ambassador Jean-David Levitte:
"As Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, we are writing to
express
our concern about legislation pending before the French Parliament that
would ban religious dress and articles of faith in the country's
schools.
We respectfully ask that you convey our concerns to your government in
advance of this momentous vote.
"France has a proud modern tradition of isolating state institutions
from
religious influences in order to maintain a stable and secure
government
and to protect the rights of its people. However, the proposed law
threatens the religious rights of French children by forcing them to
choose
between school and religious practices that are central to their core
values.
"We are particularly concerned that this legislation appears to
represent a
backlash against one French minority: Muslims. Despite claims to the
contrary, this legislation would disproportionately affect Muslims,
especially Muslim women who often wear headscarves, known in Arabic as
hijabs. However, restricting religious garb would impact individuals of
all
faiths. Many Sikhs, for example, wear turbans as an expression of their
faith and religious identity. Compelling them to remove their turbans
in
school is contrary to the dictates of their faith. In essence, this law
would force Muslims, Sikhs, Jews, and members of other faiths to pursue
alternative forms of education, slowing their integration into French
society..."
ACTION REQUESTED:
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TODAY to ask that he or she
support
the "Honda/Ehlers letter" in defense of religious freedom in Frnace. To
contact your House member, go to: http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and then
enter your ZIP Code.
SEE CAIR'S ALERT: ASK CONGRESS TO DEFEND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ON FRANCE
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=159&page=AA
-----
MUSLIM VOTE MAY SHIFT TO DEMOS
Geoffrey Fattah, Deseret Morning News, 2/9/04
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,590041944,00.html
Across the nation, Muslims are about to send a very strong message
through
the ballot box to President Bush: We want change.
Although in years past most Muslims have typically voted Republican -
identifying with the party's opposition to abortion and gay rights
issues -
this year the tide is expected to turn.
In a concerted effort, Muslim organizations in Utah and almost every
other
state have started voter registration drives and are encouraging
Muslims to
vote Democrat...
Local numbers are just as difficult to come by, since area mosques say
they
have a difficult time keeping track of how many Muslims live in an area
at
any given time because there are many here on student visas who come
and go.
Due to cultural influences and the fact many Muslims are immigrants,
voting
among Islamic communities has been fairly sparse, members of Utah's
Islamic
communities say.
But time has changed that. Many have become U.S. citizens, and new
generations of American-born Muslims may make them a political force to
be
reckoned with in the future.
It's no secret that the pull of the effort originates from Bush's war
on
terrorism after 9/11. Instances of discrimination, hate crimes and
civil
rights being traded for homeland security have become top concerns for
Muslims, they say.
"I think the reason why people are becoming more involved is because
after
9/11 a lot of our civil rights were abused. They felt a little helpless
that their civil rights were being circumvented and felt there was
nothing
they could do," said Rabiah Ahmed with the Council on American Islamic
Relations, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit political action group...
ALSO SEE:
GROUP FIGHTS STEREOTYPES, RALLIES VOTERS
Tal Abbady, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 2/ 7/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-sparabvoters07feb07,1,4685612.story
In a downtown Miami office, a small group of white-collar Americans,
the
children of Middle Eastern immigrants, met privately with Democratic
presidential candidate Howard Dean at his invitation.
On the agenda were the Patriot Act, civil rights and U.S. policy in the
Middle East. On the unspoken agenda was an aggressive courtship that
has
sprung up between Arab-American voters and presidential hopefuls tuned
into
the community's fund-raising power, high voter turnout and growing
political presence in Florida and around the country.
Those in the Miami meeting, held in December, saw it as proof that the
Arab-American community has emerged from the quiet internal exile that
stretched like a dark shadow after 9-11. They plan to represent South
Florida in the launch of the Florida chapter of the Arab-American
Leadership Council today in Orlando. The council, one of nine around
the
country, will help coordinate statewide a voter-registration drive and
serve as the grassroots lobby for Florida's 77,461 Arab-Americans...
---
REBELLION AGAINST THE PATRIOT ACT
Nat Hentoff, Washington Times, 2/8/04
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20040208-102841-7428r.htm
There has been insufficient national media attention to an important
bill
to revise sections of the Patriot Act that Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, a
vigorous conservative, introduced - with bipartisan sponsorship - on
Oct.
15:The SAFE Act (the Security and Freedom Insured Act). Attorney
General
John Ashcroft wrote urgently to Sen. Orrin Hatch, Republican chairman
of
the Senate Judiciary Committee, of his strong objections to the bill.
In introducing the bill, Mr. Craig said: "I spend a lot of time on the
ground in my home state of Idaho, and regardless of the pride Idahoans
have
in the success of the war on terrorism, many of them continue to raise
concerns about the tools being used in that war." He cited the Patriot
Act
among those concerns that "are shared by a wide regional and political
spectrum." The SAFE Act's bipartisan cosponsors include Sen. John
Kerry,
Massachusetts Democrat.
Among the groups supporting the SAFE Act's revisions to the Patriot Act
are
the American Conservative Union, the Gun Owners of America, the
American
Civil Liberties Union, the Free Congress Foundation and the American
Library Association.
In a letter to the Senate, these groups emphasize that "the SAFE Act
would
prevent fishing expeditions into sensitive personal records by
requiring
that the records sought in foreign intelligence investigations pertain
to
an alleged spy, terrorist or other foreign agent..."
-----
MUSLIMS FEEL EXCLUDED FROM BUSH IMMIGRATION PLAN
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 2/7/04
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1076156641208840.xml
LODI, N.J. (AP) - When Ibrahim Baker heard President Bush wants to let
illegal immigrants work here legally for three years, he was excited at
first.
But the Clifton auto mechanic soon felt the president's plan to "extend
a
welcoming hand to those whose presence will benefit our nation and our
economy" would not help him.
A law requiring men from certain nations suspected of harboring
terrorism
to register with the government tripped up the 48-year-old Baker, who
is
being deported to his native Jordan because he overstayed a tourist
visa.
There is no such requirement for illegal immigrants from Mexico or
other
Latin American nations.
"I flipped out," he said in an interview at the auto body shop where he
was
busily fixing the suspension on a Volkswagen, his New York Yankees cap
so
stained to black from grease and oil that the "NY" on the front had
vanished. "It doesn't include people like me."
A White House spokesman said Bush's proposal does not differentiate
among
illegal workers by nationality, and would apply equally to anyone in
this
country illegally who holds a job that no American citizen has been
willing
to take.
But Muslim groups say the plan is aimed more at Mexican and Latino
immigrants who illegally crossed the border - and settled in
electorally
crucial states.
"I understand that what Mr. Bush did was catering to the Latino and
Mexican
populations in areas where he needs votes," said Osama Siblani,
publisher
of the Arab-American News in Dearborn, Mich. "Definitely it was not
something that takes Arab-Americans or Muslims into account. My problem
is
that Mr. Bush is catering to a certain segment of the illegal
population
while ignoring another segment…"
SEE ALSO:
BROKEN PROMISES
ERIKA KINETZ, New York Times, 2/8/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/08/nyregion/thecity/08bang.html
FOR Belayet Hossain and his family, the promise of America will most
likely
end on Feb. 19.
Like thousands of others, Mr. Hossain, a baker who lives in Kensington,
Brooklyn, was picked up for violating his visa under a controversial
aspect, now defunct, of a "special registration" program. This program,
started in November 2002, required men from North Korea and 24 mostly
Muslim countries to register in person with the federal government. Mr.
Hossain registered last April.
Since then, his world has been a nightmarish combination of bad luck,
bad
timing and, to him, incomprehensible bureaucracy. As a result, barring
a
last-minute reprieve, he will soon be bound for Bangladesh, his
homeland,
even though his application for a green card is being processed…
The family's impending departure is the result of a Kafkaesque
bureaucratic
saga. In April 2001, the bakery in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, where Mr.
Hossain worked filed an application to get him what is known as labor
certification, the first step toward getting a green card. After two
years,
the application still had not been processed.
-----
SERIOUS MUSLIM SEEKS SPOUSE-ONLINE
Brian Braiker, Newsweek, 2/6/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4201067/
Imam Luqman Ahmad had heard so many stories about members of his mosque
meeting their Muslim mates online that he finally decided to log on for
himself and see what the fuss was all about. "I went to the site and I
saw
all these hundreds of perspective spouses," he recalls of his first
visit
to Al-Usrah.net in January 2000. "I was taken aback; I didn't know it
was
that widely used."
A religious leader at a mosque in Sacramento, Calif., Ahmad, 45, admits
to
having had initial concerns about whether online matchmaking was
sanctioned
under the tenets of Islamic law, which prohibits dating. But what he
found
was a burgeoning community of Muslims seeking other Muslims online,
with
the sole purpose of arranging a traditional marriage. What he found was
the
Internet as matchmaker. And he found himself, 15 months later, married
to a
woman he met on the site.
Traditionally, observant Muslims have marriages arranged through
relatives
or a matchmaker who scours the local community, friends, and neighbors
for
a suitable, compatible person. But in a global age when Muslim
families,
like so many others, have increasingly dispersed, the nexus of some
Islamic
communities has dissolved, making it difficult for individuals to find
people they know and trust. Especially for second-generation Muslims
living
in Europe or North America, the local field of prospective spouses is
increasingly limited. So as families begin to extend their search, the
Internet has been embraced as the newest tool in the oldest practice of
an
ancient faith.
The numbers tell some of the story. "When MuslimMatch.com was launched
in
2002, the site attracted few visitors," Waleed Saeed, the London-based
site's administrator, wrote in an e-mail to NEWSWEEK. Today
MuslimMatch.com, probably the Web's most popular Muslim matrimonial
site,
boasts 47,648 registered members and 1,500 first-time visitors a day…
-----
HOMEGROWN TERROR
A potent poison. A Senate mail room. Echoes of the unsolved anthrax
attacks-with a dash of angry truckers
MICHAEL D. LEMONICK, Time, 2/16/04
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040216-588396,00.html
After anthrax-tainted letters began showing up in the wake of 9/11,
authorities quickly suggested that this was probably a case of
homegrown
terrorism rather than Round 2 of al-Qaeda's assault on the U.S. The
likely
perpetrator, many still believe, was a malevolent nerd with
chemistry-lab
expertise and a grudge against the government. But when traces of the
biological toxin ricin showed up in Senator Bill Frist's mail room last
week, the FBI and other agencies declared there was no evidence
pointing to
either a foreign culprit or a mad scientist. One possibility under
examination: a good ole boy who knows his way around 18-wheelers, weigh
stations and CB radios.
-----
FEDS WIN RIGHT TO WAR PROTESTERS' RECORDS
Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press, 2/9/04
http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_5059.shtml
DES MOINES, Iowa - In what may be the first subpoena of its kind in
decades, a federal judge has ordered a university to turn over records
about a gathering of anti-war activists.
In addition to the subpoena of Drake University, subpoenas were served
this
past week on four of the activists who attended a Nov. 15 forum at the
school, ordering them to appear before a grand jury Tuesday, the
protesters
said.
Federal prosecutors refuse to comment on the subpoenas.
In addition to records about who attended the forum, the subpoena
orders
the university to divulge all records relating to the local chapter of
the
National Lawyers Guild, a New York-based legal activist organization
that
sponsored the forum.
The group, once targeted for alleged ties to communism in the 1950s,
announced Friday it will ask a federal court to quash the subpoena on
Monday...
-----
HOW THE FIVE MAJOR RELIGIONS DO AND DON'T OPEN THEIR DOORS TO DARWIN'S
THEORY
John Blake, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/7/04
http://www.ajc.com/saturday/content/epaper/editions/saturday/faith_values_0442e35e34b821a71052.html
The Koran's creation stories share many elements with the Christian and
Judaic accounts found in Genesis.
Islam teaches that the first man, Adam, was created by the will of God.
It
insists that Adam lived in paradise with Eve, who was created from his
rib.
Then Satan came and seduced Adam, who was reprimanded by God, said
Khalid
Siddiq, the director of the Al-Farooq Masjid in Atlanta.
Siddiq said the Koran doesn't teach the concept of original sin.
"Adam was forgiven by God, but still God sent him down to Earth as a
test
to see if he was going to be obedient to him," Siddiq said.
Muslims don't tend to accept the theory of evolution's claim that man
was
created by random forces.
"The creation of man was for a purpose and was a willful act of God,"
Siddiq said.
Siddiq, a medical doctor, said that a Muslim can accept some of the
aspects
of evolution, such as the belief that animals may adapt over time to
survive in their environment.
But God is the source of those adaptive changes, Siddiq said…
-----
HEAD SCARVES A MATTER OF PERSONAL, NOT POLITICAL, CONVICTION
Kathleen Knox, Radio Free Europe, 2/6/04
http://www.rferl.org/features/features_article.aspx?id=fffb0d7a-d80b-4bdf-a1b3-68368f2f76dc&y=2004&m=02
Prague - Esma began wearing the hijab when she was 13. For her, the
traditional Islamic head scarf is her way of showing her religious
identity
in a non-Muslim country, Britain.
"As a Muslim, it's part of my religious beliefs," she said. "It's an
observance I wish to keep, and to me personally, it's also about
expressing
my religious identity. And I think especially now that I'm living in
the
West, I feel more comfortable in using it as an expression of what I
believe in."
Many in Europe, however, are not comfortable with the increasingly
common
sight of Muslim women covering themselves in public. France, fearing a
rise
in Muslim extremism, wants to ban the head scarf in public schools. A
vote
on the issue is tentatively scheduled for 10 February in the lower
house of
France's parliament. Two German states are introducing laws that would
ban
female teachers from wearing them.
"At university, a great deal of my friends decided to start wearing the
hijab despite their parents -- the previous generation -- being almost
against it because they never saw it as necessary." And many Westerners
--
women especially -- say the practice of covering up smacks of the
repression of women.
The practice is based on several verses in the Koran and on the sayings
and
teachings of the Prophet Muhammad that instruct women -- and men -- to
dress modestly…
ALSO SEE:
THE WAR OF THE HEADSCARVES - INTEGRATING MINORITIES
Economist, 2/7/04
http://www.economist.com/
BY THE grassy banks of the Seine, under a vast white marquee the size
of a
football pitch, 4,000 sheep are bleating. In the muddy field outside, a
makeshift sign has been nailed to a wooden post: "Aid-el-Kebir". This
middling town south of Paris, home to some 15,000 Muslims (nearly a
third
of its population), is preparing for the Islamic festival of Eid.
The sheep-slaughter, which used to take place in living rooms, has been
highly organised. Each family identifies and tags its own sheep. An
official Muslim sacrificateur dispatches it, and each family then takes
its
animal home for the feast. In a country that is battling to protect the
separation of religion and state, the entire event has been run by the
town
hall. "The French must understand that France is changing," says a
local
official. "Islam has its place here now."
Evry is particularly ethnically diverse. Some 40 different creeds,
colours,
faiths or tongues crowd into the town's rain-streaked tower-blocks.
Croissants are on sale at the local boulangerie, mint tea and foufou at
the
halal butcher, and the "Afro-Coiffure" has skin-whitening cream and
hair
extensions on special offer. In the local paper, death announcements
speak
of "Pierre" and "Charles"; the births are of "Moussa" and "Fatih". Half
the
town's housing is publicly owned, over three times the French average.
Joblessness is high, particularly among young men. "It's not the
Bronx,"
suggests an official, but some estates "are a bit like a ghetto."
While the French remain mesmerised by the proposed ban on the Muslim
headscarf in state schools, other matters have preoccupied Evry. Last
year,
for instance, the mayor kicked up a fuss when the Muslim managers of a
local Franprix supermarket stopped selling alcohol and pork. Local
French
shoppers, he argued, could not do without their saucisson and red wine.
In
vain: the supermarket is now another halal butcher…
---
FRANCE HAS A STATE RELIGION: SECULARISM
Elaine Sciolino, New York Times, 2/8/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/08/weekinreview/08scio.html
PARIS - Who would have thought a piece of cloth could threaten the
stability of the French state?
For four days last week, France's National Assembly debated the wisdom
of a
draft law that would ban most religious symbols from public schools.
Although the move is aimed at preventing Muslim girls from showing up
in
the schoolyard with various degrees of swathing on their heads,
President
Jacques Chirac and his ministers, in a bow to egalitarianism, have also
declared that items like Christian crosses that are deemed too large
and
Jewish skullcaps will also be prohibited.
The debate has little to do with the usual reasons for school dress
codes
and everything to do with the French state's historical impulse to
impose
its republican value system on an increasingly diverse population that
now
includes five million Muslims, about 8 percent of the population.
The practices of these new arrivals are often cast as a challenge to
Christianity, but in many ways they challenge another religion entirely
-
the unofficial creed of secularism, which underlies the French
conception
of government and dates to 1789 and the French Revolution itself. In
contrast to pluralist societies that try to accept, or even celebrate,
cultural differences among their citizens, the French ideal envisions a
uniform, secularized French identity as the best guarantor of national
unity and the separation of church and state.
These days, a small but determined minority of France's Muslims has
begun
to make demands that clash vividly with that ideal. They include calls
for
sex-segregated gym classes and swimming pools for girls and prayer
breaks
within the standardized baccalaureate exams at the end of high school.
Some
teachers complain that hostility from Muslim students toward Israel has
made it impossible to teach about the Holocaust. Some Muslim men have
refused to allow their wives or daughters to be treated by male doctors
in
hospitals...
-----
THE HUMAN COST OF BUSH AND BLAIR'S MILITARY ADVENTURE: 10,000 CIVILIAN
DEATHS
David Randall, Independent, 2/8/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=489082
More than 10,000 civilians, many of them women and children, have been
killed so far in the Iraqi conflict, The Independent on Sunday has
learnt,
making the continuing conflict the most deadly war for non-combatants
waged
by the West since the Vietnam war more than 30 years ago.
The passing of this startling milestone will be recorded today by Iraq
Body
Count, the most authoritative organisation monitoring the human cost of
the
war. Since the invasion began in March, this group of leading academics
and
campaigners has registered all civilian deaths in Iraq attributable to
the
conflict. They do this in the absence of any counts by US, British, or
Baghdad authorities.
Iraq Body Count's co-founder, John Sloboda, said: "This official
disinterest must end. We are now calling for an independent
international
tribunal to be set up to establish the numbers of dead, the
circumstances
in which they were killed and an appropriate and just level of
compensation
for the victims' families."
His call was backed by Bob Marshall Andrews, Labour MP for Medway. He
said:
"These are figures which are airbrushed out of the political equation
and
yet are central to whether it is possible to create a stable and
democratic
Iraq."
Iraq Body Count said last night that deaths are only recorded by them
when
reported by at least two media outlets. Its leading researcher Hamit
Dardagan said that its careful, but necessarily incomplete, records are
in
contrast to "the official indifference" to counting either the Iraqi
lives
lost or those blighted by injuries.
Neither the US or British military, nor the Coalition Provisional
Authority
have kept a record of Iraq civilian or military casualties, and
Washington
and London have both rejected calls for them to compile such totals…
ALSO SEE:
BUSH AIMS FOR 'GREATER MIDEAST' PLAN
Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, 2/9/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4217663/
The Bush administration has launched an ambitious bid to promote
democracy
in the "greater Middle East" that will adapt a model used to press for
freedoms in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Senior White House and State Department officials have begun talks with
key
European allies about a master plan to be put forward this summer at
summits of the Group of Eight nations, NATO allies and the European
Union,
U.S. officials say. With international backing, the United States then
hopes to win commitments of action from Middle Eastern and South Asian
countries.
"It's a sweeping change in the way we approach the Middle East," said a
senior State Department official. "We hope to roll out some of the
principles for reform in talks with the Europeans over the next few
weeks,
with specific ideas of how to support them."
Details are still being crafted. But the initiative, scheduled to be
announced at the G-8 summit hosted by President Bush at Sea Island,
Ga., in
June, would call for Arab and South Asian governments to adopt major
political reforms, be held accountable on human rights -- particularly
women's empowerment -- and introduce economic reforms, U.S. and
European
officials said.
As incentives for the targeted countries to cooperate, Western nations
would offer to expand political engagement, increase aid, facilitate
membership in the World Trade Organization and foster security
arrangements, possibly some equivalent of the Partnership for Peace
with
former Eastern Bloc countries.
Vice President Cheney first hinted at the initiative last month in a
speech
at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. "Our forward strategy for
freedom commits us to support those who work and sacrifice for reform
across the greater Middle East," he said. "We call upon our democratic
friends and allies everywhere, and in Europe in particular, to join us
in
this effort."
The U.S. approach is loosely modeled on the 1975 Helsinki accords
signed by
35 nations, including the United States, the Soviet Union and almost
all
European countries...
---
BRITAIN SPIED ON UN ALLIES OVER WAR VOTE
Martin Bright and Peter Beaumont, Observer, 2/8/04
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,1143550,00.html
Britain helped America to conduct a secret and potentially illegal
spying
operation at the United Nations in the run-up to the Iraq war, The
Observer
can reveal.
The operation, which targeted at least one permanent member of the UN
Security Council, was almost certainly in breach of the Vienna
conventions
on diplomatic relations, which strictly outlaw espionage at the UN
missions
in New York.
Translators and analysts at the Government's top-secret surveillance
centre
GCHQ were ordered to co-operate with an American espionage 'surge' on
Security Council delegations after a request from the US National
Security
Agency at the end of January 2003. This was designed to help smooth the
way
for a second UN resolution authorising war in Iraq.
The information was intended for US Secretary of State Colin Powell
before
his presentation on weapons of mass destruction to the Security Council
on
5 February.
Sources close to the intelligence services have now confirmed that the
request from the security agency was 'acted on' by the British
authorities.
It is also known that the operation caused significant disquiet in the
intelligence community on both sides of the Atlantic.
An operation of this kind would almost certainly have been authorised
by
the director-general of GCHQ, David Pepper. But the revelation also
raises
serious questions for Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, who has
overall
responsibility for GCHQ...
-----
ISRAELI OFFICIAL URGES MUSLIM CONVERSIONS
Associated Press, 2/9/04
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/7908062.htm
JERUSALEM - A hawkish Israeli Cabinet minister has asked Christian
missionaries to try to convert Islamic militants, an aide to the
minister
confirmed Sunday.
Tourism Minister Benny Elon made the suggestion during a meeting last
Wednesday with visiting Christian leaders from Europe, said the
spokesman,
Sagiv Rotenberg.
Elon told the Christians that Israel would not accept any missionary
attempts to convert Jews, but suggested that they turn their attention
to
Muslim militants in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
``Go to mosques and bring the light to the Muslims. Remind all the
Muslim
killers that thou shall not kill. Make them good Christians and good
people,'' Elon was quoted as saying in the Yediot Ahronot daily.
Rotenberg confirmed the minister's comments, but said that Elon was
referring only to Muslims who instruct their faithful to kill.
Islamic militant groups based in the West Bank and Gaza have carried
out
dozens of suicide bombings during more than three years of
Israeli-Palestinian violence...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/10/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD CHARACTER
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: ARIZONA
- 50 Reps Sign Honda/Ehlers Letter on Hijab
- Sen. Santorum Protests French Hijab Ban
- CAIR-Houston: Black History Month Event
* GOOD NEWS: ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
* CAIR-LA: 2004 ELECTIONS TOWN HALL MEETING IN CA
- Reminder: Vote in the VA and TN Primaries
* CIVIL RIGHTS, TERROR ON TRIAL (Pioneer Press)
- Experts Question Secrecy around Case (MPR)
- Canadian Tried in Secret (Toronto Star)
- Terror Suspect Marks Time (Toronto Star)
* SWEDEN REJECTS FRENCH HEADSCARF BAN (AFP)
- A Fight Over Religious Symbols (AJC)
- French Lawmakers Back Veil Ban (Reuters)
* PA: IN DEFENSE OF ISLAM (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* IL: GETTING PORK OFF THE SCHOOL FORK (Daily Herald)
* KS: MUSLIM YOUTH PARTICIPATES IN LEADERSHIP FORUM
* ISRAEL HEMS IN A SACRED CITY (Wash. Post)
- Arabs Say They're in Dark on US Plans (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD CHARACTER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do you know what most
commonly brings people into Paradise? It is fear of (displeasing) God
and
good character."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1240
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,283 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Arizona: 72 covered, 114 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
SEE ALSO:
HONDA/EHLERS LETTER ON HIJAB RECEIVES 50 SIGNATORIES
Last week, Reps. Michael Honda (D-CA) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI)
introduced a
congressional sign-on letter expressing their concerns about France's
proposed ban on Islamic head scarves in public schools.
The following is a list of representatives signed the letter:
1. Michael Honda (D-CA)
2. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
3. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
4. John Lewis (D-GA)
5. Tim Bishop (D-NY)
6. Ed Case (D-HI)
7. Bobbie Scott (D-VA)
8. Lane Evans (D-IL)
9. Jim Marshall (D-GA)
10. Jerry Nadler (D-NY)
11. Gregory Meeks (D-NY)
12. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX)
13. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)
14. Bob Filner (D-CA)
15. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
16. Tom Udall (D-NM)
17. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
18. David Scott (D-GA)
19. Donald Payne (D-NJ)
20. Ken Lucas (D-NY)
21. Jay Inslee (D-WA)
22. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
23. Chris Bell (D-TX)
24. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
25. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
26. Pete Stark (D-CA)
27. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
28. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI)
29. John Shinkus (R-IL)
30. Joe Crowley (D-NY)
31. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
32. Steve Israel (D-NY)
33. Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
34. Charles Gonzalez (D-TX)
35. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)
36. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
37. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
38. Joe Hoefel (D-PA)
39. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
40. Barney Frank (D-MA)
41. John Conyers (D-MI)
42. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
43. Anna Eschoo (D-CA)
44. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)
45. Adam Smith (D-WA)
46. Dan Burton (R-IN)
47. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
48. Joe Wilson (R-SC)
49. Jim Ramstad (R-MN)
50. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI)
ACTION REQUESTED: Thank the representatives who signed the Honda/Ehlers
letter on hijab, go to http://capwiz.com/cair/home/
To read the contents of the Honda/Ehlers letter, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=159&page=AA
---
SEN. SANTORUM PROTESTS FRENCH HIJAB BAN
His Excellency Jacques Chirac
Republique Francaise
Palais de l'Elysee
55, rue du faubourg Saint-Honore
75008 Paris FRANCE
Dear Mr. President:
I write as a legislator of a country tied to France by more than two
centuries of common commitment to freedom. Without France, the
American
Revolution might well have failed. Without America, France today might
well be enslaved. Whatever our momentary disagreements, the French and
the
Americans have shared a zeal to defend and expand the area of free
nations
and free peoples.
Mine is thus the voice of those who love what France has long
represented,
and who cherish the values that France has long defended. But mine is
also
the voice of those who fear that France is now abandoning some of those
values. The recent suggestions of the Commission of Reflection on the
Implementation of the Principle of Secularity in the Republic and your
intention expressed in your address of December 17, 2003, to promote
the
adoption of a comprehensive law to limit the free expression of
religious
sentiment in France compel me to write and ask you to reconsider this
action.
I am astonished and dismayed that France is considering action to
stigmatize people of faith as such. There is no tolerance in depriving
an
individual of the right to observe his religious obligations as a
member of
a religious community.
If I have understood your concerns, you seek to eliminate provocations
between members of different faiths. I fully support that goal, for
France
and for all civilized countries. But I do not agree that this goal is
advanced by forbidding religious people to express their faith publicly
by
wearing traditional garb or symbols in state schools. In the case of
Sikh,
Jewish and Muslim head coverings, the French Republic could actually
forbid
people of those faiths to fulfill their religious requirements. In the
case of crucifixes, your legislation places limits on Christians from
freely expressing their faith.
Such legislation, in my opinion, would not resolve the conflicts
between
religious groups in France. Students and teachers would still know who
is
who, and if bigots decide to attack members of a given faith, it would
not
be difficult for them to identify their targets. Indeed, it may be
that
the main effects of your decision would be to exacerbate already
existing
conflicts, to punish innocent people for the actions of criminal
bigots,
and to create another crisis: An unwanted conflict between the State
and
believers of various faiths.
A century and a half ago, your countryman, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote:
"Liberty regards religion as its companion in all its battles and its
triumphs...it considers religion as the safeguard of morality, and
morality
as the best security of law and the surest pledge of the duration of
freedom..." He believed that America, which has never established a
religion but protects the practice of it, invigorates both American
religion and American politics. Freedom guaranteed by the State
protects
the freedom of faith. He noted that his own country had not understood
that
it was a great mistake for the State to meddle in religious practice,
and
he hoped that, in time, France would do as America had done.
Mr. President, if religious people are causing civil disorder, they
should
be punished for civil violations, not forbidden to practice their
religions. While I support your goal of having a peaceful country in
which
people of many faiths live in harmony, I urge you to reconsider the
tools
you have adopted to reach your goal.
Respectfully,
Rick Santorum
United States Senator
ACTION REQUESTED:
Thank Sen. Santorum by going to: http://santorum.senate.gov/index2.html
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
---
CAIR-HOUSTON BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT
(HOUSTON, TX) - On February 29, the Houston office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) will hold a panel discussion
on
the history of civil rights in American featuring representatives of
the
NAACP, ACLU, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Organization of
Chinese Americans (OCA), and other civil liberties and minority groups.
The
event is titled "Unity, Diversity and Wisdom" in honor of Black History
Month.
WHEN: Feb. 29th, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Dawah Center, 202 Main Street, Houston
WHAT: Speakers will give a short history of the civil rights struggle
followed by a Q&A period.
WHO: Confirmed Speakers:
* Al Green (former NAACP president and congressional candidate)
* Mari Okabayashi (with JACL)
* Debra Chan (President of the Greater Houston Chapter of the OCA)
* Annette Lamoreaux (regional director ACLU TX)
LUNCH: Available for RSVP's only.
This program is free and open to the public. For reservations or for
more
information, please visit the CAIR-Houston web site
http://www.cairhouston.org/ or call 713.838.CAIR (2247).
-----
GOOD NEWS: ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The following is an excerpt from an e-mail received today by CAIR:
"I just wanted to share a small positive experience in contacting my
congressional representative, Adam Smith, of Washington State.
"Last week, at CAIR-National's recommendation I faxed and called Smith
to
urge him to sign on to the Honda-Ehlers letter on the issue of
President
Jacques Chirac's proposed legislation banning religious symbols from
state
schools.
"When CAIR sent an update on the current signers Smith was not listed.
I
called again, and stressed the urgency of Smith signing and offered to
refax my letter and a list of the current signers. The staffer wasn't
aware
of the issue, but said he would look into it.
"The staffer just called me back (I hadn't asked him to) and thanked
me,
saying Smith was signing the letter and it was just in time...You CAN
make
a difference."
-----
CAIR-LA: 2004 ELECTIONS TOWN HALL MEETING
WHAT: Listen to and dialogue with presidential, congressional and local
campaigns to discuss issues facing the American Muslim and Arab
American
voters.
SPECIAL GUEST: Former Congressman & Author Mr. Paul Findley.
WHEN: Sunday February 22nd at 3-6 PM
WHAT: Sequoia Conference Center, 7530 Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park
The event is sponsored by AMA, CAIR, MPAC Arab American Caucus-State
Democratic Party, and the Arab American Republican party of Orange
County.
Co-sponsors: ADC LA/Orange County Chapter, Syrian American Association,
Citizens For American Interests, Palestinian American Congress, Union
of
Palestinian American Women and the California Civil Rights Alliance
For more information please contact CAIR at (714) 776-1847 or MPAC at
(213)
383-3443
---
REMINDER: Primary elections are being held today in Virginia and
Tennessee.
Please go out and vote!
-----
CIVIL RIGHTS, TERROR ON TRIAL
Lisa Donovan, Pioneer Press, 2/10/04
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/7908094.htm
Anyone with a high-school civics class or a remote control knows the
basic
tenets of the criminal justice system.
You have the right to an attorney.
You are innocent until proven guilty.
But a federal terrorism case playing out in the Twin Cities highlights
just
how gray and complex these rights can be, particularly in post-Sept. 11
America.
For more than a month, Minnesota's chief federal public defender, Dan
Scott, had not been allowed to see his client, Mohammed Abdullah
Warsame,
30, a Minneapolis college student charged with having ties to al-Qaida.
That's because Scott had refused to agree to a Justice Department
mandate
restricting communication between Warsame and his team of lawyers, part
of
the federal government's effort to prevent jailed suspects from
orchestrating acts of terrorism behind bars through their lawyer or
another
party.
The defense and prosecution in Warsame's case reached an undisclosed
agreement allowing suspect and attorney, more comfortable now that he
can
talk to his client and other witnesses, to meet and begin working on
the
case. But the initial restrictions point to an important balancing act
the
government must strike in criminal terrorism cases, experts say.
The government must constantly monitor the threat of terrorism, one
expert
says, and officials have to establish what tools are necessary to ward
off
that threat...
ALSO SEE:
LEGAL EXPERTS QUESTION SECRECY AROUND WARSAME CASE
Elizabeth Stawicki, Minnesota Public Radio, 2/9/04
http://news.mpr.org/features/2004/02/09_stawickie_warsamecase/
Minneapolis, Minn. - Mohamad Warsame pleaded not guilty to a charge he
conspired to give material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
Prosecutors argued in court that Warsame should stay in jail while
awaiting
trial because he's a flight risk.
For the first time in a case largely sealed from public view, federal
authorities revealed some of the details behind Warsame's charges in
arguing why Warsame should stay jailed until trial.
According to court documents, about four years ago Warsame became
interested in "the utopian Muslim society created in Afghanistan."
While
his wife and child lived in Minneapolis, he travelled there with other
young men on their way to jihad training camps. At the camps he
received
military training in weapons, tactics and martial arts. He also
allegedly
fought for the Taliban twice on the front lines.
The documents also say Warsame attended lectures and ate with Osama Bin
Laden during the same time al-Qaeda attacked the U.S.S. Cole while
anchored
at a harbor in Yemen.
In early 2001, Warsame asked a senior Al-Qaeda official in Kandahar
whether
the organization would pay for Warsame's wife and daughter to join him
in
Afghanistan. The official reportedly said instead of bringing Warsame's
family to Afghanistan, it would pay for Warsame to return home.
In addition, Warsame allegedly told an FBI special agent he maintained
covert communications with persons he met at the training camps and
wired
them funds to a Pakistani bank account.
Warsame's attorney argued that he's concerned for his client's mental
health, because Warsame has been held in solitary confinement without
access to his family or religious materials. He told the court that
Warsame
has no prior record in Canada or the U.S., and should be freed on a
personal bond with any restrictions the magistrate would set, including
house arrest or wearing a monitoring device...
---
CANADIAN TRIED IN SECRET
Michelle Shephard, Toronto Star, 2/10/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1076368217204&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
A former St. Catharines resident has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to
conspiring to kill Americans and plotting to use "weapons of mass
destruction" to destroy property.
Mohamed Mansour Jabarah is believed to be the first Canadian convicted
of
terrorism allegations since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United
States.
Jabarah pleaded guilty during a secret hearing to five charges in
total,
the Star has learned, and a source says he has been co-operating with
U.S.
authorities in an effort to reduce his sentence.
He will be in a federal court again at the end of March for a hearing,
according to his father, and may be sentenced at that time.
A source familiar with the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
told
the Star yesterday that Jabarah has pleaded guilty to four counts of
conspiracy which include: to kill U.S. nationals; to destroy U.S.
property
abroad with weapons of mass destruction; to kill U.S. employees while
on
duty; to use U.S. weapons of mass destruction against American
property...
---
TERROR SUSPECT MARKS TIME
Thomas Walkom, Toronto Star, 2/10/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1076368216363&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
The waiting room at Metro West Detention Centre is a bit like a
small-town
bus station. It's clean and functional. There are coin lockers to stow
your
gear.
The smell of disinfectant is not overpowering.
"These places are depressing," confides a process server waiting to
serve
divorce papers on an inmate.
In fact, I don't find the waiting room that depressing. It reminds me
vaguely of high school. But then I haven't spent 29 months in solitary
confinement here.
Hassan Almrei has. He hasn't been charged with anything and may well
never
be. The Syrian refugee has been jailed under the authority of a
particularly illiberal Canadian law that permits the federal government
to
detain non-citizens indefinitely as national security risks and
eventually
deport them - without letting either them or their lawyers know exactly
why.
Almrei is slight and soft-spoken. Seated on the other side of the glass
in
the visitors' room, he looks too small for his orange jumpsuit. He has
a
slight stubble. Every now and again, the 30-year-old man punctuates his
comments with a wide smile.
Unlike torture victim Maher Arar, Almrei will never be a media poster
boy.
Arar, the Canadian deported by the U.S. for torture in Syria, is - as
far
as anyone can tell - innocent of everything, a true victim of
circumstances.
Almrei is more typical. Like most of us, he is guilty of some things.
He is
a victim not just of the times but of his own foolishness. He has not
always told the truth to the agents of the state and, by his admission,
has
broken the law.
But, he says, he is not a terrorist...
-----
SWEDEN, FEARING DIVISIONS, REJECTS FRENCH HEADSCARF BAN
Gael Branchereau, Agence France Presse, 2/10/04
STOCKHOLM - Startled by French controversy over banning the wearing of
headscarfs in schools, Swedes are debating the role of religious signs
in
public life, but political leaders tread carefully for fear of creating
deep divisions in society.
Many Swedes say that to legislate against religious symbols could push
religious minorities further away from the mainstream, and would go
against
this Scandinavian country's tradition of liberalism.
"A ban would lock practising Muslims out of Swedish society," warned
Mona
Sahlin, minister for integration.
France's National Assembly was expected on Tuesday to approve the
controversial law banning the Islamic headscarf and other religious
signs
from schools, with a massive majority predicted as a result of a deal
between the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) of President
Jacques
Chirac and the opposition Socialists (PS).
Swedes have had their own experiences with religious signs at school.
Last
year, two Somali girls were excluded from school after refusing to take
off
their burqa, which covers a woman's hair and face.
But rather than seek a single answer for the whole country, like
centralized France, the Swedish education authority, backing the school
principal, reaffirmed the right of each school to run its own affairs.
Both girls were re-admitted to school after agreeing to keep their face
uncovered...
ALSO SEE:
A FIGHT OVER RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS: FRENCH TARGET MUSLIMS
Shelley Emling, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/10/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0204/10headscarves.html
London --- In the town of High Wycombe, England, a church was prevented
from advertising a Christmas carol service on the public library's
bulletin
board for fear it would offend.
In Italy, a Muslim activist successfully sued to have a cross removed
from
a public school classroom, prompting the heavily Roman Catholic
population
to take to the streets in protest.
And today in France, the National Assembly is expected to approve
legislation that would outlaw "conspicuous" religious symbols from
public
classrooms, including Islamic head scarves, Jewish skullcaps and big
Christian crosses.
Across Europe, governments are grappling with dramatic demographic
changes
that have the potential to transform their culture. More than 12
million
Muslims live in Western Europe, and some cities are on track to be
majority
Muslim by 2020.
The challenge, sociologists and political experts agree, is to
integrate
Muslim residents into secular societies when their devout culture and
tradition recognize no separation of religion and state.
The bill French legislators are expected to approve today has sparked
widespread criticism from Muslims in France and abroad who deem it
discriminatory and warn that it could encourage, rather than prevent,
Islamic radicalism...
---
FRENCH LAWMAKERS OVERWHELMINGLY BACK VEIL BAN
Reuters, 2/10/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4231153/
PARIS - An overwhelming majority of France's National Assembly voted on
Tuesday to ban religious emblems in state schools, a measure Paris
wants to
keep tensions between Muslim and Jewish minorities out of public
classrooms.
Deputies voted 494 to 36 to ban Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps
and
large Christian crosses from state schools and threaten pupils who
insisted
on wearing them with expulsion.
The government insists the ban does not single out any religion, but
cabinet ministers admit its main targets are the Islamic headscarves
and
anti-Semitic remarks from Muslim pupils that teachers say have become
more
frequent in recent years.
"What is at issue here is the clear affirmation that public school is a
place for learning and not for militant activity or proselytism,"
Assembly
Speaker Jean-Louis Debre said...
-----
IN DEFENSE OF ISLAM
Malik Mubashshir, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/10/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/7916584.htm
RE LLOYD Williams' op-ed, "Islam: Archaic, antediluvian & anti-female":
Mr. Williams says, "Tell me if I'm reading this wrong." Yes, Mr.
Williams,
you are. Islam is a way of life based on the teachings of the Koran,
Islam's sacred scripture and the exemplary life of the Prophet
Muhammad.
When Islam came to Arabia in the 6th century, it became one of the most
progressive forces for the improvement and dignity of women that had
existed anywhere in the world up to that time.
Through the Koran, God specifically recognized the essential equality
and
spiritual dignity between men and women, offering salvation equally to
both.
The Koran prohibited and ended the killing of infant females (a common
practice in the ancient pagan world), provided economic protection for
widows and orphan girls, established equitable laws of inheritance and
property rights for women and guaranteed her right to choose whom she
will
or will not marry.
Mr. Williams says Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, the grand
mufti
of Saudi Arabia is "about as close as Islam gets to having a pope." Mr.
Williams knows very well that Islam has no popes, no priests, no
centralized authority universally regarded as the final word on how to
interpret the Koran.
It is unfair and disingenuous on his part to take the cultural
practices
peculiar to one country and the comments of one scholar and imply that
this
is representative of Islam or Muslims. An example: If women are not
permitted to drive cars, is the Koran responsible for that?
Did the Prophet, looking 14 centuries into the future, solemnly enjoin,
"No
women must drive cars!" No, this is someone's interpretation.
Mr. Williams mentions Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. It would be no
more
fair for me to write off Christianity as archaic, bigoted and
anti-female
based on their comments than it is for him to try to smear Islam's
millions
of followers with such a broad brush.
-----
GETTING PORK OFF THE SCHOOL FORK
Catherine Edman, Daily Herald, 2/9/04
http://www.dailyherald.com/search/main_story.asp?intid=380269
It's not that Akbar Khan dislikes the lunches his mother packs him for
school.
Peanut butter and jelly is, after all, one of the world's great treats.
Even he concedes that.
Every now and then, though, he'd really like something else,
specifically
something recently cooked.
"I feel kind of sad 'cause I can't take hot lunch," the 10-year-old
fourth-grader said.
Akbar is Muslim and eating pork is strictly forbidden by his religion,
a
point some area parents are asking school districts to consider. The
parents hope to see pork products eliminated from public school menus.
And if that's not possible, the parents would at least like to know in
advance which foods contain pork so their children can avoid them.
-----
MUSLIM TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM ON LAW
http://www.nylf.org/law/law_home.html
Washington, D.C. - Mr. Adil Shabbir of Stilwell was recently selected
to
participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law (NYLF/LAW)
from
Tuesday, February 10 to Sunday, February 15, 2004 in Washington D.C.
Having
demonstrated academic achievement and an interest in the legal
profession,
Shabbir will join approximately 350 outstanding high school juniors and
seniors from across the United States at the Forum on Law.
The curriculum for NYLF/LAW is based on actual events, which allows its
participants to learn from the examples set by attorneys of law and
court
officials from municipal court to the U.S. Supreme Court. The process
encourages participants to develop perspective and resolve. Throughout
the
Forum, students will examine how court cases often change the legal
system.
In the past, NYLF/LAW has visited several law firms and area
courthouses,
including the District of Columbia Courts of Appeals, District of
Columbia
Superior Court and various county circuit courts. The program has also
included visits to some of our nation's most prestigious law schools,
including University of Maryland School of Law, Washington College of
Law
at American University and Howard University School of Law.
For more information, call Brett West at 202-777-4192.
-----
ISRAEL HEMS IN A SACRED CITY
John Ward Anderson, Washington Post, 2/10/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27078-2004Feb9.html
JERUSALEM -- Israel is close to finishing a decades-long effort to
surround
Jerusalem with Jewish settlements, walls, fences and roads that will
severely restrict Palestinian access to the city and could reduce the
chance of its becoming the capital of a Palestinian state, according to
documents, maps and interviews with Israelis, Palestinians and foreign
diplomats.
The status of Jerusalem -- a city sacred to Jews, Muslims and
Christians --
is one of the most divisive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Both sides claim Jerusalem as their religious and political capital,
but
most countries do not officially recognize it as such, and the United
States and others keep their embassies in Tel Aviv. Under past
Israeli-Palestinian accords, neither side is supposed to take any
action to
change the city's status, which is to be resolved through negotiation.
Projects to cut off access to Jerusalem to Palestinians living in the
West
Bank, which borders the city on three sides, have accelerated since the
start of the current Palestinian uprising in September 2000. Today,
Jewish
settlements outside the city have been integrated with the urban core,
redrawing the map of Jerusalem and complicating any negotiations over
its
future and the future of West Bank settlements, Israeli and Palestinian
experts say.
The web of projects includes 13 settlements to the north of the city
that
are being linked with each other and with Jerusalem by access roads
that
act as physical barriers to Palestinian communities. To the east,
Israel
has approved expansion of the West Bank's largest settlement, Maleh
Adumim,
to absorb a swath of Palestinian land between the community and East
Jerusalem. To the south, access and bypass roads and Jewish settlements
have carved Palestinian lands into a checkerboard...
ALSO SEE:
ARABS COMPLAIN THEY'RE IN DARK ON US REFORM PLANS
Jonathan Wright, Reuters, 2/10/04
CAIRO - The United States has kept most Arab governments in the dark
about
its plans for the Middle East, now taking shape under the title of the
Greater Middle East Initiative, Arab diplomats and officials said on
Tuesday.
The way Washington has handled the initiative so far has added to Arab
feeling that the Bush administration is planning a future for the
region
behind their backs, they said.
U.S. officials say they want European support for the initiative in
readiness to announce it in June when the Group of Eight leaders hold
their
annual summit, hosted this year by U.S. President George W. Bush at Sea
Island, Georgia. The Group of Eight does not include any Arab
countries.
Arab governments have read about the proposals from the media or
through
public statements by U.S. officials, though U.S. Secretary of State
Colin
Powell did discuss them on Monday with Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin
Hamad
of Bahrain.
"The Arab leaders feel their future is on the table at a time when they
themselves are not sitting around that table. They find that rather
disturbing," said one Arab diplomat, who asked not to be named...
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #415
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
King says 'no (American) Muslims are cooperating' in war on terror
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/11/2004) - CAIR today called on President Bush and
other political and religious leaders to repudiate remarks by Rep.
Peter T.
King (R-NY) claiming that the vast majority of American Muslim
community
leaders are "an enemy living amongst us" and that "no (American)
Muslims"
cooperate in the war on terror. (King serves on the Select Committee on
Homeland Security and the International Relations Committee. SEE:
http://www.house.gov/king/ )
King made that claim February 9th on Sean Hannity's
nationally-syndicated
radio program. (SEE: http://www.hannity.com/ ) While promoting his new
novel "Veil of Tears," King complained that "no (American) Muslims are
cooperating" with law enforcement officials to combat terrorism. He
added:
"I would say, you could say that 80-85 percent of mosques in this
country
are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists. Those who are in control.
The
average Muslim, no, they are loyal, but they don't work, they don't
come
forward, they don't tell the police [inaudible]."
(King's novel, which he described as "half truth and half fiction,"
deals
with future terrorist attacks by "Muslim extremists" in Nassau County,
N.Y.
During his segment on Hannity's program, King was particularly critical
of
an unnamed mosque in Westbury, N.Y., which he accused of failing to
adequately condemn terrorism.)
When questioned by Hannity whether he was really claiming that 85
percent
of mosques in America are "ruled by the extremists," King said: "Yes.
And I
can get you the documentation on that from experts in the field. Talk
to a
Steve Emerson, talk to a (Daniel) Pipes, talk to any of those. They
will
tell you. It's a real issue…I'll stand by that number of 85 percent.
This
is an enemy living amongst us."
(Steven Emerson and Daniel Pipes are regarded by many Muslims as
America's
leading Islamophobes. Pipes has claimed that up to 15 percent of all
Muslims are "potential killers" and that the enfranchisement of
American
Muslims presents "true dangers" to the United States. SEE: "Staunch
Israel
Backer Attacks 'Militant' Islam,"
http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=14121 )
King also said that while most American Muslims are loyal to this
country:
"They won't turn in their own. They won't tell what's going on in the
mosques. They won't come forward and cooperate with the police."
"It is unconscionable that an elected official would defame America's
Islamic leaders and ordinary Muslims, including those in his own
district,
just to sell a few more books for personal gain," said CAIR Executive
Director Nihad Awad. "President Bush and other political and religious
leaders should repudiate these baseless smears and reject the growing
exploitation of legitimate fears of terrorism to marginalize an entire
community."
Awad said that since being among the first to condemn the 9-11 terror
attacks, American Muslim leaders have frequently worked with law
enforcement officials on the national, state and local levels. He also
invited King to meet with Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims
in
America and their contributions to society.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/11/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: KIND LEADERSHIP
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT: OHIO
- CAIR Job Opening: Civil Rights Coordinator
* CAIR-LA: MUSLIMS PARTICIPATE IN MULTICULTURAL PARADE
* AL LICENSE HIJAB BAN DRAWS PROTEST (Huntsville Times)
- CA Mosques to Discuss Hijab Ban (Press-Enterprise)
- Ban on Scarves Upsets Muslims (Atlanta Journal)
- German State Proposes New Headscarf Ban (AP)
- Veil Ban Faces Criticism, Confusion Abroad (Reuters)
- French Veil Ban Faces Criticism Abroad (Reuters)
* THE WAR PARTY'S WATERLOO (Antiwar.Com)
* EX-JUDGE VS. THE GOVERNMENT'S LAW-FREE ZONE (NY Times)
* MUSLIMS IMPORTANT IN AMERICA, SPEAKER SAYS (Pitt News)
* IS DISNEY'S 'HIDALGO' A HOAX? (Outside Magazine)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: KIND LEADERSHIP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O God, he who acquires
control over the affairs of my people and is hard on them -- be Thou
hard
on him, and he who acquires control over the affairs of my people and
is
kind to them -- be Thou kind to him."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 845
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,283 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Ohio. 288 covered, 458 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced dynamic person to fill
the
position of Civil Rights Coordinator. The position involves handling of
civil rights cases, doing research on issues pertaining to civil and
religious rights in America, maintaining a civil rights data base
system,
and generating reports, charts and graphs. Candidates should have a
Bachelor degree in a related field with general knowledge of the US
Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He or she should be
proficient in spreadsheet and database applications.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience
CAIR offers an excellent health and dental benefit for its full-time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
hr@cair-net.org or by fax 202-488-0833. When applying via email please
ensure to write the position title "Civil Rights Coordinator" in the
subject line of the email.
-----
MUSLIMS AND ARABS PARTICIPATE IN ORANGE COUNTY MULTICULTURAL PARADE
(Anaheim, CA) - American Muslims and Arab-Americans participated for
the
first time in the 24th annual Multicultural Parade and Fair, formerly
called the Black History Parade, in Santa Ana, California on Saturday.
The
Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR-LA), along with the Palestinian American Congress (PAC), Arab
American Congress (AAC), and others, through the direct efforts of
National
Executive Secretary Joanne Abu Qartoumi of PAC, were featured in the
parade
that highlighted the diversity of Orange County.
CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush addressed the attendees on
behalf
of the Muslim community. Some 5,000 people lined the streets waving at
the
marchers and float riders and attended the fair, which featured
cultural
booths, face painting, food, and other activities.
-----
BAN ON MUSLIM HEAD COVERING IN LICENSE PHOTOS DRAWS PROTEST
Anthony MCCartney, Huntsville Times, 2/11/04
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/107652521415511.xml
MONTGOMERY - Dozens of people were expected to attend a legislative
committee meeting here today to protest a Department of Public Safety
order
preventing Muslim women from wearing head coverings in their driver's
license photos.
Farook Chandiwala, a member of the Human Rights Committee of the
Birmingham
Islamic Society, said Tuesday people from around the state were
expected to
protest the policy this afternoon.
Chandiwala said as many as 45 people from the Huntsville area may
attend
the meeting of the Legislative Council/Joint Committee on
Administrative
Regulation Review, which is to set to hear proposed changes to a rule
governing how legal immigrants to the United States can obtain driver's
licenses.
"We are just hoping that the Legislative Council will impress upon the
whole Legislature that this is not right," Chandiwala said.
Last month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington,
D.C.-based group, brought attention to the policy after two women in
Mobile
were denied licenses because they refused to remove their hijabs.
At the time, a Department of Public Safety official, Lt. Col. Glenda
Deese,
said the policy barring head coverings had been in effect since March.
Chandiwala said one of the presenters today was expected to tell
lawmakers
how neighboring states, including Mississippi, Tennessee and Florida,
have
made exceptions for women wearing hijabs, or religious head covering...
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE: ALABAMA MUSLIMS DENIED RIGHT TO ISLAMIC ATTIRE
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=158&page=AA
SEE ALSO:
INLAND MOSQUES PLAN TO DISCUSS BAN
Bettye Wells Miller, Press Enterprise, 2/10/04
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_scarf11.570a6.html
The law banning head scarves for Muslim schoolgirls adopted Tuesday by
France's Assembly does not surprise Inland area Muslims. But it will be
a
topic of discussion in mosques during Friday prayers, representatives
said
Tuesday.
In recent weeks, Muslims in the United States have protested the French
ban
that also includes Sikh turbans, Jewish yarmulkes and Christian
crosses.
The Senate is expected to approve it in March.
Hussam Ayloush, a Corona resident and Southern California director of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the vote a "knee-jerk
reaction to the presence of Muslims in France."
"The result will be reinforcing divisions and segregation within
France,"
he said. "It reminds us how fortunate we are in America, where
diversity
and freedom of religion are highly cherished and protected."
Ayloush said the Anaheim CAIR office has received no complaints from
Southern California Muslim students who wear head scarves to school...
---
BAN ON SCARVES UPSETS MUSLIMS
Sheila M. Poole, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/11/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/atlanta_world/0204/11scarf.html
Sofia Chaudhary views wearing a head scarf as "one of the most
beautiful
aspects of Islam" because it identifies her as a Muslim and is a sign
of
her modesty.
"It's a woman's decision," said Chaudhary, 22, a research specialist at
Emory University's medical school and former president of the Muslim
Student Association at Agnes Scott College. But she fears that the
decision
- or the right to make it - is being taken away from Muslim women in
France.
Chaudhary and several other Muslims will meet today with French Consul
General Rene-Serge Marty to discuss the controversy in France. He is
scheduled to meet Friday with a group of Sikhs.
The French government, worried about a blurring of the line between
church
and state and divisions between its citizenry based on ethnicity or
religion, is seeking to ban Muslim head scarves and other religious
ornamentation in state schools. The National Assembly approved the
measure
Tuesday and the Senate is expected to follow suit.
Although the ban would make all religious symbols off limits, much of
the
attention has been focused on France's Muslim population, one of the
largest in Europe...
---
GERMAN STATE PROPOSES NEW HEADSCARF BAN
Associated Press, 2/11/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V1563.AP-Germany-Headsca.html
WIESBADEN, Germany - The dominant party in the western German state of
Hesse on Tuesday proposed legislation that would ban Muslim civil
servants
from wearing headscarves, a measure that goes further than three other
states' proposals to outlaw the veil for public school teachers.
The conservative Christian Democrats' leader in the state legislature,
Franz-Josef Jung, argued that the headscarf is a political rather than
a
religious statement and a symbol of repression. The party, which has a
majority in Hesse, hopes to push its so-called ``bill to secure state
neutrality'' through by the summer.
Germany has roughly 3.5 million Muslims, most of Turkish origin.
Its 16 states have been divided over whether to ban Muslim teachers
from
covering their heads in the classroom since the nation's highest court
ruled in September that veils were allowed unless existing legislation
specifically outlawed them.
Although the court stated that any new laws must treat all religions
equally, many in Germany argue, like Jung, that the headscarf is a
political symbol. Crosses would be excluded from the proposed Hesse
ban,
which calls for authorities to take account of ``Christian and humanist
Western tradition.''
Unlike the government in neighboring France, the German states are not
trying to ban school students from wearing Islamic head scarves and
other
religious apparel. Students will still have the right to dress as they
please...
---
FRENCH VEIL BAN FACES CRITICISM, CONFUSION ABROAD
Tom Heneghan, Reuters, 2/11/04
PARIS - France's looming ban on Muslim headscarves in state schools met
widespread criticism abroad Wednesday as commentators wondered whether
Paris had forgotten its heritage of liberty, equality and fraternity.
The overwhelming 494-36 vote for the anti-veil law on its first reading
by
the National Assembly Tuesday showed legislators saw the ban as a way
to
uphold those traditions and defend France's secular system.
The ban on headscarves, Jewish skullcaps, large Christian crosses and
other
emblems of faith starting in September did not look that way to many
commentators.
"France is the country of the first popular revolution, of equality and
brotherhood, and then an issue of personal freedom requires passing a
law
and all this agitation," said Abdulaziz al-Fayez, a member of Saudi
Arabia's consultative Shura Council.
"It's in complete contradiction with the slogans (on human rights and
freedom) that France proclaims," said Moroccan journalist Nadia
Boukilli,
who wears an Islamic scarf herself.
Closer neighbors were no more understanding...
-----
THE WAR PARTY'S WATERLOO
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 2/11/04
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/
The top two stories on yesterday's front page heralded an event long
anticipated in my various columns on the subject: the investigation
into
the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame - which may soon be dubbed
Scooter-gate - is about to morph into a scandal that could bring down
the
roof on this administration, and strike a knock-out blow to the War
Party. .
Federal prosecutors are hot on the trail of a series of crimes that may
involve more than just the two primary suspects first identified by
UPI's
Richard Sale - Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the Vice President's chief of
staff,
and John Hannah, the VP's Middle East policy wonk. As the Antiwar.com
staff
got ready to put up Tuesday's front page, Matt Drudge had a lead in to
the
story that read:
"Prosecutors conduct series of meetings described as 'tense,
combative'...
Armed with handwritten White House notes, detailed cell phone logs,
e-mails
between presidential aides and reporters, prosecutors demand
explanations
of conversations... Developing..."
Presidential aides? Libby is officially an Assistant to the President,
but
the use of the plural is … intriguing. Just how many neocons nested in
the
very heart of our government are going to be frog-marched out of the
White
House in handcuffs? I sure hope they show it on television!...
-----
EX-JUDGE VS. THE GOVERNMENT'S LAW-FREE ZONE
Chris Hedges, New York Times, 2/6/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/06/nyregion/06profile.html
NEWARK- FATE can make strange bedfellows. Take the case of the retired
federal judge John J. Gibbons, a reserved and slightly dour man who
wears
crisp white shirts and pinstriped suits, who was a Nixon appointee to
the
bench, and Shafiq Rasue, an Islamic militant accused of fighting
against
American forces in Afghanistan and incarcerated in the detention center
in
Guantánamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
Mr. Gibbons, 79, the former chief judge of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Third Circuit, in Philadelphia, will go before the
Supreme
Court in April and challenge the Bush administration's continued
detention
of some 660 men at Guantánamo. He will argue that it cannot hold
foreign
citizens without trial and legal representation.
"This case is all about the preservation of the rule of law," he said.
"There was an editorial cartoon in The Newark Star-Ledger that depicted
a
gate outside the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base with the words 'No Law
Zone.' I
am uncomfortable with no-law zones..."
-----
MUSLIMS IMPORTANT IN AMERICA, SPEAKER SAYS
Laura Jerpi, Pitt News, 2/11/04
http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/11/402a522dece66
When Christopher Columbus discovered America, he was carrying a copy of
the
13th century Arab scholar Al-Idrissi's work, according to Amir
Muhammed.
Al-Idrissi's studies contained information that eight Muslim explorers
had
previously discovered a new continent.
During Columbus's first voyage, two Muslim captains accompanied him.
The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh hosted the event, "Muslims in America:
Seven Centuries of History" on Monday evening, where Muhammad, of the
"Collections and Stories of American Muslims" group, held a lecture on
the
history of Muslims in America.
Displays containing photographs and stories created a gallery, which
praised some of the many Muslims who worked to make America the
successful
and powerful country that it is today.
Muhammad explained several different collections of stories about
notable
American Muslims...
-----
LIAR, LIAR, CHAPS ON FIRE
Sara Solovitch, Outside Magazine, March 2004
http://outside.away.com
On March 4, Disney is releasing Hidalgo, an $80 million blockbuster
based
on "the incredible true story," as the studio puts it, of a legendary
cowboy and his trusty mustang. Starring Lord of the Rings hunk Viggo
Mortensen, the film is a nags-to-riches saga about American hero Frank
T.
Hopkins and his 1890 ride in the Ocean of Fire, a death-defying
3,000-mile
race across the Arabian Desert.
The contest, as portrayed in the film, is a centuries-old annual event
restricted to the best Bedouin horsemen and the finest Arabian steeds.
But
thanks to Hopkins's fame as an American endurance rider, he's
challenged by
a Saudi sheik (played by Omar Sharif) to enter the race with - what
else? -
his underdog paint horse, Hidalgo.
Yeah, and Cheez Whiz is cheddar. In the Hidalgo version of history,
Hopkins
was, for starters, a star in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show; a
half-Sioux
Indian who witnessed the massacre at Wounded Knee; a winner of 400
endurance races, including a 2,000 mile epic from Texas to Vermont; and
the
greatest rider the West had ever known.
In reality, he may have been one of its greatest confidence men.
According
to a veritable Greek chorus of historians and other experts who have
weighed in on what's been called "the Hopkins hoax," there never was an
annual Ocean of Fire race or a Texas-to-Vermont showdown nor any
proof
that Hopkins even rode well. What's more, naysayers add, Hopkins's
mother
was not a Sioux, he was not at Wounded Knee, and there's no record of
him
working for Buffalo Bill. One of the few things known for certain about
Hopkins, who was born in either 1865 or 1884 (he lied about his age),
is
that he dug tunnels for the Philadelphia subway system in 1926. It's
possible that he never even lived out west.
Hence the question that currently has authors, scholars, curators, and
a
little-known group of real-life endurance riders hopping mad: Why, in
the
face of all this evidence, has Disney persisted in calling Hopkins the
real
thing?
"Look, Lord of the Rings was a great movie, but no one says it's a true
story," says CuChullaine O'Reilly, who, with his wife, Basha, founded
The
Long Riders' Guild, a Kentucky-based international association of
people
who have completed 1,000-plus-mile horseback journeys. In advance of
Hidalgo's early-March opening, the group devoted 11 months to
investigating
Hopkins's claims, nearly all of which dissolved under scrutiny…
Less reticent is Vine Deloria Jr., a Native American historian and
author
of the prize-winning nonfiction book Custer Died for your Sins, who
calls
Hopkins about as trustworthy as an Indian-treaty writer. "He's the
biggest
liar the West has ever seen," Deloria says. "You wonder why Disney is
doing
it, and all you see is the dollar signs."
Disney isn't interested, and neither is its studio Touchstone Pictures,
which is releasing the film. For one thing, movie trailers have been
trumpeting the "based on a true story" line for months. For another,
"there's no tangible evidence that disproves the story of Hidalgo,"
insists
a Touchstone source who asks not to be identified...
The Long Riders concluded that Hopkins's legend was sheer
self-promotion. A
newspaper and a horse magazine had published his wild tales, which were
later passed down in books, including one by Shane author Jack
Schaefer.
When Hopkins died in New York in 1951, he also left behind unpublished
memoirs detailing flabbergasting exploits on Spanish mustangs thus
the
Hidalgo premise. But when it came to proof, the trail went cold.
Archives
had no record of Hopkins not even a birth certificate.
To Disney's credit, the History Channel will air this controversy in
The
True Story of Hidalgo, slated for broadcast March 4. The show features
the
O'Reillys and other Hopkins critics but gives equal time to Hidalgo
screenwriter John Fusco, who believes Hopkins was a genuine hero just
an
undocumented one. Given the shoddy record keeping of the times, Fusco
explains, it's possible that Hopkins did amazing things but somehow
didn't
leave a paper trail…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/12/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: WHAT IS ISLAM?
* CAIR: CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS IN GA AND UT
* ISRAELI AWARD FOR PAT ROBERTSON IRKS MUSLIMS (Chicago Trib)
* NY MUSLIMS FUME OVER KING'S REMARKS (Newsday)
- CAIR Action Alert #415
* LA TEACHER PUT ON INDEFINITE SUSPENSION (Times-Picayune)
- IL Muslim Claims Prejudice in Cheating Scandal (NBC5)
* TX SPEAKER URGES INTERFAITH UNDERSTANDING (Star-Telegram)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WHAT IS ISLAM?
A man once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "What is
Islam?"
The Prophet replied: "Pleasant talk and serving food (to guests and to
the
needy). The man then asked: "What is faith?" The Prophet said:
"Endurance
and benevolence." Next, the man asked: "Which (Muslim) is best? The
Prophet
said: "One who safeguards (others) against (harm caused by) his tongue
and
hand."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 9
-----
CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS IN GA AND UT
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
is
warning Muslims in Georgia and Utah about a con artist who seeks money
by
impersonating well-known personalities in the Muslim world.
The con artist calls Muslim individuals and groups pretending to be
with a
respected Islamic institution. He claims that he and others are coming
to
visit the United States. Later, he calls back, claiming to have lost
his
money, tickets or passport and asks for emergency cash to be wired to
him
at Western Union or a similar facility.
A person using this same con game was arrested in Canada two years ago
(see
article below), but was later released. NOTE: The impostor may use many
variations of this scam.
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Please ANNOUNCE AT JUMA'A and other functions - several hundred
Muslims
have been targeted in the past.
2. DO NOT wire money to anyone claiming to be stranded in an airport.
3. REPORT requests for money to CAIR, the local office of the FBI (ask
for
a fraud investigator) and to local police. Obtain a copy of the
complaint.
4. If you have already been a victim, send copies of wire transfer
documents to CAIR so that a case can be built against this man. (FAX:
202-488-0833)
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE THE FOLLOWING 2002 ARTICLE AND CAIR ALERT:
CON-ARTIST WHO DEFRAUDED MUSLIMS CAUGHT
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=125&page=AA
-----
ISRAELI AWARD FOR PAT ROBERTSON IRKS MUSLIMS
Groups: He incites opposition to Islam
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 2/12/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0402120352feb12,1,300030
.story
A high-ranking Israeli official who recently called on Christians to
"go
from mosque to mosque and bring the Muslims into the light" will
present an
award this weekend to televangelist Pat Robertson.
Even before Israeli Tourism Minister Benny Elon could present it, the
award
was already stoking tension among Islamic activists. They classify
Robertson among several Christian fundamentalist preachers who have
sparked
outrage from Muslims.
The award is given every year by Israel's Tourism Ministry to an
American
who has demonstrated strong support for the Zionist state.
Robertson will receive the award Sunday during the National Religious
Broadcasters convention in Charlotte...
The selection of Robertson is prompting criticism from Muslim
organizations
that say he is among several evangelical preachers who incite
antagonism
toward Islam. In February 2002, for example, Robertson described Islam
as a
violent religion that wants to "dominate and then, if need be,
destroy." He
made the remarks on his "700 Club" television program.
"The alliance between the far Christian right and the right in Israel
has
been growing in recent years," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the
Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Pat Robertson was chosen
because
both of these men are anti-Muslim extremists…"
Donald Wagner, professor of religion at North Park University in
Chicago,
said the Christian Zionist movement has become the largest group in the
United States to support right-wing Israelis. "People like Robertson
and
some members of Congress are pressing this right-wing Israeli agenda
that
is even at variance with U.S. policy."
Wagner said that view does not represent the opinion of the mainstream
Jewish community.
-----
LI MUSLIMS FUME OVER KING'S REMARKS
Elaine S. Povich, Newsday, 2/12/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usking0212,0,7746176.story
Washington -- Rep. Peter King said Wednesday he continues to believe
that
85 percent of the mosques in the United States have "extremist
leadership,"
and that while most Muslims are "loyal Americans," they are reluctant
to
come forward to cooperate with law enforcement when they hear
anti-American
rhetoric or plots.
King's comments, first made on the Sean Hannity radio show Tuesday,
prompted outrage from the American Muslim community. Ghazi Khankan,
director of the Westbury-based Islamic Center of Long Island, called
King
"out of touch with the Muslim community" and said he was particularly
offended because King has visited the center many times…
"Most of the Muslim community is cooperating with police and local
authorities," King said Wednesday. "But 85 percent of the mosques have
extremist leadership in this country. Most Muslims, the overwhelming
majority of Muslims, are loyal Americans but they seem unwilling to
come
forward."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim umbrella group
based in
Washington, D.C., and the Islamic Center both accused King of making
the
comments to sell his book…
Council on American-Islamic Relations executive director Nihad Awad
said
that the council was among the first organizations to condemn the Sept.
11
terror attacks. Since then American Muslim leaders have frequently
worked
with law enforcement officials on the national, state and local levels,
he
said. Awad invited King to meet with local and national Islamic leaders
to
"learn more about Muslims in America and their contributions to
society."
King said he would meet with them, but "on my terms. I'm not going to
listen to propaganda. The purpose of the meeting will be to detail the
cooperation they are giving to law enforcement and what they are doing
to
work against al-Qaida in this country."
He said criticizing American foreign policy is fine, but "not in the
wake
of the largest tragedy ever to strike this country..."
SEE CAIR ACTION ALERT #415:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
JEFFERSON TEACHER PUT ON INDEFINITE SUSPENSION
Rob Nelson, Times-Picayune, 2/12/04
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-1/10765695669561
0.xml
Embattled Jefferson Parish public school teacher Wes Mix has been
removed
from the classroom amid an investigation into allegations that he used
religious slurs against a Muslim student and pulled off her head scarf.
After first transferring Mix from West Jefferson High School in Harvey
to
Helen Cox Junior High School, the district decided to put him on an
indefinite paid suspension, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel
Ronald
Ceruti said Wednesday.
"We just thought that was in the best interest of the school district
at
this time," Ceruti said. "No final decisions have been made regarding
his
employment status."
Superintendent Diane Roussel declined to say whether the suspension is
proof of an accelerating case against Mix or to comment about why his
transfer became a full-fledged suspension.
"We're not done yet," she said. "The due process is still continuing.
He is
not currently teaching in our school system."
Last week, Maryam Motar, a sophomore at West Jefferson, went public
with
claims that Mix had pulled off her religiously mandated head scarf, or
hijab, during history class on Jan. 30, and told her: "I hope God
punishes
you. No, I'm sorry, I hope Allah punishes you."
According to Motar, Mix also said, "I didn't know you had hair under
there."
Mix was transferred Feb. 2 to Cox Junior High in Harvey, prompting
complaints from Motar and her family about why the district allowed him
to
continue teaching…
As word of the incident spread throughout the local Muslim community,
friends encouraged the Motar family to contact the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights and advocacy group based in
Washington, D.C.
Its spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, applauded the school system's decision
Wednesday. "Definitely, we would see this as a step in the right
direction," he said, adding that the group will continue to monitor the
case...
SEE ALSO:
STUDENT CLAIMS PREJUDICE IN GLENBARD NORTH CHEATING SCANDAL
NBC5, 2/11/04
http://www.nbc5.com/education/2841062/detail.html
CAROL STREAM, Ill. -- A suburban honors student maintains he didn't
cheat
on a high school exam but he says he's being punished for it because he
is
a Muslim.
The Glenbard North senior made some disturbing allegations about the
cheating scandal that's left nine students facing expulsion, reported
NBC5's Anna Davlantes. He fears his college education could be in
jeopardy.
"On this calculus test, students who were getting Ds in the class, all
of a
sudden they were getting the highest grades in the class," the student
said.
He blames the school for "selectively choosing" who should face
punishment
in the school's cheating scandal.
"A teacher at my school, his own niece was identified as having a copy
of
the examination and she was not suspended," the student said. "A girl
whose
handwriting was discovered in copies of the examination for filling out
the
examination for other students and she was not suspended. And I
informed
the school, also, that it's one of their varsity sport players who
stole
the test, and they still haven't suspended him. "
Fisal Hammoudi, a family spokesman for one suspended student, said the
way
school officials allegedly questioned Muslim students was even more
disturbing.
"'What is your name means?'" Hammoudi said school officials asked of a
Muslim student. "And when the person says, 'My name is Biblical name,'
then
the next question is, 'Are you saying that you are an extremist
Muslim?'
One of the deans asked him that question."
The school would not respond to that allegation, and other students
don't
believe Asian and Muslim students were treated differently, even though
the
majority of suspended students are Asian-American.
"Our school's pretty diverse," said student Steve Ross. "And I think
it's
just a coincidence that most of the kids in the AP classes, they were
Asian, they were the ones who were caught, and they're being punished."
No one from the school, the school board, the district superintendent
nor
the DuPage County Board of Education would speak on camera about the
allegations.
A hearing to determine if the nine students should be expelled or
allowed
to graduate will be held Thursday morning.
-----
SPEAKER URGES UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN RELIGIONS
By Jim Jones, Star-Telegram, 2/12/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/7936252.htm
FORT WORTH - Muslims and Christians must seek greater knowledge and
understanding of each others' faiths in the volatile times ahead, a
speaker
at Texas Christian University's Ministers Week said Wednesday.
"We are at a pivotal moment in human history -- a time of great
upheaval
and conflict, and how we relate to one another is going to have a
profound
effect on us all," said Charles Kimball, chairman of Wake Forest
University's religion department and author of books on Islam.
Kimball decried a "raging battle of demonization" between extremist
Muslims
and some conservative Christians.
"On the one hand, you have tapes of Osama bin Laden after the Sept. 11
attacks calling everyone infidels who disagree with him," Kimball said.
"He
even called people in the buildings [that were attacked] infidels,
since
that's the only way he could justify what was done under the banner of
Islam."
While not equating them with bin Laden, Kimball criticized high profile
Christians such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham for
calling Islam "an evil religion…"
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/12/04
* DNC CONDEMNS NY REP’S ‘HATE-FILLED’ REMARKS ABOUT MUSLIMS
* MUSLIM STUDENT TOPS ACADEMIC ALL-STARS (USA Today)
* AL LAWMAKERS HEAR LICENSE PROTEST (Huntsville Times)
* NJ NOT TAKING SIDES IN HALAL FOODS FLAP (AP)
* CAIR-FL: AFGHAN DELEGATION TO VISIT JACKSONVILLE MUSLIMS
-----
DNC CONDEMNS NY REP’S ‘HATE-FILLED’ REMARKS ABOUT MUSLIMS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/12/2004) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today applauded the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC)
condemnation of claims by Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY) that “85 percent”
of
American Muslim community leaders are “an enemy living amongst us” and
that
“no (American) Muslims” cooperate in the war on terror. King made those
remarks February 9th on Sean Hannity’s nationally-syndicated radio
program.
On Wednesday, CAIR called on President Bush and other political and
religious leaders to repudiate King’s “baseless smears” and reject
attempts
to marginalize the American Muslim community. The Washington-based
Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group also urged King to meet with Muslim
representatives.
SEE: NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
LI MUSLIMS FUME OVER KING'S REMARKS
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usking0212,0,7746176.story
In a news release headlined “DNC Calls on President Bush to Condemn
Rep.
Peter King’s Hate Language,” the DNC said in part: (CONTACT: Debra
DeShong/Fabiola Rodríguez-Ciampoli, 202-863-8148)
“’In the past, President Bush has told Muslim Americans that his
administration does not condone bigotry,’ said DNC Chairman Terry
McAuliffe. ‘Muslim Americans are teachers, lawyers, doctors, business
owners who have made invaluable contributions to our country. President
Bush has said ‘those who feel they can intimidate our fellow citizens
and
take out their anger… represent the worst of humankind.’ That’s why I
am
calling on President Bush and the Republican leadership to condemn this
latest example of hate-filled language.’”
“We would like to thank DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe for recognizing
the
positive contributions of American Muslims and rejecting Islamophobic
bigotry,” said CAIR Governmental Affairs Coordinator Hasan Mansori.
Mansori
also thanked all the other Muslim and interfaith groups that have
joined in
condemning King’s offensive remarks.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
GOOD NEWS: 2004 COLLEGE ACADEMIC ALL-STARS FIRST TEAM
USA Today, 2/12/04
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2004-02-11-2004-college-1st-team_x.ht
m
Meet the top 20 USA TODAY 2004 College Academic All-Stars, all members
of
the first team:
Lubna Ahmad, Arizona State: Hometown: Chandler, Ariz. Major: Biomedical
engineering GPA: 4.0 Age: 19 Class: Junior Career goal: Biomedical
engineer
Parents: Jalil Ahmad, Seema Munir Accomplishments: A high school
valedictorian at 16, Lubna invented and has applied for a patent on a
non-invasive breath sensor for medical applications such as diabetes
management; developed, taught summer program robotic engineering
curriculum
for high school students; Goldwater Scholar; vice president, Biomedical
Engineering Society; mosque volunteer; piano teacher and composer;
Arthritis Foundation volunteer…
(NOTE: CAIR would like to congratulate the College Academic All-Stars
for
their educational excellence and achievements.)
-----
LAWMAKERS HEAR LICENSE PROTEST
Anthony McCartney, Huntsville Times, 2/12/04
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1076611553150350
.xml
MONTGOMERY - Some lawmakers Wednesday essentially told a group of
Muslims
and Sikhs to sue the state Department of Public Safety over a rule
barring
them from wearing head scarves or turbans while being photographed for
driver's licenses.
Dozens of Muslims and Sikhs from across Alabama came to the Statehouse
Wednesday to protest the policy, which Public Safety officials say was
enacted last March and is still under review. The Muslims and Sikhs
hoped
to testify before a committee considering rule changes to driver's
license
procedures, but most never got the chance.
The rule was not on the agenda of the Legislative Council/Joint
Committee
on Administrative Regulation Review, so committee Chairman Rep.
Demetrius
Newton limited a handful of speakers to one-minute remarks. The
committee
could take no action, he said...
Last month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington,
D.C.-based group, brought attention to the policy after two women in
Mobile
were denied driver's licenses because they refused to remove their
hijabs...
-----
NJ NOT TAKING SIDES IN HALAL FOODS FLAP
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 2/12/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--halallaw0212feb12,0,7976015
.story
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) _ The state is not involving itself in a dispute over
what type of food should be considered acceptable under Islamic dietary
laws, leaving that determination to consumers.
New Jersey has reworked its regulations governing halal food, requiring
businesses to complete disclosure forms outlining how they prepare and
store their food products.
Consumers then would be free to decide whether those procedures are
acceptable or not under Islamic dietary law. For many New Jersey
Muslims,
the issue is second in importance only to civil rights concerns in the
aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
New Jersey passed a halal food law three years ago. But critics say the
bill lacked teeth, including criteria that could be used to enforce it.
The Majlis Ash-Shura of New Jersey, the state's council of mosques,
wanted
the law to explicitly spell out what can be labeled and sold as halal.
Yaser El-Menshawy, chairman of the council, said the compromise is
probably
as far as state regulators could go.
Sohail Mohammed, a Clifton attorney who helped state regulators craft
the
regulations, also recognized the limits the state Division of Consumers
Affairs faced.
"The state can't be getting involved in religious matters," he said.
"For
them to define halal would have meant they were violating the
separation of
church and state...
-----
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
AFGHAN DELEGATION TO VISIT MUSLIMS IN JACKSONVILLE
(JACKSONVILLE, FL, 2/12/2004) - On February 13, the Florida office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) and members of the
Muslim
community in Jacksonville will host an official delegation from
Afghanistan.
WHEN: Friday, Feb 13, 2004
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, 2333 St. John's Bluff Road,
South, Jacksonville, FL 32246
Prior to any coverage, please contact Sondie Frus, 904-732-5087; cell
904-422-2599; e-mail ircj@ircjax.org with your name, affiliation,
contact
information and purpose of coverage. Any on the record interview
requests
must be approved by the US Department of State.
The official Afghan delegation is currently on tour of the United
States on
a program entitled "Islam in America" under the sponsorship of the
International Visitor Program of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau
of
Educational and Cultural Affairs. The delegations visit to Jacksonville
is
being coordinated by the International Resource Center of Jacksonville.
On Friday morning, CAIR-Florida Chairman, Dr. Parvez Ahmed will join a
panel of distinguished academics at the University of North Florida to
speak to the delegation about "Pluralism and Diversity in the Workplace
and
Community."
- END -
CONTACT: Sondie Frus, IRCJ, 904-732-5087, E-Mail: ircj@ircjax.org;
Ahmed
Bedier, CAIR-FL, 813-731-9506, E-Mail: abedier@cair-florida.org. Altaf
Ali, CAIR-FL, 954-298-8214, E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org;
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/13/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PARTISANSHIP
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Oklahoma
* ALERT: ASK YOUR SENATOR TO DEFEND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
* ALABAMA TAKES ANOTHER LOOK AT SCARF RULE (Huntsville Times)
- Sikhs in India Protest French Ban on Turbans (Kyodo)
- Thai Muslims Demonstrate Against Ban (AFP)
* INTERFAITH ALLIANCE DENOUNCES REP. KING'S REMARKS
- CAIR'S Work With Law Enforcement Authorities
* INCITEMENT: IMUS SAYS "WHO CARES" TO IRANIAN DEATHS (NIAC)
* UT ISLAM CONFERENCE PROMPTS ARMY INVESTIGATION (AP)
- Ex-Soldier Preaches Bible to Muslims (IR)
* VA: MUSLIM FOOD SAFETY SEMINAR
* RUMSFELD PLANS PANEL TO REVIEW GUANTANAMO (AP)
* U.S. MAY SUPPORT ISRAELI APPROACH ON GAZA (NY Times)
- Sharon to Ask Bush for $2B for FENCE (Globe)
- Israel Bars Worshipers from Prayers (AFP)
* FANTASY OF DEMOCRACY IN AN ARAB STATE (Independent)
* GROUP URGES U.S. TO CONDEMN UZBEKISTAN'S CAMPAIGN (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PARTISANSHIP
A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "What is
partisanship (asabiyyah)?" The Prophet replied: "(It means) helping
your
own people in an unjust cause."
Sunan of Abu Dawood, Hadith 2427
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,287 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Oklahoma: 82 covered, 137 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT #416
ASK YOUR SENATOR TO DEFEND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/13/04) - CAIR is urging American Muslims and other
people who value academic freedom to contact their senators,
particularly
members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions,
to express opposition to the creation of an International Studies
Advisory
Board that could be part of the Senate counterpart to H.R. 3077, the
Education Reauthorization Act now being drafted by the HELP Committee.
Section 633 of the Education Reauthorization Act calls for the creation
of
an advisory board consisting of at least two appointees that represent
national security agencies overseeing curricula, course materials and
the
recruitment of faculty that accept federal government money for
international studies. While Asian, African, European, and Latin
American
area studies programs will be affected, Middle Eastern studies programs
are
the real target of the advisory board.
The advisory board could serve to stifle academic freedom by
suppressing
any views that are not viewed as supportive of Israel and in line with
Muslim-bashers like Daniel Pipes, who has been actively pushing for the
oversight board.
Pipes faced a storm of criticism when he launched Campus Watch, a web
site
that included "dossiers" on professors and academic institutions
thought to
be too critical of Israel or too sympathetic to Islam and Muslims.
In a January 13th Washington Post article, Pipes claimed "Middle East
studies have not served us well" and that the board will serve to
"....supervise the distribution of government funds…..of what he
considers
to be the radical Middle East studies lobby centered in universities
such
as Columbia, Georgetown and the University of Chicago."
H.R. 3077 passed the House floor with little notice of academic freedom
concerns.
"At a time when Congress is pushing for democracy and academic freedom
in
the Middle East, it is critical that we uphold these values in our own
universities," said CAIR Governmental Affairs Coordinator Hasan
Mansori.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.)
1) Contact the Chairman of the HELP Committee today and ask that
section
633, which creates the advisory board, be removed from H.R. 3077 in the
Senate bill. Send copies of correspondence to the other members of the
committee.
CONTACT:
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Chairman
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6300
TEL: (202) 224-5375, Majority Staff: (202) 224-6770, Minority Staff:
(202)
224-0767 FAX: (202) 228-5044
E-MAIL: greggstaff@labor.senate.gov
2) Contact the committee member who represents your state and ask that
section 633 be removed from H.R. 3077 in the Senate bill. Send copies
of
correspondence to the other members of the committee.
LIST OF OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
http://health.senate.gov/committee_members.html
Ranking Member: Edward Kennedy (MA)
202-224-4543 Phone
202-224-2417 Fax
Republicans:
Bill Frist (TN)
202-224-3344 Phone
202-228-1264 Fax
Mike Enzi (WY)
202-224-3424 Phone
202-228-0359 Fax
Lamar Alexander (TN)
202-224-4944 Phone
202-228-3398 Fax
Christopher Bond (MO)
202-224-5721 Phone
202-224-8149 Fax
Mike DeWine (OH)
202-224-2315 Phone
202-224-6519 Fax
Pat Roberts (KS)
202-224-4774 Phone
202-224-3514 Fax
Jeff Sessions (AL)
202-224-4124 Phone
202-224-3149 Fax
John Ensign (NV)
202-224-6244 Phone
202-228-2193 Fax
Lindsey Graham (SC)
202-224-5972 Phone
202-224-1189 Fax
John Warner (VA)
202-224-2023 Phone
202-224-6295 Fax
Democrats:
Christopher Dodd (CT)
202-224-2823 Phone
202-224-1083 Fax
Tom Harkin (IA)
202-224-3254 Phone
202-224-9369 Fax
Barbara Mikulski (MD)
202-224-4654 Phone
202-224-8858 Fax
Patty Murray (WA)
202-224-2621 Phone
202-224-0238 Fax
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
202-224-5521 Phone
202-224-2852 Fax
Jack Reed (RI)
202-224-4642 Phone
202-224-4680 Fax
John Edwards (NC)
202-224-3154 Phone
202-228-1374 Fax
Hillary Clinton (NY)
202-224-4451 Phone
202-228-0282 Fax
Independent: James Jeffords (VT)
202-224-5141 Phone
202-228-0776 Fax
Contact Information for the committee:
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6300
(202) 224-5375 - voice
(202) 228-5044 - Fax
Majority Staff #: (202) 224-6770
Minority Staff #: (202) 224-0767
-----
STATE TAKES ANOTHER LOOK AT SCARF RULE
Anthony McCartney, Huntsville Times, 2/13/04
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1076694415174301.xml
MONTGOMERY - Gov. Bob Riley's office is reviewing a Department of
Public
Safety policy prohibiting Muslim head scarves from being worn in
driver's
license photos.
Riley said Thursday he instructed his legal adviser, Troy King, to meet
with Col. Mike Coppage and other Public Safety officials to review the
policy.
On Wednesday, more than 50 Muslims and Sikhs traveled to Montgomery
from
across the state to protest the policy, which has been enforced in
recent
weeks at driver's license offices.
Riley said his office would study the issue and make changes if needed.
He
said the state must have identifiable pictures on licenses.
"Something like a burka, we can't allow," Riley said. "You've got to
have a
photograph that at least identifies a person. But past that, I think we
need to look at what other states are doing to see how our policy
conflicts
with them - see if we can make some adjustments." A burka covers the
head
and face.
None of the men or women who came to address lawmakers Wednesday wore
scarves or turbans that covered their face.
King said his office is working with the attorney general's office to
see
how other states handle head coverings worn for religious reasons. He
said
his office could make a recommendation to Riley by early next week...
Rizwan Qureshi, civil rights coordinator for the Washington, D.C.-based
Council on American-Islamic Relations, said his group is working with
the
American Civil Liberties Union. "We're ready to fight this to the end,"
he
said.
He said the two are preparing a "memorandum of law," which is not a
lawsuit
but would spell out complaints against the Public Safety policy and how
it
"infringes on their religious rights."
Qureshi said his office has received 10 to 15 complaints from people in
Alabama denied licenses because of their head scarves. If state
officials
are properly informed about the religious reasons for head coverings,
he is
"confident Alabama will cooperate."
He said the council understands the needs for identifiable license
photos
and doesn't support the cases of people who wear garments that obscure
their faces. He said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had
wanted
photos that showed the ears of women wearing scarves. But Homeland
Security
relented and made an exemption for religious reasons, he said…
ALSO SEE:
SIKHS IN INDIA PROTEST FRENCH BAN ON TURBANS
Kyodo News Service, 2/13/04
NEW DELHI - Scores of Sikhs protested here Friday against a new French
law
that will ban turbans and other religious attire in French public
schools.
Sikhs carrying placards reading ''Down with French government'' and
''We
will not compromise on turbans'' demanded the repeal of the law, which
also
bans Muslim headscarves and Jewish skull caps.
Paramjit Singh Pamma, leader of the National Akali Dal, a Sikh
political
party, said the law, which will go into effect from September, hurts
the
sentiments of the religious community…
Pamma said a similar ban previously imposed by the British government
on
Sikh soldiers was withdrawn by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Sikhs protest comes in the wake of the French Foreign Minister
Dominique de Villepin's one-day visit to the Indian capital Thursday.
There are about 6,000 Indian Sikhs in France.
---
THAI MUSLIMS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST FRENCH BAN ON HEADSCARVES
Agence France Presse, 2/13/04
BANGKOK - Some 60 Thai Muslims including veiled women demonstrated
outside
the French embassy Friday over the government's decision to ban Islamic
headscarves.
Witnesses said the protesters, including up to 20 women wearing the
traditional veil, chanted slogans and waved banners printed in English,
Thai and the Yawi dialect spoken in Thailand's Muslim-majority south.
The banners read "Down with France", "Dare you Challenge God" and
"Chirac -
chief violator of human rights", referring to French president Jacques
Chirac.
Many of the demonstrators came to the embassy from Friday prayers at a
nearby mosque in the Thai capital.
They submitted a letter protesting the new law to embassy officials
before
dispersing peacefully after about an hour.
In the letter, they accused the French government of contravening basic
human rights, ignoring the principles of Islam, and introducing a
measure
which would result in Muslim girls dropping out of schools.
They also called on Muslims to unite to fight for their rights, warning
that other European nations were likely to implement similar laws.
The majority of Thailand's 62 million people are Buddhist, but five
percent
of the population is Muslim, mostly living in the five southern
provinces
bordering Malaysia....
-----
CONTACT: Don Parker, 202.639.6370
dparker@interfaithalliance.org
INTERFAITH ALLIANCE DENOUNCES CONGRESSMAN'S ANTI-MUSLIM REMARKS, URGES
RECONCILIATION MEETING
Washington, Feb. 13 - Today, The Interfaith Alliance, the nation's
largest
interfaith organization, denounced the anti-Muslim remarks by Rep.
Peter
King (R-NY), which were broadcast on a live national radio show earlier
this week. In a letter to the congressman, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
also offered to convene a reconciliation meeting for Rep. King to
dialogue
with Muslim, Jewish, and Christian religious leaders.
"I was both shocked and saddened to learn of your biased, inflammatory
remarks against American Muslims," Dr. Gaddy said. "Your statements
have
caused great concern in the interfaith community and . . . .have shown
a
shocking lack of understanding of approximately 7,000,000 Muslim
Americans,
including many who live in your district."
On the Sean Hannity show, Rep. King said that no Muslim in America has
assisted law enforcement in the fight on terrorism; that "extremists"
control 85 percent of the mosques in America; that 85 percent of
Islamic
religious leaders are "the enemy living amongst us;" and that he has
been
"walled out" when he has tried to talk with them.
"I can't help but wonder if you actually believe those outrageous
statements or if you got carried away in the moment promoting your
novel,"
Dr. Gaddy said.
Dr. Gaddy noted that the president and other political and religious
leaders have called on Americans to refrain from religious bigotry
against
Islam and to stand together against terrorism. He said that Rep. King,
in
contrast, was not only wrong in his assessments, but that he had
attempted
to defame one of the world's great religion and its followers.
"The Interfaith Alliance-an organization committed to promoting the
healing
role of religion in the life of the nation-stands ready to help bridge
any
possible chasms of communication between you and a large number of your
constituents," Dr. Gaddy said. "I invite you to join me in a meeting of
reconciliation with leaders of the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian
communities" on the Hannity show where "perhaps together we can heal
some
of the wounds caused by your actions."
For the full text of Dr. Gaddy's letter to Rep. King, see
www.interfaithalliance.org
SEE ALSO:
PARTIAL LIST OF CAIR'S WORK WITH LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITIES
CAIR-FLORIDA:
* Recently received a letter from the commissioner of the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement highlighting the positive working
relationship between the department and CAIR-FL
* Conducted sensitivity trainings for the FBI in Orlando and
Jacksonville.
* Held a joint press conference with the FBI and several other law
enforcement agencies seeking information on a person wanted for
questioning
* Participated in an 8-week Police Community Relations Leadership
Program
with the Miami Dade Police Department
* In collaboration with the FBI, FDLE, BSO and several other law
enforcement agencies, coordinated a forum with state Islamic leaders.
* Participated in several town hall meetings with FBI, FDLE, and U.S.
Attorney's office discussing the issues of security and liberty
CAIR-ARIZONA:
* Formed a Muslim Advisory Committee for the Phoenix Police Department
* Participated in meetings with FBI officials
* Local Muslim is on the FBI Community Advisory Board and is a
certified
sensitivity trainer for FBI agents
* Conducts quarterly diversity training for the City of Phoenix.
Training
sessions often include law enforcement officials
* FBI and local police attended CAIR-AZ Annual Banquet (An award was
presented to the Tempe Chief of Police.)
CAIR-MARYLAND:
* Worked with the Montgomery County Police department on hate-crime
issues
and town hall meetings
* Regularly meets with an official from the FBI-Baltimore Unit
* Regularly meets with officials from the Prince George's County State
Attorney's Office
* Has a good working relationship with the Washington County Sheriff
CAIR-SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
* CAIR-SOCAL officials graduated from the FBI Citizens Academy
* Worked with FBI Los Angeles Regional Office to create an advisory
committee comprised of Muslim and Arab-Americans
* Facilitated and organized two major town hall meetings with the FBI
in
Southern California in 2003
* Has a working relationship with FBI in southern California, including
relationships with all senior FBI members in the Los Angeles, Orange
County
and Riverside regional offices.
* Member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca's advisory
committee
* Member of Sheriff Baca's clergy council
* Spoke at a diversity training workshop for more than 150 FBI agents
on
issues related to the Muslim community and how to enhance cooperation
and
better understanding.
* Participated in several diversity training sessions for more than 180
law
enforcement officers with the Anaheim Police Department
* Provided a diversity training workshop for 60 law enforcement
officers at
Brea Police Department
* Provided diversity training workshops for more than 100 law
enforcement
officers at Hawthorne Police Department
* Provided diversity training workshop for members of the Laguna Beach
Police Department
* Participated in more than a dozen diversity training programs for
Orange
County Sheriffs
* Member of Sheriff Michael Carona Community Coalition in Orange County
CAIR-OHIO:
* Invited the FBI chief of northwest Ohio, Carl Spichocci, to talk to
the
community.
CAIR-ST. LOUIS:
* Conducted training at FBI headquarters in St. Louis
* Hosted two mosque open house sessions with FBI and U.S. Attorney's
office.
CAIR MICHIGAN:
* Worked with Ann Arbor Police and Detroit police to help increase
community policing and investigate hate crimes
* Worked with the Bloomfield Hills to increase understanding of the
Muslim
community
* Formed dialogue group with US Attorney's Office/FBI/INS in SE
Michigan
* Worked with immigration authorities on community education
* Joined the Dearborn police on civil rights issues
* Member of Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust
(ALPACT) a
coalition of organizations and law enforcements coordinated and
facilitated
by NCCJ
* Member of Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity
(BRIDGES), which brings local, state and federal law enforcement
officials
and leaders in the Muslim and Arab American communities together for
monthly meetings to discuss mutual concerns
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO:
* Facilitated and organized a major town hall meeting with the FBI
* Developed an ongoing relationship with the FBI officials
SEE: NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
LI MUSLIMS FUME OVER KING'S REMARKS
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usking0212,0,7746176.story
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
MSNBC'S IMUS SAYS "WHO CARES" TO IRANIAN DEATHS IN AIR CRASH
National Iranian American Council
http://capwiz.com/niacouncil/issues/alert/?alertid=5060021&type=CU
On February 10, 2004 Host Don Imus of WFAN and MSNBC's "Imus in the
Morning" show made insensitive and indecent remarks regarding the air
crash
that morning of an Iranian airliner killing 43 passengers.
Responding to the news of Iranians killed in the crash, Imus remarked
"When
I hear stories like that, I think who cares." Later, when another
commentator pointed out the inappropriate nature of the remark, Imus
defended himself by repeating the phrase "who cares" and saying that's
"how
I felt." Imus then later states, "Too bad it wasn't full of Saudi
Arabians..."
------
UT ISLAM CONFERENCE PROMPTS ARMY INVESTIGATION
Associated Press, 2/12/04,
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/7941652.htm
AUSTIN - Army Intelligence agents sought a list of participants at a
University of Texas conference on Islamic law and said they were
investigating "suspicious" attendees.
UT students have questioned the agents' tactics and motivations.
"It was very boring as far as (controversy) is concerned," law student
Sahar Aziz told The Daily Texan newspaper for Thursday editions. "I
question whether those suspicions are more affiliated with ethnicity
than
anything else."
Special Agent Jason Treesh on Monday asked students at the UT Law
School
for a list of attendees at "Islam and the Law: The Question of Sexism,"
a
conference last week on the rights of women under Islamic law.
Treesh would not comment about why he was at the law school, but his
supervisor, Commander Demetria Marria, said Treesh was following
procedure.
She said the agents were investigating allegations made by two Army
personnel who attended the conference. The personnel reported being
approached by three Middle Eastern men who asked questions that were
"suspicious in nature," she said...
ALSO SEE:
EX-SOLDIER PREACHES BIBLE TO MUSLIMS
Martin J. Kidston, Independent Record, 2/12/04
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/02/12/helena/a07021204_05.txt
"We operate almost like special forces," said Mark Rose, a West Point
graduate and former intelligence officer for the United States Army.
"We go
in behind the lines."
Rose isn't a soldier anymore, at least not for the United States
government.
Instead, the father and husband is a missionary for the Baptist Church,
and
he stays busy spreading the Gospel in predominantly Muslim countries.
Rose was in Montana City this week for the 2004 Missions Conference. He
visits Townsend tonight.
Working under the Russian Inland Mission, Rose and his wife, Robyn,
created
the Ratomka Virtual Orphanage and a school for Christian missionaries
in
Belarus. It has become a launching point for a more ambitious plan to
spread the Gospel throughout the Muslim world.
"When the Soviet Union fell apart, my wife and I decided to form this
organization to spread the Gospel," Rose said. "We train missionaries
to
make them like the 'special forces' of missionaries. We only work in
countries where it's closed to missionaries and it's dangerous."
Rose said his organization is planning a church in Tajikistan. He and
his
team made their first trip to the country in 2002 at the invite of
several
citizens that he met while passing out Bibles in Russia.
Armed with the Gospel and an offer of humanitarian assistance, Rose
said
his organization has successfully introduced Christianity to new people
in
new places. He recalled sitting around with the village priest in one
town
in Tajikistan, where the conversation naturally turn to religion.
"They're pretty nervous about Christianity," Rose said. "They're afraid
it
will catch on and take hold."
Rose shrugs off any ethical questions that may arise over proselytizing
Christianity in traditionally Muslim countries. He said he reads his
own
Bible daily, and it tells him what to do...
-----
VA: MUSLIM FOOD SAFETY SEMINAR
Want to know more about the effects of genetically engineered or
irradiated
foods on you and the environment? Concerned about Mad Cow Disease? Come
learn about protecting your health & the environment from harmful food
production technologies. This is an informational seminar to educate
the
community.
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 at 7PM
LOCATION: The ADAMS Center, Main Hall 703-433-1325
46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling, VA 20164
Refreshments will be served. This event is free & open to all who are
interested!
CONTACT: rullah@gmu.edu or 703-707-0270
For more info about CFS, see: www.centerforfoodsafety.org
For more info about ADAMS & directions, see: www.adamscenter.org
Presented by the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) & The Center
For
Food Safety
-----
RUMSFELD PLANS PANEL TO REVIEW GUANTANAMO
Associated Press, 2/13/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/7948511.htm
MIAMI - Suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay will be allowed to
appeal their detentions to a new panel that would determine if they are
an
ongoing threat to the United States, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
said
Friday.
The panel would hear cases annually to decide whether the suspects
remain a
threat or could be released, Rumsfeld said in remarks to the Greater
Miami
Chamber of Commerce.
Rumsfeld said the United States was planning to hold many of the
detainees
``as long as necessary.''
About 660 alleged al-Qaida and Taliban fighters captured in Afghanistan
and
elsewhere after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are being held at
the
maximum-security prison at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
though none has been charged.
The United States says the prisoners are ``enemy combatants,'' not
prisoners of war, and can be tried by military tribunals. U.S.
officials
have said the lengthy detentions are vital to intelligence-gathering
and
that the information gleaned from prisoners has led to arrests around
the
world.
Human rights groups and some foreign governments have criticized the
detainees' treatment and the lack of trials or access to lawyers.
The Supreme Court will decide this year whether the Guantanamo
detainees
can be held indefinitely without lawyers and hearings...
-----
U.S. MAY SUPPORT ISRAELI APPROACH ON LEAVING GAZA
Steven R. Weisman, NY Times, 2/12/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/13/politics/13DIPL.html
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration, signaling a major shift of policy
on
the Middle East, has indicated that it may support Israel's new
proposal
for a unilateral withdrawal from parts of Gaza and the West Bank,
according
to administration and Israeli officials.
A senior American official said that the administration is "taking a
close
look" at the policy, and that the president would send three senior
aides
to Israel next week to get questions answered before the proposal was
endorsed. But administration and Israeli officials say they expect a
favorable American response.
In the past, the administration has maintained that peace can be
achieved
in the Middle East only by reciprocal concessions agreed upon in
negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Embracing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan would depart from that
principle by accepting the idea that such negotiations are not
possible, at
least for now.
Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage said Thursday that a
pullout
from Gaza would be "a step in the right direction." Another official
said
the withdrawal plan, if implemented properly, "could reduce friction
between Israelis and Palestinians and improve Palestinian freedom of
movement."
The Israeli policy, outlined in recent weeks by Mr. Sharon, proposed
withdrawing Israeli troops and dismantling settlements in parts of Gaza
and
smaller parts of the West Bank. American officials have expressed
concern
that it would in effect abandon the idea of negotiating with the
Palestinians to achieve final statehood...
ALSO SEE:
SHARON TO ASK BUSH FOR $2B FOR DISENGAGEMENT, FENCE
Yoav Yitzhak, Globes, 2/10/04
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=769287&fid=942
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will ask US President George W. Bush for $2
billion in aid next week to finance the evacuation of settlements in
the
Gaza strip and several settlements in the West Bank. With this money,
Sharon intends to finance the construction of two settlements in the
Negev,
and compensation to those who will be forced to leave their homes.
Sharon
also seeks to finance a railway from Eilat to the center of the country
in
this way.
Sharon is also due to ask Bush for help in financing construction of
the
separation fence on a new route, close to the Green Line. The Prime
Minister's Office estimates that the aid request will be granted in
part,
and that even if it is granted, the aid will be given in the form of
long-term loans.
The Prime Minister's Office claims that the demand by the US that the
route
of the fence should be changed means that NIS 1.5 billion will have
been
wasted. Ministry officials therefore believe that there are grounds for
requesting US aid in this matter.
---
ISRAEL BARS MEN UNDER 45 FROM JERUSALEM MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYERS
Agence France Presse, 2/13/04
JERUSALEM - Israeli police said they have banned Muslim men under the
age
of 45 from attending weekly Friday prayers at the mosque complex here
for
fear of demonstrations after 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli
military operations this week in the Gaza Strip.
The ban applies to Palestinians from annexed east Jerusalem and to Arab
Israelis. Women from those categories can access the mosque regardless
of
their age.
Palestinians from the Israeli occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip are
barred
from reaching Jerusalem altogether.
The radical movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad have both threatened
reprisal
attacks on Israel following the deaths, most of which came during
fierce
gun battles with soldiers in Gaza City on Wednesday.
As a result, the police have stepped up security, particularly in
Jerusalem
and around public places...
-----
THE FANTASY OF DEMOCRACY IN AN ARAB STATE
Robert Fisk, Independent, 2/13/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/story.jsp?story=490787
For democracy, read fantasy. Iraq is getting so nasty for our great
leaders
these days that anything - and anyone - is going to be thrown to the
dogs
to save them. The BBC, the CIA, British intelligence - any journalist
that
dares to point out the lies that led us to war get pelted with more
lies.
The moment we suggest that Iraq never was fertile soil for Western
democracy, we get accused of being racists. Do we think the Arabs are
incapable of producing democracy, we are asked? Do we think they are
subhuman?
This kind of tosh comes from the same family of abuse as that which
labels
all and every criticism of Israel anti-Semitic. If we even remind the
world
that the cabal of neo-conservative, pro-Israeli proselytisers - Messers
Perle, Wolfowitz, Feith, Kristol, et al - helped to propel President
Bush
and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld into this war with grotesquely
inaccurate prophecies of a new Middle East of democratic, pro-Israeli
Arab
states, we are told that we are racist even to mention their names. So
let's just remember what the neo-cons were advocating back in the
golden
autumn of 2002 when Tony was squaring up with George to destroy the
Hitler
of Baghdad.
They were going to re-shape the map of the Middle East and bring
democracy
to the region. The dictators would fall or come onside - thus the
importance of persuading the world now that the preposterous Gaddafi is
a
"statesman" (thank you, Jack Straw) for giving up his own infantile
nuclear
ambitions - and democracy would blossom from the Nile to the Euphrates.
The
Arabs wanted democracy. They would seize it. We would be loved,
welcomed,
praised, embraced for bringing this much sought-after commodity to the
region. Of course, the neo-cons got it wrong.
The latest contribution to the defence of these men came from David
Brooks
in The New York Times. "In truth," he writes, "the people labelled
neo-cons'... don't actually have much contact with one another... There
have been hundreds of references, for example, to Richard Perle's
insidious
power over administration policy, but I've been told by senior
administration officials that he has had no significant meetings with
Bush
or Cheney since they assumed office... All evidence suggests that Bush
formed his conclusions independently..."
-----
RIGHTS GROUP URGES U.S. TO CONDEMN UZBEKISTAN'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST
MUSLIMS
Aziz Nuritov, Associated Press, 2/13/04
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - A leading international human rights group on
Friday
urged the United States to publicly condemn the Uzbek government's
campaign
against dissident Muslims that has led to thousands being jailed on
extremism charges.
New York-based Human Rights Watch said the United States should
designate
Uzbekistan - a key American ally in its war on terror in neighboring
Afghanistan - as a violator of religious freedom under the U.S.
International Religious Freedom Act...
The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent had no immediate comment.
The statement comes a day after an Uzbek court gave a six-year prison
sentence to the 62-year-old mother of an Islamic activist allegedly
tortured to death in jail in 2002...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/15/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SHOW MERCY
* OHIO MUSLIM MOTHER WILL SUE TO HALT DEPORTATION (Plain Dealer)
* OHIO GOP LEADER E-MAILS ANTI-MUSLIM POEM (Plain Dealer)
- NIAC Accepts Imus Apology
* TX STUDENTS PROTEST ISLAMIC CONFERENCE PROBE (AP)
- Roster Sought of UT Meeting (Houston Chronicle)
- FL: Foreign Students' Toughest Test (St. Pete Times)
* MUSLIM CHAPLAIN'S CASE SPARKS QUESTIONS ABOUT JUSTICE (AP)
- Congress Must Secure Civil Liberties (KC Star)
* BREAKING STEREOTYPES OF ISLAMIC FAITH (Gilroy Dispatch)
- CA: Truth about Muslim Women (SJ Mercury News)
* THOUSANDS PROTEST FRENCH BAN ON SCARVES (AP)
- Why Hijab Disturbs Dictators, Democrats (The Star)
* MOSQUE TO OFFER OPENNESS (Post-Gazette)
- IL: Mosque Proposal Frays Relations (Globe)
* WA SOMALIS PROMISED EFFORTS TO FIND SHOOTER (Seattle Times)
- Family Sure Victim Killed by Stalker (Morning Call)
* CHECHNYA'S AGONY (Washington Times)
* EX-TRUCKER SAYS FBI QUERIED HIM ON RICIN (Wash. Post)
* DID BRITISH SOLDIERS LOSE CONTROL AT CAMP BUCCA? (Indep.)
- The IDF's Shooting Range (Haaretz)
* AP PHOTO OF THE YEAR FEATURES IRAQI PRISONER
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SHOW MERCY
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) left an assembly of
people,
he would often say: "Oh God…let not worldly affairs be our greatest
concern
or all that we know about, and let not those who do not show mercy rule
over us."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 783
-----
WOMAN WILL SUE TO HALT DEPORTATION
Jim Nichols, Plain Dealer, 2/15/04
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1076844622136690.xml
A Lakewood mother of three will file constitutional challenges Tuesday
to
the federal government's move to deport her to Venezuela and leave her
children behind, her supporters said Saturday.
The 35-year-old woman, Amina Silmi, made a brief stop in Cleveland on
Friday night as federal officials moved her from a detention center
near
Atlanta to Texas, said Julia Shearson, director of the Cleveland office
of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations. An official at a privately
run
jail in Beaumont, Texas, said Saturday that Silmi was being held there,
about 80 miles northeast of Houston.
But she will return to Cleveland "in the next couple days," possibly to
wait out final verdicts on her deportation fight, said Martin Gelfand,
an
aide to Rep. Dennis Kucinich. Gelfand said the Department of Homeland
Security, which oversees immigration matters, told the Cleveland
Democrat
that it would transfer Silmi, but exactly when and for how long were
unclear.
Shearson, who has rallied behind Silmi's fight to stay, and Silmi's
sister,
Jamila Jabr, said they spoke to Silmi by phone late Friday and she told
them immigration officials secured her in a coat closet at Cleveland
Hopkins International Airport while waiting for a flight to Houston...
Silmi has said she will leave her children here if she is deported,
because
she has no job, home or family in Venezuela.
Shearson said she believes that because of Silmi's Palestinian
heritage,
she is on a secret Department of Homeland Security list of "absconders"
-
deportation candidates who, for political reasons, are likely to
disappear
if not detained and deported immediately…
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia Shearson, 216-440-2247; Jad Humeidan,
Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio, 614-451-3232 or 614-571-2770, E-Mail:
ohio@cair-net.org
-----
E-MAILED POEM FORWARDS TROUBLE IN PARMA
Joseph L. Wagner, Plain Dealer, 2/14/04
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/107675483332900.xml
Parma - Lee Stoop, the city's Republican leader, thought she was
forwarding
an immigrant-bashing poem to a few close friends for laughs.
But she inadvertently sent it to a much wider audience that included
dozens
of local officials and even New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. On Friday,
few
people in Cuyahoga County's largest suburb found it funny.
The poem describes turban-wearing immigrants flocking to America to
collect
welfare and goes downhill from there.
Parma officials said they consider apparent anti-Muslim references in
the
poem to be insensitive because of tensions at the region's largest
mosque,
located in Parma.
Stoop, 77, an outspoken advocate of conservative causes for a
half-century,
said she "didn't mean to upset the whole community." She said she did
not
write the poem, but she would not identify who sent it to her.
She said she wanted to continue the e-mail chain to friends who would
"get
a laugh about it…"
Julia Shearson, director of the Cleveland office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said she thinks the poem is derogatory to
Muslims "who continue to endure stereotyping and a guilt-by-association
backlash post-9/11."
She also said the poem is historically inaccurate. "Immigrants pay much
more in taxes than they ever receive in social service benefits," she
said…
ALSO SEE:
NIAC ACCEPTS MSNBC RADIO HOST DON IMUS'S APOLOGY
http://www.niacouncil.org/
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) today accepted the public
apology made by radio show host Don Imus of the "Imus in the Morning"
program, simulcasted on MSNBC and WFAN AM. Mr. Imus apologized to the
Iranian-American community for the offensive remarks he made regarding
the
crash of an Iranian Kish airliner in the UAE on February 10.
On today's show, Imus read on air NIAC's letter to MSNBC and WFAN and
then
went on to apologize for his earlier statements. "Probably not
something to
kid around about… What I said wasn't good…so I'm sorry. I apologize to
the
Iranian people who were offended. I really didn't mean that. I was
fooling
around, I was probably stupid. I'm sorry if I made you feel bad… I
seldom
apologize to anybody about anything. But I am sorry if I made these
people
feel upset."
NIAC demanded a public apology from Don Imus on February 12, sending
letters to the general managers of MSNBC and WFAN. In less than 24
hours,
1400 letters were sent from members of the Iranian-American community
through NIAC's website to executives of MSNBC and WFAN protesting Mr.
Imus's remarks.
The National Iranian American Council called WFAN studios to accept Mr.
Imus' apology. NIAC expects this event to lead to an increased
understanding between media outlets and the Iranian-American community.
See NIAC's letter to MSNBC:
http://niacouncil.c.tep1.com/maabWEGaa4m1qbexZ24b/
-----
STUDENTS PROTEST ISLAMIC CONFERENCE PROBE
Matt Joyce, Associated Press, 12/14/04
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0204/126149.html
AUSTIN, Texas - University of Texas law students and civil rights
activists
accused the Army of spying on a conference on Islam and denounced an
investigation of conference participants as a ``campaign of fear.''
Sahar Aziz, a UT law student, said Friday that organizers of the
conference
would not willingly turn over to Army investigators a partial list of
participants or a video of the conference, titled ``Islam and the Law:
The
Question of Sexism.''
``It is inappropriate for us to invite the public and the student body
to
come and freely exchange ideas and then to turn around and relay their
personal information to the intelligence community,'' Aziz said.
Deborah Parker, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Intelligence and
Security
Command at Fort Belvoir, Va., declined to comment, saying the students'
allegations are under review.
Conference organizers said two Army agents visited the UT Law School on
Monday and knocked on various doors in pursuit of a list of
participants
and a video of the conference, which took place last week.
The agents said they were following up on reports from Army lawyers who
attended the conference and said they were approached by ``suspicious''
Middle Eastern men, according to Aziz…
Conference Web site: www.utexas.edu/law/news/2004/010704-islam.html
ALSO SEE:
ROSTER SOUGHT OF ATTENDEES AT UT MEETING ON ISLAM
Janet Elliott, Houston Chronicle, 2/14/04
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2402460
AUSTIN -- University of Texas law students and professors are
questioning
the actions of two Army intelligence agents who roamed the school halls
Monday looking for a roster of attendees at a recent conference on
Islamic
law and sexism.
The agents left without the roster, and the U.S. Army Intelligence and
Security Command says it is investigating the incident.
"We're aware of allegations that have been made. We're reviewing the
situation," said Deborah Parker, chief of public affairs for the
Virginia-based command.
Parker confirmed that the two agents, one of whom left his business
card
with several students, work for Army intelligence…
UT Law Dean Bill Powers said he's never been aware of the government
investigating a law school conference or seminar in his three decades
at
the law school. He said he's concerned that the government's action
could
have a chilling effect on such conferences.
---
FOREIGN STUDENTS' TOUGHEST TEST: GETTING IN
Susan Taylor Martin, St. Petersburg Times, 2/15/04
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/15/Worldandnation/Foreign_students__tou.shtml
A complicated visa process is leading many, especially those from the
Mideast, to seek their education in other countries.
Bo-Abdullah grew up in the Arab nation of Bahrain, but he always
planned to
go to college in America. You'll get a better education there, his
father
told him.
By last December, the 26-year-old engineering major had completed
several
semesters at Florida schools. So he expected no problems when he went
home
for vacation and applied for a visa to return to classes this spring.
But what he thought would be a routine interview with U.S. consular
officials turned into a stressful interrogation. Did he know anyone who
went to Pakistan or Afghanistan? Did he know anyone who hated the
United
States? Why did he attend a certain mosque near his university?
That was Jan. 13. Bo-Abdullah has yet to get his visa, forcing him to
miss
this semester and possibly killing forever his dream of obtaining a
coveted
U.S. degree.
"I understand why they are doing that," he says about the closer
scrutiny
of visa applicants, "but it's like they're shooting everywhere, they're
not
aiming. They are investigating the wrong person if they are looking for
someone…"
-----
MUSLIM CHAPLAIN'S CASE SPARKS QUESTIONS ABOUT MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM
JEFFREY McMURRAY, Associated Press, 2/15/04
http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1076869751313100.xml
WASHINGTON - Muslim Army chaplain James Yee spent 76 days in a prison
cell
while authorities tried to build a capital espionage case against him.
Now
he is free, the most serious allegations replaced by lesser ones like
adultery and possession of pornography, and the military justice system
itself is on trial.
Yee is due to appear Wednesday in front of a military judge in Fort
Benning, Ga., for his preliminary hearing. Originally scheduled for
Dec. 2,
the hearing has been postponed four times - for a total of 78 days - so
the
Army can review classified documents in the case.
Both sides say it's possible his preliminary hearing could be delayed
again.
Prosecutors aren't saying much about this case, but it's apparent they
are
no longer pursuing charges of spying, which carry the death penalty.
Initial reports had said Yee was a target of an espionage probe at the
U.S.
military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he ministered to suspected
terrorists…
The only formal charges against Yee are mishandling classified
material,
failing to obey an order, making a false official statement, adultery
and
conduct unbecoming an officer for allegedly downloading pornography on
his
government laptop. The last two were added since his release from the
brig.
If court-martialed and convicted on all charges, Yee could face up to
13
years in prison. But some familiar with the military justice system
insist
those alone hardly ever spark this sort of examination, much less 76
days
of pretrial confinement, most of it in solitude.
Solis blames prosecutorial "ineptitude" for the Yee case getting blown
out
of proportion and said the charges probably still haven't been dropped
because of a continuing hope to "make gold out of mud."
John Fugh, a retired judge advocate general, said he fears it was more,
citing Yee's combination of being both Muslim and of Chinese descent.
"If he were a white American, say a chaplain of some other
denomination, I
don't think this would have happened," Fugh said. "Any time you do
something like this, you're bound to have some damage done to the
integrity
of the military justice system…"
SEE ALSO:
CONGRESS MUST SECURE CIVIL LIBERTIES AS IT HONES TOOLS AGAINST TERROR
BILL TAMMEUS, Kansas City Star, 2/15/04
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/opinion/7956566.htm
America's war on terrorism is compromising civil liberties and causing
some
citizens to fear the very government that's supposed to protect them.
Congress must remember that as it considers President Bush's request to
renew the USA Patriot Act, which he calls essential to fighting
terrorism.
Some local examples of how federal anti-terrorism efforts have created
an
atmosphere of hostility and anxiety among some American citizens:
Shaheen and Iftekhar Ahmed of Leawood are angry that their
American-born
sons, both college students, feel like targets of the government. The
Ahmeds, both physicians, are Muslim natives of India but have been
American
citizens for more than two decades.
Mohammed M. Hafez believes the government is unnecessarily opening his
mail, which contains academic material. Hafez, who teaches political
science at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, was born in Kuwait
but
has been an American citizen since 1991. He says he's being watched for
no
reason.
Farris Aigaer is so convinced that a judge in his child custody case is
hostile toward his Arab and Muslim background that he has persuaded
dozens
of area Muslims to write the court asking for a fair ruling. Aigaer, a
registered nurse studying to become a chiropractor, is a Palestinian
who
was granted political asylum in the United States more than a decade
ago.
These and other examples from around the country should make Congress
cautious as it ponders anti-terrorism laws and should remind federal
investigative agencies to honor our system's presumption of innocence.
It
also would help if the government were more open about whom it is
holding
and how innocent people can clear their names...
-----
BREAKING THE STEREOTYPES OF ISLAMIC FAITH
Kat Teraji, Gilroy Dispatch, 2/13/04
http://gilroydispatch.com/gilroylife/gilroylifeview.asp?c=95433
"When you have a billion and a half people belonging to a religion, you
are
bound to find a few kooks and extremists among their number," Shista
Azad
said in answer to our questions about how she reconciles her Muslim
beliefs
with the actions of terrorists like Osama bin Laden.
Teachers like Shista Azad and Maha Elgensidi, Muslim women from the
Islamic
Networks Group, (which works to educate people about Islamic beliefs),
have
been in great demand since 9/11. They are called most often to give
presentations to history and social studies classes, police officers
and
corporations with cultural competency programs.
Shista turned the question around on us, "How do you reconcile Hitler
with
Christian belief? He professed to be a Christian, and yet look what he
did.
There are extremists in every religion, and they give a bad name to the
millions who are trying to practice their own beliefs in peace."
The last two weekends I had the privilege of co-chairing a Leadership
Training Event called "Making a World of Difference." Women attended
from
41 churches throughout the Santa Clara County area, including
representatives from Greenfield, Salinas, Hollister, Aptos and
Monterey.
One session was held in Santa Clara Jan. 31 and another in Hollister
last
Saturday; a total of 150 women participated, many of them dynamic
leaders
in their own communities. The women attending from Gilroy particularly
enjoyed a class called "Creating Interfaith Communities," and found it
a
fascinating experience to sit in a room close to a Muslim woman in her
hijab (traditional scarf and loose-fitting modest dress) and be able to
ask
her every question they had ever wanted to ask a Muslim…
We found out that the way a Muslim woman dresses is not merely for
modesty,
but for the way it forces people to judge her more by character and
intelligence, rather than just the shape of her body. Muslim men are
expected to dress modestly as well…
ALSO SEE:
TRUTH ABOUT MUSLIM WOMEN
Maryam Amir-Ebrahimi, San Jose Mercury News, 2/14/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/7954357.htm
Stereotypes often portray Muslim women as uneducated, unsuccessful, and
incapable of being leaders.
I was given the ''2003 Student of the Year'' award from San Jose
Leadership
Academy. I am currently student body president, and I am taking full
courses in the International Baccalaureate program. I do not say these
things to impress you; rather, they are meant to show that Muslim women
are
not only educated, but are also educators and successful leaders, all
of
this by the grace of God.
The thing that sets me apart from other women is my hijab, or covering.
In
society, women are constantly portrayed as sexual objects. Women who
wear
hijabs command respect, demanding that people see us for our intellect
rather than our sexuality.
This week, France's National Assembly voted to ban the traditional head
scarf worn by Islamic women from public schools. On Jan. 17, I attended
a
rally with fellow Muslims, Christians, Jews and Sikhs to speak against
the
religious intolerance France is imposing. We gathered with the hope
that
France will continue to follow the freedom of expression that is
available
in the United States.
Maryam Amir-Ebrahimi, 17, is a student at San Jose High Academy.
-----
THOUSANDS PROTEST FRENCH BAN ON SCARVES
Masha MacPherson, Associated Press, 2/13/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V0037.AP-France-Head-Sca.html
PARIS - Thousands of people, many of them women wearing head scarves,
marched in France Saturday to protest a law banning the Islamic
coverings
and other religious apparel in public schools.
Protesters said the law was discriminatory and would prevent Muslim
girls
from attending school.
``We can't conceive that an exclusion law has been voted, a law that
will
prevent young adolescent women from their right to get education,''
Khadidja Marfouk said during the march in eastern Paris.
Police estimated that 2,600 people marched in the southern city of Lyon
and
another 1,300 in Paris, just two of a dozen cities where demonstrations
were planned. Organizers said the turnout was higher.
The government wants to have the law - necessary, it says, to keep
religion
out of secular schools - in place for the academic year starting in
September.
On Tuesday, the lower house of Parliament overwhelmingly approved the
bill
despite protests and criticism from around the world that the measure
infringes on religious freedom.
The measure goes early next month to the Senate, where there is little
opposition.
Saturday's protests were the latest in a series in France against the
measure, which would also ban Jewish skullcaps and large Christian
crosses
from public schools…
-----
WHY HIJAB DISTURBS DICTATORS, DEMOCRATS
Harron Siddiqui, The Star, 2/14/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1076800208681&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724
In 1925, Kamal Ataturk, father of post-Ottoman Turkey, imposed the Hat
Law,
banning the traditional fez cap for men. The penalty for wearing one
was
death. That was his idea of secularism.
In 1928, Reza Khan, another soldier who seized power, passed a copycat
Uniform Dress Law in neighbouring Iran. It decreed European attire for
men
and, in 1936, banned the hijab for women. That was his idea of
Europeanizing Muslims.
Last year, seven states in Germany banned the hijab for teachers. That
was
their idea of protecting German identity.
On Tuesday, the French Assembly overwhelmingly approved a ban on the
hijab
for school students. That is their idea of securing French secularism.
Some German and French citizens envisage extending the hijab ban well
beyond schools. That's their idea of emancipating all its wearers.
Over the years, rulers of a different kind - such as the Taliban in
Afghanistan - have also waded in. They decreed the opposite: that women
must wear the veil or the chador, on pain of being jailed or whipped.
That
has been their idea of Islam.
As the target of fascist, feminist or racist and mostly male wrath, the
hijabi woman is victimized both by those wanting to subjugate her and
those
who would liberate her. Or she is scapegoated, in the service of one
ideology or another.
What is it about her that so rattles dictators and democrats alike?
She is the battleground for the armies of those out to purify Islam or
demonize it…
-----
MOSQUE TO OFFER OPENNESS
Ervin Dyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/15/04
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04046/273231.stm
When a congregation of African-American Muslims cracks the soil on a
mosque
expansion project in the East End later this year, more than ground
will be
broken.
For a faith group that has spent much of its 84 years misunderstood and
separated from the Pittsburgh black mainstream, the new worship space
will
symbolize a new openness.
A largely working-class community, African-American Muslims are gaining
visibility here as more professionals appear among their ranks. With
these
physicians, teachers, attorneys and scientists comes a desire to reveal
more of who they are and what fuels their faith.
One of those lifting the veil and pushing the community out of the
shadows
is Rashad Byrdsong, a former Black Panther. With his roots in community
and
social reform, Byrdsong, 54, and others are in the midst of a
seven-year
plan to build an expanded mosque on the site of the existing one on
Paulson
Avenue in the city's Lincoln-Lemington section.
The $1 million project upgrades the Masjid Al-Mu'min ("believers" in
Arabic) and promises to bring adult care, help for ex-offenders
re-entering
society and technology training to a long-neglected neighborhood.
Al-Mu'min's plan coincides with development efforts by the nearby Mount
Ararat Baptist Church and the new construction of a Kingsley
Association
community center, which turns 100 this year…
ALSO SEE:
A MOSQUE PROPOSAL FRAYS INTERFAITH RELATIONS IN ILLINOIS
Sarah Downey, Globe, 2/15/2004
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/02/15/a_mosque_proposal_frays_interfaith_relations_in_illinois/
MORTON GROVE, Ill. -- This quiet, middle-class suburb just north of
Chicago
has long enjoyed a reputation for religious and ethnic tolerance. After
the
terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Jewish and Christian residents
reached
out to members of its Islamic community, inviting them to interfaith
services at a time when many Muslims were in fear of becoming the
target of
hate crimes.
That has changed. A fight has broken out over the proposed expansion of
a
Muslim school that moved into a shuttered public school 15 years ago.
Now,
the most talked-about interfaith gatherings in town are
conflict-resolution
sessions, led by a federal mediator from the Justice Department.
Both sides have voiced hope that they can work out the issues. "Our
interaction with the other religious organizations has been positive,"
says
Mohammed Kaiseruddin, the president of the nonprofit school's governing
body, the Muslim Community Center of Chicago.
"I find the Muslims to be the most responsible citizens and the most
pleasant hosts," says the Rev. Michael Winters of the Morton Grove
Community Church. "We're hoping as the years go by there will be
greater
Islamic participation."
Such efforts were born of an area that some still call "Little Israel."
The
suburb of Skokie, which has one of the nation's highest concentrations
of
Holocaust survivors and their descendants, is next door…
Outside consultants had said "the site is simply not large enough" to
support the proposed expansion. Some residents say the site with the
mosque
would require 10 acres, rather than the Muslim Education Center's
current four.
Despite that ruling last spring, village officials could still amend
the
zoning code and the center still hopes to build a mosque on the
property.
In a $5 million lawsuit, school officials say the village violated the
federal Religious Land-Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 by
unlawfully restricting religious assembly.
The officials say that the action is necessary to "prevent a dangerous
precedent for other Muslim communities and Islamic Centers across the
nation…"
-----
SOMALI COMMUNITY IS PROMISED FULL EFFORTS IN FINDING SHOOTER
Lornet Turnbull, Seattle Times, 2/14/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001857916_farah14m.html
A name is circulating within the Seattle Somali community of a man many
within it believe may have shot and killed taxi driver Hassan Farah two
weeks ago.
And Somali community leaders admit they are trying to restrain an
outraged
and frustrated population eager to see justice done.
Farah, a Somali immigrant who drove a Yellow taxicab on weekends, was
found
slain in his cab early Jan. 31 at 23rd Avenue South and South Graham
Street.
Yesterday, Farah's friends and family gathered outside police
headquarters
in downtown Seattle and accused homicide detectives on the case of
being
"lethargic in following leads."
"We urge Mayor Nickels to open his door to the family and the Muslim
community and demonstrate the value of our lives as contributing
members of
the Seattle community," said Ali- Salaam Mahmoud, whom the Farah family
has
named as its representative.
The Muslim Community Murder Task Force, formed to seek answers in the
39-year-old immigrant's death, spelled out its concerns in letters to
the
mayor and Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske.
Kerlikowske, coming outside to talk to the community members at the end
of
their news conference, told them he's sorry for their loss…
ALSO SEE:
FAMILY SURE WAL-MART GREETER KILLED BY STALKER
Dan Sheehan and Joe McDonald, Morning Call, 2/14/04
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5stabbingfeb14,0,2704318.story
Police remained tight-lipped Friday about the circumstances of a
Whitehall
Township man's death, but the victim's family is certain he was stalked
and
stabbed to death by a stranger he had encountered at work.
Liaquat Habib's family wondered why he was killed despite what they
said
were his repeated warnings to his employer and police that someone was
threatening him at the Wal-Mart where he worked as a greeter and
outside
Independence Square Apartments where he lived.
Habib, a Tanzanian immigrant, died Thursday afternoon at Lehigh Valley
Hospital, Salisbury Township, after being stabbed multiple times in his
apartment.
According to relatives and a neighbor at his apartment complex, Habib
had
recently complained of being threatened by a man he had repeatedly
stopped
for shoplifting at the MacArthur Road store.
On Feb. 4, nine days before he was fatally stabbed, Habib told
Whitehall
police that he had been threatened at work and at home, according to
the
police log. Police withheld the official report detailing Habib's
complaint…
Kohuth said the death hasn't yet been classified a homicide. An autopsy
is
scheduled for today…
-----
CHECHNYA'S AGONY
Jeffrey T. Kuhner, Washington Times, 2/14/04
http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20040214-112852-4962r.htm
As the media remains fixated on Iraq and the next outlandish comment to
come out of the mouth of Howard Dean, there is a major news story
receiving
very little attention: the slow, creeping genocide in Chechnya.
Russian President Vladimir Putin insists his troops are conducting a
military campaign aimed at wiping out "Islamic international terrorism"
from the war-torn southern province. Using the global war on terrorism
as a
pretext to consolidate Moscow's iron grip over the breakaway republic,
the
Russian army has been waging a war of extermination against the Chechen
people.
Yet the West has been silent in the face of Russia's genocidal
campaign.
Instead of demanding the Kremlin withdraw its forces and negotiate a
peace
settlement with Chechen leaders, the Bush administration continues its
shameful policy of neglect.
President Bush is convinced that, after looking into "the soul" of Mr.
Putin, the former KGB apparatchik is an important ally in the war on
terrorism. Washington has accepted Moscow's line that the issue of
Chechnya
is a Russian "internal matter." Mr. Bush would be better served if he
looked at Mr. Putin's actions.
Before the conflict began nearly a decade ago, there were approximately
1
million Chechens in the small mountainous republic in the Caucusus.
Since
then, human-rights activists estimate hundreds of thousands have been
displaced, thousands more have simply "disappeared" and more than
one-fourth of the population is believed to have died.
A report last year by the Council of Europe documented extensive
human-rights violations by Russian forces, including widespread torture
of
Chechens…
-----
EX-TRUCKER SAYS FBI QUERIED HIM ON RICIN
Marilyn W. Thompson, Washington Post, 2/15/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42523-2004Feb14.html
A former mail trucker in Jacksonville, Fla., who maintains a Web site
that
has included accusations of corruption by the government and the
trucking
industry, says he has been questioned by FBI agents investigating three
incidents in which the toxin ricin was sent through the mail.
Daniel S. Somerson, of Jacksonville, Fla., a former trucker for Mail
Contractors of America Inc. of Little Rock, said he was interviewed
extensively by agents with the FBI's terrorism task force in
mid-October.
That was after the first letter containing a ricin vial surfaced in a
mail
sorting facility near the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
in
South Carolina. At that time, Mail Contractors of America trucks
brought
mail to the facility.
Since then, ricin has been found at a White House mail facility and the
office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
Somerson said task force investigators also have interviewed his wife
at
herworkplace, a Jacksonville charter school, asking whether her husband
might have knowledge about ricin, a lethal toxin made from castor
beans.
Two agents also extensively questioned a friend of Somerson's, another
trucker for the same company, as he was about to depart on a
long-distance
mail run, Somerson said.
Among the questions asked, Somerson said, was whether the other trucker
could account for his whereabouts on the dates when ricin, accompanied
by
letters signed "Fallen Angel," surfaced, and whether he believed
Somerson
could have instigated the crimes.
A law enforcement source said there is "no live suspect" in the ricin
mailings and that agents are interviewing truckers in many locations,
some
based on tips from girlfriends and wives. The FBI has posted a $100,000
reward for information leading to an arrest in the South Carolina case…
-----
DID BRITISH SOLDIERS LOSE ALL CONTROL AND DECENCY AT THE NOTORIOUS CAMP
BUCCA?
Andrew Johnson and Robert Fisk, News Independent, 2/15/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=491465
Photographs brought home from Iraq by a British soldier caused a
scandal
last year when he took them to be developed. One showed a prisoner of
war,
gagged and bound in netting, dangling from a forklift truck driven by a
soldier. Others depicted squaddies performing sex acts close to Iraqi
PoWs.
It may be understandable, though not excusable, that in the heat of
battle
troops do not always accord prisoners the dignity to which they are
entitled. But the Army is now facing accusations of mistreatment of
civilian detainees, several of whom have died in custody, long after
the
war was officially declared at an end.
Charges may soon be brought in the case of Baha Mousa, 26, who died
after
he and seven colleagues working at a Basra hotel were arrested by
British
soldiers of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment in September. The eight men
had
their hands tied and were all hooded during prolonged assaults in which
the
prisoners have described being "kick-boxed" by uniformed soldiers.
Mousa repeatedly complained to his British attackers that he was having
difficulty breathing. When Baha's father, Daoud, and brother, Alaa,
went to
see Kifah Taha, one of those arrested, in hospital, they did not know
Baha
had been killed. "Kifah looked like half a human, he was so badly
beaten,"
Alaa said. "When we asked him about Baha, he said he didn't know. Then
he
said: 'I hope God will not show any human what I witnessed.'"
Mr Taha said the soldiers had given their detainees the names of
footballers. Ironically, the practice of giving false names to
prisoners
under assault or torture is common in Arab prisons. Iraqi inmates were
often given fake names by their interrogators during torture sessions,
and
male prisoners have often been given female names by Egyptian prison
wardens before being assaulted…
ALSO SEE:
THE IDF'S SHOOTING RANGE
Gideon Levy, Haaretz, 2/15/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/394153.html
It sometimes seems the Gaza Strip has become the central shooting range
of
the Israel Defense Forces, the IDF's firing zone and training field.
The
weapons in use there are of dubious legality, the rules of engagement
lack
the element of restraint, and punitive measures that Israel would not
conceive of inflicting in the West Bank are par for the course, in a
region
that produces far less terrorism than the West Bank.
The operation last Wednesday, in the Sajiyeh quarter of Gaza City, in
which
15 Palestinians were killed - including at least seven civilians - was
the
latest illustration, for the time being, of what Israel allows itself
to do
in Gaza. Fifteen dead for the sake of liquidating one Hamas man who
wasn't
very senior in the organization is an intolerable price. In Gaza,
though,
it has become routine: Once every week or two, the IDF moves in, kills,
demolishes and pulls out, and no one knows exactly what it was all in
aid
of. Why do wanted individuals have to be liquidated now in Gaza
altogether?
Is it only to bring about more revenge terrorism?
The fact that not one terrorist attack against Israel has originated
from
the Gaza Strip, because of the fence there, only heightens these
questions.
One begins to suspect that the IDF is behaving like this in Gaza simply
because it can do whatever it fancies there.
The Gaza Strip and the West Bank have always been differentiated in the
Israeli consciousness. Whereas Ramallah and Bethlehem are considered
cities
inhabited by people, Gaza has always been portrayed as a "nest of
terrorists." The fact that nearly 1.5 million people live there, among
them
farmers and intellectuals, merchants and craftsmen, religious and
secular
people - just like anywhere else - has been deliberately distorted
here.
Try to tell an Israeli that the beaches of the Gaza Strip are among the
most beautiful in the Middle East and that the majority of the Gazans
are
cordial, especially warm people. Who will believe that? The
demonization to
which Gaza has been subjected, going back to the period before the
occupation, has made it possible to behave differently there…
-----
AP PHOTO OF THE YEAR FEATURES IRAQI PRISONER
Anthony Deutsch, Associated Press, 2/13/04
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040213/ap_on_re_eu/world_press_photo_1
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - A color image of a masked Iraqi war prisoner
holding his 4-year-old son at a U.S. detention camp by Associated Press
Photographer Jean-Marc Bouju won the World Press Photo of the Year
award
Friday…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/16/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD CHARACTER
* CAIR-NY JOB OPENING: OFFICE ASSISTANT
* HOME NEEDED IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOR AFGHAN ORPHANS
* U.S. MAY VETO ISLAMIC LAW IN IRAQ (AP)
* CAMPUS WATCH: RETURN OF CAMPUS MCCARTHYISM (Berkshire Eagle)
- CAIR: Ask Your Senator to Defend Academic Freedom
- Daniel Pipes: Disservice to Muslims (Tulsa World)
* DEAN ACCUSES BUSH OF TARGETING ARAB-AMERICANS (AP)
* CAIR-CAN: DON'T MISREAD THE KORAN (Globe and Mail)
* IMAGE OF ISLAM BASED ON FALSE NOTIONS? (Charlotte Observer)
- FL: Muslims also Dialogue-Oriented (Herald Tribune)
* CA: FIRST MUSLIM FILM FESTIVAL IN THE BAY AREA (PR Newswire)
* NC MUSLIMS ANGERED BY PRAISE OF ROBERTSON (Charlotte Observer)
* TUNISIA: OUR FRIEND THE AUTOCRAT (Washington Post)
- Groups Want Bush to Press Tunisia Reform (Reuters)
* SCARF BAN? NOT IN TORONTO (Toronto Star)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD CHARACTER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There is nothing
heavier
put on the scale of a believer on the Day of Resurrection than good
character."
Sunan of Abu Dawood, Hadith 2234
-----
CAIR-NY JOB OPENING: OFFICE ASSISTANT
CAIR-NY has an opening for an experienced and dynamic person to fill
the
position of Office Assistant.
Candidates should be proficient word processing, spreadsheet and
database
software.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience
All those interested and eligible to work in US (citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
cair-ny@cair-ny.com or by fax 212-870-2020. When applying via e-mail,
please write the position title "Office Assistant" in the subject line
of
the e-mail.
-----
HOME NEEDED IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOR AFGHAN ORPHANS
A home is needed for two Afghan Muslim orphans on there way to the
Pacific
Northwest, They are two boys (ages 13 and 17) who currently live in
Pakistan but were orphaned when there parents were killed as a result
of
the war in Afghanistan. Through a series of tragedies, they do not have
any
relatives left to offer them a home. The older boy works in a marble
factory just to earn a meager living to support his brother and
himself.
If Lutheran Community Services cannot find them a Muslim home then they
will undoubtedly go to a non-Muslim home either here in the Seattle
area or
in another state where there most likely won't even be an Afghani
community
to support their cultural and religious needs. The boys speak Afghani
and Urdu.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent for these orphaned
boys,
then please contact Catherine England (425-487-3527) or Becky at
Lutheran
Community Services (206-694-5700).
-----
U.S. MAY VETO ISLAMIC LAW IN IRAQ
Associated Press, 2/16/04
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040216_451.html
KARBALA, Iraq Feb. 16 - The top U.S. administrator in Iraq suggested
Monday
he would block any interim constitution that would make Islam the chief
source of law, as some members of the Iraqi Governing Council have
sought.
L. Paul Bremer said the current draft of the constitution would make
Islam
the state religion of Iraq and "a source of inspiration for the law" as
opposed to the main source....
Asked what would happen if Iraqi leaders wrote into the constitution
that
Islamic sharia law is the principal basis of the law, Bremer suggested
he
would wield his veto. "Our position is clear. It can't be law until I
sign
it," he said…
-----
RETURN OF CAMPUS MCCARTHYISM
The Berkshire Eagle, 2/16/04
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Stories/0,1413,101~6267~1959217,00.html
Congress was smart enough to jack up funding for university-level
Middle
Eastern studies after the 9/11 attacks and the war in Afghanistan. If
Americans are going to be waist-deep in that tortured part of the
world,
more of us need to speak the languages and know the cultures. Now
lawmakers
must resist a clumsy campaign by pro-Bush administration ideologues to
shape college Middle Eastern studies to their liking and to curb
academic
freedom in ways not seen in the United States since the darkest years
of
the McCarthy era.
Campus Watch is an organization set up by conservative scholar Daniel
Pipes
as an adjunct to Middle East Forum, a think tank dedicated to
"promoting
American interests in the Middle East." Campus Watch monitors
professors by
having students report ideas that run counter to administration policy.
When Rashid Khalidi assumed the Edward Said Chair of Middle East
Studies at
Columbia University last year, he became the target of an Internet
campaign
questioning his patriotism. What was Mr. Khalidi's crime? He opposed
the
U.S. going to war in Iraq. This made him, in Mr. Pipes' words, "a
left-wing
extremist" guilty of academic "bias" and "lack of balance..."
The most dangerous Campus Watch initiative involves legislative changes
that would increase congressional oversight of $95 million in
government
subsidies for Middle East and other area-studies programs. The Pipes
group
is pushing Congress to set up an advisory board to make sure university
programs "reflect diverse perspectives and a full range of views." A
diversity of views is necessary for a vital academic program. But
nothing
would be worse than to have congressionally appointed thought police
establishing minimum quotas for officially approved ideas, which is
what
Campus Watch seems to be after...
SEE ALSO:
CAIR ACTION ALERT #416
ASK YOUR SENATOR TO DEFEND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/13/04) - CAIR is urging American Muslims and other
people who value academic freedom to contact their senators,
particularly
members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions,
to express opposition to the creation of an International Studies
Advisory
Board that could be part of the Senate counterpart to H.R. 3077, the
Education Reauthorization Act now being drafted by the HELP Committee.
Section 633 of the Education Reauthorization Act calls for the creation
of
an advisory board consisting of at least two appointees that represent
national security agencies overseeing curricula, course materials and
the
recruitment of faculty that accept federal government money for
international studies. While Asian, African, European, and Latin
American
area studies programs will be affected, Middle Eastern studies programs
are
the real target of the advisory board.
The advisory board could serve to stifle academic freedom by
suppressing
any views that are not viewed as supportive of Israel and in line with
Muslim-bashers like Daniel Pipes, who has been actively pushing for the
oversight board.
Pipes faced a storm of criticism when he launched Campus Watch, a web
site
that included "dossiers" on professors and academic institutions
thought to
be too critical of Israel or too sympathetic to Islam and Muslims.
In a January 13th Washington Post article, Pipes claimed "Middle East
studies have not served us well" and that the board will serve to
"....supervise the distribution of government funds…..of what he
considers
to be the radical Middle East studies lobby centered in universities
such
as Columbia, Georgetown and the University of Chicago."
H.R. 3077 passed the House floor with little notice of academic freedom
concerns.
"At a time when Congress is pushing for democracy and academic freedom
in
the Middle East, it is critical that we uphold these values in our own
universities," said CAIR Governmental Affairs Coordinator Hasan
Mansori.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.)
Contact the Chairman of the HELP Committee today and ask that section
633,
which creates the advisory board, be removed from H.R. 3077 in the
Senate
bill. Send copies of correspondence to the other members of the
committee.
CONTACT:
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Chairman
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6300
TEL: (202) 224-5375, Majority Staff: (202) 224-6770, Minority Staff:
(202)
224-0767 FAX: (202) 228-5044
E-MAIL: greggstaff@labor.senate.gov
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
2) Contact the committee member who represents your state and ask that
section 633 be removed from H.R. 3077 in the Senate bill. Send copies
of
correspondence to the other members of the committee.
LIST OF OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
http://health.senate.gov/committee_members.html
Contact Information for the committee:
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6300
(202) 224-5375 - voice
(202) 228-5044 - Fax
Majority Staff #: (202) 224-6770
Minority Staff #: (202) 224-0767
---
DISSERVICE TO MUSLIMS
Tulsa World, 2/13/04
http://www.tulsaworld.com
I can only imagine how Bill Sherman's "Militant Islam is seen as key
peril"
(Jan. 17), was received in Tulsa's Muslim community. How would you like
to
belong to a minority faith and have 10 to 15 percent of your
co-religionists placed "on a par with communism and fascism"?
And won't this be news to law-abiding Muslim Americans to know that
extremists "control most of the Muslim organizations, mosques, schools
and
publishing operations in the United States"? These are the kinds of
wild,
unsubstantiated charges that have discredited Daniel Pipes' work by
reputable scholars.
What appears to drive Mr. Pipes is his statement -- not quoted by
Sherman
-- that "increased stature, affluence and enfranchisement of American
Muslims will present true dangers to American Jews." Most Muslims are
American citizens by birth and believe and practice American values.
Those
Muslims who came as immigrants, become Americans adopting American
values
-- as has every immigrant group - - and contribute to the well-being of
us
all.
Mr. Pipes's charges have done a disservice to interfaith relations in
our
community and slander an entire group of American citizens and
hardworking
immigrants simply because of their faith.
Russell L. Bennett, Tulsa
-----
DEAN ACCUSES BUSH OF TARGETING ARAB-AMERICANS AFTER NINE-ELEVEN
Associated Press, 2/16/04
http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=1647023&nav=0s3dKqno
Milwaukee -- The day before a primary that could mark his departure
from
the presidential race, Howard Dean is aiming his fire at the Bush
administration, and not at John Kerry.
Speaking Monday morning to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Dean
accused
the administration of taking too harsh a stance against Arab-Americans
in
the aftermath of 9-11. He said the major difference between himself and
President Bush is that Dean believes "we cannot continue as a divided
society..."
-----
DON'T MISREAD THE KORAN
We must abolish the misperception that a good Muslim woman is a silent
doormat, subservient to her husband, with few independent aspirations,
says
SHEEMA KHAN
Globe and Mail, 2/14/04 (Sheema Khan is the Chair of CAIR-CAN.)
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040214/COSHEEMA14
I met "Leila" 10 years ago. She was 19, maybe 20. She had left family
and
friends to join her new husband in Montreal. The marriage had soured;
she
bore the brunt of his frustrations. When she became pregnant, he
demanded
an abortion. When she refused, he punched her in the abdomen. The
violence
grew worse after the child was born. Leila finally called the police
when
he stabbed her in the hand. She was ready to start a new life, with
infant
in tow, at a shelter for battered immigrant women. Despite her ordeal,
she
maintained a sparkle in her eyes and flashed an infectious smile.
She was also trying to reconnect with her faith, Islam, and the Muslim
community. All the more astounding, given that her husband had told her
that Islam gave him the right to inflict violence on his wife. Yet
Leila
knew with implacable certainty that his actions were anathema to her
faith.
She could easily separate his actions from his perverse
interpretations. I,
on the other hand, had a harder time, having heard too many stories
like
Leila's.
I related these incidents to Ridwan Yusuf, a wonderful soft-spoken imam
from Nigeria, who listened patiently to my tirade at the impotence of
our
community leaders to speak out against conjugal violence: "Wife-beaters
are
absolving themselves of responsibility by saying that Islam gives them
the
right to do this, when clearly it does not. Who is teaching this to
them?
Why are not the men in our community speaking out against it? We scream
indignation at the oppression of Muslims by others, but we remain
silent
about oppression from within."
Clearly moved, he pledged to co-operate with community leaders to
assist
vulnerable women and children. Volunteers came forward to offer moral
and
financial support, ready to learn more about the roots, symptoms and
treatment of a social blight that cuts across all societies.
Ridwan Yusuf had the courage to address the issue head-on at the
largest
community gathering of the year, the Eid prayer. He systematically
stripped
away the mantle of Islamic legitimacy given by violence-prone husbands,
followed by exhortations toward building a marriage foundation based on
love, mercy, and respect.
Prophet Mohammed never once laid a finger on any of his wives,
denounced
those who did and asserted that those best in character are those who
are
best to their wives…
CONTACT: canada@cair-net.org
-----
IS OUR IMAGE OF ISLAM BASED ON FALSE NOTIONS?
D.G. MARTIN, Charlotte Observer, 2/16/04
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/7964005.htm
FOLLOWING MUHAMMAD: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World
By Carl W. Ernst. UNC Press. 244 pages. $24.95.
Last month, ABC's Peter Jennings asked presidential candidate John
Edwards,
the Democratic senator from North Carolina, about widespread beliefs
that
the greatest security threat to the United States is a possible
confrontation between the West and Islam: "[C]ould you take a minute to
tell us what you know about the practice of Islam that would reassure
Muslims throughout the world who will be listening to you that
President
Edwards understands their religion and how you might use that knowledge
to
avoid a confrontation?"
Edwards responded, in part, "I would never claim to be an expert on
Islam.
I am not."
Edwards is not alone in his lack of knowledge on the subject, according
to
UNC religion professor Carl Ernst, author of "Following Muhammad:
Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World."
Ernst believes that almost all Americans lack a clear understanding of
the
religion that claims more than a billion adherents. Indeed, Ernst
writes,
many Americans are bound to a false notion of Islam as a backward,
women-oppressing, fanatical, and fundamentalist religion that is
responsible for the Middle East-based terrorism with which our country
is
at war.
In fact, Ernst also attacks the premise of Jennings' question that
there is
a looming "confrontation between the West and Islam."
A true understanding of Islam, Ernst writes, would show its rich
diversity,
its solid, ethical principles of peacefulness, tolerance, and respect
for
women, and its admirable commitment to submit to the will of God. Only
with
this broad understanding of Islam can we put into proper perspective
its
aberrations that we associate with Muslims whose conduct supports
Jennings'
premise of a confrontation between Islam and the West...
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS ALSO DIALOGUE-ORIENTED
Ahmed Elrefai, Herald Tribune, 2/16/04
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040216/OPINION/402160701/1029
Regarding your article "Archbishop speaks in Naples; The Vienna church
leader encourages Christians to talk more with Muslims while keeping
their
faith," in Tuesday's Charlotte-Englewood editions of the
Herald-Tribune>:
Muslims like myself concur with the views expressed by the archbishop
of
Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, and also believe that Muslims
should
reciprocate and talk with Christians.
To many Muslims, Christians and Jews, this dialogue is not new. It has
been
frequent since the beginning of Islam and has continued throughout time
in
cities in Muslim and non-Muslim countries. Muslims welcomed the recent
changes in the position of the Catholic Church relative to this
dialogue.
Such dialogues are not only possible, they are one of the tenets of
Islam.
The two sources of the religion of Islam, the Koran and the teachings
of
prophet Muhammad, clearly encourage the dialogue and establish the
basis of
how it will be conducted.
Koran 29:46: "Conduct the dialogue with the People of the Book with
courtesy and better means, apart from those among them who transgress.
Say
to them: We believe in that which is revealed to us and which was
revealed
to you. Our God and your God is one and the same, and to Him we all
surrender ourselves."
Koran 49:12: "Believers, do not let some of your men or women mock or
ridicule other men or women, who perhaps may be better than they are.
Neither defame nor insult one another by offensive nicknames."
Prophet Muhammad said: "The People of the Book, Christians and Jews
among
us, are completely equal to us. They have the same rights and
responsibilities as we do."
There is more in common between us. Following the steps of our
forefathers,
we encourage the dialogue and have no hesitations in participating in
it.
-----
FIRST MUSLIM FILM FESTIVAL IN THE BAY AREA
PR Newswire, 2/16/04
BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Muslim Film Festival
announces the first Bay Area Muslim Film Festival to be held on March
13,
2004 at UC Berkeley and Santa Clara University (date to be confirmed).
The
Muslim Film Festival (MFF) is an annual event that screens films by or
about Muslims.
The world has become increasingly interested in understanding the
diverse
Muslim culture and society. The MFF seeks to help portray Muslim
artists
and their view, providing Muslims with a venue to share their work
about
themselves and their diverse traditions…
Muslim Film Festival will offer an audience award and hold a filmmakers
social hour network gathering at the festival. MFF hopes to enhance the
film industry by providing a focused event for films about and by
Muslims.
The festival will screen such films as "On Common Grounds," "'T' for
Terrorist," "Haters," "Born in the USA" and international entries such
as a
music video from Denmark featuring the group 'Outlandish' and "Oil
Children," a feature film from Iran. The festival will highlight the
talent
of Muslim filmmakers from around the world, showcasing the creativity
and
richness of Muslim culture. The festival is the first of its kind in
the
Bay Area and looks forward to expanding to Los Angeles, Texas and New
York.
http://www.muslimfilmfestival.org/
Web site: http://www.muslimfilmfestival.org/
CONTACT: Irfan Rydhan of Muslim Film Festival, +1-408-509-7965,
orinfo@muslimfilmfestival.org
-----
MUSLIMS ANGERED BY PRAISE OF ROBERTSON, WHO CRITICIZES ISLAM
KEN GARFIELD, Charlotte Observer, 2/16/04
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/7964047.htm
The Israel Ministry of Tourism honored evangelist Pat Robertson Sunday
in
Charlotte -- a tribute that drew fire from Muslims locally and across
the
nation.
Israeli tourism officials recognized the conservative Christian author
and
commentator for his support of their nation at a breakfast at the
Westin
hotel uptown. The event was held in connection with the National
Religious
Broadcasters' convention, which is bringing 6,000 Christian media
executives to town through Wednesday.
Robertson accepted the honor and reiterated evangelical Christian
support
for Israel. Proof of the existence of God, he said, is found in the
survival of the Jewish people.
He also praised Israel's survival in the face of what he called a
"fanatical religion" (Islam)…
In a Chicago Tribune article last week, Ibrahim Hooper of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations in Washington criticized "the alliance
between
the far Christian right and the right in Israel."
Elon, shadowed by a security aide, told the Observer after the
Robertson
tribute, "Not all of the Muslims are enemies ... But there are many
that
have really forgotten morality..."
-----
TUNISIA: OUR FRIEND THE AUTOCRAT
Neil Hicks, Washington Post, 2/16/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44715-2004Feb15.html
President Bush will have an opportunity to put his "forward strategy
for
freedom in the Middle East" into practice this week when he meets with
Tunisian President Zine Abidine Ben Ali at the White House.
President Ben Ali is an unreconstructed autocrat who runs one of the
most
repressive police states in the Arab world. He was "reelected" to a
third
five-year term by better than 99 percent of the vote in 1999. In 2002
the
ruling party called a referendum in which it claimed that more than 99
percent of the voters favored allowing the president run for a fourth
term
and granting him blanket immunity from prosecution, even after he
leaves
office -- assuming he ever does.
President Bush has pledged that "when the leaders of reform ask for our
help, America will give it," and he has said that America is "expecting
a
higher standard from our friends" when it comes to upholding liberty.
These are fine words, but the champions of liberty in Tunisia will be
expecting little from their president's visit to Washington. The
Tunisian
government, on the other hand, will be expecting further affirmation of
its
position as a U.S. ally in the war against terrorism. In short, it will
be
expecting business as usual, with Washington turning a blind eye to
persistent violations of human rights in Tunisia and the brutal gagging
of
peaceful dissent...
President Bush can prove wrong those who are skeptical about his plans
to
reshape the Middle East by delivering a clear message to President Ben
Ali
that his repression of nonviolent dissent must stop.
The writer is international programs director of Human Rights First
(formerly the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights).
SEE ALSO:
RIGHTS GROUPS WANT BUSH TO PRESS TUNISIA TO REFORM
Lamine Ghanmi, Reuters, 2/16/04
TUNIS, Tunisia (Reuters) - President Bush should demonstrate his
commitment
to rights in Arab states by pressing Tunisia's leader to allow more
freedom
and dissent, human rights groups said Monday.
Local and international activists said President Zine al-Abidine Ben
Ali's
talks at the White House Wednesday this week must be seen in the light
of
Bush's initiative for democratic reforms in the "greater Middle East."
"The credibility of President Bush's plan to promote democracy for the
Middle East is on the line. Ben Ali's government tolerates almost no
dissent," New York-based Human Rights Watch said…
The Tunisian Human Rights League, its only legal independent rights
group,
accuses the government of routinely beating dissidents and rights
campaigners and of muzzling the press…
"Since Ben Ali seized power he has helped transform Tunisia's press
into
one of the most restricted in the Arab world," the Committee to Protect
Journalists said ahead of the Tunisian president's official visit to
the
United States…
-----
SCARF BAN? NOT IN TORONTO
Leslie Scrivener, Toronto Star, 2/16/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1076887505348
Every day students in Toronto schools see classmates wearing religious
symbols - crosses on Christians, skullcaps on Jewish students, head
scarves
on Muslim girls following the Qur'anic instruction to dress modestly.
They
also see few outward signs of religious affiliation.
And their reaction to head scarves and other religious attire that have
caused the French government to introduce legislation to ban such
symbols
in public schools starting next September?
No problem.
"It's Toronto," said Clancy Zeifman, 16, who attends Forest Hill
Collegiate.
"It's so multicultural. We are encouraged to practise our religion.
We're
taught in school to accept all religions. It's the way we've grown up."
In Toronto, where 17 per cent of the population is Muslim, Jewish, Sikh
or
Buddhist, and another 17 per cent say they have no religion, educators
have
chosen an alternative to banning signs of religious affiliation. It's
called accommodation.
In 1980, when the Toronto public school board made it clear that the
Lord's
Prayer was not to be read exclusively during opening exercises in its
schools, prayer wasn't banned.
Despite objections from the province, led then by Progressive
Conservative
premier Bill Davis, the Lord's Prayer was dropped, but the board
replaced
it with a booklet of prayers and readings from all faiths, chosen by a
40-member inter-faith panel. The booklet became so popular it was used
around the world.
"It's the way we are," said Ned McKeown, who was the Toronto board's
education director through the 1980s. "This issue of tolerance clearly
sets
us apart.
"That's been a good thing. If we are not going to accept differences,
that's the slippery slope. The right thing is to accommodate
differences."
The Toronto District School Board has a set of guidelines, introduced
in
2000, to accommodate students' religious beliefs.
The guidelines tell teachers that some Jewish boys will want to wear a
head
covering, such as a skullcap or yarmulke, or even a baseball cap. Some
Seventh Day Adventists may want their children to be exempt from
Halloween
activities. Sikh students may carry a kirpan, a small ceremonial sword,
but
at school it must be secured in its sheath at all times.
Be prepared for Jehovah's Witness students to bow out of Christmas or
Valentine's Day festivities, the guidelines say. Some Muslim students
may
not be allowed to play stringed instruments and may require a prayer
room
during the school day.
The argument that making allowances for different religious needs may
lead
to greater segregation of minorities doesn't sit well with Cathy Dandy
of
the Toronto Parent Network. "That slippery-slope argument is just a
licence
to discriminate. The same argument was used against giving the vote to
women.
"Democracy is incredibly messy," she said. "You have to keep things as
open
and wide as you can, to be tolerant and transparent and diverse."
Young people don't have to be separated by their religious differences,
said Michelle Sebasta, 17, of St. Francis Xavier Secondary School in
Mississauga, where about 200 students in the Catholic school are
Muslim.
"Here at Xavier, we embrace the differences. They unify us…"
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTION INFORMATION:
https://ssl.capwiz.com/cair/e4/
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. MUSLIMS FORM ELECTION TASK FORCE
Coalition to promote political participation and civil liberties
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/17/2004) - A nationwide coalition of Islamic
organizations today announced the formation of a task force designed to
encourage community-based Muslim political participation and to defend
against the erosion of civil liberties in a post-9/11 social
environment.
The new group, called the "American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights
and
Elections (AMT)," will concentrate on helping Muslims become "full
partners
in the development and prosperity of our homeland," defending the civil
rights of all Americans and developing alliances "on a wide variety of
social, political, economic, and moral issues." SEE:
http://www.americanmuslimvoter.net/
Task force organizers say they will put forward a "civil rights plus"
agenda for the 2004 election cycle in which civil rights is the most
important issue, but not the only issue. The AMT election plan states:
"We
remain equally committed to (the issues of) education, homelessness,
economic recovery, environmental and ecological safety, electoral
reform,
crime, and global peace and justice."
"Our vote is the best guarantee of our civil rights and the best
expression
of our citizenship," said AMT Coordinator Agha Saeed. "We will mobilize
American Muslim voters at the local, state and national levels, with a
primary focus on those states and races that may have the most impact
in
the coming elections."
AMT co-sponsors have committed to organize voter education and
registration
drives, encourage Muslims to work in political campaigns, host
candidates'
town hall meetings, issue candidate scorecards on issues of importance
to
the Muslim community, and to form coalitions with like-minded groups.
The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections is an
umbrella
organization representing American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America
(ICNA),
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance of North
America
(MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council
(MPAC), Muslim Student Association - National (MSA-N), and Project
Islamic
Hope (PIH).
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Agha Saeed, 510-299-9313; Ibrahim Hooper (CAIR), 202-488-8787
or
202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or
202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/17/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: BENEFICIAL KNOWLEDGE
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: New York
- CAIR-LA: 2004 Elections Town Hall Meeting
* MUSLIM CHAPLAIN'S HEARING POSTPONED FOR 5TH TIME (AP)
* CAIR-LA: UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM ESSENTIAL (Daily Bruin)
- CT: Muslim Presence Increases (Yale Daily News)
- MI: WD Mohammed Speaks on Islam's Image (MI Daily)
* BETTER RELATIONS, BETTER INTELLIGENCE (Miami Herald)
- Arabs in U.S. Raising Money to Back Bush (NY Times)
- Jewish Fundraising Shifts to Supporting (JTA)
* IL: VOTE SEEN EASING MUSLIM MEETINGS (Chicago Trib)
- IL: Muslims Feel Threatened by Article (Chicago Trib)
* COULTER GETS A PINK SLIP (Press Enterprise)
- Academic Freedom Prevails, Panel Says (LA Times)
- Rise of Arabic in US Speaks Volumes (Financial Times)
* THROUGH THE VEIL, DARKLY (Find Law)
- Women Embrace the Hijab (Daily Telegraph)
* SAMEEH HAMMOUDEH SHACKLED WHILE PRAYING (TBCPJ)
- U.S. Ally Sentences Elderly Mother (Common Dreams)
* IL: MUSLIMS JOIN MILLIONS FOR PILGRIMAGE (Journal Star)
* ACCUSATIONS IMPERIL TERROR CONVICTIONS (Wash. Times)
- Prosecutor Sues Ashcroft (AP)
* NJ MOTHER SAYS SON 'DIED FOR NOTHING' (Hopewell Valley)
* ISRAEL APPROVES $20M FOR SETTLEMENTS (AP)
- Israel: The Threat From Within (NYT Review of Books)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: BENEFICIAL KNOWLEDGE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Knowledge from which no
benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in
the
cause of God."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 108
The Prophet also said: "Acquire knowledge and impart it to the people."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 107
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,290 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of New York: 391 covered, 713 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
---
CAIR-LA: 2004 ELECTIONS TOWN HALL MEETING
WHAT: Listen to and dialogue with candidates and representatives of
presidential, congressional and state level campaigns discussing issues
facing the American Muslim and Arab American voters. A great
opportunity to
share your views on the election with community leaders and to show our
community's growing political participation
WHEN: Sunday, February 22nd from 3-6 PM
WHERE: Sequoia Conference Center, 7530 Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park, CA
Join AMA, CAIR, MPAC Arab American Caucus-State Democratic Party, and
the
Arab American Republican party of Orange County.
Co-sponsoring organizations: ADC LA/Orange County Chapter, Syrian
American
Association, Citizens For American Interests (CAI), Palestinian
American
Congress (PAC), Union of Palestinian American Women, the California
Civil
Rights Alliance, ILM Foundation, Islamic Shura Council of Southern
California, Palestinian American Women's Association (PAWA), Iranian
Muslim
Association of North America (IMAN)
For more information please contact CAIR at (714) 776-1847 or MPAC at
(213) 383-3443
-----
COURT HEARING FOR MUSLIM CHAPLAIN POSTPONED FOR FIFTH TIME
Associated Press/News 4, 2/17/04
http://www.news4jax.com/news/2853228/detail.html
FORT BENNING, Fla. -- The preliminary hearing for a Muslim Army
chaplain
charged with adultery and possession of pornography has been delayed
again
-- for the fifth time.
James Yee was due to appear before a military judge in Fort Benning
Wednesday, but base officials announced the postponement Tuesday.
The hearing was originally scheduled for Dec. 2, and already has been
delayed four times so the Army can review classified documents in the
case.
Officials have not yet announced a reason for this delay but are
expected
to explain further this afternoon.
After his arrest in Jacksonville as he was returning from duty
counseling
al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay prison, Yee had spent
76
days in a prison cell while authorities tried to build a capital
espionage
case against him.
Now he is free -- the most serious allegations replaced by the lesser
ones
of adultery and possession of pornography.
Prosecutors have not said much about this case, but it's apparent they
are
no longer pursuing charges of spying, which carry the death penalty.
-----
UNDERSTANDING ESSENTIAL IN CHANGING UNFAVORABLE ISLAMIC VIEWS
Derek Lazzaro and Jenna Sutton, Daily Bruin, 2/13/04
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=27419
(Hussam Ayloush is the executive director of CAIR Southern California.)
LOS ANGELES - Daily Bruin: What is the basic mission of the Council on
American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and what is your role in the
organization?
Hussam Ayloush: CAIR is one of the largest Muslim advocacy groups in
the
United States today. It was established in 1994 to promote a positive
image
of Islam and Muslims in America and to defend the civil rights of
Muslims
and non-Muslims throughout the country. Today's mission seems to be
focusing more on the civil rights, especially...as we notice civil
rights
being violated more and more over the last few years. What we hope to
achieve...is a society where a person's color, race, or religion is not
a
factor in how they get treated or what kind of jobs they get…
DB: How do you think the perception of Muslim Americans has evolved
since
Sept. 11, 2001?
HA: Every poll has shown the number of Americans who perceive Islam
unfavorably, unfortunately, has increased since 9/11 -- there is
obviously
an understandable reason why, because the people who perpetrated the
terrorist attacks on 9/11 followed the Muslim faith. So, immediately
many
people misperceived this act as a representation of what Islam is. But
on
the other side, it is important ... to note many average Americans
today
are much more aware of what Islam stands for and who the Muslims are
than
they were several years ago -- which is leading to a slow change in the
attitude towards Muslims and Islam.
Maybe a few years ago, I think a large segment of our society and
country
didn't know (about) Islam, didn't have an opinion. Today, yes, it
sounds
polar, it sounds (as if) there are more people who are unfavorable
toward
Islam, but I think this is shifting with increased understanding and
increased interaction with Muslims. (This is) leading to an
understanding
that Islam is a religion that abhors and opposes indiscriminate
violence.
DB: Do you think there is anything about the United States that has
been
especially good for Muslims?
HA: If you ask probably any Muslim in America today ... whether they
were
immigrants or indigenous Muslims who converted to Islam and who had a
chance to visit different countries - Muslim and non-Muslim alike - I
think
you will find very little debate that probably America is the best
place
for Muslims to live in. (This is) for many reasons: one is the freedom
of
religion which is a very important value in our belief system in Islam
and
a very important value in our system of government in this country,
allowing people to choose their religion and choose how they want to
worship God. ... And the second thing is America, by nature, is very
diverse, and when you're diverse, you're more (likely to) welcome
others
that are different from you. Just look at the way Europe is dealing
with
its growing minorities of colored people - different religions,
different
languages - there is a growing level of racism we don't witness here in
the
United States, and that tells us why this place is a good place not
only
for Muslims but for anyone who is not part of the majority…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM PRESENCE INCREASES
Stephen Gikow, Yale Daily News, 2/17/04
http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=25055
In the past decade, Muslim communities have grown significantly across
the
nation. Yale is not an exception. As the Muslim student body continues
to
expand, the Muslim Students Association has grown.
As the only Muslim student organization registered through the Yale
Chaplain's office, the MSA has worked to accommodate members of the
University's Muslim community and educate other students about Islam.
This week, the MSA is sponsoring Islamic Awareness Week, during which
the
group and co-sponsors will offer lectures and discussions, as well as a
film screening and a poetry jam. The week's theme is "Women in Islam."
Yusuf Samara '04, president of the MSA, said the MSA hopes to inform
the
greater student body about Islam.
Samara said the MSA has about 50 regular members this year who attend
the
weekly Friday night prayer in the Bingham basement. Samara said the
growth
parallels a general increase in Muslim worship nation-wide...
---
MUSLIM LEADER TO SPEAK ON ISLAM'S IMAGE IN AMERICA
Michigan Daily, 2/17/04
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/4031b8f2d8188
Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, the spiritual leader of the Muslim American
Society, will be speaking on Islam's image in the United States on
Thursday
at 7 p.m. in the Michigan Union Ballroom. The title of his talk is
"Correcting Islam's Image: The Balance Between Living a Life of Faith
and
Addressing Material Needs."
Mohammed is the son of the late Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation
of
Islam from the 1950s to 1975. Mohammed succeeded his father as leader
and
is credited for working to reform the group and bringing followers to
mainstream Islam. Mohammed was also the first Muslim to deliver an
invocation to the U.S. Senate in 1992.
The Muslim Graduate Student Association, the Muslim Students
Association
and the Islamic Education Society will sponsor the event.
-----
BETTER RELATIONS WITH MUSLIMS WOULD YIELD BETTER INTELLIGENCE
Salam Al-Marayati, Miami Herald, 2/17/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/7969950.htm
Our policy-makers need to look at the Muslim world as both a region and
as
separate localities.
Intelligence failures in Washington are not limited to the Iraq crisis
and
alleged weapons of mass destruction programs. Based on my
organization's
work with government officials and their staff members in Washington,
D.C.,
I believe that the lapses in credible information-gathering and
judgment
will grow unless we change the style and approach within the
decision-making process.
There is a deficiency in our government of sound cultural, religious
and
political analysis of trends and attitudes about the Muslim world.
Developing sound intelligence in the U.S. government requires three
steps:
understanding the interconnectedness of events in the Muslim world;
strengthening partnerships between the U.S. government and Muslim
communities; and developing American Muslim participation in
policymaking...
First, our policymakers need to look at the Muslim world as both a
region
and as separate localities. While each country has distinct problems
and
different demographics, the development of an Islamic civilization in
the
past has defined the history and politics of the region in a unique
manner.
No other region in the world is defined by a religion. This orientation
will help our analysts see how actions in one part of the region affect
others...
Salam Al-Marayati is executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs
Council in Washington, D.C.
ALSO SEE:
ARABS IN U.S. RAISING MONEY TO BACK BUSH
Leslie Wayne, New York Times, 2/17/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/17/politics/campaign/17MONE.html
Wealthy Arab-Americans and foreign-born Muslims who strongly back
President
Bush's decision to invade Iraq are adding their names to the ranks of
Pioneers and Rangers, the elite Bush supporters who have raised
$100,000 or
more for his re-election.
This new crop of fund-raisers comes as some opinion polls suggest
support
for the president among Arab-Americans is sinking and at a time when
strategists from both parties say Mr. Bush is losing ground with this
group. Mr. Bush has been criticized by Arab-Americans who feel they are
being singled out in the fight against terrorism and who are uneasy
over
the administration's Palestinian-Israeli policies.
Yet the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the war in Iraq have been a
catalyst
for some wealthy Arab-Americans to become more involved in politics.
And
there are still others who have a more practical reason for opening
their
checkbooks: access to a business-friendly White House. Already, their
efforts have brought them visits with the president at his ranch in
Crawford, Tex., as well as White House dinners and meetings with top
administration officials.
The fund-raisers are people like Mori Hosseini, the Iranian-born chief
executive of ICI Homes, a home builder in Daytona Beach, Fla. Mr.
Hosseini
is a Ranger, gaining the top designation after raising $200,000 from
his
family and acquaintances. (The minimum level of money raised for a
Ranger
is $200,000, while it takes $100,000 to be a Pioneer.)
Never before has Mr. Hosseini been this active politically. But he said
he
was inspired by Mr. Bush's "decisive" action, especially in Iraq, and
Mr.
Hosseini's efforts have led to an invitation to a White House Christmas
party and a private meeting with the president and a handful of other
donors at a recent fund-raiser at Disney World...
---
IN 2004, U.S. JEWISH FUND RAISING SHIFTS TO SUPPORTING - NOT UNSEATING
-
INCUMBENTS
Matthew E. Berger, Global Jewish News, 2/16/04
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Jews+back+friends+in+Congress&intcategoryid=3
WASHINGTON- It was a big deal two years ago, when Jewish money helped
unseat two incumbent Democratic lawmakers viewed as anti-Israel.
This year, Jewish fund-raisers in the United States expect business to
go
back to normal.
This year, Jews will focus on supporting incumbents viewed as
pro-Israel,
including several facing tough challenges.
While most of America is watching the presidential primaries play out,
hundreds of lawmakers are seeking to maintain their congressional seats
in
the November elections and are quietly raising money.
Jews are expected to play a large role in that fund-raising effort,
with
Jews engaged in some key races around the country, including Florida,
Pennsylvania and Virginia.
One-third of the senators are up for re-election, as are all House
members.
But only a few of those hundreds of seats are considered "in play," or
up
for grabs.
Jewish backing for challengers of incumbents in Democratic primaries
made
national news in 2002, when Jewish support for Denise Majette in
Georgia
and Artur Davis in Alabama helped unseat U.S. Reps. Cynthia McKinney
and
Earl Hilliard respectively...
-----
MORTON GROVE VOTE SEEN EASING MUSLIM MEETINGS
Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 2/17/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearnorthwest/chi-0402170072feb17,1,1647590.story
The Morton Grove Planning Commission recommended on Monday that the
village
ease its requirements for holding public assembly, a step some
neighbors
say could legalize the controversial prayer services at the Muslim
Community Center and boost the organization's effort to build a mosque
on
the land.
The village currently requires organizations to have a special-use
permit
for holding large gatherings on their property. The community center
has
been holding Friday services at the school it operates at 8601 N.
Menard
Ave. since it opened 15 years ago but has never had such a permit.
Under
the proposal, approved 5-1, only houses of worship on property
exceeding
3.5 acres in residential areas would have to obtain a permit. The
Village
Board is expected to vote on the issue March 8.
Village officials said Monday that the zoning changes are a part of a
long-standing effort to ensure the village's laws don't conflict with
the
federal Religious Land-Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.
"This was not a knee-jerk reaction to the lawsuits the village is
facing,"
said Ralph Czerwinski, village manager. "We have been trying to make
sure
our ordinance does not violate state and federal law."
Mohammed Kaiserudin, president of the community center, said Monday he
is
uncertain if the change would affect his group. It technically owns 4
acres. But the property is bisected by a sliver of land owned by the
village, resulting in the center having two parcels under the 3.5-acre
limit, said Patrick Kansoer, president of the Morton Grove
Organization.
The neighborhood group opposes plans to build a mosque on the property
and
has complained about the hundreds of people attending services at the
school...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS FEEL THREATENED BY ARTICLE
Mohammed Sahloul, Chicago Tribune, 2/17/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-0402170056feb17,1,2916931.story
In the article "Hard-liners won battle for Bridgeview mosque," the
writers
followed the same lines of misinformed accusations against the Mosque
Foundation and the Muslim community in the southwest Chicago area.
These
accusations reinforce the stereotyping against Muslims, label any
immigrant
American Muslim who sends donations to his or her family in the land of
origin as "terrorist" or "aiding" the terrorists, and brand this
community
of American Muslims as practicing "a strict version of Islam."
Your article represents another media effort to link the Mosque
Foundation,
its leaders, its Imam, its worshipers and the whole Muslim community in
the
U.S. to extremism and terrorism. It presented the basic Islamic rulings
in
worship and personal dealings as very "rigid," "conservative" or a
"hard-line" version of Islam.
It strikes me as another step to discredit all Muslim institutions,
including houses of worship, schools, charitable organizations,
financial
institutions, political and social organizations, and to discredit
prominent Muslim leaders and activists.
It casts doubts on even the most basic activities of American Muslims,
like
holding prayer in the proper Islamic way and abiding by the Islamic
rules
of modesty and Islamic attire.
It reinforces stereotyping of Muslims in America as extremists,
promotes
discrimination based on ethnicity, national original, appearance and
faith;
it endangers the lives of Muslim children, women and men; and it
creates a
rift in American society between American Muslims and their fellow
Americans.
The Mosque Foundation has spent $1 million on its youth center in the
past
five years, the first youth center among all Muslim institutions in the
U.S. It is now being remodeled and expanded, and is not a "neglected
building with broken windows," as you describe...
Mohammed Sahloul is a Board member of the Mosque Foundation.
-----
COULTER GETS A PINK SLIP
Gale Hammons, Press-Enterprise, 2/15/04
http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/localviews/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_op_15_hammons.579a3.html
I wanted to like Ann Coulter's work. Her best lines make me laugh out
loud.
A recent example was her bit that suggested slogans for the Democratic
candidates for president (Kucinich: ".001 Percent of America Can't Be
Wrong!").
The problem is her worst lines, which make me - and many others -
absolutely cringe. Because of her repetitive, tasteless "jokes" about
minority groups, we have dropped her column from The Press-Enterprise.
We brought Coulter aboard last month as one of 13 fresh voices; the
basic
idea was to add vitality and diversity to our pages. Coulter joined the
mix
because several of our editors liked her vigor and candor even if we
didn't
necessarily agree with her views. Her sample columns did not contain
offensive material, and we expected her writing to meet a more
professional
standard. We took a chance on a firebrand writer, and it didn't work.
We're
not afraid to admit our mistake, and fix it.
Readers should not take this to mean that conservative or provocative
writers will be shoved from our pages. We'll continue to publish a
range of
columnists from across the political spectrum, and we will replace
Coulter
with that standard in mind.
However, we will not harbor columnists whose work is threaded with
invective.
ALSO SEE:
ACADEMIC FREEDOM PREVAILS, PANEL SAYS
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angles Times, 2/17/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/los_angeles_metro/la-me-freedom17feb17,1,6702260.story
American universities have generally defended academic freedom and
resisted
public pressure to penalize professors critical of the U.S. war on
terrorism, panelists at a Los Angeles forum said Monday.
U.S. universities have turned back public demands to take action
against
academics who have called for the death of U.S. troops in Iraq, blamed
"American colonialism" for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks or jokingly
praised the attack on the Pentagon. Universities have also resisted
government attempts to review their research before publication for the
potential disclosure of "sensitive information."
At least so far, the panelists said, academic freedom has fared better
today than during other times of national crisis -- including the Cold
War
and the attacks against alleged Communist sympathizers led by Sen.
Joseph
McCarthy in the 1950s.
"There are grounds for concern, but overall the reaction has been
supportive of academic freedom," said Michael Genovese, director of
Loyola
Marymount University's Institute for Leadership Studies, which
sponsored
the forum exploring how the war on terrorism has affected academic
freedom.
"In a way, we have learned from history."
Still, panelists noted some ongoing concerns...
---
RISE OF ARABIC IN US SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR WAR ON TERROR
Betty Liu, Financial Times, 2/17/04
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1075982591557
Last week, school officials in an Atlanta suburb approved the creation
of a
new elementary school that, among other things, will require pupils to
learn Arabic.
While the news barely registered on the national radar, its passage has
excited foreign language educators as further proof that Arabic, a
language
few Americans have any knowledge of, is worthy of attention. Amana
Academy,
which opens in August, will be the first publicly funded elementary
school
in the US requiring students to learn Arabic.
For decades, foreign language study has reflected US immigration trends
and
the nation's view of the world at large - German and Italian were first
introduced to schools after a rush of European immigrants arrived at
the
turn of the twentieth century; Russian gained popularity shortly after
Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, orbited the earth in 1957; and
Japanese learning leaped during the country's economic rise in the
1980s.
For Arabic, it has been the events of September 11 2001, the "war on
terror" and war in Iraq that account for rising interest in the
language.
According to the Modern Language Association, the number of university
students enrolled in Arabic courses doubled from 1998 to 2002, to
10,584
students.
"We always have these waves of foreign language study in the American
educational arena," says Muhammad Eissa, a former Arabic professor and
educational consultant to secondary and elementary schools. "There was
once
such a demand for Japanese in college that they had to expand
classrooms
and hire lots of teachers in a short period of time - everyone wanted a
piece of the pie. You have these surges and then they fade out again."
According to the founders of Amana Academy, white Christians, African-
Americans and Asians in the community have all joined Arab-Americans in
championing the study of Arabic. "Less than a quarter of the student
population will be Arabs," predicts Ehab Jaleel, a Jordanian-American
parent who helped establish the school. "We've been able to rally
parents
to go to board meetings and say 'This is something I want my kids to
learn'. If my kids can learn Spanish, French and Japanese, why not
Arabic?"
Only a couple of people have asked if there is really a need for this,
he
adds...
-----
THROUGH THE VEIL, DARKLY
Ruti Teitel, FindLaw, 2/16/04
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20040216_teitel.html
Not since the Mao jacket, has a dress code been at the core of a
cultural
revolution. But now, a country's new ban on the wearing of overt
religious
symbols in public schools -- including the Islamic head scarf (the
hijab),
the Jewish skullcap, and oversized versions of the Christian cross --
has
sparked a public furor of international dimension.
One might have expected such a ban in a totalitarian country. But the
country at issue here, strangely, is France -- a staunch constitutional
democracy, now in its Fifth Republic. (And even more strangely,
France's
ban has the blessing of none other than Sunni Islam's leading cleric.)
The ban was just approved by one house of the French Parliament. Soon,
on
March 2, the French Senate will vote upon it. It stands a good chance
of
becoming law. Already, it has inspired large-scale protest.
American observers may wonder at this development, understandably: How
is
any of this even remotely imaginable in a country that, more than any
other, prides itself on its constitutional tradition of civil
liberties, as
well as individual self-expression in fashion? However one looks at it,
France's law violates the very values--including secularism--that the
French claim to hold dear.
Many have pointed out an obvious reason why the law is oppressive: It
targets and, indeed, forbids religious expression. That reason, alone,
is
certainly a reason to passionately oppose the law. But it's not the
only
one. In this column, I will point out a few other aspects of the law
that
are less obvious, yet also very troubling...
ALSO SEE:
WOMEN EMBRACE THE HIJAB
Rachel Morris, Daily Telegraph, 2/16/04
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=903221
More young Sydney women are choosing to wear the hijab, or head scarf,
to
show pride in their religion and encourage others to understand Islam
rather than fear it.
At a time when the wearing of the veil has come under intense attack in
Europe, Muslim women in Sydney are taking up the practice in
unprecedented
numbers.
Shops and internet sites selling the hijab have reported a spike in
sales
in recent months.
The shift in visibility of Muslim women in post-"war on terror"
Australian
society has also led to the introduction of a magazine aimed at
twenty-something Muslim women, featuring fashion articles and cooking
tips.
Nineteen-year-old student Feda Abdo said more of her friends were
choosing
to identify their religion...
-----
SAMEEH HAMMOUDEH SHACKLED WHILE PRAYING
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace, 2/16/04
CONTACT: tampabayjustice@yahoo.com
TAMPA - 2/16/04- On Friday Ryan Berry, head of the U.S. Marshal
Services in
Tampa, interrupted Sameeh Hammoudeh's prayers, handcuffed him and
placed
chains around his waist. Hammoudeh, along with Dr. Sami Al-Arian, was
praying one of the five daily prayers required in the Islamic religion,
after a day of examining evidence at the Federal Courthouse in Tampa.
As
had occurred on a daily basis, the men had been granted permission by
another marshal to pray the afternoon prayer, which does not take
longer
than five minutes to perform. The official who interrupted Hammoudeh
displayed utter disrespect for and ignorance of the Islamic faith when
he
disrupted his prayer and chained him.
For the past few weeks, this same official has been badgering Hammoudeh
and
Al-Arian, telling them repeatedly to "speed up" their examination of
thousands of documents of evidence. There are an estimated 100,000
documents to be examined, not including 15 additional boxes of which
the
men were recently informed. Since they have already spent close to ten
months at Coleman Federal Penitentiary without being able to examine
evidence, it is Al-Arian's and Hammoudeh's right to be able to go
through
the evidence without time restraints…
ALSO SEE:
U.S. ALLY SENTENCES ELDERLY MOTHER TO PRISON, HARD LABOR
Jim Lobe, Common Dreams, 2/16/04
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0216-04.htm
WASHINGTON - After torturing her son to death, allegedly by boiling him
in
water, the government of Washington's closest Central Asian ally,
Uzbekistan, has sentenced his 62-year-old mother to six years of hard
labor
in prison, according to human rights groups, who are calling on the
Bush
administration to speak out against the continuing persecution of
independent Muslims there.
The mother, Fatima Mukhadirova, was sentenced last week on charges of
possessing unsanctioned religious literature, membership in a banned
religion organization, and "attempted encroachment on the
constitutional
order after a closed trial.
Uzbek authorities alleged that she was a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir
(Party of
Liberation), a prohibited Muslim group that promotes the peaceful
establishment of an Islamic state in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.
Currently, some 4,000 alleged members of the group are believed to be
in
prison on similar charges, although most rights groups estimate the
total
number of independent Muslims--that is, those who practice outside
government-controlled mosques--at more than 6,000...
-----
PEORIA-AREA MUSLIMS JOIN MILLIONS FOR ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
Carrie Kepple, Journal Star, 2/16/04
http://www.pjstar.com/news/topnews/b26l8qe4013.html
PEORIA - Muslims in Peoria, as in other parts of the world, gathered
Sunday
in celebration of Eid ul-Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice
observed
at the end of Hajj.
Nearly 300 men, women and children congregated inside the Michel
Student
Center at Bradley University for a commemorative dinner and activities
organized by three local groups.
The Islamic Center of Peoria, the Islamic Foundation of Peoria and the
Muslim Association of Greater Peoria set up the open-house event twice
a
year depending on the lunar calendar.
"This celebration is primarily for the kids to enjoy and have fun,"
said
Suhail Syed, president of the Islamic Center of Peoria. "It has really
grown over the years."
Though similar as many celebrations before it, this one was a bit
different. Fifteen local residents who recently joined more than 2
million
Muslims in Mecca for Hajj, the annual pilgrimage, were welcomed home...
-----
MISCONDUCT ACCUSATIONS IMPERIL TERROR CONVICTIONS
Jerry Seper, Washington Times, 2/16/04
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040216-121921-6396r.htm
Three terrorism convictions in Detroit cited last year by Attorney
General
John Ashcroft as proof that the government's war on terrorism is
working
are in jeopardy.
The lead prosecutor in the first terrorism-related trial after the
September 11 attacks was removed from the case, as was his boss.
Justice
Department lawyers and FBI agents in Washington and Detroit are looking
into accusations of misconduct.
The U.S. attorney in Detroit, who reassigned lead prosecutor Richard
Convertino and supervisor Keith Corbett, has been accused of
retaliating
against a Senate committee witness, and Mr. Ashcroft was censured by
the
presiding judge, who has described the case as "a fine kettle of fish."
Sentencing in the case has been delayed pending a consideration of a
defense motion for a new trial.
In June, Abdel-Ilah Elmardoudi and Karim Koubriti, both Moroccans, were
found guilty of conspiracy to provide material support for terrorism. A
co-defendant, Ahmed Hannan, also a Moroccan, was convicted of document
fraud. They were accused as members of a sleeper cell that schemed to
commit terrorist acts against U.S. targets...
After the convictions, Mr. Ashcroft said in a statement that the case
showed that the Justice Department would "work diligently to detect,
disrupt and dismantle" terrorist cells in the nation and abroad, adding
that "every victory in the courtroom brings us closer to our ultimate
goal
of victory in the war on terrorism."
Seven months before the verdict, Mr. Ashcroft described the
government's
key witness, Youssef Hmimssa, as a "critical tool" in the war on
terrorism,
a remark that brought the threat of a contempt charge by the judge.
Mr. Ashcroft apologized and promised to "make every effort" to avoid
similar statements...
ALSO SEE:
PROSECUTOR IN TERROR CASE CONTROVERSY SUES ASHCROFT
Associated Press, 2/17/04
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-17-ashcroft-sued_x.htm
WASHINGTON (AP) - Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino of Detroit
accused the Justice Department of "gross mismanagement" of the war on
terrorism in a whistleblower lawsuit filed late Friday in federal court
in
Washington.
Convertino also accused Justice officials of intentionally divulging
the
name of one of his confidential terrorism informants (CI) to retaliate
against him.
The prosecutor is being represented by the National Whistleblower
Center,
which has represented FBI agents and other whistleblowers in recent
cases
involving terrorism. Its chief lawyer successfully helped Linda Tripp
win
damages under the Privacy Act for the leak of information from her
Pentagon
personnel file after the Monica Lewinsky affair...
-----
FALLEN SOLDIER'S MOTHER SAYS HER SON 'DIED FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING'
John Tredrea, Hopewell Valley News, 2/12/04
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.asp?brd=1091&dept_id=425744&newsid=10958951&pag
Generous, compassionate, warm, piercingly intelligent and insightful,
frank
and open about his feelings, and fun loving.
That is how Army 1st Lt. Seth Dvorin, 24, who was killed in
Iskandariyah,
Iraq on Feb. 3, is remembered by his grieving family. But their
tumultuous
emotional mix is replete with stinging anger and frustration, as well
as
overwhelming sorrow.
"My son died for absolutely nothing," Lt. Dvorin's mother, Sue
Niederer,
declared with quiet, forceful bluntness in her Hopewell Township home
on
Lake Baldwin Drive Friday. Ms. Niederer blames President George W. Bush
personally for her son's death.
"Seth died for President Bush's personal vendetta," she said. "Bush put
us
where we should never have been. We're not even in a declared war."
Ms. Niederer says the growing national controversy over the failure to
find
any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq proves that "we have a very big
problem in this country. If the intelligence on which this war was
based is
as inefficient as it now appears to have been, there is something is
seriously wrong here."
Ms. Niederer and other members of Lt. Dvorin's family also are upset
that
he may have been trying to diffuse an unexploded bomb when he was
killed.
He had no training in defusing bombs, they said.
"We're getting mixed stories from the Army, to say the least," Ms.
Niederer
said sardonically. "You won't get anything from them. They'll just tell
you
it's all under investigation. One officer I spoke to told me Seth was
handling the bomb, attempting to deactivate it, when it went off,
killing
him. It took off a piece of his skull. Another officer told me that
there
is no way, absolutely no way, he was touching the bomb..."
-----
ISRAEL APPROVES $20M FOR SETTLEMENTS
Gavin Rabinowitz, Associated Press, 2/17/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3757121,00.html
JERUSALEM - A parliamentary committee has approved more than $20
million in
new funding for Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,
despite
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's recent calls to evacuate parts of these
areas.
The decision Monday by the Finance Committee outraged the Palestinians
as
well as opposition legislators. It also threatened to complicate a
visit
this week by senior U.S. diplomats, who are to arrive to discuss peace
efforts with Sharon.
Sharon has recently called for Israel to unilaterally separate from the
Palestinians if peace efforts fail. He has proposed a pullout from
virtually all of the Gaza Strip as well as isolated settlements in the
West
Bank.
Although Israel hasn't carried out any of these steps, talk of
abandoning
settlements has alarmed Sharon's hawkish coalition partners. On
Tuesday, a
hard-line partner proposed that Israel turn over Arab towns inside
Israel
to Palestinian control in exchange for Jewish settlements in the West
Bank.
The proposal floated by Deputy Education Minister Zvi Hendel of the
National Union Party was the latest effort by hawkish coalition
partners to
thwart Sharon's calls to evacuate settlements.
In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, some 1,500 angry Palestinians early
Tuesday
shut down the crossing point Gaza residents use to reach jobs in
Israel.
The laborers were protesting new security restrictions and Monday's
death
of a fellow worker they blame on Israel.
Security at the Erez crossing, the main entryway to Israel for the
19,000
workers with permits, has been heightened since a Palestinian suicide
bomber blew herself up there Jan. 14, killing four Israelis. Israel
said
Monday's death of a 41-year-old laborer was caused by a heart attack...
---
ISRAEL: THE THREAT FROM WITHIN
Henry Siegman, NY Review of Books, 2/17/04
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/16916
A recent front-page New York Times article on Condoleezza Rice's role
in
shaping US foreign policy reported that in the spring of 2002, when
violence was escalating between Israel and the Palestinians, President
Bush
asked the following of Dr. Rice: Beyond the question of whether the US
is
"pushing this party hard enough or that party hard enough," what is the
"fundamental problem" that has defeated all previous peace initiatives
and
continues to stand in the way of a political agreement?[1]
Dr. Rice's answer was that the fundamental problem is Yasser Arafat-
his
refusal to act to stop terrorism and the absence of democracy and
accountability in Palestinian political institutions. She concluded,
therefore, that sidelining Yasser Arafat, democratizing Palestinian
institutions, and bringing to the fore a new Palestinian leadership
would
improve the prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. This
insight, according to Dr. Rice, countered the "prevailing wisdom" that
the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict was "just about land."
Of course, the conflict has never been just about land, but what has
defeated every previous peace initiative -from the Oslo Accords to the
Mitchell proposals to the Tenet guidelines to the current roadmap-is
the
struggle over land. And what has made land the central issue is
Israel's
unilateral expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, an
expansion
that continues relentlessly even as Prime Minister Sharon speaks of
disengagement, withdrawal, painful concessions, and the dismantling of
settlements...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/18/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: RESPECT COVENANTS
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Massachusetts
- CAIR-DFW: 250 Turn Out For CAIR-DFW Dinner
- CAIR-NY Job Opening: Executive Director
* MISSING PERSON IN ILLINOIS: ZUBAIR ALI GHIAS
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: DON'T VIOLATE RIGHTS (Davis Enterprise)
* GA: MUSLIM ATHLETE STRIVES FOR OLYMPIC GOLD (Atlanta Journal)
- Huge Talent Swims to Quiet Splash (Atlanta Journal)
* CA: SHARED RELIGION VIEWED AS VITAL TOOL FOR PEACE (PE)
* RADICAL ISLAM ISN'T THE ONLY SOURCE OF TERROR (LA Times)
- Daniel Pipes as a Cool Medium (Reason)
- Religious Views Challenge Liberal Values (Yale Daily)
* U.S. MUSLIMS FORM ELECTION TASK FORCE (UPI)
- Who You Calling "Arab"? (Slate)
* NLG CONDEMNS EFFORT BY ARMY TO GATHER INFO ON STUDENTS
* IT'S ISLAMIC AWARENESS WEEK AT SU (News 10 Now)
- FL: Classes on Islam Reflect National Trend (Sun Herald)
* IS HIJAB A THREAT TO STABILITY? (Star Telegram)
- Muslims Fight US State Fiat against Scarves (HT)
* MINNEAPOLIS'S OWN SLICE OF MOGADISHU (City Pages)
* US COMMANDER SEES TROOPS STAYING IN IRAQ FOR YEARS (Reuters)
- Advice to Kerry on Exiting Iraq (NY Times)
* ISRAEL BARRIER VIOLATES HUMANITARIAN LAW-RED CROSS (Reuters)
- Kerry: "Cause of Israel is the Cause of America" (CP)
* UNDEMOCRATIC TUNISIA (NY Times)
* NY: PAKISTANI AMERICANS HOST DINNER WITH SENATORS
- NY: Discussion on the Detainees of 9/11
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: RESPECT COVENANTS
Enemies of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once sent a
messenger
who, on arrival, accepted Islam. The messenger then told the Prophet he
would never return to those who sent him. The Prophet replied: "I do
not
(want to create the impression that I would) break a covenant or
imprison
messengers, so return (to them), and if you feel the same as you do
now,
come back." The messenger later returned to the Prophet and became a
Muslim.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1182
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,292 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Massachusetts: 162 covered, 315 more libraries
to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
---
250 TURN OUT FOR CAIR-DFW DINNER
More than $100,000 raised for civil rights work
(DALLAS, TX) - The Dallas/Fort-Worth office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW) said today that some 250 people
turned out its fundraising dinner on Sunday. The dinner, held at the
Hilton
Dallas Lincoln Center, raised more than $100,000.00 in donations to
support
CAIR-DFW's civil rights work.
Speakers and attendees at the event included Dr. Mardi Chev,
representing
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, State Representative Terry Hodge,
State Representative Lon Burnam, and Star Telegram editor Bob Ray
Sanders.
The guests were presented awards for their continuous support on issues
impacting the entire Dallas/Fort-Worth Muslim community.
CONTACT:
Council on American Islamic Relations-DFW
3010 LBJ FRWY, Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75234
Ph: 972-241-7233, Fax: 972-241-7466
E-mail: info@cairddfw.org
www.cairdfw.org
---
CAIR-NY JOB OPENINGS: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CAIR-NY has an opening for an experienced and dynamic person to fill
the
position of Executive Director.
The position involves:
* Overseeing the CAIR-NY office
* Community affairs and outreach, mosque visits
* Fundraising
* Government relations
* Membership and volunteer management
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
cair-ny@cair-ny.com or by fax 212-870-2020. When applying via email
please
ensure to write the position title in the subject line of the email.
-----
MISSING PERSON: ZUBAIR ALI GHIAS
http://www.zeashan.com/
Chicago, IL
Age: 27
Height: 6"
Weight: 160 pounds
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
LAST SEEN:
Saturday, February 14th, afternoon
driving a White 2004 Range Rover with Illinois plate: D279249
If you have ANY information regarding Zubair Ali Ghias
PLEASE CONTACT Investigator Robert Burkart: Phone: (312) 744-8200
Chicago Police Department, 18th District: (312) 742-5871
Please send all tips to:
http://us.f419.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=findzubair@zeashan.com
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: DON'T VIOLATE RIGHTS
Cory Golden, Davis Enterprise, 2/17/04
http://www.davisenterprise.com/articles/2004/02/17/news/320new3.txt
"Every time we ally ourselves with the most repressive forces in the
world
we put the lie to President Bush's eloquent contention that the war on
terror is being fought in the name of freedom and the rule of law.
"Similarly, every time we violate rights here at home, particular the
rights of Muslim residents, we make it harder - if not impossible - for
moderates in the Muslims communities around the world, to say nothing
of
our European allies, to stand with us."
William F. Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA
-----
MUSLIM ATHLETE STRIVES FOR OLYMPIC GOLD
Curtis Bunn, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/18/04
http://www.ajc.com/wednesday/content/epaper/editions/wednesday/sports_0433f04600434175002b.html
Mujahid El-Amin of W.D. Mohammed High is the rarest of athletes: a
superlative swimmer who happens to be African-American and Muslim and
who,
with his decision to attend Florida A&M, will eschew some of the top
swimming programs to attend a historically black college.
The 17-year-old El-Amin was the youngest competitor to qualify for the
finals of the USA Swimming Nationals in the 100-meter butterfly over
the
weekend in Orlando. He placed 17th in 55.12 seconds.
"It wasn't a big struggle for me to make my decisions," he said. "I
just
wanted to be at a place where I can be comfortable like at W.D.
Mohammed.
If I'm comfortable in my surroundings, I'll be able to concentrate on
pushing myself to a higher level."
That higher level is Olympic gold. El-Amin will compete for a spot on
the
2004 Olympic team, but "in 2008, I'm talking gold medal," he said.
"Basically, I'm focusing on that."
He said he will use his time at Florida A&M, which has a burgeoning
swim
program, to get stronger and faster than his best of 54.46 seconds in
the
100 butterfly.
El-Amin, who started swimming at 6 and is a member of the Atlanta
Dolphins
swim team, said his status as an African-American swimmer has made him
a
more intense competitor. From other swimmers, "I don't feel any racism.
But
from coaches, I feel it," he said, without elaborating. "As an
African-American, I have to prove myself to be worthy of competing. And
I
use that as motivation."
ALSO SEE:
HUGE TALENT SWIMS TO QUIET SPLASH
Michelle Hiskey, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/18/04
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/columns/hiskey/index.html
Lots of hoopla surrounds gifted high school athletes --- especially
football players --- making their college decisions this month. Tuesday
morning, a subdued atmosphere greeted one of the country's most
acclaimed
young swimmers as he revealed his choice to the 80-some schoolmates at
East
Atlanta's W.D. Mohammed High.
Mujahid El-Amin is the second-fastest American teenager in the
100-meter
butterfly. He has earned the chance to qualify in July for the next
U.S.
Olympic team and likely will swim even faster before the 2008 Games in
Beijing.
He is what the best in this sport are not: African-American, from a
working-class family, raised in an urban neighborhood, trained at
public
pools. His school doesn't even have a swim team.
And he's Muslim --- a faith that helps explain how El-Amin has gotten
so
fast and so far, and why he chose a full scholarship from Florida A&M
over
national swimming powerhouses like Georgia and Auburn.
Islam also values modesty, and with El-Amin's reluctance to brag, so
few of
his peers knew of his success that Tuesday's ceremony came with an
unusual
preface:
"Mujahid El-Amin is to swimming what Isma'il Muhammad is to
basketball,"
school board president Sabir Muhammad Sr. explained, invoking the alum
who
is a star dunker for Georgia Tech.
Nods and claps rippled through the boys in white shirts and ties, the
girls
in jumpers and scarves seated on the bleachers of the Shareef
Abdur-Rahim
gymnasium (the former Hawks star was a major benefactor).
For a Muslim devoted to the rigors of fasting during Ramadan and five
daily
prayers, the discipline required of elite swimmers is not such a great
leap...
-----
SHARED RELIGION VIEWED AS VITAL TOOL FOR PEACE
Bettye Wells Miller, Press Enterprise, 2/18/04
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_peace18.58c37.html
A theory of peacemaking that is grounded in the scriptures and
traditions
of Islam and Christianity could help reduce violence globally and in
the
United States, an evangelical theologian leading a conflict-resolution
project in Pasadena said.
"The more we can work for common ground, the more chance we have of
working
through our differences and areas of conflict," said J. Dudley
Woodberry,
professor of Islamic studies at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Fuller, an evangelical seminary in Pasadena, received a $993,500 grant
from
the U.S. Department of Justice last year for the Muslim-Christian
Conflict
Transformation Program, which Woodberry said is an outgrowth of the
seminary's efforts to reach out to Muslims since Sept. 11, 2001.
-----
RADICAL ISLAM ISN'T THE ONLY SOURCE OF TERROR
Tom Impelluso, Los Angeles Times, 2/18/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-le-impelluso18feb18,1,3095521.story
Though I would agree with Michael Ramirez's cartoon (Commentary, Feb.
15)
that terrorism (Islamic or otherwise) is indeed a cancer, medicine
teaches
us that we must locate the cancer even earlier if we are to prevent
disease.
The birth of a tumor on the body begins with more seemingly benign
growths
such as American Airlines pilots who announce religious preferences,
Georgia school superintendents who subvert science and actors whose
Passions are more aimed at divisiveness than spiritual sustenance.
---
Norman M. Pate, LA Times, 2/18/04
Ramirez's cartoon depicting radical Islam as "The Cancer" is itself a
manifestation of the growth of radical Christianity. Ramirez would do
well
to get his own house in order before throwing stones.
Ramirez is right about the cancerous nature of terrorism. However, to
single out radical Islam and ignore radical Christianity and radical
Judaism is American ethnocentrism at its worst.
Has Ramirez forgotten the assassination of abortion doctors or the
murder
of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin? Perhaps these cancer cells
should
be drawn a bit smaller. But let us not forget that radicalism and any
religion is a dangerous mixture.
ALSO SEE:
DANIEL PIPES AS A COOL MEDIUM
Tim Cavanaugh, Reason, 2/17/04
http://www.reason.com/links/links021704.shtml
"We totally support Mr. Pipes' right to speak on campus," says Lisa
Stampnitzki, of the student group Tzedek, an affiliate of Berkeley
Hillel,
"but as a Jewish group we're very concerned that Hillel has chosen to
sponsor him, due to the fact that he has made many anti-Muslim
statements
and also the fact that his organization is clamping down on academic
freedom. We're concerned that Hillel's sponsorship would lend the
appearance that the Jewish community supports his views."
She's referring to the controversial Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes,
who
is appearing at the University of California at Berkeley's 523-seat
Pimentel Hall. Elegantly titled "An Evening with Daniel Pipes," the
event
has a built-in protest factor, spiced up by its being set in the
historic
capital of campus unrest. Sure enough, the call has gone out for
demonstrators against the "Zionist Racist." An hour before the speech
is
set to begin, about 200 demonstrators have already shown up to, well...
heckle Pipes? Grill him? Scare him? Support him? Stop him from
speaking?
This question goes to the root of Pipes' appearance and its value as
theater. One of the speaker's central contentions is that American
universities have become tiny gulags of radical intolerance, places
where
voices like his are not only (in the words of the anti-Pipes
demonstrators)
"not welcome," but forcibly silenced. In preparation for the dustup,
Pipes
has already made a last-minute change of venue and brought in his own
security detail-by my count there are about 30 uniformed cops of one
stripe
or another milling around outside or already in the building. "I
encourage
those sympathetic to my message to come out and support it and me,"
Pipes
has advised his mailing list...
---
RELIGIOUS VIEWS CHALLENGE LIBERAL VALUES
Yale Daily News, 2/17/04
http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=25067
Yale is as modern an institution as any, and it has had little trouble
integrating Muslims. In their discussion of Islamic Awareness Week in
Tuesday's Yale Daily News, members of the Muslim Students Association
sounded largely positive about the Yale community's acceptance of its
Muslim members. Their comments suggest that both informal,
interpersonal
interactions and institutional work, such as the MSA's cooperation with
the
Chaplain's Office, have helped make Yale a place where Muslims are
fully
welcome. Students did raise some concerns, but none amounted to a fear
of
outright exclusion.
An institution like the Yale chaplaincy, which exists to ease the
practice
of various faiths and inspire broader understanding of all, might feel
like
an imposed religious authority to French sensibilities. As we were
reminded
last week, however, the Yale Chaplain's Office has no interest in
imposing
faith in the classroom, only in giving people of faith some
institutional
support for their activities. Both officially and unofficially, Yale
makes
it clear that people of faith are welcome as themselves. Even the
Rumpus,
which no one would accuse of excessive religious sympathies, named a
Muslim
woman one of its most beautiful Yalies this year and spoke approvingly
of
her headscarf.
While Yale's institutional and cultural support for Muslims soundly
rejects
the French logic of secularism, however, it is not yet clear whether
Fortuyn has followers here. Most Yalies have no problem with the
Muslims in
their midst, or with the other international students and people of
faith
on this campus, but nobody is rocking the boat. The Dutch system, which
resembles Yale's in some respects began to break down when voices from
the
religious immigrant community began challenging western liberal norms,
especially on gender and sexuality. Religious and national diversity
were
fine with Fortuyn, but religious voices preaching some ethics were
unacceptable...
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS FORM ELECTION TASK FORCE
United Press International, 2/17/04
http://www.turks.us/article.php?story=20040218073101774
WASHINGTON - A coalition of U.S.-Islamic groups announced Tuesday the
creation of a task force to promote political participation among
Muslims
in the United States.
The new group, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and
Elections,
will focus its efforts on helping Muslims living in the United States
to
become "full partners" in the American way of life and will also
defend, it
says, against the erosion of civil liberties in the post-Sept. 11
environment.
"Our vote is the best guarantee of our civil rights and the best
expression
of our citizenship," AMT Coordinator Agha Saeed said. "We will mobilize
American Muslim voters at the local, state and national levels, with a
primary focus on those states and races that may have the most impact
in
the coming elections."
The AMT is an umbrella group whose members include the American Muslim
Alliance, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Muslim Public
Affairs Council and Project Islamic Hope.
ALSO SEE:
WHO YOU CALLING "ARAB"?
Jack Shafer, Slate, 2/17/04
http://slate.msn.com/id/2095636/
The headline on today's Page One, above-the-fold New York Times story,
"Arabs in U.S. Raising Money To Back Bush," sets the table for a
promising
meal. You assume that reporter Leslie Wayne is about to serve a dish
about
how the war in Iraq and aggressive Republican Party outreach have paid
dividends to Bush campaign coffers in the form of Arab-American
donations.
But the uncoiling lede sells a more expansive story than the hed: It's
not
just "wealthy Arab-Americans" but also "foreign-born Muslims" who are
raising big chunks of money for the president.
In today's sensitive times, even schoolchildren know that the terms
Arab
and Muslim aren't interchangeable. Not all Arabs are Muslims, and not
all
Muslims are Arabs. So the generous reader reads on, thinking that maybe
the
headline writer made an innocent goof and the hed should have read
"Muslims
in U.S. Raising Money To Back Bush."
But no. The next two paragraphs of the story-the "billboard" promising
what
is to follow-are all about Arab-Americans and their support of Bush;
their
opposition to Bush; their criticisms of Bush; and their eagerness to
buy
seats at the political table by making campaign donations and thereby
winning invitations to the Texas White House. OK, the reader assures
himself, the story is really about Arab-Americans, and the single
Muslim
reference in the lede was a bit of a mistake...
-----
IS MUSLIM HEAD SCARF REALLY A THREAT TO STABILITY?
Alan Cochrum, Star-Telegram, 2/18/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/7960222.htm
Think of it as "lese-majeste." That's Gallic for "sticking your
religious
thumb in France's eye," which apparently is what President Jacques
Chirac,
several hundred lawmakers and others think some Muslim girls and their
families are doing.
Last week, France's National Assembly gave initial approval (494-36 _
now
it's on to the Senate) to a bill stating that "in schools, junior high
schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the
religious affiliation of students are forbidden," according to a news
report.
In other words, no head scarf for Ali's sister, no matter what she or
her
parents believe about modesty in public.
No skullcap for Rivkeh's brother, no matter what he and his family
think
about propriety in the presence of the Almighty.
And if that cross around Marie's neck seems a bit large to some campus
administrator, forget that, too.
"The Muslim veil, whatever name it is given, the kippa (skullcap) or
the
cross, if of manifestly excessive dimensions, don't have a place in the
walls of public schools," Chirac said in a televised speech late last
year.
France, it seems, is a devoutly secular state, and public school
students
who dress in accordance with their various faiths are profaning the
sanctum
sanctorum, so off with their ... well, garb...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS, SIKHS FIGHT US STATE FIAT AGAINST SCARVES, TURBANS
S Rajagopalan, Hindustan Times, 2/17/04
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_576268,00050001.htm
The US state of Alabama has raised the hackles of the Sikhs and the
Muslims
by framing a new rule that bars them from wearing turbans or head
scarves
while being photographed for driving licences.
Activists from both communities have threatened a class action lawsuit
if
the "discriminatory order" is not scrapped right away. For a start,
they
have held a protest at the Statehouse in Montgomery, the state capital.
Some see a parallel with the controversial French law against wearing
head
scarves and turbans in schools. But the Alabama authorities say the
rationale here is not religion, but "the need to have identifiable
pictures
on licences".
One of the first victims of the new rule is Chitraltan Singh Sethi, a
student of University of Alabama in Huntsville. An engineering student
who
immigrated from India six months back, Sethi was denied the driver's
licence a fortnight ago.
The man taking up cudgels on Sethi's behalf is Rajinder Singh Mehta, an
aerospace engineer at NASA in Huntsville. Mehta, who has lived in
Alabama
for 35 years, said the latest rule will not stand scrutiny in a court
of law.
Dr Surjit Singh Sidhu, a resident of Lauderdale county, said the state
rule
was out to "deprive us of our religion". No matter how long they have
lived
in this country, the upshot of this rule was to treat the Sikhs,
Muslims
and others as "non-citizens".
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations has received
10
to 15 complaints from people in Alabama who have been denied licenses
lately because of their head scarves...
-----
MINNEAPOLIS'S OWN SLICE OF MOGADISHU
Mike Mosedale, City Pages, 2/18/04
http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1211/article11891.asp
It's a dismal day in south Minneapolis, one of those cold midwinter
afternoons when the sun shines as though its batteries were dying. At
times
like this, a good portion of Twin Cities natives wishes they lived
somewhere else, like Florida. But, what can you do? Move, gripe, or
shut
up. At a bustling little mall called Karmel Square--where, until fairly
recently, practically everyone did live somewhere else--the frigid
weather
is a favorite topic of conversation. "We are an outdoor people,"
grumbles
mall regular Abdullahi Hassan. But Hassan, along with many of the
estimated
25,000 Somalis living in Minnesota, has come to grudgingly accept
snowdrifts and windchill as part of the bargain he makes for a better
life.
Besides, when he wants a taste of home, he can always make the trek to
Karmel Square.
In the food court, the mall's social nexus, the tile floor is littered
with
dirty napkins and snowmelt. Broken Styrofoam cups float in the
ornamental
fountain. Plastic buckets, which have been scattered about the room,
catch
drips falling from leaks in the roof. But the building's lackluster
upkeep
doesn't seem to bother anyone much. The air is filled with
conversation.
People constantly greet one another in excited voices. There is a
virtual
epidemic of hugging and touching.
On this midweek afternoon, the food court is inhabited by maybe two
dozen
people, almost exclusively Somali men speaking Somali. Most are sipping
coffee or sweet tea. A few are munching hunger-quenching snack foods
like
nafaqo--a delectable batter-fried hunk of mashed potato wrapped around
a
hardboiled egg. As usual, a bunch of guys are clustered near the
television. It's tuned to an English soccer match. At Karmel Square,
the TV
is always tuned to soccer. Unless there's no soccer. Then it's tuned to
CNN
and everyone looks a little bored...
-----
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD CONDEMNS EFFORT BY U.S. ARMY TO GATHER
INFORMATION
ON STUDENTS
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD, 2/17/04
http://www.nlg.org/news/statements/UTexasLaw_pressrelease.htm
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) has condemned an apparent effort on
the
part of the United States Army to gather information about students
engaged
in a civilian academic conference. On February 9, two Army officers
came to
the University of Texas Law School seeking information about a
conference
that had been held on February 4. The agents requested a roster of
attendees and sought to interview the organizer of the event.
The conference was entitled, "Islam and the Law: The Question of
Sexism?"
and was co-sponsored by the U.T. student chapter of the National
Lawyers
Guild. The conference was also co-sponsored by the University of Texas
School of Law, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Student Bar
Association, the Texas Journal of Women and the Law, the Center for
Women's
and Gender Studies, the Freedom and Justice Foundation, the Muslim Law
Students Association and the Human Rights Center at U.T. Law. (For more
information on the conference, go to:
www.utexas.edu/law/news/2004/010704_islam.html ). The conference was
apparently also attended by military personnel in plain clothes.
NLG student vice-president Maunica Sthanki, a law student at U.T. noted
that, "The conference itself was extremely secular, apolitical and was
an
attempt to educate people about Islam, as well as engage in an academic
debate on issues of women's rights in the Muslim world." She said, "It
is
particularly frightening that the Army sent investigators to an
institution
of higher learning. This raises disturbing issues of information
sharing
between the Army and civilian authorities such as the F.B.I..."
For more information about the National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense
Committee visit our website at: www.nlg.org
-----
IT'S ISLAMIC AWARENESS WEEK AT SU
News 10 Now, 2/17/04
http://news10now.com/content/all_news/?ArID=10593&SecID=83
Teaching others about Islam is the goal of Islamic Awareness Week going
on
at Syracuse University. It's run by the Muslim Student Association.
Monday
night, the group showed a documentary about the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
Organizers say everyone, including Muslims, should attend these events.
"Well, for example, in this movie called 'Promises', they get to
understand
that the conflicts going on in Israel, the ones in Iraq and Afghanistan
are
more about the people than about the religion," Saba Ali said.
The next event is called "A Taste of Islam" and will be from 3:00 pm to
5:00 pm Tuesday in Hendricks Chapel.
Ali says there'll be free food from different countries...
ALSO SEE:
CLASSES REFLECT NATIONAL TREND
Sun Herald, 2/16/04
http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/021604/tp1ch11.htm?date=021604&story=tp1ch11.htm
Donald Fialka encourages his fellow Americans to "take the blinders
off."
Fialka, a Venice resident, spoke up during a recent class on Islam
offered
at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County. He and the students who
turned
out for the six-week course taught by Ahmed N. Elrefai, Ph.D., are
representative of a national trend in education.
America's involvement in the Middle East -- whether military, economic
or
political -- has led many people like Fialka to want to learn more
about
the region and its people. Universities across the country are adding
more
Middle East studies classes. In this area, courses about the Middle
East
and Islam are being offered at the Cultural Center and Edison Community
College.
Elrefai and Samar Jarrah are both offering classes beginning in March
at
the Cultural Center. His focuses on religion and hers deals with
politics
and history. Hassan Hammami is finishing up his lecture series at
Edison
Community College.
Elrefai's "Islam in Focus" class is designed to give an overview of the
religion. The six-week lecture series begins with the foundations of
Islam
and ends with a discussion on misconceptions about the religion.
Elrefai recently finished teaching a course on Islam that drew students
from Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties. Perhaps no one was more
surprised at the crowd than Elrefai himself. He said he was struck not
only
by the number of students, but by their lively discussion and probing
questions...
-----
US COMMANDER SEES TROOPS STAYING IN IRAQ FOR YEARS
Reuters, 2/18/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4382360
MADRID - The U.S. commander in Iraq, in an interview published on
Wednesday, said he sees American troops staying for years, and helping
Iraqis maintain order in Baghdad for at least the coming 12 months.
"I would say we're talking about years, not months," Lieutenant General
Ricardo Sanchez told Spanish newspaper El Pais when asked how long the
U.S.
army would remain in Iraq.
"The Iraqis tell us they don't want us here, but nor do they want us to
go.
It's very complicated," he said.
Asked about Baghdad, where U.S. troops are moving to the outskirts to
help
ease newly trained Iraqi police and soldiers into their eventual role
as
the capital's guardians, Sanchez said tactical control remained firmly
in
the coalition's hands.
"The only thing that is changing is that we are giving Iraqi police
officers and Civil Defense Corps soldiers a little bit more
responsibility
and they are starting to operate more freely," he was quoted as saying.
"But (the Iraqi forces) continue to operate under the tactical control
of
the coalition forces. It's not a case of us leaving town and leaving
them
on their own."
Sanchez said U.S. troops on the outskirts of Baghdad would coordinate
with
the Iraqis and send them rapid reaction forces to help out in case of
problems...
ALSO SEE:
ADVICE TO KERRY ON EXITING IRAQ
George McGovern, New York Times, 2/18/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/18/opinion/L18FRIE.html
I am a longtime admirer of Thomas L. Friedman. I disagree, however,
with
his advice to Senator John Kerry relative to our Army in Iraq, which is
summarized in his final line: "We will not run" (column, Feb. 15).
This determination to stand and fight is tempting to political leaders.
The
trouble with this appeal is that brave young Americans do the bleeding
and
dying - not the political leaders who committed them to a mistaken war.
Terrorists are killing American soldiers in Iraq because our Army is in
Iraq. I hope that President Bush, with the help of the United Nations,
will
find a way to return Iraq to the Iraqis and bring our Army home.
Paradoxically, on the same page as Mr. Friedman's column is a column by
Maureen Dowd detailing how Ahmad Chalabi, the convicted criminal Iraqi
exile, snowed the neoconservatives in the Bush administration into
believing that the American Army could walk into Iraq unopposed and
that he
would be an ideal replacement for Saddam Hussein.
Replacing Saddam Hussein with Ahmad Chalabi would be comparable to
replacing Jack the Ripper with Al Capone. Such a development is not
worth
risking the death of one additional American.
Thousands of young Americans bled and died in Vietnam to keep a series
of
political frauds in power in Saigon. Let's not go down that road again,
claiming all the while, "We will not run." How about a compromise?
Let's
walk out of Iraq...
The writer was the Democratic candidate for president in 1972.
-----
ISRAEL BARRIER VIOLATES HUMANITARIAN LAW-RED CROSS
Robert Evans, Reuters, 2/18/04
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/71658/1/.html
GENEVA - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on
Wednesday that Israel's controversial West Bank barrier violates
international humanitarian law because it cuts across Palestinian land.
It said the barrier -- a network of metal fences and concrete walls --
bars
thousands of Palestinians stranded on its western side from adequate
access
to basic services like water, health care and education.
"The ICRC's opinion is that the West Bank Barrier, in as far as its
route
deviates from the 'Green Line' into occupied territory, is contrary to
IHL
(international humanitarian law)," a statement from the body's Geneva
headquarters said.
The statement also called on the Israeli government -- which says the
measure aims at keeping out suicide bombers who have killed hundreds of
its
citizens -- "not to plan, construct or maintain this Barrier within
occupied (Palestinian) territory."
In a prompt reaction, Israel's ambassador in Geneva Yaakov Levy said
the
ICRC's statement "could compromise the neutral stance" essential for
the
body -- which monitors global pacts on humanitarian issues in war and
post-war situations...
ALSO SEE:
"THE CAUSE OF ISRAEL IS THE CAUSE OF AMERICA"
Sen. John Kerry, Counterpunch, 2/17/04
http://www.counterpunch.org/kerry02172004.html
My first trip to Israel made real for me all I'd believed about Israel.
I was allowed to fly an air force jet from the Ovda Airbase. It was
then
that Israeli insecurity about narrow borders became very real to me. In
a
matter of minutes, I came close to violating the airspace of Egypt,
Jordan,
and Syria. From that moment on, I felt as Israelis do: The promise of
peace
must be secure before the Promised Land is secure on a thin margin of
land.
Back on the ground on that first trip, I toured the country from
Kibbutz
Mizgav Am to Masada to the Golan. I stood in the very shelter in a
kibbutz
in the north where children were attacked and I looked at launching
sites
and impact zones for Katousha rockets. I was enthralled by Tel Aviv,
moved
by Jerusalem and inspired by standing above Capernaum, looking out over
the
Sea of Galilee, where I read aloud the Sermon on The Mount. I met
people of
stunning commitment, who honestly and vigorously debated the issues as
I
watched and listened intently. I went as a friend by conviction; I
returned
a friend at the deepest personal level.
As the only true democracy in the Middle East, Israel has both the
burden
and the glory of a vigorous public square. We as Americans must be the
truest and best kind of ally--forthright enough to say what we
think--and
steadfast enough to stay the course in hard passages as well as easy
days.
Herzl's famous words--"If you will it, it is no dream"--signify the
promise
and the greatest power of Israel--and the hope that a fair and secure
peace
can be achieved. We must be committed to support Israel in the
exacting,
essential search for that dream...
-----
UNDEMOCRATIC TUNISIA
New York Times, 2/18/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/18/opinion/18WED3.html
Last fall, President Bush declared that Washington had learned the
folly of
accommodating Middle East dictatorships in the name of stability and
that
America would start putting its power in the service of democratic
values
throughout the region. Today, one of the area's most unbudging
autocrats,
President Zine el-Abidine ben Ali of Tunisia, will visit the White
House.
If Mr. Bush meant what he said last fall, he will offer some
constructive
public criticism on the value of free elections, a free press and an
independent judiciary. Secretary of State Colin Powell prepared the
ground
yesterday by offering Mr. ben Ali just such criticism.
Mr. ben Ali's record on human rights and democracy is poor even by the
standards of the Middle East. No serious political opposition is
allowed,
no critical coverage appears in the mass media, and hundreds of
Tunisians
remain jailed after unfair trials. Such arbitrary practices warrant
condemnation anywhere, but are doubly deplorable in Tunisia, a
relatively
developed country that enacted pioneering protections of women's rights
decades ago.
Tunisia's political progress has all but ground to a halt since Mr. ben
Ali
seized power in 1987. Since then, he has had himself re-elected three
times, on each occasion claiming more than 99 percent of the vote.
He plans to run for yet another term this October, and he recently
pushed
through constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power
through 2014...
-----
NY PAKISTANI AMERICANS HOST DINNER WITH SENATORS
WHAT: The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is hosting a
reception
and dinner with Senator Jon S. Corzine, DSCC Chair, Senator Charles
Schumer, Senator Tom Harkins and New York's Pakistani American
Community
WHEN: Friday, February 27, 2004 at 7:30pm - 10:30pm
WHERE: New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott, 102-05 Ditmars Boulevard,
East
Elmhurst, New York
COST: $5000 Senate Roundtable, $1000 Sponsor, $500 Host, $100 Friend
Please RSVP to: Mr. Shahid Ahmed Khan at 617-905-9060 or
shahidahmedkhan@aol.com, Mr. Shafqat Tanweer at 917-331-2878 or
stanweer@aol.com, Dr. Salman Zafar at 718-496-2290 or salmanz@aol.com,
or
Roger Chiang at 202-314-3230 or chiang@dscc.org.
Contributions or Gifts to the DSCC are not deductible for federal
income
purposes.
Paid for by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, www.dscc.org
http://www.dscc.org/, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate
committee.
ALSO SEE:
NY: DISCUSSION ON THE DETAINEES OF 9/11
WHAT: Join the Islamic Center of NYU Alumni Association and the Islamic
Center of NYU as they present "The Detainees of Sept 11th." Discussion
will
include issues such as the 1000 detainees that were arrested post 9/11,
many of whom are still in custody without access to lawyers. In
addition,
we will reflect on the human rights violations and the legality of the
actions taken by the US Government.
Various well-informed speakers such as Ghazi Khankan from the Council
of
American-Islamic Relations, Dalia Hashad from ACLU, and Br. Adem from
the
Islamic Circle of North America will share their insight into this
dilemma.
(Tentative: Imam Abdul Malik, Amnesty International, Center for
Constitutional Rights and more.)
WHEN: Tuesday, February 24th at 6:30 PM
WHERE: Rosenthal Pavillion (NYU Kimmel Center - 10th Floor, 60 Wash.
Sq. South)
Cosponsored by: Pakistani Students Association, Arab Students United,
United Sikh Association, Amnesty International, Islamic Circle of North
America, ACLU, Newman Club, Students for Justice in Palestine, Journal
for
Human Rights, Council for American-Islamic Relations, International
Socialists Organization
For more info please email alumni@icnyu.org or visit us at
http://alumni.icnyu.org
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/19/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE BEST CHARITY
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Wyoming
- CAIR-CA Congratulates Latinos on Anniversary
- CAIR-MD Testifies on Immigration Bills
- CAIR-St. Louis to Speak at JACL Banquet
- CAIR-St. Louis Journalism Scholarship
* RESPONSE TO REP. KING: WHO'S 'EXTREMIST?' (Newsday)
- CAIR: NY Rep Calls Mosque Leaders 'Enemy Amongst Us'
* CT: SCHOOL CLUB TRIP OPENS EYES TO ISLAM (Record Journal)
- Islam Was at Forefront of Civilization (Chicago Trib)
- IN: Arabic Programs Flourish (Purdue Exponent)
* ISLAM ILLEGAL UNDER LAW, AUSTRALIAN COURT TOLD (The Age)
* TX: UNDERCOVER OFFICERS AT ANTI-WAR MEETINGS (Daily Texan)
- RI Muslims Highlight Value of Religious Freedom (PJ)
* DANES RESTRICT IMAMS TO STIFLE MUSLIM RADICALS (Telegraph)
- Dutch Pass Law to Expel Asylum Seekers (Guardian)
- German State Proposes Muslim Headscarf Ban (SPS)
* ISLAMIC CLERICS MEET 'THE GREAT SATAN' FACE TO FACE (CSM)
* SOLDIERS KICKED HOODED IRAQI PRISONERS (Singapore News)
- Suicides in Iraq, Questions at Home (Wash. Post)
- Report Says Military Distorts Deaths (Boston Globe)
* MEET OUR NEW SADDAM: ISLAM KARIMOV (Counterpunch)
* RESPECT WILL LEAD TO PEACE IN MIDEAST (St. Louis Today)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE BEST CHARITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I guide you to
the
best (form of) charity? It is to provide for your daughter when she
(returns) to you (because of divorce or other circumstances) and has no
one
but you to provide for her."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1296
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7292 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Wyoming: 25 covered, 49 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
---
AMERICAN MUSLIMS CONGRATULATE LULAC ON ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY
(LOS ANGELES, CA) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations -
California
(CAIR-CA) and the Muslim community today congratulated the League of
United
Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on its 75 year anniversary.
In its statement, CAIR-CA said:
"We commend LULAC and its dedicated staff and members for their
tireless
efforts in defending civil rights and promoting justice for all
Americans.
LULAC's fight for equality over the years has helped to strengthen our
democracy and keep America true to its ideals. The struggle against
anti-Latino bigotry continues to inspire us in our current struggle
against
Islamophobia and discrimination, a struggle in which LULAC has
continually
offered its solidarity and support to the Muslim community.
"We look forward to a continued cooperation and friendship between our
respective organizations and communities across our country."
CONTACT:
CAIR-Southern California
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Suite F
Anaheim, CA 92801
Tel: (714) 776-1847
Fax: (714) 776-8340
E-mail: SOCAL@cair.com
---
CAIR-MD TESTIFIES ON IMMIGRATION BILLS
(BETHESDA, MD) - The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-MD) testified before the House Judiciary committee on
Wednesday in Annapolis, Md., in opposition to a series of bills that
could
make life more difficult for immigrants in that state.
CAIR-MD said House Bills HB 4, HB 7, HB 40, HB 41, HB 79, and HB 89
would
unfairly single out Asians, Arab-Americans, Latinos, and other
immigrant
communities.
The bills would restrict some immigrants from obtaining driver's
licenses,
require local police to arrest and detain all illegal aliens, or
require
the confiscation of the vehicle and revocation of the license of any
person
who lends their car to an illegal alien.
A person who is routinely stopped for a faulty tail lamp could be
profiled,
checked for his or her immigration status and detained for hours to get
clearance from the NCIS.
PG County States Attorney Glen Ivey, Mayor O'Malley of Baltimore,
Montgomery County Executive Duncan, ACLU, AFL-CIO of Maryland, Latino
groups of Maryland, and several other civil rights organization also
expressed their dissatisfaction of the bills.
CONTACT:
CAIR - Maryland
7752 Woodmont Avenue Suite 213
Bethesda, MD 20814
TEL: 301-986-1900
E-MAIL: info@cairmd.org
---
CAIR-ST. LOUIS DIRECTOR TO SPEAK AT JAPANESE AMERICAN BANQUET
WHAT: On February 21, CAIR-St. Louis Executive Director James Hacking
will
speak at the annual banquet of the Japanese American Citizens League
(JACL). His address will touch on the history of the JACL, the group's
efforts in combating racism directed towards Japanese-Americans, the
experiences of Muslims in America after 9/11, and ways the JACL and
CAIR
can work together in the future.
WHEN: Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 7 p.m.
WHERE: Japanese American Citizens League Banquet
FOR MORE INFORMATION, call (636) 207-8882
CAIR-St. Louis
14366 Manchester, Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63011
E-MAIL: admin@cair-stl.org
---
CAIR-ST. LOUIS JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP
CAIR-St. Louis is offering a $500 scholarship for the 2003-2004 school
year
to be used towards educational expenses for any local, full-time Muslim
student from Eastern Missouri or Southern Illinois who plans to pursue
a
career in journalism. Students must be interested in pursuing a career
in
print, television, radio or online media.
Applicants will be judged on their academic record, personal statement
and
interview with a member of our executive board.
Applications can be picked up at the Daar ul-Islam mosque or at the
CAIR-St. Louis Office.
To apply, submit an application, along with a high school or college
transcript to:
Journalism Scholarship CAIR St. Louis
14366 Manchester Suite 200
Manchester, Missouri 63011
Deadline: Applications must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2004
-----
WHO'S 'EXTREMIST'
Jameel Aalim-Johnson, Newsday, 2/19/04
http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-vpqltr193677328feb19,0,7962995.story
It is very unfortunate when individuals use difficult times to demonize
people of other races, religions or ethnicities for their own political
or
financial gain. Remarks by Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) on the Sean
Hannity
radio show, reported in Newsday ["King's Remarks Outrage Muslims,"
News,
Feb. 12] very ignorantly state that "85 percent of the mosques in the
United States have 'extremist leadership.'"
First of all, what is the basis for this figure? Did King do any
studies or
take any surveys? Or is he just parroting the prejudicial remarks put
forth
by anti-Muslim bigots like Steven Emerson and Daniel Pipes. Taking
information about Muslims from these two is akin to relying on
information
about African-Americans from the Ku Klux Klan.
Also, is King using the term extremist as a synonym for terrorist?
Perhaps
he believes that woman who wear a head scarf or men who wear beards are
extremist.
As an individual Muslim who has been a member of the leadership of two
mosques, I would like to know if King thinks that I am a part of the 85
percent or the 15 percent.
Individuals who are selected to positions of leadership show more
responsibility than King has, and they don't take advantage of a
prejudicial atmosphere for the purpose of gaining votes or selling
books.
Jameel Aalim-Johnson
Rockaway
SEE ALSO:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
DNC CONDEMNS NY REP'S 'HATE-FILLED' REMARKS ABOUT MUSLIMS
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=32936&page=NB
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUB TRIP OPENS EYES TO ISLAM
Rachel R. Makwana, Record-Journal, 2/19/04
http://www.record-journal.com/articles/2004/02/19/news/news01.txt
NEW HAVEN - Wearing a satin New York Yankees jacket and a white kufi,
the
traditional hat worn by Muslims at prayer, Sheik Mohammed Ahmed
explained
Islam's standards for prayer to his classmates during a field trip to
New
Haven Wednesday.
Ahmed and 10 other Muslim students from Washington Middle School,
members
of the Meriden school's International Ambassadors Club, helped Yale
University's Programs in International Educational Resources dispel
misconceptions about Islam for their classmates.
Yale hosted the trip and provided six hours of presentations about the
Muslim faith and culture, from a lesson in Arabic writing to eating an
authentic Middle Eastern lunch.
Forty students started the day with a trip to a Muslim house of
worship,
the Masjid Al-Islam mosque on George Street.
Out of respect, they took their shoes off, leaving them by the
entrance.
They sat quietly on the carpeted floor, legs crossed, listening to
Mohammed
Altikriti, president of the New Haven Islamic Center, explain Arabic
calligraphy and different styles of writing.
After that presentation, Ahmed, 12, who moved to the United States in
2002
from Bangladesh, showed off a Muslim prayer book and explained that
Muslims
pray five times each day, starting at 4 a.m., then again at 11 a.m., 2
p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m...
ALSO SEE:
ISLAM ONCE WAS AT FOREFRONT OF WORLD CIVILIZATION
Stevenson Swanson, Chicago Tribune, 2/18/04
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/7981897.htm
GRANADA, Spain - As the fiery orange sun sinks behind the mountains,
the
stones of the 800-year-old Alhambra take on a rosy glow. Against the
backdrop of the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the fortress'
rugged
towers stand out in the gathering dusk.
As the lights of this long-ago capital of al-Andalus - Islamic Spain -
blink to life, about 30 men kneel in neat rows inside a whitewashed
mosque
atop a hill facing the Alhambra. Palms held upward, they recite the
evening
prayers and bend forward until their heads touch the floor. Behind a
thin
screen, the shadowy outlines of the women of the mosque move in the
same
time-honored rhythms.
These two hilltop edifices represent the past and present faces of
Islam.
The Alhambra fortress, which the Moorish rulers of southern Spain began
to
construct in 1238, recalls the splendor and achievements of the golden
age
of Islam, when the youngest of the three great monotheistic religions
held
sway from the Straits of Gibraltar in the west to the banks of the
Indus
River in the east.
Across the ravine, the humble mosque, whose plain white walls and red
tile
roof make it virtually indistinguishable from its neighbors, testifies
to
the renewed vigor of Islam, a fast-growing religion with a worldwide
membership of about 1.2 billion, including 2 million to 4 million in
America, although some Muslim groups put the figure at 7 million.
It is the first new mosque in Granada in more than 500 years, yet its
opening in July came at a time of profound questioning about the
meaning
and direction of Islam. The Koran, Islam's holy book, preaches peace
and
charity, but to some Western ears, the loudest voices in the Muslim
world
extol hate and violence...
---
POPULARITY OF ARABIC PROGRAM FLOURISHES
Tarek Zeni, Purdue Exponent, 2/19/04
http://www.purdueexponent.org/interface/bebop/showstory.php?date=2004/02/19§ion=campus&storyid=arabicprogram
The increase of enrollment in Arabic classes at Purdue has soared by
over
355 percent during the past 3 years.
Nationwide, college campuses are trying to keep up with the demand of
students wanting to take Arabic and Purdue is no exception.
Consequently,
for the first time ever, Purdue will be offering an Arabic class in the
summer. Arabic 201 will be available for interested students during
the
second session of the Summer 2004 semester, as long as a minimum of 15
people enroll.
Keith Dickson, professor of foreign languages and literature and head
of
the Arabic program, notes that there are three prominent groups of
people
who take Arabic. Those groups consist of non-Arab, non-Muslim
Americans,
the group that has seen the highest growth rate; second-generation
Arab-Americans or "heritage speakers"; and international students who
are
Muslim.
Dickson said that global issues have, in an exponential manner, been
the
catalyst for the increased interest in Arabic and the Middle East.
Rockford Stites, sophomore in the School of Liberal Arts, naturally
finds
Arabic as a way to complement his interest in Middle-Eastern history
and
culture...
-----
ISLAM ILLEGAL UNDER LAW, COURT TOLD
Barney Zwartz, The Age, 2/20/04
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/19/1077072778607.html
Islam was an illegal religion because the Koran preached violence
against
Christians and Jews, a Christian group told a judge yesterday.
The group's barrister, David Perkins, said that Christianity was
established under Australia's constitution and had special protection,
especially through the blasphemy law.
Mr Perkins told the Victorian and Civil Administrative Tribunal that if
the
state's new religious hatred law intended to fetter the teaching of
Christian doctrine it was invalid.
Victoria's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 referred to lawful
religion, and it was in that sense, he said, that by preaching violence
Islam was disqualified.
"The Koran contradicts Christian doctrine in a number of places and,
under
the blasphemy law, is therefore illegal," he said.
In the first case under the act, the Islamic Council of Victoria has
complained that Catch the Fire Ministries, Pastor Danny Nalliah and
speaker
Daniel Scot, also a pastor, vilified Muslims at a seminar in March
2002.
Opening the defence yesterday, Mr Perkins said Christianity was
embedded in
the constitution...
-----
UNDERCOVER OFFICERS AT ANTI-WAR MEETINGS
Clay Reddick, Daily Texan Online, 2/18/04
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2004/02/18/TopStories/Undercover.Officers.At.AntiWar.Meetings-610217.shtml
Documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas prove
that undercover Austin police officers attended anti-war meetings in
March.
The Texas ACLU obtained two memos in November discussing undercover
police
protest planning meetings. One of the documents details a detective's
observations at a March 23 direct-action training where protesters
practiced civil disobedience. On March 24, about 40 people were
arrested
while protesting against the war in Iraq.
"In an attempt to gather intelligence information regarding mass civil
disobedience, members of the Organized Crime Division were requested to
participate in training sessions and actual protests in an undercover
capacity," the memo says.
Texas ACLU lawyer Ann Del Llano said police waste resources when
investigating nonviolent protesters, and such police activities may be
unconstitutional.
"These people intended to commit a Class C misdemeanor," said Del
Llano.
"Police should focus on violent crimes [instead]."
APD Assistant Chief Robert Dahlstrom said the department uses
undercover
police to better protect both demonstrators and police...
ALSO SEE:
FOR MUSLIMS IN U.S., POST-9/11 ERA HIGHLIGHTS VALUE OF RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM
Edward Fitzpatrick, Providence Journal, 2/19/04
http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20040219_church19.23d799.html
The call to prayer went out from a white-shingled building in
Providence's
West End yesterday, the Arabic words amplified by a loudspeaker on the
side
of the mosque.
"Allah is the greatest. I bear witness that none deserves worship
except
Allah. Come to prayer." Inside the Islamic Center of Rhode Island,
three
men knelt at one end of a large carpeted room, bowing forward, facing
Mecca, praying in silence.
Freedom of religion -- one of the five freedoms protected by the First
Amendment -- is a valuable right for all Americans but especially for
Muslims, who have faced suspicion and, in some cases, harassment after
the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"The First Amendment is very valuable, particularly for those
considered a
religious minority," said Imam Farid Ansari, of the Muslim American
Dawah
Center of Rhode Island. "This is one of the beauties of America. If
ever
there was a point of light, that is it: freedom of religion."
It is a freedom firmly rooted in Rhode Island, a state founded by Roger
Williams on the principle of religious tolerance. The concept is
literally
carved in stone -- above the south entrance to the State House: "To
hold
forth a lively experiment that a most flourishing civil state may stand
and
best be maintained with full liberty in religious concernments."
"That is a very comforting thought," Ansari said of the inscription.
"It's
something I cherish as a Muslim-American and as a citizen of Rhode
Island."
But America became a very uncomfortable place for many Muslims after
the
terrorist attacks. Ansari calls it "Islamaphobia." He noted, for
example,
that the son of the Rev. Billy Graham -- the Rev. Franklin Graham --
called
Islam "a very evil and wicked religion."
And closer to home, authorities swarmed the Providence train station
one
day after the attacks to arrest a man wearing a turban and a Sikh
ceremonial dagger. Charges were later dropped...
-----
DANES RESTRICT IMAMS TO STIFLE MUSLIM RADICALS
Julian Isherwood, Telegraph, 2/19/04
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/19/wdane19
Denmark will crack down on the immigration of Islamic preachers to try
to
stifle radicalism among its Muslims.
A parliamentary bill does not mention the Islamic faith, but Anders
Fogh
Rasmussen, the Danish prime minister, has made the target of the
legislation clear in announcing restrictions on "foreign missionaries".
It had been "too easy" for them to get a residence permit, he said.
"That is why we are now putting forward new requirements for residing
in
the country, like the demand that imams and others have an education
and
that they be financially self-sufficient."
The bill is expected to be passed by parliament within weeks. To cater
for
the Danish constitution, which bans any form of religious
discrimination,
the legislation will affect all religious persuasions.
About 30 organisations under the banner of the Danish Missionary
Society
reacted strongly to the proposals yesterday, saying the government was
"stifling the freedom of religion and thought".
The bill makes exemptions for certain clerics and nuns. "Residence will
only be allowed provided that the number of foreigners seeking permits
as
missionaries or priests is reasonably related to the size of a
denomination."
It adds that foreign missionaries must have formal training and a close
relationship to Danish parishioners. Foreign imams will have to show
that
they have a good knowledge of Danish affairs and practices, a
rudimentary
knowledge of Danish and an understanding of the country's democratic
traditions...
ALSO SEE:
DUTCH PASS LAW TO EXPEL FAILED ASYLUM SEEKERS
Ian Black, Guardian, 2/18/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Refugees_in_Britain/Story/0,2763,1150482,00.html
MPs in the Netherlands passed a controversial law last night allowing
for
the mass expulsion of 26,000 failed asylum seekers from the country.
The Dutch parliament in The Hague rejected motions to soften plans by
the
Christian Democrat-led government and approved the policy by 83 votes
to 57.
The unprecedented move was a blow to the Netherlands' reputation for
tolerance and set a tough benchmark for Europe's asylum policies.
Asylum and immigration have been hotly debated across the continent in
recent years, with centrist parties from Austria to Denmark following
an
agenda set further to the right.
The legislation, opposed by large sections of the population and
international human rights groups, will force the 26,000 affected
asylum
seekers to return to their countries of origin within three years.
Mass hunger strikes and demonstrations - quietly encouraged by social
workers - have been threatened in response to the vote. One Iranian
asylum
seeker has sewn up his eyes and mouth in protest. The potential
deportees
include Somalis, Afghans, and Chechens who may be sent back to
countries
without a functioning government and still affected by violence.
But the government has insisted that those genuinely at risk would not
be
forced to leave.
Human Rights Watch has criticised the measure as a "deportation law
violating international standards" but Rita Verdonk, the minister for
immigration and integration, has called the policy "very good, very
humane..."
---
FIFTH GERMAN STATE PROPOSES MUSLIM HEADSCARF BAN
Special Broadcasting Service, 2/19/04
The southwestern region Saarland has became the fifth German state to
propose legislation to ban Muslem teachers from wearing headscarves in
public schools.
However displaying Christian and Jewish symbols would be allowed under
the
law because the teaching of Western religions is part of the public
school
curriculum in Saarland.
The ban is yet to be approved by the state legislature, but unlike
France
the German states are not trying to ban school students from wearing
religious apparel.
-----
WHEN ISLAMIC CLERICS MEET 'THE GREAT SATAN' FACE TO FACE
Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 2/19/04
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0219/p01s02-wome.html
NEW DELHI - As the principal of an Islamic seminary in New Delhi,
Maulvi
Mohammad Mouzzam Ahmed knows there is no such thing as a free lunch.
So when he was offered an all-expenses-paid trip to the United States a
few
months ago, to see how religious schools operate there, he was curious,
and
a little skeptical. What, he wondered, would the world's greatest
superpower want with a nice moderate Muslim like him?
The maulvi was not alone. He was just one of a half-dozen Indian Muslim
clerics invited to the United States in September as part of the US
State
Department's International Visitors program, a 60-year-old institution
that
has brought nearly 100,000 emerging world leaders an exposure to US
culture, society, and institutions.
Every year, US embassy officials choose a theme. Last year's tour group
of
Islamic clerics from India - the country with the world's third-largest
Muslim population - focused on American religious education, and was
called
"the madrassah program." Smart alecks here had another name for it:
"Meet
the Great Satan."
Maulvi Mouzzam, a pious middle-aged man with a disarming smile, is
still
not entirely sure what it was all about. But he did have a good time,
he
says. "Americans only work on a profit and loss basis, and I'm not sure
what sort of benefit they have gotten from my visit," he says, now back
at
his job handling admissions at the madrassah he runs at Fatehpuri
Mosque in
Old Delhi. "I did enjoy the American people, though. They were not as
virulently anti-Muslim as their government."
Given the prevalent anti-American sentiment found in South Asia these
days,
such suspicion is perhaps not surprising. But US diplomats in New Delhi
say
they have no hidden agenda. The main point, they say, is good old
fashioned
interaction: to bring different people from all over the world to see
the
United States for themselves, and determine whether the impressions
they
have or the propaganda they hear matches their own experiences...
-----
BRITISH SOLDIERS KICKED AND PUNCHED HOODED IRAQI PRISONERS
Singapore News, 2/19/04
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/040219/1/3i55y.html
British soldiers in Iraq kicked and punched hooded prisoners as they
screamed for mercy, a witness to an incident in which one Iraqi
detainee
was allegedly beaten to death was quoted as saying.
The serving British soldier, speaking on condition of anonymity, told
Thursday's edition of The Sun newspaper he had been "sick to his
stomach"
after witnessing the beatings in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
Britain's defence ministry said earlier this month that it was
investigating the death of an Iraqi prisoner while in British custody
following reports that he had been beaten to death.
According to The Sun, the dead man was among nine Iraqis held by the
Queen's Lancashire Regiment on suspicion of being bandits last
September,
just a few weeks after the regiment lost one of its number to a
roadside bomb.
The unnamed soldier said that when he visited the British base's cell
block
he saw the prisoners stretched out or kneeling with hoods over their
heads...
ALSO SEE:
SUICIDES IN IRAQ, QUESTIONS AT HOME
Theola Labbé, Washington Post, 2/19/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52735-2004Feb18.html
LUFKIN, Tex. -- Two-year-old Jada Suell tumbled out of the car and ran
ahead of everyone -- her grandmother, her mother, her cousins and her
4-year-old sister, Jakayla -- toward the grave of Joseph Dewayne Suell.
"Dada," said the little girl. In the Sunday afternoon quiet of Cedar
Grove
cemetery, her toddler voice reverberated like a shout.
"Yes, we're going to Daddy's grave," her grandmother Rena Mathis said
reassuringly.
The silver grave cover bore colorful wreaths and American flags -- a
nod to
Suell's three years of military service. He was deployed to Iraq in
April
2003 as an Army petroleum supply specialist out of Fort Sill, Okla.
Less
than two months later, he was dead.
A report provided to the family at their request says that the
24-year-old
died of a drug overdose on Father's Day, one of 22 suicides reported
among
troops in Iraq last year.
According to William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense
for
health affairs, who discussed the suicides in a briefing last month,
that
represents a rate of more than 13.5 per 100,000 troops, about 20
percent
higher than the recent Army average of 10.5 to 11. The Pentagon plans
to
release the findings of a team sent to Iraq last fall to investigate
the
mental health of the troops, including suicides.
The number Winkenwerder cited does not include cases under
investigation,
so the actual number may be higher. It also excludes the suicides by
soldiers who have returned to the United States. For instance, two
soldiers
undergoing mental health treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
in
Washington reportedly committed suicide there, in July 2003 and last
month.
In its weekly report on the treatment of returning battlefield
soldiers,
the hospital never mentioned the deaths. An official at Walter Reed
said
the deaths are "suspected" suicides and are being investigated by the
Army's criminal division...
---
REPORT SAYS MILITARY DISTORTS WAR DEATHS
Bryan Bender, Boston Globe, 2/18/04
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2004/02/18/report_says_military_distorts_war_deaths
WASHINGTON -- By refusing to make public its estimates of civilian
casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon has undercut
international
support for the US campaigns in those countries and has made the
postwar
stabilization of the two societies more difficult, according to an
independent report to be released today that accuses the Pentagon of
appearing indifferent to the civilian cost of war.
The analysis by the Project on Defense Alternatives, a nonpartisan
think
tank in Washington, concludes that the Pentagon has not fully disclosed
in
recent years accidental deaths and injuries inflicted upon civilian
populations by American military forces. Its failure to do so has made
it
more difficult to predict how local populations will receive the United
States after a conflict, the report said.
According to the report -- "Disappearing the Dead: Iraq, Afghanistan,
and
the Idea of a `New Warfare' " -- the Pentagon's stance has also
distorted
the national debate over whether to go to war.
The report says the US military has wrongly given the impression that
its
high-tech form of warfare is extremely low risk, creating unrealistic
expectations that war produces very low casualties.
Ignoring evidence to the contrary, the report says, the Pentagon has
also
said that estimates of the number of war casualties cannot be known and
that such numbers nonetheless would not be meaningful in assessing the
overall success of a military operation.
"Distortion of the civilian casualty issue can only serve to impede the
sober assessment of US policy, policy options, and their consequences,"
states a draft copy of the report, provided to the Globe. "It is
antithetical both to well-informed public debate and to sensible policy
making."
Based on a review of thousands of news articles and other publicly
available materials, the report estimates that 18,000 combatants and
civilians were killed during the course of the recent wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, about one-third -- 6,000 -- were civilians. A Pentagon
official, who said he had not yet read the full report, maintained that
the
Pentagon is unable to tally civilian casualties and has no need to...
-----
MEET OUR NEW SADDAM
Sadik H. Kassim, Counterpunch, 2/17/04
http://www.counterpunch.org/kassim01172004.html
Introducing Islam Karimov, one of Washington's most recent allies in
the
War on Terror. The neo-Stalinist autocrat presides over Uzbekistan, a
vast
mineral and oil rich country strategically located in central Asia. A
country where dissidents are boiled alive (1); where having an
Islamically
sanctioned beard can get you arrested (2); where torture is widespread.
In
short, a country where human rights abuses are occurring on "a massive
scale," (3) financed in part by the American taxpayer.
Slightly larger than the state of California and home to the fabled
Silk
Road cities of Samarqand and Bukhara, Uzbekistan today is a prime
theater
in the "War on Terror". After the September 11 attacks, Uzbekistan
granted
American troops permission to use its Khanbad military base located
just
north of Afghanistan.
The establishment of Khanbad, along with other bases in neighboring
Kyrgyzstan, enabled the American government to achieve three major
strategic goals. In addition to providing a center from which the
American
military could pursue the Taliban in Afghanistan, the bases more
importantly, improved "American access to Kazakh and Turkmen oil and
gas,"
and extended "US influence to a region hitherto dominated by Russia and
of
constant concern to China (4)." The bases in essence paved the way for
America to gain a foothold in a globally strategic region thereby
putting
it in a better position to compete with Russia and China for the great
oil
treasures of the Caspian Sea.
In addition to being the world's largest lake, the Caspian sea is
believed
to hold vast oil reserves comparable to those of the Middle East. Yet,
unlike the Middle East, transport of the extracted black gold from the
landlocked lake to the open sea is a major hurdle. Therefore, the
primary
issue guiding the politics of the region revolve around not ownership
of
oil, rather control of the proposed pipelines by which the oil is
transported5. It is within this context that Uzbekistan has emerged as
"the
key strategic state in the area (5)."
Uzbekistan's cooperation with Washington has not gone unrewarded. In
March
2002, Messrs Bush and Karimov formally met for 45 minutes in the White
House. The meeting produced a five point strategic partnership between
the
two countries. Among other things, in exchange for continued use of
Khanbad, the agreement granted Uzbekistan $500 million in aid and
credit
guarantees (6), $25 million for military assistance, $18 million for
"border security assistance", and $1 million in policing assistance
(7).
These concessions were made to one of America's "foremost partners in
the
fight against terrorism (8)" despite the State Department's own
declaration
that, "Uzbekistan is an authoritarian state with a very poor human
rights
record (9)..."
-----
THE MIDDLE EAST: KNOW RESPECT, KNOW PEACE - NO RESPECT, NO PEACE
Hedy Epstein, St. Louis Today, 2/17/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/Editorial+/+Commentary/0522E30D086B418686256E3D003CD8EE?OpenDocument&Headline=THE+MIDDLE+EAST+KNOW+RESPECT,+KNOW+PEACE+-+NO+RESPECT,+NO+PE&highlight=2%2Chedy%2Cepstein
Violence, humiliation only aggravate the conflict between Israel and
the
Palestinians.
In 1939, I left the village of Kippenheim, Germany, on a
Kindertransport -
a small group of children allowed to go to England - thus surviving the
Holocaust. In December, I went to Israel to honor the memory of my
parents,
Ella and Hugo Wachenheimer, who did not survive the war against the
Jews.
At a monument near Jerusalem, I lit candles for my parents and for the
other 80,000 Jews deported from France to the death camps.
It is impossible to visit Israel these days without being aware of the
constant threat posed by terrorists. Suicide bombs kill and maim
innocent
persons riding in buses or taking a meal in a restaurant. We Jews who
survived the Shoah know all too well that the intentional targeting of
civilians is illegal and immoral. So I grieve the loss of life in
Jerusalem
from the suicide bombs.
But I also grieve the loss of life in Palestine, which occurs almost on
a
daily basis. So I went to Palestine as a member of the International
Solidarity Movement to observe the difficult conditions of daily life
under
military occupation. It would have been enough to reach out and touch
just
one Palestinian and place my hand on her shoulder and tell her that I
was
with her in her pain. But I saw and did much more.
In Bethlehem, I saw a Caterpillar bulldozer ripping up centuries-old
olive
trees to clear a path for rolled razor wire and antitank trenches
dividing
the town where Jesus was born.
In Qalqilia, I was dwarfed by Israel's separation wall rising more than
25
feet. In President George W. Bush's phrase, it "snakes in and out of
the
West Bank." It keeps farmers from their fields and hems in 50,000
residents
on all sides...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR GOOD NEWS ALERT #417
ALABAMA DRIVER'S PHOTO RULE CHANGED TO ALLOW HIJAB
CAIR applauds state's move to grant religious accommodation
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/20/2004) - Alhamdulillah, (praise be to God) -
CAIR
today applauded a decision by the state of Alabama to allow Islamic
heads
scarves, or hijab, in driver's license photographs.
In January, CAIR called for a review of a new Alabama Department of
Public
Safety (DPS) policy banning all head coverings in license photographs.
CAIR
sought the review after receiving reports from Muslim women in Alabama
who
were prevented from obtaining or renewing licenses because they refused
to
take off their religiously-mandated scarves. (Hundreds of concerned
Muslims
from across the nation contacted the DPS and the governor in response
to
CAIR's alert.)
According to the new policy:
"The photograph of each applicant must be a 'full face' photo…Although
variations in hairstyles and head covering make it difficult to
rigorously
define the term 'face' in general, the head of the applicant shall be
shown
from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and from
hairline
side-to-side…Head coverings and headgear are only acceptable due to
religious beliefs or medical conditions…"
"We thank Governor Bob Riley for recognizing the need to accommodate
the
religious beliefs and practices of his constituents," said CAIR
Communication Director Ibrahim Hooper. "We also thank all those
individuals
and groups, such as the Alabama office of the ACLU and Muslim leaders
in
Birmingham and Montgomery, who contacted or met with state officials to
support religious freedom."
Hooper said Alabama is now in conformity with the majority of other
states
that already allow religious and medical exemptions to prohibitions
against
head coverings in driver's license photographs.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
CONTACT Alabama Governor Bob Riley to thank him for supporting
religious
freedom.
CONTACT:
Governor Bob Riley
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
TEL: 334-242-7100
FAX: 334-353-0004
E-MAIL: http://www.governor.state.al.us/contact/contact_form.aspx
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/20/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A PATIENT PROPHET
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Washington
- CAIR-LA: Forum on the Palestinian Issue
- VOA Profiles CAIR Researcher
* JUDGE ACQUITS ONE OF FOUR IN VA PAINTBALL CASE (AP)
* APARTHEID ENFORCERS GUARD IRAQ FOR THE U.S. (Forward)
- Muslim Chaplain Teaches Religious Sensitivity (AFP)
* ALABAMA CHANGES RULES ON HEAD SCARVES (AP)
* PROF. MATTSON ON ROLE OF WOMEN IN ISLAM (Yale Daily)
- MI: W.D. Mohammed Addresses Religious Identity (MI Daily)
- WI Muslim Teen Wins Girls Scout Award (Journal Sentinel)
* CA CANDIDATE PROFILE: ALI RAMEZANZADEH (CA Aggie)
* JOHN ASHCROFT'S SUBPOENA BLITZ (FindLaw)
- Undercover Officers at Anti-War Mtgs (Daily Texas)
- House Judiciary Divided Over Anti-Terrorism Law (AP)
* IL: SUIT SEEKS TO BLOCK MUSLIM SERVICES (Pioneer Press)
- Bill Shocks Constitutional Scholars (Prov. Journal)
* U.S. SOLDIER SEEKS CANADIAN REFUGEE STATUS (CBC)
- Court to Decide Powers in Padilla Case (Reuters)
* GOP SENATOR RAPS BUSH AND SHARON OVER TALKS (Forward)
* BUTCHER OF BELGRADE MAY GO FREE (Independent)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A PATIENT PROPHET
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: "I served the Prophet (Muhammad) at Medina for
ten
years (when) I was a boy. Not everything I did was (to his liking), but
he
never (rebuked me even gently), nor did he say to me: 'Why did you do
this?' or 'Why did you not do that?'"
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2220
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,304 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Washington: 112 covered, 222 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
---
CAIR-LA: FORUM ON THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE
WHAT: Forum with Leading Palestinian activist Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi,
Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, and Khalid Turaani,
Executive Director of American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ).
WHEN: Saturday, March 6th Reception - 1 pm. Program - 2 pm (sharp)
WHERE: Holiday Inn Select
14299 Firestone Blvd., La Mirada
For directions, call: 714-739-8500
FREE ADMISSION (Not a fundraising event)
For more information, contact CAIR-LA at: Tel: 714-776-1847 or E-mail:
socal@cair.com
---
ARAB-AMERICAN POLITICAL ACTIVIST
Voice of America, 2/19/04
Radio Scripts - English Programs Feature: New American Voices 7-38375
INTRO: As the U-S presidential campaign season heats up, leaders of
various
ethnic communities across the country encourage their people to become
engaged in the political process, as a way of furthering the groups'
interests. Alaa Bayoumi [ah-LAY baa-YOU-me] is an activist in the
American
Islamic community and works to increase the political involvement of
Arabs
and Muslims in America. Mr. Bayoumi is Oksana Dragan's guest today on
New
American Voices.
Alaa Bayoumi, a burly, soft-spoken man, works for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a private organization whose goal is to
promote
a positive image of Islam and Muslims. He believes that one way to
achieve
this is for more Arabs and Muslims to take part in American grassroots
politics and he sees it happening.
"I think we are becoming more active, because our issues are becoming
more
clear to us. The issues first, civil rights. We are concerned about our
civil rights after September 11th. Second issue, we want to help our
American neighbors and our American friends understand Islam and
Muslims
better. We feel that our image in the media is not correct. We also
want to
push more Muslims to be active in the American political system."
There are a number of strategies the Council uses to increase political
participation by Arabs and Muslims. Mr. Bayoumi says one is to educate
them
about the American political system.
The more you inform Arabs and Muslims about the American political
system,
the more they will understand it, they will not fear it, they will
think
there is an opportunity they would like to join."
Another strategy is organizing voter registration drives to encourage
foreign-born Arabs and Muslims who have become U-S citizens to use
their
newly acquired political power the right to vote...
-----
JUDGE ACQUITS ONE OF FOUR ACCUSED IN 'VIRGINIA JIHAD' NETWORK
MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press, 2/20/04
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--paintballterror0220feb20,0,6076734.story
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A judge on Friday acquitted one of four men charged
in an
alleged conspiracy to aid the Taliban in its fight against the United
States and tossed some charges against some of the other defendants.
The defendant facing the most serious charges, Masoud Khan, is still
accused of conspiracy to levy war against the United States and
conspiracy
to provide support to Osama Bin-Laden's al-Quaida network.
But U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, after the prosecution rested
its
case Friday, dismissed all charges against Caliph Basha
ibn-Abdur-Raheem,
29, of Falls Church. She also threw out several conspiracy and firearms
charges against Seifullah Chapman and Hammad Abdur-Raheem and one
lesser
count against Khan.
Caliph Abdur-Raheem's mother wept when Brinkema announced her ruling.
He
smiled and shook hands with his co-defendants before walking out of the
courtroom a free man.
"I knew I didn't do anything," Abdur-Raheem said. "I always try do to
everything by the law."
Prosecutors had argued that Abdur-Raheem's possession of an AK-47-style
rifle and his participation in paintball games with group members in
2000
and 2001 were sufficient participation in the alleged conspiracy to
allow
the case to move forward.
But Brinkema said she saw little evidence in the two-week trial to link
him
to the conspiracy in any meaningful way.
"He does ascribe to perhaps a more radical form of Islam," Brinkema
said.
"He did go and participate in paintball...but playing paintball itself
is
not an illegal activity."
Brinkema dismissed the other charges because she said the government
could
not possibly prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt…
-----
APARTHEID ENFORCERS GUARD IRAQ FOR THE U.S.
Marc Perelman, Forward, 2/18/04
http://forward.com/main/article.php?ref=perelman20040218608
In its effort to relieve overstretched U.S. troops in Iraq, the Bush
administration has hired a private security company staffed with former
henchmen of South Africa's apartheid regime.
The reliance on apartheid enforcers was highlighted by an attack in
Iraq
last month that killed one South African security officer and wounded
another who worked for the subsidiary of a firm called Erinys
International. Both men once served in South African paramilitary units
dedicated to the violent repression of apartheid opponents.
François Strydom, who was killed in the January 28 bombing of a hotel
in
Baghdad, was a former member of the Koevoet, a notoriously brutal
counterinsurgency arm of the South African military that operated in
Namibia during the neighboring state's fight for independence in the
1980s.
His colleague Deon Gouws, who was injured in the attack, is a former
officer of the Vlakplaas, a secret police unit in South Africa.
"It is just a horrible thought that such people are working for the
Americans in Iraq," said Richard Goldstone, a recently retired justice
of
the Constitutional Court of South Africa and former chief prosecutor of
the
United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former
Yugoslavia
and Rwanda.
The Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq and the Pentagon did not
return
requests for comment...
ALSO SEE:
SYRIAN-BORN MUSLIM US ARMY CHAPLAIN TEACHES RELIGIOUS SENSITIVITY IN
IRAQ
Jennie Matthew, Agence France Presse, 2/20/04
HAWJE, Iraq - As a Syrian-born Muslim cleric and chaplain to hundreds
of
American soldiers in Iraq, Captain Abdullah Ahmed Hulweh is proof that
fact
can be stranger than fiction.
Forty years old, married and with eight children, Hulweh left Syria 21
years ago to embrace the American dream and the American army,
unflustered
by stormy relations between Damascus and Washington.
His family had sent him to study engineering at a university in Kansas
in
1983, and there he met his future wife, a Cambodian Muslim. In 1989 he
joined the army.
Later, confronted with what he calls American misunderstanding about
Islam,
he studied to become an imam and joined the chaplain corps.
Hulweh is unwitting public relations candy for a US military that
continues
to battle a bloody insurgency in Iraq and has been branded as an
unwelcome
occupation force in Iraq by critics abroad, not least in the Middle
East...
-----
RILEY ADMINISTRATION CHANGES RULES ON HEAD SCARVES
Phillip Rawls, Associated Press, 2/20/04
http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=1656444&nav=0hBEKy5m
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Responding to complaints from Muslim women, Gov. Bob
Riley's administration is changing a policy that prohibited the wearing
of
head scarves in driver's license photos.
The new policy says head coverings and headgear are acceptable for
religious beliefs and medical conditions, but for no other reason.
State
Public Safety Director Mike Coppage said his department was delivering
the
rule change to county probate judges on Friday, and that it would take
effect Monday.
Muslim women who had complained were glad to see the state's quick
response. "This is a victory for religious freedom for everyone in this
country," said LaTonya Floyd of Mobile.
The new policy requires that the face be visible from the top of the
forehead to the bottom of the chin and from the hairline on one side to
the
hairline on the other side.
Troy King, the governor's legal adviser, said the change would maintain
the
state's goal of being able to identify a person from a driver's license
photo while being respectful of people's religious beliefs and
traditions...
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations
in
Washington, said the policy change brings Alabama in line with the
majority
of states...
-----
MATTSON TALKS REAL, POTENTIAL ROLES OF WOMEN IN ISLAM
Stephen Gikow, Yale Daily News, 2/20/04
http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=25115
Hartford Seminary Islamic Studies professor Ingrid Mattson discussed
the
role of women in Islam at a Trumbull College Master's Tea Thursday. The
talk was one of several events hosted by the Muslim Students
Association to
celebrate Islamic Awareness Week.
MSA political action co-chair Arafat Razzaque '06 said the MSA hopes to
educate the greater Yale community about the role of women in Islam
with a
series of talks and panels this week.
"Our goal is to inform the Yale community about Islam," Razzaque said.
"We
felt there should be more awareness about women [in the religion]."
Razzaque said Mattson, who serves as vice president of the Islamic
Society
of North America, exemplified the potential extent of a Muslim woman's
influence.
"She is in a position of power as a female Muslim leader," Razzaque
said.
At the talk, Mattson proposed ways to integrate women into Islamic
religious leadership. She said she thinks the best way to do this is by
re-examining ancient law as it existed before Islam split into sects.
"I believe that the solution is to some extent in looking at
pre-classical
law," Mattson said.
Mattson said the ambiguous role of women in Islam is often due to the
problem of "categorization." She said many Muslims oppose female
leadership
for political reasons, not because of any religious justification,
which
she said can only come directly from the Islamic prophet Muhammad...
ALSO SEE:
SPEAKER ADDRESSES ISSUES OF BLACK RELIGIOUS IDENTITY
Michael Kan, Michigan Daily, 2/20/04
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/4035bc427e646
Blacks across America face a burden on their soul, said Muslim leader
Warith Deen Mohammed. They deal with the consequences of being taken
away
from their homeland of Africa several centuries ago and while living in
a
place where people are often identified by their skin color, he added.
Speaking last night at the Michigan Union to more than 100 Ann Arbor
residents and students, Mohammed said this identity of skin color has
to
end. He called on members of the Muslim community to reclaim their
identity, not only as Muslims or as blacks, but also to think
themselves as
human beings above all else. Only through this identity can people work
together, he added.
The lecture, titled "Correcting Islam's Image: Where is the balance
Between
the life of Faith and addressing material needs," featured keynote
speaker
Mohammed, who is the son of Elijah Muhammed, leader of the Nation of
Islam
from the 1950s to 1975, and formerly led the American Muslim Mission.
At
the event, Mohammed attempted to clarify the message of Islam by
explaining
the Muslim community should not only identify themselves by their faith
or
by their race, but more importantly recognize that all people
regardless of
ethnicity or creed are equal to one another.
Mohammed began his speech by citing the struggles of blacks in the
United
States and how they had to endure the cultural changes of being
separated
from Africa. He added that once blacks arrived in America, they had to
live
under a new identity that was detrimental to their spirit...
---
TEEN'S FORUM ABOUT ISLAM EARNS DISTINCTION
Journal Sentinel Online, 2/19/04
http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/feb04/208927.asp
Saukville resident Sarrah Abulughod, who turned 18 last Friday, has
been
named a Girl Scout Gold Award Young Woman of Distinction, one of 10 in
the
nation. Abulughod was recognized for creating and organizing a
three-day
forum in November 2002 called "Confidence in Knowledge" at the Islamic
Center on Milwaukee's south side. In the forum, about 150 Muslim
teenagers
discussed issues concerning their faith, religious practices, social
restrictions and their appearances. For Abulughod, the award means a
$1,000
scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., from
March
1-6. Abulughod, who is home-schooled, spoke with Journal Sentinel
reporter
Dan Benson.
Q. How and when did you learn that you were named a "Woman of
Distinction?"
A. I found out in an e-mail, actually, while I was overseas in Jordan
in
January visiting my dad's family. I was at an Internet cafe in Amman
and
hadn't checked my e-mail in quite a while, and there was a message
telling
me that I had been selected and would I be able to make the trip to
Washington, D.C., the first week of March. They couldn't give me the
award
unless I could make the trip. My mouth just dropped open, and my dad
said,
"What's going on? What is it?"
Q. Tell me about your project, about the forums.
A. There were three programs on three different nights. The first night
was
an introduction of what the program was going to be about, but I also
chose
topics to get discussions going. We talked about how to explain to our
peers and adults the Muslim practice of fasting and prayer because it
was
the month of Ramadan. On the second night, we talked about dating and
dances. That was a hot topic because it's unusual for teenagers not to
have
boyfriends and girlfriends or not to attend dances. On the third night,
we
talked about modesty and head coverings and the reasons for Muslim
dress
and how to explain it to anyone who asks things like, "Why do you have
that
towel on your head?..."
-----
CANDIDATE PROFILE: ALI RAMEZANZADEH
Tara Edwards, California Aggie, 2/19/04
http://www.californiaaggie.com/article/?id=2743
When Ali Ramezanzadeh arrived at UC Davis, he noticed many things he
wanted
to change. This independent candidate immediately got involved in a
variety
of student organizations, including the Muslim Student Association, the
Iranian Student Cultural Aesthetics Association, the Ski and Snowboard
Club, and the Davis Honors Challenge.
He feels most passionately about the university's financial
responsibility.
He said that students at UCD pay higher tuition than any other campus
in
the UC system, and that his goal is to find where this extra tuition is
going.
Ramezanzadeh is also interested in increasing the number of on-campus
print
stations, funding the Middle Eastern and South Asian minor programs,
creating nondenominational prayer and mediations rooms on campus,
bringing
in more money for student entertainment activities, and enabling
students
to use Munch Money at the ASUCD Coffee House.
When asked what he would do differently from the current senators,
Ramezanzadeh expressed his discontentment with the minutes for the
current
senate meetings.
"They sort of play around and stuff," he said. He was particularly
frustrated with the hour-long debate that was dedicated to the purchase
of
couch.
"That is something we shouldn't spend time discussing," Ramezanzadeh
said.
Ramezanzadeh hopes that running as an independent will prevent him from
being restricted by agendas in a particular slate, and will help him
focus
on a wider variety of campus issues.
------
JOHN ASHCROFT'S SUBPOENA BLITZ
Noah Leavitt, Find Law, 2/18/04
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20040218_leavitt.html
Over the past two weeks, the Justice Department has issued two
intensely
controversial sets of subpoenas. The first targeted peaceful
demonstrators
in Iowa. The second targeted medical caregivers in Illinois, New York,
Pennsylvania and Michigan.
None of the targets of these subpoenas is alleged to have anything to
do
with terrorism.
The Iowa Subpoenas: Information Related to An Anti-War Demonstration
The Ashcroft Justice Department has had its eye on peaceful
demonstrators
and dissenters for quite some time. In May 2002, for instance, the
Attorney
General announced the elimination of twenty-six-year-old regulations
that
had prevented the FBI from monitoring "open to the public" events held
by
domestic religious, political and civic organizations unless it had
specific cause for doing so.
These regulations had been specifically developed to counter the
COINTELPRO
domestic spying program that had led to massive civil rights era abuses
during the 1960s and 70s. Now, these restrictions no longer exist --
and
such abuses may well be repeating themselves.
Indeed, in a November 23, 2003 article, the New York Times detailed how
--
according to a leaked bureau memorandum -- the FBI was collecting
extensive
information about, and tracking, antiwar demonstrators. According to
the
Times, the memo "possessed no information that violent or terrorist
activities are being planned" as a part of major protests. Still, even
with
no evidence of a link to terrorism, the surveillance continued -- and
likely continues to this day...
ALSO SEE:
UNDERCOVER OFFICERS AT ANTI-WAR MEETINGS
Clay Reddick, Daily Texan Online, 2/18/04
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2004/02/18/TopStories/Undercover.Officers.At.AntiWar.Meetings-610217.shtml
Documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas prove
that undercover Austin police officers attended anti-war meetings in
March.
The Texas ACLU obtained two memos in November discussing undercover
police
protest planning meetings. One of the documents details a detective's
observations at a March 23 direct-action training where protesters
practiced civil disobedience. On March 24, about 40 people were
arrested
while protesting against the war in Iraq.
"In an attempt to gather intelligence information regarding mass civil
disobedience, members of the Organized Crime Division were requested to
participate in training sessions and actual protests in an undercover
capacity," the memo says.
Texas ACLU lawyer Ann Del Llano said police waste resources when
investigating nonviolent protesters, and such police activities may be
unconstitutional...
---
HOUSE JUDICIARY DIVIDED OVER ANTI-TERRORISM LAW'S REACH
Lawrence Messina, Associated Press, 2/20/04
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A divided House Judiciary Committee has killed a
bill
aimed to address alleged excesses of the USA Patriot Act, the sweeping
federal anti-terrorism law enacted after Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
With three absences, an 11-11 tie on Thursday felled the bill (HB4367),
which would have barred the surveillance of people or groups engaging
in
legal activities by law enforcement who lack "particularized suspicion"
to
justify the attention.
As introduced, the bill cited "the reality or public perception" that
violations of privacy and assembly rights "alienates people from
police,
hinders community policing efforts, and causes law-enforcement agencies
to
lose credibility and trust among the people law-enforcement agencies
are
sworn to protect and serve."
The Patriot Act granted the government broad powers for searches,
wiretaps
and electronic and computer eavesdropping to prevent future attacks. An
unusual alliance of groups nationwide has raised challenges to the
Patriot
Act and its impact on civil liberties.
Delegate Larry Faircloth, R-Berkeley, co-sponsored the bill and a
successful amendment aimed to help it pass legal muster...
-----
RESIDENT GROUP FILES REVISED SUIT
Pioneer Press, 2/19/04
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/mg/02-19-04-227258.html
A neighborhood group is charging a "conspiracy" exists between the
village
and Muslim Community Center that has allowed the school to continue to
hold
public religious services without a special use permit.
The amended complaint filed Feb. 12 in U.S. District Court on behalf of
the
Morton Grove Organization also asks for monetary damages and seeks a
court
order that would stop the MCC from holding services.
"The village and MCC acted in a conspiracy to violate the civil rights
of
my clients," said Douglas Cannon, MGO attorney.
The MGO originally filed suit against the MCC, village and several
village
officials in September contending that under the village ordinance a
special-use permit is needed for the MCC to offer prayer services for
the
public. The suit contended that by allowing the services, the village
is
depriving neighbors of the right to enjoy use of their property.
The suit followed more than a year of discussions over parking and
traffic
problems near the school at 8601 Menard Ave.
A hearing in the case was scheduled Wednesday..
ALSO SEE:
CARCIERI'S BILL SHOCKS CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS
Tom Mooney, Providence Journal, 2/19/04
http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20040219_firsta19.23dedc.html
Editor's note: Governor Carcieri has proposed legislation that some
experts
believe would impose limits on how Rhode Islanders exercise the five
freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The
Providence Journal today explores how the state's citizens use these
freedoms daily.
Constitutional scholars and First Amendment advocates reacted with
shock
yesterday at Governor Carcieri's homeland security proposal, saying it
threatens protected free speech and assembly in ways not seen in
decades.
No other state in the nation, they said, has attempted such an
encroachment
on civil rights in the name of fighting terrorism. And they predicted
the
legislation could never survive a constitutional challenge...
Carcieri has proposed, among several other steps, making it illegal in
Rhode Island to "speak, utter, or print" statements in support of
anarchy
or government overthrow.
His proposal would make it unlawful for any person "to teach or
advocate" a
government overthrow, or display "any flag or emblem other than the
flag of
the United States" as preferable to the United States government.
Both acts are plainly protected, the experts said, by the First
Amendment,
part of the Bill of Rights, enacted in 1791. The founding fathers
adopted
the Bill of Rights, said McMasters, because they "had a very passionate
desire . . . to have something in that Constitution that said what the
government could not do..."
-----
U.S. SOLDIER SEEKS CANADIAN REFUGEE STATUS
CBC News, 12/19/04
http://cbc.ca/stories/2004/02/19/awol040219
TORONTO - A U.S. soldier who is absent without leave is seeking refugee
status in Canada as a conscientious objector.
Jeremy Hinzman, who faces prosecution in the U.S., left the 82nd
Airborne
Division in North Carolina last month and fled to Toronto with his wife
and
baby.
Hinzman told the Fayetteville Observer in a phone interview that he had
"a
romantic vision" of the army when he joined three years ago.
He said the structure of army life, complete with subsidized housing,
groceries and money for education, appealed to him.
But at the start of basic training, he became disillusioned and
horrified
by chanting about killing during marches, shooting at targets without
faces
and the dehumanization of the enemy.
Hinzman applied as a conscientious objector, saying he wanted to fulfil
his
service obligation but not fight in combat...
ALSO SEE:
US COURT TO DECIDE BUSH'S POWERS IN PADILLA CASE
James Vicini, Reuters, 2/20/04
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20517130.htm
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Friday it would decide
whether
President George W. Bush has the power to order an American citizen
seized
on U.S. soil held as an enemy combatant, another case arising from
Washington's war on terror.
Expanding its review of the government's actions, the high court agreed
to
decide the case of Jose Padilla, who has been held since May 2002 as a
suspect in an alleged al Qaeda plot to detonate a radioactive "dirty
bomb"
in the United States.
Padilla, a former Chicago gang member and convert to Islam, has been
held
in a military brig in Charleston, South Carolina, without any charges
brought against him and without access to his lawyers. The Pentagon
said on
Feb. 11 it would allow him to meet with his attorneys, who said the
meeting
had yet to be arranged.
His case involved fundamental constitutional questions about Bush's
powers
as commander in chief. It has pitted the government's national security
arguments adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against concerns
that
civil liberties have been violated.
As part of its broad assertion of presidential authority, the Bush
administration has sought to sharply limit the role of federal judges
to
review the government's decisions in the designation and treatment of
enemy
combatants...
-----
GOP SENATOR RAPS BUSH AND SHARON OVER TALKS
Ori Nir, Forward, 2/18/04
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=nir20040218614
WASHINGTON - Senator Lincoln Chafee has a reputation as a maverick
within
the Republican Party, but that's only half his troubles. Much of the
pro-Israel lobby views him as a pain in the neck and wouldn't mind
seeing
him gone from the Senate.
Yet, in an exclusive interview, Chafee argued that it was President
Bush
and Prime Minister Sharon who had failed to deliver as leaders.
The only Republican senator to vote against the war in Iraq, and one of
only three to oppose Bush's tax-cut bills, Chafee told the Forward that
he
worries about the growing influence of the right-wing camp in his
party.
Many of the national tensions between liberals and conservatives on
social
issues, including gay marriage, he said, could have been avoided had
Bush
"really been a uniter and not a divider."
"We need leadership to calm the emotions at this time," Chafee said,
"instead of incite them."
Chafee also seemed to take aim at Sharon when asked about the Israeli
leader's long-term strategy. "That's a hard one," he sighed. "I watch
it
every day, and I try to figure it out. Is it perpetual war? Who wants
that?
I don't have a good answer."
In his four years as a senator, Chafee has enraged the GOP leadership
by
repeatedly voting against Bush and publicly criticizing the president;
he
has antagonized conservative pro-Israel lobbyists with his criticisms
of
Israeli policies and calls for American pressure on Jerusalem...
-----
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CORPSES, 296 WITNESSES, 30,000 PAGES OF EVIDENCE
Paul Vallely, Independent, 2/20/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=493179
THE CASE against Slobodan Milosevic should have been concluded at the
War
Crimes Tribunal in the Hague yesterday, but the former president of
Yugoslavia fell ill again, setting back until next week the last two
days
of the prosecution case against him.
It was an unhappily apt anti-climax. So far Mr Milosevic, who is
accused of
66 separate war crimes in the Balkans during the 1990s, has been ill on
at
least half a dozen occasions - with ailments ranging from repeated
bouts of
flu to high blood pressure - during the two-year hearing. The resulting
postponements have been almost as characteristic of the trial as the
pugnacious manner in which he has sought to drag-out the proceedings
with
long political speeches and vexatious attacks on the judges.
Still, after 296 witnesses over 290 days and 30,000 pages of
documentary
evidence - including telephone intercepts, military orders and
transcripts
of political meetings, witness statements, videos, maps and charts -
the
case against him is complete...
-----
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453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
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Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
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-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/22/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK PARDON IN THIS LIFE
* NJ SCHOOL BOARD DEBATES ADDING MUSLIM HOLIDAYS (PAC)
* MUSLIM STORY'S MESSAGE CAN FEED THE CHRISTIAN SOUL (E. Trib)
* CANADIAN MUSLIMS AWAKEN TO EMERGING POWER (Ottawa Citizen)
- Arab American Leads MI Fire Department (Free Press)
* CEMETERY IN WA FULFILLS TEACHINGS OF ISLAM (Seattle Times)
* TX: NO MYSTERY BEHIND THE VEIL (Dallas Morning News)
- MN: West Should Keep Its Hands Off Hijab (Star Trib)
- Sikhs Win Battle for Turbans in AL (Hindustan Times)
- Alabama Scraps Driving License Hijab Ban (Islam-Online)
* TARIQ RAMADAN HAS NO SHORTAGE OF CRITICS (Chicago Trib)
- BEN ALI: The Wrong Man to Promote Democracy (NY Times)
* HI: PAKISTANI GIRL INSPIRES PEACE MARCH (Honolulu Advertiser)
* ISLAMIC NEW YEAR MARKED (News Press)
- GA: Muslim Women Speak Out (Ivanhoe Newswire)
- Canadian Architect Blends Tradition, Innovation (RNS)
* GA: TURKISH-AMERICANS PRESERVE HERITAGE (Atlanta Journal)
* ISRAELI FENCE LEADS TO HEART OF A GREAT DIVIDE (LA Times)
* REVIEWER SLAMS 'AN END TO EVIL' (LA Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK PARDON IN THIS LIFE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has wronged his
brother, should ask for pardon (before death comes)…(He should secure
pardon in this life) before some of his good deeds are taken and paid
to
his brother, or, if he has done no good deeds, some of the bad deeds of
his
brother are taken to be loaded on him (in the Hereafter)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 541
-----
A.C. SCHOOL BOARD DEBATES ADDING MUSLIM HOLIDAYS
John Brand, Press of Atlantic City, 2/22/04
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/atlantic/022204ISLAM.cfm
ATLANTIC CITY - Math teacher Robin Salaam has only missed work for two
reasons during 26 years with the school district: For illness or to
observe
Islamic holidays.
But unlike her Christian counterparts, for whom the school district
gives
lengthy breaks to recognize their major holidays, Salaam uses personal
days
to excuse her holiday absences.
Meanwhile, her non-Muslim students go one, two or three days without
their
everyday math teacher.
"If I take two days off, then my kids will be two days behind," said
Salaam, who is one of at least five Muslim teachers in the school
district.
As this city continues to grow, change and diversify, so, too, will the
religious beliefs of its residents, which include students, teachers
and
other school staffers.
The second-largest religion next to Christianity, Islam is also the
fastest-growing religion in the world, weighing in at about 1.6 billion
members - 10 million of whom live in the United States.
The Atlantic City Board of Education is considering recognizing two
Islamic
holidays - Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha - with district-wide days off...
"The Muslims would like to see their holidays recognized like the rest
of
the holidays," said Khalid Mohammed, the Imam, or teacher, at Masjid
Furqaan. "These Muslim holidays are considered sacred to Muslim
individuals, just like Easter is sacred to the Christians and different
holidays are sacred to the Jews…
-----
MUSLIM STORY'S MESSAGE CAN FEED THE CHRISTIAN SOUL
By Richard Griffin, Eagle Tribune, 2/22/04
http://www.eagletribune.com/news/stories/20040222/LI_002.htm
How can a story familiar to hundreds of millions of people all over the
world have never been heard by me? That is the question I ask myself
after
finally hearing it told two Sundays ago.
Not only is this narrative known far and wide but the event it
describes is
celebrated each year by communities of believers in dozens of nations,
including the United States.
The story bears the title "The Ascension of the Prophet" in English. In
the
Arabic language it is referred to as "Al-Miraj," a name that can also
refer
to the holy day that is observed on the 27th day of the seventh month
of
the Islamic year.
I heard the story told by Ali Asani, a scholar of Islam who teaches at
Harvard University. Asani, speaking to a group of Christians seeking
deeper
understanding of Islam, shared with us an ancient narrative that
centers on
the Prophet Muhammad and his face-to-face encounter with God.
In beginning his talk, Asani stressed the core belief of Islam, namely
that
God is one. Each believer bears witness to that basic fact about God.
"There is no god but God" expresses the faith of every Muslim. These
words
contain both a negation and an affirmation, the denial of existence to
false gods, and the full acknowledgement of the one true God.
What all Muslims must do is submit to Allah. This submission involves
turning away from being centered on oneself and instead becoming
centered
on God.
The holy book of Islam, the Quran, frequently mentions seeing God,
though
it also teaches that human beings cannot physically do so. The Prophet
Muhammad, however, receives the privilege of a personal meeting with
God.
When Muhammad ascends toward God, he leaves from the Dome of the Rock
in
Jerusalem under the guidance of the angel Gabriel. This guide will not
be
allowed to go all the way up, however. Only the prophet himself does
so.
Muslim tradition has sweetly interpreted God's motive for having
Muhammad
make the ascent. The reason is: God could not bear being separated from
his
beloved so he had Gabriel call him forth.
Returning to an earlier theme, the storyteller emphasized that
submitting
one's ego is a prerequisite for seeing God. You must "die before you
die"
said Asani as he explained the self-transformation that Muslims
understand
to be the goal of life...
Though not as learned in the Muslim tradition as I would like to be, I
find
it easy to relate to this charming narrative. It smacks of authentic
religious feeling and speaks beautifully of love both divine and human.
The story also validates the mystical tradition as it has unfolded over
the
centuries. It dramatizes an intimacy between God and God's creatures
featuring an interplay back and forth. Though God remains above human
grasp, human beings can enter into a love relationship with God.
James Herrick, author of a recent book on spirituality, asserts that
"mystical experience is the common core of all religious traditions."
If
so, this story can feed the soul of people who are not themselves
Muslim
but who relate to some of the spiritual wisdom in the Muslim tradition.
-----
CITY MUSLIMS AWAKEN TO EMERGING POWER
Sarah Staples, Ottawa Citizen 2/21/04
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c7182957-d53b-441c-a3ba-f1f9623e5500
Many Muslims worry about mixing politics and religion, seeing the
potential
for manipulation and abuse by politicians who make vague promises. But
others see great benefit to the community.
The numbers hint at an unfolding story.
According to Statscan census data, during the last provincial election
39,345 residents of Ottawa declared themselves to be Muslim. That makes
Muslims the second largest voting block in the city -- dwarfed by more
than
500,000 Catholics and Protestants, but nearly double the combined
strength
of Jews, Hindus and Sikhs. At least 20,000 of those Muslim voters hail
from
Arab countries, according to the data.
So it wasn't surprising that Somali leaders who met with members of
their
community yesterday consider that soiree only a first step. Under the
slogan, "We vote, we are the majority," speaker after speaker at last
night's meeting of the Somali community urged visible minorities -- and
especially Ottawa Muslims -- to take note of the power that comes with
a
growing population.
"Demographically we are not a majority, but we want to be, and will be,
a
political force," said Mohamed Awal, a consultant for the Canadian
Association of Francophones of the Horn of Africa, one of the meeting
organizers.
Their sheer numbers make Muslims in Ottawa a political force to be
reckoned
with -- and veritable power block in certain ridings. And in the
lead-up to
a possible spring election, politicians are listening. For months,
candidates from three main national parties have angled for invites to
rubber chicken dinners, and are hiring organizers to woo members of the
increasingly influential Muslim business and religious elite to their
parties.
Nowhere is the growing influence of the Muslim vote more apparent than
in
the ridings of Ottawa South and Ottawa Centre...
ALSO SEE:
ARAB AMERICAN CHOSEN TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 2/21/04
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw93320_20040221.htm
A veteran firefighter tapped to be Dearborn's new fire chief has become
the
city's only Arab-American department head.
Mayor Michael Guido announced the appointment of Nazih Hazime, a
firefighter with 20 years of experience, last week. He also is the
first
Muslim to head one of Dearborn's 18 departments.
"I'm honored to have been selected as the head of one of the best fire
departments in the country," Hazime said in a statement. "And I'm
honored
to serve such a great and diverse community as Dearborn."
In recent years, Arab Americans have pushed Guido to reach out to their
community, whose members make up a growing percentage of Dearborn's
population.
Hazime, 43, was chosen because of his excellent qualifications, not
because
of his ethnic or religious background, said city officials and
colleagues...
According to information from the city, Hazime joined the fire
department
in 1984. He received awards for service beyond the call of duty in
1986,
1995 and 1996. As a lieutenant, he played a key role in leading and
training. This year, Hazime was accepted to the National Fire Academy,
a
4-year program for fire department officers.
Hazime and his wife, Laurie, have lived in Dearborn for 26 years. He
declined to be interviewed for this report...
-----
MUSLIM CEMETERY IN COVINGTON FULFILLS TEACHINGS OF ISLAM
Lornet Turnbull, Seattle Times, 2/18/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001862816_cemetery22m.html
COVINGTON - The All-Muslim Cemetery sits on a wooded slope on the
western
edge of this suburban community in South King County.
Bordered by Soos Creek, its grave sites angle slightly toward Mecca.
It seems an unlikely final resting place for immigrants of the Islamic
faith - men and women from countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia,
Iraq,
Pakistan, Syria - and their children.
The 3-year-old graveyard is one of only a few in the United States
exclusive to Muslims.
It's the only one in the state of Washington.
Dr. Mahmood Sarram, a retired Tacoma obstetrician from Iran, who first
envisioned this place more than 16 years ago, thought the region's
growing
Muslim population needed a burial site that fulfilled the teachings of
Islam - and a place where "future generations could come, pause and
reflect," he said.
Plans also call for a Muslim school and a mosque on the site...
-----
COMMENTARY: NO MYSTERY BEHIND THE VEIL
La Tonya Floyd, Dallas News, 2/21/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/irving/opinion/stories/022204dnirvfloyd.9dfa.html
Columnist Tammy Swofford recently wondered on this page what life is
like
for Muslim women she sees around Irving under the veil. As a Muslim
woman
who partially veils herself (I do not cover my face) by choice, I'm
pleased
to tell her.
I am an American convert to Islam, and have been a Muslim for over
eight
years. I was born and raised in Maryland, grew up Catholic and went to
Catholic school. Seeing nuns every day had a powerful impact on me.
Covering was a sign of a religious woman. It meant purity, modesty and
obedience to God.
As I grew older, I noticed other women covered like nuns, and I
immediately
recognized them as religious women. I was in awe of them and their
devotion
to God.
My early twenties were met with a desire to find a religion and way of
life
that matched my moral and spiritual beliefs. There were certain things
I
was looking for. First, it had to be truly monotheistic, meaning no
praying
to anything or anyone except God. Second, it had to accept all of the
messengers and books, or revelation, sent by God. These requirements
led me
to research the three Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity and
Islam.
I was also seeking a religion that did not subjugate women. I read the
Quran, Islam's holy book, in its entirety. When I learned of the
God-given
rights of Muslim women, I was totally surprised. At the same time, I
felt
affirmation that the God I was searching for was a just God. Therefore,
anyone who denies a woman her God-given rights is committing a sin.
Additionally, the Quran states there is no compulsion in religion...
ALSO SEE:
WEST SHOULD KEEP ITS HANDS OFF THE MUSLIM HEAD SCARF
Shafi A. Khaled, Star Tribune, 2/21/04
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4619983.html
Muslims in the United States worry and wait for the other shoe to drop.
Now
that Afghanistan and Iraq have been "freed," what will the West, in
particular the United States, do to further liberate the Muslims?
Listen to a Muslim woman's story, as told in an article on the
Internet:
"On the plane, I fell into a very interesting conversation with an
educated
Christian woman who was sitting next to me. We began talking about
religion, and she made a very surprising comment, which showed me just
how
very little Americans know about Islam. She said that every time she
saw a
Muslim woman covered with the head scarf, she felt an impulse to snatch
the
scarf off her head and force her husband to wear it instead. My first
reaction upon hearing this was to put my hands on my scarf, because I
couldn't help thinking that's how she must feel about me."
Is there a danger that the United States and other Western countries
might
follow the French lead and assault the Muslims' civil rights? Will
there be
no personal space allowed for individuals to retain as their own in the
public arena? Is this the absolute example of the separation of church
and
state?
Recently, in Alabama, a law was passed requiring a Muslim woman to take
off
her hijab to obtain a driver's license, whereas Minnesota and the
federal
government are content to accept the face and exposure of an ear.
France, the land of liberty, equality and fraternity, is in the process
of
banning the Muslim woman's right to wear the hijab. How can one make
sense
of it?
In an Internet discussion group, I wrote that this law would be
discriminatory. I was answered by a Muslim that the law was designed to
be
a broad-spectrum device affecting all religious symbols.
Well, the hijab is not a symbol, however much one may assert that it is
so...
Shafi A. Khaled, Richfield, is a professor at Metro State University
and
education director of the Islamic Center of Minnesota.
---
SIKHS WIN THE BATTLE FOR TURBANS IN US STATE
S Rajagopalan, Hindustan Times, 2/23/04
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_582341,0005.htm
The Sikhs and the Muslims have won their battle over a US state order
against the wearing of turbans and head scarves while being
photographed
for driving licences.
Following a vigorous campaign by the two communities -- and a threat to
file a class action lawsuit -- the Alabama state has changed its
controversial rule on headgears and head coverings.
Several Muslim women and Sikh men had been denied driving licences in
Alabama in recent weeks because of their refusal to take off head
scarves
or turbans while being photographed.
The new policy, to take effect from Monday, says turbans and head
scarves
are acceptable for religious beliefs and medical reasons. It, however,
lays
down that the face of a person being photographed "should be visible
from
the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and from the hairline
on
one side to the hairline on the other side".
Both the communities have hailed Alabama's reversal as a victory for
religious freedom. Some activists view it as a possible forerunner in
the
larger battle being waged in France against the new law barring the
wearing
of turbans and head scarves in schools...
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, which had
received about 15 complaints of denial of driving licences, said the
change
of policy by Alabama now brings it in line with the majority of US
states.
---
AFTER PROTESTS, ALABAMA SCRAPS DRIVING LICENSE HIJAB BAN
Islam-Online, 2/21/04
http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-02/21/article02.shtml
WASHINGTON, February 21 (IslamOnline.net) - After its decision to ban
women
from wearing hijab for driving license photos triggered a backlash
among
American Muslims, the state of Alabama backtracked on the measure
Friday,
February 20.
Muslim women had appealed to Alabama state officials to reconsider the
ban
in January while the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) issued an alert against the measure.
Many concerned Muslims from all over the country contacted the Alabama
Department of Public Safety (DPS) to scrap the decision.
According to the new policy, the photograph of each applicant must be a
'full face' photo, and that head coverings and headgear are only
acceptable
due to religious beliefs or medical conditions.
Although variations in hairstyles and head covering make it difficult
to
rigorously define the term 'face' in general, the policy stipulates
that
the head of the applicant shall be shown from the top of the forehead
to
the bottom of the chin and from hairline side-to-side.
Hijab is a religious obligation under the Islamic law, not a symbol as
many
believed the gear to be.
"We thank (Alabama) Governor Bob Riley for recognizing the need to
accommodate the religious beliefs and practices of his constituents,"
CAIR
Communication Director Ibrahim Hooper said in a press release.
"We also thank all those individuals and groups, such as the Alabama
office
of the ACLU and Muslim leaders in Birmingham and Montgomery, who
contacted
or met with state officials to support religious freedom," he added.
Hooper said Alabama is now in conformity with the majority of other
states
that already allow religious and medical exemptions to prohibitions
against
head coverings in driving license photographs.
A recent survey by CAIR's Civil Rights Department indicated that most
other
states, - including Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee - allow a
religious
exemption to prohibitions against head coverings in driver's license
photographs.
The driving license hijab ban has drawn an outcry across Alabama.
Boyd Campbell, a Montgomery attorney who specializes in immigration
law,
said banning hijab makes no sense when Alabama allows men to wear hair
pieces and women to wear wigs in their driver's license photos.
"What's the difference?" Campbell asked.
The press also reacted with surprise to the state officials' demand,
saying
it is needless and ridiculous to ask Muslim women to remove hijab for
photographing…
-----
NOTRE DAME'S NEW EXPERT ON ISLAMIC ETHICS AND PHILOSOPHY HAS NO
SHORTAGE OF
CRITICS, WHICH THE UNIVERSITY DOESN'T MIND ONE BIT
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 2/21/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0402210204feb21,1,942488.story
Controversy starts even before professor
Tariq Ramadan, a world-renowned philosopher and cleric whose ideas on
Islam's place in modern life took shape in the academies and salons of
Paris and Cairo, has been called everything from a religious ideologue
with
Al Qaeda ties to a liberal who wants to Westernize his faith.
The University of Notre Dame views him as a professor of peace.
Beginning
this fall, Ramadan will teach Islamic philosophy and ethics in South
Bend
through the Joan Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. The
tenured appointment already has drawn the attention of Jewish leaders
who
say his ideas encourage Islamic radicalism.
But for Notre Dame, his reputation as a provocateur is not a deterrent;
it
is the reason he was chosen. The school believes Ramadan could inspire
new
thinking about Islam within intellectual circles in the United States,
just
as he has already done in Europe. His prolific writings touch on one of
the
most vexing issues facing the East and West: How can Muslims remain
true to
their religion and culture in the modern world?...
ALSO SEE:
THE WRONG MAN TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY
Kamel Labidi, New York Times, 2/21/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/21/opinion/21LABI.html
This week, President Bush played host to President Zine el-Abidine ben
Ali
of Tunisia, giving this ruthless autocrat a long-coveted audience at
the
White House. To his credit, Mr. Bush rebuked Mr. ben Ali for his
violations
of press freedom, but the United States is sorely mistaken if it
believes
that democracy and the rule of law can ever take hold under leaders
like
Mr. ben Ali. The Bush administration's welcome of Mr. ben Ali makes
America's aggressive promotion of democratic reform in the Arab world
ring
hollow.
It's not obvious from Mr. Bush's public statements, but Tunisia today
is
one of the world's most efficient police states. Since his ouster of
President Habib Bourguiba in a coup in 1987, Mr. ben Ali has quashed
virtually all dissent and silenced a civil society that once was an
example
of vibrancy for North Africa and the neighboring Middle East. In the
early
1990's, the regime cracked down on the country's Islamist movement,
arbitrarily arresting thousands of suspected activists and subjecting
them
to torture and unfair trials. Mr. ben Ali then extended his crackdown
to
human rights defenders, opposition leaders and independent journalists.
(I,
for example, was stripped of my accreditation after 19 years as a
journalist following the publication of an interview with a human
rights
advocate.)
Tunisian society is now a shell of its former self; political debate is
relegated to a whisper under the gaze of the omnipresent secret police.
Newspapers are filled with Soviet-style hagiography: Mr. ben Ali is
called
the Architect of Change, a title that's hard to accept given that last
year
he won a referendum (with more than 99 percent of the vote) that will
allow
him to run for a fourth presidential term in 2004 and grant him
immunity
from prosecution for life. Meanwhile, human rights advocates have to
put up
with constant surveillance, the cutting of their phone lines, anonymous
threats, and even attack by thugs for the regime.
For more than a decade, American policy toward Tunisia has quietly
ignored
these excesses, focusing instead on the country's role as moderate ally
in
a turbulent region, a supporter of the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process,
and a model of relative prosperity for the Arab world...
Kamel Labidi is a former director of Amnesty International-Tunisia and
former Tunisian correspondent for La Croix, a French daily.
-----
PAKISTANI GIRL INSPIRES LOCAL PEACE MARCH
Curtis Lum, Honolulu Advertiser, 2/20/04
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Feb/20/ln/ln22a.html
A Honolulu doctor is organizing a peace march on Sunday, saying he was
inspired by a 2-year-old Pakistani girl whose damaged heart has warmed
relations between his native Pakistan and India.
The "Hearts for Peace" march begins at 9 a.m. at Magic Island and will
conclude at Kapi'olani Park.
Dr. Inam Rahman is a naturalized citizen and has been in the United
States
since 1974. Originally from Pakistan, he knows the tense relationship
between the two countries.
But in July 2003, leaders of the warring countries put down their
swords to
help Fatima Noor Sajjad, a 2-year-old girl who was born with a
congenital
heart defect. Her doctors advised her parents, Nadeem and Tayyaba, to
take
Fatima Noor to a special cardiac hospital in India.
With relations strained between the countries, there was no rail or air
travel, and bus service was suspended after an attack on the Indian
Parliament in 2001.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee heard of the family's plight
and
offered to restore transportation links. People on both sides of the
border
prayed for the girl and rallied to her support.
Last summer, a "friendship bus" brought the little girl to Delhi, where
she
underwent the successful operation. The goodwill between the two
countries
has continued and has led to peace talks and a partial reopening of the
border.
Rahman said he was inspired by this story and organized the march to
support world peace...
-----
ISLAMIC NEW YEAR MARKED
Saadia Malik, News Press, 2/21/04
http://www.news-press.com/news/lifestyle/040221islamcalendar.html
Because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, the new year
begins upon the sighting of the crescent moon. Sophisticated
astronomical
calculations are generally employed to determine exactly when this
happens.
On the Western/Gregorian calendar, this translates to approximately
Sunday
this year. The Islamic calendar year is comprised of 12 months, either
29
or 30 days per month, which makes 354 days per year. Many Muslim
countries,
with the exception of Saudi Arabia, use the Islamic calendar, called
the
Hijra, only for religious purposes and reference the Gregorian calendar
for
civil purposes.
Q How do Muslims traditionally celebrate the New Year?
A Muslims quietly reflect upon the new year. Morality and the passing
of
time is the focus of remembrance.
Q Which holidays are observed during the Islamic calendar year?
A Al-Hijra is the new year and is observed on the first day of the
first
month, Muharram. In addition, Al-Hijra is also the anniversary of the
Prophet Muhammad's migration to the holy city of Medina, an important
theological event.
Mawlid al-Nabi lands on day 12 of the third month, Rabi al-Awwal. This
date
marks the celebration of Muhammad's birth, and is celebrated with
sermons,
gift-giving and a feast.
The ninth month, Ramadan, is considered the holiest. Muslims fast from
sunrise to sunset every day in order to purify themselves through a
kind of
sacrifice. The last day of this month is cause for the greatest
celebration
of the year...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM WOMEN SPEAK OUT
Ivanhoe Newswire, 2/20/04
http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=43066&SecID=2
ATLANTA - Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. The U.S.
government estimates two million Muslims live in the United States, but
Muslim groups estimate a much higher number. Muslim women are often
shown
in the media as oppressed and voiceless. Here are two women changing
that
image.
Tayyibah Taylor and Saleemah Abdulghafur are preparing the next issue
of
their magazine Azizah. There's food and fashion but that's where
similarities to other magazines end. They have different goals.
"One, it's to be the voice of Muslim women, and two, it's to empower
Muslim
women to forge their own identities," said COO Abdulghafur. Shocked?
Taylor
may know why. "Islam and Muslims are looked at through the lens of
Middle
Eastern politics mostly in this country so there's lots of
misconceptions."
"That she's oppressed, that she can't be educated, that she must listen
to
her father or husband first and foremost," Abdulghafur said.
Each issue of Azizah profiles prominent Muslim women. Articles cover
issues
like female Islamic scholars, AIDS, and the disabled. The founders
themselves learn about Islam from the articles like the one discussing
feminism...
-----
MUSLIM ARCHITECT BLENDS TRADITION AND INNOVATION
Religion News Service, 2/20/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/arts/stories/022104dnrelarchitect.11d6f.html
PORT COQUITLAM, British Columbia - Something is different about the
elegant
entrance to the first mosque ever built in this Vancouver suburb. There
are
two large carved wooden doors under Moorish arches that are exactly the
same.
One is for men.
The other is for women.
Gazing up at the portals, architect Sharif Senbel is proud of his
creation
- a mosque that emphasizes women and men are equal, even if they
worship
separately.
The grand twin entrances are among a variety of Western-sensitive
features
Mr. Senbel has fitted into his graceful, brick-faced mosque in the
growing
municipality of Port Coquitlam. An Egyptian-born Vancouverite, Mr.
Senbel,
37, is one of a handful of architects who are trying to create a new
look
for mosques in Canada and the United States.
Straddling many cultural worlds, Mr. Senbel has been busy in the past
couple of years designing three mosques in Greater Vancouver, which has
more than 60,000 Muslims, out of an estimated 600,000 across Canada.
They are testaments to artistic, spiritual and environmental
innovation.
On the surface, everything about Mr. Senbel seems hip and secular: He
is a
windsurfer, snowboarder and dedicated eco-activist. He wears oversized
silver rings and tony clothes. He has his office on the edge of funky,
gritty Gastown, where the city's young filmmakers gather.
The thing that sets him apart from most up-and-coming North American
architects, though, is that he's a devout Muslim.
Like virtually all Muslims, he interprets the Quran literally,
believing it
is the word of God. On one of his rings, "Allah" is written in Arabic
calligraphy...
-----
CULTURAL MECCA: EXPATRIATES PRESERVE HERITAGE, SHARE TRADITIONS WITH
OTHERS
Rick Badie, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 2/22/04
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/0204/22turkish.html
Turkish-Americans yearning for a touch of home can find it in a
Norcross
office park.
In one suite, they can watch an international soccer game on satellite
TV,
learn to bake baklava or nurse a cup of thick, mild Turkish coffee.
Next door, possibly the only Turkish grocery in Georgia beckons with a
variety of "konservesi" (canned goods) and traditional candies such as
Turkish delight, a sugary confection made with an assortment of nuts.
In a cookie-cutter complex off Jimmy Carter and Atlantic boulevards,
the
Bereket Turkish Grocery Market and the Istanbul Cultural Center are
social
lifelines for expatriates as well as people interested in the
culture...
A network of immigrants is working to bring pockets of
Turkish-Americans
together socially and to offer activities that pass traditions to young
folks. They also want to educate the public about Turkey, and that
includes
letting people see that not all nations with a Muslim majority support
radical Islam...
-----
FENCE LEADS TO HEART OF A GREAT DIVIDE
Ken Ellingwood, Los Angeles Times, 2/22/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-palfence22feb22,1,7189691.story
MASHA, West Bank - From his front door, Hani Amer once took in a view
of
rolling, rock-crusted hills and the stately minarets that poke above
mosques of nearby Palestinian villages like exclamation points.
Now the Palestinian farmer stares at a world transformed by the barrier
Israel has been erecting against much of the West Bank. In this spot
and
others, the serpentine divider cuts miles into territory claimed by
Palestinians for a future state -- one reason it is being challenged in
the
International Court of Justice in The Hague. The court will open
hearings
Monday.
The wall's arrival in this farming region a few months ago already has
altered life so deeply that the Amers and hundreds of other Palestinian
families wonder how they will endure Israel's bid to fence off land
they
view as their own. Along the barrier's path and elsewhere across the
West
Bank, the project has produced confusion and outrage among
Palestinians,
along with a growing resignation that it may be here to stay.
Some residents have been left on the Palestinian side, cut off from
olive
groves to the west that have sustained their families for generations.
Others have been left in a kind of no man's land on the Israeli side,
and
can't get their children to school or visit relatives in Palestinian
communities across the fence.
The Amer family inhabits a category of its own: unable to go in either
direction with ease...
-----
THE ENEMIES WITHIN; AN END TO EVIL
Warren I. Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 2/22/04
http://www.latimes.com/
(Warren I. Cohen is Distinguished University Professor at the
University of
Maryland, Baltimore County and Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson
International Center for Scholars.)
Readers old enough to have enjoyed the John Birch Society's 1950s
attacks
on the Eisenhower administration -- the suggestions that President
Eisenhower and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles were conscious
dupes
of the internationalist communist conspiracy -- will be delighted by
the
new book "An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror." Substitute
terrorism for communism and we have a wonderfully vulgar screed that
explains what Americans must do to win the war against terrorism and
fingers all the individuals, organizations and countries that pose
obstacles to victory.
According to authors David Frum and Richard Perle, the enemies of a
secure
America include Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, his deputy Richard
L.
Armitage, the State Department and U.S. diplomats generally, especially
career foreign service officers (who tend to be disloyal), the CIA, the
National Security Council (composed largely of men and women seconded
from
State and the CIA), the FBI, Democrats (except for Sen. Joe Lieberman),
the
United Nations, the French, Belgians and, worst of all, the Saudis.
Let's
not forget those members of the first President Bush's foreign policy
apparatus -- specifically national security advisor Brent Scowcroft and
senior foreign policy aide Richard N. Haass -- who dared disagree on
policy
issues with Perle, then assistant secretary of defense for
international
security policy, and Frum, a National Review columnist and former
speechwriter for President George W. Bush. In "An End to Evil," they
describe all of the above as facilitators of terrorism against the
United
States.
Is this the New McCarthyism? Perhaps the book is meant as red meat for
the
faithful, but I don't think so. Surely this is an uncharacteristic
effort
by Frum, who boasts of having put the words "axis of evil" in the
president's mouth, and Perle, known in Washington as the "Prince of
Darkness," presumably for his insistence on the gravity of the Soviet
threat on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, to be funny, a
deliberate parody of what they imagine Roy Cohn, Sen. Joseph McCarthy's
chief prosecutor, would have written.
They assure us we are not alone in this fight against terrorism.
Fortunately, President George W. Bush is usually on our side -- at
least
when he listens to the right people...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
ACTION REQUESTED:
Contact Sen. Corzine and Rep. Pascrell to thank them for defending the
Muslim community against defamatory attacks. (Calls are best, followed
by
faxes and then e-mails.)
Sen. Corzine: http://corzine.senate.gov/
Rep. Pascrell: http://www.pascrell.house.gov/
COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org, cair@cair-nj.org
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CORZINE, PASCRELL CONDEMN ANTI-MUSLIM SMEARS
Islamic civil rights group thanks officials for their support
(TOTOWA, N.J., 2/23/04) - The New Jersey office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today thanked Sen. Jon Corzine
(D-NJ)
and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) for their repudiation of Rep. Peter T.
King's
(R-NY) recent claims that "85 percent" of American Muslim community
leaders
are "an enemy living amongst us" and that "no (American) Muslims"
cooperate
in the war on terror.
King first made those claims February 9th on Sean Hannity's
nationally-syndicated radio program and later repeated the accusations
to
local media.
Corzine and Pascrell repudiated King's remarks at an event for Muslim
community leaders on Saturday in Teaneck, N.J.
Rep. Pascrell challenged King's claim that the vast majority of mosque
leaders are extremists. He said the accusation is "not true." "In town
after town, we know that Muslims are great Americans," said Pascrell.
At the same event, Sen. Corzine said: "It is outrageous to believe that
80
to 85 percent of mosques are (run by extremists). This is just not
representative of what we see."
"We thank Senator Corzine and Congressman Pascrell for coming to the
defense of the American Muslim community at this critical time," said
CAIR-NJ Board Member Saladin Mustafa. "Congressman King's smears only
serve
to cast suspicion on all American Muslims and to create divisions
between
faiths." Mustafa called on other political and religious leaders to
similarly repudiate King's defamatory comments.
Earlier this month, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) called
King's
statements "hate-filled," while the Interfaith Alliance termed them
"inflammatory" and "outrageous."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Faiza Ali, Executive Director, CAIR-NJ, 908-209-7440, E-Mail:
cair@cair-nj.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org
---
SEE ALSO:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
LISTEN TO AN AUDIO CLIP OF REP. KING'S REMARKS
http://www.cair-net.org/audio/peterking.ram
KING'S REMARKS OUTRAGE MUSLIMS
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usking123667152feb12,0,5646552.story
A RELIGIOUS AWAKENING IN TEANECK
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk0NjUmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY0OTExOTQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/23/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A VIRTUOUS WOMAN
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Nevada
* INTERNATIONAL SCAM TARGETS MUSLIMS IN UTAH
- Con Artist Targets Muslims Across America (CAIR)
* CAIR-FL: ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY NO THREAT TO U.S. (Orlando Sent)
* WA: WORLD OF POLITICS CHANGING FOR UW MUSLIMS (The Daily)
- MT: UM Events Educate On Muslim Culture (Missoulian)
- NJ: Alliance Bridging Gap Among Religions (Gannett)
* MUSLIMS HAD INSIGHTS INTO HIEROGLYPHS (Reuters)
* MA: MUSLIMS, DEVELOPERS COMPETE OVER SCHOOL (Boston Globe)
* REPORT SHOWS ISRAEL OWNS 82 NUKE WEAPONS (Drudge Report)
- A Wall as a Weapon (New York Times)
* FEW HURRAHS FOR AL-HURRA (Washington Times)
* US-LED WAR IN IRAQ AN 'EXCEPTIONAL INJUSTICE' (VOA)
- Military Justice a Self-Inflicted Casualty (CSM)
* BOSNIAN SURVIVOR FACES HER TORMENTOR (Toronto Star)
* INDIAN MUSLIM COUNCIL DINNER IN BALTIMORE
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A VIRTUOUS WOMAN
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The world and all
things in
it are valuable; but the most valuable thing in the world is a virtuous
woman."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 704
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,310 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Nevada: 28 covered, 56 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
INTERNATIONAL SCAM TARGETS MUSLIMS IN UTAH
Pat Reavy, Deseret Morning News, 2/23/04
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,590045165,00.html
An organization based in Washington, D.C., says several Utahns have
been
targets of an international scam aimed at Muslims.
Police say a man has been posing as a Muslim leader or scholar who is
stranded at an airport in another city, typically Toronto, and needs
money
wired to him so he can continue his journey. He promises to repay the
lender immediately.
Instead, officials say, he pockets the cash and moves on to the next
potential victim.
A man who used that same story recently called a handful of Utahans of
Muslim descent. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said it was
positive it was the same scam artist and recently issued a warning
about
the man. So far, however, local police departments said they have not
had
any complaints filed.
The man typically targets leaders or activists in local Muslim
communities,
according to CAIR. The group believes he has taken money from Muslims
in
the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.
"Over time, it adds up to a tremendous amount of money," said CAIR
spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed, who estimated the man may have pocketed more
than
a million dollars from the scam over the past decade.
Two Utah men say they have received calls from a man with a similar sob
story. One of the Utahns was Adnan Abed, principal of the Iqra Academy
of
Utah, 2887 E. 7000 South.
A man called the school claiming he was a doctor from Saudi Arabia in
charge of an Islamic bank who was traveling to different Muslim
communities
for the purpose of donating money to Muslim charities and projects such
as
schools and mosques. He asked the school to prepare a proposal that he
could review, Abed said.
The next day, however, the man called back, claiming his wife had
accidentally put their plane tickets and all their travelers checks and
money into luggage that was already shipped to Salt Lake City. He
claimed
they were stranded in Toronto and needed $2,000 wired to them so they
could
buy plane tickets, Abed said. The man promised to repay the school as
soon
as he got to Utah.
Abed said he was about to wire the man money until he talked to a
friend
who made some phone calls and found out it was a scam...
ALSO SEE:
CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS ACROSS AMERICA
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/23/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) is warning Muslims throughout the United States and Canada about
a
con artist who seeks money by impersonating well-known personalities in
the
Muslim world.
The con artist calls Muslim individuals and groups pretending to be
with a
respected Islamic institution. He claims that he and others are coming
to
visit the United States. Later, he calls back, claiming to have lost
his
money, tickets or passport and asks for emergency cash to be wired to
him
at Western Union or a similar facility, usually in Canada.
A person using this same con game was arrested in Canada two years ago
(see
article below), but was later released. NOTE: The impostor may use many
variations of this scam.
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Please ANNOUNCE AT JUMA'A and other functions - several hundred
Muslims
have been targeted in the past.
2. DO NOT wire money to anyone claiming to be stranded in an airport.
3. REPORT requests for money to CAIR, the local office of the FBI (ask
for
a fraud investigator) and to local police. Obtain a copy of the
complaint.
4. If you have already been a victim, send copies of wire transfer
documents to CAIR so that a case can be built against this man. (FAX:
202-488-0833)
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE THE FOLLOWING 2002 CAIR ALERT:
CON-ARTIST WHO DEFRAUDED MUSLIMS CAUGHT
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=125&page=AA
-----
DESIRE FOR ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY IS NO THREAT TO U.S.
Parvez Ahmed, Orlando Sentinel, 2/23/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edpahmed23022304feb23,1,3497614.story
The Bush administration is grappling with the real possibility that
Iraq
will most likely end up being an "Islamic democracy." Although U.S.
civilian administrator Paul Bremer initially favored allowing Iraqis to
decide for themselves the final shape and content of their
constitution, he
now says that the current draft of the constitution should make Islam
"a
source of inspiration for the law" as opposed to being the main source.
Asked what would happen if Iraqi leaders wrote into the constitution
that
Islamic sharia law is the principal basis of the law, Bremer suggested
he
would veto it. "Our position is clear. It can't be law until I sign
it,"
said Bremer. The threat of veto has angered Iraqis.
As an American-Muslim, I am bemused at Bremer's paranoia, for I see no
conflict between Islam and democracy. At the core of democracy lies the
ideals of a representative government that safeguards the rights of all
its
citizens. It may come as a shock to many, but Islam's idea of
governance is
not far from these ideals.
Democracy in essence calls for the accountability of governments to the
governed. With accountability comes the right to elect governments.
Election thus becomes the means to the goal of accountability, which it
is
assumed keeps a democratic society close to the ideals of justice and
fairness...
Parvez Ahmed is the chairman of board for the Florida Chapter of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations in Davie. CAIR is America's
largest
Muslim civil-liberties advocacy groups.
-----
WORLD OF POLITICS CHANGING FOR UW MUSLIMS
Matt Ironside, The Daily of Washington University, 2/23/04
http://thedaily.washington.edu/news.lasso
The UW Muslim Student Association (MSA) Islamic House is a work in
progress. Step inside and you'll see lined studs and ceiling boards
where
walls and tiles once were.
The renovation of the building the MSA intends to use for many of its
future activities is an indication of changes elsewhere in the Muslim
community. Sept. 11, 2001, the Patriot Act, and the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan are common mentions when members of MSA discuss how the
last
four years have changed their community politically.
"With non-Muslim friends before 9/11 we never use to talk about
politics,
but after [Sept. 11] people started to ask," said Zia Qadir, a freshman
in
pre-engineering. "We have to know what we're standing for,"
Qadir admits that he and his Islamic friends have never been
politically
active in the past. It is a past that many in the community see
changing.
"I believe there has been a large increase of activity compared to four
years ago," said Rami Al Kabra, a member of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) Seattle Chapter.
Al Kabra cited a higher-than-expected turnout at a recent Islamic
community
event as an example of how things have changed. CAIR held the event to
educate people on how to participate in the Feb. 7 caucuses...
ALSO SEE:
UM EVENTS EDUCATE ON MUSLIM CULTURE, FAITH
Betsy Cohen, Missoulian, 2/23/04
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/02/23/news/local/news05.txt
Muslim cultural understanding will be the focus of an upcoming event
sponsored by the University of Montana.
During the week of March 8 -14, UM's Muslim Student Association and the
Office of International Programs will host a weeklong program called
"Expanding Horizons."
Events will include educational programs and activities aimed at
strengthening community relationships between Missoula Muslims and the
greater Missoula community.
Lectures, presentations and films are among some of the program's
offerings. Workshops will be held for Muslim Student Association
members
and other interested international students, which will focus on
various
aspects of U.S. government and American political and social history.
Throughout the week, members of the Muslim Student Association will
visit
local high schools to give presentations on their countries and
cultures...
---
ALLIANCE BRIDGING GAP AMONG RELIGIONS
Craig Yetsko, Gannett New Jersey, 2/23/04
http://www.c-n.com/news/c-n/story/0,2111,912431,00.html
OLD BRIDGE - In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Moin
Ansari
saw an opportunity to promote a positive interaction among Muslims,
Christians and Jews. The Pakistan-born Muslim, along with Allan
Shapiro, a
member of the Flemington Conservative Jewish Community Center, sought
to
create a group that focused on the positives of the three religions.
The
result: formation of the American Jewish Muslim Alliance.
"There is a lot of commonality between our faiths," Ansari said to a
group
of 25 on Sunday at Congregation Beth Ohr.
He said Muslims pray to the God of Jesus and Moses. The languages of
Arabic
and Hebrew also are alike, Ansari added.
He said the slogan of the alliance, based in East Hanover, is that
every
time a terrorist event happens, the group should form 10 new
Jewish-Muslim,
Jewish-Christian or Christian-Muslim relationships.
Ansari, along with alliance member Jory Samkoff-Oulhiad, spoke about
their
group's travels to churches and synagogues to provide a dialogue among
the
faiths.
Samkoff-Oulhiad has a unique perspective on Judaism and Islam -- she is
married to Lahsen Oulhiad, a Moroccan Muslim.
She said Jewish people are accepted by Muslims in Morocco…
-----
MUSLIMS HAD INSIGHTS INTO HIEROGLYPHS
Reuters, 2/22/04
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/02/22/egypt.hieroglyphs.reut/
CAIRO, Egypt - An Egyptian scholar based in London, England, has been
delighting Arab audiences with his inquiries into the recondite world
of
medieval Muslims who wrote about ancient Egypt and had some insights
into
hieroglyphic writing.
Among Western scholars, who have led the field of Egyptology since
Napoleon's 1798 campaign and Jean-Francois Champollion's groundbreaking
work on hieroglyphics in the 1820s, the conventional wisdom has been
that
Arabs and Muslims dismissed ancient Egypt as an irrelevant pagan
civilization.
The French set up Egypt's first organized archaeological
administration,
and Egyptians hardly figure among the pantheon of honored scholars who
patched together our vast knowledge of ancient Egypt from tombs,
temples,
pyramids and inscriptions.
But Okasha El Daly, who lectures at University College London and holds
an
outreach post at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, says that a
thousand years earlier, when Arab civilization was close to its height,
Muslim scholars not only took an interest in ancient Egypt but also
could
interpret at least a few characters in the hieroglyphic script...
-----
TWO GROUPS COMPETE OVER FUTURE OF SCHOOL
Angelica Medaglia, Boston Globe, 2/22/04
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/02/22/two_groups_compete_over_future_of_school/
MEDFORD -- Facing an intense lobbying effort by West Medford residents
that
included letters, telephone calls, and petitions, the City Council last
week asked a city-appointed committee to reconsider its decision that
would
prevent the shuttered Hervey school from being used as an educational
facility.
In a move called into question by Mayor Michael McGlynn, the council
voted
to ask the city's School Reuse Committee to revisit its decision last
month
to limit the sale of the former school on Holton Street to developers
who
would use it for condominiums. The committee's decision ruled out a
proposal from a group of area Muslims who wanted to use the building
for
the Malik Academy, an Islamic school.
Committee member Richard Laskey has said his group believed that the
city
would get more tax revenue by selling the school to a developer than to
the
Malik Academy backers. And McGlynn said city officials fear that if the
Hervey building is allowed to be used as an educational facility, then
a
group could start a charter school there and draw state funding away
from
the public schools.
Some neighbors support the condo idea. But many have voiced strong
support
for the academy or for another plan that would allow the school to
continue
to be used for educational purposes. They argue that a school would be
more
in keeping with the character of the neighborhood than a condominium
development...
-----
SECRET DEFENSE REPORT SHOWS ISRAEL OWNS 82 NUKE WEAPONS
Drudge Report, 2/23/04
http://www.drudgereport.com/mattrs.htm
RUMSFELD'S WAR, the new book by WASHINGTON TIMES Pentagon reporter
Rowan
Scarborough, includes a secret Defense Intelligence Agency report that
shows Israel owns 82 nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, arch-rivals Pakistan
and
India plan big increases in their atomic arsenals.
The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a copy of that report, one of many
secret
document cited in RUMSFELD'S WAR. Following is an excerpt from this new
book which is being released Monday and which has sold out advance
copies
at some bookstores:
President Bush's inaugural address followed the traditional script:
paying
homage to the outgoing president before mentioning the continuing
national
security threats and what he planned to do about them. "We will build
our
defenses beyond challenge, lest weakness invite challenge," he said.
"We
will confront weapons of mass destruction, so that a new century is
spared
new horrors" .... Waiting for the new president at the Pentgon was an
extraordinary, massive and classified paper on future threats
stretching to
the year 2020, prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency.
On the nuclear front, a page stamped secret says more countries will
possess nuclear weapons in the next twenty years. A classified chart
predicts that Iran will have ten to twenty weapons.
China¹s nuclear ICBM force will grow from forty missiles to as many as
220.
Rivals Pakistan and India will more than double their nuclear
stockpile.
Stalinist North Korea may have ten atomic weapons by 2020. Israel will
maintain an arsenal of about eighty warheads. North Korea possesses not
only two to four nuclear weapons - of limited nuclear yield - but it
also
has an offensive biological and chemical arsenal. Says the DIA report,
"Despite limited intelligence on the status of its biological warfare
capabilities, North Korea is thought to have developed agents including
anthrax, plague, cholera and toxins..."
ALSO SEE:
A WALL AS A WEAPON
Noam Chomsky, New York Times, 2/23/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/23/opinion/23CHOM.html
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - It is a virtual reflex for governments to plead
security
concerns when they undertake any controversial action, often as a
pretext
for something else. Careful scrutiny is always in order. Israel's
so-called
security fence, which is the subject of hearings starting today at the
International Court of Justice in The Hague, is a case in point.
Few would question Israel's right to protect its citizens from
terrorist
attacks like the one yesterday, even to build a security wall if that
were
an appropriate means. It is also clear where such a wall would be built
if
security were the guiding concern: inside Israel, within the
internationally recognized border, the Green Line established after the
1948-49 war. The wall could then be as forbidding as the authorities
chose:
patrolled by the army on both sides, heavily mined, impenetrable. Such
a
wall would maximize security, and there would be no international
protest
or violation of international law.
This observation is well understood. While Britain supports America's
opposition to the Hague hearings, its foreign minister, Jack Straw, has
written that the wall is "unlawful." Another ministry official, who
inspected the "security fence," said it should be on the Green Line or
"indeed on the Israeli side of the line." A British parliamentary
investigative commission also called for the wall to be built on
Israeli
land, condemning the barrier as part of a "deliberate" Israeli
"strategy of
bringing the population to heel..."
Noam Chomsky, professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute
of
Technology, is the author of "Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for
Global Dominance."
-----
FEW HURRAHS FOR AL-HURRA
Arnaud de Borchgrave, Washington Times, 2/22/04
http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20040222-103508-3982r.htm
Small wonder the first Arabic-language U.S. satellite television
station
named Al-Hurra, Arabic for "the free," did not garner any hurrahs from
the
intended audience - some 310 million Arabs in 22 Arab countries.
America's message was blunted from the start by the Bush
administration's
benign neglect of the Middle East peace process, pushed aside as it was
by
the occupation of Iraq, and a much-heralded "road map" for a road that
wasn't on the map. That is now seen as a diversion to allow Ariel
Sharon to
complete his housekeeping chores in the West Bank and Gaza before
drawing a
new line in the sand.
Al-Hurra is seen by Arabs as a new vessel for the same merchandise -
promotion of U.S. policies and interests as well as those of Israel.
Ever since Prime Minister Sharon convinced Mr. Bush that Israel's war
on
Palestinian terrorism was an integral part of America's war on global
terrorism, Mr. Sharon has moved his pieces on the Middle Eastern
chessboard
to ensure the stillbirth of a Palestinian state. He has forged ahead
with a
420-mile, $2 billion wall/fence/ditch that snakes deep into Palestinian
territory and expropriates almost 15 percent of the West Bank
(excluding
East Jerusalem).
And if the barrier is extended along the Jordan River with a no-man's
land
on either side, as presently envisaged, Israel will have annexed 55
percent
of the area designated to become a Palestinian state. Not by the
remotest
stretch of an Israeli's imagination - dove or hawk - could this
possibly be
seen as a future Palestinian state. As a sop to the World Court of
Justice
taking up Palestinian complaints this week, Sharon agreed to shorten
the
anti-terrorist barrier by five miles...
-----
US-LED WAR IN IRAQ A 'EXCEPTIONAL INJUSTICE' SAYS INDONESIAN PRESIDENT
Tim Johnston, VOA News, 2/23/04
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=FE4C8BCE-A85F-49BB-AE2DB92F25D6AF14
The president of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation,
has
attacked the coalition campaign in Iraq. The comments are a reflection
of a
deep distrust of U.S. motives in the Iraq campaign.
President Megawati Sukarnoputri opened a conference of Islamic scholars
Monday, by saying the U.S. led war in Iraq was symptomatic of
"exceptional
injustice" by big Western nations against Muslim nations. "The act of
violence undertaken unilaterally against the Republic of Iraq by
certain
countries, which are now finding it difficult to prove the existence of
weapons of mass destruction there, which is the sole justification to
launch the biggest military attack at the beginning of the 21st
century, is
an evident picture of this injustice," she says.
She went on to criticize the recent decision by France to ban
conspicuous
religious symbols, including the headscarves worn by Muslim women, in
schools. She described it as discrimination, and a blow to human
rights.
The Jakarta conference is designed to promote dialogue among different
faiths and counter the impression given by some militants that Islam is
a
violent religion.
The overwhelming majority of Indonesia's 190 million Muslims follow a
moderate form of Islam. They have been deeply shocked by the acts of
terrorism carried out in the name of Islam, including the murderous
bombings on the island of Bali in 2002 and the explosion outside a
U.S.-run
hotel in Jakarta last August...
ALSO SEE:
MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM A SELF-INFLICTED CASUALTY IN TERROR WAR
Juliette Kayyem, Christian Science Monitor, 2/23/04
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0223/p09s02-cogn.html
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. - Has our traditional system of military justice
become
the latest casualty in the war on terror? One gauge of that question is
the
handling of the case against a former Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo
Bay, US
Army Capt. James Yee.
Last week, for the fifth time in three months, Captain Yee's military
court
preliminary hearing was postponed to give the Army more time to review
classified documents it alleges Yee took from Guantanamo Bay. Last
year,
Yee spent 76 days in prison while military prosecutors tried to build a
much-publicized espionage charge against him. Failing that, the
government
charged the West Point graduate with mishandling classified material
(material apparently still being assessed by the government). And just
in
case those charges don't stick, Yee was also accused of adultery and
downloading pornography on his government laptop computer, both
punishable
in a military court. Somehow, he's got to be guilty of something.
The delay is unfortunate, and suggests the government's case is weak.
To
date, despite a cadre of military prosecutors involved in months of
investigation, the government has failed so far to disclose to the
court,
or evidently to the defendant, the basis for its allegations that Yee
posed
a harm to the nation.
If Yee was in fact in physical possession of classified materials when
he
was originally detained, it should not take prosecutors months to cull
through the material. Yet in previous public testimony, the sole
evidence
against Yee was made by his former mistress, who admitted to an affair
in
violation of military rules. This may be of significant interest to
Yee's
wife, but hardly a US security breech.
The government has now stated that even if its national security
charges
come to naught, it will still pursue Yee for his affair and
pornography...
-----
A SURVIVOR FACES HER TORMENTOR
Sandro Contenta, Toronto Star, 2/23/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1077491410261&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724
A few days ago, Nusret Sivac came face to face with the man who ran the
concentration camp where she was raped and others were killed.
It's not uncommon in today's Bosnia for victims and perpetrators of a
war
that ended in 1995 to cross paths. And nowhere is this more likely than
in
the Prijedor area, where Muslim victims of "ethnic cleansing" by
Bosnian
Serbs are returning in force.
For Sivac, a pre-war civil court judge who returned in 1999, the chance
encounter was especially charged with emotion.
Walking towards her was Miroslav Kvocka, a Bosnian Serb she testified
against at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague. He was released two
months
ago, after serving two-thirds of a seven-year sentence for war crimes.
Sivac screwed up her courage...
It was a moment of personal triumph for the survivor of Omarska camp,
where
3,000 Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats were tortured and starved. On
one
of Prijedor's bleak streets, human dignity had prevailed...
-----
INDIAN MUSLIM COUNCIL DINNER IN BALTIMORE
WHAT: The Baltimore Chapter of the Indian Muslim Council-USA are
hosting
its annual awareness event and fund raising dinner, titled,
"Marginalization of Muslims in India."
WHEN: Saturday, 6th March 2004 @ 6:00 pm
WHERE: The Palace Hall, Sam's Plaza, 1724 Woodlawn Drive, Baltimore, MD
21207
For Tickets and other details Contact IMC-Baltimore:
E-mail: baltimore@imc-usa.org
Phone: 410 903 1157
Website: www.imc-usa.org/baltimore.htm
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
CALIFORNIANS TO PROTEST DORNAN'S ISLAMOPHOBIA
Religious and minority groups oppose candidate's 'hate-filled' rhetoric
WHAT: On Friday, February 27, 2004, representatives of Los Angeles-area
interfaith, Latino, Asian, and immigrant organizations will hold a news
conference outside the Huntington Beach office of Republican
congressional
candidate Robert Dornan to protest what the groups say is his
"hate-filled"
rhetoric about Muslims, Arabs, immigrants, and other minorities.
(Dornan is
seeking election in California's 46th congressional district.)
WHEN: Friday, February 27, 2004, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: In front of Robert Dornan's listed campaign office, 18851
Goldenwest
St., Huntington Beach, CA
CONTACT: Sabiha F. Khan, Communications Director, CAIR-LA, 714-776-1847
or
714-390-0334
News conference organizers say Dornan has a history of making
Islamophobic
remarks. In a recent Orange County Register article, Dornan cited his
"Middle East" and "Islamic expertise" and said, "The dark side of Islam
has
been a problem for 1,400 years." (12/5/03).
In December of 2001, Dornan criticized the father of John Walker Lindh,
for
letting Lindh "give up Jesus for a camel driver with nine wives." (CNN,
12/14/01)
During the same broadcast, the host asked: "How could you actually as
an
elected official in a country that embraces separation of church and
state
make pro-Jesus Christ and anti-Islam statements?"
Dornan responded by saying: "Why? All you've heard is pro-Islamic
statements for the last three months. It's not wrong...you ought to
study
the two men. Study Jesus Christ, a man of peace, and study Mohammed, a
man
of war." He went on to say that Islam urged people to "murder other
camel
drivers" and Muhammad said to "cut their throats".
At a rally in March of 2003 at the Lincoln Memorial, it was reported
that
Dornan "denounced the Koran as 'a book of war and terrorism' and said
that
the Koran 'must be rewritten' and that passages seen as endorsing
violence
'must be expunged.'" SEE:
http://www.overthrow.com/lsn/news.asp?articleID=4137
In a letter sent to Dornan, CAIR-LA requested that Dornan clarify
whether
these comments are indeed accurate and reflective of his views on Islam
and
Muslims.
"As reported, these Islamophobic remarks reflect a lack of
understanding
about Islam and Muslims," said CAIR-LA Director of Governmental
Relations
Omar Zaki. "Such comments demonstrate an attempt to treat American
Muslims
as an outcast community."
Zaki added that Islamophobic speech directed at the American Muslim
community creates unnecessary division among Americans during a time
when
national unity is needed more than ever.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACTS: Sabiha F. Khan, Communications Director, CAIR-LA,
714-776-1847 or
714-390-0334, E-MAIL: socal@cair.com; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/24/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A CONSIDERATE PROPHET
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: West Virginia
* CAIR-CAN FUNDRAISING DINNER
- CAIR-LA: Election Town Hall Meeting a Success
- CAIR-NY: Muslims Vote 2004 Dinner
* INCITEMENT WATCH: 'YOU CAN'T BELIEVE AN ARAB'
* CA OFFICIAL CHALLENGES REP KING'S ANTI-MUSLIM REMARKS
- FBI Director Thanks American Muslims (C-SPAN)
* MD MUSLIMS FILE DISCRIMINATION SUIT (Wash Post)
- CAIR-CAN: Muslims Face New Pressures (Macleans)
* CA: MUSLIMS SUPPORT ONE OF THEIR OWN (Pakistan Link)
- RESOURCES: New Haitian Muslim Group Formed
* FRANCE: SECULAR...OR ANTI-ISLAMIC? (Washington Times)
* COURT DENIES REVIEW OF POST-9/11 SECRECY (Wash. Post)
- Detainee Claims Torture in Syria (National Post)
* YVONNE RIDLEY CHANGED BY CONVERSION TO ISLAM (Guardian)
* US SUSPENDS 17 TROOPS IN DETAINEE ABUSE PROBE (Reuters)
- Gunned Down With Abandon (New Nation)
- Shi'ite Anger at Occupation Mounts (Reuters)
- Clerics Urge Release of Detained Women (Reuters)
* PALESTINIANS AND THE 'SECURITY' BARRIER (Indep.)
* A HISTORY WRITTEN IN CHECHEN BLOOD (Washington Post)
* MOROCCO EARTHQUAKE KILLS AT LEAST 229 (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A CONSIDERATE PROPHET
A'isha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), said: "I
never once saw the (Prophet) making voluntary (supplications to God),
without doing so myself. Sometimes the (Prophet) would refrain from a
practice that he loved to do, fearing that people would do the same and
(mistakenly believe) that it had become obligatory for them."
Al-Muwatta, Volume 9, Hadith 32
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,311 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of West Virginia: 54 covered, 112 more libraries
to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
CAIR-CAN FUNDRAISING DINNER - TORONTO
WHAT: The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN)
presents its second annual Toronto fundraising dinner, "Striving for
Full
Citizenship. Your Voice, Your Future." The wife of Maher Aras, Dr.
Monia
Mazigh, Sheikh Abdalla Idris Ali, Dr. Munir El-Kassem, Executive
Director
of CAIR-CAN Riad Saloojee LL.B., and Chair of CAIR-CAN Dr. Sheema Khan
will
be featured speakers. There will also be a multimedia presentation.
WHEN: Saturday, March 27, 2004. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
WHERE: Toronto Congress Centre, Leonard Cohen Hall, 650 Dixon Rd (near
Pearson Airport)
For additional information, call 416.409.8451 or email
toronto@cair-net.org.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-LA: ELECTION TOWN HALL MEETING A SUCCESS
(BUENA PARK, CA) - Some 400 members of the American Muslim and
Arab-American communities turned out for the Elections 2004 Town Hall
meeting held in Buena Park on Sunday to hear from federal, state, and
local
candidates running in the primaries on March 2, 2004.
The town hall meeting was co-organized by the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA), Muslim Public Affairs
Council
(MPAC), American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Arab American Caucus-State
Democratic Party, and the Arab American Republican Club of Orange
County,
and co-sponsored by dozens of groups including other Muslim, Iranian,
Pakistani, Indian, and Arab-American organizations.
Candidates from various local races told the community that Muslim and
Arab
voices were needed in our political system. They urged the community to
continue playing an important role and to challenge attempts at
exclusion.
With the exception of the Bush campaign, all major presidential
campaigns
were present, with representatives from the John Kerry, Dennis
Kucinich,
John Edwards, Howard Dean, and Green party campaigns. Ralph Nader, who
had
announced his candidacy on that day, called in to the meeting.
Representatives from state and local races from Los Angeles, San
Bernardino, and Orange Counties also spoke to the community. Candidates
present included Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-47th), Congresswoman
Linda Sanchez (D-39th), Assemblyman Lou Correa, Councilman Mark Leyes,
assembly candidates Dave Silva and Kermit Marsh, Congressional
candidates
Cynthia Matthews, Vicki Johnson and Judge Jim Gray, and Mayor pro tem
of
Garden Grove, Van Tran.
Several leaders of the Muslim and Arab communities spoke at the event.
Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR-LA, stressed the importance
of
voting by American Muslims and Arab-Americans.
---
CAIR-NY: MUSLIMS VOTE 2004 DINNER
WHAT: A Muslims Vote 2004 dinner will take place that will examine the
role
of the 7 million American Muslims in the 2004 elections. Confirmed
Guest
Speakers include Omar Ahmad, Chairman, Council on American-Islamic
Relations; Agha Saeed, Chairman, American Muslim Alliance
WHEN: Saturday, April 10, 2004 at 630 PM
WHERE: Crowne Plaza la Guardia Hotel, 104-04 Ditmars Blvd,
East Elmhurst, Queens, NY 11369 (Across LaGuardia Airport)
For directions please call hotel at (718) 457-6300
For more information, contact CAIR-NY at (212) 870-2002
E-Mail: cair-ny@cair-ny.com
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: 'YOU CAN'T BELIEVE AN ARAB'
IsraelNN.com, 2/24/04
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=58417
During a memorial service today, Deputy Defense Minister (Likud) Ze'ev
Boim
questioned what drives "Islam in general and the Palestinian people
specifically", asking if their yearning for terrorism is not "cultural
or
even genetic", calling their murderous actions "unexplainable".
SEE ALSO:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=397853&displayTypeCd=1&sideCd=1&contrassID=2
Fellow Likud legislator Yehiel Hazan rushed to defend Boim against
charges
that the deputy minister had practiced anti-Semitism against the Arab
branch of the Semitic peoples.
"He's right," Hazan said, "It's been a known fact for many years that
the
Arabs slaughter and murder Jews, without any connection to land. It's
imprinted in their blood. It's something genetic. I haven't done
research,
but there's no possibility of explaining it differently.
"You can't believe an Arab, even one who's 40 years in his grave,"
Hazan said.
-----
CA OFFICIAL CHALLENGES REP KING'S ANTI-MUSLIM REMARKS
February 19, 2004
Honorable Peter T. King
US House of Representatives
436 Cannon House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Dear Representative King;
As Chair of the California Assembly Select Committee on Hate Crimes, I
am
writing to express my concerns with your recent comments about U.S.
mosque
leaders.
On February 9, 2004, during a radio interview on Sean Hannity's
nationally
syndicated radio show, you affirmed your stance that extremists rule 85
percent of mosques in America. You further stated that mosques were "an
enemy living amongst us" and unwilling to "cooperate with police."
The response by leaders of U.S. mosques after the attacks on September
11,
2001 alone provides ample evidence to repudiate your comments. Leaders
of
the U.S. mosque community were among the first to denounce the attacks
of
September 11, 2001, issuing public statements and offering their help.
MuslimAmerican doctors, firefighters, and business owners volunteered
their time and raised substantial money for relief efforts. And despite
the
fact that anti-Islamic hate crimes increased 1600 percent between 2000
and
2001, leaders have offered their mosques as gathering places for public
dialogue.
Furthermore, leaders of U.S. mosques have continued to invite community
and
elected leaders to learn about their culture and practices. Thousands
of
Muslim-Americans serve in the US military and in law enforcement,
working
to protect all Americans.
Mr. King, I believe your viewpoints are grossly misguided. I am
concerned
that such inflammatory speech will only encourage more acts of
discrimination and violence against the Muslim-American community. I
urge
you to issue a public apology for the comments that you made.
Additionally,
I hope that you accept the invitation of Mr. Nihad Awad, the Executive
Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, and learn about
the
important contributions that Muslim-Americans have made to this nation.
Thank you for taking your time to listen to my concerns. I look forward
to
hearing your response on this matter.
Sincerely,
Judy M. Chu, Ph.D.
49th Assembly District [California]
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a49/
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
LISTEN TO AN AUDIO CLIP OF REP. KING'S REMARKS
http://www.cair-net.org/audio/peterking.ram
KING'S REMARKS OUTRAGE MUSLIMS
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usking123667152feb12,0,5646552.story
ACTION REQUESTED:
Send a note of appreciation to Assemblywoman Chu through:
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a49/contacts.htm
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
---
SEE ALSO:
FBI DIRECTOR THANKS AMERICAN MUSLIMS
http://www.c-span.org (Minute 40:48 of the video clip)
Tenet & Mueller Before Committee - CIA Dir. George Tenet & FBI Dir.
Robert
Mueller testify on current & projected national security threats before
the
Senate Intelligence Cmte.
"…at the outset, I should mention that the Muslim American,
Iraqi-American,
and Arab-American communities in the United States have contributed a
great
deal to our success. And on behalf of the FBI, I would like to thank
these
communities for their assistance and for their ongoing commitment to
preventing acts of terrorism."
FBI Director Robert Mueller, 2/24/04
-----
MD MUSLIMS FILE DISCRIMINATION SUIT
The Washington Post, 2/24/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Islamic groups in Montgomery and Frederick counties have filed a
federal
discrimination suit against Frederick County and members of its Board
of
County Commissioners, accusing the board of illegally blocking them
from
building a mosque and community center on 100 acres of rural land south
of
downtown Frederick.
The Islamic Society of Frederick, the Islamic Center of Maryland and
WAQF,
a trust set up by the two entities to raise funds for the mosque, said
the
board unfairly denied the center access to water and sewer lines that
had
been granted to non-Muslim applicants.
John L. Thompson Jr., president of the five-member board, said the
development application was turned down solely because of land-use
considerations. The county had earlier classified the water and sewer
line
off-limits to new development and refused to make an exception for the
mosque, although exceptions had been made previously for two sports
facilities that were never built.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 18 in Greenbelt, names three from the board --
former commissioner David P. Gray and current commissioners Jan H.
Gardner
and Thompson Jr.
ALSO SEE:
RIAD SALOOJEE: CANADA'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY FACES NEW PRESSURES
Alan Martin, Macleans, 2/24/04
http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/qanda/article.jsp?content=20040301_76045_76045
The decision by American authorities to deport Canadian computer
engineer
Maher Arar to his native Syria in September 2002 highlighted several
flaws
in the way security agencies in Canada and the U.S. are trying to
grapple
with the global terror threat. Riad Saloojee, a lawyer and executive
director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada, recently
spoke with Maclean's correspondent Alan Martin on the problems facing
Muslims in Canada since the World Trade Center attacks, the dangers of
racial profiling, and the Arar case.
How has life changed for Canada's Muslim community since Sept. 11?
We did a survey in September 2002 in which a third of respondents said
their lives had changed for the worse. People generally blamed
discrimination, racial profiling and a heightened state of fear and
anxiety. The anti-terrorism legislation gutted some very basic rights
and
freedoms that are entrenched under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
But
Sept. 11 was also very productive in breaking down barriers between
Muslims
and the general Canadian society. About 22 per cent said their lives
had
changed for the better because they now had the opportunity for greater
dialogue and debate.
How have anti-terrorism measures affected Canadian Muslims?
CSIS and the RCMP can procure information from foreign intelligence
agencies and governments that are not democratic, that have no
transparency
in how they accumulate evidence. That evidence is inherently
unreliable,
yet the solicitor general can use it in designating someone as a
terrorist.
Once the label is levelled, a person's life is completely ruined. There
is
a feeling that could happen at the drop of a hat. Let's say we express
an
opinion that is not necessarily popular, for example that we disagree
with
the war in Iraq -- there is concern that we may be pegged as
terrorists.
Has this translated into Muslims being less visible in the expression
of
their faith?
Yes, there has been a chilling effect. Our office gets a lot of calls
from
Muslims saying that CSIS or the RCMP wants to visit them. That by
itself is
not a problem, though some of the tactics are unethical and
unconstitutional. People are told, "There are a lot of questions you
need
to answer, but you don't need to have a lawyer with you." Typically,
the
questions are very loaded: "Do you pray? Do you pray five times a day?
At
which mosque? Who do you know in the community? What are your views
about
Afghanistan?" These questions would be deemed completely irrelevant if
you
had a lawyer present. This has been quite traumatic -- many people have
experienced it...
-----
MUSLIM AMERICANS SUPPORT ONE OF THEIR OWN IN CONGRESSIONAL RACE
Ras H. Siddiqui, Pakistan Link, 2/24/04
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=791b4a9b5989e24451457861ad6d0c29
NEWARK, Calif. - The dinner event at the Hilton Hotel in Newark
actually
had a combination of reasons behind it.
It was Eid Day this year, it was an effort to recognize the certain
community individuals who have worked tirelessly on our behalf in
California's Bay Area and it was a fundraising effort for
Muslim-American
Maad Abu Ghazalah who is running for U.S. Congress from District 12
(San
Mateo/San Francisco) against incumbent Tom Lantos.
The Feb. 1 program started with a recitation from the Holy Qur'an and
the
Pledge of Allegiance of the United States. Reflecting on this day being
"a
day of sacrifices" as Eid Al Adha is about the sacrifice of a father
(the
Prophet Abraham) and his son (Ishmael), Reshma Yunus spoke briefly on
Muslims in America and the price that we need to pay for continued
peace
and prosperity and the efforts through political participation still
needed
to make a difference here.
It is important to note that this event, which was actually slated to
start
around 6 p.m., actually did not begin till after 8 p.m. due to the
close
Super Bowl football game between the Patriots and the Panthers. A
little
less than a hundred people participated but quality and not quantity in
numbers was important here. Dinner was served in the buffet style and
the
opportunity presented to socialize was not wasted, as this was also an
Eid
Milan party.
After dinner the main force behind this evening's effort Salim Mastan
made
a short speech and called for a renewal of awareness on behalf of
Muslims
and how we need to re-establish our priorities. He made his continued
call
of his wish to see a Muslim in the White House by the year 2020 and
asked
the community to support Maad Abu Ghazalah.
Dr. Agha Saeed next presented his views on our obligations as citizens
of
this country by our pledge to 1) Defend it 2) Defend its freedom and
civil
liberties and 3) defend it spiritually. He explained the formation of
the
American Muslim Task Force and the urgent need to have a proper way to
articulate the Muslim interests in the United States...
ALSO SEE:
RESOURCES: NEW HAITIAN MUSLIM GROUP FORMED
Haitian African-American Islamic Community
E-Mail: Haitiancommunity@bellsouth.net
Tel: 305-758-3881 or 786-356-1335
Address: 7828 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Miami 33138
------
SECULAR…OR ANTI-ISLAMIC?
Bruce Fein, Washington Times, 2/23/04
http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20040223-091416-8031r.htm
On Feb. 10, 2004, the French National Assembly voted 494-39 to prohibit
the
wearing of Islamic head scarves in public schools. The prohibition is
facially evenhanded among religions in forbidding "signs and dress that
conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students."
Its ostensible purpose is to protect a secular state. According to
Prime
Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in hailing the magnitude of the
legislative
triumph, "The Republic and secularism are strengthened."
But the timing and arguments surrounding the legislation show an
anti-Islamic motivation. Its secular state justification is patently
bogus.
And the prohibition on religious garb has already inflamed France's
climbing Muslim population and weakened national unity.
The bill was introduced after French Muslims had surged to 5 million
and
fears of Islamic terrorism had spiked in the wake of September 11,
2001.
France's prevailing separation of church and state, decreed in 1905 by
the
Third Republic, accommodates religion in public life. The eastern
provinces
of Alsace and Lorraine, for instance, which were German in 1905,
maintain a
Concordat relationship with Paris that enables clergy to receive
government
salaries.
Article 1 of the French Constitution enjoins both secularism and
respect of
all beliefs: "France is a Republic, indivisible, secular, democratic
and
social. It shall ensure the equality of citizens before the law,
without
distinction of origin, race or religion. It shall respect all beliefs."
In
1989, the French Constitutional Council declared illegal a blanket
school
ban on religious signs...
-----
COURT DENIES REVIEW OF POST-9/11 SECRECY
Charles Lane, Washington Post, 2/24/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64058-2004Feb23.html
The Supreme Court said yesterday that it will not hear a Miami man's
case
against the unusual secrecy that enveloped the proceedings against him
in
lower federal courts, ending the court's involvement in one of the
murkier
legal stories to emerge from the Bush administration's investigation of
the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Mohamed Kamel Bellahouel, 34, an Algerian immigrant, was detained on a
visa
violation in October 2001, then turned over to the FBI as a material
witness after it developed that he had waited on a table occupied by
some
of the Sept. 11 hijackers at a Middle Eastern restaurant in the Miami
area.
He was released on bond in March 2002 after testifying before a grand
jury,
but the government still sought to deport him -- and got both a federal
district court in Florida and the Atlanta-based federal appeals court
that
heard Bellahouel's constitutional challenge to the deportation to agree
they would not publicly acknowledge that the matter had even been
before them.
Bellahouel had asked the Supreme Court to rule that the official
blackout
over his case violated the public's First Amendment right of access to
court proceedings. Courts may not conduct proceedings in secret without
providing a public explanation for doing so, Bellahouel's lawyers
argued.
His appeal was supported by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the
Press, but the court denied the organization's motion to join in the
case.
Initially, U.S. Solicitor General Theodore B. Olson brushed off the
case,
declining the opportunity to respond to Bellahouel's petition for
review.
But in a sign the court did not regard the matter as routine, the
justices
asked him in November to reply. Olson's eventual response was filed
under
seal, as was the response from Bellahouel's lawyers...
ALSO SEE:
DETAINEE'S TALE OFFERS CLUES TO ARAR CASE: CLAIMS TORTURE IN SYRIA
Stewart Bell, National Post, 2/24/04
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/index.html
TORONTO - An Egyptian-Canadian confessed in writing that he was part of
a
plot to drive a truck bomb into the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, but
he
now says he made up the story because he was being tortured.
Ahmad Abou-Elmaati, an Ottawa truck driver, signed the detailed
confession
after he was arrested by Syrian authorities in November, 2001,
according to
a Toronto Muslim leader who met him in Cairo two weeks ago.
In his written confession, Mr. Elmaati said the plot involved "a truck
full
of explosives." When his Syrian interrogators suggested his target was
the
U.S. embassy, he replied: "No, no. I was planning to hit the Parliament
buildings."
Mr. Elmaati gave his account of the confession to Aly Hindy, the Imam
at
the Salahedin mosque in Scarborough, when the two spoke in Egypt this
month. Mr. Elmaati was released from prison in January, but has not yet
returned to Canada.
His statement may help explain a secretive RCMP investigation into a
suspected terrorist plot in Ottawa. In January, 2002, the RCMP searched
the
homes of seven Ottawa men for explosives and photos of government
buildings. The timing suggests the probe could have been triggered when
the
Syrians notified Canada about Mr. Elmaati's confession. At about the
same
time, the RCMP tried to question Maher Arar, who vaguely knew Mr.
Elmaati.
Then in September, 2002, Mr. Arar (who also knew one of the men,
Abdullah
Almalki, whose house was searched) was detained while passing through
New
York and deported to Syria, where he says he was tortured...
-----
YVONNE RIDLEY WAS A HARD-DRINKING, HARD-NOSED NEWS REPORTER UNTIL HER
CONVERSION TO ISLAM.
Eloise Napier, Guardian, 2/24/04
http://media.guardian.co.uk/presspublishing/story/0,7495,1154560,00.html
It was September 28 2001 - just 17 days after the destruction of the
World
Trade Centre. Yvonne Ridley, a 43-year-old single mother, and chief
reporter at the Sunday Express, had been sent to Islamabad in nearby
Pakistan to cover the start of George Bush's "war on terror". In search
of
a scoop, she had dressed in a burka and made an illegal sortie over the
border into Afghanistan.
It was on the return journey, just two miles from the border, that her
careful plans unravelled, with disastrous consequences. Ridley was
passing
by a Taliban checkpoint when her donkey bolted. She was just attempting
to
scoop up the reins when her camera slipped from her shoulder and into
full
view of a Taliban soldier.
Ridley thought she was either going to be gang-raped or stoned to
death. "I
wondered how much pain I could take and prayed that, whatever happened,
I
would die quickly," she says. In the event, she was only taken to jail,
first in Jalalabad and then in Kabul, and held for a total of 10 days.
In
her diary, she recorded: "They (her Taliban captors) constantly refer
to me
as their guest and say that they are sad if I am sad. I can't believe
it .
. . I wish everyone at home knew how I was being treated. I bet people
think I am being tortured, beaten and sexually abused. Instead, I am
being
treated with kindness and respect. It is unbelievable."
Her capture was to mark a watershed in Ridley's life - it began her own
road to Islam and her decision to become a committed peace campaigner.
She
quit her job at the Sunday Express and moved to Qatar, leaving her only
child in the UK.
"I always wanted to be an actress," says Ridley with a lopsided smile.
It
is now two years and three months since her capture, and we are sitting
beside a swimming pool in the well-heeled compound where she lives in
Doha,
Qatar's capital. It is midwinter, and the heat from the sun is gentle
on
our backs. Far from wearing the voluminous robes sported by many Muslim
women in Qatar, she is clad in green combat-style trousers and a large
black T-shirt bearing the words "Don't panic, I'm Islamic!"
When, last year, Ridley converted from C of E to Islam, some
commentators
suggested that she was suffering from Stockholm syndrome - the
psychological condition in which captives divest themselves of former
beliefs and adopt those of their captors. Ridley rejects this, saying
that
at no time did anyone try to brainwash her. She tells me that, at one
point, she was visited by a cleric who asked if she wanted to convert
to
Islam. She refused but said that she would read the Koran if she ever
got
out. She kept her word, and what began as an academic exercise became a
spiritual journey....
-----
US SUSPENDS 17 TROOPS IN IRAQ DETAINEE ABUSE PROBE
Reuters, 2/23/04
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=463128§ion=news
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces investigating allegations of mistreatment of
Iraqi
detainees at a prison west of Baghdad have suspended 17 soldiers
including
a battalion commander and a company commander, the Army said Monday.
"We can confirm that 17 personnel have been suspended from duty pending
the
outcome of the investigation," a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad
said.
Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of ground forces in Iraq, last
month
ordered an investigation into reports that prisoners had been abused at
Abu
Ghraib, a notorious jail during Saddam Hussein's rule which is now run
by
U.S. forces. The Army gave no details of the alleged abuse.
On Jan. 5, the U.S. Army said three soldiers had been discharged for
abusing Iraqi prisoners of war at another detention camp.
They were found guilty of beating, kicking and harassing prisoners at
Camp
Bucca in southern Iraq. The Army had said the three faced up to 25
years in
jail if convicted of all charges. The soldiers said they acted in
self-defense.
The U.S. Army has said it is also investigating the treatment of three
Iraqis working for Reuters and one working for U.S. network NBC who
were
detained Jan. 2 while covering the aftermath of the shooting down of a
U.S.
helicopter and held near the town of Falluja for three days...
ALSO SEE:
GUNNED DOWN WITH ABANDON
Robert Fisk, New Nation, 2/2/04
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5743.htm
Running the gauntlet of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades
after
check-in at Baghdad airport Baghdad, Iraq --I was in the police station
in
the town of Fallujah when I realised the extent of the schizophrenia.
Captain Christopher Cirino of the 82nd Airborne was trying to explain
to me
the nature of the attacks so regularly carried out against American
forces
in the Sunni Muslim Iraqi town. His men were billeted in a former
presidential rest home down the road--"Dreamland", the Americans call
it--but this was not the extent of his soldiers' disorientation. "The
men
we are being attacked by," he said, "are Syrian-trained terrorists and
local freedom fighters." Come again? "Freedom fighters." But that's
what
Captain Cirino called them--and rightly so.
Here's the reason. All American soldiers are supposed to
believe--indeed
have to believe, along with their President and his Defence Secretary,
Donald Rumsfeld--that Osama bin Laden's "al-Qa'ida" guerrillas, pouring
over Iraq's borders from Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia (note how those
close
allies and neighbours of Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey are always left out of
the
equation), are assaulting United States forces as part of the "war on
terror". Special forces soldiers are now being told by their officers
that
the "war on terror" has been transferred from America to Iraq, as if in
some miraculous way, 11 September 2001 is now Iraq 2003. Note too how
the
Americans always leave the Iraqis out of the culpability
bracket--unless
they can be described as "Baath party remnants", "diehards" or
"deadenders"
by the US proconsul, Paul Bremer.
Captain Cirino's problem, of course, is that he knows part of the
truth.
Ordinary Iraqis--many of them long-term enemies of Saddam Hussein--are
attacking the American occupation army 35 times a day in the Baghdad
area
alone...
No wonder morale is low. No wonder the American soldiers I meet on the
streets of Baghdad and other Iraqi cities don't mince their words about
their own government...
---
IN BAGHDAD SHI'ITE SLUM, ANGER AT OCCUPATION MOUNTS
Suleiman al-Khalidi, Reuters, 2/24/04
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20040224-0803-iraq-shiites.html
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Sewage floods the alleys of Baghdad's largest slum,
power
cuts are frequent and jobless youths loiter in the streets -- all
signs,
say Sadr City's Shi'ite residents, that the U.S. occupation has failed
them.
"What have the Americans done for me? People now say the Americans are
people who give false promises," said plumber Saleh Shweiki, 28, in the
bustling slum district where almost half of the capital's five million
population live.
Sewage ducts from Shweiki's home flow into the street outside, where
barefoot children play among piles of garbage.
Municipality workers say U.S. civil administrators and aid officials
came
months ago to inspect the district's decrepit Habibiya sewage treatment
plant, but never returned. They say U.S. soldiers offer little help
rebuilding the district.
"When the American commander comes, he talks. We can talk until the
morning. But when we ask him for asphalt for the street, he cannot
provide
it," said Karim al-Taeei, head of finance in the district. "He only
asks
for our help in allowing access to military convoys."
U.S. officials in charge of overseeing projects in the area say recent
initiatives have ranged from repairs of roads to a $2,000 donation to a
deaf school and a $95,000 grant for the U.S. backed local council to
buy
cars for its members.
---
IRAQ SUNNI CLERICS URGE RELEASE OF DETAINED WOMEN
Michael Georgy, Reuters, 2/24/04
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/GEO444559.htm
BAGHDAD - Sunni Muslim religious leaders demanded on Tuesday that
U.S.-led
forces release women detained in raids across Iraq, saying this was a
key
condition for their cooperation with the occupying powers.
At a meeting of Iraqi religious and ethnic leaders aimed at promoting
unity
and overcoming sectarian strife, the clerics said many Iraqi women were
in
U.S. detention after being arrested in the volatile Sunni areas around
Baghdad.
"The Americans should realise that if they keep doing this the
resistance
will only get stronger and there will be more violence," Sunni cleric
Mohammed Bashar al-Faydee told Reuters.
"A lot of these women belong to tribes, and tribal leaders want
revenge. I
heard about an American soldier who pulled the hair of a daughter of a
tribal sheikh. Even that is a big deal."
Sunni leaders said they had held several fruitless meetings with U.S.
officials on the fate of the women.
A U.S. military spokesman said he had no immediate information on the
status of women detained in Iraq.
-----
'NO JOBS, NO HOPE, NO LIFE, NO FREEDOM': PALESTINIANS AND THE
'SECURITY'
BARRIER
Maxine Frith, Independent, 2/24/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=494530
The young paramedic picked up a blood-soaked school homework sheet from
the
remains of the latest bus bomb and said: "This is why we need this
wall.
There were children on that bus doing their homework on the way to
school
and then they are blown up. How can I see the Palestinians as human
beings
when they do things like this? The wall will save lives. How can anyone
argue against something that could save a child's life?"
A few miles away, Nebal Mara'beh, 10, sat quietly on her father's knee.
She
had fallen seriously ill with a fever last week. Her parents had wanted
to
take her to a doctor but they could not. They live in the Palestinian
village of Ras Tira; virtual prisoners because they have been left on
the
Israeli side of the fence; cut off from their relatives, jobs,
farmland,
schools and doctors on the West Bank; denied permission to travel and
work
in Israel.
Nebal's father, Tawfiq, said: "We went to the soldiers on the wall and
asked them to open the gate so we could take our daughter to a doctor.
They
refused. In the end, the doctor had to come to the wall at night and
try to
diagnose our daughter from the other side of the gate. Last month, a
woman
had to give birth by the wall because the soldiers wouldn't let her
through
the gate. Her baby died...
Ras Tira is one of five Palestinian villages which have been stranded
on
the "wrong" side of the security wall, and their plight goes to the
heart
of the argument over the legality of what the Israeli government is
doing.
The 700km wall - part wall, part fence which in places stands eight
metres
high - is not being built along the "green line" that marks the 1967
boundary between Israel and the occupied territories, but further into
the
West Bank...
-----
A HISTORY WRITTEN IN CHECHEN BLOOD
Khassan Baiev, Washington Post, 2/24/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A802-2004Feb23.html
Yesterday was Armed Services Day in Russia, so, of course, there were
observances in Moscow. But yesterday also was the 60th anniversary of a
Soviet crime perpetrated against the Chechen people -- and, of course,
there was no official observance in Moscow. In fact, a proposed
ceremony
was banned, and the small number of people who nevertheless gathered to
solemnize the event were dispersed by the police. But the past will not
be
so easily dispersed -- it must be dealt with if there is to be a
political
settlement of the cruel Chechen conflict.
The crime was Joseph Stalin's deportation of the Chechens on Feb. 23,
1944.
This event is to Chechens what the Holocaust is to the Jews or the
genocide
is to the Armenians. That day, when Stalin packed the Chechen
population of
1 million into cattle cars and shipped them to the wastes of Siberia
and
Central Asia, lies in our collective memory. One-third of the
population
died on the journey. Many others perished under the harsh conditions of
exile.
During Soviet times, the deportation was a taboo subject, talked about
behind closed doors. As a small boy, most of what I learned was from
old
women gathered in our kitchen. Once, when they thought I wasn't
listening,
I heard my mother tell my sisters how women were so ashamed to relieve
themselves in the railroad cars in front of men that they held on until
their bladders burst. Only when I was 14 years old did I understand the
true horror of what had happened. That summer my father showed my twin
brother and me the cliff near our ancestral village of Makazhoi, over
which
troops of the NKVD (the secret police of the time) pushed resisters,
including some of our relatives...
-----
POWERFUL MOROCCO EARTHQUAKE KILLS AT LEAST 229
Souhail Karam, Reuters, 2/24/04
AL HOCEIMA, Morocco (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake killed at least
229
people in northern Morocco Tuesday, collapsing mud-brick homes and
burying
residents in their sleep under tons of rubble.
Officials warned the death toll could rise in poor mountain villages
around
the Mediterranean port city of Al Hoceima.
In the village of Ait Kamara, 11 miles to the south, many houses were
flattened like cardboard boxes...
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured 6.5 on the Richter
scale
and struck early in the morning when people were asleep.
It was the country's worst quake in more than 40 years. But damage in
the
fishing port and beach resort of about 70,000 inhabitants was limited…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FIRE AT TEXAS MOSQUE 'INTENTIONALLY SET'
Islamic civil rights group thanks ATF for swift action
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/25/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today thanked federal law enforcement authorities for their
quick
action in investigating a fire at a Texas mosque that is believed to
have
been "intentionally set." The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and
advocacy group also called for donations to help repair the mosque.
The fire at Masjid Al-Muhaiman in Houston, Texas, broke out Monday
night
and caused an estimated $50,000 damage. Mosque officials tell CAIR that
neighbors reported the blaze and helped prevent it from spreading to
the
entire structure before firefighters arrived. No one was inside the
mosque
at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. Agents of the
Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating
the
incident.
SEE: "Federal Officials Investigate Prayer-House Fire"
http://www.click2houston.com/news/2869318/detail.html
"We appreciate the quick response of local and national law enforcement
agencies and call on people of all faiths to help repair the damage to
this
house of worship," said Iesa Galloway, executive director of CAIR's
Houston
office. He said donations may be sent to: Masjid Al-Muhaiman, 3103
Cleburne
Street, Houston, Texas, 77004 (Make checks payable to "Masjid
Al-Muhaiman."
Inform CAIR of donations sent by e-mailing: cair@cair-net.org) Galloway
is
also meeting today with local officials to seek stepped-up police
patrols
in the area of Houston's mosques.
Similar incidents have occurred at American mosques in the recent past.
In
August of last year, investigators determined that a blaze at the
Islamic
Center of Savannah in Savannah, Ga., was an act of arson. As early as
1994,
a nearly completed mosque in Yuba City, Calif., burned to the ground in
what was ruled an arson attack. In 1995, arson destroyed a Springfield,
Ill., Islamic center. In 1996, a suspect was charged for involvement in
an
arson attack on a Greenville, S.C., mosque. In 1999, an arson attack
severely damaged a Minneapolis, Minn., mosque.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston, Iesa Galloway, 832-656-0449 or 713-838-2247,
E-Mail:
info@cairhouston.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726,
E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/25/04
* VERSES/HADITH OF THE DAY: JESUS, SON OF MARY
* CA IMAM SHARES 'PASSION' REACTION (OC Register)
- CAIR-FL: 'Jesus is a Revered Prophet in Islam'
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Pennsylvania
- CAIR Job Opening: Civil Rights Coordinator
* FBI DIRECTOR PRAISES AMERICAN MUSLIM COOPERATION
- OH: Wife Still Fights Husband's Jailing (CD)
* CAIR-MI: DON'T BLAME ISLAM (Detroit News)
* NJ: MOSQUE PLAN GETS A BOOST FROM JUDGE (Phil Inq)
* CALIF. MUSLIM RUNS FOR CONGRESS (Islam-Online)
* ISLAMIC BRITAIN LURES TOP PEOPLE (Times)
* YOUNG TURKMEN FACE BEARD BAN (BBC)
- CAIR-OHIO: Hijab Is More Than Symbol (CD)
* NC CHRISTIANS GREETS FIRST SOMALI BANTU (The State)
* CA: AD DISTORTS EVENTS IN PALESTINE (Daily Stanford)
-----
VERSES/HADITH OF THE DAY: JESUS, SON OF MARY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Both in this world and
in
the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of
Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different,
but
their religion is one."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 652
"Behold! The angels said: 'O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a
Word
from Him. His name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor
in
this world and the Hereafter, and of (the company of) those nearest to
God.'"
The Holy Quran, 3:45
Behold! God said: "O Jesus! I will take you and raise you unto Myself
and
clear you (of the falsehoods) of those who deny the truth; I will make
those who follow you superior to those who reject Faith, to the Day of
Resurrection. Then shall you all return unto Me and I will judge
between
you as to the matters wherein you used to dispute."
The Holy Quran, 3:55
-----
ORANGE COUNTY CLERGYMEN SHARE 'PASSION' REACTION
Ann Pepper, Orange County Register, 2/25/04
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=82623
Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" opens in theaters nationwide
today
after weeks of unprecedented pre-opening chatter and advanced ticket
sales.
The opening was intentionally set on the first day of Lent - Ash
Wednesday.
It marks a season of soul-searching and repentance ending on Easter
Sunday...
Here's what the clergy experienced...
IMAM YASSIR FAZAGA
Jesus is not the possession of Christians only.
There are 1.4 billion Muslims that do believe in Jesus, peace be upon
him.
Maybe not in the exact same way as Christians, but he is a very
important
figure in Islam.
I thought that I would come to this movie and learn more about the
values
that he taught and the principles that he lived by.
I appreciated the suffering that he has done, but as an "unchurched"
person
or an outsider, I really do not think it has added any more knowledge
to me
about the character of Jesus, except his commitment to his beliefs.
I really do not get the point of why the violence was the focal point
of
the movie, but then I am coming from a non-Christian point of view.
I liked that they would show the suffering of Jesus ... and then Jesus
would say: 'Love your enemies.' It was skillfully placed in the midst
of
the suffering, but I think that message was lost in the violence.
About anti-Semitism, I really appreciated the words of Pastor Smith,
but I
wonder if he was not there to remind the people, what kind of message
will
they take with them?
In principle, we appreciate that people of the caliber of Jesus are
being
paid attention...
Imam Yassir Fazaga, 31, is the religious leader of the Orange County
Islamic Foundation mosque in Mission Viejo.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL: 'JESUS IS A REVERED PROPHET IN ISLAM'
"IT WAS R-RATED WHEN IT HAPPENED"
Jeannie Blaylock, First Coast News, 2/25/04
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=15227
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Churches all over the First Coast have rented out
entire
theaters and bought blocks of tickets to "The Passion of The Christ,"
Mel
Gibson's much-debated movie. After weeks of anticipation and discussion
people can see for themselves what they think starting February 25th…
People of other faiths besides Christian tell First Coast News they
plan to
see the movie, as well. Dr. Parvez Ahmed, a Muslim and chairman of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, says he wants to go because,
"people
don't realize Jesus is a revered prophet in Islam." Dr. Ahmed says
Muslims
do not believe Jesus was crucified but their holy texts contain "many
pages" of the story of Jesus and His miracles...
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,316 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Pennsylvania: 210 covered, 452 more libraries
to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
---
JOB ADVERTISEMENT: CAIR CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced dynamic person to fill
the
position of Civil Rights Coordinator. Candidates should have a Bachelor
degree in a related field with general knowledge of the US Constitution
and
the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He or she should be proficient in
spreadsheet
and database applications.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience
CAIR offers an excellent health and dental benefit for its full-time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
hr@cair-net.org or by fax 202-488-0833. When applying via email please
ensure to write the position title "Civil Rights Coordinator" in the
subject line of the email.
-----
FBI DIRECTOR PRAISES AMERICAN MUSLIM COOPERATION
Robert S. Mueller, III, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S.
Department of Justice, Foreign Press Center Briefing, 2/17/04
http://fpc.state.gov/29513.htm
These are excerpts from the interview:
QUESTION: Mr. Mueller, good morning. Thank you, sir, for this
opportunity.
My name is Abderrahim Foukara from Al-Jazeera television. I have a
couple
of questions. US-based civil liberties organizations are saying that a
number of Arab and Muslim people who were picked up after 9/11 have
either
disappeared or were deported. I was wondering if you could comment on
that.
I would also appreciate any statistics you may have.
DIRECTOR MUELLER: Since September 11th, we have had substantial
assistance
and cooperation from the Muslim-American community, the Arab-American
community, [and] the Sikh-American community within the United States.
And
for that all of us are tremendously thankful. Special Agents In Charge
around the country meet often with the leaders of the Muslim-American
communities. I periodically meet with the leadership here in
Washington.
And I want to add that from my view that 99.9 percent of
Muslim-Americans,
Arab Americans, Sikh-Americans are every bit as patriotic and
supportive of
the United States as any others of us here in the United States, and
that
has come out since September 11th.
QUESTION: Hi. My name is Khaled Dawoud from Egypt's Al-Ahram Newspaper.
I
just wondered, actually, maybe you mentioned it during your
commencement,
whether you had a reaction to Congressman Peter King's accusations that
80
to 85 percent of the mosques here in the United States are being
controlled
by extremists, and that Muslim community is not cooperating properly
with
the U.S. authorities.
DIRECTOR MUELLER: Well, as to the first issue, I had not heard of that
statement made by the Congressman and I would reaffirm what I said
before,
that we have had very good cooperation from the Muslim-American
community,
and I anticipate that to continue.
QUESTION: Yes, sir. Thank you for putting the emphasis on the
patriotism of
the Arab and Muslim community in the United States.
My question is that, I have read, on my visit to Detroit several weeks
ago,
some stories from the Arab community here. It seems to me like they
need --
or they are looking for new assurances the protection of their civil
rights, the continuation of that protection would continue. Can you
tell me
about, or put more emphasis on the, or elaborate on the measures that
you
are taking in order to maintain that protection of their civil rights?
DIRECTOR MUELLER: Well, even in the hours after September 11th, you
would
recognize that there might be some in the United States who would want
to
take individual retribution against Arab-Americans or Muslim-Americans
and
we immediately sent word out to our Special Agents In Charge to be
alert to
any such charges and to immediately follow-up and investigate them
thoroughly and aggressively.
We reached out to the Muslim-American community, the Arab-American
community, to make certain that we were immediately alerted to any such
occurrences. Over the two, two and a half years since September 11th,
unfortunately, there have been such occurrences. Everyone has been
thoroughly investigated. There have been a number of persons who have
been
indicted, tried and convicted for such acts. And when we hear about it,
we
will investigate. When we investigate and find evidence of a violation
of
the federal civil rights laws, we will prosecute. And when we
prosecute, we
will convict and they will go to jail. That has happened in the past
and
will continue to happen if such occurrences repeat themselves.
-----
WIFE STILL FIGHTS MUSLIM MAN'S JAILING
Tiffani Helberg, Columbus Dispatch, 2/25/04
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/02/25/20040225-C5-00.html
KENT, Ohio -- Ashraf Al-Jailani's incarceration has left most of his
close
relatives bewildered, but his 7-year-daughter, Amina, says she
understands.
"He's in jail because they think he's a terrorist, and he's really
not,''
she said. "They think that on Sept. 11, he was in the plane that
crashed
into the building.
"But,'' she added, "he was at home.''
Al-Jailani's wife, Michele Swensen, said she wishes she could view her
husband's plight -- and her own, for that matter -- in such clear-cut
terms.
The 33-year-old Portage County resident said she has been looking for
answers for so long that she's exhausted and "emotionally numb.''
"I get tired of never having answers for them,'' Swensen said of Amina
and
the couple's two other children, Layla, 5, and Sami, 3." 'Where's Baba?
When's he coming home? Why is he in jail?' ''
Al-Jailani, a 39-year-old Yemeni immigrant who married Swensen eight
years
ago, was arrested Oct. 23, 2002, moments after he arrived at the Akron
soap-manufacturing plant where he'd worked as a quality-control chemist
for
more than two years...
On two occasions, last March and again in December, an immigration
judge in
York, Pa., ordered that Al-Jailani be released on bond. Each time, the
U.S.
Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security fought the
decision. A government appeal is pending.
Representatives of the two federal agencies confirm that Al-Jailani is
in
custody and that no charges have been filed. Citing provisions of the
Patriot Act, the officials said they could offer no other information.
The bottom line: Swensen isn't sure when -- or even if -- her husband
will
return home.
Swensen said Al-Jailani is limited to one phone call every other week.
Because he was the family's sole breadwinner, she's now scraping by on
government assistance and can't afford to visit him in prison.
During his 16 months behind bars, Al-Jailani has missed a number of his
children's significant milestones, including Sami's first steps and
first
words...
In October, however, Swensen regained custody of the children, and now
she's promoting a Web site she recently created: www.helpashraf.com…
-----
CAIR-MI: DON'T BLAME ISLAM
The Detroit News, 2/24/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/editorial/0402/25/a08-72354.htm
Although many of Nolan Finley's criticisms have some merit, it was
grossly
ill-informed and xenophobic of him to suggest the Middle East region is
controlled by a "violent and intolerant religion" ("Questions mount on
why
U.S. went to war," Feb. 1). Furthermore, he made the point that
"Islamic
democracy" is an "oxymoron."
Regardless of faith, egregious violence and intolerance of other ethnic
and
religious groups has been a recurrent theme throughout human history.
Whether we look to the Crusades, Nazi Germany, apartheid in South
Africa,
Soloban Milosevic's genocide in Bosnia and many more; the list is
unfortunately very long and bloody, and religious conflicts,
particularly
those involving Islam, are not very prominent.
As with all major world religions, the true essence of Islam promotes
compassion and tolerance. The rise in violence in Islamic countries is
more
attributable to poor economic conditions and oppression. By
categorically
blaming Islam for all of the world's ills throughout the history of
time,
Finley is looking at only a few pieces of a much larger puzzle.
Muzammil Ahmed
Board Member, Michigan Chapter
Council on American-Islamic Relations
-----
MOSQUE PLAN GETS A BOOST FROM JUDGE
Gaiutra Bahadur, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/25/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/local/8034281.htm
Officials in Clementon violated New Jersey zoning laws when they
rejected a
bid by a group of immigrants to turn a derelict apartment house into a
mosque in the tiny South Jersey borough, a judge has ruled.
The Delaware Valley Islamic Center needed a use variance to turn the
boarded-up triplex into a house of worship. A use variance allows
exceptions to zoning laws - in this case, establishing a religious
center
in an area designated for commercial use.
Yesterday, Superior Court Judge Francis J. Orlando Jr. of Camden County
gave the two dozen Bangladeshi immigrants who formed the group their
variance, saying that local officials bothered by traffic and lost
taxes
either considered issues that are not relevant under zoning laws or did
not
adequately analyze the issues.
The Islamic Center sued the borough's Zoning Board, saying that it did
not
follow state guidelines for zoning boards regarding use variances and
that
it violated protections for religious groups under the U.S.
Constitution
and a federal law that the Bush administration has embraced.
A ruling is awaited on the constitutional questions. The federal
Department
of Justice is investigating the board's decision.
Yesterday, Orlando described the decision to deny the variance, made in
April, as "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable" and said the Zoning
Board must consider a site plan for the mosque.
-----
U.S. MUSLIM RUNS FOR CONGRESS
IslamOnline.net, 2/25/04
http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2004-02/25/article02.shtml
NEWARK, Ohio - Maad Abu-Ghazalah is hoping to be the first Muslim
American
ever elected to Congress.
He will vie in the March 2nd Primary against fellow Democrats Tom
Lantos
and Rohit Khanna.
The Palestinian-born Abu-Ghazalah, 44, has already raised $30,000 at a
fundraiser at the Muslim Community Association (MCA) in Santa Clara,
California, reported the New California Media (NCM), a group comprising
some 700 ethnic communities worldwide.
His platform calls for brining home the U.S. troops occupying Iraq,
repealing the U.S. Patriot Act, ending the corporate influence on the
policy-making mechanism and protecting the environment.
Abu-Ghazalah has already received the endorsements of several American
organizations and figures, notably the Mexican American Political
Association (MAPA), the American Muslim Alliance and the Armenian
National
Committee of America in addition to various editorials in widely
circulated
American newspapers...
At a recently held fundraiser dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Newark, the
young and ambitious Abu-Ghazalah received a morale boost from different
ethnic communities in the U.S..
Salim Mastan, a Muslim American of an Indian origin and the sponsor of
the
event, wished to see a Muslim in the White House by the year 2020 and
asked
the community to support Abu-Ghazalah.
Dr. Agha Saeed, founder and secretary general of the American Muslim
Alliance, spoke next, endorsing Abu-Ghazalah's campaign...
-----
ISLAMIC BRITAIN LURES TOP PEOPLE
The Times, 2/22/04
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1010553,00.html
More than 14,000 white Britons have converted to Islam after becoming
disillusioned with western values, according to the first authoritative
study of the phenomenon.
Some of Britain's top landowners, celebrities and the offspring of
senior
Establishment figures have embraced the strict tenets of the Muslim
faith.
The trend is being encouraged by Muslim leaders who are convinced that
the
conversion of prominent society figures will help protect a community
stigmatised by terrorism and fundamentalism.
Zaki Badawi, chairman of the Imams and Mosques Council, said: "The
community has been unfairly targeted and these developments encourage
it in
a time of difficulty." Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain has
co-opted Joe Ahmed-Dobson, son of Frank Dobson, the former health
secretary, to chair its regeneration committee.
The new study by Yahya (formerly Jonathan) Birt, son of Lord Birt,
former
director-general of the BBC, provides the first reliable data on the
sensitive subject of the movement of Christians into Islam. He uses a
breakdown of the latest census figures to conclude that there are now
14,200 white converts in Britain.
Speaking publicly for the first time about his faith this weekend,
Birt,
whose doctorate at Oxford University is on young British Muslims,
argued
that an inspirational figure, similar to the American convert Malcolm X
for
Afro-Caribbeans, would first have to emerge if the next stage, a mass
conversion among white Britons, were to happen...
-----
YOUNG TURKMEN FACE BEARD BAN
Monica Whitlock, BBC, 2/25/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3486776.stm
Niyazov's laws are increasingly aimed at individualism Turkmenistan
President Saparmurat Niyazov has passed a decree forbidding young men
in
the country to wear long hair or beards.
The president said the Education Ministry should be in charge of
checking
people's hair as the issue was most pressing among the young.
Mr Niyazov's rule in the central Asian state has always been
authoritarian.
But his latest decree takes to a new level the degree of state
intervention
in people's private lives.
President Niyazov appeared on television saying that men can no longer
grow
their hair and that beards are not allowed, at least among the young.
He gave no reason - but that is not unusual in Turkmenistan...
ALSO SEE:
HEAD SCARF IS FAR MORE THAN A SYMBOL FOR MUSLIM WOMEN
Asma Mobin-Uddin, Columbus Dispatch, 2/25/04
http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/02/25/20040225-A11-00.html
The French National Assembly voted recently to ban Islamic head scarves
(hijab) from public schools. The French Senate will vote on the issue
in
March, and it is expected to pass. The French state feels it has the
right
to mandate what parts of women's bodies must be shown in public. French
feminists support the ban, citing concerns about oppression of women.
Muslim women in France and all over the world have demonstrated against
the
ban, rejecting the stereotype that hijab implies oppression and
protesting
the infringement on their religious freedom. Clearly there is confusion
as
to what constitutes oppression of women.
The oppression of women can take many forms. Obvious examples include
when
women are denied access to education, subjected to violence or refused
a
political voice. Less obvious forms of oppression can be just as
damaging
to women's freedom and potential for development. The objectification
and
commercialization of women in Western societies are forms of such
oppression. Popular culture stresses that, whatever else she achieves,
a
woman should look young, supple and sensual. In this environment, a
woman's
primary value becomes based not on her character, intelligence or
abilities, but rather on her physical attributes.
Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin is a Columbus pediatrician who grew up in the
United
States, has worn hijab for the past 15 years and is vice president of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations' Ohio Chapter.
-----
SC: COLUMBIA GREETS FIRST SOMALI BANTU
John C. Drake and J. R. Gonzales, The State, 2/24/04
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/8033696.htm
With a gracious smile, a 22-year-old Somali Bantu refugee accepted the
outstretched hand of Columbia's mayor Tuesday night after a daylong
journey
from Africa.
He was five hours late and almost all that he had -- one piece of
luggage
-- had been lost by the airline.
But he was welcomed.
More than a dozen supporters bearing signs, cameras and flags greeted
Abdulkadir H. Mohamed Tuesday night at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
The journey took slightly longer than expected for Mohamed, the first
of
about 120 Somali Bantu refugees selected to start a new life in
Columbia.
Mohamed missed his connecting flight to Columbia after his flight from
Europe was late in arriving in Newark, N.J...
Seeing in the flesh the refugee they'd been prepared to receive for
months
brought St. Andrew's Lutheran Church member Judy Moir to the brink of
tears.
The Rev. John Trump, pastor of St. Andrew's, said of Mohamed, "He just
seems like he's got a great disposition."
Church members wasted no time presenting Mohamed with a baseball cap
emblazoned with the South Carolina and American flags.
He held up a small American flag given to him by another church member
even
as he searched for his luggage at the baggage claim.
"He's going to be an American, so he needs an American flag," said Pat
Huffstetler, a church member.
Resettlement officials hope Mohamed will be able to help some of the
families, who will arrive later, adapt to American culture, Garane
said.
"I want to work for my life. I want to rest. I want to help," Mohamed
said
through Garane soon after arriving…
-----
ADVERTISEMENT MISREPRESENTED HISTORICAL EVENTS IN PALESTINE
Ammar Nayfeh, Daily Stanford, 2/24/04
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=13258&repository=0001_article
In response to David Horowitz's ad yesterday ("The Middle East War is
not
about a Palestinian state or Palestinian land"), members of several
student
groups want to clear up the distorted facts and history presented.
Theodor Herzl, considered by many to be the founder of the modern
Zionist
movement, wrote in his diaries about how to bring about the exodus of
the
native Palestinians, which would enable the Zionists to create a purely
Jewish state. Herzl's June 12, 1895, entry reads, "We must expropriate
gently the private property on the estates assigned to us. We should
try to
spirit the penniless Arab population across the borders by procuring
employment for it in the transit countries, while denying it any
employment
in our country." Herzl's statement at the face of it seems to be mild,
but
the principle of evicting the Palestinian population in the future
Jewish
state was already enunciated.
The process of expropriating the property of the Palestinians was
carried
out during and in the aftermath of the war of 1948, which was
accompanied
by a large number of massacres. These massacres were the main
instrument
for forcing the Palestinians to leave and then expropriating their
properties under the 1950 Absentee Property Law.
The Israeli newspaper Ha'ir published an article on May 6, 1992,
entitled
"Massacres of Palestinians in 1947-49: During the war, many Arabs were
massacred by Jews not only in Deir Yassin." This article included
details
of previously unreported massacres. In the article, Israeli history
researcher Ariyeh Yitzhaki concluded that "at least 20 large massacres
of
Arabs took place during the War of Independence (defined as over 50
murdered in each massacre) and about 100 small massacres (defined as of
individuals or small groups). These massacres had a profound effect on
the
fleeing of Arabs from the country."
Yitzhaki points out that "for many Israelis it was easy to cling to the
safe claim that Arabs left the country because that was what their
leaders
ordered. That is a total lie. The fundamental cause for the flight of
the
Arabs was their fear of Israeli violence and that fear had a basis in
reality. From almost every report that appears in the [Israeli] army's
archives about the occupation of Arab villages from May to July 1948 -
the
height of confrontations with the Arab villagers - there comes the
smell of
a massacre." You ask, why massacre the Arabs?...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR-LA GOOD NEWS ALERT #37
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
Send a note of appreciation to Antelope Valley College. CONTACT: Dr.
Jackie L. Fisher, Sr. Superintendent/President at Tel: 661-722-6301,
Fax: 661-722-6333, E-Mail: jfisher@avc.edu, COPY TO: socal@cair.com
-----
CA COLLEGE INVESTIGATES ANTI-MUSLIM DISCRIMINATION
Muslim student told to remove Islamic head scarf in class
(ANAHEIM, CA, 2/26/2004) - The Southern California office of the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today applauded a decision by
Antelope
Valley College (AVC) in Lancaster, Calif., to open an investigation
into an
incident in which a professor allegedly ordered a Muslim student to
take
off her religiously-mandated head scarf, or hijab.
The Muslim electrical engineering student reported to CAIR-LA that the
professor told her "to either stay and follow his rules (by removing
the
scarf) or leave the class." He allegedly made this demand despite being
told the student wears the scarf for religious reasons. (The same
professor
allegely did not react to the presence of a male student wearing a
bandana.)
SEE: "College Probes Alleged Religious Bias"
http://www.avpress.com/n/westy3.hts
After a discussion with one of the college's deans, the Muslim student
was
allowed to return to the class while wearing her scarf, but says she
continues to feel intimidated and excluded by the professor's ongoing
actions.
Representatives of CAIR-LA, the Los Angeles Hate Crime Task Force in
the
Antelope Valley area, and local interfaith and community leaders joined
the
student's family members in a meeting with the president of the
college.
At that meeting, CAIR-LA requested that AVC initiate an investigation
into
the incident, take disciplinary action against the professor, issue an
apology to the Muslim student, and conduct sensitivity trainings for
faculty and staff at the college.
AVC's president promised to launch an investigation and take all
necessary
steps to resolve the matter.
"We commend Antelope Valley College for its swift response to this
disturbing incident," said Ra'id Faraj, CAIR-Southern California Public
Relations Director. "The religious rights of all students, regardless
of
their faith, ethnicity or background should be protected and
respected."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACTS: Sabiha F. Khan, Communications Director, CAIR-LA,
714-776-1847 or
714-390-0334, E-MAIL: socal@cair.com; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org
-----
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/26/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PERFORM GOOD DEEDS
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: North Carolina
* OHIO SCHOOL'S MOSQUE TRIP YANKED (Middletown Journal)
- CA: Girls for a Change (SJ Mercury News)
* MUSLIM FBI AGENT REINSTATED (Newsweek)
* TX: SIRAJ WAHHAJ SPEAKS ABOUT MALCOLM X (Battalion)
* CA: CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY CONFERENCE ON ISLAM (BP)
- Crowd Laughed at Koran Seminar (The Age)
* RAPES REPORTED BY SERVICEWOMEN IN GULF (NY Times)
- Video Clip Killings Trigger Inquiry (DJ)
* SAMI AL-ARIAN: A 70-MILE, 20 HOUR JOURNEY (TBCJP)
- Judge to Consider Request in Al-Arian Case (Bay News)
* DETAINED CANADIAN SAYS HE WAS TORTURED (Globe & Mail)
* SCARF CONUNDRUM GRIPS TURKEY (BBC)
- In Europe, the Enemy Within (Wash. Post)
* CONGRESSMEN APPALLED AT PERSECUTION IN INDIA (CT)
- Over 560 Dead in Morocco Quake (Islamic Relief)
- Rights Report Criticizes Adversaries, Allies (VOA)
* QATAR CHARGES RUSSIANS IN CHECHEN'S MURDER (Reuters)
* NM: ABIQUIU MUSLIM YOUTH CAMP
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PERFORM GOOD DEEDS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every Muslim must give
charity." The people asked the Prophet: "What if someone has nothing to
give?" The Prophet replied: "Then he should work with his hands and
benefit
himself and also give in charity (from what he earns)." The people
further
asked: "If he cannot find even that?" The Prophet replied: "He should
help
the needy who appeal for help." Then the people asked: "If he cannot do
that?" The Prophet replied: "He should perform good deeds and keep away
from evil deeds, and this will be regarded as charity."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 524
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support CAIR's important work by donating online at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,316 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of North Carolina: 121 covered, 276 more libraries
to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
CONTACT: Jad Humeidan, Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio 614-451-3232 or
614-571-2770, E-Mail: ohio@cair-net.org
MOSQUE TRIP YANKED
Tracy Kershaw-Staley, Middletown Journal 2/26/04
http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2004/02/26/1077779755.26609.7788.0788.html
An Edgewood teacher canceled a class field trip to the Islamic Center
of
Greater Cincinnati after hearing a barrage of complaints from concerned
parents.
Three seventh-grade social studies classes were scheduled to visit the
West
Chester mosque Wednesday. The visit was to be part of the students'
study
of the five major religions of the world, which include Islam.
But parents approached teacher Debbie Weber and other school officials
in
the past few weeks with concerns about the visit, Superintendent Tom
York
said. Weber decided to cancel the trip, York said.
Some parents said the trip was a violation of the separation of church
and
state. They argued that if students were taken to a mosque, they should
also be taken to a Christian church, a Jewish synagogue and a Hindu
temple.
At least one parent was concerned the students would be asked to engage
in
Muslim rituals while at the mosque, York said.
York said there would have been no evangelizing by the mosque leaders;
it
was just an effort to educate students, he said.
"It was a sad thing," York said. "I thought it was a great idea and a
good
effort by our teachers to try to broaden our kids a little bit and
expose
them to different cultures..."
SEE ALSO:
GIRLS FOR A CHANGE: 1,200 EXPECTED TODAY AT EVENT AIMED AT FINDING
SOLUTIONS
Katherine Corcoran, San Jose Mercury News, 2/26/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/8045081.htm
Stephanie Ramirez, 16, with spiked hair, thick eyeliner and numerous
body
piercings, knows what people think when they pass her on the street:
"Trouble."
Naiema Din, 16, a Muslim who is makeup-free and wears a hijab
(covering)
along with her jean jacket and flip-flops, knows what people think when
they see her: "Oppressed."
Today, both San Jose girls will stand before 1,200 of their peers at
the
San Jose McEnery Convention Center and ask them, just for a day, to
forget
about looks and think about change…
The two veterans of Girls for a Change, a non-profit South Bay group
challenging teen girls to identify problem issues in their lives -- and
work to solve them -- will help the organization host its second
summit,
drawing girls from 50 Bay Area middle and high schools for a day of
workshops, performances and inspirational speakers…
-----
REINSTATED: BITTERSWEET VICTORY FOR FBI MUSLIM AGENTS
Newsweek, 2/25/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4374015/
Overturning the action of its senior disciplinary officer, the FBI has
reinstated a high-profile Muslim agent who had been fired last year
amid a
swirl of controversy over allegations of conflicting loyalties in the
war
on terrorism, NEWSWEEK has learned.
Gamal Abdel-Hafiz, an Egyptian-born agent who had played a crucial role
in
some of the bureau's biggest terrorism cases, was recently notified
that a
three-member FBI Disciplinary Review Board had overturned his dismissal
and
"decided to reinstate you to the rolls of the FBI." The board acted
after
concluding that allegations that he had been involved in a 15-year-old
case
of insurance fraud-and then lied about it to FBI investigators-could
not be
corroborated.
The firing of Abdel-Hafiz last May set off reverberations throughout
the
ranks of the FBI, raising concerns that it would seriously impede the
bureau's ability to recruit new Muslim and Arab-American agents badly
needed to work counterterrorism cases. Abdel-Hafiz, who was one of only
about a half dozen Muslims in a force of 11,500 agents, charged that
he
was "hit in the back" by fellow agents who were distrustful of him
because of his Muslim faith and Arab background.
Contacted by NEWSWEEK, Abdel-Hafiz said from his home in Dallas that he
was
"thrilled" to get his job back and grateful to "have this injustice
lifted." But the victory was also bittersweet. As a result of the
considerable publicity his case has generated, Abdel-Hafiz said he
doubted
that he could ever be as effective an agent as he was in the past.
"I'm a certified undercover agent who is worthless now," said
Abdel-Hafiz,
noting that it was unlikely he would be able to attempt to penetrate
Muslim
terrorist organizations in the future...
-----
MUSLIM LEADER SPEAKS ABOUT MALCOLM X
The Battalion, 2/26/04
http://www.thebatt.com/news/2004/02/26/News/Muslim.Leader.Speaks.About.Malcolm.X-619351.shtml
Muslim leader Imam Siraj Wahhaj said Wednesday that we can learn to be
a
better society by studying the legacy of the militant, black civil
rights
leader Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965 at age 40.
"I think it is wrong to study a man just to glorify him," Wahhaj said.
"We
need to use the legacy of Malcolm to make our society better."
Wahhaj, a founder of Masjid Taqwa in Brooklyn and former minister of
the
Nation of Islam, told an audience of about 250 that although Malcolm X
had
a terrible past, he was able to turn his life around and leave behind a
legacy of unity.
"The legacy of Malcolm is the brotherhood of mankind, for sure," Wahhaj
said.
Wahhaj was invited by the Muslim Student Association to give his speech
"Struggling for Truth and Justice: The Legacy of Malcolm X" in honor of
Black History Month. Wahhaj said Malcolm Xl was a revolutionary black
leader who had a tremendous love for black people worldwide.
"Malcolm X was articulate, charismatic, bold and courageous," Wahhaj
said.
"Malcolm was not just concerned about black people, he was concerned
about
the struggle of dark people around the world."
Wahhaj linked Malcolm X to Martin Luther King Jr. and said both had a
great
impact on the civil rights movement by asking for justice and equality
in
society.
"People like Martin Luther King and Malcolm cared about their people
and
gave their lives for them," Wahhaj said. "There were two different
businesses competing in the same market. If they ever got together what
a
powerful force it would be, and I think both of their lives were cut
short
because of that."
Wahhaj said one of the legacies Malcolm X left was to always keep
reading
and educating one's self, which Wahhaj said is vital to today's black
society...
-----
250 COLLEGIANS GAIN INSIGHTS INTO ISLAM AT GOLDEN GATE
Jeff Jones, Baptist Press, 2/24/04
http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=17717
MILL VALLEY, Calif. - A better understanding of Islam was the agenda at
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary's annual mission conference
Feb.
13-15. Hosted by The David and Faith Kim School of Intercultural
Studies,
the conference drew approximately 250 college students from across the
West
to the seminary's northern California campus in Mill Valley.
"Within our culture today, there is a sense of fear about Islam," said
Tyler Watts, a student from California Baptist University. "This
conference
has helped me understand the nature of the Islam faith and how, out of
love, we can more effectively share the Gospel to Muslims."
Bringing in experts from both academia and the mission field, the
conference offered practical help to reach the nearly 1.2 billion
Muslims
worldwide with the message of Jesus Christ.
"This has been a strategic opportunity for Golden Gate to host this
event
and to connect these potential missionaries with one of the most
demanding
and thrilling mission fields on earth," said Ray Tallman, director of
the
Kim School of Intercultural Studies, who has worked with Muslim people
in
North Africa and the Middle East throughout his career.
One of the featured speakers was Imad Shehadeh, founder and president
of
Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary, the only state-recognized
seminary
in Jordan. "God's power is one of the most untapped powers in the
universe," Shehadeh said. "As believers, there is not a task that is
insurmountable."
Brannan Duncan, a student at Golden Gate who recently returned from the
United Arab Emirates, felt the conference added to his depth of
understanding of Islam...
ALSO SEE:
CROWD LAUGHED AT KORAN SEMINAR
Mark Russell, The Age, 2/27/04
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/26/1077676896778.html
A pastor said yesterday the audience at a Christian seminar laughed
when he
read out excerpts from the Koran but he had not intended to ridicule or
mock Muslims.
"If I read from the holy Koran that King Solomon heard the speech of an
ant, some people might think it funny an ant can make a speech," Pastor
Daniel Scot told the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
"That's
not my fault.
"Sometimes people laugh for different reasons. I could not control them
to
laugh."
Pastor Scot said some Australians liked to tell jokes about their
mother-in-law but this was considered offensive in other cultures.
He admitted telling the seminar Muslims could trade in their wives like
used cars but denied this was a criticism. This was simply how Muslims
valued women, according to the Koran, he said.
When asked if he had wanted the audience to laugh at what he said, the
pastor, giving evidence in Victoria's first racial hatred case, said:
"It
was a religious meeting. It is customary in churches for people to
laugh,
speak, respond. It is nothing unusual..."
-----
RAPES REPORTED BY SERVICEWOMEN IN THE PERSIAN GULF AND ELSEWHERE
Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 2/26/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/26/national/26MILI.html
WASHINGTON - The United States military is facing the gravest
accusations
of sexual misconduct in years, with dozens of servicewomen in the
Persian
Gulf area and elsewhere saying they were sexually assaulted or raped by
fellow troops, lawmakers and victims advocates said on Wednesday.
There have been 112 reports of sexual misconduct over roughly the past
18
months in the Central Command area of operations, which includes Iraq,
Kuwait and Afghanistan, military officials said on Wednesday.
The Army has reported 86 incidents, the Navy 12, the Air Force 8 and
the
Marine Corps 6.
Military officials said that the bulk of the charges were being
investigated and that some had already resulted in disciplinary
actions,
but they could not provide specifics. They said a small number of the
reports had turned out to be unfounded.
In addition, about two dozen women at Sheppard Air Force Base, a large
training facility in Texas, have reported to a local rape-crisis center
that they were assaulted in 2002. The Air Force Academy in Colorado is
still reeling from the disclosure last year of more than 50 reported
assaults or rapes over the last decade.
The latest accusations are the most extensive set of sexual misconduct
charges since the Navy's Tailhook incident of 1991 and the Army's drill
sergeant scandal about five years later. In response, Defense Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld this month ordered a senior-level inquiry into the
reported sexual assaults in Iraq and Kuwait, and how the armed services
treats victims of sexual attacks. The Army and Air Force have opened
similar investigations.
The issue came to a boil at a contentious hearing on Capitol Hill on
Wednesday, where Senate Democrats and Republicans sharply questioned
the
Pentagon's top personnel official and four four-star officers for what
the
lawmakers said were lapses in the military's ability to protect
servicewomen from sexual assaults, to provide medical care and
counseling
to victims of attacks and to punish violators...
ALSO SEE:
IRAQ VIDEO CLIP KILLINGS TRIGGER TV INVESTIGATION
Jemima Kiss, Dot Journalism, 2/26/04
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story823.shtml
German broadcaster NDR will air a TV documentary this Thursday that
investigates two video clips of US military action in Iraq that have
been
widely circulated on the web.
Both clips show US soldiers shooting apparently unarmed and injured
Iraqis.
According to military and legal experts interviewed by the Panorama
programme, they show US troops breaking international law by shooting
unarmed people.
As reported by this site on 14 January, a video of footage from a US
Apache
helicopter had been widely circulated on the web following its
broadcast on
ABC News. Aerial footage shows Iraqis apparently abandoning something -
which soldiers assumed to be a weapon - and running for cover.
Soldiers receive instructions to 'shoot it' and kill all three men,
including one wounded person already lying on the ground.
A second incident was recorded in April 2003 by a CNN crew and
broadcast in
October that year. Soldiers are seen shooting unarmed and seriously
injured
Iraqis during a search of an industrial area. Immediately after the
shooting, one soldier describes the situation as 'awesome' and says he
'wants to do it all over again'...
-----
THE SUFFERING CONTINUES: A 70-MILE, 20 HOUR JOURNEY
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
CONTACT: tampabayjustice@yahoo.com
The suffering by Dr. Sami Al-Arian and his co-defendant Sameeh
Hammoudeh
extended to the one-year anniversary of their unjust arrest, as they
endured a grueling forced transfer back to the oppressive conditions of
Coleman Federal Penitentiary following a brief four week stay at the
local
Orient Road Jail in Tampa to attend court hearings and review evidence.
The men were awakened at 4 am on Wed., February 18 at which point they
were
kept in a room for four hours. Thereafter, they were taken to the Tampa
Federal Courthouse where they again had to wait for four hours until
noon
when they were rushed to a van awaiting them outside. They were then
taken
to Tampa International Airport to await an incoming flight of transfer
inmates from Miami. With their legs and hands shackled until they
reached
Coleman, they were forced to wait for many hours in the back of the
vehicle
until the flight arrived with the other prisoners.
The journey to Coleman, Florida, which is 70 miles from Tampa, took an
astonishing eight hours, during which time Dr. Al-Arian and Hammoudeh
were
not allowed to leave their uncomfortable seats to stretch their legs or
use
bathroom facilities.
By the time they reached Coleman Penitentiary at approximately 9:30 pm,
prison officials were angered that the men had returned "too soon," as
there was no room to accommodate them in the solitary confinement
disciplinary section known as the "Special Housing Unit." The officials
then stated that they had expressed these facts to U.S. Magistrate
Judge
Thomas McCoun, who allegedly was fully aware of the situation, but
authorized the transfer anyway. As such, the men were placed in a
temporary
holding cell with no chairs, beds, or mattresses, but only the concrete
ground on which to lie and a thin blanket to cover them.
The room was excessively cold, with freezing air rushing through the
vent
in the ceiling, which guards refused to turn off. They also refused to
provide them with blankets or warmer clothing. The men were forced to
endure the torturous conditions of this cell for many hours. Throughout
the
20-hour journey, the men were not given any food or water, and were
continuously denied their requests for food by officers and prison
officials who told them to wait until the following morning's
breakfast.
Both men had been extremely weary and fell ill, while Hammoudeh, who is
diabetic, suffered from dizzy spells as a result of this purposeful
deprivation. While in the holding cell, officials confined Dr. Al-Arian
and
Hammoudeh with another inmate, who out of sympathy for their suffering
throughout the day, offered them an apple, the only food he had...
ALSO SEE:
JUDGE TO CONSIDER A REQUEST IN SAMI AL-ARIAN CASE
Bay News 9, 2/25/04
http://www.baynews9.com/site/content/34479.html
Ghassan Zayed Ballut wants the court to spend half a million dollars on
a
translator for the defense.
Ballut's attorney says he needs 14 people to translate 20,000 hours of
wiretap conversations that are mostly in Arabic.
Earlier this month, a federal judge refused to force prosecutors in the
case to translate the evidence.
Federal public defenders representing Al-Arian co-defendant Hatim Naji
Fariz, argued that prosecutors should translate the mostly
Arabic-language
tapes. Lawyers expected to receive numerous documents in Hebrew.
U.S. Magistrate Thomas B. McCoun III issued an order saying prosecutors
were not required to provide the translations. He instead wanted the
U.S.
attorney's office to provide summaries of 800 tapes deemed particularly
relevant.
McCoun also refused to allow Al-Arian and another defendant, Sameeh
Hammoudeh, to use defense support staff and related resources paid for
by
taxpayers…
-----
DETAINED CANADIAN WANTS ANSWERS FROM OTTAWA
James Rusk, Globe and Mail, 2/26/04
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040226.wxnureddin26/BNStory/Front/
Muayyed Nureddin, a Canadian who was held in a Syrian military
detention
centre for a month, said yesterday that "one terrible torture session"
left
him unable to walk for several days.
Syrian authorities arrested Mr. Nureddin, who is of Iraqi origin, on
Dec.
12, 2003, as he was returning to Canada from a two-month visit to his
family in Kirkuk. He was held in prison for a month, released on Jan.
13,
and flown home by Canadian consular officials on Jan. 14.
In his first press conference since his return, Mr. Nureddin, 36, said
he
was forced to strip to his underwear and lie on the floor on his
stomach,
where he was soaked with cold water while a ceiling fan spun overhead.
"The officers did not like my answers. I was made to lift my legs,
still
lying on my stomach. The soles of my feet were lashed with a cable more
than a dozen times. I was told to stand and they poured cold water on
my
feet. I was made to walk while standing in one place for 10 minutes.
They
then repeated the same process twice more," Mr. Nureddin said.
When he was sent back to his cell, Mr. Nureddin said he was told he
should
think about his answers and that the next time he was questioned, a
worse
form of torture would be used.
Now that he is back in Canada, he said he wants answers from the
federal
government about the situation he found himself in.
Specifically, he said he would like to know if the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service was responsible for his detention and torture in
Syria...
-----
SCARF CONUNDRUM GRIPS TURKEY
Tabitha Morgan, BBC, 2/25/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3513259.stm
As France pushed ahead with its planned school headscarf ban, in Turkey
the
issue has been the subject of impassioned debate for more than 20
years.
Turkey is often held up as a model of Islamic democracy.
The separation of public secular identity from private religious
practice
is fiercely defended by the country's powerful military.
It's a separation which many here in Turkey are keen to show the world.
They want to present a country which is secular, modern and Western.
It was an image captured perfectly in last year's Turkish winning entry
in
the Eurovision song contest. Sparsely-clad Sertab Erener's song "Every
Way
That I Can" fused Eastern rhythms and hip-hop and became the country's
first-ever winner.
Even Prime Minister Erdogan suffers - his daughters wear the headscarf.
But
he has the money to send them to the US to be educated, so they can
keep
wearing the scarf...
ALSO SEE:
IN EUROPE, THE ENEMY WITHIN
Jim Hoagland, Washington Post, 2/26/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7231-2004Feb25.html
One sense of what security means in the age of terror arrived via the
self-confident words of a senior French official during a recent chat
in
Paris: "We know where to find 90 percent of the people who are threats
in
this country. We can and do track them."
Later that day, a French woman who is a lawyer told me of having been
stopped for an identity check while driving in Paris a week before:
"There were twin messages in the intrusive grilling I got. One was that
the
police have a free hand today in France. The other was meant to be
reassuring. If we are treating you like this in an upscale quarter of
Paris, think about what we are doing in the Arab ghettos that you
fear."
These conversations took place as the French National Assembly was
passing
a law to forbid Muslim girls' wearing head scarves to public schools.
The
law was framed more broadly than that -- it prohibits displays of any
religious symbols in state schools -- but its true focus was widely
understood. At some level the measure was meant to reassure the French
that
their government was not afraid of confronting Muslim fundamentalists
at home.
This concern is not confined to France. Across the channel, Britain's
Labor
government is raising funding for its MI5 internal security force by 50
percent to pay for 1,000 new agents, many of whom will be recruited
"from
ethnic minorities with the language skills to infiltrate radical
Islamic
groups in Britain," according to the Sunday Telegraph...
-----
CONGRESSMEN APPALLED AT RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS
Joshua Newton, Christianity Today, 2/25/04
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/003/18.26.html
A fact-finding team of four U.S. congressmen has raised hopes among
Indian
Christian leaders fighting persecution.
After a weeklong tour in January requested by Indian Christians, Joseph
Pitts (R-Pa.) expressed shock at the persecution. We are touched by the
suffering of the Christian and Muslim minorities at the hands of Hindu
extremists here, Pitts said.
The team will take up with both U.S. and Indian authorities the
country's
controversial anti-conversion laws, the status of oppressed Dalits, and
violence against minorities. The All-India Christian Council (AICC),
with
help from Jubilee Campaign, organized the delegations visit.
We learned about the Dalits, 250 million people who are suffering in
almost
indescribable, inhumane ways, Pitts said. This is a great human rights
tragedy.
According to police records, the number of reported attacks on
Christians
in India rose from seven in 1996 to 380 in 2003. Unofficial estimates
put
last years number at 600.
ALSO SEE:
OVER 560 DEAD, 300 INJURED IN MOROCCO EARTHQUAKE
Islamic Relief, 2/25/04
A devastating earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit
northeast
Morocco around dawn on Tuesday near the tourist city Al Hoceima. Over
560
people are feared dead, and 300 injured in the worst natural disaster
to
hit the country in more than 40 years.
Although damage in Al Hoceima was minimal, six villages around the
resort
town were severely damaged. One of villages, Ait Kamra, has been
completely
destroyed.
According to the Red Crescent, local health facilities do not have the
capacity to deal with the number of arriving casualties.
Islamic Relief Action
The president of Islamic Relief France is already in Morocco assessing
the
situation. Islamic Relief France is preparing to send in-kind relief
materials consisting of shoes, blankets and hygiene kits in conjunction
with other French non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Islamic Relief
Worldwide has already allocated $250,000 for emergency relief and is
launching a campaign to raise $1.25 million to help support the victims
of
the earthquake.
Islamic Relief USA is urgently appealing to our donors to help the
victims
of the devastating earthquake in Morocco. Do not let them down.
Please rush your donation today.
Islamic Relief
1919 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91506
(888) 479-4968
http://www.irw.org/
info@irw.org
Tax ID#: 95-4453134
---
US ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CRITICIZES ADVERSARIES, ALLIES
David Gollust, State Department, 2/25/04
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=3DB9998E-E8EB-4C50-9115511157E2B3D8
The U.S. State Department Wednesday issued its annual report on human
rights practices world-wide, saying there were rights developments in
2003
ranging from dramatically uplifting to disappointing. It cited
"backsliding" in China's human rights record and said the U.S.-led
invasion
of Iraq ended years of grave human rights violations by the Saddam
Hussein
government.
It was the 28th annual report issued since the State Department began
the
congressionally-mandated assessments and it included criticism of U.S.
allies and adversaries alike.
Introducing the two million word document at a news briefing, Secretary
of
State Colin Powell said President Bush regards the defense of human
rights
as the United States' "special calling" and said the annual reports are
a
"vital instrument" in policy making.
Mr. Powell said the past year saw important strides for human rights
and
democratic freedoms in a number of countries including Iraq, where he
said
the United States and its allies unseated an "outlaw regime" that had
flouted 12 years of U.N. Security Council resolutions, not the least of
which were human rights measures. "Today Iraq no longer threatens
international peace and security. Saddam Hussein's torture chambers
have
been put out of business. Mass graves no longer await his victims. And
we
are working intensively with our coalition partners and the United
Nations
to help the Iraqi people achieve a united stable country and move
toward
democracy and prosperity under a representative government that
respects
the rights of all its citizens," he said...
SEE: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/
-----
QATAR CHARGES RUSSIANS IN CHECHEN LEADER MURDER
Kedar Sharma, Reuters, 2/26/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4443176
DOHA - Qatar said on Thursday it had arrested two Russians and charged
them
with involvement in the assassination of a former rebel Chechen
president
in what Moscow termed a hostile act against agents of its special
services.
Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, added at Russia's request last year to a U.N.
list
of people with suspected links to the militant Islamist al-Qaeda group,
was
killed by a car bomb in Qatar on February 13. He had been living in
Qatar
for three years.
Russia accused Qatar of conniving with global terrorism in giving
refuge to
Yandarbiyev, who it says was responsible for the death of hundreds of
Russians in a decade-long separatist war. It said Qatari officials used
force in the arrests, which took place a week ago but came to light
only on
Thursday.
Qatar, a key U.S. ally in the Gulf, strongly rejected the Russian
accusation that it had supported terrorism.
"The charge is absurd," a Qatari Foreign Ministry official, who
declined to
be named, told Reuters...
-----
NM: ABIQUIU MUSLIM YOUTH CAMP
WHAT: The purpose of the camp is to enrich and strengthen the hearts,
minds
and bodies of American Muslim teenagers.
Invited teachers include: Sr. Karima Alavi, Br. Abdur Ra'uf Declerck,
Br.
Benyamin van Hattum, Sr. Rabia van Hattum, Sr. Rahmah Lutz, Br. Hakim
Archuletta, Br. Abdul Aziz Eddebbarh, Sr. Toni Eddebbarh, Br. Muhammad
Bachir (Islamic Law and Jurisprudence), Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Br. Wakeel
Declerck (Wilderness Survival), Br. Abdal Aziz (Archery), Imam Dawood
Yassin from Connecticut
WHEN: June 20-26, 2004
WHERE: Dar al Islam, Abiquiu, New Mexico.
The site of the camp is at Dar al Islam which is on approximately 1600
acres in Abiquiu, Northern New Mexico. The strikingly beautiful
mosque-madressa building was designed by the famous Egyptian architect
Hassan Fathy, and built mainly by local Hispanic and Anglo builders and
craftsmen.
TRANSPORTATION - Roundtrip transportation between the Albuquerque
airport
and the Dar al Islam site will be provided for those who request it.
REGISTRATION - The cost of the camp is $500/participant and will be
accepted on a first come first served basis. Registration covers board
and
lodging, transportation (to/from Albuquerque airport) and camp
activities.
COUNSELORS - Applications are being accepted for Counselors. The
application can be downloaded via the link below at
http://youthcamp.daralislam.org/counselorapplication.doc . E-mail to A.
Aziz Eddebbarh aeddebbarh@cox.net.
ACCOMMODATIONS - Accommodations at the camp will be communal. Brothers
and
sisters will be housed separately, in yurts for brothers and madressa
dorms
for sisters. All meals will be halal.
CAMPERS/PARENTS - The camp is appropriate for brothers and sisters
between
the ages of 12-18. Currently there is no program for parents.
For more information visit:
Site Details - http://youthcamp.daralislam.org/campinfo.htm
Registration Form (MS Word - 150K) -
http://youthcamp.daralislam.org/regform.doc
Registration Form (PDF - 91K) -
http://youthcamp.daralislam.org/regform.pdf
Download a Camp Flyer (PDF - 250k) -
http://youthcamp.daralislam.org/flyer.pdf
Or call Abdul Aziz & Toni Eddebbarh at 702-256-3218
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/27/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: ASHURA
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Maine
- CAIR Hosts Azerbaijani Delegation
* NY MUSLIM WORKER ALLOWED TO ATTEND FRIDAY PRAYERS
* CAIR-CAN TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE
* FEINGOLD ON THE 'END RACIAL PROFILING ACT OF 2004'
- Pelosi: 'Profiling is Un-American'
- TX: Council Votes against Patriot Act (ST)
* MUSLIM SPEAKER WOULD HAVE MORE IMPACT (Clovis News)
- Questioning Islam (Clovis News Journal)
* NY: MUSLIMS RALLY IN CLINTON SQUARE (News 10 Now)
- IL: Mosque Hosts Latino Muslims
- NY: Events to Support Community (Syracuse.com)
* B-1 BOB' BACK ON CALIF. CAMPAIGN TRAIL (AP)
- Blue Triangle Network Condemns King's Remarks
* WOMAN'S SCARF A COLLEGE ISSUE (LA Times)
- CA: Teacher Investigated for Scarf Incident (AP)
- Headscarf Ban Violates Religious Freedom (HRW)
* NEO-AUTHORITARIANS WHINE ABOUT LACK OF FREEDOM (Antiwar)
* US 'MAY HOLD CLEARED DETAINEES'(BBC)
* ISRAELI COMPANY TO FUEL TO ARMY IN IRAQ (National News)
- Israel Razes 120 Palestinian Shops (Reuters)
* SYRIA RESTRICTS ISLAMIC TEACHING (BBC)
* LIFE FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR AFGHANISTAN ORPHANS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: ASHURA
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Fasting on the day of
Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1000
Ashura is the 10th day of the first Islamic lunar month of Muharram.
This
year, Ashura falls on Tuesday, March 2.
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,319 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Maine: 73 covered, 179 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
---
CAIR HOSTS DELEGATION FROM AZERBAIJAN
CAIR today had the honor to host a group of 10 religious dignitaries,
civic
leaders and government officials from Baku, Azerbaijan. The focus of
the
program was religious diversity and how American Muslims help foster
this
diversity within religious institutions, social service organizations
and
government.
-----
CAIR-NY: MUSLIM WORKER ALLOWED TO ATTEND FRIDAY PRAYERS
(NEW YORK, 2/27/2004) - The New York office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today applauded an agreement that
allows a Muslim custodian at a school on Staten Island, N.Y., to attend
weekly Islamic congregational prayers.
The Muslim custodian reported to CAIR-NY in June of 2003 that he was
not
being allowed to attend the religiously-mandated prayers. He and
CAIR-NY
tried to come to an agreement with his boss and union representatives,
but
the issue was not resolved.
On February 25, a union arbitration hearing was held to determine
whether
the Muslim custodian's request to attend Friday prayers was reasonable.
CAIR-NY Civil Rights Coordinator Firdos Abdul-Munim was called on to
testify on the importance of Friday prayers to Muslims.
"Denying the opportunity to attend Friday congregational prayers is
similar
to denying a Christian the right to attend church services on Sunday,"
said
Ms. Abdul-Munim.
CAIR-NY commended the efforts of both the employer and the Muslim
custodian's union to reach an amicable agreement. "We hope this case
sets a
precedent for a greater understanding of Islamic practices by other
employers," said Abdul-Munim.
CAIR publishes a booklet called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," available for $5 by e-mailing: publications@cair-net.org
CONTACT: Firdos Abdul-Munim, 347-277-4061, 212-870-2002,
cair-ny@cair-ny.com
-----
CAIR-CAN TESTIFIES ON CANADIAN MEDIA BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE
(Ottawa, Canada - 2/26/04) - Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), CAIR-CAN
Chair Sheema Khan and Executive Director Riad Saloojee testified today
before the Standing Senate Committee on Transportations and
Communications
as part of its study of the Canadian news media.
The presentation was researched and drafted by CAIR-CAN Communications
Spokesperson Hadeel al-Shalchi.
As a full-time national Islamic organization dedicated to media and
public
advocacy, CAIR-CAN presented its experience with the media, conveyed
many
of the sentiments regarding the media expressed by Canadian Muslims and
engaged the Senators in a discussion involving pressing media issues in
Canada.
The full text of the submission may be viewed at:
http://www.caircan.ca/downloads/sctc-26022004.pdf
Senator Mobina Jaffer, who was present at the hearings and has
conducted
roundtables on issues relevant to the Canadian Muslim community,
stated, "I
found the presentation to be thorough and very engaging. It was well
researched and I believe it made a very positive impact on the Senators
present."
"Mr. Saloojee and Ms. Khan articulated a very balanced and fair view of
Islam and the issues facing the Canadian Muslim community today," she
added.
ACTION REQUESTED:
CONTACT the Committee and thank them for inviting Canadian Muslims to
present their perspectives on the Canadian media.
E-MAIL transcom@sen.parl.gc.ca
COPY Canada@cair-net.org on correspondence
-----
FOR INFORMATION ON THE 'END RACIAL PROFILING ACT OF 2004', GO TO:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
Enter the term "profiling" or "S2132."
TO CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION, GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/dbq/officials/
FEINGOLD: STATEMENT ON INTRODUCTION OF THE END RACIAL PROFILING ACT OF
2004
(2/26/04)
Three years ago tomorrow, in his first address to a joint session of
Congress, President Bush declared that racial profiling is wrong and
pledged to end it in America. He then directed his Attorney General to
implement this policy.
It is now three years later, and the American people are still waiting
for
the President to follow through on his pledge to end racial profiling.
So, today I join with Representative John Conyers, the distinguished
ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, in re-introducing the
End
Racial Profiling Act. We first introduced this bill in 2001, shortly
after
the President made his pledge and the Attorney General asserted that he
would
work with us on our legislation.
The End Racial Profiling Act would do exactly what the President
promised
to do: it would ban racial profiling once and for all and require
federal,
state, and local law enforcement to take steps to end and prevent
racial
profiling.
I am very pleased that several of my distinguished colleagues have
joined
me on this bill - Senators Corzine, Clinton, Lautenberg, Kennedy,
Schumer,
Durbin, Kerry, Boxer, Reid, Dodd, Cantwell, Mikulski, and Edwards...
I might add that the urgency for legislation banning racial profiling
is
compounded by concerns post-September 11th that racial profiling - not
good
police work and following up on legitimate leads - is being used
against
Arab and Muslim Americans, or Americans perceived to be Arab or
Muslim...
I urge the President to make good on his pledge to end racial
profiling,
and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the End Racial
Profiling
Act...
ALSO SEE:
PELOSI: 'RACIAL PROFILING IS FUNDAMENTALLY UN-AMERICAN'
Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the
following statement today on the introduction of the End Racial
Profiling
Act of 2004:
"I am proud to join Congressman John Conyers, the Ranking Member of the
House Judiciary Committee, as a cosponsor of the bipartisan End Racial
Profiling Act of 2004 to end the shameful practice of racial profiling
and
to ensure that each of our citizens is treated with dignity and
fairness.
"Numerous recent studies have demonstrated that African Americans and
Hispanics are stopped in traffic and searched far in excess of their
share
of the population. Since September 11th, many Arabs, Muslims, and
Asians
have been subjected to searches and seizures at airports and other
locations based upon religion and national origin, without any credible
information linking specific individuals to criminal conduct.
"Such practices are ineffective, create suspicion, and erode the trust
in
law enforcement. Racial profiling is fundamentally un-American.
"While the Bush Administration has issued guidelines on racial
profiling,
these do not go far enough and are not binding on all levels of law
enforcement. We must make racial profiling illegal.
"The End Racial Profiling Act of 2004 prohibits racial profiling at all
levels of law enforcement -- federal, state, and local. It conditions
law
enforcement grants on adoption of policies that prohibit racial
profiling,
authorizes grants for best policing practices, and requires the
Attorney
General to provide periodic reports on profiling practices.
"This crucial legislation is long overdue. Congress should enact it
now."
---
DALLAS COUNCIL VOTES FOR RESOLUTION DENOUNCING FEDERAL PATRIOT ACT
Bill Miller, Star-Telegram, 2/27/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/8045589.htm
DALLAS - After a round of impassioned debate, a resolution denouncing
the
USA Patriot Act was approved Wednesday in a 9-6 vote of the Dallas City
Council.
In approving the resolution, Dallas joins three states and 225 local
governments that have taken stands against the Patriot Act.
The measure states that city officials will uphold citizens'
constitutional
rights and monitor the implementation of the act.
It does not, however, have authority over the federal legislation.
The Patriot Act, passed soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks,
must be reauthorized periodically by Congress.
It expands law-enforcement officers' surveillance and investigative
powers,
allowing them to, for example, examine library patrons' records.
It has been criticized by some civil-rights organizations, including
the
Bill of Rights Defense Committee, which was represented at the council
meeting by dozens of people dressed in blue shirts and waving small
American
flags...
-----
MUSLIM SPEAKER WOULD HAVE MORE IMPACT
Darrell Maurina, Clovis News Journal, 2/27/04
http://cnjonline.com/engine.pl?station=clovis&template=storyfull.html&id=4760
Rabiah Ahmed of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said she
appreciated the desire of Christians to learn more about Islam, but
wished
that First Baptist Church of Texico had invited a Muslim speaker to
explain
the Islamic faith from the Islamic perspective.
"It's not going to help anybody if it is presented from a biased
perspective," Ahmed said.
"We invite church communities to invite a Muslim from a speakers'
bureau to
come and speak. We've noticed in the post-9-11 climate that there has
been
a lot of anti-Muslim rhetoric propagated in churches which incites
hatred
toward Muslims, dividing rather than uniting us."
"People need to be very responsible with the words they use and the way
they describe millions and millions of Americans," Ahmed said.
Ahmed, a media spokeswoman at CAIR's national office in Washington,
said
her organization has four chapters in Texas - Austin, Dallas, Houston
and
San Antonio - but none in New Mexico. CAIR exists to correct
misunderstandings and misrepresentations about Islam, she said.
"There are obviously going to be differences of opinion and beliefs,
and
that's fine as long as we respect people's right to practice religion
as
they choose," Ahmed said...
ALSO SEE:
QUESTIONING ISLAM
Darrell Todd Maurina, Clovis News Journal, 2/27/04
http://cnjonline.com/engine.pl?station=clovis&template=storyfull.html&id=4759
When a missionary to the Islamic world told Pastor Rob Hollis of First
Baptist Church of Texico that he'd be available to speak, the church
jumped
at the chance to offer a presentation on Islam to the community.
On Sunday, David Witt of the Voice of the Martyrs organization, a
ministry
that a number of church members have supported for years, will lead
seminars at 9 and 10:15 a.m. at the church.
"Because we don't know enough about the Muslim religion and the
movement
and the focus of Islam, and he is a keynote speaker in the United
States in
this area and has contributed to a lot of enlightenment among Christian
people, I did contact him," Hollis said. "Christians all over the world
are
being persecuted by Muslims."
While attacks on Christians by Muslims in nations such as Sudan and
Indonesia have received the most media attention, Hollis said the Sept.
11,
2001, attacks caused many in his church to believe Islamic terrorism
wasn't
limited to foreign Christians but also could be a threat to America...
-----
NY: MUSLIMS RALLY IN CLINTON SQUARE
Tammy Palmer, News 10 Now, 2/27/04
http://news10now.com/content/all_news/?ArID=11697&SecID=83
A local group of Muslims rallied in Clinton Square Thursday, claiming
that
since the attacks of September 11th, they've been singled out.
At the rally, signs and flags helped carry messages of injustice and
discrimination. Women donned head scarves to show support for their
Muslim
neighbors.
The gatherers were inspired by the memory of a day one year ago on
which
federal investigators questioned dozens of Arab and Muslim families
living
in Central New York.
A local group of Muslims rallied in Clinton Square Thursday. The group
claims that since the September eleventh attacks they've been singled
out.
Group members say their treatment is similar to the way the Jews were
treated during World War II.
"When we talk about the events that lead up to World War II…we say,
'How
did it happen? Where was everybody?' Nazism and Fascism in Europe did
not
appear all of a sudden - it crept up slowly, then faster and faster.
The
same situation can happen here," one group member stated...
ALSO SEE:
MOSQUE FOUNDATION OF BRIDGEVIEW HOSTS LATINO MUSLIMS IN DISCUSSION OF
GROWTH OF ISLAM IN AMERICA
WHAT: Mosque Foundation of Bridgeview is the proud host of a speech by
Rafael Narbaez entitled "Latino Muslims and Their Role as Muslims In
America." This is an event of Mosque Foundation, a member of the
Council
of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, an umbrella organization
representing over 400,000 Muslims throughout Chicagoland.
The speaker for the event is Rafael Narbaez and his speech will be in
Spanish. His speech will focus on the growing influence of Latinos in
America and their unique contributions to the diverse Muslim community.
Mr. Narbaez was born and raised in Texas and currently lives in
Michigan.
Initially, he started reading the Quran to get a better understanding
of
the Bible. Over time his reading of the Quran helped him understand
Islam.
He later embraced Islam.
WHEN: Friday, February 27, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mosque Foundation, 7350 W. 93rd Street, Bridgeview, Illinois
60455.
For further information please contact Farhan Younus at
fyounus@ciogc.org or
at 630-926-5566.
---
NY: EVENTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Renee K. Gadoua, Syracuse.com, 2/26/04
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1077788374247541.xml
A year ago today, three federal agents visited Braham Himed at his
Syracuse
home to ask about his donations of money to Help the Needy.
"They had a set of questions," recalled Himed, a Muslim and a native of
Algeria who has lived in Central New York 18 years. "'How many times do
you
go to the mosque?' 'How often do you pray?' What does that have to do
with
Help the Needy?"
He and Muslim leaders estimate up to 150 local Muslim families were
questioned last year in connection with the arrests of four people
accused
of violating U.S. sanctions by diverting money - intended for
humanitarian
aid in Iraq - to other purposes. Help the Needy is based in DeWitt, and
its
officials attend the Islamic Society of Central New York in Syracuse.
During a recent interview at the mosque at 925 Comstock Ave., four
local
Muslims talked about their reactions to how law enforcement officials
treated them. They say officials harassed and intimidated them and
asked
inappropriate questions about their religion, ethnic background and
citizenship status...
Within hours of last year's arrests and interviews, local religious
leaders
expressed outrage at what they considered unfair targeting of Muslims.
Several events today, including a news conference and a prayer service,
are
planned to show support for the Muslim community.
Organizers had sought 150 participants to represent the 150 Muslim
families
believed to have been interviewed by authorities. The majority of
participants in today's events are not Muslim, they said...
-----
B-1 BOB' BACK ON CALIF. CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Laura Wides, Associated Press, 2/27/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-b-1-bob-congress,0,6743697.story
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - It has been eight years since he was turned
out
of office by a young, liberal upstart and his comeback bid was soundly
rejected by voters two years later. Now the firebrand conservative
ex-congressman known as "B-1 Bob" Dornan is asking voters for one more
chance.
Only this time, Dornan, famous in the 1970s, '80s and '90s for his
slash-and-burn tactics targeting liberals, is trying to unseat a fellow
Republican whose record is equally conservative.
He all but retired from politics after losing back-to-back
congressional
campaigns to Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana, in 1996 and 1998. But
now
he has decided to seek the Republican nomination for the congressional
seat
of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach.
Rohrabacher, whose Orange County district is next to Sanchez's, differs
little on the issues from Dornan. Both support a freeze on taxes, favor
the
war in Iraq and oppose President Bush's proposal to allow temporary
work
visas for undocumented immigrants.
The similarities have led some political analysts to view the election
as
nothing more than an effort to return to the spotlight by the
70-year-old
Dornan, who earned his nickname for both his support of the military
and
his bombastic personality...
A spokeswoman for the Southern California chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations dismissed Dornan's remark as calculated to
gain
votes by playing on racial fears after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks.
"Candidates are attempting to scapegoat an entire Muslim community to
gain prominence," said Sabiha Khan. "Dornan is just an example of this
kind of hate-filled rhetoric in our own back yard..."
ALSO SEE:
BLUE TRIANGLE NETWORK JOINS AMERICAN MUSLIM VOICE IN CONDEMNING
CONGRESSMAN
KING'S INFLAMMATORY REMARKS AGAINST AMERICAN MUSLIMS
Blue Triangle Network in conjunction with American Muslim Voice
denounces
the hate filled, inflammatory remarks against Muslim Americans by
Congressmen Peter T. King on the Sean Hannity nationally-syndicated
radio
program on February 9th, 2004. In language reminiscent of anti-Japanese
American rhetoric of the 1940s and German anti Jewish propaganda of
that
same period, the Congressman said that the vast majority of American
Muslim
community leaders are "an enemy living amongst us" and that "no
(American)
Muslims are cooperating" with law enforcement officials to combat
terrorism. He further added: "I would say, you could say that 80-85
percent
of mosques in this country are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists".
Congressman King's baseless and unsubstantiated remarks are more than
the
ravings of an ignorant crank, speaking as he is from a government which
has
already imprisoned, brutalized, harassed, deported and traumatized
thousands upon thousands of people because of the religion they
practice
or the region they come from. Since 9/11/2001, a tragedy roundly
condemned by large numbers of American Muslim leaders, the government
has
set loose a hurricane of repressive measures justified by the lie of
the
"enemy within".
Congressman King has added his bit of bigotry to an ugly repertoire
lies
and fictions. Blue Triangle Network joins American Muslim Voice in
calling
upon all people of conscience in condemning these statements.
Action Requested
Please call upon Congressman King to retract his inflammatory remarks.
It
is unbecoming of an elected representative to make such xenophobic
remarks.
Please call the radio station that hosted Sean Hannity's program on
which
Congressman King made his inflammatory remarks and ask them invite
Muslim
community leaders on their program to address Congressman King's
baseless
allegations.
Contacts:
Congressman Peter T. King
436 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202 - 225 - 7896
Pete.King@mail.house.gov
Congressman Peter T. King
1003 Park Boulevard
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
516 - 541 - 4225
Sean Hannity's radio station: Call 1-800-941-SEAN (7326), or write to
Program Director Phil Boyce at phil.boyce@abc.com
-----
WOMAN'S SCARF A COLLEGE ISSUE
Hector Becerra, Los Angeles Times, 2/27/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-scarf27feb27,1,6136184.story
The board of trustees of Antelope Valley College will decide at its
meeting
today what action to take in regard to an instructor who ordered a
19-year-old Muslim student to remove her hijab head scarf or leave his
class, the college president said Thursday.
Student Fajr Burhan said instructor Robert Daniel told her to remove
her
scarf when she walked into his computer information science class last
week. Burhan said she refused, explaining that she wore the hijab for
religious reasons.
"I sat down. I knew my rights, but I was shaking like crazy," Burhan
said.
"Two minutes later, he said something like, 'Now you have a choice,
take
off the scarf and stay in the class or leave.' "
When she again refused, Burhan said, Daniel asked her to walk out to
the
hall, where they met Tom Miller, dean of business and computer studies.
"The dean looked at me and said, 'Is this for religious purposes?' I
said
yes, and he told [Daniel], 'If this is for religious purposes, you have
to
respect that.' "
Burhan had shown up for the class, the first of the semester, along
with
four other students, hoping to add the course. When five students were
dropped for missing the class, Burhan asked to be added. Daniel denied
her
request, telling her he was saving a slot for an emergency, college
officials said...
In some workplaces, when Muslim women have been asked to remove their
head
scarves, the matter has been resolved once the employers learned of the
religious significance of the hijab, said Ra'id Faraj, public relations
director for the Southern California office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations...
"It's really bizarre that we would encounter this in a college," Faraj
said. "It's rather a surprise that a professor at a college would make
such
comments and such demands."
ALSO SEE:
SOCAL TEACHER WHO ALLEGEDLY TOLD MUSLIM WOMAN TO REMOVE SCARF
INVESTIGATED
Associated Press, 2/26/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/8050312.htm
LANCASTER, Calif. - An instructor is being investigated by Antelope
Valley
College officials for allegedly ordering a female Muslim student to
remove
her traditional hajib head scarf.
Fajr Burhan, 19, said she walked into a college classroom on Feb. 18
and
instructor Robert Daniel told her to remove the hajib, religious attire
she
began wearing about five years ago.
"The second I walked into the class the teacher turned around and told
me
to remove my scarf," she told the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task
Force on
Monday night. "I felt humiliated in front of the whole class, which has
about 35 students."
Wearing the same sheer scarf she wore to class last week, Burhan said
she
told Daniel the hajib is "for a religious purpose" and "it's not
something
that I can just take off."
She then sat down without removing the scarf and Daniel became "very
furious," Burhan told the panel...
Interim President Jackie Fisher apologized and said an investigation
was
under way...
The Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
praised the college's decision to investigate.
The council also asked the college to take disciplinary action against
Daniel, issue an apology to Burhan and conduct sensitivity training for
faculty and staff...
"We commend Antelope Valley College for its swift response to this
disturbing incident," council spokesman Ra'id Faraj said Thursday. "The
religious rights of all students, regardless of their faith, ethnicity
or
background should be protected and respected."
---
HEADSCARF BAN VIOLATES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch, 2/26/04
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/02/26/france7666.htm
(New York, February 27, 2004)-The proposed French law banning Islamic
headscarves and other visible religious symbols in state schools would
violate the rights to freedom of religion and expression, Human Rights
Watch said today. The law, which forbids "signs and dress that
conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students," will be
debated
in the French Senate on March 2.
The proposed law is an unwarranted infringement on the right to
religious
practice. For many Muslims, wearing a headscarf is not only about
religious
expression, it is about religious obligation.
"The proposed law is an unwarranted infringement on the right to
religious
practice," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.
"For many Muslims, wearing a headscarf is not only about religious
expression, it is about religious obligation."
International human rights law obliges state authorities to avoid
coercion
in matters of religious freedom, and this obligation must be taken into
account when devising school dress codes. The proposed prohibition on
headscarves in France, as with laws in some Muslim countries that force
girls to wear headscarves in schools, violates this principle.
Under international law, states can only limit religious practices when
there is a compelling public safety reason, when the manifestation of
religious beliefs would impinge on the rights of others, or when it
serves
a legitimate educational function (such as prohibiting practices that
preclude student-teacher interaction). Muslim headscarves, Sikh
turbans,
Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses-which are among the
visible
religious symbols that would be prohibited-do not pose a threat to
public
health, order or morals; they have no effect on the fundamental rights
and
freedoms of other students; and they do not undermine a school's
educational function...
-----
NEO-AUTHORITARIANS: DAVID HOROWITZ WHINES ABOUT A LACK OF 'ACADEMIC
FREEDOM'
Justin Raimondo, AntiWar.com, 2/27/04
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/
Is there a bigger, fatter, more egregious hypocrite on God's green
earth
than David Horowitz? What else can we call someone who mounts a
campaign
for censoring campus speech - in the name of "academic freedom"?
According to Horowitz's own website, Colorado Republican lawmakers have
introduced legislation embodying his Orwellian concept of "academic
freedom":
"The bill requires schools to enact a grievance procedure for students
subjected to a 'hostile environment' toward their religious and
political
views. It also says students have a right to be free from professors
who
introduce 'controversial matter' unrelated to the subject they are
teaching."
Echoing the left-liberal victimology he's supposed to be so opposed to,
Horowitz and his campus minions are crying that their views are not
automatically accepted and given credence - and they want their
"rights" as
an officially accredited "minority group"! But since when is anyone
entitled to be free of "hostility" on account of their ideas? Should,
say,
a Nazi be accorded the same hostility level as a liberal Republican?
Does a
defender of Joseph Stalin have the right to be free from a "hostile
environment" - when his ideas amount to an endorsement of genocide?
For years, conservatives and libertarians have been complaining about
campus "speech codes" that forbid, for example, campus Christians from
promulgatin their views on, say, homosexuality, and quash any rational
discussion of affirmative action. So now Horowitz is campaigning for
legislation to ensure that the tender little egos of the campus
Republicans
are protected from bad vibes and other potentially deadly
hate-thoughts!
How pathetic. Horowitz isn't and never was opposed to "political
correctness" - he just wants in on the PC game...
Daniel Pipes and his "CampusWatch," which targets professors thought to
be
unsympathetic to U.S. foreign policy, is another sinister example of
how
neoconservatism is fast morphing into neo-authoritarianism. As a
government
official - in a testament to the complete moral inversion of the
Bizarro
World we are living in, the militantly pro-war Pipes was appointed to
the
Board of the government-funded "U.S. Peace Institute" - his
witch-hunting
proclivities take on a threatening aspect...
-----
US 'MAY HOLD CLEARED DETAINEES'
BBC, 2/27/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3487958.stm
Pentagon officials have confirmed that Guantanamo detainees may still
be
kept in detention, even if they are found not guilty by a military
tribunal.
They say detainees could be kept prisoner if they are considered a
security
risk.
If found guilty, they could also be held beyond any sentence laid down
by
the tribunal.
The Pentagon this week laid the first charges against two foreign
detainees
held in Guantanamo Bay.
US military officials argue that there are two processes under way, BBC
Pentagon correspondent Nick Childs says.
Detainees are being held because they are suspected of being enemy
combatants in an ongoing war.
Separately, some may be put before tribunals accused of specific war
crimes
or other offences.
But the officials say it would not be common sense to release detainees
after trials if it was thought they might launch new attacks on US
interests.
The officials add that anyone convicted of war crimes would have to
serve
out their sentences - even if other detainees were released because the
war
on terrorism was deemed to be over...
-----
ISRAELI COMPANY TO SUPPLY FUEL TO US ARMY IN IRAQ
Israel National News, 2/24/04
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=58458
Israel's Sonol gasoline company, along with its foreign partner
Morgantown
International, have won a tender valued at $70-80 million to supply
fuel to
US troops in Iraq. Sonol is expected to supply the US forces with some
25
million liters of fuel each month.
The tender was issued by the US-based KDR Company, a subsidiary of
Halliburton, who has been entrusted with the majority of contracts for
the
US troops in Iraq. Among Sonol's competitors was Delek, another Israeli
company. Until now, the US forces have received most of their fuel from
Kuwait. However, following Halliburton's admission that it overcharged
the
US military by passing on the Kuwaitis' inflated price the US Army
decided
to approach other suppliers, among them Israel.
Sonol is one of Israel's three largest oil product marketing firms with
a
network of around 205 branded service stations.
Fuel, imported to Israel, will pass through the fuel terminal operated
by
the TASHAN (Oil and Energy Infrastructure Company) north of Beer Sheva
and
will then be shipped to Iraq by land through Jordan.
SEE ALSO:
ISRAEL RAZES 120 PALESTINIAN SHOPS IN TUNNEL HUNT
Reuters, 2/27/04
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces, uncovering a tunnel used by
Palestinian
militants for a deadly attack on the Gaza Strip boundary, razed at
least
120 Palestinian-owned shops nearby Friday, witnesses said.
They said two army bulldozers backed by four tanks plowed through a
cluster
of buildings leading up to Erez, a heavily fortified Israeli industrial
zone on the Gaza-Israel boundary, after giving shop-owners a summary
notice
to evacuate.
-----
SYRIA RESTRICTS ISLAMIC TEACHING
Kim Ghattas, BBC, 2/27/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3491618.stm
The Syrian authorities will no longer allow foreign students to study
Islam
in private schools.
From the next academic year foreigners will only attend classes at the
Islamic law faculty of Damascus University, in the Syrian capital.
There are 20 Islamic schools operating in Syria under the supervision
of
the social affairs and labour ministry.
They cater to several thousand foreigners from the US, Japan, Britain
and
Indonesia among other countries.
Officially the Syrian government said it was taking measures against
private Islamic schools because their degrees were not officially
recognised yet.
But these institutes were always closely watched by the staunchly
secular
Syrian Baath regime and now it appears that things have been taken one
step
further.
This comes after several Muslims arrested for alleged terrorist
activities
were found to have stayed in Damascus.
Capt James Yee, a Muslim military chaplain at the Guantanamo Bay
detention
centre, who was arrested and then released last year after allegedly
being
caught with classified documents, had studied Islam and Arabic in
Damascus
in the mid-1990s.
And in April last year, Assaf Mohammed Hanif, a British Muslim blew
himself
up in a Tel Aviv pub.
He had studied Arab at Damascus University in 2000 and it is thought
this
is where he was recruited by the Palestinian group, Hamas.
There are about 3,000 foreigners studying in Syria...
-----
LIFE FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR AFGHANISTAN ORPHANS
WHAT: LIFE for Relief and Development and other religious organizations
are
hosting a fundraising dinner to support LIFE's orphan projects in
Afghanistan. The dinner will feature Sheikh Sadullah Khan and a short
film
on LIFE"s projects in Afghanistan.
WHEN: Saturday February 28th 2004 at 6pm
WHERE: Location: Masjid Dar-Ul Quran (Bayshore Masjid), 1514 E. 3rd
Ave.,
Bayshore, NY 11706
Tickets: $20
For more info contact: events@lifeusa.org or 917-579-7185
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/28/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK KNOWLEDGE
* CA TEACHER IN SCARF ISSUE RESIGNS POST (LA Times)
- Teacher Resigns Over Muslim Scarf Flap (NBC4)
* OH: MUSLIM AIRLINES WORKER WINS SUIT (AP)
* MUSLIM GROUP PROTESTS DORNAN'S COMMENTS (Daily Pilot)
- Groups Decry Dornan's Remarks (OC Register)
* ONLINE NETWORK HELPS MUSLIMS FIND SOUL MATES (AP)
* LOVE FOR JESUS CAN BRIDGE CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM GAP (RNS)
- Muslim, Christian Doctrines Overlap (Express-News)
- Jew, Muslim Find Common Ground Through Laughter (SJMN)
* MUSLIMS TO BUILD MOSQUE IN MICHIGAN (Grand Rapids Press)
* PA: IMAM TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC PROJECTS (Phil. Inquirer)
* MN: POLICE REACH OUT TO SOMALI COMMUNITY (Pioneer Press)
* TREASURY WARNS ABOUT EDITING 'ENEMY' MANUSCRIPTS (NYT)
- Qatar says Russia Holding Two Nationals (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK KNOWLEDGE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone travels on a
road
in search of knowledge, God will cause him to travel on one of the
roads of
Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure
with
one who seeks knowledge. The inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth
and
(even) the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned
man. The superiority of the learned over the devout is like that of the
moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The
learned
are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave (no monetary
inheritance), they leave only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an
abundant portion.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1631
-----
TEACHER IN SCARF ISSUE RESIGNS POST
Hector Becerra, Los Angeles Times, 2/28/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-scarf28feb28,1,6594938.story
An Antelope Valley College instructor under fire for ordering a
19-year-old
Muslim student to remove her head scarf in his class resigned Friday,
school officials said.
Robert Daniel, an engineer who taught part time since 2002, resigned
before
the Lancaster school's board of trustees could decide whether he should
be
fired, interim college President Jackie Fisher said.
"We could have dismissed him - that was an option - but he came in and
resigned," Fisher said.
"He will not be rehired or work here again."
The student, Fajr Burhan, said that when she walked into Daniel's
computer
information science class last week, he told her to remove her hijab or
leave.
Burhan said she refused, explaining that she wore the scarf for
religious
reasons. After she took her seat, Burhan said, Daniel asked her to walk
outside with him. They then encountered the dean, who told Daniel he
had to
respect Burhan's right to wear the scarf.
Burhan said she returned to the class, but felt uncomfortable.
Fisher said Daniel clearly had acted inappropriately...
Ra'id Faraj, spokesman for the Southern California office of the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said: "We are very pleased by the quick
response of the Antelope Valley College leadership president and the
board.
This sends the right message that we live in a country that respects
freedom of religion…"
SEE ALSO:
TEACHER RESIGNS OVER MUSLIM SCARF FLAP
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2882512/detail.html
LOS ANGELES -- An Antelope Valley College instructor resigned Thursday,
a
week after ordering a Muslim student to take off her religiously
mandated
head scarf or leave class, school officials said.
Robert Daniel, described as a part-time instructor, taught an
introduction
to computer science information course. He resigned in writing this
morning, school officials said.
The college's Board of Trustees was expected to decide Friday night
what
action to take against Daniel. The school said other instructors will
be
brought in to teach the two spring semester courses that had been
assigned
to Daniel.
Daniel could not be reached for comment...
Ra'id Faraj of the Southern California office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations applauded the move.
"It's really bizarre that we would encounter this in a college," Faraj
said.
-----
EX-CONTINENTAL AIRLINES WORKER WINS SUIT
The Associated Press, 2/28/04
CLEVELAND (AP) - A federal jury awarded $250,000 to a former
Continental
Airlines worker who said he was harassed on the job because of his
Middle
Eastern origin.
The jury Thursday found that supervisors used ethnic and racial slurs
against Nizar Kamal. Jurors rejected Kamal's claims that he was
harassed
for being a Muslim and that Continental intentionally caused him
emotional
distress.
Kamal, 48, was fired in September from his job loading and unloading
planes
at the airline's hub at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
He had sued Houston-based Continental in 2001, saying co-workers and
supervisors had made slurs against him since the first Gulf War in
1990. He
also said they posted demeaning cartoons and once locked him in a
portable
toilet…
The jury ordered $200,000 compensation and $50,000 in punitive damages,
as
well as yet-to-be-determined attorney's fees.
Kamal is trying to get his job back through the U.S. Equal Opportunity
Commission.
-----
GROUP PROTESTS DORNAN'S COMMENTS
Jenny Marder, Daily Pilot, 2/28/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/pilot/news/la-dpt-dornan28feb28,1,6029556.story
Human rights activists protested what they called the "hate-filled
rhetoric" from Republican congressional candidate Robert Dornan outside
Huntington Beach City Hall on Friday.
Protesters, unfazed by Dornan supporters' screams and shaking fists,
showed
up to support the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which claims
that
the candidates comments about Muslims are racist.
Dornan is challenging Rep. Dana Rohrabacher in the March 2 primary for
the
46th Congressional District seat, which Rohrabacher has held since
1988.
Many thought Dornan had retired from politics, when Rep. Loretta
Sanchez
edged him out of what is now the 47th Congressional District in 1996.
But, at 70, he's back to fight the war on terrorism and defeat what he
refers to as "the dark side of Islam."
Led by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, eight organizations
banded together on Friday to speak out against racism.
Dornan has referred to the prophet Mohammed, as "a camel driver with
nine
wives," and the Koran, Islam's holy book, as "a book of war and
terrorism,"
said Sabina Khan, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
Dornan did not return calls, but his son and campaign manager, Mark
Dornan,
said his father's comments were taken out of context.
"These are historical facts that they are twisting into politically
correct
slander…. He discussed the Koran and the Bible as being a book full of
stories on war," Mark Dornan said.
This is not the first time Robert Dornan been in the political
spotlight.
While in office, a history of fiery rhetoric earned him nicknames like
"Mouth of the House." During 1992, he told an interviewer that "every
lesbian spear-chucker is hoping that I get elected."
"All of [Robert Dornan's] remarks break the community," said
Ranjinderjit
Singh, president of the East and West Assn. of Sikh Women. "We need
people
and leaders that bring the community together. Otherwise, we are
alienating
good people."
The group is not endorsing any particular candidate in the race, she
said,
and added that most Muslims oppose Rohrabacher's stand on immigration
and
the war in Iraq.
"We could care less about his campaign," Khan said. "The issue is
racism in
political discourse."
The news conference was small, but heated. Speakers were from the
Orange
County Human Relations Commission, the Greater Huntington Beach
Interfaith
Council, the Sikh Community, the Islamic Society of Orange County, the
League of United Latin American Citizens and the Asian and Pacific
Islander
Community Alliance.
While the groups were drawn from a mixed tapestry of religious and
ethnic
backgrounds, their members stood united behind one message: Racism,
prejudice and hatred are unwelcome in political discourse.
"[Robert] Dornan is challenged with representing all people," said
Kathryn
McCulley, assistant director of the National Conference for Community
and
Justice's Orange County chapter. "His views and beliefs must be free of
all
bias and injustice."
Anna Sanchez of Newport Beach came with her dog, Oreo, to support the
protest.
"Every time he opens his mouth, he insults somebody," Sanchez said.
"He's a
despicable creature, full of hatred…"
SEE ALSO:
GROUPS DECRY DORNAN'S REMARKS
ZAHEERA WAHID, Orange County Register, 2/28/04
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=83126§ion=LOCAL&subsection=LOCAL&year=2004&month=2&day=28
HUNTINGTON BEACH - Leaders of local faith and ethnic groups on Friday
condemned remarks made by congressional candidate Bob Dornan and called
on
communities to unite against a "rising tide of Islamophobia" among
politicians.
"It's unacceptable to divide us (along) religious lines," said Sabiha
Khan,
spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in
Anaheim.
Khan also singled out a remark by Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., that "mosques
are
run by extremists."
"It seems to be a national trend ... stepping on American Muslims,"
Khan said.
Dornan, who lost his congressional seat in 1996, is running against
incumbent Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R- Huntington Beach, for the 46th
House
District seat.
Representatives of several groups, including the League of United Latin
American Citizens, the Sikh community, a local synagogue, and the Asian
and
Pacific Islander Community Alliance joined Khan in front of Huntington
Beach City Hall to call for unity.
Khan cited several statements made by Dornan, including a recent
Register
article in which Dornan was quoted as saying "The dark side of Islam
has
been a problem for 1,400 years."
Such statements, said CAIR executive director Hussam Ayloush, "create
fear
within the targeted community ... (and) create anger and reinforce
hatred
among those who accept the message…"
Newport Beach resident Ana Sanchez said she came to support CAIR
because
she remembers "how racist (Dornan's) remarks were against Hispanics"
during
his 1996 campaign against Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana…
-----
ONLINE NETWORK HELPS MUSLIMS FIND SOUL MATES
Deborah Kong, Associated Press, 2/28/04
http://www.silive.com/living/advance/index.ssf?/base/living/1077912901211550.xml
The online chat service Naseeb offers marriage-minded twentysomethings
a
culturally sensitive middle ground between dating, which is
discouraged,
and old-fashioned arranged marriages.
Part of her hoped she'd find her soul mate when she joined Naseeb, a
new
online Muslim community. But getting a marriage proposal just three
months
later - while on a snowboarding trip in Pennsylvania - was way beyond
Saara
Sheikh's expectations.
Raised by conservative, Pakistani Muslim parents, Sheikh knew dating
was
out. Still, she rebelled at the idea of a traditional arranged
marriage,
skipping out on meetings her parents set up with potential spouses.
"They've been trying to hook me up since I was, like, 20," said Sheikh,
a
25-year-old Franklin Lakes, N.J., mental health professional. "I told
my
mom I would want to find somebody on my own. The arranged thing would
be
very hard for me."
Naseeb seemed like a good compromise. Sometimes called the Muslim
version
of Friendster, the site allows people to network with friends of
friends.
Like the company, which is based in San Jose, Calif., but has
engineering
operations in Lahore, Pakistan, many of Naseeb's users are a blend of
East
and West, comfortable with technology yet tied to tradition. In Naseeb,
they've found a culturally sensitive middle ground that lies somewhere
between dating, which experts say is discouraged by Islamic law, and
the
old-fashioned practice of marriages brokered by parents.
In the Muslim community, arranged marriages vary by ethnicity - they
are
more common among South Asians and some Arabs than American blacks.
Such
practices, brought from immigrants' home countries, typically involve
parents helping choose a mate for their children, said Aminah McCloud,
professor of Islamic studies at DePaul University.
Naseeb is one example of how that tradition has evolved in the United
States, said Ahmar Masood, Sheikh's fiance…
-----
LOVE FOR JESUS CAN BRIDGE CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM GAP
HESHAM A. HASSABALLA, Religion News Service, 2/28/04
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/8058431.htm
The season of Lent is upon us, and Christians the world over are
preparing
for arguably the most important event in the Christian calendar.
Although I do not celebrate Easter, the holiday is fraught with very
pleasant memories for me. Growing up, Good Friday would always be a day
off
from school (making it an Even Better Friday for me). During my years
at
Marquette University, a Jesuit institution, I would look forward to
Easter
even more because we would get five days off for the holiday.
In all seriousness, however, even though, as a Muslim, I do not
celebrate
Easter, it is not out of disdain for Jesus (peace be upon him). We
Muslims
absolutely adore Jesus (though not literally). One cannot be a Muslim
without a firm belief in, and love for, Jesus Christ. He is considered
one
of the five mightiest Prophets ever sent to humanity, along with
Abraham,
Noah, Moses and the Muslim Prophet Muhammad (peace be unto them all).
Muslims believe Jesus to be the Messiah sent to the Children of Israel.
The fundamental difference between Christianity and Islam lies in the
belief about Jesus' nature: The majority of Christians believe Jesus to
be
divine, the Son in the Trinity, who was sent to die for the sins of
humanity. Muslims, however, believe Jesus to be a mighty messenger of
God
and do not accept the divinity of Jesus or any human being.
This belief is clearly outlined in the Quran: "O People of the Book
(Christians)! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of God aught
but
the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle
of
God, and his Word, which he bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding
from
him." (4:171) Muslims do believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, and the
story of Jesus' birth is recounted twice in the Quran. To Muslims, the
miraculous virgin birth signals the greatness of Jesus as a prophet but
is
not a sign of his divinity. Further distinguishing itself from
Christianity, Islam maintains that Jesus was never crucified: "... they
killed him (Jesus) not, nor crucified him... of a surety they killed
him
not." (4:157) Muslims believe God raised Jesus to him before the Romans
arrested him. Muslims, however, as do Christians, believe Jesus will
return
to Earth again.
Jesus is mentioned 27 times in the Quran, more than six times as much
as
Muhammad himself, and he is mentioned even more times in the sayings of
the
Prophet Muhammad. In fact, salvation for Muslims necessarily includes
belief in Jesus as outlined by this Prophetic saying: "If anyone
testifies
that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, who has no
partners, and that Muhammad is his slave and his apostle, and that
Jesus is
God's slave and his apostle and his word which he bestowed on Mary and
a
Spirit created by him, and that paradise is true, and hell is true, God
will admit him into Paradise." Not only is Jesus prominent in Muslim
belief, but the Virgin Mary is also greatly revered. The story of her
birth
was also recounted in the Quran. In fact, God set the Virgin Mary as an
example for the ideal believer: "And God sets forth, as an example to
those
who believe... Mary the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity."
(66:11-12) Mary is also highly praised, but again, Mary is not accorded
any
divinity in Islam…
It is my hope and prayer that the common love for Jesus by both Muslims
and
Christians will serve as a desperately needed bridge of understanding
between both faith communities. The sooner we American Muslims and
Christians can come together as people of faith, the sooner we can work
together to change our country and our world for the better.
Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago physician and author of "Why I
Love
the Ten Commandments," published in the book "Taking Back Islam:
American
Muslims Reclaim Their Faith" (Rodale Press).
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES OVERLAP
Mansour El-Kikhia, San Antonio Express-News, 2/28/04
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/columnists/melkikhia/stories/MYSA27.09B.mansour0227.f64a584.html
Muslims believe Jesus, like Moses before him, was sent to show them the
way
of doing good, of practicing mercy and salvation.
Like Christians, Muslims believe he was born of a virgin, and they also
believe his mother is a perpetual virgin. Indeed, according to Muslims,
Jesus completes the human cycle, for just as Eve was produced out of
man
without a woman's seed, so is man produced from a woman without a man's
seed.
Muslims also believe Jesus did heal the leper and perform miracles.
They
also believe in his social and economic teachings.
They observe the Ten Commandments that Jesus followed and like him
reject
usury in trade. Indeed, only Muslims follow Christ's teaching on usury
and
trade in money.
The honoring of Jesus extends to his mother, companions and those close
to
him. A case in point is John the Baptist. The Koran refers to John as
Yahya, which means "everlasting." Muslims believe God gave him that
name
because he would die as a martyr for the sake of God, and all martyrs
are
everlasting.
Many Christians are unaware Muslims believe that at the end of time
Jesus
Christ, not Muhammad the prophet of Islam, will return…
There are, of course, also profound differences between the faiths, but
in
the final analysis Islam is more willing to accept these differences
than
it is given credit.
Had Islam pursued a model of inquisitions and forced conversions, Spain
and
by extension all of Latin America, Eastern Europe, India and everywhere
Muslims went would have now been Muslim.
They didn't because "there is no compulsion in faith," and in the end
none
of us is in a position to judge anyone else. Let's leave that to Allah.
---
JEW, MUSLIM FIND COMMON GROUND THROUGH LAUGHTER
San Jose Mercury News, 2/28/04
Is there anything funny about the different ways Jews and Arabs look at
the
world?? A rabbi and his Egyptian-born partner in comedy dispel
stereotypes
with their lighter look at the Arab and Jewish cultures in a
performance
Sunday at Congregation Shir Hadash, 16555 Shannon Road in Los Gatos.
The unique humor of the stand-up comedy team of Rabbi Bob Alper and
Egyptian-born, California-raised Ahmed Ahmed has appeared on ABC, CNN,
Comedy Central and public television and featured in Newsweek and
newspapers across the country. They have performed in synagogues and
comedy
clubs, such as the Hollywood Improv.
Alper's humor comes from his experiences studying in Israel and
learning
Hebrew. Ahmed draws from life as a Muslim in California.
Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors. Children over 11 are
welcome. For more information, call (408) 358-1751.
-----
MUSLIMS PLAN TO BUILD MOSQUE ON EAST PARIS
Grand Rapids Press, 2/27/04
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1077897492160620.xml
KENTWOOD -- Crowding at a Burton Street mosque was part of the reason a
group of Muslims began leasing a Fuller Avenue gym two years ago.
Squeezed
for space once again, leaders of the Islamic Mosque and Religious
Institute
were looking for another building.
This time, they plan to build one, complete with a dome and minaret.
Muslim leaders today were to buy three acres on the west side of East
Paris
Avenue, south of 32nd Street SE in Kentwood. They are raising money for
a
$750,000 mosque that would be the first of its kind in the region.
"It's going to be a facility the Muslim community will be proud of, and
it
will bring the community together," said Ali Metwalli, a board member
of
the Islamic Mosque and Religious Institute.
"This will be the first mosque in Grand Rapids built from the ground up
as
a mosque."
Plans call for a 10,000-square-foot domed building with a minaret, or
tower, along Whiskey Creek at 3333 East Paris Ave. SE. The main floor
will
feature a prayer room with a separate mezzanine for women, classrooms,
a
day-care center and a place for visitors to wash before prayer. The
basement will include a kitchen, lunch room and more classrooms. There
will
be enough room for up to 100 children to attend religious classes on
Saturdays and Sundays.
The site has room for a community recreation center or Islamic
elementary
school as the need and funding develops…
-----
IMAM TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC PROJECTS
Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/28/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/8061482.htm
One of America's most prominent Muslim leaders, Imam W. Deen Mohammed
of
Chicago, is to deliver a public address this afternoon in University
City.
The visit will be his first to Philadelphia since stepping down in
August
as head of the 1.5-million-member American Society of Muslims.
Mohammed rose to fame 30 years ago when he rejected the
black-supremacist
ideology of his father, Nation of Islam founder Elijah Mohammed, and
led
most of the flock into mainstream Sunni Islam.
He is known for his patriotic views and promotion of clergy training,
interfaith work and neighborhood development - efforts he continues
through
his Mosque Cares ministry...
-----
POLICE FORCE REACHES OUT TO SOMALI COMMUNITY
MARA H. GOTTFRIED, Pioneer Press, 2/28/04
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/8061874.htm
St. Paul police officers are learning how to say, "Booliis baan ahay"
and
"Ma dhibataa jirta?" to encourage trust between the department and
members
of the Somali community.
The first means "I am the police," in Somali, and the second translates
into, "Is there a problem."
Other waves of immigrants to St. Paul, including Hmong and Latinos,
have
led to similar cultural training in the department. With Somalis
representing the newest large group of immigrants to St. Paul, this
marks
the first time that all St. Paul officers are being trained in Somali
culture and the Islamic community.
More Somalis live in Minneapolis than St. Paul, and in Minneapolis,
there
has been some conflict between the community and the police, but that
hasn't been a problem in St. Paul, said Abdisalam Adam, Somali
community
specialist for St. Paul's public schools.
Still, Adam said: "There is a need for interaction. We don't need to
wait
for anything to happen to have this kind of training."
In St. Paul, because there are particular neighborhoods where Somalis
tend
to live, there are officers working other parts of the city who have
had
little or no contact with them, said Cmdr. Kenneth Reed, who oversees
the
department's training unit.
"The training is recognition that we have a growing Somali population,"
he
said. "To become good law enforcement officers, you learn to know the
community because the better you understand them, the more effective
you'll
be…"
-----
TREASURY DEPARTMENT IS WARNING PUBLISHERS OF
THE PERILS OF CRIMINAL EDITING OF THE ENEMY
ADAM LIPTAK, New York Times, 2/28/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/28/national/28PUBL.html
Writers often grumble about the criminal things editors do to their
prose.
The federal government has recently weighed in on the same issue -
literally.
It has warned publishers they may face grave legal consequences for
editing
manuscripts from Iran and other disfavored nations, on the ground that
such
tinkering amounts to trading with the enemy.
Anyone who publishes material from a country under a trade embargo is
forbidden to reorder paragraphs or sentences, correct syntax or
grammar, or
replace "inappropriate words," according to several advisory letters
from
the Treasury Department in recent months.
Adding illustrations is prohibited, too. To the baffled dismay of
publishers, editors and translators who have been briefed about the
policy,
only publication of "camera-ready copies of manuscripts" is allowed.
The Treasury letters concerned Iran. But the logic, experts said, would
seem to extend to Cuba, Libya, North Korea and other nations with which
most trade is banned without a government license…
SEE ALSO:
QATAR SAYS RUSSIA HOLDING TWO OF ITS NATIONALS
Reuters, 2/28/04
DOHA, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Qatar said on Saturday that Russia had
detained
two of its citizens on Thursday -- the day the Doha government
announced it
had charged two Russians for the murder of a former rebel Chechen
leader,
sparking fury in Moscow.
The state news agency QNA quoted a Qatari Foreign Ministry official as
saying the ministry was in touch with Russian authorities over the
arrest
of the two Qataris, both of whom were members of the national wrestling
team.
It said the two were seized at Moscow airport on Thursday, the day
Qatar
said it had charged two Russians with involvement in a car blast that
killed Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev in the Gulf Arab state on February 13.
"They were detained on arrival in Moscow airport from Belarus on their
way
to Serbia to participate in the qualifying tournament to prepare for
the
2004 Olympic Games," QNA said.
Russian officials were not immediately available to comment.
Moscow was furious at Qatar's arrest of the two Russians, who it
acknowledged were spies but insisted had been involved in fighting
international terrorism and had nothing to do with the killing of the
Chechen.
It demanded their release and accused Qatar of having assisted
terrorism by
giving Yandarbiyev refuge for three years…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION #418
MUSLIMS URGED TO VOTE ON 'SUPER TUESDAY'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/1/2004) - CAIR is urging all Muslim voters in
California, New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Vermont to vote in tomorrow's "Super
Tuesday"
democratic primaries and caucuses. (NOTE: Only registered democrats can
vote in the Connecticut, California, New York, and Maryland primaries.
Minnesota has a democratic caucus.)
REASONS WHY MUSLIMS SHOULD VOTE:
* Supporting accommodation of Islamic religious requirements in the
workplace and in schools
* Creating a safe and drug-free environment for families
* Challenging discrimination and stereotyping
* Encouraging foreign and domestic policies that are based on justice
* Deciding how your tax dollars are used
WHO MAY VOTE:
* Must be registered to vote in a Super Tuesday state
* Must be a registered democrat to vote in a closed primary.
Connecticut,
California, New York, and Maryland primaries are closed. All registered
voters can vote in Vermont, Ohio, Georgia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
and
Vermont. Minnesota democratic caucus participants who are not active
with
another party can participate.
* Must be a citizen of the United States
* Must live in the state where he/she is registered
* Must not claim the right to vote in any other state
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1) VOTE: Most polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Refer to your
voter registration card to find your polling location or call or visit
the
website of your state board of elections. Most polling locations are in
schools. The best time to vote is before going to work because lines
are
short.
2) Be an informed and effective voter by RESEARCHING LOCAL CANDIDATES.
3) For undecided voters, CAIR has compiled a comprehensive list of
issues
specific to the Muslim community and where each candidate stands on
those
issues. Go to: http://www.cair-net.org/muslimvote2004/
4) If you are not already REGISTERED TO VOTE, go to:
https://ssl.capwiz.com/cair/e4/nvra/
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
--- CLIP AND MAIL/FAX/E-MAIL ---
YES, I would like to support CAIR's important work by donating
$___________. Enclosed is my check, payable to CAIR. Basic CAIR
membership
is just $10 per year.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
TEL:
FAX:
E-MAIL:
Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
SEND TO: CAIR, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
FAX: 202-488-0833 E-MAIL: membership@cair-net.org
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/1/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHETS ARE EQUALS
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Missouri
* GETTING OUT THE MUSLIM VOTE (NY Times)
- CA: Faith Shows Ballot Clout (Press Enterprise)
- CA: Saudi-American Runs For Congress (Arab News)
- NY: Pakistani-Americans Raise $65000 (Pak News)
- IL: Muslims Promote Political Participation
* U.S. MUSLIM CHARITIES COMPLAIN OF "WITCH HUNT" (Reuters)
- TX: Court Won't Hear Muslim Charity Appeal (AP)
- Govt's Pursuit of Personal Data Lives On (Wash Times)
* MD: MUSLIMS LOBBY TO CLOSE SCHOOLS ON EIDS (Balt Sun)
- TX: American Airlines Reaches Settlement with Muslim (AP)
* AL: MUSLIM WOMEN'S PROTEST BRINGS CHANGE (Mont. Advertiser)
* CA: MEN RETURN HOME AFTER DEPORTATION (SJ Mercury News)
- NY: The Terrorism Case That Wasn't (Standard News)
* CA: 'LITTLE ARABIA' GIVES MUSLIMS TASTE OF HOME (LA Times)
- NY: Islam 101 Tries To Bridge Gap (D & C)
* TARGETING MIDDLE EAST STUDIES (Village Voice)
- RI: Pastors Take Message into War Zone (Prov Journal)
* NEO-CONS, ISRAEL AND THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION (Counterpunch)
- Israel Exported Billions in Defense Goods (Haaretz)
- Kerry Emphasizes Strong Support of Israel (NY Times)
- Arab-Israel Conflict Not in U.S. Mideast Plan (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHETS ARE EQUALS
Once when two people, one Muslim and the other Jewish, quarreled over
the
relative status of the Prophets Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them
both), Prophet Muhammad told them: "Do not give one prophet superiority
over another."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 595
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,329 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Missouri: 106 covered, 264 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
GETTING OUT THE MUSLIM VOTE
Christine Hauser, New York Times, 3/1/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/01/nyregion/01vote.html
The melodic syllables of Arabic recitation mingled with the din of
traffic
on Third Avenue in Manhattan and with the chatter of merchants selling
books and beads from sidewalk tables outside the Islamic Cultural
Center
mosque.
The main weekly prayer session was coming to a close.
As Muslim men and women drifted from the carpeted mosque into a cold
winter
day, pausing to rummage for the shoes they had left in piles at the
door,
religion suddenly collided with politics.
"As the election comes, our constitutional rights and religious rights
are
being trampled on," came a voice, speaking in a mixture of English and
Arabic, over the mosque loudspeaker. "We don't have clout. And so it is
very important for all of us, God willing, to register."
The announcement came from Ghazi Khankan, the executive director of the
New
York branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an advocacy
group. The council is among nine Islamic groups that have formed a
national
task force intended to rally Muslims to register to vote before the
2004
presidential election.
"The more numbers we have, the more influence we'll have," said a
council
director, Khalid Iqbal, as he stood outside the mosque, between 96th
and
97th Streets, where bundles of forms and fliers were handed out,
including
one with a 12-point checklist on how to conduct a voter registration
drive...
ALSO SEE:
FAITH SHOWS BALLOT CLOUT
Bettye Wells Miller, Press-Enterprise, 3/1/04
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_relig01.de6a.html
For decades, income, education and social class have been important
predictors of how voters choose candidates, particularly in national
elections.
Now religion is beginning to emerge as an additional factor in voter
behavior, some political scientists say...
Nearly half of Muslim voters supported Bush in 2000 but may not this
year,
said Omar Zaki, director of governmental relations for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations Southern California office.
Before Sept. 11, family values were very important, and continue to be
important, Zaki said by phone.
Since the terrorist attacks on the East Coast, however, an erosion of
civil
liberties, racial profiling and harassment in airports have taken
priority,
said Zaki, who lives in Riverside. Many Muslims also are disappointed
that
Bush has not kept campaign promises to end racial profiling and the use
of
secret evidence, he said. They also expected he would do more to create
a
Palestinian state and bring peace to the Middle East.
"It's not that American Muslims have lessened their values," Zaki said.
"It's a question of what's more critical: survivability and civil
rights,
or morality issues…When push comes to shove, is it more important to
look
at a politician's moral foundation or his view from a constitutional
standpoint about detaining people without arresting them? This is why
we're
having great success in getting the community to register to vote."
---
SAUDI-AMERICAN, FARYAL AL-MASRI, RUNS FOR US CONGRESS
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News, 2/28/04
http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2004%20News%20archives/Feb/28%20n/Saudi-American,%20Faryal%20Al-Masri,%20Runs%20for%20US%20Congress.htm
JEDDAH - Faryal Al-Masri hopes to be the first Saudi-American to enter
the
US Congress, contesting elections in California to become a member of
US
House of Representatives.
Al-Masri is running on a Democratic Party ticket in the 37th electoral
district in California, which has been a Republican stronghold for over
half a century. But Democrats have high hopes for her. "They are
optimistic
as they see my birth in Makkah as a good omen," she said.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News' sister publication
Al-Majalla,
which hits the stands today, Al-Masri said it is going to be a tough
fight
but she is ready for it.
"Ours has been a Republican constituency for more than 50 years. So if
I
win, I'll be the first Democrat to get elected in five decades, and
people
are eagerly looking forward to this election," she said. Standing
against
her are three other candidates, including the wife of a former
Congressman.
She described herself as well prepared to counter any Republican smear
tactics.
"I am ready to counter any attack because of my Saudi, Arab and Muslim
background. If they say I am getting oil money for the campaign, I'll
tell
them that I don't accept any donations from outside the United States,"
she
said.
"If they accuse me of having links with terrorism, I'll tell them they
are
lying because I am a staunch opponent of terrorism. I don't have any
connection with terrorists, and terrorism is not limited to a
particular
people...
---
PAKISTAN-AMERICANS COLLECT $65000 IN FUND-RAISING DINNER FOR DEMOCRAT
Pakistani Newspaper, 2/29/04
http://thepakistaninewspaper.com/news_detail.php?id=516
NEW YORK - Pakistani Americans have established the validity of their
support to Democrats, US President Bush rivals, and generated $65000 in
the
first fund-raising dinner for them. About 250 guests attended the
dinner
meeting in New York.
Three influential U.S. senators Tom Harkin, Jon S. Corzine and Charles
Schumer assured the Pakistani expatriates of their support and
condemned
Bush Administration's unconstitutional measures depriving the
immigrants of
their civil rights.
Since 911 attacks, Pakistanis living in United States suffered all
sorts of
local and US Administration backlashes. One Pakistani murdered, several
beaten, hundreds harassed. A large number faced the hate crime actions.
Pakistanis in jails hit by the jail authorities. 1769 Pakistanis were
deported back to Pakistan. Even today about 170 Pakistanis in jails.
Senator Harkin assured that his country will live up to its promise of
equality and respect for people who comes to this country to achieve
their
better life. He said We got to bring people from all over the world
here,
our doors must be open.
Harkin said he was badly hurt of what happened with the Pakistani
community, so many innocent Pakistanis were deported and are being
throwing
in jails without due process. These are not good things for a country
like
the united states, said Harkin.
The US patriotic act was used as an instrument to go after people with
different colors skin and different accent or having a different kind
of
name. The patriotic act is not to single people out, objected Harkin...
---
ILLINOIS MUSLIMS FORM COORDINATION COUNCIL TO PROMOTE POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION
(Chicago, IL, 2/28/2004) - Today several statewide American Muslim
organizations announced the formation of a coordinating council to
promote
grass root political participation and to defend civil liberties.
The new group, the Illinois Muslim Political Coordinating Council
(IMPCC),
will assist the over 450,000 Muslims living in Greater Chicago in
becoming
full partners in the development and prosperity of the nation, defend
civil
rights of all Americans and develop alliances on variety of
socio-political
and economic issues.
The IMPCC constituent members will organize voter education and
registration drives and encourage Muslims to lend their support to
political campaigns.
The newly formed Council will also arrange town hall meetings with the
candidates, distribute candidate scorecards on issues of importance to
the
Muslim community, and form coalitions with like-minded groups.
The IMPCC is an initiative of the Muslim Civil Rights Center (MCRC) and
proudly sponsored by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater
Chicago, and its other founding constituent members that include:
Council
on American Islamic Relations-Chicago, DuPage Minority Caucus, American
Muslim Alliance-Midwest, American Muslim Council-Chicago and area
American
Muslim community centers.
The first IMPCC candidate forum will be held on Friday, March 5, at the
Islamic Foundation of Villa Park at 6:00 PM. The Islamic Foundation is
located at 300 W. Highridge Ave. (between Ardmore and Westmore, north
of
Roosevelt-Rt. 38).
For more info, contact Rasheed Ahmed, (708) 466-0244
-----
U.S. MUSLIM CHARITIES COMPLAIN OF "WITCH HUNT"
Caroline Drees, Reuters, 2/2/04
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/mar/02/yehey/opinion/20040302opi5.html
WASHINGTON - Muslim charities and organizations in the United States
say
they are the target of a government "witch hunt" since Sept. 11, 2001,
which is intimidating donors and hampering their work.
Required by their faith to pay "zakat," or alms for the needy, Muslims
say
the ripple effects of the government's hunt for terrorist funds are
hurting
their community at its core and making them feel like suspects.
They say the official designation of three U.S. Muslim charities as
suspected sponsors of terrorism, coupled with what they consider rising
anti-Muslim discrimination since the 2001 attacks by Islamic militants,
has
put them in the firing line simply because of their religious
affiliation.
Charities also complain about high levels of secrecy surrounding the
designations, and say excessive scrutiny and hefty costs to meet strict
new
U.S. regulations mean a smaller percentage of donations is now really
reaching those in need.
"I feel like we are suspect, having done nothing wrong," said Laila
al-Marayati, board member of charity KinderUSA. "People just assume
that by
definition if you're Muslim, you're going to have something to do with
terrorism ... We're under the assumption that we're under surveillance
all
the time..."
An inquiry by the Senate Finance Committee into the activities of 25
Muslim
groups -- including the three already frozen by officials -- was the
latest
example of "guilt by association," Islamic groups say...
ALSO SEE:
COURT WON'T HEAR MUSLIM CHARITY APPEAL
Anne Gearan, Associated Press, 3/1/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3808306,00.html
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court refused Monday to reinstate a lawsuit
over
the Bush administration's decision to freeze assets of a Muslim charity
accused of financing the militant Islamic group Hamas.
The high court did not comment in rejecting an appeal from the Holy
Land
Foundation for Relief and Development, a Texas-based group shut down in
December 2001. A federal appeals court had ruled last year that the
Treasury
Department had ample evidence linking Hold Land to terrorism.
The Supreme Court's action was a victory for the Bush administration,
which
has kept secret some of the documentation it says shows the group's
terrorist links.
Lawyers for Holy Land denied any support for Hamas, and likened the
charity
closure to the internment of Japanese citizens during World War II.
"To this day, no court has required the government to present a single
live
witness or sworn statement supporting its contention that HLF, once
this
nation's largest Muslim charity, funds the terrorist group Hamas," the
lawyers wrote in their Supreme Court appeal.
"The government's claim of national security must be considered in
light of
a history of similar claims that have proven exaggerated."
Holy Land says it provides relief to refugees, orphans and victims of
human
and natural disasters, and that it has never donated money or provided
services to Hamas, a group blamed for orchestrating suicide bombings in
Israel. The State Department lists Hamas in its roster of foreign
terrorist
organizations...
The case is Hold Land Foundation v. Ashcroft, 03-775.
---
GOVERNMENT'S PURSUIT OF PERSONAL DATA LIVES ON
Audrey Hudson, Washington Times, 3/1/04
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040301-124426-3959r.htm
Several federal agencies are using the personal data of U.S. citizens
to
pinpoint terrorist activity, a practice that a secretive Pentagon
program
was pursuing before Congress axed its funding amid fears it would be
used
to spy on Americans.
Congress killed the Pentagon's Total Information Awareness (TIA)
project to
create a supercomputer and sift through the private information of U.S.
citizens, calling it a vast violation of privacy.
The Defense Department says it has not shared the data-mining
technology it
researched for the TIA project, but similar supersnoop programs using
advanced technology are under development.
The funding of such endeavors by the Homeland Security Department, the
Defense department, the Justice Department and the National Aeronautics
and
Space Administration (NASA) has angered privacy advocates and civil
libertarians.
The personal information of millions of airline passengers has been
used in
two government data-mining studies to predict terrorist activity,
another
program is moving a step closer to "scoring" the potential of all
airline
passengers on a terrorism scale and a vast database containing billions
of
private records held by a commercial company is now available to law
enforcement at all levels of government...
Privacy advocates say the type of data linkage used by Matrix amounts
to
unreasonable search and seizure...
-----
MUSLIMS LOBBY TO CLOSE SCHOOLS ON SACRED DAYS
Sara Neufeld, Baltimore Sun, 3/1/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.muslim01mar01,0,4686432.story
A group of Muslim parents, students and community activists is lobbying
for
the Baltimore County school board to close schools on their two most
important religious holidays of the year.
If schools are closed Christmas and the Jewish High Holy Days, the
group
argues, it is only fair that they close on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
as
well. But amid cries for fairness and cultural sensitivity, others say
closing schools on Muslim holidays would set a precedent the system
would
have to follow for any number of other religious and ethnic groups.
About 30 people turned out at a school board meeting Wednesday night to
advocate closing schools on the holidays, whose dates - like those of
Jewish holidays - change every year because they are determined by a
lunar
calendar. School system officials say they have also received about 40
e-mails and faxes.
Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan, a month of daytime fasting
and
reflection. Eid al-Adha, or feast of the sacrifice, celebrates the
Quranic
account of God letting Abraham sacrifice a sheep instead of his son...
The committee is set to deliver its recommended 2005-2006 school year
calendar to the school board for a vote in the spring. The calendar for
the
2004-2005 school year has already been set.
ALSO SEE:
AMERICAN AIRLINES REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH MUSLIM MAN
Associated Press, 3/1/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/8059523.htm
AUSTIN - American Airlines has agreed to change its security procedures
to
settle a federal discrimination lawsuit filed by a Muslim passenger who
was
removed from a plane, a lawyer in the case said.
Airline employees told Mohammed Ahmed Ali that he and his three
children
were removed from a Sept. 29, 2001, flight in Austin because of his
name,
which is of Muslim and Southeast Asian descent, said Wayne Krause, a
lawyer
with the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Ahmed was on his way to Chicago for a funeral. The airline agreed to
pay
him $1,500 to make up for costs associated with delay and other
damages,
Krause said.
Under the settlement announced Thursday, American Airlines also agreed
to
change its procedures to make sure security questions are handled
before a
passenger is sitting on the plane. It said it would train employees in
a
companywide policy against racial and religious profiling in security
decisions.
It also sent Ahmed an apology letter.
Airline spokesman Tim Wagner said the company makes every effort to
complete security procedures before passengers are seated...
-----
MUSLIM WOMEN'S PROTEST BRINGS CHANGE
Crystal Bonvillian, Montgomery Advertiser, 3/1/04
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWS/StoryAlabamaearly01.htm
Khalilah Hasan didn't see anything veiled in the threat by the state to
use
its legal muscle against her religious practice.
So the Montgomery resident did what other Muslim women in Alabama did.
She
wrote a letter protesting a ban on their wearing of the traditional
hijab
in driver's license photos.
"I felt threatened," said Hasan, who converted to the Islamic faith 28
years ago. "I have covered throughout my life as a Muslim and for
someone
to tell me I wasn't allowed to practice my faith was threatening."
Hasan said she was also concerned about what restrictions would come
next.
"I like the purity of the worship," Hasan said. "We worship one God,
who is
the maintainer and sustainer of life. The religion is very forthright
in
that we know exactly what God expects of us."
"A woman's beauty has to be protected," said Farook Chandiwala of the
Alabama Muslim Association, explaining the uproar over the state
Department
of Public Safety's decision to ban headwear in driver's license
photos...
-----
EAST BAY MEN RETURN HOME AFTER DEPORTATION
Edwin Garcia, San Jose Mercury News, 3/1/04
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/8076119.htm
Newark resident Jamil Daoud Mujahid was standing on the balcony of a
gated
home he was visiting in the Philippines in December when, he said, a
life-threatening event unfolded on the grounds below.
"I had seen people dressed up in black, and bandannas, and masks, and
assault weapons, coming into the house," Mujahid, 56, said. "And the
first
thing I thought about was a kidnapping."
The armed men, who turned out to be agents of the Philippine
government,
threw Mujahid in jail along with his 55-year-old brother, Antioch
resident
Michael Ray Stubbs. High-ranking government officials then paraded the
brothers on international television as suspected terrorists connected
to
Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network. The FBI stepped in to investigate.
But last week, nearly three months after their arrests, the brothers
were
released from custody. Stubbs and Mujahid, who also goes by James
Stubbs,
returned to their East Bay homes over the weekend. No charges have been
filed against them in this country...
Mujahid, a former Black Panther from the 1960s who converted to Islam,
said
he flew to the Philippines in early December to visit his pregnant
Filipina
wife.
He wound up accused of meeting secretly with members of Muslim
extremist
groups and possessing documents that suggested the brothers were
raising
money to build Muslim schools and mosques. The FBI got involved when it
learned Stubbs once worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in
the
1990s...
ALSO SEE:
THE TERRORISM CASE THAT WASN'T
Madeleine Baran, New Standard News, 2/29/04
http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=165
Syracuse, NY - A year ago, two federal investigators and a New York
state
trooper followed Dr. Rafil Dhafir, a prominent physician, as he pulled
out
of his driveway around seven in the morning and headed to work at his
medical clinic outside Syracuse. A few blocks later, they ordered
Dhafir to
pull his tan 2001 Lexus over to the side of the road and arrested him
on
charges that he violated the sanctions against Iraq.
In nearby Fayetteville, Osameh Al-Wahaidy, a college math instructor
and
imam for a local prison, heard a knock at his door. When he opened it,
he
was face-to-face with federal investigators holding two warrants - one
to
search his home, the other to arrest him.
At the same time, Ayman Jarwan, executive director of the charity Help
the
Needy, opened the door of his Syracuse apartment and met the same fate.
Meanwhile, federal agents started knocking on the doors of Muslim
families
throughout the Syracuse area, asking them questions about their
donations
to Help the Needy, and about their religion. In four hours, authorities
visited as many as 150 area families. Although the exact number is not
known, it is believed to be one of the largest federal interrogations
of
Muslims in the United States.
Although Jarwan and Al-Wahaidy would later be released, Dhafir, the
founder
and president of Help the Needy, would spend at least the next year of
his
life in jail, at the center of one of the quietest, most convoluted and
some say most outrageous prosecutions of a Muslim charity.
Despite the terrorism hype, no one involved with Help the Needy has
actually been charged with any terrorism-related crime...
-----
'LITTLE ARABIA' GIVES MUSLIMS TASTE OF HOME
Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times, 3/1/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-peeled1mar01,1,4090816.story
Looking back, Mohammad Abdalla can see things clearly: He was out of
place
- a Muslim Palestinian American operating a Mexican American market in
Orange.
When he took it over, he stopped selling pork because eating it is
forbidden by his religion. Customers understood, but it was an
inconvenience.
Then one day, a man walked in and told Abdalla, "If you don't want to
have
pork chops and ham for Mexicans, go sell halal food to your own
community."
It was a suggestion he took to heart...
Among Abdalla's customers are Muslim families from Las Vegas and
Arizona,
who call in advance to place $1,000 orders for halal meat. He freezes
it
and they come toting ice chests for the long drive home.
They could find halal meat closer to home, Abdalla said. But his
Arizona
customers, for example, could pay prices as much as $1 per pound higher
there.
Butcher shops aren't the only thing Arab Town has to offer.
Beauty salons cater to Muslim women, offering private rooms for
haircuts
because they customarily do not remove their hijabs - their scarf-like
head
coverings - in front of men other than close relatives...
"For Muslims and Arabs, it's very well-known," said Sabiha Khan, a
spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Southern
California, whose office is on the outskirts of Little Arabia.
"We're a little bit spoiled here because we have a lot of these
amenities
that other communities don't have. You can get everything you need..."
ALSO SEE:
ISLAM 101 TRIES TO BRIDGE GAP
Scott Waldman, Democrat and Chronicle, 2/29/04
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/02290S3EFB4_news.shtml
On Sept. 11, 2001, just after he watched the World Trade Center towers
fall
on television, Aly Nahas received a call from a rabbi offering him
shelter.
The rabbi was a friend of Nahas' who was worried that people might take
out
the horror of that day on local Muslims. But rather than seek shelter,
Nahas rushed to the Islamic Center of Rochester, where he was a
volunteer.
When he got there, his rabbi friend, two priests and a minister were
waiting. Within two hours, the group held a news conference to assure
the
public that the Muslim community condemned the attacks. In the year and
a
half after Sept. 11, Nahas gave 45 lectures on Islam.
Today, he continues to introduce Rochester-area residents to the
practices
of Islam. As vice chairman of the Commission on Christian Muslim
Relations,
he is helping organize a series of lectures on March 4, 11, 18 and 25
called "Islam 101." They will explore topics such as the equality of
women
in the Quran, the sacred book of the faith, and in Muslims' daily
lives.
"When we understand each other, we are better citizens and better
friends,"
Nahas said.
He is joined in his efforts by Peter Carman, pastor of Lake Avenue
Baptist
Church and chairman of the commission. Fostering a dialogue between
people
of different faiths has interested Carman since he spent part of his
childhood in southern India, where he saw Muslims, Christians and
Hindus
living together peacefully.
Carman hopes that the two-hour sessions, which include an hour lecture
as
well as time for questions, help demystify Islam. One important
misconception, he said, is about jihad. The Egyptian-born Nahas said
that
jihad, often used synonymously with terrorism, essentially means to
strive
to better oneself...
-----
TARGETING MIDDLE EAST STUDIES, ZEALOTS' 'HOMELAND SECURITY' CREATES
CAMPUS
INSECURITY
Alisa Solomon, Village Voice, 3/2/04
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0408/solomon.php
In a gesture that consolidates the 1990s culture wars, the post-9-11
chill
on dissent, and the relentlessness of hawkishly pro-Israel lobbying,
the
U.S. House voted unanimously last fall to establish an advisory board
to
monitor how effectively campus international studies centers serve
"national needs related to homeland security" and to assess whether
they
provide sufficient airtime to champions of American foreign policy.
Currently the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions is
considering a parallel provision for its upcoming higher education
reauthorization bill. The bill will likely go to the floor in March.
Though it's just a few paragraphs in an arcane piece of routine
legislation
reauthorizing a relatively small amount of money to what's called "area
studies," the advisory board provision represents an ominous offensive
against academic freedom and oppositional views. For decades now, since
the
end of the McCarthy period that saw countless academics expelled from
the
classroom for their views and international research controlled by a
Cold
War agenda, the critical assault on left-leaning professors has been
launched from books, articles, websites, and media
broadcasts-unpleasant
enough for the people targeted, but still the stuff of discourse. Even
the
creepy post-9-11 list of 40 profs accused by the American Council of
Trustees and Alumni of giving comfort to America's adversaries turned
out
to have no teeth.
But the very possibility of legislation sounds old alarms anew. Even if
the
measure does not make it past the Senate-ranking Democrats on the panel
don't expect it to get much traction-the very idea of ideological feds
inspecting campus lecture halls takes the culture wars to a perilous
new
level.
The seven-member advisory board-which would include two appointees
"from
federal agencies that have national security responsibility"-would
oversee
the country's 118 international studies centers...
ALSO SEE:
LOCAL PASTORS TAKE MESSAGE OF CHRISTIANITY INTO WAR ZONE
Paul Davis, Providence Journal, 2/29/04
http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/iraq/content/projo_20040229_riiraq29.286a86.html
A month before Wakefield Pastor John Kelley was killed by gunmen near
Baghdad, Sam Stricklin flew to Iraq on a similar mission.
The Warwick pastor went with a small group of friends to "plant" what
he
believes is the first Baptist church in Baghdad -- a big house with a
lighted cross in a Christian neighborhood.
But unlike Mr. Kelley, Mr. Stricklin did not venture far from his gated
church near Baghdad's center...
In Baghdad for just nine days, Mr. Stricklin helped an Iraqi store
owner
start the New Testament Baptist Church in Baghdad. More than 300 people
came to hear the one service...
In recent years, the number of U.S. missionaries has steadily increased
in
the Middle East, especially with the end of the war in Iraq. Church
members
-- traditionally involved in relief efforts -- are passing out Bibles
and
food and helping start Christian churches in Muslim countries.
"Since 9/11 there has been an intense amount of interest" in the Muslim
world, says Roscoe Brewer, executive director of EPIC International, a
Holly Springs, Ga., organization that works with missionaries in seven
nations. "For 1,400 years the church has basically ignored or run away
from
the Muslim world..."
-----
NEO-CONS, ISRAEL AND THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
Stephen Green, Counterpunch, 2/28/04
http://www.counterpunch.org/green02282004.html
Since 9-11, a small group of "neo-conservatives" in the Administration
have
effectively gutted--they would say reformed--traditional American
foreign
and security policy. Notable features of the new Bush doctrine include
the
pre-emptive use of unilateral force, and the undermining of the United
Nations and the principle instruments and institutions of international
law....all in the cause of fighting terrorism and promoting homeland
security.
Some skeptics, noting the neo-cons' past academic and professional
associations, writings and public utterances, have suggested that their
underlying agenda is the alignment of U.S. foreign and security
policies
with those of Ariel Sharon and the Israeli right wing. The
administration's
new hard line on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict certainly suggests
that,
as perhaps does the destruction, with U.S. soldiers and funds, of the
military capacity of Iraq, and the current belligerent neo-con campaign
against the other two countries which constitute a remaining
counterforce
to Israeli military hegemony in the region--Iran and Syria.
Have the neo-conservatives--many of whom are senior officials in the
Defense Department, National Security Council and Office of the Vice
President--had dual agendas, while professing to work for the internal
security of the United States against its terrorist enemies?
A review of the internal security backgrounds of some of the best known
among them strongly suggests the answer...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL EXPORTED $2.8 BILLION-WORTH OF DEFENSE GOODS IN 2003
Haaretz, 3/1/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/399503.html
Israel exported $2.8 billion-worth of defense goods in 2003, almost 10
percent of world trade in defense exports, Defense Ministry officials
told
the cabinet on Sunday.
The ministry official said that there has been a continuous increase in
Israel's defense exports in recent years. He said that Israel could
reach
$4 billion in exports this year.
Director of the Defense Ministry's Development of Weapons Systems and
Infrastructure, Brig. Gen. Shmuel Keren presented the ministers with
long-term technological programs and a project to develop the Arrow
missile
system. The ministers also heard about the progress in developing the
Merkava 4 tank.
Ministry officials also presented the ministers with plans to move
Israel
Defense Forces bases away from city centers.
The cabinet on Sunday approved a proposal by Public Security Minister
Tzachi Hanegbi to allow his ministry to raise NIS 30 million in
donations
to kit out 1,000 public transportation guards with equipment to
identify
passengers carrying explosives before they board buses or trains.
---
IN MEETING, KERRY EMPHASIZES HIS STRONG SUPPORT OF ISRAEL
David M. Halbfinger, NY Times, 3/1/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/01/politics/campaign/01KERR.html
Senator John Kerry told dozens of Jewish leaders in New York on Sunday
that
he would continue the Bush administration policy of vetoing any United
Nations Security Council resolutions seen as one-sided against Israel,
participants in a closed 90-minute meeting said.
At the meeting, attended by the heads of major Jewish groups and Jewish
politicians, he also repeated what he said in the televised debate
earlier
on Sunday: that the barrier Israel is erecting to separate Palestinian
territories from Israeli ones is a fence, not a wall.
Mr. Kerry noted that if elected he would be the first president with a
Jewish heritage and a Jewish relative, people at the meeting said. His
brother, Cameron, who also attended, converted to Judaism. His paternal
grandparents were Jews who converted to Roman Catholicism in fleeing
Europe.
In Vienna yesterday, an Austrian genealogist said two Jewish relatives
of
Mr. Kerry's - his grandmother's sister and half-brother - had died in
Nazi
concentration camps.
Mr. Kerry, making a push for an important Democratic constituency that
has
warmed to the Bush administration over its Middle East policy, sought
to
assure the attendees that he was as strong a supporter of Israel as Mr.
Bush.
In part, Mr. Kerry was doing damage control from a speech to an
Arab-American group in Dearborn, Mich., last October in which he called
the
Israel-Palestinian partition a "barrier to peace," several people at
the
meeting said. "Today was the first time he seriously addressed it,"
said
Malcolm Hoenlein of the Conference of Presidents of Major American
Jewish
Organizations...
---
ARAB-ISRAEL CONFLICT EXCLUDED FROM U.S. MIDEAST PLAN
Lin Noueihed, Reuters, 3/1/04
BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) - A new U.S. proposal for Middle East reform
tries to tackle the region's political, economic and social problems
without mentioning the problem Arabs say lies at the heart of the
region's
woes -- the Arab-Israeli conflict.
In a copy of the initiative seen by Reuters, Washington urges the Group
of
Eight industrialized nations to pour cash into promoting free
elections,
women's empowerment, judicial reform and market economies in the Middle
East.
The paper is based on two U.N. development reports U.S. officials say
prove
the region's woes stem from internal political and economic stagnation,
not
Israeli or U.S. policies.
The lead writer of the U.N. reports, Nader Fergani, has accused
Washington
of misusing them, and Arab governments have reacted with suspicion to
the
paper, accusing it of being concerned mainly with protecting Western
interests.
"So long as the region's pool of politically and economically
disenfranchised individuals grows, we will witness an increase in
extremism, terrorism, international crime and illegal migration," the
10-page "G-8 Greater Middle East Partnership" working paper says in its
introduction.
"(The region) could continue on the same path, adding every year to its
population of underemployed, undereducated, and politically
disenfranchised
youths," the paper says.
"Doing so will pose a direct threat to the stability of the region, and
to
the common interests of the G-8 members. The alternative is the route
to
reform."
It was not clear whether the document was a final version. Arabs
complain
they were not consulted while the proposal Washington will ask the G8
to
embrace at a summit in Sea Island, Georgia, in June, was being drawn
up…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR CONDEMNS KILLINGS IN IRAQ, PAKISTAN
Islamic advocacy group calls attacks 'senseless and shameful'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/2/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today condemned as "senseless and shameful" terror
attacks
on Shia Muslims in Iraq and Pakistan that killed almost 200 people and
injured hundreds.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
Muslims worldwide should respond to the attacks with actions designed
to
promote religious unity and political stability.
In Iraq, three suicide bombings killed at least 143 worshipers in
Baghdad
and Karbala. Some 44 people were also killed in an attack on a
religious
procession in southwestern Pakistan. (A similar attack left one person
dead
in Afghanistan.) All those targeted in Tuesday's attacks were Shia
Muslims
commemorating Ashura, the 10th day after the Islamic New Year and the
anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.
In its statement, CAIR said:
"We condemn these senseless and shameful attacks in the strongest terms
possible and call for the swift apprehension and punishment of the
perpetrators. Both acts of terror were made particularly repugnant
because
those responsible targeted worshipers during religious observances.
"One obvious motive for the killings was to create sectarian divisions
and
promote intercommunal hatred. The only proper response to these
despicable
attacks is a redoubled effort by all Muslims to promote religious unity
and
political stability in the Islamic community worldwide."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/2/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S REWARD
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Utah
- CAIR Meets with Belgian Ambassador on Hijab
* REP. KING'S BOOK CREATES STIR (Roll Call)
* "TORTURE LITE" TAKES HOLD IN WAR ON TERROR (Reuters)
- Israel Settlement Building Rises (Reuters)
* OK: WEEK TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT ISLAM (Oklahoma Daily)
- Opening Doors, Building Trust (Chicago Trib)
* IL: ASHOURA RITE A TOUCHSTONE FAITH (Chicago Trib)
* DC: CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM EXAMINES PATRIOT ACT
* IL: CANDIDATE'S FORUM
* INCITEMENT WATCH: BUSH APPOINTEE SMEARS SHARIAH
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S REWARD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever seeks the
protection of God, give him protection. Whoever asks in the name of
God,
grant him refuge. Whoever does a good deed to you, reward him. And if
you
do not have anything (to give in reward), invoke God's blessings on his
behalf until you know that he has been rewarded."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 104B
The Prophet also said: "Whoever does not thank people, does not thank
God."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 897
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,333 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Utah: 28 covered, 74 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org
---
CAIR MEETS WITH BELGIAN AMBASSADOR ON HIJAB
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/2/2004) - Representatives of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) met today with Belgium Ambassador
Frans
van Daele in Washington, D.C., to discuss proposed legislation in that
nation that seeks to ban Islamic head scarves, or hijab from state
school
and other public institutions.
In today's meeting, the ambassador assured CAIR officials that a ban
similar to one in France was unlikely to be approved in Belgium.
"We thank Ambassador van Daele for his encouraging remarks and hope
this
meeting is the beginning of a productive relationship," said CAIR
Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, who took part in today's
meeting.
CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-439-1441
-----
KING BOOK CREATES STIR
John McArdle, Roll Call, 3/2/04
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/49_85/ath/4550-1.html
If Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) was looking to foster new debate on the
subject
of Muslim extremist elements living and actively working in America,
he's
accomplished his goal.
Since the January release of his third book, "Vale of Tears," the
Congressman from Long Island has been receiving a lot of attention for
statements he's made, both in his book and in the media, that Muslim
extremists control the vast majority of mosques in the United States.
The
new novel - really two separate stories, one that recounts the days and
months following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and another
about
future terrorist attacks set to take place against New York - is meant
to
send a message that the war on terror is not just being fought in
far-away
countries.
In a recent interview, King said he wrote "Vale of Tears" as a tribute
to
those who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center - hundreds of
whom
lived in his Congressional district - and as a wake-up call to what he
views as a grave threat still facing America. He specifically charges
in
his novel that the Muslim community is not cooperating enough with law
enforcement officials to rout out terrorist elements in America.
"Our lives have changed and we've sort of forgotten that initial shock
we
had," he said. "I think if more people read the book there will be an
honest debate on this and it's not just going to be put aside for
political
correctness."
And since the book's release, King has echoed the claims he makes in
the
novel - including statements that 85 percent of the mosques in the
United
States have "extremist leadership" - in comments made on the Sean
Hannity
radio show and in Newsday newspaper.
Those remarks have brought repudiations from several Democratic leaders
in
recent weeks. At an event last week for Muslim community leaders in
Teaneck, N.J., Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) and Rep. Bill Pascrell
(D-N.J.)
both condemned King's recent statements.
"I think that kind of vitriolic talk might make it more difficult for
the
FBI to get cooperation and do their job," Pascrell, who is on the
Homeland
Security Committee with King, said in an interview last week. "I have a
tremendous amount of confidence in the Muslim community that they have
and
will cooperate with federal authorities."
He added that King shouldn't be making "a blanket statement because it
has
no place, particularly when we live in such a tinderbox time."
Muslim leaders in Washington and in King's home district have been even
more adamant in decrying King's statements.
"That's a very dangerous statement," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington. "We're more
concerned
he's trying to market the book on the back of American Muslims and
exploit
legitimate fears of terrorism to sell more copies of his book."
"It creates in the minds of someone who is not familiar with the
community
doubts and anxiety," said Faroque Ahmad Khan, president of the Islamic
Center of Long Island, which is located just outside King's 3rd
district
and includes hundreds of members who live in King's district. "At this
time
it's basically a sense of shock and disappointment that someone who
knew
the community so well would make these kind of statements ... it's sort
of
a breach of trust."
But King said he stands by his claims, which he said he bases on his
own
extensive research, and will not back down from the debate…
"Prior to 9/11 our relationship was very good - he has been in my home,
he
has visited the mosque," said Khan. "Afterwards he has not responded to
our
invitations. ... The damage is done…"
SEE ALSO:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
"TORTURE LITE" TAKES HOLD IN WAR ON TERROR
Dan Williams, Reuters, 3/2/04
http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&s
toryID=4474363
JERUSALEM - Rock music at full blast and the smothering darkness of a
hood
are sometimes enough to break a will already frayed by lack of sleep.
If
not, the subject can be slapped and shaken senseless, just short of
permanent injury.
Honed against Arab suspects in Israel and decried widely as "torture
lite,"
such interrogation methods are now a prevalent part of the U.S.-led war
on
terror, human rights groups say.
Yet many experts defend them as a last resort in a race to stop suicide
attacks by al Qaeda, whose diffuse ranks have been notoriously hard for
Western intelligence agencies to penetrate.
"Faced with terrorism, every democracy will resort to torture if it
thinks
this will prevent attacks against its civilians. The issue is whether
such
methods are used with deniability or accountability," said Alan
Dershowitz,
a Harvard University law professor.
Washington denies its forces use torture, despite increasing Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch reports of abuse in U.S. military
stockades in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay...
These methods -- which U.S. officials describe as "stress and duress"
rather than torture -- recall the "moderate physical pressure" Israel's
Shin Bet security service uses on detainees believed to be withholding
information about impending attacks.
According to Israeli security sources, the Shin Bet has shared
interrogation expertise with American counterparts since the mid-1990s
amid
fears of new Islamist violence on U.S. soil.
"The Americans were not equipped for cracking this brand of
fanaticism," a
senior Israeli source said. "We helped…"
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL SETTLEMENT BUILDING RISES DESPITE "ROAD MAP"
Matt Spetalnick, Reuters, 3/2/04
http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&s
toryID=4481155
JERUSALEM - Israel's building in Jewish settlements rose 35 percent
last
year despite a U.S.-led peace plan with Palestinians that calls for a
freeze in construction on occupied land, government figures showed on
Tuesday.
Israel reported that work began on about 1,850 new settler homes in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2003, a trend that could complicate Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon's bid for U.S. approval for his unilateral
"disengagement" plan.
Hassan Abu Libdeh, spokesman for Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed
Qurie,
said settlement expansion showed Israel's lack of commitment to the
U.S.-backed "road map" and what he described as "U.S. bias (in favour
of)
this Israeli government."
The latest evidence of continued settlement expansion followed signs
from
Washington on Monday, after a round of U.S.-Israeli talks, that the
White
House was moving toward agreeing to Sharon's controversial plan.
The right-wing prime minister's initiative calls for uprooting
settlements
in Gaza plus removing several more in the West Bank and then drawing a
"security line" that would leave Palestinians with less land than they
seek
for a state...
-----
WEEK TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT ISLAM
Lindsay O'Donnell, Okalahoma Daily, 3/2/04
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/03/02/4044090ea5086
The Muslim Students Association is hosting "Islam Awareness Week" this
week
with events scheduled each day to educate students through movies,
lectures
and cultural food.
MSA President Akbar Siddiqui, political science and economics senior,
said
each event is different and each is aimed toward people who hear a lot
about Islam but don't know much about it.
"It's mostly to get people who are interested to very passively see
Islam,"
Siddiqui said.
Siddiqui said the main goal is to not throw Islamic beliefs in people's
faces but to let them have a chance to see Islam through the various
events
offered throughout the week.
Siddiqui said though many people are intimidated by Islam, he hopes the
events of the week will allow people to see more of the culture and
religion.
MSA Vice President Ameara Elyazgi, elementary education sophomore, said
she
wants students to see a different culture, religion and background...
ALSO SEE:
OPENING DOORS, BUILDING TRUST
Jon Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 3/2/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0403020085mar02,1,58717
16.story
As part of a video shown after lunch, a group of Arab-American
teenagers
laid it on the line.
"My culture is protective--and that's what I like about it," said one,
describing a life built around family closeness, respect for the
elderly,
feasts, fasts, a sense of community and a strong tradition of working
out
problems, if they occur, within the confines of the home.
"People just don't know us," said another, describing her ongoing
problems
in dissuading new friends from old stereotypes.
That was the theme of a workshop held Friday for about two dozen social
workers and other professionals at the Midway Center of Metropolitan
Family
Services in the diverse Chicago Lawn neighborhood, long a port of entry
for
Palestinians and other Middle Easterners in Chicago.
The day, aimed at removing "barriers to service" to Arab clients,
included
small suggestions, such as "ask before you shake hands" with a female.
If
you knock on a front door, wait a while for those inside to answer,
long
enough for females in the household to don proper attire.
But it was also a time to talk of larger, more difficult issues.
What about nursing-home care for the Arab elderly? The use of foster
homes
in cases of domestic turmoil? Shelters for women fleeing abuse? And the
struggle between parents, seeking to instill old-line values, and their
children who want to be "out there" in the secular culture that
surrounds
them?...
-----
FOR SHIITES, ASHOURA RITE A TOUCHSTONE OF THEIR FAITH
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 3/2/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0403020258mar02,1,1003450.story
Women dressed in black robes wailed and thumped their chests, and the
men
shouted "Ya, Hussein!" Sweat poured from the face of Imam Ali Husaini
Farqalita as he retold the story every Shiite Muslim knows by heart.
In the parched desert of what is now Iraq, Imam Hussein, the grandson
of
the prophet Muhammad, was martyred by Sunni Muslim armies, giving rise
to
the separate Shiite sect of Islam. It all took place more than 1,300
years
ago. But for Chicago's small Shiite community--and millions of
believers,
from Iraq to the Indian subcontinent and even the Caribbean--it could
have
happened only yesterday.
For 10 days, the faithful relive the passion of Hussein's death at the
hands of his oppressors--the defining moment of what it means to be a
minority Shiite Muslim in a world dominated by Sunnis. Culminating
their
mourning ritual on the 10th day, generally known as Ashoura, members of
the
Chicago community will march Tuesday from the Daley Center to Michigan
Avenue and back.
For each of 10 previous nights in a small Northwest Side mosque,
Farqalita
and other imams recounted for a spellbound audience the exploits and
suffering of Hussein, who died, abandoned by friends and supporters, to
defend his family's succession to Muhammad as the head of the Muslim
community.
"This is a defining moment in Shiism. It's what separates us from the
Sunnis," Fathima Hussain, 22, said last week at the mosque on West
Lawrence
Avenue. "I'll probably be here every night..."
-----
US COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM
WHAT: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to hold briefing on the civil
rights
implications of the Patriot Act and related anti-terrorism efforts.
Speakers include: Mary Rose Oakar, president of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee; Nadine Strossen, President of the
American
Civil Liberties Union; Paul Rosenzweig, Professor of Law, Georgia Mason
University School of Law and Senior Litigation Research Fellow, the
Heritage Foundation.
WHEN: Friday, March 19, 2004 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
624 Ninth Street. NW, 5th Floor Conference Rm.
Washington DC
For more information, Deborah Reid or Kamala Sessoms at 202-376-8351
------
ILLINOIS CANDIDATE'S FORUM
WHAT: Hear from the candidates to know where they stand on issues of
importance to the American Muslim community
Confirmed Candidates (as on Mar. 1, 2004): Barack Obama (Democrat);
Gery
Chico (Democrat); Maria Pappas (Democrat); Chirinjeev Kathuria
(Republican)
All Republican and Democrat candidates running for the U.S. Senate from
Illinois have been invited.
WHEN: Friday, March 5, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Foundation
300 W. Highridge Road
Villa Park, IL 60181
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: BUSH APPOINTEE SMEARS SHARIAH
Daniel Pipes, New York Sun, 3/2/04
"...the American-led occupation forces must not become midwife for an
anti-democratic legal system [shariah] that disallows freedom of
religion,
executes adulterers, oppresses women, and discriminates against
non-Muslims…"
NOTE: President Bush used a recess appointment to place Daniel Pipes on
the
board of the United States Institute of Peace.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/3/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: AN EASY DISPOSITION
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Minnesota
* CAIR TO OPEN NEW OFFICE IN FLORIDA
- CAIR-NY: Muslims Urged to Attend Hate Crime Trial
* CAPITAL ONE APOLOGIZES TO TENNESSEE MUSLIM (CAIR)
* NY MUSLIMS FEEL BETRAYED BY KING'S REMARKS (Newsday)
- CA: Dornan Comeback Bid Fails (AP)
* MUSLIM STUDENTS SHARE CULTURE (Chicago Trib)
* US JAILED SAUDI AGAIN AFTER ACQUITTAL (Boston Globe)
* IMMIGRANTS CHANGE FACE OF OLD EUROPE (AP)
- French Pass Islamic Headscarves Ban (AP)
* IRAQI PRISON: "GUANTANAMO ON STEROIDS" (Salon.Com)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: AN EASY DISPOSITION
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I tell you who is
kept away from Hell?...Everyone who is gentle and kindly, approachable
and
of an easy disposition."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1315
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,333 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Minnesota: 99 covered, 273 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
CAIR TO OPEN NEW OFFICE IN FLORIDA
CAIR-Tampa will promote civil rights and religious tolerance
(MIAMI, FL, 3/3/04) - On Saturday, March 6, the Florida office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold a news
conference
to mark the grand opening of its new Tampa affiliate. CAIR-Tampa will
assist the local Muslim community in dealing with issues related to
political participation, the protection of civil rights and interfaith
dialogue.
WHAT: News Conference Followed by Grand Opening Festivities
WHEN: March 6, Noon - 4 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR-Tampa, 8056 N. 56th Street, Tampa, Florida
The open house is free and open to the public. It will feature an
appearance by CAIR's national Executive Director Nihad Awad. CAIR-FL
staff
and board members will be present to greet open house attendees.
Several
elected officials and other dignitaries are also expected to take part
in
the open house.
"By opening an office in Tampa, CAIR strengthens its ability to empower
the
Florida Muslim community, defend civil rights and promote
inter-religious
tolerance," said CAIR-FL Board Chairman Parvez Ahmed.
"I am looking forward to the challenge of coordinating two offices to
further the civil rights of all Floridians," Said CAIR-FL Executive
Director Altaf Ali.
"CAIR's growth nationwide reflects a heightened awareness in the
American
Muslim community that social and political participation are now a
necessity, not just an option," said CAIR's national Executive Director
Nihad Awad.
Awad added that CAIR plans to open a number of other offices around
America
in the coming year.
CAIR-Tampa will be the second office of CAIR-FL and will join 25 other
offices and chapters the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and
advocacy
group has nationwide and in Canada. CAIR is America's largest Islamic
civil
liberties group.
CONTACT: CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214;
CAIR-Florida
Communications Director Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-Mail:
abedier@cair-florida.org; CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali,
954-298-8214; CAIR-National, Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726,
E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
CAIR NY: NY MUSLIMS URGED TO ATTEND HATE CRIME TRIAL
Muslim woman allegedly assaulted in Toys R Us
(NEW YORK, NY, 3/3/04) - The New York office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) is urging Muslims and other people
of
conscience to attend the trial of a man accused of assaulting a local
Muslim woman in a Toys R Us store.
WHEN: Thursday, March 4, 9 a.m.
WHERE: Brooklyn Criminal Court, 120 Schermerhorn Street (between Smith
Street and Boerum Place), Judge Dimango's courtroom, Part 30, 4th Floor
In April of 2003, the defendant allegedly used racial slurs when he
assaulted a Muslim woman who was shopping at a Toys R Us store in
Brooklyn,
N.Y.
A representative of CAIR-NY accompanied the alleged victim to the
earlier
court proceedings and urged authorities treat the incident as a hate
crime.
The Brooklyn District Attorney's office subsequently charged the
defendant
with felony assault and menacing as a hate crime.
"The Muslim community must turn out on Thursday to show their support
for
the victim and to send a message that hate crimes will not be
tolerated,"
said CAIR-NY Civil Rights Coordinator Firdos Abdul-Munim.
CONTACT: Firdos Abdul-Munim, 347-277-4061, 212-870-2002,
cair-ny@cair-ny.com
-----
CAPITAL ONE APOLOGIZES TO TENNESSEE MUSLIM
CAIR announced today that Capital One has apologized to a Muslim
customer
in Tennessee who was allegedly harassment and threatened by a debt
collector representing the financial services giant.
When the Muslim said he would report the debt collector's behavior to
Capital One, the debt collector allegedly said: "I will report your
terrorist threats and I will harass you until you leave this country."
(The
customer is of African-American heritage.)
Following CAIR's intervention, the incident was investigated by Capital
One
and resolved to the satisfaction of the customer with an apology and
assurances that the harassing behavior would not be repeated.
"We appreciate Capital One's swift resolution of this disturbing
incident,"
said CAIR Civil Rights Advisor Khadija Athman.
----
MUSLIM LONG ISLANDERS FEEL BETRAYED BY KING'S REMARKS
Newsday, 3/3/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/letters/
My congressman, Peter King, has launched a massive strike against
American-Muslims on radio, TV and in Newsday, of what can best be
described
as WMD - words of mass distortion. These charges hit home when I read
that
his views were "crystallized" after he read that "some Jewish attendees
walked out" at a presentation I made at Temple Beth El at a Sabbath eve
service in October 2001 - an interpretation of events that has been
discredited by Rabbi Jerome K. Davidson of Temple Beth El, who was also
there.
The Muslims of Long Island are puzzled by Rep. King's remarks, since he
had
been a frequent visitor to the Islamic Center of Long Island pre-9/11.
He
has been hosted in our homes; I have visited him at his offices in the
Third District and Washington; we have had summer interns in his New
York
and Washington offices. In my book, "Story of a Mosque in America," he
wrote: "My visit to ICLI was memorable. I couldn't help but be
impressed
with the work ethic, devotion to family and spiritual commitment so
evident
at the center. It has been gratifying for me to help build a political
awareness in this, the fastest-growing religious group in America."
Sadly, Rep. King, unlike other elected officials post-9/11, chose not
to
attend the numerous events he was invited to at ICLI, including the
annual
commemoration for 9/11 victims. He has been out of touch with the
voters in
his district, resulting in the dangerous accusation and false comments
that
will resonate beyond Long Island and further widen the gulf between
America
and the rest of the world.
We would welcome an opportunity to meet with Congressman King with the
hope
and expectation that he would share with us the information on which he
has
based these serious accusations.
Faroque Ahmad Khan
Editor's note: The writer is president of the Islamic Center of Long
Island
in Westbury.
Jericho
Rep. Peter King has said he would meet with Muslim clergy "on my terms"
and
"I'm not going to listen to propaganda. The purpose of the meeting will
be
to detail the cooperation they are giving to law enforcement and what
they
are doing to work against al-Qaida in this country."
Who does King think he is? He is a public servant. His salary is paid
for
by taxpayers. He is answerable to those taxpayers and, quite frankly,
has
no "terms" that the taxpayers are required to meet. If a constituent
has
something to say to his or her representative, that representative had
better sit down and listen - that's their job. There are no qualifiers
for
the conversation.
King has proven in the past he is unwilling to listen, when he called
the
police to remove constituents from his office who wanted to speak to
him
about the Bush-Iraq War.
John Rennhack
Massapequa
SEE ALSO:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
---
DORNAN COMEBACK BID FAILS AS INCUMBENTS DOMINATE CONGRESSIONAL RACES
Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, 3/3/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/counties/alameda_county/8090667.htm
LOS ANGELES - Closely contested primaries at both ends of the state
pitted
party conservatives and moderates against each other Tuesday in races
for
congressional seats that, in the end, were almost entirely dominated by
incumbents.
In one of the highest-profile races, former Orange County Congressman
Bob
Dornan flopped in his bid to regain the position he had enjoyed for two
decades, losing to Republican incumbent and fellow conservative Dana
Rohrabacher. Rohrabacher immediately lashed out at Dornan for entering
the
race.
"The vote today indicates that most people believe that Bob Dornan is a
self indulgent, arrogant bigot, and that's not the type of person they
want
representing them in Washington," said Rohrabacher who was leading with
85
percent of the vote in early returns released by the secretary of
state.
Rohrabacher is likely to take on businessman Jim Brandt in the November
general election. Brandt was leading two other candidates in the
Democratic
primary.
Dornan, a staunch and outspoken conservative known as "B-1 Bob," was
first
elected to Congress in 1976 and served almost continually for the next
20
years. He all but retired from politics after losing back-to back
congressional campaigns to Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana, in 1996
and
1998. This year he decided to try again, in a different district,
seeking
Rohrabacher's seat...
-----
MUSLIM STUDENTS SHARE CULTURE
Jodi S. Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 3/3/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0403030282mar03,1,7897560.story
At one meeting of Evanston Township High School's new Islamic club,
non-Muslim students tried on head scarves. At another, they passed
around
prayer beads used to praise Allah.
With Islam facing increasing scrutiny, a group of students is taking
unusual steps to find out as much as they can about the fast-growing
religion, often turning to their classmates for answers.
Prompted by questions on everything from why Muslim women wear the head
scarves, or hijab, to the proper meaning of jihad, Muslin students Anum
and
Kashan Malik launched the club last fall and have watched the
membership
steadily grow.
"I got the idea that if people were really interested, why not start a
club?" said sophomore Anum Malik, one of about 20 Muslim students at
the
school. "Instead of this being a time when Muslims are in hiding, we
should
speak out and explain ourselves instead of having people think wrong
things."
The school's Islam Awareness Group is considered remarkable in the
Chicago
area for having more non-Muslim than Muslim participants. Instead of
being
a gathering place for students of the same religious background, the
Evanston club has an ecumenical membership that focuses on dispelling
myths
about Islam and learning its cultural customs.
Chicago-area Muslim leaders praised the Evanston group and said they
hope
the idea spreads to other schools.
"This is really a new idea to me," said Safaa Zarzour, chairman of the
Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Anything
that is going to get people talking and asking questions that people
are
shy or afraid to ask, that is a great idea..."
-----
US JAILED SAUDI AGAIN AFTER JURY'S ACQUITTAL
Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe, 3/2/04
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/03/02/us_jailed_saudi_again_after_jurys_acquittal/
Eight hours after a Saudi man was acquitted by a federal jury of all
charges for carrying three small sparklers on a flight from Germany to
Boston and was told he was free to leave, five federal officers stormed
his
South End apartment just after midnight Saturday and arrested him for
not
having a valid visa. He was jailed until he flew home late that
afternoon.
"When they found me not guilty that meant I am a human being. . . . Why
did
they have to treat me like that?" said Essam Mohammed Almohandis, who
had
praised the US justice system after his acquittal and hugged the
prosecutor.
In a telephone interview yesterday from Riyadh, Almohandis said the US
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection officers wouldn't let him call
anyone to help his wife, Trifaha, who doesn't speak English and had
arrived
here last week to testify at his trial in US District Court in Boston.
When
he was taken to jail, she ran outside the West Newton Street apartment
at
12:30 a.m. and got a stranger to call his lawyer for help on his
cellphone,
Almohandis said.
"They treat me very badly," said Almohandis, a 33-year-old biomedical
engineer and father of two. "I was worried about my wife. What if she
didn't find that good man? What if she found a not good man?"
But Janet Rapaport, a spokeswoman for Customs, insisted that Almohandis
had
an opportunity to speak with his wife and explain what was happening
before
he was taken to jail. "He was not treated poorly," she said. "He was
properly treated."
After Almohandis's arrest in January, his visa to travel to the United
States on business was revoked. Even though he was acquitted, Rapaport
said
that under immigration rules the agency had to determine whether he
should
be allowed to remain here briefly or face "expedited removal..."
-----
IMMIGRANTS CHANGE FACE OF OLD EUROPE
Los Angeles Times, 3/3/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kupchan3mar03,1,2720665.story
A demographic revolution is changing the face of Europe. Declining
birthrates, coupled with growing immigration, mean the end of ethnic
homogeneity for Europe's traditional nation-states. Also, Europe's
predominantly Christian population must get used to the idea of
intermixing
with Muslims; with immigrants flowing in from Turkey, North Africa and
the
Middle East, mosques and halal butchers are taking their place
alongside
cathedrals and charcuteries.
Integrating minorities into European society is perhaps the single most
important challenge facing the European Union.
Multiethnic society does not come easily to Europe. Until recent
reforms,
Germany defined citizenship through ethnicity rather than birthplace or
residency, leaving, say, German-born Turks without a true sense of
belonging. France has long embraced a more inclusive notion of
citizenship,
but many French continue to distinguish between citizens of French
stock
(francais de souche) and others.
This mind-set has contributed to widespread ethnic segregation, with
minority communities in European countries regularly living in their
own
enclaves -- often impoverished and feeling like second-class citizens.
The resulting social strains have buoyed the political fortunes of
Europe's
anti-immigrant right...
The European Union is already home to about 15 million Muslims, and
this
number is expected to double by 2015...
SEE ALSO:
FRENCH PASS ISLAMIC HEADSCARVES BAN
The Associated Press, 3/3/04
PARIS (AP) - A law banning Islamic headscarves in France's public
schools
was adopted Wednesday in the Senate by a vote of 276-20.
The vote mirrored similar overwhelming support by the National
Assembly,
the lower chamber of parliament, which passed it 494-36 on Feb. 10.
President Jacques Chirac must now formally sign it into law within 15
days.
He had said such a law was needed to protect the French principle of
secularism.
The law forbids religious apparel and signs that ``conspicuously show''
a
student's religious affiliation. Jewish skullcaps and large Christian
crosses would also be banned, but the law is aimed at removing Islamic
headscarves from classrooms…
-----
"GUANTANAMO ON STEROIDS"
Jen Banbury, Salon.com, 3/3/04
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/03/03/prison/
Abu Ghraib prison became famous in Saddam's time as the place where men
disappeared. Behind its high, ochre-colored walls and looping spans of
barbed wire, prisoners faced miserable living conditions, regular
torture,
and (in some cases) execution. Now the U.S. military controls Abu
Ghraib,
calling it the Baghdad Correctional Facility (though no Iraqis I've met
seem to be aware of the name change). And for many Iraqis seeking
information about relatives detained by the American military, Abu
Ghraib
is still a place where men disappear.
Abu Ghraib now houses thousands of prisoners. The military will not
release
specific numbers, for security reasons, but the Associated Press
reported
that 12,000 people are being held there. Prisoners are pouring into the
system: According to Human Rights Watch, in December and January the
U.S.
military said it was arresting approximately 100 Iraqis per day. Each
visit
requires two guards -- one to supervise the prisoner and one to escort
his
family members. The backlog for visitation is months long. Families
have no
contact with their interned relatives while waiting for that date. Many
of
the people at the prison that day were waiting to hear whether their
relative's sequence number would be read so that they could come back
in
May for a visit. Others had come in November and were just now able to
see
their relatives. Some detainees are allowed no visits at all. And some
relatives don't even know where their parents, brothers or sons are
being
held. The system, frankly, is a mess.
Some Iraqis who have been held as security detainees claim they were
subjected to ill treatment, including beatings, sleep deprivation and
psychological abuse. Most of these allegations are anecdotal and cannot
be
confirmed. But a variety of human rights and peace groups, including
Human
Rights Watch, Occupation Watch, Christian Peacemakers, Amnesty
International, as well as various Iraqi NGOs, have interviewed former
security detainees who have described some kind of mistreatment at the
hands of the Americans -- at the time of arrest, during interrogation
or
during incarceration.
Last week, the U.S. military announced that 17 military personnel,
including a battalion commander and a company commander, had been
relieved
of duty pending the results of a criminal investigation into alleged
abuse
of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib. The military did not specify the
nature
of the abuse. But in a separate incident in January, the military
discharged three soldiers who had been found guilty of beating, kicking
and
harassing detained Iraqis at Camp Bucca in the south of the country...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/4/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE EACH OTHER
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Wisconsin
* OHIO MUSLIM MOTHER'S APPEAL DENIED (Plain Dealer)
* A YEAR OF SILENCE SINCE RACHEL CORRIE DIED (Herald Trib)
* MUSLIM FLIGHT ENGINEER ACCUSES ATA OF BIAS (AP)
- Frederick's Muslim Community Steps Forward (Gazette)
* HIDALGO: A REAL HORSE TALE (LA Daily News)
- Arab-Americans Use Dual Role to Inform (Yale Daily)
* CLEANSING IRAQI BOMB VICTIMS TAKES ITS OWN TOLL (NY Times)
- Letter: Terrorism in Iraq Condemned (Wash. Post)
* ISLAM KARIMOV: OUR MAN IN TASHKENT (Wash. Post)
* DC: DYNAMICS OF EGYPTIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE EACH OTHER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(Offer greetings to
each
other) and rancor will disappear. Give gifts to each other and love
each
other, and hatred will disappear."
Al-Muwatta Volume 47, Hadith 16
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,333 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Wisconsin: 120 covered, 337 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and
Muslims,
which are then distributed to the library of their choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia Shearson, 216-440-2247; Jad Humeidan,
Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio, 614-451-3232 or 614-571-2770, E-Mail:
ohio@cair-net.org
IMMIGRANT'S APPEAL DENIED
Plain Dealer, 3/4/04
http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1078396511141821.xml
A federal judge dismissed an immigrant Lakewood mother's appeal to
remain
here to raise her three children, saying he lacked jurisdiction. U.S.
District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. said the Board of Immigration
Appeals,
which is not done reviewing Amina Silmi's case, must make a final
decision.
He also dismissed Silmi's arguments that her constitutional rights have
been violated by the way immigration officials have jailed and
transported
her around the country since she turned herself in Feb. 4. She has been
at
a Trumbull County Jail since Feb. 15. The Board of Immigration Appeals,
part of the Justice Department, had ordered Silmi, born in Venezuela,
to
return there. She gave birth to three children while living here for a
dozen years on an expired visitor's visa.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
WOMAN BEING DEPORTED SAYS SHE'LL LEAVE KIDS
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1075890736204060.xml
-----
A YEAR OF SILENCE SINCE RACHEL CORRIE DIED
Elizabeth Corrie, Herald Tribune, 3/4/04
http://www.iht.com/articles/508588.html
ATLANTA, Georgia Only a year ago, the month of March would have held
the
same positive associations for me as it has for many - the beginning of
the
end of winter, the promise of springtime and even summer. This year,
and
for every year for the rest of my life, the approach of March will mean
something else entirely - the anniversary of the brutal death of my
cousin,
Rachel Corrie.
On March 16, 2003, an Israeli soldier and his commander ran over Rachel
with a nine-ton Caterpillar bulldozer while she stood - unarmed,
clearly
visible in her orange fluorescent jacket - protecting a Palestinian
home
slated for demolition by the Israeli army. The death of Rachel Corrie,
and
the response that her case has - and has not - received, reveal several
disturbing, indeed immoral and criminal, truths.
First, Rachel died while attempting to prevent the demolition of a
home, a
common practice of the Israeli Army's collective punishment that has
left
more than 12,000 Palestinians homeless since the beginning of the
second
uprising in September 2000. This practice violates international law,
including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Second, Rachel was run over by a Caterpillar bulldozer, manufactured in
the
United States and sent to Israel as part of the regular U.S. aid
package to
Israel, which amounts to $3 billion to $4 billion annually, all of it
from
U.S. taxpayers. The use of Caterpillar bulldozers to destroy civilian
homes, not to mention to run over unarmed human rights activists,
violates
U.S. law, including the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, which prohibits
the
use of military aid against civilians...
As we approach March 16, residents and citizens of the United States
should
ask themselves how it is that an unarmed U.S. citizen can be killed
with
impunity by a soldier from an allied nation receiving massive U.S. aid,
using a product manufactured in the United States by a U.S. corporation
and
paid for with U.S. tax dollars. When three Americans were killed,
presumably by Palestinians, in an explosion on Oct. 15, 2003, as they
traveled through Gaza, the FBI came within 24 hours to investigate the
deaths. After one year, neither the FBI nor any other U.S.-led team has
done anything to investigate the death of an American killed by an
Israeli...
Elizabeth Corrie is an administrator and teacher in a school in
Atlanta.
-----
MUSLIM FLIGHT ENGINEER ACCUSES ATA OF BIAS
Associated Press, 3/4/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8103318.htm
INDIANAPOLIS - A flight engineer has filed a federal lawsuit claiming
that
ATA Airlines Inc. denied him a promotion to co-pilot because he is a
Muslim
born in the Middle East.
In the lawsuit filed recently in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis,
Ziad
Elwazan asks a judge to void a June 2002 decision by its chief pilot
that
bars him from future attempts to become a first officer.
Elwazan, 50, was born in Lebanon and is now a U.S. citizen living in
Orlando, Fla.
Elwazan, who had been a co-pilot earlier in his 20-year ATA career,
claims
in the lawsuit that he was passed over by younger pilots with less
seniority for 15 months after he sought promotion in October 2000.
He began training early in 2002, the lawsuit said, but ATA chief pilot
Dave
Lindskoog informed him in a letter that June that he was "unable to
demonstrate adequate progress" to complete his training. Elwazan was
returned to his former job and prohibited from seeking future upgrades.
Elwazan believes that being an Arab-American after the Sept. 11, 2001
terrorist attacks has hindered his progress, but he also feels that
some
ATA employees are racially biased against him, said his attorney,
Suzanne
S. Newcomb.
The lawsuit also accuses ATA of discriminating against him because of
his
age...
ALSO SEE:
FREDERICK'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY STEPS FORWARD
Sherry Greenfield, Gazette.net, 3/4/04
http://www.gazette.net/200410/frederickcty/county/205441-1.html
Since the Sept. 11, 2001 punishing terrorist attacks carried out by 19
Islamic extremists in Washington D.C. and New York City, the Muslim
community in Frederick County has remained fairly quiet and out of the
public eye.
They continue to observe and celebrate the month-long holiday of
Ramadan --
the holiest time of the year for Muslims -- and participate in many
interfaith discussions and activities. But since the terrorist attacks,
many Muslims in the county sadden by the events and afraid of
repercussions, have chosen to be less visible.
Until now.
A lawsuit filed last month by the Islamic Society of Frederick and the
Islamic Center of Maryland against Frederick County Government and
Commission President John "Lennie" Thompson Jr., Commissioner Jan H.
Gardner and former Commission President David P. Gray could undoubtedly
focus new attention on the Muslim community...
The Maryland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR),
based in Bethesda, is hopeful the matter can be resolved without any
lasting negative impact to the Muslim community.
"I'm sure it can be resolved," Seyed Rizwan Mowlana, executive director
of
the chapter said. "I'm hopeful the community will come together. The
relationship between the Muslim community and Frederick is very
important..."
-----
A REAL HORSE TALE
Bob Strauss, U-San Bernardino County Sun, 3/4/04
http://u.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,216~24281~1993692,00.html
"Hidalgo" is named after a horse. Its human star, Viggo Mortensen,
likes
horses a lot. Its originator and screenwriter, John Fusco, loves them
so
much that he owns a breeding herd of 22 Spanish mustangs. And the
film's
director, Joe Johnston, cheerfully admits that he's not much of a horse
person.
No reason to doubt any of that. As for the rest of this admittedly
fictionalized but supposedly based-on-a-true-story epic, it's all open
to
question.
Set in 1890, the film tells the story of a half-white, half-Indian
cowboy,
Frank T. Hopkins. It's focused on Hopkins' claim that he and his
mustang
pony Hidalgo competed in (and won) the Ocean of Fire endurance race
across
the Arabian desert.
There is debate about whether Hopkins ever participated in the race.
There
is debate about whether the race itself ever took place, and if it did,
how
its route could have possibly gone as far as the film claims through
terrain so inhospitable that it's called the Empty Quarter...
Earlier this week, Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington,
D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, was asking pretty
much
the same question. Although some Arab publications have run stories
saying
that his civil rights advocacy group was protesting negative
stereotypes in
the film, Hooper said that only an inquiry letter had been sent to the
film's distributor, Disney, and that his organization did not have a
public
position on the film yet. The Long Riders' Guild, Hooper added, had
distributed that letter to the Arab News.
"I haven't seen the film," Hooper says. "Somebody associated with our
office saw it in Northern California, and they didn't report major
problems
with it. What we saw was a first draft of the script, and obviously
there
were some concerns that we outlined in our letter to Disney…"
ALSO SEE:
ARAB-AMERICANS CAN USE DUAL ROLE TO INFORM AMERICANS, ARAB WORLD
Raja Shamas, Yale Daily News, 3/3/04
http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=25298
Since Sept. 11, 2001, Arab-American and Muslim-American identities have
taken on a new meaning. Before the terrorist attacks, Arabs and Muslims
in
America generally had no difficulty immersing themselves in American
waters. Those who had been in the country long enough thought of
themselves
as "American." "Muslim" and "Arab" were then merely auxiliary parts of
the
identity they had acquired as naturalized Americans. Today, however,
Arabs
and Muslims in America often find themselves dismissed as "others."
They
view themselves as a group under attack by a potentially tyrannical
majority as many increasingly associate Arabs with violence and
oppression,
and imagine a fundamental conflict of interest between American Arabs
and
Muslims on the one hand, and the rest of the country on the other.
Arab-Americans are caught somewhere among the increasingly antagonistic
cycles of misunderstanding that characterize relations between the Arab
world and the United States.
An ironic consequence of this real or imagined exclusion is that the
"Arab"
element of the Arab-American identity has been reinforced over the past
3
years, and those who previously considered themselves "American" are
now
trying to learn more about their Arab heritage. Two weeks ago, I went
down
to Washington, D.C., for an Arab-American student conference, where I
found
that second- and third-generation Arab-Americans were more aggressive
than
first-generation Arab-Americans in asserting their Arab identities.
This
trend should not come as a surprise since many first-generation Arabs
are
wary about their place in America and are therefore less willing to
assert
an identity now deemed controversial. On the other hand, second and
third-generation Arab-Americans do not view America as an inaccessible
fortress; they understand America and its ideas, complexities and
subtleties. To be sure, by freely asserting their beliefs and heritage,
Arab-Americans demonstrate a deep understanding of one of the greatest
American values.
Yet one should not construe this phenomenon as a crisis between two
competing identities...
Raja Shamas is a junior in Trumbull College. He is a member of the Arab
Students' Association.
-----
CLEANSING IRAQI BOMB VICTIMS TAKES ITS OWN TOLL
Neela Banerjee, New York Times, 3/4/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/04/international/middleeast/04WASH.html
NAJAF- In a large white room where the air was damp from open water
faucets
and the stunned grief of a few women, Khalila Sharif washed away the
bitter
past from the body of a 20-year-old schoolteacher from Baghdad.
The young woman's name was Aida Jabber. When suicide bombers detonated
their explosives at the Khadamiya mosque in Baghdad on Tuesday, they
took
with them, among so many people, this woman who was described by her
friends and relatives as gentle and devout.
Ms. Sharif had to cope with what was left of her, scrubbing the remains
of
its map of blood, masking with cotton wadding and two shrouds the
evidence
of trauma, so that the body would be pure enough for a proper Muslim
burial.
Ms. Sharif sang softly of mothers and daughters as she worked, verses
that
are recited when one loses the other. Protected by a shin-length apron
of
plastic sheeting, she dipped a red bucket into a large tank that
overflowed
with water, sprinkled camphor into it and splashed the body that lay
before
her on a concrete platform.
Ms. Jabber was the second woman brought on Wednesday from Baghdad,
where
some 70 people died. More would come, Ms. Sharif knew, not only from
the
capital but also Karbala, where at least 110 people had been killed,
and
she, like the other independent Muslim body washers here, would have to
soothe and clean their remains.
"This is typical for me," Ms. Sharif said, squaring her shoulders and
offering a pained smile as she explained what the years in this room
had
done to her, "because like the Arabic saying goes, I have a dead
heart."
When Shiite Muslims die in Iraq, their relatives often bring them to be
buried in Najaf, one of the holiest cities in their faith, about 115
miles
south of Baghdad. The dead must be clean to go to God. So when the
victims
arrive in Najaf, they are turned over to the men and women whose sole
task
is to wash the bodies of the dead. The work runs in families, and Ms.
Sharif's mother and grandmother were body washers.
Over the last 25 years, the washers have seen a cruel history stamped
on
the bodies that passed before them. There were the Shiites executed
under
Saddam Hussein, whose relatives were forced by the security police to
pay
for the bullets that killed them, said Riad Abboud, who works in the
men's
quarters next to Ms. Sharif...
ALSO SEE:
TERRORISM IN IRAQ
Shahid Zaman, Washington Post, 3/4/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28720-2004Mar3.html
The multiple bombings in Iraq Tuesday have demonstrated only one thing:
Those who commit such acts under the banner of Islam have clearly
undermined their own cause. To kill other human beings, let alone
innocent
people of the same faith, cannot be justified by any religion.
As a Muslim, no matter how opposed I may have been to the war in Iraq
or to
the current U.S. occupation, I find the acts of Tuesday appalling.
Women,
children and the elderly who were commemorating one of the most sacred
days
in Shiite Islam had their lives cut short by terrorists looking to
further
their political aims. The message cannot be clearer to Muslims around
the
world: The terrorists who claim to represent Islam represent no one or
nothing but their own cowardly ambitions.
-----
OUR MAN IN TASHKENT
Washington Post, 3/4/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28714-2004Mar3.html
LAST WEEK President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan abruptly released one
of
the more than 5,300 political prisoners held by his government, a
62-year-old woman named Fatima Mukadirova, who had been arrested for
exposing the gruesome death of her son by torture. This week Mr.
Karimov's
functionaries summoned representatives of local civil society and human
rights groups to say that an onerous new registration requirement would
be
postponed for a month. With such tiny gestures the leader of Central
Asia's
most populous country seeks to sway one of the most important decisions
the
Bush administration will make this year about its alliances in the war
on
terrorism. Though his tokenism could not be more transparent, the
dictator's chances of succeeding look better than they should.
Since 2001, Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic bordering Afghanistan,
has
hosted U.S. planes and troops and received substantial U.S. military
and
economic aid...
The Bush administration has often vowed not to repeat the Cold War
mistake
of embracing useful dictators while ignoring their domestic policies,
especially in Muslim states such as Uzbekistan. To keep the
administration
honest, Congress passed legislation last year requiring that all aid to
Uzbekistan -- $57.5 million this year, including $11.6 million in
military
funds -- be contingent on a State Department certification that
Uzbekistan
is making "substantial and continuing progress" in implementing its
commitments under the strategic partnership. So far there's been no
certification: On the contrary, the State Department's annual human
rights
report, issued last week, concluded that "Uzbekistan is an
authoritarian
state with limited civil rights" that continues to repress freedom of
religion and the press as well as opposition political parties...
-----
DYNAMICS OF EGYPTIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS
WHAT: The Council on Egyptian-American Relations and Georgetown
University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies will host a
conference
with sessions on the economy, military, and politics. Ambassador Nabil
Fahmy will also host a reception in the evening.
WHEN: Friday March 26, 2004
WHERE: FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, Dumbarton Conservatory
2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
RSVP: Ms. Rania Kiblawi at 202 687 6215
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/5/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: AVOID ANGER
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: Montana
* CAIR-LA: ISLAMOPHOBE LOOSES CA ELECTION
- CAIR-NY Holds Voter Registration Drive
* GUILTY PLEA IN NY ANTI-MUSLIM HATE CRIME CASE
* MI: ARAB-AMERICANS UNITE TO UNSEAT BUSH (Star Trib)
* IL: MOSQUE ZONING CHANGE MAY PROMPT LEGAL ACTION (PP)
- Zoning Change Targets Canadian Mosque (Gazette)
* DANIEL PIPES LECTURE PROMPTS PROTEST (Collegian)
- ADL Must Pay $10 Million in Defamation Case (RM News)
* 'END RACIAL PROFILING ACT' REACHES HILL (Civilright.org)
* MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE VAST (Record)
* DE BORCHGRAVE: DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDEAST (Wash. Times)
* MYTH OF SUNNI-SHIITE WAR (The Star)
- Blix: Iraq War was Illegal (Independent)
- Iraqi Hospitals on Life Support (Wash. Post)
* SENENKUNYA: OHIO EXHIBITION ON SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
* MD: INDIAN MUSLIM COUNCIL-USA FUNDRAISING DINNER
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: AVOID ANGER
A man once said to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "Teach me
some
words that I can live by. Do not make them too much for me, lest I
forget." The Prophet replied: "Do not become angry."
Al-Muwatta, Volume 47, Hadith 11
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,340 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Montana: 27 covered, 76 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
-----
CAIR-LA: ISLAMPOHOBE LOOSES CA ELECTION
(LOS ANGELES, CA) - Last week, a group of interfaith and community
leaders
joined CAIR-LA in voicing opposition to Robert Dornan's Islamophobic
rhetoric.
In his public appearances, Dornan maligned Islam, Muslims, the Quran,
and
the Prophet Muhammad. On March 2nd, Dornan lost the Republican primary
race
for the 46th Congressional District by a large margin, receiving only
16.8
percent of the votes.
"Dornan's loss shows that America rejects those who use divisive and
hateful rhetoric to achieve elected office," said CAIR-LA
Communications
Director Sabiha Khan.
CAIR-LA: Sabiha Khan, 714-390-0334, 714-776-1847
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-NY: VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
WHAT: The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-NY) today held a voter registration drive.
WHERE: Westchester Muslim Center, 22 Brookfield Road, Mt. Vernon.
CONTACT: Ghazi Khankan, 516-729-8754; 212-870-2002
-----
CAIR-NY: GUILTY PLEA IN NY ANTI-MUSLIM HATE CRIME CASE
(NEW YORK, NY 3/5/04) - The New York office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today announced that a Brooklyn
man
pleaded guilty yesterday to a felony assault and hate crime charge for
using racist slurs while assaulting a Muslim woman in a Toys R Us store
last April.
The defendant, Max Abrahamowitz, was ordered to pay a $2000 fine to a
charity of the Italian Muslim victim's choice.
Abrahamowitz, a student in Israel who was visiting family in New York,
told
police that he "doesn't like Arab people." (Newsday, 4/23/03)
"We hope this case will encourage others who are targeted because of
their
race, ethnicity or religion to come forward so that those who act out
hate-filled views are similarly punished," said CAIR-NY Civil Rights
Coordinator Firdos Abdul-Munim.
Abdul-Munim accompanied the victim to earlier court proceedings and
urged
authorities to treat the incident as a hate crime. The Brooklyn
District
Attorney's office subsequently charged the defendant with felony
assault
and menacing as a hate crime.
CAIR-NY praised that office for its efforts in prosecuting the case,
but
expressed concern that the judge imposed such light punishment.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Firdos Abdul-Munim, 347-277-4061, 212-870-2002,
cair-ny@cair-ny.com; CAIR-National, Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or
202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
ARAB-AMERICANS UNITE TO UNSEAT BUSH
Bob Von Sternberg, Star Tribune, 3/4/04
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4645885.html
DEARBORN, MICH. -- Dozens of teenage girls, their heads wrapped in dark
scarves, milled in a theater lobby on a recent afternoon, all wearing
white
T-shirts emblazoned with the words, "Yalla Vote!"
Roughly translated from Arabic, that means, "C'mon, let's go Vote!"
Increasingly, Arab-Americans are doing precisely that, and in states
such
as Michigan with a large Islamic population, they're hoping to exert a
significant influence on the 2004 presidential race.
Most are motivated by their desire to oust President Bush, whom they
have
turned against with a vengeance since 9/11.
"It's a pleasure to be able to help my community," said Suzan Hamad,
one of
the young volunteers at the rally to get out the Arab-American vote.
"We're
going to be able to make a difference in this election because there
are
enough of us now to make a difference."
The Arab-American population has been swiftly growing.
The population rose from 860,000 in 1990 to about 1.2 million in 2000,
according to the Census Bureau.
The nationwide estimates mask the disproportionate political clout
Arab-Americans could wield in the handful of states where most have
settled.
Nowhere is that more true than in Michigan, which has the highest
proportion of Arab-Americans of any state...
-----
ZONING CHANGE MAY PROMPT LEGAL ACTION
Pioneer Press, 3/4/04
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/mg/03-04-04-239280.html
A neighborhood group is threatening to go to court if the Morton Grove
Village Board approves changes to the zoning code that some residents
fear
will allow the Muslim Community Center to build a planned mosque.
Trustees are expected to take up those changes at their regular meeting
Monday. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Memorial
Civic
Center, 6140 Dempster St.
The village's Plan Commission last month, following a public hearing,
voted
to recommend approval of the zoning code amendments.
Village officials say the zoning changes, affecting houses of worship,
schools, clubs, lodges and other group assembly uses, would not apply
to
the MCC plan. The MCC filed suit last year against the village after
the
village turned down the MCC's request for a special-use permit needed
to
build an addition to the school.
The new provisions would allow construction of a house of worship in a
residential zoning district on sites of less than 3 1/2 acres. The MCC
site
is about 4 acres and village officials say it would still require a
special-use permit.
But Patrick Kansoer, managing member of the Morton Grove Organization,
said
the changes would allow the Village Board to grant an exemption from
any
requirement of the zoning code or other village policy...
ALSO SEE:
D.D.O THREATENS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The Gazette, 3/5/04
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/editorials/story.asp?id=5A595B9E-E967-49C0-AE0B-0DA2BCD37409
Special borough sessions, surprise rulings - who would expect such a
fuss
over such a simple question: Can an Islamic centre continue to operate
in a
building that has been used for religious purposes since it was built
15
years ago? But in Dollard des Ormeaux/Roxboro borough, the battle
continues
apace over the Canadian Islamic Centre Al-Jamieh's right to exist.
It is the D.D.O./Roxboro council that is at fault in this affair. For
unconvincing reasons, borough officials have decided to go after this
centre. They should stop, and simply allow the centre to carry on in
its
current building, with no more gratuitous interference.
Unfortunately, the borough council seems too wound up to behave
responsibly, or even sensibly. Even when the council does the right
thing,
it is for the wrong reasons. Last week, the borough council held a
special
session during which it cancelled a controversial zoning change it had
previously been determined to uphold. The change would have prepared
the
way to replace the Islamic centre with a day care and primary school.
This
is something nearby residents said they did not want, but borough
president
Ed Janiszewski appears to take little notice of that.
It seems unlikely to have been a coincidence that the borough council
backed down just days before Montreal's office of public consultation
recommended that the city's executive committee reject the zoning
change.
The office of public consultation took the right tack. At the request
of
the executive committee, neighbours of the Islamic centre, which was
originally a synagogue, were asked for their input. The majority of
residents said they found the impact of the centre's religious
activities
acceptable, and preferred that to the proposed day-care centre.
So some people want a house of worship, and the neighbours don't
object. In
a country where religious freedom is a core value, what can explain the
borough leadership's tenacious resistance?...
-----
SPEAKER PROMPTS PROTEST
Krystle Kopacz, Collegian, 3/5/04
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2004/03/03-05-04tdc/03-05-04dnews-11
A diverse crowd of about 200 members of the Penn State community
gathered
last night to hear a lecture by Daniel Pipes, a nationally recognized
commentator on the Middle East.
Pipes' lecture and past political commentary created some controversy,
causing some offended students to walk out and others to silently
demonstrate their opposition.
Pipes spoke for 20 minutes about the "delicate issue" of the war on
terror.
Students were able to ask questions for the remaining 40 minutes…
About six pairs of students stood and faced the audience during the
question and answer period with toilet paper wrapped around their
mouths
and signs that opposed Campus Watch, a nationwide organization run by
Pipes...
ALSO SEE:
ADL MUST PAY IN EVERGREEN CASE
Karen Abbott, Rocky Mountain News, 5/2/04
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_2696429,00.html
The Anti-Defamation League must pay a former Evergreen couple it
denounced
as anti-Semites more than $10 million, after the U.S. Supreme Court
refused
Monday to review the lawsuit.
"This is the end of the case," said Bruce DeBoskey, director of the
league's Mountain States Region, which includes Colorado and Wyoming.
Denver attorney Jay Horowitz, who won the case for William and Dorothy
"Dee" Quigley, said the couple was "extraordinarily delighted" when he
told
them the news Monday.
The widely publicized court battle drew friend-of-the-court briefs from
a
variety of national advocacy organizations worried that the danger of
huge
legal liabilities threatened their ability to work for good causes.
"There were 15 other human rights organizations that filed briefs in
support of our legal position," DeBoskey said...
-----
REVISED 'END RACIAL PROFILING ACT' REACHES CAPITOL HILL
Civilrights.org, 3/1/04
http://www.civilrights.org/issues/cj/details.cfm?id=18767
Based on the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) that won bipartisan
support in
the 107th Congress, lawmakers in February introduced a new bill to ban
racial profiling by federal, state, and local law enforcement
officials.
Sponsored by Representative John Conyers, D-Mich., (HR 3847) and
Senator
Russ Feingold, D-Wis. (S 2132), ERPA would ban the practice of
profiling,
require data collection in order to monitor progress, provide legal
options
to individuals injured by racial profiling, and provide grants to state
and
local agencies to enable them to meet the bill's requirements.
The new ERPA differs from the original in that the definition of
profiling
now conforms to that articulated by the Department of Justice in its
June
2003 guidance for federal law enforcement. ERPA also updates the
"findings"
section of the bill to take account of post-September 11 activities,
and
adds "religion" to the protected categories.
One day before ERPA was introduced, Senator John Breaux, R-La., and
Senator
George Voinovich, R-Ohio, also introduced legislation to end racial
profiling. While the Breaux/Voinovich legislation (S 2112) contains
critical elements, social justice groups say it does not contain some
important provisions. For example, S 2112 does not require data
collection,
which many civil rights organizations argue is an important tool used
to
identify the prevalence of race-based policing. Further, they say, the
Breaux/Voinovich legislation lacks a strong enforcement mechanism to
ensure
that police departments comply with banning profiling.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a broad-based social justice
and
civil rights coalition, has strongly endorsed ERPA...
-----
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE VAST, PROF SAYS
Mirko Petricevic, Record, 3/5/04
http://www.therecord.com/
WATERLOO - You don't hear much about the influence that Muslim
mathematicians had on scientists of the European Renaissance.
But George Saliba is working to enlighten people.
During a lecture at the University of Waterloo last night, Saliba
showed
images of Arabic manuscripts that were printed in Florence during the
16th
and 17th centuries.
"Why were (they) printing Arabic (science) books in Europe if there was
no
market for it?" he asked.
Saliba is professor of Arabic and Islamic Science at Columbia
University in
New York City.
The lecture, attended by more than 70, was presented by campus Arab and
Muslim student associations, said Ali Ahmed, one of the organizers.
Since the terrorist attacks in the United States by Muslims on Sept.
11,
2001, many people in the West believe that Islam is hostile to modern
science, said Ahmed, who studies computer science and philosophy.
"We want to portray Islam as a religion that encourages worldly
scientific
development."
Campus Muslims also want to show there have been positive exchanges
between
Islamic countries and the West, he said.
"It has not always been mistrust."
Saliba enthusiastically flashed images on screen of other manuscripts
to
show the influence of Arabic mathematics and science on numeracy,
algebra
and our understanding of basic astronomy...
-----
DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Arnaud de Borchgrave, Washington Times, 3/4/04
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20040304-082407-3242r.htm
For many American Jews, anyone who writes disapprovingly of the
policies of
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and of his Dionysian
neo-conservative
backers in Washington is evidence of "classic anti-Semitism." The mere
reference to "neo-cons" is interpreted to mean an attack against a
"Jewish
cabal." This is particularly galling to someone who is entitled to live
in
Israel under the Law of Return and who has been covering the Middle
East on
and off for half a century - and is the fortunate recipient of 10 major
journalism awards for Middle Eastern reporting. Israeli newspapers -
particularly Ha'aretz, the New York Times of Israel - make our own
critiques tame by comparison.
What one reader described as "overtly anti-Semitic screeds" were
columns
that described the grand design of the Bush-Sharon doctrine
"meritorious if
it works." The creation of a democratic state in Iraq, we explained,
was
the opening phase of a policy designed to surround Israel with
democratic
states, thus guaranteeing the Jewish state a generation of security. We
also expressed doubts that this worthy objective was achievable,
witness
the current situation in Iraq and a cursory examination of contemporary
Iraqi history.
What seems to be particularly vexing to American Jews is to be reminded
that this grand design originated in a paper written in 1996 by Richard
Perle and Douglas Feith for the Institute for Advanced Strategic and
Political Studies, an Israeli think tank. The document was titled "A
Clean
Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm." It was intended to be a
blueprint for the incoming government of Benjamin Netanyahu. The
complete
break with the past was to be a new strategy "based on an entirely new
intellectual foundation, one that restores strategic initiative and
provides the nation the room to engage every possible energy on
rebuilding
Zionism..."
-----
MYTH OF SUNNI-SHIITE WAR
Haroon Siddiqui, The Star, 3/5/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1078355409872&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
Shiites are slaughtered in separate incidents in Iraq and Pakistan on
the
same holy day. Western pundits pronounce the start of Shiite-Sunni
intra-religious war. Iraqi Shiites blame American occupiers responsible
for
the safety of the occupied. The Americans blame the Sunni Al-Qaeda,
specifically a Jordanian terrorist, whom they had also named a year ago
when linking Saddam Hussein to terrorism to justify the Iraq war.
The confusion suggests nobody really knows what they are talking about.
There is no discernible connection between the incidents in Pakistan
and
Iraq, except that the attackers chose the day Shiites hold parades to
mark
the death of a revered imam 1,400 years ago, not unlike Christians
re-enacting Christ's agonizing walk to the Cross.
Shiites - also called Shias or Shi'is - are a minority in Pakistan but
a
majority in Iraq.
Pakistani Sunni extremists have been targeting Shiites, some of whom
have
formed their own retaliatory militias. Shiites, as also Christians,
have
had inadequate state protection. President Pervez Musharraf promised,
and
delivered, increased security. But obviously not enough.
The multiple attacks in Baghdad and Karbala constituted the bloodiest
day
since the fall of Saddam Hussein. But on the second bloodiest day -
last
month - the victims were Sunni Kurds.
Other terrorist attacks have been directed at the newly recruited Iraqi
police, Shia and Sunni alike. In fact, Sunni clerics have been
circulating
a fatwa, calling the attacks on all fellow Muslims haram, or
religiously
prohibited.
Other attacks have been aimed at foreigners, Muslims and non-Muslims
like -
at the Jordanian embassy, at the United Nations headquarters and the
Red
Cross offices.
The Sunni-Shia divide, therefore, does not explain the killings of more
than 900 people, so far, in such incidents, or the death of more than
500
Americans since the fall of Saddam.
If there is a single reason, it is the American invasion and the
botched
occupation since. Beyond that, the truth is not that easy to pin
down...
Haroon Siddiqui is The Star's editorial page editor emeritus. His
column
appears Thursday and Sunday. hsiddiq@thestar.ca.
ALSO SEE:
BLIX: IRAQ WAR WAS ILLEGAL
Anne Penketh and Andrew Grice, Independent, 3/5/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=498039
The former chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has declared that the
war
in Iraq was illegal, dealing another devastating blow to Tony Blair.
Mr Blix, speaking to The Independent, said the Attorney General's legal
advice to the Government on the eve of war, giving cover for military
action by the US and Britain, had no lawful justification. He said it
would
have required a second United Nations resolution explicitly authorising
the
use of force for the invasion of Iraq last March to have been legal.
His intervention goes to the heart of the current controversy over Lord
Goldsmith's advice, and comes as the Prime Minister begins his
fightback
with a speech on Iraq today.
An unrepentant Mr Blair will refuse to apologise for the war in Iraq,
insisting the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein in power.
He
will point to the wider benefits of the Iraq conflict, citing Libya's
decision to give up its weapons of mass destruction, but warn that the
world cannot turn a blind eye to the continuing threat from WMD.
But, in an exclusive interview, Mr Blix said: "I don't buy the argument
the
war was legalised by the Iraqi violation of earlier resolutions."
And it appeared yesterday that the Government shared that view until
the
eve of war, when it received the Lord Goldsmith's final advice.
Sir Andrew Turnbull, the Cabinet Secretary, revealed that the
Government
had assumed, until the eve of war in Iraq, that it needed a specific UN
mandate to authorise military action...
---
IRAQI HOSPITALS ON LIFE SUPPORT
Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, 3/5/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31728-2004Mar4.html
BAGHDAD -- The stout woman, covered from head to toe in a black abaya,
shuffled into the crowded hospital. She went straight to the emergency
room
and opened her robe to reveal a tiny baby wrapped in fuzzy blankets.
The
boy had been born prematurely, and the family was afraid he was going
to die.
Uday Abdul Ridha took a quick look and shook his head. The physician
put
his hands on the woman's shoulders in sympathy, but his words were
blunt.
"I'm sorry," he said. "We cannot help you. We don't have an incubator,
and
even if we did, we are short on oxygen. Please try another hospital."
Scenes like this one at the Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Baghdad's
Iskan
neighborhood have become common in Iraq in recent months, as the health
care system has been hit by a critical shortage of basic medications
and
equipment. Babies die of simple infections because they can't get the
proper antibiotics. Surgeries are delayed because there is no oxygen.
And
patients in critical condition are turned away because there isn't
enough
equipment...
There are shortages of basic items such as cough syrup and also of
critical
items such as diabetes medications, anti-cancer drugs, intravenous
lines,
tuberculosis test kits and ventilators, say doctors and nurses at
Iskan,
the Medical City Center, Yarmouk Hospital and other facilities...
-----
SENENKUNYA: MANY VOICES, ONE FAMILY
WHAT: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is proud to announce the
opening of its new major exhibition - Senenkunya: Many Voices, One
Family.
This ethnographic exhibition, on display from March 13 through August
29,
2004, provides visitors with an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
explore
sub-Saharan Africa through its indigenous ethnic groups, cultures and
customs, languages, habitats and landscapes.
During the exhibition venue, the Museum will also have public
planetarium
shows in March and April titled "Moon Over Mali" and "Star Legends of
Western Africa," a variety of lectures, hands-on activities in the
Smead
Discovery Center, classes for members and the public, "A Night Along
the
Niger" camp-in April 2 and 3 and an African festival July 17 and 18.
Visitors can also see the photography show "Beyond Timbuktu: Images of
Mali" by Peggy Turbett, Plain Dealer photo features editor. Newly
created
teacher workshops, teacher kits and student classes will be available
to
schools.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is at 1 Wade Oval Drive in
University Circle, 15 minutes east of downtown Cleveland. Paid parking
is
available in the Museum lot. Additional parking is available in front
of
the building and in nearby lots. On weekends, a flat rate of $5 is
charged
when purchasing general admission. For more information, call
216-231-4600
or 800-317-9155. Also, visit our web site at www.cmnh.org.
-----
INDIAN MUSLIM COUNCIL-USA FUNDRAISING DINNER
WHAT: Awareness Event and Fund raising Dinner called the
"Marginalization
of Muslims in India." Confirmed speakers include: Imam Khalil
Majdalawi,
Khateeb of Masjid Al-Noor, Parkville, MD; Seyed Rizwan Mowlana,
Executive
Director, CAIR-Maryland; Ruchira Gupta.
Emmy Award winning Documentary Producer, Journalist, Activist and an
eye-witness to the demolition of Babri Masjid; Dr. Lise McKean,
Scholar,
Researcher, Activist and Author of the book "Divine Enterprise: Gurus
and
the Hindu Nationalist Movement"; Dr. Shaik Ubaid, Founding President,
Indian Muslim Council-USA.
WHEN: Saturday, 6th March 2004 @ 6:00 pm
WHERE: The Palace Hall
Sam's Plaza
1724 Woodlawn Drive
Baltimore, MD 21207
Call or E-mail to register ($20 for adults, $10 for kids). Discount for
Large Families and Students. Phone: 410 903 1157 or E-mail:
baltimore@imc-usa.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIM GIRL SCOUTS HARASSED IN VIRGINIA
Man says Brownies selling cookies waging 'violent jihad'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/6/2004) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today called on law enforcement authorities to investigate an
incident in which a group of Muslim Girl Scouts in Virginia was
allegedly
harassed by a man who accused them of waging "violent jihad."
The six Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors were selling cookies outside a
Giant grocery store in Herndon, Va., on Saturday when a man began
verbally
harassing the girls and their two troop leaders, saying "Jesus saves"
and
trying to get them to take a religious tract with a picture of the
burning
World Trade Center on the cover. He also referred to what he called the
troop's "false lord."
After repeatedly asking the man to stop his harassing behavior, which
was
frightening the girls, one troop leader told him she would call the
police.
The man then allegedly said: "You are being a true Muslim, waging
violent
jihad." Some of the girls, and the troop leader who said she would call
the
police, were wearing Islamic head scarves, or hijab, along with their
Girl
Scout uniforms. Police were called to the scene, but did not take
action
against the man.
"American Muslim children should be able to take part in public
activities
without fear of harassment or religious intimidation," said CAIR
Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "We call on local and national
law
enforcement authorities to look into the case to determine whether this
man
constitutes a real threat to the Muslim community." The troop leader
filed
a formal complaint with the Herndon Police Department.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEXAS MOSQUE VANDALIZED WITH RACIST GRAFFITI
Vandals scrawl 'sand n**ger' on Islamic center in Lubbock
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/7/2004) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR) today called for the FBI to take a lead role in the
investigation of
an attack targeting a Texas mosque on which vandals scrawled
anti-Muslim
graffiti.
The Washington-based civil rights and advocacy group said worshipers at
the
Islamic Center of the South Plains in Lubbock, Texas, discovered the
graffiti and other vandalism early this morning.
Mosque officials told CAIR the vandals wrote "sand n**gers" and
"America
rocks b*tch" on the interior walls of the center. They also broke
windows
and damaged, destroyed or removed other items in the mosque. The FBI
and
local law enforcement authorities have begun an investigation of the
incident.
There are an estimated 700 Muslims in the Lubbock area, mainly
professionals or students at a nearby university.
"Because of its greater resources and investigative capabilities, we
call
on the FBI to take a lead role in this case and ask local authorities
to
step up patrols in the area of Texas mosques," said CAIR Communications
Director Ibrahim Hooper. He noted that just last month, a Houston
mosque
was damaged by a fire that authorities say was intentionally set. It
has
not yet been determined whether the arson was bias-related.
Hooper added that many Muslims believe anti-Islamic rhetoric by
religious
and political leaders is one contributory factor leading Islamophobes
to
act out their bigoted views.
Incidents targeting mosques and Islamic centers have occurred across
America, particularly since the 9/11 terror attacks. In August of last
year, investigators determined that a blaze at the Islamic Center of
Savannah in Savannah, Ga., was an act of arson. In 2002, a pick-up
truck
was driven into the front of the Islamic Center of Tallahassee, Fla.
Similar attacks have occurred in a number of other states, including
Texas,
Washington and Ohio.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 or 202-488-8787, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/8/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: HONEST AUTHORITY
* CAIR-SA: KUCINICH MEETS WITH TEXAS MUSLIMS
- CAIR to Monitor Rights of FL Muslims (Tampa Trib)
- CAIR-NY Cosponsors Forum for Chaplain Yee
- CAIR-FL: Muslim Perspective on Jesus (Tampa Trib)
* REP. KING RENEWS ATTACKS ON MOSQUE LEADERS (AP)
* VANDALS TRASH TEXAS MOSQUE (Avalanche-Journal)
- Mosque Vandalized in South Plains City (AP)
- Arson at Muslim Sites in France (NY Times)
* NJ: SIKH TEENS CALLED 'BIN LADEN' DURING ATTACK (SC)
* FOR ARAB AMERICANS: ANYONE BUT BUSH (Haaretz)
- Saudi-Born Candidate Sets Sights on Firsts (LA Times)
* TX: MUSLIM CONVERT EXPLAINS HER FAITH (Dallas Morning News)
* DANIEL PIPES' VIEWS 'REPREHENSIBLE' (Berkeley Daily Planet)
* GROUP CLAIMS US ABUSES IN AFGHANISTAN (Reuters)
- US Forces Accused Of Looting, Torture, Death (Indep)
* BRZEZINSKI: WRONG WAY TO SELL DEMOCRACY (NYT)
- McDonald's Confirms 'No-Arabic' Policy (E-Intifada)
- Israel Refusing To Return Enriched Uranium (Haaretz)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: HONEST AUTHORITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Anyone who God has
given
authority over people, and does not look after them in an honest
manner,
will never experience even the scent of Paradise."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadith 264
-----
CAIR- SAN ANTONIO: KUCINICH MEETS WITH SAN ANTONIO MUSLIMS
(SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, 3/8/04) - Some 400 people, mostly local Muslims,
turned out on Friday to meet presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich in
San
Antonio, Texas. Kucinich met with the Muslim community at the
invitation of
the San Antonio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-San Antonio), a Washington-based Islamic civil rights and
advocacy group.
The meeting at the Knights of Columbus Council Hall began with a
workshop
by Dr. Inayat Lalani on how to become a Democratic Party delegate.
Lalani,
a Dallas physician, is also a member of the American Muslim Alliance
(AMA).
"We thank Representative Kucinich for sharing his views with the Muslim
community in San Antonio and hope his appearance will lead to increased
political awareness and participation," said CAIR-San Antonio
Chairwoman
Sarwat Husain.
Husain said CAIR is currently engaged in a national voter registration
drive in the Muslim community nationwide. She added that as a
non-partisan
group, CAIR does not endorse candidates, but instead encourages voting
and
participation in the political process.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
CONTACT: Sarwat Husain, 210-378-9528, E-Mail: SanAntonio@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
ISLAM ADVOCACY GROUP TO MONITOR RIGHTS OF BAY AREA MUSLIMS
Joe Humphrey, Tampa Tribune, 3/8/04
http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGAVDSYLIRD.html
TAMPA - A national Islamic group now has a local home from which to
monitor
civil rights and be an advocate for the Bay area's growing Muslim
population.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations celebrated
Saturday the grand opening at 8056 N. 56th St., a red-brick building
just
south of the Hillsborough River.
The center marks the group's continued growth from a two-person staff
and a
tiny Washington office a decade ago to its own Capitol Hill
headquarters
and more than 25 branch locations throughout the country.
Officials said that growth coincides with a greater need to educate the
public about Muslims, to serve as a watchdog to journalists and
politicians
and to focus attention on the need for Muslims to be treated fairly by
law
enforcement.
Volunteer Duha Hanna of Tampa said the council's advocacy will be a
valuable addition to Tampa Muslims...
Saturday, Hanna was helping with another priority: registering voters.
The organization is making a push this year for more Muslims to show up
on
Election Day…
---
CAIR-NY COSPONSORS COMMUNITY FORUM FOR CHAPLAIN YEE
WHAT: Justice For James Yee Ad Hoc Committee East Coast will host a
community forum on the case of Chaplain James Yee. The ad hoc committee
consists of Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF),
Blue
Triangle Network - NY (BTN-NY), Council of American-Islamic
Relations-NY
(CAIR-NY), David Wong Support Committee (DWSC), Flushing Green Party,
Organization of Chinese Americans - Long Island Chapter (OCA-LI), and
Refuse and Resist.
Family members of James Yee will speak about their personal ordeal.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 9, 2004, 6:30-9 PM
WHERE: 1199 National Health and Human Service, Employees Union,
AFL-CIO,
310 W.43rd St. (Auditorium), New York, NY, 10036 (off 8th Ave.)
---
CAIR-FL: MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE ON JESUS
Ahmed Bedier, Tampa Tribune, 3/6/04
http://www.tampatribune.com/
(No link available.)
Jesus of Nazareth (peace be upon him) is not only the central figure
around
which the religion of Christianity revolves; he is also among the most
venerated and highly honored personalities for the worlds 1.2 billion
Muslims.
A Muslim's love for Jesus is not only based on the Quranic texts which
exalt him to being the 'Spirit of God' but also due to the respect
shown to
him by the Prophet of Islam - Muhammad (peace be upon him) who
described
Jesus as his brother.
Despite this reverence for Jesus, most Muslims may not want to see the
movie 'The Passion of Christ.' "Thou shall not have any graven
images," is
part of our Muslim belief especially as it relates to the images of the
Prophets and Messengers of God.
Like Christians, Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus and many
of
his miracles mentioned in the Bible. Jesus' life and mission is
mentioned
in eleven chapters of the Quran. The Mother of Jesus, Mary is held by
Muslims as an extraordinary exemplar of faith in God, and an entire
chapter
in the Quran is named after her.
However there are some differences in belief between Islam and
Christianity.
Muslims do not believe in the divinity of Jesus, and hold only God as
divine.
Rather, Muslims believe Jesus was a sign from God who was sent to
confirm
the Torah, remind the Children of Israel of their duty to God and to
praise
the merciful and loving attributes of God - Our Creator...
Ahmed Bedier is the Communications Director for the Florida office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations.
-----
REP. PETER KING CALLS MUSLIM LEADERS IRRESPONSIBLE
Associated Press, 3/6/04
http://www.wnbc.com/politics/2903345/detail.html
NEW YORK - Leaders of 85 percent of the nation's mosques are involved
in
terrorist activities, and some have made irresponsible statements about
the
Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, said Rep. Peter King, a Long Island
Republican.
"I don't see any need to be politically correct here - the stakes are
too
high," King said in an interview broadcast Sunday on WNBC-TV's "News
Forum."
The 85 percent figure was drawn from research done for his recently
published novel, "Vale of Tears," about the World Trade Center attacks,
King said.
Muslim groups on Long Island have denounced the claim, accusing him of
fanning anti-Muslim sentiment to sell books.
King denied that charge. He said leaders of the mosque in Westbury,
N.Y.
had tried to pass blame for the attacks on a Zionist conspiracy and had
not
cooperated with law enforcement officers investigating potential
terrorist
activities.
"When I have police telling me the Muslim community is not coming
forward
and cooperating, I have a responsibility to speak out. The Muslim
leaders
have to be more responsible and there should be new leadership," he
said...
SEE ALSO:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
VANDALS TRASH MOSQUE
Sebastian Kitchen, Avalanche-Journal, 3/8/04
http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030804/loc_030804049.shtml
Police and the FBI are investigating a hateful act of vandalism
directed at
the area's Muslim community.
The Islamic Center of the South Plains was vandalized overnight
Saturday,
and the mosque's spiritual leader found the destruction when he arrived
at
6:20 a.m. Sunday for the first daily prayer.
Mohamed El-Moctar, the imam, found pro-American and anti-Muslim slogans
written on the walls along with damage throughout the building.
"I feel sad about what happened," El-Moctar said. "I feel sad. Our
community is very peaceful, and our community is targeted - not for
anything they did, but for what they are and what they believe."
His office was in shambles. The door was broken. His computer was on
the
floor and had racial slurs written on it. His shelves had been tipped
over
with books, paperwork and other items littering the floor.
"What hurt us more was not the material loss, it was the graffiti
written
on the wall inside the mosque," El-Moctar said.
The fence around the mosque was bent down. Metal that once covered a
window
had been pried back, and the window was smashed with a brick. Glass
still
littered the mosque floor Sunday night as men kneeled to worship.
El-Moctar said the suspects likely entered through the window or a side
door.
He said the FBI told him there was more than one person involved based
on
shoe prints outside the mosque.
Nothing in the police report definitely identifies the crime as a hate
crime, police Lt. Jerry Brewer said. The crime will be listed as
burglary
of a building, a state jail felony, he said...
ALSO SEE:
MOSQUE VANDALIZED IN SOUTH PLAINS CITY
Associated Press, 3/8/04
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8162BR81.html
LUBBOCK- Smashed windows, anti-Muslim graffiti, broken furniture and
other
destruction at a South Plains mosque are under investigation by the FBI
and
police early Monday following a weekend break-in that religious leaders
say
was a hate crime.
Imam Mohamed El-Moctar said his office at the Islamic Center of the
South
Plains was ransacked when he arrived for morning prayers on Sunday.
A fan dangled above an overturned shelf and broken chairs in the
women's
worship hall. El-Moctar pointed to a dent in the wall where he believed
a
chair had been thrown.
"This is the action of someone angry, very angry," he told the Lubbock
Avalanche-Journal in Monday's online edition.
The mosque's spiritual leader said he found pro-American and
anti-Muslim
slogans written on the walls along with damage throughout the building.
"I feel sad about what happened," he said. " ... Our community is very
peaceful, and our community is targeted not for anything they did, but
for
what they are and what they believe."
Police Lt. Jerry Brewer called the property damage at the mosque
significant. Investigators believe the break-in occurred sometime
between
10 p.m. Saturday and 6:20 a.m. Sunday by multiple suspects, possibly
gang
members.
In addition to breaking furniture and windows, the intruders took a
sound
system and a VCR. A donation box was also torn open, and the funds
inside
stolen. Pennies were left on the floor near the box.
Miles Burden, supervisor-in-charge of the Lubbock FBI office, told the
newspaper that agents went to the mosque Sunday morning. FBI officials
in
Lubbock and Dallas did not immediately return calls to The Associated
Press
for comment...
---
ARSON FIRES STRIKE 2 MUSLIM SITES IN FRANCE
Elaine Sciolino, New York Times, 3/5/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/05/international/europe/05CND-FRAN.html
PARIS - A Muslim prayer center in the Alpine town of Seynod was
destroyed
today and the annex of a mosque in nearby Annecy was damaged in
separate
arson attacks before dawn.
The local police said the two fires were set on purpose but declined to
label them hate crimes.
The Ministry of the Interior made no public statement about the arson
attacks, and Frank Louvrier, the ministry spokesman, said that one was
not
planned. A spokeswoman at the prime minister's office referred all
inquiries to the Ministry of the Interior.
The absence of reaction by the center-right French government to
attacks on
the two Muslim places of worship was in stark contrast to the activist
steps it took after a Jewish school annex in a suburb of Paris was
badly
damaged by a pre-dawn fire bomb in November.
Just hours after the attack against the Jewish school, Interior
Minister
Nicolas Sarkozy visited the site and said it was "more than strongly
suspected" to be an anti-Semitic and "obviously" racist act. He vowed
that
those who set the fire would be caught and punished "with the greatest
severity."
The next day, President Jacques Chirac declared that "an attack on a
Jew is
an attack against France" and approved a plan for tougher policing and
prosecution of hate crimes and sweeping urban renewal investments of
almost
$8 billion to clean up neighborhoods thought to breed Islamic
extremism.
Mr. Sarkozy has no plan at the moment to visit the Muslim sites, Mr.
Louvrier said...
Fayik Dag, president of the Islamic Union in France at Seynod, accused
the
government of a double standard in not condemning the attacks against
the
Muslim targets...
-----
SIKH TEENAGERS REPORT THAT BIAS ATTACKERS CUT OFF THEIR HAIR
http://www.sikhcoalition.org/
(3/5/04) Lodi, New Jersey - Two Sikh teenagers reported to police that
they
were beaten and robbed by a group of men who yanked off their turbans
and
then cut off their hair in Lodi, New Jersey. Local police have
confirmed to
the Sikh Coalition that the incident is being investigated as a bias
crime.
The two teenagers, whose families have requested that they remain
anonymous, were at a bus stop when three men approached them and asked
to
borrow money shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday night.
The Sikh teenagers and the men began pushing each other. According to
police, the two Sikhs then chased the assailants into a nearby park.
The
assailants were joined by two more men who surrounded, beat and robbed
the
two Sikhs of approximately forty dollars. According to the two Sikhs,
one
man then removed their turbans, pulled out scissors, and cut three to
four
feet of their hair as they pleaded for him to stop.
After learning about the reported incident today, the Sikh Coalition
requested a meeting with the Chief of the Lodi Police Department. The
Coalition attended the meeting with family members of the two victims,
members of the Lodi Sikh community, American Gurdwara Prabhandak
Committee,
Bergen County Human Relations Commission and Community Relations
Service of
the United States Justice Department.
Lodi Police Chief Vincent Caruso and Captain Vincent Quatrone, who is
supervising the investigation, briefed meeting attendees on police
efforts
to investigate the crime. The police chief reported that the department
had
decided to investigate the matter as a bias crime because the attackers
used epithets such as "Bin Laden" while cutting the two Sikhs' hair...
The Sikh Coalition expresses its deepest sympathies for the victims and
their families and encourages Sikhs everywhere to remember them in your
prayers.
-----
THE VOTING TREND FOR ARAB AMERICANS: ANYONE BUT BUSH
Nathan Guttman, Haaretz, 3/8/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/402114.html
WASHINGTON - Last week, when it was New York's turn to choose its
candidate
in the "Super Tuesday" primary, the Democrats remembered the Jewish
vote.
They courted the Jewish organizations, met with its leaders and spoke
out
from every possible stage about issues concerning Israel and the Middle
East. Although the courtship was not as fervent as in previous election
campaigns, nevertheless in the Jewish community they felt that the
candidates were showing interest.
Voters in the Arab and Muslim communities in the United States had a
similar feeling in the Michigan primary at the beginning of February.
In
the U.S. the greatest concentration of people from Arab states and
Muslims
is in the Detroit area, and the Democrats did not miss the opportunity
to
translate their printed election matter into Arabic and to discuss
questions troubling the community - such as human rights to the Middle
East
- and to have their pictures taken in the plentiful Arab restaurants
around
Dearborn.
For the American Arab community, the coming elections are perceived as
significant. The community is in a process of political education so
Arab
Americans and Muslim Americans (two communities that do not entirely
overlap) will be an influential factor in the elections. The major
effort
at the moment is to get Arab Americans and Muslims to the polling
stations,
to persuade them that this is important and worthwhile and to explain
how
to ask the candidates difficult questions. Women activists at a
political
awareness event last week wore T-shirts shouting: "Yalla, vote..."
ALSO SEE:
SAUDI-BORN CANDIDATE SETS SIGHTS ON FIRSTS
Daryl Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 3/5/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arab8mar08,1,7123786.story
Ferial Amin Masry pulled off a rare double in last week's election,
qualifying as a Democratic write-in candidate in the 37th Assembly
District
for the fall general election while winning a seat outright on the
Ventura
County Democratic Central Committee.
But if Masry's feat was unprecedented locally, it pales beside what the
Thousand Oaks woman hopes to accomplish in November.
If elected, the 55-year-old U.S. government teacher would become the
nation's first Saudi American to hold elective office in the U.S.,
according to the Arab American Institute in Washington. She'd become
California's first Arab American woman to serve in the Legislature, and
one
of only a few in the nation to be elected as a state lawmaker.
As she pursues her long-shot candidacy in a heavily Republican
district,
Masry is equally occupied with thoughts of her oldest child, who has
undertaken his own uphill climb: Mohammed Omar Masry, 24, is a U.S.
Army
sergeant in Baghdad, helping to rebuild Iraqi schools while explaining
America's role in dispatches on Islam Online, the Middle Eastern
equivalent
of America Online.
Omar Masry said his mother's campaign should break stereotypes...
-----
AMINAH FOUND FAITH HERE
Mike Carter, Dallas Morning News, 3/6/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/irving/opinion/stories/030704dnirvcarter.11a84.html
Some people in our society feel threatened by the word "missionary."
But is
the word really so odd? Billions of people around the world belong to
one
of the three great missionary faiths: Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.
As
emblems of the city's diversity, adherents of all three faiths live in
Irving today.
These believers act, either formally or informally, as missionaries and
choice is one of their gifts. They are happy to dialogue with those who
wonder.
Choice of course is embedded in diversity. Diversity means options.
Diversity presents real alternatives, inspires questions, invites
reflection. Diversity comes with a plurality of answers. Diversity
says,
Think.
Aminah Townsend is a woman who thinks.
Raised for much of her childhood in Chicago where she attended a
Catholic
school, Aminah was comfortable with the idea of God she learned there,
but
when she moved to Irving and left her Catholic school environment, she
began to have doubts. These doubts had to do with Jesus.
Three things attracted her to Islam: its doctrine of God, the role it
outlined for women, a role she found empowering, and the structure it
provided for her life. Islam was for her a comfortable fit, one for
which
she believed her earlier Catholic training had prepared her. Islam's
strangeness did not draw her; its familiarity did.
Aminah's story of conversion should be inspiring to Americans, not
because
she became a Muslim, but because she had a choice. Choice meant she
could
listen, evaluate, select. And in Irving she could weigh doctrines by
talking to believers themselves...
-----
DANIEL PIPES' VIEWS 'REPREHENSIBLE'
Becky O'Malley, Berkeley Daily Planet, 3/5/04
http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=03-05-04&storyID=18405
We've printed some, though not all, of the letters about who shouted
what
at the Daniel Pipes lecture on the UC campus. We've acknowledged that
we
made a mistake printing a letter reporting that an attendee said
something
specific which he denies. But the value of the brouhaha, as far as I'm
concerned, is that I didn't know much about Pipes before this happened,
and
now I do. I looked at his website, and can now report that I find his
views
reprehensible…
------
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CLAIMS US ABUSES IN AFGHANISTAN
Mike Collett-White, Reuters, 3/8/04
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=831727&tw=wn_wire_story
KABUL - U.S. forces in Afghanistan used excessive force during arrests
of
suspected Islamic militants, resulting in avoidable civilian deaths and
possibly violating international law, Human Rights Watch said on
Monday.
A report by the U.S.-based group said that at least 1,000 Afghans and
foreigners had been detained from 2002 by U.S.-led forces in
Afghanistan,
some of them subjected to torture and denied the right to challenge
their
detention.
While many have been released, some remain in detention in Afghanistan
and
Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. naval base in Cuba.
A U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan said the report indicated a
"lack
of understanding" of armed conflict laws...
ALSO SEE:
US FORCES ACCUSED OF LOOTING, TORTURE AND DEATH IN AFGHANISTAN
Kim Sengupta, Independent, 3/8/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=499002
American forces in Afghanistan have been accused of flouting
international
law with arbitrary arrests, torture and killing of prisoners in a
report by
a civil rights watchdog.
Soldiers are accused of using unprovoked deadly force in capturing
civilians, some of whom were then allegedly subjected to cruel and
inhumane
treatment leading to deaths in custody. It is also alleged that looting
has
taken place during searches of homes.
The report, by Human Rights Watch, says the situation at Guantanamo Bay
is
being replicated many times in Afghanistan, with detainees being held
in
even worse conditions at the military bases of Bagram, Kandahar,
Jalalabad
and Asadabad.
At least three prisoners are known to have died during interrogation,
with
two of the deaths being ruled homicide by American military
pathologists
after post-mortem examinations. US officials have refused to explain
what
happened in any of the cases...
-----
THE WRONG WAY TO SELL DEMOCRACY TO THE ARAB WORLD
Zbigniew Brzezinski, New York Times, 3/8/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/08/opinion/08BREZ.html
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration deserves credit for its long-term
commitment to democracy in the Middle East. But even a good idea can be
spoiled by clumsy execution. Worse still, the idea can backfire -
particularly if people come to suspect that ulterior motives are at
work.
This is precisely what is happening with President Bush's "Greater
Middle
East initiative," which outlines steps the United States and its
partners
in the Group of 8 industrialized nations can take to promote political
freedom, equality for women, access to education and greater openness
in
the Middle East. Elements of the proposal include the creation of free
trade zones in the region, new financing for small businesses and help
overseeing elections.
After a draft of the initiative was published last month in Al Hayat, a
London-based Arabic newspaper, Arab leaders responded swiftly - and
unhappily - at what they perceived to be American efforts to impose
change.
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt went so far as to call the proposal
"delusional."
Fortunately, there is still time for the administration to set things
right
and rescue this potentially worthwhile project. But it must move
quickly,
particularly if it wants the G-8 to sign on to the plan at its summit
meeting in June.
There is no question that the administration has its work cut out for
it.
For starters, the democracy initiative was unveiled by the president in
a
patronizing way: before an enthusiastic audience at the American
Enterprise
Institute, a Washington policy institution enamored of the war in Iraq
and
not particularly sympathetic toward the Arab world. The notion that
America, with Europe's support and Israel's endorsement, will teach the
Arab world how to become modern and democratic elicits, at the very
least,
ambivalent reactions. (This, after all, is a region where memory of
French
and British control is still fresh.) Though the program is meant to be
voluntary, some fear that compulsion is not far behind...
---
MCDONALD'S CONFIRMS 'NO-ARABIC' POLICY AT ITS RESTAURANTS IN ISRAEL
Ali Abunimah & Nigel Parry, Electronic Intifada, 3/5/04
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2476.shtml
McDonald's Corporation today confirmed that it has a policy banning its
employees from speaking Arabic in its restaurants in Israel, despite
the
fact that Palestinian citizens of Israel form 20% of its workforce, and
Arabic is one of the two official languages of Israel. The Corporation
denied, however, that Abeer Zinaty, a former "Excellent Worker 2003 --
McDonald's Israel," was fired because she spoke Arabic on the job.
EI co-founder Ali Abunimah received a statement from Julie Pottebaum, a
spokesperson for Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald's corporation,
after EI
contacted the company about the allegations contained in an article in
Al-Ahram Weekly [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/680/re104.htm ]
EI also issued an action alert to its readers
[http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2475.shtml ] prompting calls
and
emails from all over the world, urging McDonald's to investigate
allegations that it had a no-Arabic policy, and that at least one
employee
had been fired for violating it. EI received copies of emails sent to
McDonald's from concerned readers in the US, the Czech Republic, and
Jordan
among other countries.
The McDonald's statement said that it was "absolutely not true" that
Abeer
Zinaty had been fired because she spoke Arabic on the job, and asserted
that, "her employment was terminated by her supervisor, a Palestinian
Arab
who also speaks Arab, for performance-related reasons..."
---
ISRAEL REFUSING TO RETURN ENRICHED URANIUM RECEIVED FROM U.S.
Aluf Benn, Haaretz, 3/7/04
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/402043.html
Israeli is refusing to return to the United States enriched uranium it
received from the Americans many years ago for the refueling of the
nuclear
research facility at Nahal Sorek, according to an internal U.S.
Department
of Energy report.
According to the report, the American administration has been working
since
1996 to return enriched Uranium that was given to friendly countries
under
the Atoms for Peace program. The collection of the nuclear fuel was
meant
to prevent its being misused for nuclear weapons construction. The
American
Department of Energy has so far been able to collect just 2.6 tons,
while
15 tons of enriched uranium is still being held by former members of
the
program.
Israel is included in a list of 12 countries that the report says "are
not
expected to take part in the program," and which hold roughly half of
the
uranium that has yet to be collected. Other countries on the list
include
Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, France, Britain, Belgium and the
Netherlands...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/9/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A PLACE IN PARADISE
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
* MUSLIMS SEE POST-9/11 OPPOSITION TO MOSQUES (USA Today)
- IL: Trustees Grapple with Mosque Issue (Chicago Trib)
* DNC AGAIN CONDEMNS REP. PETER KING'S REMARKS (DNC)
* FL: PROF SUES OVER BIAS IN RENEWAL OF CONTRACT (Sun-Sentinel)
* IA: CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS HAVE MUCH IN COMMON (MPN)
- MI: MSA to Promote Religious Tolerance (Western Herald)
- NC: Muslim, Christian Clergy Talk, Learn (Salisbury Post)
* FROM RICHARD COLLINS TO HAJI SABRIE (SF Chronicle)
* HIDALGO: NO HORSING AROUND (MSNBC)
- Concerned Movie-Goers Contact CAIR about 'Hidalgo'
* SOME PROGRESS ON DETAINEES (Wash Post)
- 9 Detained Over Attacks on Muslim Prefect (Reuters)
- Rep. Pelosi Statement on SAFE Act
* CAIR-CAN: OTTAWA COPS INVOLVED IN ARAR CASE (CBC)
* HEADSCARF DISPUTE SHUTS FRENCH SCHOOL FOR DAY (Reuters)
* TRUE RATIONALE FOR IRAQ INVASION IS A DECADE OLD (Wash Post)
* ISRAELI ARAB CONSTRUCTION WORKERS MARKED WITH "X" (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A PLACE IN PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever builds a
mosque,
seeking God's pleasure, God will build for him a similar place in
Paradise."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 441
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIMS SEE NEW OPPOSITION TO BUILDING MOSQUES SINCE 9/11
Donna Leinwand, USA Today, 3-8-04
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2004-03-08-mosque-opposition_x.htm
Some Muslim groups seeking to build mosques to accommodate their
growing
numbers of followers are encountering vehement opposition in
communities
across the nation.
In some cases, the conflicts are similar to those that for decades have
pitted residents against expansion plans by large churches. Neighbors
in
communities from New Jersey to Arizona have protested Muslim groups'
proposals for mosques by raising classic "not-in-my-backyard" arguments
that have focused on the sizes of planned buildings, parking, lighting
and
other factors that can affect property values. (Related photo gallery:
The
mosque next door)
But the debates over mosques in several U.S. cities during the past two
years occasionally have led to name-calling and allegations of bigotry
- a
reflection of some residents' mistrust of Muslims since the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks by radical Muslims...
Even before the attacks, building a mosque in America "wasn't the
easiest
thing" to do, says Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on
Islamic-American Relations, a civil rights and advocacy group in
Washington, D.C. Now, he says, it can be more difficult. "Usually
there's a
lot of talk of parking and traffic and other things that are sometimes
seen
as a smoke screen for the real issue," Hooper says. "You'll also get
overt
bigotry coming to the surface…"
ALSO SEE:
TRUSTEES GRAPPLE WITH MUSLIM ISSUE
Rachel Osterman, Chicago Tribune, 3/9/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearnorthwest/chi-0403090298mar09,1,3740173.story
Addressing some of the legal issues in a dispute over Muslim prayer
services being held in a residential neighborhood, Morton Grove
trustees
voted Monday night to ease zoning requirements for public assembly.
The 5-1 vote came during a contentious meeting in which many of the
roughly
100 residents who attended said the Village Board was ignoring their
views.
Although the ordinance was a technical update to zoning law, the
subtext
was clear: It addresses regulations surrounding the dispute over
whether a
Muslim organization has the right to hold prayer services at a site
where
it lacks zoning authorization to do so.
The group, the Muslim Community Center, has held classes and services
in a
residential section of Morton Grove for 15 years, but traffic and
parking
congestion caused by the meetings have rankled neighbors.
The previous language in the ordinance required groups that hold large
meetings to obtain a special-use permit.
The language adopted Monday night changes the law to require groups to
seek
a special-use permit only if their property exceeds 3.5 acres in
residential districts…
-----
For Immediate Release
REPUBLICAN ATTACKS ON MUSLIM AMERICANS ARE UN-AMERICAN
DNC Condemns Rep. Peter King's Remarks
http://www.democrats.org/
Washington, D.C. - Today the Democratic National Committee calls again
on
President Bush and Republican leaders to repudiate remarks made by Rep.
Peter King (R-NY) in a television interview. King, who has been
attacking
the Muslim American community as part of his efforts to get publicity
for
his recently published novel, accused the Muslim American leadership of
being irresponsible and of not cooperating with enforcement officers
investigating potential terrorist activities.
"This is not the first time that Rep. King has accused Muslim Americans
of
not cooperating," said Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman
Terry
McAuliffe. "Yet, President Bush has failed to exercise his leadership
and
condemn Peter King's divisive comments.
"President Bush made a lot of promises to the American Muslim and Arab
American communities," continued McAuliffe. "In addition to breaking
his
promises, he's not even capable of stopping his own Republicans from
attacking these communities. This is another reason why we need a new
leadership in the White House"…
SEE ALSO:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
FORMER FAU PROFESSOR SUES SCHOOL ON CHARGES OF ANTI-ARAB DISCRIMINATION
Jennifer Peltz, Florida Sun-Sentinel, 3/9/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-phamza09mar09,0,2949452.story
A former Florida Atlantic University professor has sued the university,
saying he was let go out of anti-Arab discrimination.
Mohammed Khalid Hamza, an educational-technology expert, taught at FAU
from
1997 until last spring.
He flourished there for the first five years, earning "excellent"
evaluations and winning several FAU honors, according to Florida
Commission
on Human Relations documents.
But his career soured in 2002, when a committee of fellow education
professors raised questions about his accomplishments and concluded he
wasn't on course for tenure, commission documents show. He was soon
told
his contract would not be renewed after the 2002-03 academic year, the
documents say.
FAU has maintained Hamza had a history of misstatements in his resume
and
unprofessional conduct in the classroom, which he denies. Hamza, who
was an
advocate for Muslims on campus and in the community, contends he was
pushed
out by colleagues biased against Arabs and Muslims.
The Human Relations Commission agreed with him last year, saying four
white
male professors were granted tenure with far less scrutiny while Hamza
was
turned down...
-----
SPEAKER SAYS CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS HAVE MUCH IN COMMON
Martha Wick, Mount Pleasant News, 3/8/04
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11089361&BRD=1141&PAG=461&dept_id=163037&rfi=6
The similarities between Islam and Christianity outnumber differences,
a
leader of the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids, the oldest mosque still
in
use in the U.S., told an audience at Iowa Wesleyan College last
Thursday.
Although Muslims call God "Allah," both Muslims and Christians believe
in
one god and he is the same God, said Imam Ahmed Eilkhaldi at the Forum
presentation, a lecture series for IWC students, faculty and friends
given
throughout the school year.
Islam means submission to God's will said Eilkhaldi. "When you believe
in
Islam, you believe in total submission to Allah's will."
According to Eilkhaldi, Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet and Messiah,
but
they stop short of believing Jesus is Lord. In fact, that belief would
be
considered blasphemy in Islam said Eilkhaldi.
Additionally, Eilkhaldi said the Virgin Mary is much loved by Muslims.
He
added that Mary is the only woman mentioned in the Qur'an (the Muslims'
sacred book.)
Eilkhaldi reviewed six Islamic principles or articles of faith: (1) The
belief in God, alone; (2) The belief in God's angels; (3) The belief in
God's Prophets; (4) The belief in God's Books. (The Torah, the Psalms,
the
New Testament and the Qur'an, only as they are preserved in their
original
text;) (5) The belief in Life after Death and the day of Resurrection;
and
(6) The belief that every event throughout the cosmos is in harmony
with
Almighty God's will and His knowledge...
ALSO SEE:
MSA TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
Kate Blout, Western Herald, 3/9/04
http://www.westernherald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/03/09/404d3bccc37e2
Members of the Muslim Student Association and the community will have
the
chance to sample Middle Eastern cuisine and learn how to better bridge
the
gap between Islam and Christianity during upcoming events at Western
Michigan University.
MSA will be sponsoring an event titled "Islam and Christianity:
Coalition
or Collision?" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Thursday in the North
Ballroom of
the Bernhard Center.
"The purpose of this event is to promote peace, tolerance and
understanding
between the two largest religions in the world," said Sarah Husain,
sophomore majoring in business and president of the public relations
committee of MSA.
William Baker, an internationally known speaker from California and
founder
of Christians and Muslims for Peace, will be at the event, Husain said.
There will also be a free dinner featuring Middle Eastern cuisine. The
event is free and open to the public, but there is limited seating and
the
deadline for reservations is today. To make reservations, visit
www.rso.wmich.edu/msa.
"This event is part of a series of events planned by MSA, which we hope
will help build bridges between the many religions of the world,"
Husain
said...
---
ISLAMIC LEADER, CHRISTIAN CLERGY SIT DOWN AND TALK ... AND LEARN
Scott Jenkins, Salisbury Post, 3/9/04
http://salisburypost.townnews.com/articles/2004/03/09/news/09-mohamed-muslim_speaker.txt
When Imam Hassan Mohamed translated a passage from the Koran on Monday
that
means "the one nearer to God is one nearer to others," he got a
response
not usually heard at Muslim services:
A chorus of "amens."
That's because this was not a Muslim service. The spiritual leader of
Salisbury's Islamic community spoke to Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans
and
other clergy from the local Christian community during a Rowan County
Ministerial Association luncheon.
And sitting with the group of ministers around a table at the W.G.
"Bill"Hefner V.A. Medical Center, Mohamed said he believed "God is
looking
with a big smile on all of us today because we're getting together and
sitting down and talking."
And, most importantly, learning, said the Rev. Fleming Otey, a chaplain
at
the VA center and vice president of the Ministerial Association. He
said
Monday's presentation was part of a series to help ministers "learn
about
the various cultures within our community from the perspective of
people in
those cultures."
The Ministerial Association includes Muslim members. Dr. Yousuf
Siddiqui, a
V.A. physician, helped start the group, Otey said. Siddiqui and
Abdullah
Mahmud, a V.A. employee and counselor to Muslim patients, attended the
lunch as well.
But its purpose was mainly to educate the Christian ministers about
Islam,
a religion that's often viewed as so far-removed as to be almost alien
by
this nation's majority Christian population.
That, Mohamed said, was among the misconceptions he wanted to dispel.
"We're not foreigners in a foreign land," he said. Muslim communities
exist
in big cities and small towns across the nation, and with 1.3 billion
Muslims worldwide, "in every corner of the world there is a Muslim
community..."
-----
ONE RECORD GAVE SINGER RODGER COLLINS A TASTE OF FAME, BUT NO FORTUNE.
THAT
WAS LONG BEFORE HE BECAME HAJI SABRIE.
Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/9/04
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/03/09/DDGV65FH851.DTL
Haji Sabrie has operated an appliance repair business in Oakland for
years.
The devoted family man and his loving wife of 21 years have two
children on
the cusp of adulthood. A self-described "very religious" Muslim born in
Texas and raised in San Francisco, he is a humble, happy bear of man
whose
face falls naturally into a deep, radiant smile. He is understandably
leery
about bringing up the past.
"Haji Sabrie can move around anywhere he wants," he says. "But with
Rodger
Collins, things can be difficult."
Rodger Collins is a name from Sabrie's previous life.
During the golden age of soul, Oakland never produced a bigger star
than
Rodger Collins. When he headlined the Showcase on Telegraph Avenue, he
tore
up the crowds as much as the other big-name acts that came through the
room
-- Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Ike and Tina Turner...
Collins began to develop an interest in Islam. He toured with soul
singer
Joe Tex, himself a Black Muslim minister, and together they visited
mosques
all over the country. "For a while, that white-man-is-the-devil stuff
worked for me," he says. "But while I was saying that, I never gave up
my
white friends."
Sabrie followed the lead of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, of Black Muslim
founder
Elijah Muhammad, who took over the sect after his father's death in
1975
and immediately set a more conciliatory course for the church.
"Mohammed
taught that everybody was equal," Sabrie says. "You may come with a
male or
female body, but the person inside is a human. The creature inside
doesn't
have a race. "
The more he studied the Koran, the more he grew disenchanted with the
music
business. His last nightclub engagement was opening for Ike and Tina
Turner
and Redd Foxx at Las Vegas' Hilton International, playing the lounge
while
Elvis played the big room, hardly hard-luck, bottom-rung show business.
But
he was not happy with his career in records and found himself the
victim of
company politics....
-----
NO HORSING AROUND
MSNBC, 3/9/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4459670/
Embattled Disney may have a fight on another front.
The movie giant is being hit with charges that its new flick,
"Hidalgo," is
unfair to Muslims and Arabs. The Council on American-Islamic Relations
recently wrote to Disney chairman Michael Eisner, expressing concerns
that
the film, which stars Viggo Mortensen and Omar Sharif, presents unfair
stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs.
"Given the growing prejudice against Islam, Muslims and Arabs, we
believe a
film with this type of dialogue and imagery could have a negative
impact on
the lives of ordinary American Muslims and Arab-Americans," CAIR
spokesman
Ibrahim Hooper wrote to Disney. The film opened this weekend, but CAIR
based its complaint on early reports about the film because, Hooper
says,
Disney refused to screen "Hidalgo" for the group.
"We heard back from [Disney] and they said there's nothing to worry
about,"
Hooper told The Scoop. "But then we heard from someone who saw it who
said
that it does indeed contain exactly the sort of thing we're worried
about."
Hooper says he's concerned that if "we go too public with our
objections"
they'll give the flick free publicity, adding, "We're going to wait and
see
before we decide exactly what to do."
"We've heard from Muslims who saw it and said that they loved it," a
Disney
spokesman told The Scoop. He said the flick was made with Muslim
consultants and is confident that it contains nothing offensive. When
asked
about Hooper's charge that Disney had refused to grant CAIR a
screening,
the spokesman declined to give a yes or no answer, and eventually hung
up
on The Scoop.
ALSO SEE:
CONCERNED MUSLIMS CONTACT CAIR ABOUT 'HIDALGO'
Since the opening of "Hidalgo," CAIR has received a number of
complaints
from concerned Muslims about the film's stereotypical content. One
movie-goer wrote: "There were many stereotypes and contradictions
throughout the movie that seem intentional to make Muslims and Arabs
look
backward." Another said: "Even the stereotyping is illogical; unless I
missed something, why would the Sheikh's daughter have to be drowned
after
she was stoned to death?"
-----
SOME PROGRESS ON DETAINEES
Washington Post, 3/9/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41699-2004Mar8.html
The Pentagon unveiled a draft last week of the review process it
contemplates for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The document, on
which
the Defense Department seeks public comment, fleshes out procedures
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld sketched in a recent speech.
For
those who have been alarmed by the Bush administration's failure since
establishing the detention facility to create any serious review
mechanism,
its move toward a more systematic approach is welcome. Though belated,
and
announced only under the looming threat of Supreme Court intervention,
the
proposed process contains positive elements. It also falls short in
important respects.
The administration proposes that a three-member military panel review
each
detainee's case at least once a year. In non-adversarial proceedings, a
"designated military officer" would present the pros and cons of
release.
The panel could hear from the detainee, his family and the government
of
his country. The detainee would, subject to national security concerns,
be
able to see material presented indicating he remains a threat. The
review
board would make a recommendation to a civilian Pentagon leader, who
would
then order release or continued detention.
The boards, according to the draft, will assess "whether and to what
extent
each enemy combatant poses a threat to the United States or its
allies,"
but the standard and burden of proof are far too vague. It isn't clear
which side will have to prove how much of a threat that a given
detainee
poses, or how little. If this means, in practice, that a detainee must
prove beyond a scintilla of a doubt that he poses not a scintilla of a
threat, the review process will be a rubber stamp for long-term human
storage. Crafting an appropriate standard is difficult but essential if
the
review process is to be predictable, orderly and fair...
ALSO SEE:
NINE DETAINED OVER ATTACKS ON FRENCH MUSLIM PREFECT
Reuters, 3/9/04
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0961594.htm
NANTES - French police detained nine people on Tuesday, including
several
members of an extreme-right group, over a series of attacks targeting a
Muslim prefect, judicial sources said.
The police swoop in Paris and the western city of Nantes followed three
attacks in January against Aissa Dermouche after he was named prefect
of
the Jura region in eastern France, including a bomb explosion that
wrecked
his car. The sources said some of the people detained were members of
an
organisation called Adsav, an extreme right-wing group from Brittany in
northwestern France. They gave no other details.
The bomb attack on Dermouche's car near his home in Nantes on January
18
was followed by an explosion a week later at the entrance to a business
school he headed. A small blast damaged the letter-box of a school
attended
by his son on January 29.
No one has been hurt in the attacks. Police have not said publicly
whether
they believe the Algerian-born Dermouche, one of France's first Muslim
prefects, is the victim of a personal vendetta or if the attacks are
politically motivated.
The appointment of Dermouche as the government's senior representative
in
Jura is intended to represent a Muslim success story. The government
has
said it will not let the attacks upset its efforts to better integrate
France's five million Muslims.
The government is trying to counter fundamentalist attitudes and social
discontent among Muslims by promoting a moderate "French Islam", but
moves
to ban the Muslim headscarf in state schools has prompted protests.
Police have given indication that they see a link between the attacks
on
Dermouche and what French authorities say were probably arson attacks
on
two Muslim places of worship in southern France last week.
---
PELOSI STATEMENT ON SAFE ACT
Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the
following statement today on cosponsoring the Security and Freedom
Ensured
Act of 2003 (SAFE) act, H.R. 3335:
"As we protect and defend the American people against terrorism, we
must
protect and defend the Constitution and the civil liberties that define
our
democracy.
"When Congress voted for the Patriot Act, it was clearly understood
that
the Patriot Act was intended to combat terrorism. Now that we have had
time to assess how the Patriot Act is being used, it is clear that
Attorney
General John Ashcroft has misused the Patriot Act for investigations
that
have nothing to do with terrorism. We should not simply extend it, but
we
should correct it to prevent abuses of our civil liberties.
"In particular, we need to look at measures to restore the federal
judiciary's role to ensure that the Attorney General's far-reaching
powers
are not abused. The SAFE Act, which I am proud to cosponsor, would
modify
the Patriot Act by requiring court approval for the FBI to obtain
records
and wiretaps. The SAFE Act would also make clear that the exercise of
political protest is protected. We should be able to keep the American
people safe without threatening our civil liberties."
ACTION REQUESTED:
Contact your elected representatives to ask that they support the SAFE
Act.
GO TO: http://capwiz.com/cair/issues/alert/?alertid=5133171&type=CO
-----
OTTAWA COPS INVOLVED IN ARAR CASE
CBC Ottawa. 3/9/04
http://ottawa.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ot_ottawaarar20040309
OTTAWA - Muslim leaders in Ottawa say the city's police force played a
role
in the Maher Arar case.
Arar was deported by U.S. officials after he was stopped in New York
while
making his way home to Ottawa from a family vacation. Arar spent over
10
months in a Syrian prison, where, he said, he was repeatedly tortured.
The revelation of involvement by the city's police force comes a day
after
members of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations met with
Police Chief Vince Bevan.
Bevan admitted that his force worked with RCMP and CSIS to investigate
Arar, said CAIR Canada's executive director, Riad Saloojee.
The operation was part of an effort after Sept. 11, 2001, to have
police
forces work together against terrorism.
Ottawa Police do not deny the information, and plan to issue a
statement
later Tuesday.
On Jan. 28, Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan announced a public
inquiry
to look into Arar's ordeal.
A spokesperson for McLellan said the scope of the inquiry is wide
enough to
investigate the actions of any Canadian official.
-----
HEADSCARF DISPUTE SHUTS FRENCH SCHOOL FOR DAY
Reuters, 3/9/04
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=3553859&thesection=news&thesubsection=world
STRASBOURG - Teachers shut a state school in eastern France on Tuesday
in
protest against a schoolgirl who insisted on wearing a Muslim headscarf
to
class.
Teachers in the school in Thann, near the borders with Germany and
Switzerland, complained the 11-year-old girl of Turkish origin had been
allowed to attend school wearing only a small bandanna on her head and
then
broke that agreement.
The girl arrived at the school in February after being expelled from
another school for refusing to remove her full headscarf there.
The dispute highlighted the problems France will face when it applies
its
newly-passed ban on religious symbols in state schools next September.
Critics say the law is vague and pupils will probably test its limits
with
new variations of headgear.
"Everything that has taken us years to build up is now threatened --
our
school rules, the calm we had until now, the equality of all pupils
under
the regulations," the teachers said in a statement.
Philippe Hemez, a local school board official, criticised the teachers,
saying: "Today it's not the pupil who's creating the problem, nor her
parents or her friends, but the teachers."
The new ban, just passed by parliament, which will also cover Jewish
skullcaps and large Christian crosses, leaves some latitude to the
school
by outlawing "conspicuous signs of religious affiliation..."
-----
THE TRUE RATIONALE? IT'S A DECADE OLD
James Mann, Washington Post, 3/7/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35472-2004Mar6.html
The Bush administration has offered a series of shifting justifications
for
the war in Iraq. Each has been quite specific: The war was to uncover
Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction; to dislodge a brutal
dictator; to combat Iraq's support for terrorism; to deal with what
President Bush called a "grave and gathering threat."
Which was the real one? That's the overarching question that has
dominated
public debate in recent months. But the question is too narrow. The
underlying rationale was both broader and more abstract: The war was
carried out in pursuit of a larger vision of using America's
overwhelming
military superiority to shape the future.
The outlines of that vision were first sketched more than a decade ago,
immediately after the Soviet Union collapsed. Some of the most
important
and bitterly debated aspects of the war in Iraq -- including the
administration's willingness to engage in preemptive military action --
can
be traced to discussions and documents from the early 1990s, when
Pentagon
officials, under then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney and
then-Undersecretary
of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz, led the way in forging a new, post-Cold
War
military strategy for the United States.
The gist of the strategy they formulated was that the United States
should
be the world's dominant superpower -- not merely today, or 10 years
from
now, or when a rival such as China appears, but permanently. The
elements
of this vision were couched in bland-sounding phrases: The United
States
should "preserve its strategic depth" and should act overseas to "shape
the
security environment." What could potentially flow from those vague
words
was, however, anything but bland: The recent war in Iraq was, above
all, an
effort to shape the security environment of the Middle East...
-----
ARAB WORKERS AT PARLIAMENT CONSTRUCTION SITE MARKED WITH "X"
Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press, 3/9/04
JERUSALEM-- Israeli Arab workers building a new wing for Israel's
parliament had their helmets marked with lines of red paint to help
security guards distinguish them from foreign laborers, parliament
officials confirmed Tuesday.
Parliament Speaker Reuven Rivlin ordered the markings removed after
learning of the practice from a report in the Maariv daily. The
newspaper
ran a photo Tuesday showing five workers with white helmets, three of
them
marked. Two of the workers had simple red lines on their helmets, and
the
third bore a large "X."
Ahmed Tibi, an Arab legislator, complained of racism. "The Jews know
who
was marked," he said, an apparent reference to the yellow Star of David
emblems Jews had to pin to their clothes during Nazi rule.
About 180 workers, including Israeli Arabs and foreigners, are Building
a
new wing for the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Foreign workers, many
from
the Far East or Eastern Europe, are not considered a security threat by
Israel...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Ann Coulter's column is distributed by Universal Press Syndicate (UPS).
Contact UPS to express your concerns about Coulter's bigoted remarks.
SEE: http://www.amuniversal.com/ups/features/ann_coulter/bio.htm
CONTACT: sroush@uexpress.com, lsalem@amuniversal.com,
ltarry@uexpress.com,
gmelvin@uexpress.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
Lee Salem
Executive Vice President and Editor
Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St, Ste 700
Kansas City, MO 64111-7705
TEL: (816) 932-6600
WEB: http://www.amuniversal.com/ups/
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANN COULTER SAYS MUSLIMS 'SMELL BAD'
CAIR: Media should reject commentator's bigotry
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/10/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today called on major media outlets to end their
association
with a controversial conservative pundit who recently suggested that
Muslims "smell bad."
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
syndicated columnist Ann Coulter, who frequently appears as a guest on
cable news programs, made that Islamophobic remark in a recent
commentary
on Mel Gibson's new film "The Passion of the Christ."
Coulter wrote: "Being nice to people is, in fact, one of the incidental
tenets of Christianity (as opposed to other religions whose tenets are
more
along the lines of 'kill everyone who doesn't smell bad and doesn't
answer
to the name Mohammed'). She also referred to: "(The Prophet) Muhammad's
many specific instructions to kill non-believers whenever possible."
SEE: "THE PASSION OF THE LIBERAL"
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/ac20040304.shtml
"We believe strongly in freedom of speech and support Ann Coulter's
right
to hold even bigoted and hate-filled views," said CAIR Communications
Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed. "But credible media outlets should not
associate
themselves with or serve to legitimize such overt racism and
Islamophobia."
Ahmed called on newspapers that publish Coulter's column and on cable
news
channels that invite her as a guest commentator to reconsider promoting
someone who spreads virulent hatred and intolerance.
Coulter has made a number of similarly anti-Muslim comments since the
9/11
terrorist attacks. Immediately following the attacks, she suggested
that
"we should invade their [Muslim] countries, kill their leaders and
convert
them to Christianity." Coulter wrote in Worldnetdaily.com: "While
Judaism
and Christianity begin with the Creation, Islam reveres a God who
creates
nothing."
When asked whether she would recommend "Muslim-free air travel,"
Coulter
said: "This is my idea…I think airlines ought to start advertising: 'We
have the most civil rights lawsuits brought against us by Arabs.'" When
asked how Muslims would travel, she responded: "They could use flying
carpets." (Guardian, 5/17/03) Coulter also referred to Middle
Easterners as
"camel riding nomads" and said Egyptians have an "aversion to bathing."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/10/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD LOVES YOU
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Library Project Update: Oregon
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: KING RECEIVES 'THOUSANDS OF E-MAILS'
- MPAC Challenges King's Remarks
* CAIR: EUROPE TAKING WRONG ROUTE TO INTEGRATE MUSLIMS (PI)
* TX: MENDING AT VANDALIZED MOSQUE (KCBD)
* FINAL DEFENDANT IN 'VA. JIHAD' CASE ACQUITTED (Wash Post)
- Engineer, Acquitted, Tells His Ordeal (Gulf News)
- Army Still Unsure if Yee Had Banned Data (Star-Ledger)
* RICE: U.S. MUST PROMOTE ITS VALUES IN MUSLIM WORLD (CJ)
- Islam "Illegal' in Moldova (BBC)
* SC: PRINCIPAL APOLOGIZES FOR OFFENSIVE EMAIL (Island Packet)
- Disney Rides into Trouble with Story of Cowboy (Indep)
* CAIR-CAN: MUSLIM GROUP CONCERNED OVER ARAR CASE (CP)
- Crackdown Overrode Liberty: Security Chief (Age)
- Man's Fate Decided In Secret Hearing (Free Press)
- Dr. Al-Arian's Legal Papers Illegally Seized (TPCJP)
- Americans Want Asylum in Canada (Gazette)
* BARRIER CHOKES LIFE OUT OF PALESTINIAN VILLAGES (Calgary Sun)
* FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT APPALLED BY IRAQ WAR (AP)
* NORTHERN NEVADA REGION HOSTS 1ST ISLAMIC CONFERENCE
* VA: WIA AND DAR AL-HIJRAH FAMILY BAZAAR
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD LOVES YOU
A man once came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with a
sheet of
cloth and something in his hand. The man said: "I saw a group of trees
and
heard the sound of young birds. I took them and put them in my garment.
Their mother then came and began to hover around my head. I showed (the
chicks) to her, and she fell on them. I wrapped them (all) with my
garment.
They are now with me."
The Prophet said to his companions: "Are you surprised at the affection
of
the mother for her young?...God is more affectionate to His servants
than a
mother to her young ones. Take (the chicks) back and put them where you
found them."
Sunan of Abu Dawood, Hadith 1359
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,350 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Oregon: 48 covered, 167 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: KING RECEIVES 'THOUSANDS OF E-MAILS'
Unresolved Problem: Image of Muslim Americans
Bill O'Reilly, O'Reilly Factor, 3/9/04
http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/index.html
"Yes, I'm getting literally thousands of e-mails, phone calls. There's
a
pretty good Muslim leadership network. One of the groups is CAIR,
Committee
on American-Islamic Relations [sic]. And as soon as I say anything, I
can
assure you after this show tonight...my e-mail will be coming in. They
just
have a nationwide network that just plugs in..."
ALSO SEE:
MPAC CHALLENGES KING'S REMARK
Steve Emerson, Flavia Colgan, Joe Scarborough
Scarborough Country MSNBC, 3/9/04
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4497170/
Peter King, do you still stand by that statement, that 85 percent of
the
mosques in America are run by Muslim extremists?
REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: Yes, Joe, I do. And it's not something I
say
with great any sense of pride, but I do.
Sarah Eltantawi, you are the communications director for the Muslim
Public
Affairs Council, representing American Muslims.
Respond to Peter King`s statement.
SARAH ELTANTAWI, MUSLIM PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL: You know, it`s one of
the
most shameless and irresponsible uses of taxpayer money and the backs
of
innocent American Muslims to promote his latest work of fiction.
Let`s take what he just said, for example; 80 percent, 85 percent of
Muslim
leadership are extremists because of the words of Shaykh Kabbani. Who
is
Shaykh Kabbani? I`ve heard of Robert Mueller, the FBI director, who has
repeatedly said that the American Muslim and Arab-American community
have
been instrumental in helping us with our counterterrorism effort since
9/11.
The list of activities that goes on with American Muslim organizations
working with local and federal law enforcement to help with
counterterrorism efforts is endless…
SEE ALSO:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
EUROPE TAKING WRONG ROUTE TO INTEGRATE MUSLIM POPULATION
Alaa Bayoumi, Seattle Post Intelligencer, 3/10/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/163953_muslim10.html
News coming from Europe over the past few weeks shows a rising trend
within
several European countries to seek the assimilation of their Muslim
inhabitants through new laws forcing Muslim females to give up their
Islamic attire in public schools, sending Muslim refugees back home and
limiting the number of new Muslim clerics.
A closer look at Europe's current economic and ideological
circumstances
and at the consequences of these latest regulations shows that Europe
is
taking the wrong route to integrate its Muslim populations...
The new regulations unjustly infringe on the civil rights of millions
of
law-abiding Muslim immigrants by: forcing Muslim women and girls to
choose
between their religiously mandated attire and available public
educational
opportunities; sending Muslim refugees to countries where their lives
may
be endangered and limiting Muslims access to religious leaders and
education.
Today, more than 15 million Muslims are integral to Europe. Some of
them
are highly educated immigrants and converts. While many are
underprivileged
workers who help fill blue-collar jobs, have little political access,
if
any, and face frequent discrimination, especially in the post-9/11 era.
In
Britain, where 1.6 million Muslims live, a London-based Islamic human
rights group reported 344 incidents of anti-Muslim violence against
Muslims
in the year after Sept. 11, including the stabbing of a Muslim woman...
Alaa Bayoumi is a researcher at the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
the United States' largest Muslim civil-liberties advocacy group.
-----
MENDING AT THE MOSQUE
KCBD, 3/8/04
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=1697160
"The guys came in here and bent the fence," said Cherif Amor, a member
of
the Islamic Center of the South Plains, retracing a night of violence.
"The
concrete blocks are here," he said, standing outside a broken window.
On Sunday morning vandals defiled his house of worship. Monday
afternoon
the faithful were framed with shards of glass. The mosque is surrounded
by
a seven foot fence, three rows of barbed wire, a sign that warns that
the
premises is monitored by security 24 hours a day. While it failed to
keep
out the hate, its successful in its new job; holding sentiments of
love,
flowers, from a community banding together...
Across town, FBI Special Agent John McSwain is trying to figure out who
did
it. "The FBI investigates any situation where a house of worship has
been
vandalized," he said.
So far, authorities have held back from officially calling it a hate
crime,
but in the religious community there is no hesitation...
A house of worship wounded, but resilient. Ending a press conference
with a
prayer, the shattered window allowing the cadence to be carried even
further...
-----
FINAL DEFENDANT IN 'VA. JIHAD' CASE ACQUITTED
Jerry Markon, Washington Post, 3/9/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43823-2004Mar9.html
A federal judge in Alexandria today acquitted the final member of an
alleged "Virginia jihad network," saying prosecutors had shown he was
"very
interested in violent jihad" but failed to prove that he fought with
the
former Taliban rulers of Afghanistan.
Sabri Benkhala, 28, had been charged with supplying services to the
Taliban
and firing an AK-47 automatic rifle and a rocket-propelled grenade in
Afghanistan. If convicted, he would have faced a minimum of 30 years in
prison.
After a one-day trial, U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema ruled
that
the government had not proved the case to the legal standard of "beyond
a
reasonable doubt." Only one witness said Benkhala had gone to
Afghanistan,
she said, and she found that witness "simply not believable."
But as several of Benkhala's relatives burst into tears, Brinkema added
that she had found Benkhala's conduct "troubling." She then addressed a
throng of his supporters, saying from the bench: "This business about
violent jihad and it being part of what good Muslims view as part of
their
religion, I have to say it troubles this court greatly and I hope it
troubles some of you."
The judge called on "responsible members of the Muslim as well as the
non-Muslim communities to address this trend."
Benkhala, upon hearing the verdict, said softly, "Thank God." He then
embraced his father and said: "I'm just hoping to get on with my life.
I
believe everything is in God's hands."
Added Benkhala's father, Anthony Benkhala: "Justice has been
rendered..."
ALSO SEE:
SAUDI ENGINEER, ACQUITTED OF SMUGGLING EXPLOSIVES, TELLS HIS ORDEAL
Gulf-News, 9-3-04
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=113251
Essam Mohammed Al Mohandis, a Saudi biomedical engineer recently
acquitted
in the US of smuggling explosives, has described the vindictive
behaviour
of US immigration authorities in an exclusive interview with
London-based
pan-Arab daily Asharq Al Awsat.
Al Mohandis, an employee of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and
Research
Center in Riyadh, spoke of how federal agents maltreated him during his
ordeal.
He said his lawyer Miriam Conrad was successful in disproving all the
charges against him. The charges - possession and smuggling of
explosives
and lying to Customs authorities - were enough to sentence him for
15-year
prison with a fine of $250,000. Al Mohandis was arrested for carrying
three
small sparklers on a flight from Germany to Boston.
Al Mohandis, who had flown to Boston for a five-day training seminar on
how
to use DNA equipment purchased by the Riyadh hospital, said he never
thought his journey would end in a US prison for dangerous criminals.
US police arrested him again eight hours after his acquittal for not
having
a valid visa. Al Mohandis did not have a current visa because the
federal
officers had revoked his visa after the arrest.
"While I was receiving congratulations for the acquittal, seven
gun-wielding security officers came to my hotel room and asked me to
follow
them. They told me they were from the Immigration Department," he said.
He said the officers did not allow him to call either his lawyer or his
father. "They did not even allow me to take my clothes. They later
took...
---
ARMY STILL UNSURE IF CHAPLAIN HAD BANNED DATA
Brian Donohue, Star-Ledger, 3/10/04
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1078902896161351.xml
Six months after the arrest of a Muslim Army chaplain charged with
mishandling secret information on terror suspects, U.S. Army officials
said
yesterday they have still not determined whether the papers he was
carrying
are actually classified.
A preliminary hearing for Capt. James Yee, a Springfield, N.J., native,
was
delayed for the fifth time yesterday so officials can continue their
review
of the documents, according to a statement issued yesterday by U.S.
Southern Command.
The hearing, scheduled to resume today at Fort Benning in Georgia, was
postponed until March 24.
Yee's attorney, Eugene Fidell, pounced on the growing pattern of delays
as
a sign that the government has no evidence to back the charges against
the
West Point graduate.
"I've prosecuted cases, and if I were them I wouldn't want to go
forward
with this either," said Fidell. "What's missing is the smoking gun - or
any
gun, even a cold gun. It's time for this case to be shut down and my
client
to be given an apology."
A spokesman for U.S. Southern Command declined to comment on the case.
-----
RICE: U.S. MUST PROMOTE ITS VALUES IN MUSLIM WORLD
Al Cross, Courier-Journal, 3/9/04
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/03/09ky/B1-rice03090-9768.html
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice told a University of
Louisville
audience yesterday that America should do a better job of improving its
image and promoting its values in Arab and Muslim nations.
"The United States needs to put new energy into its public diplomacy,"
Rice
said as she answered questions during a speech that defended the Bush
administration's invasion of Iraq.
"All that we have to do is tell the truth," she said, adding that
groups
such as universities and civic clubs also should reach out to
counterparts
in Muslim nations. "It shouldn't all come through the United States
government."
Rice said America is not trying to impose its values on Muslim nations.
"These are universal values: that people want to be able to say what
they
think, they want to be able worship freely, they want their girls and
boys
go to be able to go to school," she told more than 1,200 guests of the
university's McConnell Center for Political Leadership.
The center's founder and chief fund-raiser, Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch
McConnell, introduced Rice as "the most influential woman in Washington
today," and said she had been involved in every critical defense and
foreign-policy decision by Bush, beginning when he was a candidate for
president...
Four protesters from the Louisville Peace Action Committee stood
outside
the stadium holding signs about the issue...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS DETAINED IN MOLDOVA ON CHARGES OF "ILLEGALLY" PRACTICING ISLAM
BBC, 3/10/04
Excerpt from report by Moldovan private ProTV on 10 March
[Presenter] Police have arrested several Muslims on charges of
promoting
Islam in Moldova. The Policemen said this religion is illegal in
Moldova
because it is not registered. For its part, the Helsinki Committee for
Human Rights has criticized the police actions.
[Correspondent] According to the police, about 80 Muslims are attending
religious services each Friday in a building on Gagarin Street [in
Chisinau] rented by a charity. Police said these religious services are
illegal because Islam is not registered as a religious cult with the
Justice Ministry.
-----
BATTERY CREEK PRINCIPAL APOLOGIZES FOR EMAIL ON ISLAMIC CULTURE, PEOPLE
ADVERTISEMENT
Island Packet, 3/9/04
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/briefs/story/3403924p-3025287c.html
BEAUFORT - Battery Creek High School Principal Rodney Jenkins has
apologized for sending an e-mail message to some of his teachers that
ridicules Islamic people.
The Feb. 20 e-mail forwarded from Jenkins' school-supplied computer
account
to all teachers in the social studies department asks why Muslim
terrorists
are so quick to commit suicide, making light of their living
conditions,
social structure, personal hygiene and religion.
Many Battery Creek teachers who received the e-mail said Monday that
they
disapproved of Jenkins sending it, but didn't think it was a big deal.
Jenkins said Monday he didn't read the e-mail carefully before he sent
it,
but just glanced over it quickly and thought it would provoke
intelligent
discussion among social studies teachers. He said he did not agree with
the
contents of the e-mail.
He sent an apology e-mail Feb. 23 in which he admitted the e-mail
"represented a very slanted view of the Middle Eastern culture..."
ALSO SEE:
DISNEY RIDES INTO TROUBLE WITH STORY OF COWBOY WHO CONQUERS THE MIDDLE
EAST
Andrew Gumbel, Independent, 3/10/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=499665
Once upon a time, a fabled horseman from the Wild West accepted an
unusual
challenge from a Middle Eastern businessman and rode his American
mustang
to victory against the odds in an extraordinary 3,000-mile Arabian
desert
race known as the Ocean of Fire.
That, at least, is the "true story" touted by the Walt Disney Company
as
the basis for its film Hidalgo, which has just opened in the United
States.
The premise is certainly bringing in audiences beguiled by its
old-fashioned adventurism and derring-do sensibility. But it has also
triggered a cultural row of rare intensity, as historians, Native
Americans
and Arab and Muslim interest groups have all piled into Disney,
accusing
the company of giving credence to outrageous fabrications in the
interests
of promoting a crude American cultural imperialism and making a fast
buck.
"Pony baloney," one critic has called it. "Liar, liar, chaps on fire,"
intoned another.
The problem is, Frank Hopkins was almost certainly a fabulator and a
confidence man whose tales of heroic deeds were little more than tall
stories. There is no mention of him in US Cavalry records, or in
accounts
of the Battle of Wounded Knee, or in the extensive records of Buffalo
Bill's travelling show. His name does not crop up in Teddy Roosevelt's
voluminous correspondence. There is no evidence that the Texas-Vermont
race
was even run. He was never photographed in the saddle, except as an old
man
"re-enacting" the exploits of his youth...
And the Council on American-Islamic Relations has written to Disney to
complain of negative stereotyping of Muslims and Arabs in the film...
-----
MUSLIM GROUP CONCERNED OVER ARAR CASE
Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press, 3/9/04
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/03/09/376189-cp.html
OTTAWA - A group representing Canadian Muslims expressed "grave
concern"
Tuesday about word the Ottawa police teamed up with the RCMP and other
security officials to investigate Maher Arar.
The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations said the admission
by
Ottawa police chief Vince Bevan "adds yet another layer of complicity
and
accountability" in the case of Arar, a telecommunications engineer who
got
caught up in the fight against terrorism. "One obvious question now is
the
extent of the involvement of the Ottawa police," Riad Saloojee,
executive
director of the council, said in an interview.
Arar, 33, was detained by U.S. officials on suspicions of terrorism
during
a September 2002 stopover in New York as he returned from vacation
overseas.
U.S. authorities subsequently sent Arar to his birthplace of Syria,
where
he was imprisoned for several months.
Arar says he was tortured in custody and repeatedly accused of links to
Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network before being set free. He denies
involvement in terrorism.
Arar's case, which raises questions about the role of Canadian security
agencies, is the subject of a government-appointed inquiry headed by
Justice Dennis O'Connor...
ALSO SEE:
CRACKDOWN OVERRODE LIBERTY: SECURITY CHIEF
Mark Baker, The Age, 3/10/04
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/09/1078594362827.html
America's top anti-terrorism official has conceded the country courted
an
international backlash by failing to temper its security push with
respect
for privacy and civil liberties.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said yesterday that some of the
tough
measures imposed in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks -
including racially-based checks on foreign visitors to the US - had
been
unfair.
"America knows we cannot seek a double standard and America knows we
get
what we give. And so we must and will always be careful to respect
people's
privacy, civil liberties and reputations," Mr Ridge said here at the
start
of a regional tour...
He said immigration controls, imposed soon after the attacks in New
York
and Washington, had focused on particular ethnic and religious groups
and
been rightly condemned as racial profiling...
---
MAN'S FATE DECIDED IN SECRET HEARING
Tamara Audi, Detroit Free Press, 3/10/04
http://www.freep.com/news/locway/secret10_20040310.htm
After a closed, five-hour hearing Tuesday, a Detroit immigration court
judge decided to deport a Somalian man federal officials said they were
investigating for possible links to terrorism.
Nuradin Abdi's family denied any such links, and said he was targeted
for
investigation because he is a Muslim.
Abdi, who ran a small cell phone business, was living in Columbus,
Ohio,
when federal agents took him into custody Nov. 28. His wife is
expecting
their third child in June.
He was accused of lying on his asylum application, his family said.
Because Somalia has no operating government to receive its citizens,
and
clan wars have ripped the country apart, it is dangerous for members of
certain clans to live there.
The United States has helped thousands of Somalis settle in Ohio and
Minnesota, and deported few. Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court decided
to
hear the issue of deportations to Somalia.
Abdi's lawyer, Douglas Weigle, said he planned to appeal any
unfavorable
ruling.
But later Tuesday evening, Abdi's family said he would rather face
possible
death in Somalia than sit indefinitely in U.S. jails. His family has
not
been able to contact him for more than three months and does not know
where
he is being held...
---
DR. AL-ARIAN'S LEGAL PAPERS ILLEGALLY SEIZED (TPCJP)
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace, 3-6-04
CONTACT: tampabayjustice@yahoo.com
Tampa - The deplorable treatment of Dr. Sami Al-Arian and Sameeh
Hammoudeh
by prison guards continued on Thursday, when the men faced a
"shakedown" of
their prison cell.
During this process, guards wearing vests and masks covering their
faces
raided the cell, turning it upside down. Although they faced physical
distress for an hour and a half, Dr. Al-Arian and his cellmate were
concerned about what was happening in their cell in their absence, with
regard to their legal papers.
When Dr. Al-Arian and Mr. Hammoudeh returned to their cell, they found
that
hundreds of pages of their legal documents and personal notes were
missing.
For 75 minutes, Dr. Al-Arian called for the guards to ask about the
stolen
documents. When they finally arrived, they told him that they were
indeed
in their possession.
Al-Arian and Hammoudeh have been under lockdown for a week, during
which
time they were not allowed to visit with their families or attorneys or
make any telephone calls. Their legal mail has also been opened by
prison
authorities, a blatantly illegal and unconstitutional act.
Furthermore, the men were not able to listen to tape recordings to
prepare
their defense as the recording equipment was not working.
It is evident that these horrendous circumstances are making the
prospect
of a fair trial near impossible. The Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice
and
Peace condemns the atrocious, unfair and inhumane prison conditions of
Coleman Federal Penitentiary and asks that Dr. Al-Arian and Mr.
Hammoudeh
be moved to Tampa immediately...
All conscientious individuals are encouraged to contact Judge Thomas
McCoun, the only individual with the power to change these shameful
conditions and ensure that these political prisoners receive a fair
trial.
To write to Judge Thomas McCoun encouraging him to change these
shameful
conditions and ensure that these political prisoners receive a fair
trial:
The Honorable Thomas B. McCoun
U.S. District Court
801 North Florida Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33602
---
AMERICANS WANT ASYLUM IN CANADA
Adrienne Tanner, Gazette, 3/10/04
VANCOUVER - The number of Americans who sought asylum in Canada reached
an
all-time high last year, Immigration and Refugee Board statistics show.
In 2003, the number of refugee claims filed by American citizens peaked
at
317, up from 213 the year before.
Included in the 39 refugee claims filed by Americans in the Vancouver
region is a handful of medical marijuana users who claim they are
persecuted in their home country.
Other high-profile claims across Canada include a least one deserter
from
the U.S. army and scores of Muslims who claim new laws in the United
States
have trampled their human rights.
Despite the surge in claims, the acceptance rate remains at zero.
Only one American has ever been accepted as a refugee by the board and
that
decision was ultimately overturned in court...
-----
CEMENT BARRIER CHOKES LIFE OUT OF PALESTINIAN VILLAGES
Bill Kaufman, Calgary Sun, 3/10/04
http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/kaufmann.html
Palestinians need a security fence of their own.
Not even the heroics of young British photographer-activist Tom
Hurndall
were enough to shield them from the daily brutality of Israeli
occupation.
On April 11, 2003 while protecting Palestinian children from Israeli
gunfire in Gaza, an unarmed Hurndall was shot in the head by a soldier
equipped with a telescopic sight.
Only unrelenting pressure by his family overturned a typical Israeli
military whitewash of the 22-year-old's killing.
The Hurndall family are the "lucky ones." Few instances of civilian
deaths
at the hands of Israeli troops result in charges.
Fewer still are heard of in North America, such as Manal Sofran, gunned
down by Israeli soldiers in her Ramallah doorway as she frantically
called
out for her four children.
Then there's Khalil Mughrabi, 11, of Gaza -- shot in the head.
Another young boy armed with a sandwich was recently killed by a single
bullet in the doorway of his West Bank home. His father feared he'd be
harmed if he'd gone to school that day...
-----
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT APPALLED BY IRAQ WAR
Associated Press, 3/6/04
http://www.montanaforum.com/rednews/2004/03/06/build/freedoms/iraq-report
BOZEMAN - Iraq is a country filled with anger, and poor planning by
U.S.
leaders has put American troops in a bad spot, a correspondent for Time
magazine told high school students here Wednesday.
"It's like nothing I've ever seen before," Phil Zabriskie told the
students. "It is easily the most unpleasant place I've been. There is
anger
everywhere."
Zabriskie, a Time correspondent based in Vietnam, recently spent 10
weeks
in Baghdad.
The students in Bill Stoddart's comparative government class sat mostly
silent for much of the hour as Zabriskie talked and showed slides -
soldiers walking through an Iraqi town, a boy hitting himself with
chains
as part of a religious tradition, and crowds throwing rocks at a statue
of
Saddam Hussein.
Iraqis are angry for many reasons, Zabriskie said...
And they're angry that American troops haven't done more to keep the
peace
since Saddam's regime fell, Zabriskie said...
-----
NORTHERN NEVADA REGION HOSTS 1ST ISLAMIC CONFERENCE
WHAT: The Northern Nevada Muslim Community (NNMC) and the Muslim
Students'
Association (MSA) at University of Nevada Reno announce will host the
1st
Annual Islamic Conference of Northern Nevada, titled: "Islam's Role in
American Society."
WHEN and WHERE: The three day event will be held at the NNMC community
center, 1857 Oddie Boulevard in Sparks, Nevada on Saturday and Sunday,
March 20-21, 2004 and at the Jot Travis Student Union on the campus of
the
University of Nevada Reno on Monday, March 22, 2004.
Speakers include: Aminah Assilmi, Director of the International Union
of
Muslim Women; Yusuf Estes, American Chaplain of the World Council of
Muslim
Youth and publisher of the websites "todayislam.com" and
"islamtomorrow.com"; Dr. Zulfiqar Shah, President of the Society of
Shar'ia
Scholars of America; Dr. Richard Siegel, Director of the Northern
Nevada
chapter of the ACLU, UNLV Professor of Law Mary Berkheiser, Co-Director
of
the Juvenile Justice Clinic at the University of Las Vegas William S.
Boyd
School of Law.
The three day conference is free-to-the-public and Sunday's open house
event will include a variety of cultural activities, tastes of
traditional
foods and other refreshments.
To make reservations and for more information by email, contact NNMC
President Hendi at: president@nnvmuslims.org or call the NNMC Message
Line
at (775) 351-1857.
-----
VA: WIA AND DAR AL-HIJRAH FAMILY BAZAAR
WHAT: Washington Islamic Academy (WIA) in coordination with Dar
Al-Hijrah
Sisters' Committee invite you and your and friends to its "First Annual
Family Bazaar." Attend to support your community school. Activities
include
games, student performance and student art and science fair.
WHEN: Saturday April, 10th from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
WHERE: Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center
For more info call WIA AT (703) 313-6977 or Contact Dr. Saleh Nusairal:
principal@washingtonislamicacademy.com
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/11/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE GOLDEN RULE
* CAIR CONDEMNS MADRID BOMBINGS
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Library Project Update: Idaho
* CAIR SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
- CAIR-LA: Forum on PATRIOT Act
- CAIR-Houston: Interfaith Peace March
* CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS IN MI AND PA
* CAIR-LA: MUSLIMS GUARD POLITICAL CLOUT (OC Register)
- GA: Muslim to Run for State House (AJC)
- TX: Kucinich's Message Resonates with Muslims
- MO: Governor to Visit St. Louis Mosque
* IL: MOSQUE RIFT SPAWNS DIALOGUE (Chicago Trib)
- AZ: Muslim, Jewish Groups Seek Peace (TC)
* MO: HOUSE SUPPORTS RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS (AP)
* OH: DEPORTATION KEEPS MOTHER, 3 KIDS APART (Vindicator)
- NY: Crackdown Snares Girl's Future (Newsday)
* FL: AL-ARIAN COMPLAINS TAPES OF CALLS MISSING (AP)
- FL: FBI Seeks to Interview Reporter (WP)
* ANN COULTER COLUMN CRITICIZED (E&P)
* MY 'PASSION' TRANSFORMATION (Beliefnet)
- CA: Muslim Film Festival (Oakland Trib)
- TX: New Spanish TV Program on Islam Debuts
* CA: VIGIL IN MEMORY OF RACHEL CORRIE
- TX: Festival Celebrates Muslim Cultures
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE GOLDEN RULE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do you know who will go
first on the Day of Resurrection to the shade of God?...Those who when
given what is right accept it, when asked for something give freely and
who
judge in favor of others as they do for themselves."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1042
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS MADRID BOMBINGS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/11/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today condemned deadly bomb attacks in Spain that left some 190
people dead. The blasts tore through commuter trains and stations on
Thursday morning at the height of Madrid's rush hour.
In its statement, CAIR said:
"These vicious acts of terrorism deserve the strongest possible
condemnation by all civilized people. We call for the swift
apprehension
and punishment of the perpetrators. Those who carry out such crimes
only
generate revulsion for whatever cause they espouse."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, also reiterated
its
long-standing condemnation of all acts of terrorism, whether
perpetrated by
individuals, groups or states.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,356 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Idaho: 30 covered, 106 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
-----
CAIR SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
CAIR is seeking applicants for its summer internship program in
Washington,
D.C. Applicants should be 18-years-old or older and college students
who
have legal status in the U.S.
CAIR's internship program provides first-hand experience and training
in
areas such as community outreach, chapter development, governmental
relations, lobbying, public and media relations, legal and civil
rights,
research and leadership. Interns will work with skilled and dedicated
mentors to gain valuable insight on CAIR's work. All interns receive a
monthly stipend.
The application deadline is April 30, 2004. Interested and qualified
applicants should call 202-488-8787 or email internship@cair-net.org to
receive an application form.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-LA: FORUM ON PATRIOT ACT
WHAT: The Muslim Students Association will sponsor a forum on the
Patriot
Act. Speakers are to include Ban al Wardi, president of the
Arab-American
Anti-Discrimination Committee; Matt McLaughlin, an FBI special agent;
Omar
Zaki, government affairs director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations; and Cindy O'Connor, president of the League of Women Voters
of
Los Angeles.
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. March 17
WHERE: Sunset Lounge of the Student Union at Cal State Long Beach,
Calif.
CONTACTS: Sabiha F. Khan, Communications Director, CAIR-LA,
714-776-1847 or
714-390-0334, E-MAIL: socal@cair.com
---
CAIR-HOUSTON: INTERFAITH PEACE MARCH ON MARCH 20TH
WHAT: CAIR-Houston is organizing a march with the interfaith community
for
the Global Day of Action on the first anniversary of the invasion of
Iraq.
Speakers include Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Erik Gustafson,
Houston
City Councilwoman Ada Edwards, David Barsamian, Cardinal Aswad Walker,
and
Patrica Ellen Greer.
WHERE: Antioch Park, 1400 Smith at Clay
WHEN: Marches assemble at 1:30pm, leave at 2:00pm.
Rally with speakers at 3:00pm
Please note: All feeder marches will stay on the sidewalks until they
get
to McKinney. McKinney will be closed down for the march to City Hall.
Feeder marches assemble at 1:30pm.
For more information, visit: http://www.march20houston.org/
-----
CON ARTIST TARGETS MUSLIMS IN MI AND PA
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
is
warning Muslims in Michigan and Pennsylvania about a con artist who
seeks
money by impersonating well-known personalities in the Muslim world.
(Muslims in a number of other states have also been targeted recently.)
The con artist calls Muslim individuals and groups pretending to be
with a
respected Islamic institution. He claims that he and others are coming
to
visit the United States. Later, he calls back, claiming to have lost
his
money, tickets or passport and asks for emergency cash to be wired to
him
at Western Union or a similar facility.
A person using this same con game was arrested in Canada two years ago
(see
article below), but was later released. NOTE: The impostor may use many
variations of this scam.
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Please ANNOUNCE AT JUMA'A and other functions - several hundred
Muslims
have been targeted in the past.
2. DO NOT wire money to anyone claiming to be stranded in an airport.
3. REPORT requests for money to CAIR, the local office of the FBI (ask
for
a fraud investigator) and to local police. Obtain a copy of the
complaint.
4. If you have already been a victim, send copies of wire transfer
documents to CAIR so that a case can be built against this man. (FAX:
202-488-0833)
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE THE FOLLOWING CAIR ALERT:
CON-ARTIST WHO DEFRAUDED MUSLIMS CAUGHT
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=125&page=AA
-----
ARABS, MUSLIMS GUARD CLOUT
Ann Pepper, Orange County Register, 3/10/04
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=84914
Sama Wareh registered to vote for the first time last year. But not for
real. Just for extra credit in political science.
This time it's different, the college student said as she marked
"independent" on a fresh registration form.
For Wareh, of Anaheim Hills, and thousands of other Arab Americans and
Muslims in Orange County, the 2004 election is taking on the aura of a
defining moment.
"We're waking up," said Wareh, 20, a film and zoology student at
California
State University, Fullerton. "We know we've got to become more involved
in
the society we live in."
Some of her community's concerns mirror the general population's - the
cost
of housing, education and health care. But in the wake of Sept. 11,
local
Muslims say their faith has been maligned, their loyalty unfairly
questioned.
Islamophobia, they believe, is on the rise.
Muslims take responsibility for some of that. They are coming to
realize,
Wareh said, the only way to be recognized as full-status Americans is
full
participation in civic life. And that means more than just voting.
Arab Americans and local Muslims already vote in large numbers. An
estimated 79 percent are registered and 85 percent of those say they
vote,
according to a 2001 poll taken on behalf of Georgetown University in
Washington, D.C.
Local political activists believe the power of their community's bloc
vote
helped put George W. Bush in the White House four years ago. Bush won
Muslim votes overwhelmingly in Florida, where he claimed the presidency
with less than a 600-vote margin.
The community cast those ballots on the advice of trusted voices, such
as
the Council on American Islamic Relations and the Muslim Public Affairs
Council. Word spread to voters over the Internet, at Islamic centers
and
through popular, ethnic newspapers, such as Al-Watan and Arab World in
Anaheim and An-Nahar in Whittier.
"It was what he said, particularly opposing the use of secret evidence,
plus, frankly, Gore ignored us," said Omar Zaki, who oversees politics
for
CAIR in Anaheim.
This time, their votes won't be won as easily, rank-and-file Muslim
voters
say. They are searching for a better understanding of issues and
candidates
- a stronger say in whom they will support.
"We want to create a model community with 100 percent voter
registration,"
said Aslam Abdullah, a political adviser and founder of the
newly-minted
Muslim Electorate Council of America. "That's what we are aiming for.
We
are doing the extensive work needed to bring in as many voters as
possible."
It's been months now since Orange County Muslims could go to a
community
event or even some private parties without running into someone with a
voter registration form in hand.
Registration tables pop up outside Little Gaza restaurants along
Brookhurst
Street. Community members are volunteering as poll workers. Imams
preach on
voting…
ACTION REQUESTED: Please contact Ann Pepper and the Orange County
Register
and thank them for an accurate and positive coverage on issues relating
to
the American Muslim community.
Ann Pepper
Religion Columnist
Phone: (714) 796-4945
apepper@ocregister.com
The Orange County Register
Letters-to-the-editor
letters@ocregister.com
CC: socal@cair.com
ALSO SEE:
ELECTION 2004: MUSLIM TO RUN FOR STATE HOUSE
Doug Nurse, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 3/11/04
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/0304/11muslim.html
Jamil Imran believes Gwinnett County is ready for him.
A Bangladesh-born Muslim, Imran is campaigning for state House District
69,
which runs along I-85 to Ga. 316. If he wins, he would be the sole
Muslim
in the state Legislature, and the only representative from the Indian
subcontinent.
"Gwinnett County is growing fast," he said. "There are a lot of Indian,
Pakistani and South Asians moving here. It's a very diverse county, and
a
very diverse district. But I'm not just running as a
Bangladeshi-American.
I'm running as an American and as a Democrat."
It's not just a diverse district, it's the most diverse district in the
state, said the incumbent state Rep. Curt Thompson, a Democrat.
Thompson is
running for a state Senate seat.
According to the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of
Government,
the district has about 88,500 people, and is about 47 percent white ---
including Hispanics --- 25 percent black, about 13 percent Asian and
about
15 percent other groups.
The district is considered a Democratic district --- assuming its
boundaries stay the same after the state House and Senate maps are
redrawn,
said Gwinnett Democratic Chairman Mike Berlon...
---
DENNIS KUCINICH'S MESSAGE RESONATES WITH MUSLIMS
Lisa Sorg, San Antonio Current, 3/11/04
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11101611&BRD=2318&PAG=461&dept_id=484045&rfi=6
It was shortly before 8 p.m. last Friday evening, and Dennis Kucinich
looked a tad wan. His blue pinstriped suit was crisp, but his heavy
eyelids
were those of a man who has spent the better part of a year
hopscotching
across America on the campaign trail - or someone who was getting sick,
which happened two days later. He seemed to need the respite, and he
bowed
and listened to Ali Moshirsadri recite from the Quo'ran, first in
Arabic
and then in English: " ... Let there be a community for you to do good.
Do
not be like those who split up and disagree..."
A half hour later, a rejuvenated Kucinich sprang to life, and spoke
with
the passion of an itinerant preacher. "In the Quo'ran, we're admonished
to
not separate ourselves," he told a mostly Muslim crowd of more than 300
people, who occasionally responded to Kucinich's message by standing
and
chanting "God is great."
It was appropriate that Kucinich, who has made peace the center of his
campaign, should address the Muslim community at the Knights of
Columbus
Hall, where plates of naan sat on a table below a shrine of the Virgin
Mary, and men knelt on rugs for evening prayers.
"We should be united in love; that's the sense of community. We are
experiencing this oneness here - a civic openness, an aspiration for
peace,
an aspiration for security."
Despite earning only 19 confirmed delegates as of the March 2
primaries,
Kucinich remains in the race for the Democratic presidential
nomination.
Although the Ohio congressman's chances of winning are infinitesimal,
his
opposition to the Patriot Act and calls for peace have prompted many
American Muslims to back him as their candidate.
"My campaign is about more than winning office," he said in his speech,
which was largely unscripted. "We've backed ourselves into a corner and
the
rest of world looks at us with curiosity. Once again we need to be
united
create a new era of peace. We can all be peacemakers."
"Even if he doesn't win, he can represent our voice in Congress," said
Sarwait Husain, chairwoman of the San Antonio chapter of the Council of
American-Islam Relations.
"I tried to reach out to community and national leaders to meet the
Muslim
community. I was not that successful," added Husain. "The reason? We
probably all know..."
---
GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN TO VISIT ST. LOUIS AREA MOSQUE
The Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis is pleased to announce that
Governor Bob Holden will visit the Daar ul-Islam (House of Islam)
Mosque at
517 Weidman Road this evening, Thursday, March 11, 2004 for a dinner
and
town-hall meeting. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and is sold out.
After
the dinner, Governor Holden will address issues of concern for local
Muslims including the budget, cuts in public education, homeland
security
and other important issues.
For more information, please contact Aisha Wilawan at (636) 394-7878
(x.
12) or Jim Hacking at (314) 602-3794.
-----
MOSQUE RIFT SPAWNS INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
Deborah Horan, Chicago Tribune, 3/11/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0403110415mar11,1,7168430.story
Years ago, Moraine Valley Community College counselor Sandra Broadbent
was
so unfamiliar with Islam that she advised a Muslim student to enroll in
a
gym class even though her religious beliefs about modesty prohibited
her
from wearing shorts in front of men.
Today, Broadbent, 62, an Episcopalian, knows enough about Islam to give
a
presentation to Christians interested in learning such specifics as the
role of Jesus in Islam and the differences between Sunni and Shiite
Muslims.
On Thursday she will speak to members of 75 area churches who have been
invited to learn about Islam by the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Group, an
organization created after a 2000 dispute over the proposed
construction of
a Palos Heights mosque.
"I see myself as a bridge, and I feel called to this role at this
time,"
said Broadbent, who is a member of the interfaith group.
Initially formed to promote tolerance, the group has become the
outreach
program whose 10 core members, many of them Christian, often are
ambassadors of information about Islam, the world's fastest-growing
religion...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM, JEWISH GROUPS JOIN IN PUSH FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE
Siraj Mufit, Tucson Citizen, 3/11/04
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=opinion&story_id=031104b5_guestpeace
The spillover of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has affected the
relations of Jews and Muslims in America. Alongside it, a joint Muslim
and
Jewish peace movement has emerged and gained strength in both the
United
States and Israel.
This movement protests the hard line adopted by the Zionist hawks
represented by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and backed by the
neoconservatives in the Bush administration and their supporters.
Through much of their history, Muslims and Jews have lived together in
peace. A celebrated example of their past association can be found in
Islamic Spain, where Muslims and Jews flourished together with
Christians
for centuries. Prominent Jewish leaders have acknowledged this: among
them
Abba Ebban, in his book "My People" (1968).
The great Jewish philosopher and theologian Moses Maimonides studied
with
the great Islamic philosopher, the Spaniard Averroës (or Ibn Rushd).
When
Muslims and Jews were forced out of Spain and those who remained were
persecuted, they both migrated to Islamic lands. The Ottomans welcomed
Jews
with open arms.
Muslims and Jews have a common ancestry in Abraham. They are both
strict
monotheists who believe in one God, with no association to any other
divinity. Because of this, Muslims often refer to Jews as their
cousins-in-faith. Moreover, Muslims revere all of the Jewish
prophets...
-----
HOUSE SUPPORTS STUDENTS' RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS
Associated Press, 3/11/04
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/8154958.htm
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Trying to ensure that controversy in France would
not
also come to Missouri, the state House voted Wednesday to protect a
student's right to wear religious symbols at school.
School workers could not direct students to remove a religious symbol
as
long as the symbol "is worn in a manner that does not promote
disruptive
behavior," under legislation receiving initial House approval on a
voice vote.
The bill, which needs another vote to move to the Senate, also contains
provisions allowing school districts to offer salary incentives to
teachers.
French President Jacques Chirac has voiced support for a bill that
would
ban public-school students there from wearing overt religious symbols,
including the Islamic headscarf. Chirac has called it an attempt to
keep
Islamic fundamentalism from taking hold.
Missouri Rep. Philip Willoughby, who is a Christian minister, said he
wanted to make sure nothing like France's legislation ever took hold in
Missouri.
Willoughby, D-Gladstone, said he had heard of school officials and
volunteers directing students to remove religious symbols "for no
purpose
other than it's an expression of the student's faith."
State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin, a Muslim who keeps her hair covered as a
religious expression, said she supported the legislation...
Education bill is HB1041.
On the Net: Missouri Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us
-----
DEPORTATION KEEPS MOTHER, 3 KIDS APART
Peggy Sinkovich, The Vindicator, 3/11/04
http://www.vindy.com/local_news/295462029549401.php
WARREN - A woman whose immigration troubles have caught national
attention
says the hardest thing about being jailed is not being able to touch
her
children.
Amina Silmi, 35, of Lakewood, says she's hoping she'll be released from
the
Trumbull County jail after a bond hearing Wednesday so she can hug her
children for the first time in a month.
The county jail houses federal prisoners.
"I got to visit with my children on Saturday but I couldn't touch them
and
it was very, very difficult," said Silmi, who called The Vindicator
from
the lockup. "They asked me why they can't hug me and that really hurt
me. I
didn't know what to say."
Silmi, who has lived in the United States for 13 years, has been in
federal
custody for the last month. In February, the government ordered the
Venezuelan woman to be deported after it was discovered that her
visitor's
visa expired 12 years ago. Her deportation has been halted while the
Board
of Immigration Appeals decides the case. It is not known when the board
will hold a hearing.
Her story...
ALSO SEE:
IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN SNARES GIRL'S FUTURE
Robert Polner, Newsday 3/10/04
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/brooklyn/nyc-girl0311,0,7925365.story
Born deaf, Fahmida Ferdousi Saki has finally begun to hear the words
spoken
to her. She can form her own sentences too, as a result of a medical
procedure abundant readily available in this city and absent in her
native
Bangladesh.
But the progress the 8-year-old Brooklyn girl has made is about to come
to
a halt, with her family ordered by a judge to return to Bangladesh
after
becoming ensnared in a federal effort to strictly enforce immigration
laws
as they apply to Muslim men.
The decision is all the more harsh to the ears of Fahmida's father,
Mohammed Jafar Alam, because the state Labor Department has yet to
review
the application that his employer submitted in 2001 to allow him to
remain
here, and is not likely to until at least a month after the family's
deportation deadline.
"There's no question but that Fahmida simply must be permitted to
remain
here for her ongoing rehabilitation," said Dr. Christopher Linstrom of
New
York Eye & Ear Infirmary, who implanted a device known as a Cochlear
Implant in Fahmida's brain in December 2001. The tiny apparatus,
coupled
with a small computer attached to a strap around the neck, allows her
to
hear and decode sounds through her brain.
"There's no program to help her in Bangladesh," Linstrom said. "She
will
fall back to the level of a non-user. It's sad that a child has to pay
a
heavy price for technicalities in immigration law. Her father is not a
terrorist - by any stretch..."
-----
AL-ARIAN COMPLAINS TAPES OF CALLS WITH POLITICAL FIGURES MISSING
Vickie Chachere, Associated Press, 3/10/04
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040310/APN/403101052
TAMPA, Fla. - Attorneys for a former professor indicted as a terrorist
financier complained Wednesday that conversations between their client
and
members of the Bush and Clinton administration haven't been turned over
by
prosecutors despite repeated requests.
William Moffitt and Linda Moreno, defense attorneys for Sami Al-Arian,
said
there have been repeated requests to the government to produce the
conversations, which were intercepted by the FBI during it's
decade-long
investigation of the one-time University of South Florida professor.
Moreno said she believes the conversations are exculpatory and
potentially
embarrassing to some powerful people who had conversations with
Al-Arian
about Palestinian rights.
The tapes are believed to contain telephone calls made between Al-Arian
and
high-level aides in both the Clinton and Bush administration's as
Al-Arian
sought the release of his brother-in-law, who was held for more than
three
years on secret evidence and as a threat to national security.
"It hardly points to the type of conduct one would infer from a
terrorist,"
Moreno said of Al-Arian's conversations with politicians and policy
makers.
"This was a man who was working completely within the system."
Federal prosecutors did not respond to the defense attorney's
allegations.
U.S. District Judge Thomas McCoun instructed them to file a motion on
the
matter...
ALSO SEE:
DOUBLE STANDARD
John Sugg, Weekly Planet, 3/11/04
http://www.weeklyplanet.com/2004-03-11/cover.html
The FBI wants to question Sugg about lies Sami Al-Arian allegedly told.
But
what about the lies, distortions and omissions from Al-Arian's enemies,
including the government and the Tampa Tribune?
"You're all over the wiretaps," said the FBI agent who called me in
mid-February. "We want to talk to you."
This was not the sort of phone call a journalist wants to receive. The
case
in question is that of fired University of South Florida professor (and
accused terrorist mastermind) Sami Al-Arian.
The FBI agent spiced his appeal with the comment, "We don't want to jam
you, but … ." I'm not quite sure of his meaning. I guess it could be
interpreted as: They don't let us beat reluctant witnesses with rubber
hoses any longer, but…
I'd say it was an implied (although mild) bit of coercion.
No doubt I'm all over the wiretap, I observed to the agent, Kerry
Myers, a
nice guy, a good cop with whom I've dealt in the past. After all, I
have
covered the government's relentless pursuit of Al-Arian for eight years
and
have talked to him, I'm sure, many hundreds of times. I'm writing a
book,
and I've spent endless hours learning about Islam, the arcane nuances
of
the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, the histories of the groups in the
region,
the personalities. A lot of that process involves Al-Arian. I confess:
I
even once played horseshoes with Al-Arian in an effort to engage him in
conversation...
-----
COULTER COLUMN CRITICIZED
Dave Astor, Editor and Publisher, 3/10/04
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000459660
NEW YORK The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today asked
newspapers to consider dropping Ann Coulter after her March 3 column
that
implied Muslims "smell bad."
None of Coulter's approximately 50 clients have complained about the
column
so far, according to Universal Press Syndicate Director of
Communications
Kathie Kerr.
In the column, Coulter wrote: "Being nice to people is, in fact, one of
the
incidental tenets of Christianity (as opposed to other religions whose
tenets are more along the lines of 'kill everyone who doesn't smell bad
and
doesn't answer to the name Mohammed')."
-----
MY 'PASSION' TRANSFORMATION
Alexander Kronemer, Beliefnet.com, 3/11/04
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/141/story_14166_1.html
More than a week has passed since I saw Mel Gibson's "The Passion of
the
Christ," joining the hundreds of thousands who made its opening day one
the
biggest in movie history. Like most of the people who have already
commented on the film, I found it a profound and harrowing experience
that
is hard for me to react to outside my personal religious history. So I
should begin with that.
I am the product of a Jewish-Christian marriage. Following the religion
of
my Jewish father, I began life as a Jew. But the marriage ended
bitterly
after a few years, and I was raised from then on as a Christian.
I was an enthusiastic Christian as a child, especially in regard to my
love
of Jesus. So when a charismatic fundamentalist minister moved to my
small
town during my teenage years, I gravitated to his exciting message that
Christ was returning soon.
Every night at my bedside I begged Jesus to accept me into his coming
kingdom and waited for the trumpet of the apocalypse. But the end of
days
never came, and I began to feel worn out by all the anxiety. I also
began
to be repelled by that particular church's increasing insistence that
the
Jews, along with other non-believers (which by its definition included
many
Christians), were damned.
By then, I was completely convinced by my church that it represented
the
only true interpretation of Christian theology. So when I finally
rejected
it, I rejected all of Christianity as well.
After years of being essentially an atheist yet yearning for a return
to
religion, I was introduced to Islam. I was immediately attracted to its
message of compassion and tolerance-though to listen to both Christian
and
Muslim fundamentalists talk about Islam today, you wouldn't know that
such
a message exists in it at all.
And that is my own point of personal departure for "The Passion of the
Christ." These last few years have been emotionally taxing for most
American Muslims. From abroad, we are stunned by religiously justified
violence that defies everything we believe about our faith. At home, we
feel attacked by hostile rhetoric about Islam that would never be
accepted
in the public square about any other faith...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM FILMS FOCUS OF BERKELEY FESTIVAL
Ali Fard, Oakland Tribune, 3/11/04
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1726~2010701,00.html
OAKLAND -- Although the Bay Area has been fertile ground for many film
festivals -- including those dedicated to Arab, Jewish and Asian films
--
the first Muslim Film Festival will fill a void Saturday by celebrating
films by or about Muslims. Film screenings will take place at UC
Berkeley
and will include everything from comedies to dramas and experimental
works.
The selection and performance schedule is modest: $10 will get you to
more
than 10 short films, documentaries and music videos throughout the day.
Juveria Aleem, festival founder and executive director, said she was
inspired to create the showcase after going to other Bay Area film
festivals and working on her own films.
Aleem, a UC Berkeley graduate, was an intern at Apple computers in
2001,
preparing to present her documentary about Muslim-American women to the
entire company during the last week of her internship.
That was the week of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and the screening
was
canceled. Aside from negative comments about the Muslim community
during
that time, Aleem said she saw a great deal of positive outreach too,
with
many people wanting to know and understand more about Islam.
"I realized that this is the right time to really organize the film
festival," Aleem said. "For many years, Muslims have been so focused on
their own community or their own lives and failed to reach out to their
neighbors..."
---
NEW SPANISH TV PROGRAM ON ISLAM DEBUTS
Spanish-speaking Houstonians now have a new source for information on
Islam. The television program aired on Houston Cable Public Access last
night with a live broadcast on the basics of Islam. In addition, the
program featured a call-in question and answer session.
For more information on this program, contact 1.800.WHY.ISLAM
For Spanish-speaking presentations on Islam and future televised
lectures,
e-mail houston@icna.org
-----
VIGIL IN MEMORY OF RACHEL CORRIE
WHAT: One year ago, 23 year old American Rachel Corrie was crushed to
death
by an Israeli bulldozer as she stood in front of the home of a
Palestinian
physician in Gaza.
Please join us in front of the consulate to remember Rachel Corrie and
carry on her work of opposing Israel's brutal 36-year military
occupation
of the West Bank and Gaza.
Sponsored By Women In Black-Los Angeles, Cafe Intifada, International
Solidarity Movement, Palestinian American Congress, The Union Of
Palestinian American Women, The National Lawyer's Guild, Code Pink, The
Coalition For World's Peace, The Middle East Fellowship Of Southern
California, The Freedom Socialist Party, Radical Women, Council on
American-Islamic Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA), The Los
Angeles/ Palestine Labor Solidarity Committee
WHEN: Tuesday, March 16th, 4-6 PM
WHERE: Israeli Consulate, 6380 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
ALSO SEE:
UPCOMING FESTIVAL CELEBRATES MUSLIM CULTURES
International Festival of Muslim Cultures will be held on the 15th of
May
at Eleanor Tinsley Park, Houston (Allen pkwy @ 1-45). This will be an
all
day event (9:00am 9:00pm). This program will be along the lines of a
cultural street festival. There will be stalls and booths representing
different Muslim cultures and activities related to these cultures.
Visitors can enjoy ethnic food from different parts of the world.
Cultural
items (arts & crafts, clothing etc.) will be on display and will also
be
available for sale. Admission is FREE.
For more information, visit: http://www.ifomc.org/
Immediate Action Requested:
- Mark your calendars and attend this festival.
- Encourage your friends and relatives to attend, as well.
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/12/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A GOOD SERVANT
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Library Project Update: Kentucky
* RCMP ASKED TO STOP CON ARTIST WHO TARGETS MUSLIMS
* BUSH ADS CRITICIZED FOR STEREOTYPING (TNR)
- Latest Ads Take Shots at Rival (Chicago Trib)
* ARAB-AMERICANS UNSATISFIED WITH BUSH (Reuters)
* EX-GUANTANAMO DETAINEE CLAIMS MISTREATMENT (AP)
- My Hell in Camp X-Ray (Mirror)
* TEXAS TEENS ARRESTED IN MOSQUE CASE (Mercury News)
- New European Mosques Encounter Resistance (RFE)
* IA: CONFERENCE SEEKS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY (RNS)
* PUSH IS ON TO SHELVE PART OF PATRIOT ACT (Boston Globe)
* SETTLEMENT WEIGHED FOR CHAPLAIN (NY Times)
* REAL ARAB REFORM (Wash Post)
- Initiative Sidesteps Palestine (U Express)
* CA: EAST BAY TO HOST MUSLIM FESTIVAL (Argus Online)
* SC: CHURCHES RECEIVE SOMALI BANTUS (State)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A GOOD SERVANT
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever uses religion
deceptively is a bad servant (of God)."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1323
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,364 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Kentucky: 45 covered, 160 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
-----
RCMP ASKED TO STOP CON ARTIST WHO TARGETS MUSLIMS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/12/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today faxed a letter to Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police asking him to investigate the case of a
con
artist who is targeting Muslims throughout the United States.
The con artist seeks money by impersonating well-known personalities in
the
Muslim world. He calls Muslim individuals and groups pretending to be
with
a respected Islamic institution and claims that he and others are
coming to
visit the United States. Later, he calls back, claiming to have lost
his
money, tickets or passport at a Canadian airport and asks for emergency
cash to be wired to him at Western Union or a similar facility.
In the letter, CAIR states:
"The alleged impostor…was arrested for fraud by the Orangeville (Ont.)
Police Service on December 5, 2002, but was later released. Apparently,
he
is up to his old tricks again…We respectfully request that the RCMP
investigate this matter and take whatever measures are necessary to
bring
this person to justice."
Copies of CAIR letter were faxed to FBI Director Robert Mueller and
Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Judy Sgro.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
INTERNATIONAL SCAM TARGETS MUSLIMS IN UTAH
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,590045165,00.html
-----
BUSH ADS CRITICIZED FOR STEREOTYPING
Ryan Lizza, New Republic Online, 3/11/04
http://www.tnr.com/blog/campaignjournal?pid=1440
ANOTHER CAMPAIGN FIRST: Bush's first round of ads became immediately
famous
for using images of Ground Zero and a flag-draped coffin being carried
away
from the rubble of the World Trade Center.
His newest spot, "100 Days," might soon become famous for another
campaign
first. It is the first ad to use the image of a dark-skinned man who is
obviously meant to be a terrorist.
The ominous slow-motion footage comes about halfway through the
30-second
ad. A female voiceover darkly warns about John Kerry's agenda,
charging,
"On the war on terror: weaken the Patriot Act used to arrest terrorists
and
protect America." On the left of the screen flash the words "John
Kerry's
Plan." On the bottom a red box warns, "Weaken Fight Against
Terrorists." If
you look closely, on the right side of the screen you can see an
airplane
taking off.
The center of the screen is filled with three different rectangles of
slow-motion video. In the top panel travelers at an airport study the
arrivals and departures monitor. In the center panel there is a
shadowed
image of a person wearing a gas mask. And on the bottom there is a
close-up
of a swarthy, somewhat sinister-looking man with darting eyes who
slowly
turns toward the camera. He is clearly the terrorist in this scary
montage.
The Bush campaign held a conference call for the press this afternoon
to
unveil the ads, and one reporter asked whether it was appropriate to
use an
Arab-American to depict a terrorist. Campaign aides said the actor in
"100
Days" wasn't Arab-American. One official on the call insisted it was
just a
"very generic" image...
ALSO SEE:
PRESIDENT'S LATEST ADS TAKE HARD SHOTS AT RIVAL
Jeff Zeleny, Chicago Tribune, 3/12/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0403120263mar12,1,413850.story
One week after the Bush campaign was criticized for using images from
the
World Trade Center attacks in its ad campaign, one of the new ads drew
controversy for using a dark-skinned young man as a backdrop to discuss
the
threat of terrorism. An Arab-American leader called on the Bush
campaign to
change the spot.
"It undercuts the very thing the president committed himself to after
9/11," said James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. "It
tries to create an identity between terrorists and that face. It can
only
be called a negative stereotype, it can only be called regrettable."
The Bush campaign, which has reached out to Arab-American voters in
battleground states such as Michigan and Ohio, denied the ad was
insensitive or racist. The ads are scheduled to air in both states.
But an Institute poll to be released Friday shows that Bush's approval
ratings have fallen to nearly 20 percent among Arab-American voters.
-----
ARAB-AMERICANS UNSATISFIED WITH BUSH - POLL
Deborah Zabarenko, Reuters, 3/12/04
WASHINGTON - Arab-Americans in four battleground states have "deep
dissatisfaction" with George W. Bush's policies and low support for the
president's re-election, a new poll showed on Friday.
This is a shift from the 2000 presidential campaign, when
Arab-Americans in
Michigan, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- all expected to be closely
contested this year -- strongly favored Bush, a Republican, over
Democrat
Al Gore...
The four states are among the top 10 states in terms of Arab-American
population, and represent a total of 510,000 likely voters. All have
seen
rapid growth in the size of their Arab-American communities in the last
decade.
Voter turnout among members of this community is slightly higher than
in
the U.S. population as a whole.
The poll showed 32 percent of Arab-Americans across the four states
rated
Bush excellent or good for his overall job performance -- down from 38
percent in January -- and only 28 percent said he deserves to be
re-elected. Sixty-five percent said it was time to elect "someone
new..."
-----
EX-GUANTANAMO DETAINEE CLAIMS MISTREATMENT
Audrey Woods, Associated Press, 3/12/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-britain-freed-from-guantanamo,0,448778.story
LONDON - A Briton released from the U.S. military base at Guantanamo
Bay,
Cuba, said he was beaten, humiliated and interrogated for up to 12
hours at
a time during two years' detention.
In a newspaper interview headlined ``My Hell in Camp X-Ray,'' Jamal
al-Harith said guards known as the Extreme Reaction Force ``waded into
inmates in full riot gear, raining blows on them'' as punishment.
The water and food was foul at Guantanamo, and sometimes as punishment,
water taps in the cells would be turned off, al-Harith, 37, said in the
interview, which was published Friday in the Daily Mirror.
The U.S. military repeatedly has denied that Guantanamo prisoners have
been
mistreated. The U.S. government says the roughly 640 prisoners are at
Guantanamo because of suspicions they have links to Afghanistan's
fallen
Taliban regime or the al-Qaida terror network.
Al-Harith arrived in Britain Tuesday night on a military flight with
four
other Britons freed from Guantanamo...
``He has been detained as an innocent person for a period of two years.
He
has been treated in a cruel, inhumane and degrading manner,'' his
lawyer,
Robert Lizar, told reporters.
He was regularly interrogated by FBI and CIA agents, and later
Britain's
MI5 intelligence agency, the newspaper said...
ALSO SEE:
MY HELL IN CAMP X-RAY
Rosa Prince and Gary Jones, Mirror, 3/12/04
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/content_objectid=14042696_method=full_siteid=50143_headline=-MY%2DHELL%2DIN%2DCAMP%2DX%2DRAY-name_page
A British captive freed from Guantanamo Bay today tells the world of
its full
horror - and reveals how prostitutes were taken into the camp to
degrade
Muslim inmates.
Jamal al-Harith, 37, who arrived home three days ago after two years of
confinement, is the first detainee to lift the lid on the US regime in
Cuba's Camp X-Ray and Camp Delta.
The father-of-three, from Manchester, told how he was assaulted with
fists,
feet and batons after refusing a mystery injection.
He said detainees were shackled for up to 15 hours at a time in hand
and
leg cuffs with metal links which cut into the skin.
Their "cells" were wire cages with concrete floors and open to the
elements
- giving no privacy or protection from the rats, snakes and scorpions
loose
around the American base.
He claims punishment beatings were handed out by guards known as the
Extreme Reaction Force. They waded into inmates in full riot-gear,
raining
blows on them.
Prisoners faced psychological torture and mind-games in attempts to
make
them confess to acts they had never committed. Even petty breaches of
rules
brought severe punishment.
Medical treatment was sparse and brutal and amputations of limbs were
more
drastic than required, claimed Jamal.
A diet of foul water and food up to 10 years out-of-date left inmates
malnourished.
But Jamal's most shocking disclosure centred on the use of vice girls
to
torment the most religiously devout detainees...
-----
TEXAS TEENS ARRESTED IN MOSQUE CASE
Associated Press, Mercury News, 3/10/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/8164266.htm
LUBBOCK, Texas - Police arrested four teenagers on burglary charges
Thursday in connection with the vandalism of a mosque last weekend.
Worshippers at the Islamic Center of the South Plains discovered the
damage
- estimated at $1,800 - on Sunday when they arrived for morning
prayers.
The boys, ages 13 to 15, were charged with burglary to a building.
Investigators did not immediately say what led them to the teens.
The teenagers, whose names were not released because of their ages,
were in
juvenile custody Thursday.
Assistant Police Chief Thomas Esparza said the crime is ``hateful,''
but
did not merit being investigated as a federal hate crime.
The mosque's spiritual leader said he was relieved to learn teenagers
were
responsible for the vandalism.
``I'm happy because we now know it's done by young people,'' said Imam
Mohamed El-Moctar. ``It's not adults or organized crime or done by a
group
that has bias against Muslims."
ALSO SEE:
EUROPE: BUILDING NEW MOSQUES ENCOUNTERS RESISTANCE
Kathleen Knox, Radio Free Europe, 3/11/04
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/03/0c9d3257-6681-4cb0-88f0-bd1a98e13b63.html
In Greece, plans to build the first mosque in the Athens area in nearly
200
years have sparked a row. In Slovenia, thousands signed a petition
calling
for a referendum on whether to build the country's first mosque. And
residents in the Dutch city of Rotterdam have protested the
construction of
a large mosque there. Across Europe, the building of new mosques often
comes under fierce criticism. Opponents say they worry about the
erosion of
their countries' native cultures and fear the mosques may attract
extremists. But for Europe's growing Muslim population, rows like these
are
yet another front in their battle for acceptance.
In Rotterdam, the Netherlands' second-largest city, construction work
has
begun on what will be one of Europe's largest mosques.
When it opens its doors next year, the 1,500-capacity Essalam mosque
will
serve the port city's rapidly growing Muslim community.
But not everyone in Rotterdam is happy.
"We want a European version of Islam, and that Islam must adapt to
Europe,
not Europe adapt to Islam." Some feel the mosque's 50-meter minarets
will
be too tall, its traditional design too Arab. They have called for
changes
in the design to make it more "modest," and for women and men to share
the
same area for praying.
Marco Pastors is a city councilor who spearheaded the protests. "We are
not
especially anti-Muslim," he says...
In the end, the mosque's opponents lost out. Construction began last
October -- according to the original design...
-----
STUDENT-ORGANIZED CONFERENCE SEEKS TO PROMOTE UNITY AND DIVERSITY
Religion News, 3/12/04
http://www.religionnews.com/press02/PR031204.html
The 4th Annual Iowa Conference on Islam (ICI) is an annual conference
organized by the Iowa Muslim Students Association (Iowa MSA). The Iowa
MSA
includes Muslim student organizations from every college and university
in
Iowa.
This conference is nationally and locally recognized and praised by
numerous American Muslim organizations and leaders. It is the only
statewide Islamic event held in Iowa, among the few conferences in
America
orchestrated solely by students, and one of the first conferences on
Islam
that is free and open to the public.
The conference brings nationally renowned speakers to Iowa to discuss
this
year's theme, "Islam: Unity in Diversity." National and local speakers
for
4ICI include scholars and professors, local leaders, politicians, civil
rights activists, and students.
The 2004 conference will be held on March 26-28, 2004 at the University
of
Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa. For more information and a copy of the
program, please visit the Iowa MSA website: http://www.iowamuslims.org
WHEN: Friday, March 26 to Sunday, March 28, 2004
WHERE: Iowa Memorial Union, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
No Registration Cost!
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Aminah Assilmi, Siraj
Wahhaj,
Dr. Jeffrey Lang and many more!
Email: questions@iowamuslims.org
Phone: (319) 621-6375, (312) 375-2615
-----
THE PUSH IS ON TO SHELVE PART OF THE PATRIOT ACT
David Mehegan, Boston Globe, 3/9/2004
http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2004/03/09/reading_over_your_shoulder/
`It's the most naked form of intrusion into one's life -- to get into a
person's mind, what they are reading, what their literary interest is,"
said Ciaran McCabe. "It's quite horrifying, and I'm willing to do
whatever
it takes to stop it."
The intrusive power McCabe is talking about is Section 215 of the USA
Patriot Act, the sweeping federal antiterrorism law passed soon after
the
Sept. 11 attacks. While much of that law is uncontroversial, Section
215 is
sowing fear and anger about the government's new power to learn what
books
people are buying and borrowing.
McCabe, a customer at the Bookloft in Great Barrington who lives in
Housatonic, is one of thousands of people to sign a new petition to
change it.
The Patriot Act, passed overwhelmingly by Congress in October 2001
(357-66
in the House, 98-1 in the Senate), gave law enforcement a long list of
new
tools. Under Section 215, the FBI can go to a secret court that
operates
under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and apply for an order
authorizing demand for "any tangible things." Such things might include
medical records, university academic records, or records of bookstores
or
libraries. When served with such a demand, a record-holder is required
to
keep it secret, even from superiors.
Discontent about Section 215 has been smoldering; 253 cities and towns
across the country have passed nonbinding resolutions expressing
opposition
to it. It flamed up last month when the American Booksellers
Association,
the American Library Association, and the writers group PEN American
Center
announced a drive to collect a million signatures in support of several
bills pending in Congress to amend the law. The campaign is supported
by a
who's-who of publishers, booksellers, and library organizations,
including
the Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstore chains, publishers Random
House
and Simon & Schuster, the American Association of Law Libraries, and
the
Authors Guild...
-----
SETTLEMENT WEIGHED FOR CHAPLAIN
Neil A. Lewis, New York Times, 3/12/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/12/politics/12BRFS5.html
The military is considering settling the case of Capt. James J. Yee by
dropping all charges against him and allowing him to leave the Army
with an
honorable discharge, officials said. Captain Yee, who was the Muslim
chaplain at the naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, had been suspected
of
espionage but was charged with transporting classified information
without
a required secure container. He was also charged with adultery and
keeping
pornography on his computer.
-----
REAL ARAB REFORM
David Ignatius, Washington Post, 3/12/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51888-2004Mar11.html
BEIRUT -- The Bush administration's new initiative to encourage
democracy
and reform in the Arab world has all the solidity of a hot-air balloon.
It's floating grandly toward Planet Arabia, while down below the people
who
would be affected by it are variously taking potshots, running for
cover or
scratching their heads in confusion.
Are we really going to make this mistake again? To state what should be
obvious after the reversals of the past year in Iraq: The idea of Arab
democracy is meaningless unless it begins at home, driven by an Arab
agenda
for change, rather than by outsiders. If it's seen as another attempt
to
impose the West's agenda, then the planned U.S.-European Greater Middle
East Initiative will fail -- and deservedly so.
Rather than preaching from their dirigibles overhead, Americans and
Europeans should try listening more carefully to what the Arabs
themselves
have to say -- not to the leaders, whose main agenda is holding on to
power, but to the millions of people who are desperate for reform.
A starting point for me is listening to the leading Shiite cleric in
Lebanon, Sheik Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah. He can hardly be accused of
pro-American sympathies; he was the spiritual leader of the Hezbollah
fighters whose suicide bombs drove U.S. troops from Lebanon in 1984.
But
he's become a surprisingly progressive thinker and was one of the first
Muslim clerics to condemn unambiguously the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
I've visited Fadlallah several times over the past two years at his
well-guarded office within the maze of Beirut's southern suburbs,
accompanied by my friend Jamil Mroue, publisher of Beirut's Daily Star.
Each time, Fadlallah has surprised me. This time, it was in the
ferocity of
his call for reform in the Arab world. You cannot put the case for
change
more bluntly or emphatically than he did...
ALSO SEE:
INITIATIVE SIDESTEPS CRUCIAL ISSUE OF ISRAEL/PALESTINE
Universal Press Express, 3/5/04
http://www.uexpress.com/georgieannegeyer/?uc_full_date=20040305
WASHINGTON -- In recent literature and film, myth, legend and grandiose
fancy dominate the scene. From "The Return of the King" to Harry Potter
at
his magical school, we seem to be searching for some wondrous release
from
the cool and complicating realities of our world.
A similar reliance on fantasy has spilled over into foreign policy,
nowhere
more so than in the fictitious scheme the administration is calling the
"Greater Middle East Initiative."
In the last few weeks, American diplomats have fanned out across the
Middle
East to sell this plan. Secretary of State Colin Powell has been
talking
with Arab leaders. The United States is building new TV stations to
broadcast to the Arab world to back up the initiative. Might we really
be
at the moment of true historical change? I would advise you not to get
too
excited.
First of all, the Greater Middle East Initiative has been promoted by
the
Bush administration as a comprehensive effort, loosely coordinated with
the
Europeans through the G-8, to help bring economic growth and more
tolerant,
democratic governments to Muslim societies. The first draft, which was
released in February through the Arab newspaper Al-Hayat in London (to
the
irk of the administration), is simply a nice list of nice things for
Arabs
to do: liberate women, create jobs, have transparent economies,
encourage
small businesses and in general, be nice.
It intelligently calls for a greater Middle East Development Bank
modeled
on Europe's postwar model, for translating Western classics into
Arabic,
and for $500 million to be given in loans to small entrepreneurs,
especially women. (Nothing wrong with that!)
The entire initiative is based upon a ground-breaking report by
respected
Arab scholars such as Professor Clovis Maksoud of American University
two
years ago, essentially calling upon the Arab world to reach into its
glorious past and reform for the future. (And surely, nothing wrong
with
that!...)
-----
EAST BAY TO HOST MUSLIM FESTIVAL
Ali Fard, Argus Online, 3/12/04
http://www.theargusonline.com/Stories/0,1413,83~1971~2012685,00.html
OAKLAND -- Although the Bay Area has been fertile ground for many film
festivals -- including those dedicated to Arab, Jewish and Asian films
--
the first Muslim Film Festival will fill a void this Saturday by
celebrating films by or about Muslims.
Film screenings will take place at the University of California,
Berkeley,
and will cover everything from comedies to dramas and experimental
works.
The selection and performance schedule is modest: $10 will get you to
more
than 10 short films, documentaries and music videos throughout the day.
Juveria Aleem, festival founder and executive director, said she was
inspired to create the showcase after going to other Bay Area film
festivals and working on her own films.
Aleem, a UC Berkeley graduate, was an intern at Apple computers in
2001,
preparing to present her documentary about Muslim-American women to the
entire company during the last week of her internship.
That was the week of Sept. 11, 2001, and the screening was canceled.
But
Aleem said there was a lot of positive outreach with many people
wanting to
know and understand more about Islam.
"I realized that this is the right time to really organize the film
festival," Aleem said. "For many years, Muslims have been so focused on
their own community or their own lives and failed to reach out to their
neighbors." After a few years of networking with the local film
community,
Aleem publicized the festival, asking for entries from filmmakers
throughout the world...
-----
SOMALI BANTU FAMILIES ARRIVE IN COLUMBIA
John C. Drake, The State, 3/12/04
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/8166489.htm
Three exhausted Somali Bantu families, with wide-eyed children in tow,
greeted their American sponsors in a tearful encounter Thursday night.
Mohamud Ali Tumbo was the first refugee met by the welcoming party,
which
numbered nearly three dozen, at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. To
each
of the greeters, he offered a hearty, grateful embrace.
Behind him, a young Bantu girl clinched her teeth around her finger,
apparently giddy with the notion that all this might be for her.
The 16 Somali Bantu refugees join Abdulkadir Mohamed, the first refugee
to
arrive, two weeks ago, in a resettlement that will bring 20 to 25 Bantu
families to Columbia from Kenyan refugee camps.
Entering the den-like State Room at the airport's terminal to talk
about
their arrival, the refugees removed their shoes before sitting, a part
of
the Muslim tradition.
Speaking through a translator, Tumbo said he appreciated that many in
the
welcome party said "asalaamu alekum" -- a Muslim greeting that means
"peace
be upon you."
He said his first priorities in Columbia will be learning the English
language and seeing that his children receive an education...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/14/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: RESPECT FOR FOSTER-FAMILIES
* MUSLIM FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED (NY Times)
- How to Become a Foster Parent (NFPA)
* ALABAMA MUSLIMS THANK CAIR (Mobile Register)
- CAIR-SA: Muslim Groups Flex Political Muscle
* VA GIRL SCOUTS HARASSED (Observer News)
* 'JIHAD' MORE COMPLEX THAN CHECKING WEBSTER'S (Wash. Post)
- Arab Americans Upset By Dictionary Definition (Phil Inq)
* MUSLIMS IN MISSISSIPPI (Miami Herald)
- MA: Islamic High School Opens (Mansfield News)
* MANY CZECHS LOOKING TO ISLAM (RFE)
- MI: Seminary Discusses Interfaith Relations (HS)
- AZ: Pros Taught Muslim Beliefs (Arizona Republic)
- MI: Esposito Lecture
* FBI ADDS TO WIRETAP WISH LIST (Cnet)
* MUSLIMS STRONGLY CONDEMN MADRID BLASTS (Islamonline)
* SECOND GUANTANAMO BRITON TELLS OF BEATINGS (Scotsman)
- IRAQ: Al Jazeera Goes To Jail (The Nation)
------
HADITH OF THE DAY: RESPECT FOR FOSTER-FAMILIES
Narrated Umar ibn as-Sa'ib - "One day when the (Prophet Muhammad) was
sitting, his foster-father came forward. (The Prophet) spread out part
of
his garment for him to sit on. Then his foster-mother came forward and
(the
Prophet) spread out the other side of his garment (for her). Again, his
foster-brother came forward. (The Prophet) stood up (out of respect)
for
him and seated him before (he) himself (sat down)."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2442
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Someone who looks after
an
orphan, whether he is his relative or not, he and I will be together in
Paradise like this." (The Prophet then drew his index finger and middle
finger close together.)
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1392
------
A PLEA TO FOSTER FAMILIES: KEEP MUSLIMS MUSLIM
Tara Bahrampour, New York Times, 3/14/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/14/nyregion/14muslim.html
Six years ago, a Muslim businessman in Riverdale, the Bronx, named A.
T.
Alishtari learned of a Pakistani-American brother and sister, 4 and 5,
whose family had been destroyed by drug abuse. Mr. Alishtari asked some
local Pakistani imams to find a family to take them in.
"The response was not what I expected," Mr. Alishtari recalled. "They
said,
'Oh, they should stay with their family.'"
The idea of foster care by unrelated guardians is unfamiliar to some
ethnic
groups, and one result is that when Muslim children, for example, do
enter
the foster care system, they are likely to go to homes that are
unfamiliar
with Islam.
That presents a problem, Mr. Alishtari said. "You have kids named
Rashidah
and yet they're sitting around eating pork chops," he said. The fault
is
not with the families, he added. "Many foster homes have 10 kids," he
said.
"You can't say, 'This kid is Muslim; can you stop on Friday and make
sure
he goes to jumah?'"
Zeinab Chahine, deputy commissioner for the Administration for
Children's
Services, said the city was conducting an ad campaign to match more
children with families of the same religion. Earlier this year, she and
Commissioner William C. Bell met with Muslims at the Islamic Cultural
Center of New York on East 96th Street to, as she put it, "try and
recruit
families from the communities where the children are coming from…"
Mr. Alishtari plans to start an organization to educate non-Muslim
families
that have taken in Muslim children. "Jewish people have done what we're
about to do 30, 40 years ago," he said. "There needs to be an interface
between the Muslims and the system."
Meanwhile, the two Pakistani siblings, now 10 and 11, have found a
home.
Mr. Alishtari and his wife are adopting them, a move he said has
surprised
some in the Muslim community. "They said, 'You're Moroccan and Arab,
and
you adopted a Pakistani child?'" he said. "I said, 'No, I adopted a
Muslim
child.'"
HOW TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT:
http://newsite.nfpainc.org/aboutFP/htb_fp.cfm
-----
ALABAMA MUSLIMS THANK CAIR
Shafik Hammami, Mobile Register, 3/13/04
http://www.al.com/opinion/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1079173063160430.xml
On behalf of the Muslim community in Mobile and the state at large, I
would
like to extend my sincere appreciation to Gov. Bob Riley and his wise
legal
staff for responding very swiftly and positively to the issue of
banning
head scarves on the Alabama driver's license photo ID.
We also appreciate the efforts of the ACLU, CAIR and Alabama
legislators,
who played a vital role in reaching an acceptable compromise with the
Department of Public Safety to bring its policy in conformance with the
policies of the Department of Homeland Security and the majority of
other
states.
I am confident that legislators will do whatever is necessary to
approve
this compromise and vote it into law very soon.
Shafik Hammami is the president of the Islamic Society of Mobile.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: MUSLIM GROUPS FLEX POLITICAL MUSCLE
San Antonio Express News, 3/13/04
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA13.11B.ives0313.5c4cf1a2.html
The Express-News missed a good story last week when it failed to cover
presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's speech to the new San Antonio
chapter of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The news hook was that more than 300 people, most of them Muslims,
gathered
for an evening of political organizing.
Nationwide, a coalition of Muslim organizations plans to register at
least
1 million new voters before the November elections.
In San Antonio, CAIR organizers were busy registering voters, signing
up
election judges and training citizens to be delegates at the state
party
conventions. It's a flurry of political activity that had never been
seen
in San Antonio.
The 2000 election was a watershed for Muslim voters. For the first
time,
four Muslim organizations joined to endorse a candidate - George W.
Bush.
And the voters responded...
-----
GIRL SCOUTS HARASSED WHILE SELLING COOKIES
Jackie Allder, Observer News, 3/12/04
http://www.observernews.com/stories/current/news/031204/scouts.shtml
A group of Girl Scouts that was selling cookies in front of the Giant
Food
Store at Elden Street Marketplace March 6 was harassed by a man who
allegedly told Muslim girls in the group that they were waging "a holy
war."
"Unfortunately there are a lot of people who exercise their rights to
freedom of speech at the expense of others," said Priscilla Martinez,
the
troop leader of the group that was harassed.
The group of Girl Scouts included girls from the Brownies and Juniors
troops that the All Dulles Area Muslim Society sponsors. Brownies
troops
are for first through third grade students and Juniors troops are for
fourth to sixth grade students.
Martinez called the Herndon Police department about the incident after
repeatedly asking the man to leave them alone. She said the man was
trying
to preach to them about religion, and she said she politely asked him
to
leave. He walked away, but soon returned and continued to talk about
religion. Martinez said he tried to hand her a brochure with a picture
of
the World Trade Center on it, which she said was very offensive.
"After he wasn't respecting my first request, I wasn't taking any
chances,"
Martinez said. She began escorting the girls inside the Giant, and she
said
she told the man she was going to call the police. Martinez said his
tone
and his language then changed, and his comments turned from an issue of
free speech into an attack on her religion…
-----
DEFINING 'JIHAD' MORE COMPLEX THAN CHECKING WEBSTER'S
Jerry Markon, Washington Post, 3/14/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56702-2004Mar13.html
The meaning of the word "jihad" has been debated by scholars for
centuries.
At two recent trials in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, it became
clear
that the argument -- an especially loaded topic since the Sept. 11,
2001,
terrorist attacks -- is far from settled.
Prosecutors labeled five men charged with preparing stateside for
combat
abroad as being part of an 11-member "Virginia jihad network" and said
they
had been readying for "violent jihad.'' Defense attorneys said the
government had twisted the meaning of the word and that jihad is
instead a
peaceful term that can mean anything from studying Islam to caring for
the
sick.
The two sides might as well have been speaking different languages. And
interviews with experts on the subject last week did little to settle
the
debate. Even dictionaries disagree on what the word means…
John K. Zwerling, attorney for Chapman, said in an interview that the
word
jihad is "so misunderstood and so charged that it shouldn't be used in
court at all." He defined the word to mean "struggle in the service of
God"
and said jihad can only mean violence in a defensive context, such as a
Muslim protecting his family from aggression...
ALSO SEE:
ARAB AMERICANS UPSET BY DICTIONARY DEFINITION
Jim Remsen, Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/14/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/8179355.htm
What's anti-Semitism?
By most definitions, it involves hostility toward Jews. But an edition
of
Merriam-Webster's dictionary reprinted in 2002 has angered Arab
Americans
by linking anti-Semitism to Zionism and Israel.
The Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, defines
anti-Semitismas: "1: hostility toward Jews as a religious or racial
minority group often accompanied by social, economic, and political
discrimination - compare RACISM.
"2: opposition to Zionism: sympathy with opponents of the state of
Israel."
In a letter of protest last Sunday, the American-Arab Anti
Discrimination
Committee called on Merriam-Webster to "repudiate" the latter meaning
and
retract it.
Equating opposition to Israel with anti-Semitism, the Washington-based
group said, "smears and impugns the motives of all those who support
the
human and political rights of Palestinians" and "stigmatizes perfectly
legitimate political opinions and activities…"
------
MUSLIMS IN MISSISSIPPI
Audra D.S. Burch, Miami Herald, 3/14/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/8167306.htm
JACKSON, Miss. - On a downtown street in the middle of the Deep South
stands the nation's only museum devoted exclusively to Islam. It's an
exploration of a culture that's slightly out of place, it seems, in the
land of Evangelical Christianity, casinos, fried fish and grits.
The International Museum of Muslim Cultures opened as a temporary
exhibition in a tiny building just months before Sept. 11, then was
threatened as the nation struggled with the horror of the terrorist
attacks. A single brick that shattered the museum's front plate-glass
window shattered as well a community's silent embrace.
But soon, townspeople -- of all ethnicities, cultures and creeds --
spoke
up. They began calling the little storefront museum with the Moorish
arches, offering warm wishes, support, assurances that the hateful
brick
was the tool of an isolated act. This exchange between museum staff and
anonymous Mississippi residents drove the decision to keep the museum
open,
and to make it a permanent celebration of tolerance and
multiculturalism…
ALSO SEE:
AL NOOR FILLS OLD CHURCH WITH STUDENTS
Deborah Knight Snyder, Mansfield News, 3/12/04
http://www.townonline.com/mansfield/news/local_regional/man_newmnalnoor03122004.htm
After months of construction and permitting delays, the Al Noor Academy
finally opened its doors in Mansfield on Monday, and teachers and staff
alike are thrilled with the new space.
"It's great. Coming from a three-room building to this is a big leap,"
student Anas Muhammad said.
The Islamic high school, which had been operating in Quincy, bought the
former St. Mary's Church on Church Street and renovated it into three
levels of bright, modern space. The refurbished building now has 14
classrooms, eight on the first floor and six on the basement level.
Classrooms include new science and computer labs, though the equipment
has
not yet been installed.
There is a cafeteria on the basement level, and the building's second
floor
has been converted to a large, open prayer room with spectacular
cathedral
ceilings. A library is planned for the second floor as well.
On an afternoon this week, the Al Noor students appeared boisterous and
happy, going from classroom to classroom, laughing and enjoying their
new
environment…
-----
CZECH REPUBLIC: MANY LOOKING TO ISLAM IN THEIR SEARCH FOR SPIRITUALITY
Valentinas Mite, Radio Free Europe, 3/12/04
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/3/19FDEB45-4B52-4C03-B44D-51380E13CF1E.html
Prague - The Czech Republic may be one of the most atheistic nations in
Europe, but many Czechs are converting to Islam in their search for
spirituality.
Vladimir Sanka says he is one of several hundred new converts to Islam
throughout the country and one of some 10,000 Muslims nationwide. Sanka
heads the Islamic Center, based in the Czech capital, Prague.
Sanka says that only now, 15 years after the end of communist rule, are
Czechs getting in touch with Islam. Czechs are predominantly atheists
and
Roman Catholics, with some 40 percent of the population labeling
themselves
as such.
Sanka is in his 40s and was born into an atheistic family. He had an
atheistic education at school and in university, where he studied
geology.
He worked as a geologist for 15 years. Nine years ago, he converted to
Islam. In 1995, Sanka became the head of the Islamic Center and an imam
in
Prague's only mosque.
Sanka says the spiritual journey that led him to convert was a long and
painful one...
ALSO SEE:
SEMINARY DISCUSSES CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM RELATIONS
Regan Foster, Holland Sentinel, 3/13/04
http://www.thehollandsentinel.net/stories/031304/loc_031304018.shtml
A former Michigan resident living in Oman will help lead two
discussions on
Christian-Muslim relations next week at Holland's Western Theological
Seminary.
Michael Bos, the director of the Al-Amana Center in Muscat, Oman, will
be
one of two speakers who will address the subject of inter-faith
dynamics.
He will be joined by a colleague from the Persian Gulf, Ahmed bin Ali
Muhammed Al-Mukhaini, director of information and research for the
Shura
Council to Oman's Sultan Qaboos.
The pair will give a speech at 7 p.m. Monday in the seminary's Semelink
Hall and lead a workshop Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the
seminary's
Garden Level. The speech is free. The workshop, entitled "Christian and
Muslim Relations in the Persian Gulf: Historical and Cultural
Realities,"
costs $45.
---
PROFESSIONALS TAUGHT MUSLIM BELIEFS, CULTURE
Michael Clancy, Arizona Republic, 3/13/04
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/northphoenix/articles/0313islam13Z3.html
The experiences Debra Enos of Tempe faced when she gave birth two years
ago
may have bothered any woman.
But as a Muslim, Enos said, the experience was magnified. The hospital
was
ill-prepared to meet even her most basic needs - for modesty, for
privacy
and for foods that met her dietary restrictions, she said.
While undergoing a Caesarean section, she said, strangers came and
went,
both in surgery and later in her room. She struggled to find a private
place to pray, finally settling on a shower stall with the curtain
pulled
to separate it from the connecting restroom, which Muslims consider
unsuitable for prayer. And for her first solid meal, she was served
bacon,
even though she had made clear her wishes of no pork or pork products.
With experiences like that fresh in her mind, Enos is taking part in a
program aimed at educating professionals in several fields, including
health care, about the basics of Islam and the issues Muslims face in
America…
---
MI: ESPOSITO LECTURE
WHAT: Dr. John Esposito is a professor of religion and international
affairs and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. He is also the
director of the Center for International Studies.
Dr. John L. Esposito is accepted by Muslims & Christians alike as one
of
America's foremost expositors of Islam. His more than 30 books include
"What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam", "The Islamic Threat: Myth or
Reality?", "The Oxford History of Islam" and "The Islamic World: Past
and
Present."
WHERE: Islamic Center of America, 15571 Joy Road (at Greenfield Road),
Detroit, Michigan
WHEN: Saturday, March 20, 2004 at 7:30 PM
-----
FBI ADDS TO WIRETAP WISH LIST
Declan McCullagh and Ben Charny, CNET, 3/12/04
http://msn.com.com/2100-1105_2-5172948.html?part=msn&subj=ns_2543&tag
A far-reaching proposal from the FBI, made public Friday, would require
all
broadband Internet providers, including cable modem and DSL companies,
to
rewire their networks to support easy wiretapping by police.
The FBI's request to the Federal Communications Commission aims to give
police ready access to any form of Internet-based communications. If
approved as drafted, the proposal could dramatically expand the scope
of
the agency's wiretap powers, raise costs for cable broadband companies
and
complicate Internet product development.
Legal experts said the 85-page filing includes language that could be
interpreted as forcing companies to build back doors into everything
from
instant messaging and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) programs to
Microsoft's Xbox Live game service. The introduction of new services
that
did not support a back door for police would be outlawed, and companies
would be given 15 months to make sure that existing services comply...
-----
MUSLIMS STRONGLY CONDEMN MADRID BLASTS
Islamonline, 3/13/04
http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-03/13/article12.shtml
World Muslims condemned the Madrid blasts, sending it clear that
killing
civilians is forbidden in their religion regardless of where or who
carry
out the attacks.
After the blasts, which left 200 people dead and 1,400 others injured,
a
crowded group of Muslims gathered outside the Islamic Cultural Center
in
the Spanish capital to raise their voice strongly against terrorism.
"These blasts were not only against the Islamic religion but also the
entire humanity," Director of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Madrid
Saleh
bin Mohammed Al Sinaidi told reporters Friday, March 12.
"We deeply regret that such incidents rocked our city where Muslims
live as
well," Al Sinaidi said, through an interpreter.
The Center's officials sent a letter of condolences to families of the
victims of the blasts, the worst to hit Europe in years in which 10
bombs
tore through packed morning commuter trains and three railway stations
in
the southeast of the capital…
Moving to Washington, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
-
America's largest Islamic civil liberties group - condemned the deadly
bomb
attacks at the height of Madrid's rush hour.
"These vicious acts of terrorism deserve the strongest possible
condemnation by all civilized people. We call for the swift
apprehension
and punishment of the perpetrators," the group said in a statement on
Thursday.
"Those who carry out such crimes only generate revulsion for whatever
cause
they espouse," it added.
CAIR also reiterated its long-standing condemnation of all acts of
terrorism, whether perpetrated by individuals, groups or states...
-----
SECOND GUANTANAMO BRITON TELLS OF BEATINGS
Neville Dean, Caroline Gammell and Vik Iyer, Scotsman.com, 3/14/04
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2643835
Concerns were mounting over human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay today
as
another British former detainee claimed he suffered beatings and
inhuman
treatment during his incarceration.
Tarek Dergoul - one of five Britons freed from the Cuban detention camp
after more than two years there - said he suffered gunpoint
interrogations
and beatings.
Meanwhile another former detainee, father-of-three Jamal al Harith, 37,
from Manchester, claimed religious men were humiliated by prostitutes
and
accused the military of psychological torture.
But US Secretary of State Colin Powell has dismissed any suggestions
that
prisoners at Guantanamo Bay were ill-treated.
In a statement issued through his solicitor, Louise Christian, Mr
Dergoul,
26, a former care worker from Bethnal Green, east London, condemned the
"horrific" treatment he received at the hands of the US government.
The statement said: "Tarek Dergoul has started to try and give his
family
and his solicitor Louise Christian an account of the horrific things
which
happened to him during detention at Bagram, Kandahar and Guantanamo
Bay...
ALSO SEE:
AL JAZEERA GOES TO JAIL
Christian Parenti, The Nation, 3/29/04
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040329&s=parenti
Salah Hassan looks sad and very tired. The Al Jazeera cameraman, a
33-year-old father of two, is recounting his tale of incarceration in a
soft and matter-of-fact tone. Sipping tea in the lobby of the hotel
that
serves as Al Jazeera's Baghdad bureau, he explains how on November 3 of
last year he raced to the site of a roadside bomb attack on a US
military
convoy in Dialah, near the eastern Iraqi city of Baquba. While he was
interviewing people at the scene, US troops who had previously taken
photographs of Hassan at other events arrested him, took him to a
police
station, interrogated him and repeatedly accused the cameraman of
knowing
in advance about the bomb attack and of lying in wait to get footage.
"I
told them to review my tapes, that it was clear I had arrived thirty or
forty minutes after the blast. They told me I was a liar," says Hassan.
From Baquba, Hassan says he was taken to the military base at Baghdad
International Airport, held in a bathroom for two days, then flown
hooded
and bound to Tikrit. After two more days in another bathroom, he was
loaded
onto a five-truck convoy of detainees and shipped south to Abu Ghraib,
a
Saddam-built prison that now serves as the American military's main
detention center and holds about 13,000 captives.
Once inside the sprawling prison, Hassan says, he was greeted by US
soldiers who sang "Happy Birthday" to him through his tight plastic
hood,
stripped him naked and addressed him only as "Al Jazeera," "boy" or
"bitch." He was forced to stand hooded, bound and naked for eleven
hours in
the bitter autumn night air; when he fell, soldiers kicked his legs to
get
him up again. In the morning, Hassan says, he was made to wear a dirty
red
jumpsuit that was covered with someone else's fresh vomit and
interrogated
by two Americans in civilian clothes. They made the usual accusations
that
Hassan and Al Jazeera were in cahoots with "terrorists..."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/15/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: VISIT THE SICK
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Library Project Update: Colorado
- CAIR Summer Internship Program
* THAI OFFICIAL VISITS CAIR HQ
- CAIR-DFW: Screening PBS Series on Islam
- CAIR-OH: March & Rally for Peace and Justice
* TX: ARMY WRONG TO ASK FOR ISLAM MEETING INFO (AP)
* NY: REP. KING'S SPEECH IS HURTFUL (Newsday)
* FL: MOSQUE TOO TALL, OR THE VICTIM OF BIAS? (Herald Trib)
- NY: Muslim Society Finds Middle Ground (Herald)
* OK: MUSLIM GIRL ADDS DAMAGE TO LAWSUIT (AP)
* AZ: MUSLIMS, JEWS WALK FOR PEACE (AP)
* MA: SCIENTIFIC DISCUSSION STARTS ISLAM WEEK (Crimson)
- IL: Better Relations for Muslims, Christians (Star)
- SC: Faith Groups Learn About Islam (WISTV)
- MI: Leader to Speak At Theater (Muskegon Chron)
* FL: ARAB-AMERICANS A FORCE IN PRES VOTE (Orlando Sent.)
- MI: Bush Ad Offends (Detroit News)
* MUSLIMS WATCH AS U.S. MISTREATS PRISONERS (Columbus Disp.)
* GI TO TEST MORALITY OF WAR (Chicago Tribune)
- Fisk: One Year On, War without End (Fair Use)
* IL: MCRC'S ANNUAL DINNER 2004
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: VISIT THE SICK
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Heaven calls out to
anyone
who visits a sick person, 'You are good and your path is good. May you
enter your residence in Paradise.'"
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 3A
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,366 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Colorado: 54 covered, 195 more libraries to
go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
---
CAIR SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
CAIR is seeking applicants for its summer internship program in
Washington,
D.C. Applicants should be 18-years-old or older and college students
who
have legal status in the U.S.
CAIR's internship program provides first-hand experience and training
in
areas such as community outreach, chapter development, governmental
relations, lobbying, public and media relations, legal and civil
rights,
research and leadership. Interns will work with skilled and dedicated
mentors to gain valuable insight on CAIR's work. All interns receive a
monthly stipend.
The application deadline is April 30, 2004. Interested and qualified
applicants should call 202-488-8787 or email internship@cair-net.org to
receive an application form.
-----
THAI OFFICIAL VISITS CAIR HQ
CAIR was today honored to host Mr. Jirat Siriwallop, Deputy Chief of
District for a Muslim-majority province in Thailand. Mr. Siriwallop is
touring the United States as a guest of the State Department's
International Visitor Program.
During his visit, Mr. Siriwallop will learn more about the American
political system, with a focus on state and local government
operations,
law enforcement and the protection of minority rights.
At today's meeting with CAIR representatives in Washington, D.C., Mr.
Siriwallop heard a description of the American Muslim community and its
institutions, and learned about CAIR's activities in defense of civil
liberties.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-DFW SCREENS PBS SERIES
CAIR-DFW would like to invite the Dallas Fort Worth Muslim Community to
an
advance screening of the PBS series, "The New Americans."
The screening will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, March 18
at
FunAsiA, 1210 E. Beltline Road, Richardson.
"The New Americans" follows a diverse group of contemporary immigrants
and
refugees as they journey to start new lives in the U.S. The screening
will
feature an episode from "The New Americans" about a Palestinian
immigrant
and a segment from "The Islam Project" followed by a discussion. "The
New
Americans" series airs March 29-31 at 8 p.m. on KERA 13.
The event, including box dinner, is free and open to the public, but
seating is limited and an R.S.V.P. is required. Please call
214/740-5421 or
e-mail ajalomo@kera.org to reserve seats.
The event is co-sponsored by Sarah Bakery and Islamic Center of
Carrollton
and in part, by the National Center for Outreach.
---
CAIR-OH CO-SPONSORS MARCH & RALLY FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://sif.org.ohio-state.edu/M20.doc
WHAT: End the Occupations of Iraq & Palestine Now Stand Up for Economic
Justice and Civil Rights and Liberties
Speakers: Ahmad Al-Akhras (Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio
Chapter), Wendy Ake (Committee for Justice in Palestine), Louise M.
Antony
(Professor, Philosophy, OSU), Bob Fitrakis (The Free Press), Rev.
Vincent
Frosh (First AME Zion), Barry Landeros-Thomas (Veterans for
Peace/American
Indian Movement), Columbus City Council member Charleta B. Tavares.
Performers: Dave Hawkins, Tom Harker, STOPS, Doublethink.
WHEN: Saturday, March 20, 2004, 12:00 Noon: Assemble at the First AME
Zion
Church, Bryden Rd. & 18th St., Columbus, OH (the march begins at 12:30
PM.)
1 PM: Rally at the Statehouse, Broad & High Sts., Columbus, OH (in case
of
dangerous weather, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Broad & 3rd Sts.)
For more information, contact Sponsors: Central Ohio Peace Network,
Connie
Hammond, 614-531-4146; John Wallace, 614-899-9946
-----
ARMY WRONG TO ASK FOR ISLAM MEETING INFO
Matt Joyce, Associated Press, 3/14/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3863915,00.html
AUSTIN, Texas - Army Intelligence and Security Command agents
overstepped
their authority when they sought information on civilian participants
at a
University of Texas conference on Islam, the Army said.
Two counterintelligence agents from Fort Hood, near Killeen, went to
the
university's law school on Feb. 9, seeking information on people who
attended the conference, "Islam and the Law: The Question of Sexism."
The Army is prohibited from investigating civilians unless the FBI
waives
its jurisdiction or requests assistance, said Deborah Parker, a
spokeswoman
for the Army Intelligence and Security Command, based in Fort Belvoir,
Va.
"It was a lapse in judgment,' Parker said Monday. "It was not something
that was done maliciously."
The conference, which had taken place the previous week, was open to
the
public. Conference organizers said they refused to give the agents a
list
of participants and a video of the event...
-----
KING'S SPEECH IS HURTFUL
Mamoun Najjar, Newsday, 3/14/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/letters/
Lately Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) has been jumping from one media
outlet
to another repeating his Islamophobic statements. Doesn't he have
anything
to do except defame the people whom he represents?
King's statements can further hurt the minorities in New York. Reports
have
shown that there is a trend of eroding civil rights in the Muslim and
South
Asian communities in New York and other states. Reported incidents
include
school and work-place discrimination, financial discrimination,
harassment
and even hate crimes.
Statements made by King can fuel this erosion and further divide the
nation
into lines of religion and ethnicity. As an elected official, he should
be
working for the people, not issuing irresponsible statements bashing
them.
SEE ALSO:
NY CONGRESSMAN CALLS U.S. MOSQUE LEADERS 'AN ENEMY AMONGST US'
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=160&page=AA
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.
Hostile
comments can be used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
1. CONTACT Rep. King to ask that he 1) apologize to the American Muslim
community, 2) seek information from unbiased sources and 3) meet with
Islamic leaders to learn more about Muslims in America. CONTACT: Rep.
Peter
T. King, U.S. House of Representatives, 436 Cannon House Office
Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515 TEL: 202-225-7896 FAX: 202-226-2279 E-MAIL:
Pete.King@mail.house.gov, kevin.fogarty@mail.house.gov
2. CONTACT the Republican National Committee to ask that they repudiate
King's remarks. CONTACT: Mr. Ed Gillespie, Chairman, Republican
National
Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 TEL: 202-863-8700
FAX: 202-863-8774 E-MAIL: Chairman@gop.com, RNCommunications@gop.com
3. CONTACT your own elected officials to ask that they also repudiated
attacks on the American Muslim community and its leadership. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ and enter your ZIP Code
4. CONTACT President Bush to ask that he speak out more forcefully
against
Islamophobic rhetoric. CONTACT: President George W. Bush, The White
House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 COMMENT LINE:
202-456-1111 E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
5. COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
MOSQUE TOO TALL, OR THE VICTIM OF BIAS?
Jeremy Wallace, Herald Tribune, 3/14/04
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040315/NEWS/403150371/1060
SARASOTA COUNTY -- Diversity.
That's what Hytham Bakr said he thought Sarasota was all about.
But since county commissioners imposed restrictions on the mosque he
attends that other houses of worships don't have to follow, he
questions
whether diversity is just talk.
"Are they truly interested in diversity?" Bakr asked about county
officials. "They want to talk about diversity, but they don't want to
see
us around."
Bakr's assessment comes two weeks after county commissioners gave the
mosque on North Lockwood Ridge Road permission to expand, but without
any
portion that would be visible above the tree line. Commissioners placed
a
40-feet height restriction on the Islamic Society of Sarasota and
Bradenton, the only mosque serving Sarasota and Manatee counties.
That restriction hasn't been imposed on any of the 14 other religious
groups seeking county commission approval for similar permits since
2002...
The mosque's troubles, however, fit in with a pattern of stories that
Islamic-American groups in the United States say have become more
prevalent
since Sept. 11, 2001.
"I'm not surprised," said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations, based in Washington, D.C. "We see stories
around the country of Muslims having an extra-difficult time getting
things
approved, and getting permission to build or expand mosques."
Ahmed said the 9/11 attacks increased fear and misconceptions about
Islam
and the people who worship at mosques. Those emotions have created
subtle
barriers that make it more difficult for Muslims seeking local approval
to
grow their communities, Ahmed said.
Even in communities that pride themselves on diversity, she said, it
has
become more difficult to establish new mosques. Similar fights have
arisen
in Raleigh, N.C., and in parts of Illinois, she said.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM SOCIETY FINDS MIDDLE GROUND
Nick Buglione, Herald Community, 3/11/04
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11105958&BRD=1601&PAG=461&dept_id=478675&rfi=6
The Long Island Muslim Society has agreed to build a significantly
scaled
down version of the house of worship it originally proposed for East
Meadow
Avenue, a plan warmly received by East Meadow community leaders.
In a quiet, closed-door meeting last Monday that was a stark contrast
to
the loud and contentious one held over a year ago, Muslim Society
attorney
Howard Avrutine presented the new blueprints to six local residents and
Council of East Meadow Community Organizations (CEMCO) President Joseph
Parisi.
The plans call for the demolition of the Muslim Society's house at 477
East
Meadow Ave., where an approximately 2,590-square-foot house of worship,
about 35 feet wide and 18 feet high, will be built. The Muslim
Society's
other house, at 469 East Meadow Ave., will remain untouched and will be
used as an office and clergy residence.
"It's a much, much different plan," Avrutine said. "I thought the
meeting
was very positive, and there was a cooperative attitude."
The Long Island Muslim Society originally intended to combine both
structures into a two-story mosque. Because that construction plan
called
for only eight on-site parking spots, instead of the 87 required by the
town Building Department, local residents opposed it, citing mostly
parking
and traffic concerns...
-----
MUSLIM GIRL ADDS DAMAGE TO LAWSUIT
Associated Press, 3/14/04
MUSKOGEE, Okla. - A lawsuit on behalf of a Muslim girl suspended from
school for wearing a head scarf was amended Monday to include a demand
for
$80,000 in damages.
Attorneys for 11-year-old Nashala Hearn also added a claim in the
lawsuit
that Muskogee Public Schools violated the equal protection clause of
the
Constitution.
The suit, which previously sought only $1 in compensatory damages,
claims
the school's dress code discriminates unjustly against religious
clothing.
"It would appear exceptions have been made to the dress code for
nonreligious reasons, but the religious reason sought by or advanced by
this little girl was not recognized as legitimate," said Leah Farish,
Nashala's Tulsa-based attorney.
D.D. Hayes, attorney for the schools, said he could not yet comment
because
he had not had enough time to examine the amended complaint. He said he
anticipated responding in writing within 20 days.
The district suspended Nashala in October for wearing a head scarf that
officials believe violates the district-wide dress code. The child
wears
the hijab as part of her observance of the Muslim religion...
-----
MUSLIMS, JEWS WALK FOR PEACE
Associated Press, 3/15/04
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Local Muslims and Jews will walk nearly six miles
in
the name of peace this weekend.
"Anyone of any faith is invited. It's called Muslim-Jewish because of
the
perception that Muslims and Jews don't get along," said Muhammad As'ad,
administrator of the Islamic Center of Tucson. "We have Buddhists,
Sikhs,
all kinds of people who say they will walk."
The walk on Sunday will begin at the Islamic Center and end at the
Reform
Jewish Congregation Chaverim.
"This is not just about the walk," As'ad said. "The other part is
getting
to know members of each community. We've developed friendships. The
whole
thing is part of a process."
-----
SCIENTIFIC DISCUSSION STARTS ISLAM AWARENESS WEEK
Evan M. Vittor, The Crimson, 3/15/04
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=358246
Islamic Awareness Week kicked off Saturday with a discussion of how to
reconcile Islamic traditional teachings with modern scientific
questions
about stem cells, "gay genes" and bioethics.
"We want to spread awareness of Islam on campus. Let people see that we
are
not what all of the stereotypes of Muslims would say that we are," said
Omar A. Khan '06, the treasurer of Harvard Islamic Society, which is
sponsoring this week's events.
Saeed Khan, director and senior fellow at the Institute for Social
Policy
and Understanding, spoke for an hour Saturday about using Islamic
scripture
to resolve complicated issues surrounding stem cell research and
genomic
therapy. He discussed how the Fiqh Council, an Islamic advisory body
which
issues interpretations of the law, has provided guidelines on
controversial
topics such as the use of fetal stem cells for research purposes.
"Islam has a very progressive and very pragmatic viewpoint when it
comes to
stem cell research," Khan said. "This is a departure from many other
religions."
Khan did however note the similarities between Islam and other
religions
regarding genomics in general...
ALSO SEE:
GROUP SEEKS IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS
Glen Leyden, Star Newspapers, 3/14/04
http://www.starnewspapers.com/star/spnews/news/14-sp6.htm
There are many fears and misconceptions about Muslim Americans.
They look different. They dress different. They speak different. They
worship different.
Their differences sometimes mean they get strange looks. Or -
especially in
the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks - their patriotism is questioned
or
they are stereotyped as dangerous religious fanatics.
"Ignorance breeds hatred," said Ala Shalabi, a member of the
Christian-Muslim Dialogue Group, a south suburban not-for-profit group
aimed at opening discussion between Christians and Muslims.
Despite the many differences between the two, Shalabi thinks that if
Christians and Muslims took the time to get to know one another, they
would
be more likely to see the similarities instead of the differences.
"We're friends in this group. We're neighbors, and we are becoming
closer
and closer to being brothers and sisters," Shalabi said...
---
FAITH GROUPS LEARNING ABOUT ISLAM TO HELP BANTU REFUGEES
WIStv.com, 3/14/04
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1709612&nav=0RaPLW18
Faith groups sponsoring Somali Bantu refugees arriving in Columbia are
learning about the Islamic faith to better care for the Muslim
refugees.
Sponsor Francie Markham attended the Islamic Center of Columbia,
because
the Methodist wanted to be able to take her sponsoring Bantu family to
services there.
The federal government is helping 120 Somali Bantu refugees resettle in
Columbia. Christian, Muslim and Jewish groups will greet them at the
airport and become their new companions, paying for the families'
living
expenses for six months.
Abdulkadir Mohamed, Columbia's first Somali Bantu refugee, arrived last
month. He says it's important to him to keep his Muslim faith. He
recently
attend services at the local mosque, his first time to pray in an
establishment.
---
MUSLIM LEADER TO SPEAK AT OVERBROOK THEATER
Clayton Hardiman, Muskegon Chronicle, 3/15/04
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-4/107937990075090.xml
When national Muslim leader Imam W. Deen Mohammed traveled to the
Vatican
to meet the pope, Imam E. Abdulmalik Mohammed was there.
He also had represented the Muslim leader in the Middle East, Africa,
Europe, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
And in the United States, particularly in the last two and a half
years, he
has been a spokesman for the message of Islam and for the unity of
humanity.
Now Imam E. Abdulmalik Mohammed is coming to deliver those messages in
Muskegon.
On Friday, he will deliver a lecture at Muskegon Community College's
Overbrook Theater.
On Saturday, he will be the speaker at the second annual Interfaith
Unity
and Appreciation Banquet at First Baptist Church.
On both occasions, his subject will be "Building Bridges, Promoting
Unity:
Working Together to Achieve the Extraordinary" -- the theme for the
banquet...
-----
ARAB-AMERICANS WILL BE FORCE IN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE
Kelly Brewington, Orlando Sentinel, 3/14/04
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/elections/orl-locarabvote14031404mar14,1,6412294.story
Arab-American advocates in the Orlando area are mobilizing a statewide
voter-registration and education drive as George W. Bush and John Kerry
prepare for a bruising campaign in this key battleground state.
If a recent national poll is any indication, Arab-Americans could come
out
in force against President Bush in November.
A poll of 501 Arab-American registered voters by Zogby International
found
that 67 percent think Bush is doing a poor job and 65 percent would
vote
against him.
The results, released Friday, are driven by policies such as Bush's
approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, said James Zogby,
president
of the Arab American Institute.
"When you have that degree of disapproval, that's a bit of a hole to
get
out of," said Zogby, who conducted the poll for the institute.
Zogby's agency surveyed voters in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and
Pennsylvania,
all of which have significant Arab-American populations and are
expected to
be critical states in the presidential race.
In addition, the poll shows that many Arab-Americans who voted for Bush
in
2000 would vote against him today...
ALSO SEE:
BUSH AD OFFENDS SOME ARABS
Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, 3/14/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/politics/0403/14/b01-91017.htm
DEARBORN - Prominent Arab-Americans and local Democrats called on the
Bush-Cheney '04 campaign to pull a television advertisement that shows
the
face of a young Middle Eastern man, saying the ad is offensive.
"They are trying to use stereotypes to defame a community," said lawyer
Nabih Ayad.
Arab critics of the television spot said the president's campaign for
re-election would not have spurred controversy if it had broadcast a
picture of Osama bin Laden or other recognizable terrorists, rather
than
the anonymous Middle Eastern man.
"I would not mind if they were to use a true image of terrorism, like a
known terrorist," said Imad Hamad, director of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee. "But to use just a typical ordinary face
of
a Middle Easterner or a person of Arab descent is very serious and
plays
into the idea that Americans should be afraid of Arabs and
Arab-Americans
in general."
Responding to the criticism, the Bush-Cheney campaign issued a
statement:
"We think that the ad fairly depicts the challenges and threats our
country
is facing in these times."
The new 30-second advertisement is called "100 Days." It's playing
nationally in select markets, including Metro Detroit, and is also
featured
on the Bush-Cheney campaign Web site.
An announcer says that Democrat John Kerry would "weaken the Patriot
Act
used to arrest terrorists and defend Americans." As the audio plays, an
image of a dark-skinned, dark-eyed young man appears on the screen,
along
with images of a traveler looking at an airport schedule and a person
wearing a gas mask...
-----
MUSLIM WORLD WATCHES AS U.S. MISTREATS SOME PRISONERS
Robyn Blumner, Columbus Dispatch, 3/14/04
http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/03/15/20040315-A11-00.html
In Bernard Malamud's masterpiece, The Fixer, inmate Yakov Bok was
subjected
to psychological torture in a Soviet gulag through the humiliations of
constant shackling and repeated strip searches.
The story I read in middle school comes back to me as I learn more
about
the abusive and psychologically damaging treatment of Sami Al-Arian, a
former professor of computer engineering at the University of South
Florida, who is in federal prison on terrorism-related charges.
Denied bail and his right to a speedy trial, Al-Arian is being held in
the
Special Housing Unit of the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in
Sumter
County, Fla. The unit is the prison's disciplinary ward, typically
reserved
for uncontrollable prisoners who have attacked guards or other inmates.
Al-Arian shares a 7-by-13-foot cell with co-defendant Sameeh Hammoudeh.
The
amount of room violates the American Correctional Association
guidelines.
But in that space, they are warehoused for 23 hours a day, let out for
an
hour of recreation five times a week. But even then they are denied
daylight. Their "recreation" cell is a cage adjacent to the cellblock,
which is surrounded by a high wall and an opaque weather covering.
All done for their own safety, says the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In a display of petty cruelty, whenever Al-Arian meets with his
lawyers,
the guards refuse to carry his legal documents. He is forced to walk
bent
over, with his hands shackled behind him, balancing the paperwork on
his
back. "Like an animal," said Linda Moreno, one of his lawyers...
-----
GI TO TEST MORALITY OF WAR
Michael Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 3/15/04
NEW YORK -- In Iraq last April, freshly promoted Staff Sgt. Camilo
Mejia
led squads of Florida National Guard soldiers in the fight against
insurgents in the deadly Sunni triangle.
But Mejia became increasingly pained by his war experiences, and when
he
went on leave in the autumn, he decided not to come back. The staff
sergeant--one of about 600 soldiers counted as AWOL by the Army during
home
leaves from Iraq--eventually was labeled a deserter.
Now, after five months in hiding, Mejia plans to surrender Monday in
Boston
on the eve of the war's first anniversary, and he aims to become the
first
Iraq war veteran to publicly challenge the morality and conduct of the
conflict. At a time when polls indicate that Americans' support for the
war
is slipping, Mejia intends to seek conscientious-objector status to
avoid a
court-martial.
In an interview with the Tribune, Mejia, 28, of Miami, said he found
the
war and many of his combat orders morally questionable and ultimately
unacceptable. He has been living in New York and other Eastern cities,
traveling by bus instead of by plane or car to escape the attention of
the
police and military. He has avoided using his credit cards and cell
phone.
Mejia accuses commanders of using GIs as "bait" to lure out Iraqi
fighters
so that U.S. soldiers could win combat decorations. He also says
operations
were conducted in ways that sometimes risked injuring civilians. He has
accused his battalion and company commanders of incompetence and has
reiterated other guardsmen's complaints about being poorly equipped.
Those commanders, however, defended their conduct. His immediate
commander
described Mejia as a poorly performing soldier who "lost his nerve" as
bloodshed intensified in one of Iraq's more violent cities, Ramadi.
Perhaps the turning point for Mejia was the day in Iraq when he was
ordered
to shoot at Iraqis protesting and hurling grenades toward his position
from
about 75 yards away, which he considered too far of a distance to be a
real
threat. Mejia and his men opened fire on one, and he fell, his blood
pooling around him.
"It was the first time I had fired at a human being," Mejia recalled.
"I
guess you could say it was my initiation at killing a human being. . .
.
One thing I ask myself a lot, `Did I hit him?...'
-----
ONE YEAR ON - WAR WITHOUT END
Robert Fisk, Fair Use, 3/14/04
http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news1/fisk12.html
Saddam may be gone but peace has not come. Robert Fisk was in Baghdad
when
the tyrant was in his pomp and when the first bombs fell on 19 March
2003.
His acclaimed reports revealed the suffering of the Iraqi people. Now,
as
the anniversary of the war approaches, he returns to a land riven by
chaos,
where liberation is a myth.
The surviving Iraqi employees of the United Nations fearfully changed
the
plates on their white, unmarked vehicles last week. From now on, there
will
be no "UN" next to the registration number. When I visited the
headquarters
of the Muslim Red Crescent society to talk to the lone representative
of
the Red Cross, the man at the desk fingered my business card and looked
into my eyes with palpable fear - as if an Englishman was a potential
suicide bomber.
At night, in my grubby hotel, I listen for gunfire and fear the attack
which so many of the guests have been predicting for weeks. Will the
bombers arrive at dinner-time when the South African and British
mercenaries come clanking back from their "security duties", all
Heckler
and Koch automatics, silver pistols and black flak jackets, ready for
their
beers and cheap French vin rouge? Or at 6am, just after the fajr dawn
prayers, their Islamic souls cleansed for self-immolation amid the
infidels
and crusaders? I count the minutes between 6am and 8am, the hours when
they
most often strike. I've lost count of the number of times my bedroom
windows have rattled at breakfast-time...
A year ago, there were no problems on Highway 8. The monstrous old
tyrant
Saddam had seen to that. If robbers had been looting and raping north
of
Basra since the 1991 Gulf War, Baghdad was law-and-order land. There
the
looting and raping was done by the government, not the people. Now it's
the
other way round...
-----
MCRC'S ANNUAL DINNER 2004
WHAT: Muslim Civil Rights Center will be hosting its annual dinner
with
keynote speech by Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez.
WHEN: Saturday, March 27, 2004 at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Paradise Elegant Banquets
9220 S. Harlem Avenue,
Bridgeview, IL 60655
DINNER REGISTRATION
$40 per person (if registered before March 20)
For information, call MCRC at (708) 598 6640 to register by phone.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #419
FCC COMPLAINT FILED OVER ISLAMOPHOBIC RADIO SKIT
Pretend "Muslim" said Iraqi constitution permits sex with animals
(ANAHEIM, CA, 3/16/04) - CAIR's Southern California office (CAIR-LA)
today
announced that it has filed complaints with both the Federal
Communications
Commission (FCC) and Clear Channel Communications over an Islamophobic
skit
on a Los Angeles radio station that claimed Muslims have sex with
animals,
avoid bathing and are obsessed with killing Jews.
In the March 10 Bill Handel show on KFI AM 640, a pretend "Muslim"
allegedly reading from the new Iraqi constitution refers to "hairy
Iraqi
women," "lovely Japanese schoolgirls," the "infidel custom of bathing
on a
regular basis," and "civil unions" between Iraqis and "loving camels
and
goats."
Throughout the skit, called "The New Iraq Constitution - Handelized,"
the
mock-Muslim repeatedly stated "Allah be praised," "death to the Jews"
and
"kill all Jews." Listeners also heard recordings of Islamic prayers in
Arabic. CAIR-LA asked the station to apologize for the offensive skit,
but
that request was denied.
To listen to the offensive skit, go to:
http://www.kfi640.com/media/iraqcont.mp3 or
http://www.cair-net.org/audio/iraqcont.ram
"While we understand and appreciate the concept of comic satire, this
skit
obviously crossed the line from comedy to outright bigotry and racism
that
could negatively impact the lives of ordinary American Muslims," said
CAIR-LA Communications Director Sabiha Khan. Khan said the KFI program
contained some of the most hate-filled and Islamophobic statements
reported
to CAIR in recent years.
In her letter to the FCC, Khan wrote: "Increased ratings should not be
obtained at the expense of any culture or religion. We fully respect
and
value freedom of speech, including for Mr. Handel, however, these
Islamophobic comments are outrageous and hurtful, and only serve to
increase animosity and hatred against the American Muslim community. No
doubt, such bigotry would not, and should not, be tolerated if it were
directed toward any other ethnic or religious group."
A similar letter was sent to KFI's parent company, Clear Channel
Communications. The FCC recently voted to fine Clear Channel $250,000
for
nine alleged indecency violations. That fine came just over a month
after
the nation's largest radio chain was hit with a record $755,000
penalty.
Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would
boost
indecency fines to $500,000 per incident.
(FCC rules prohibit radio and TV stations from airing offensive
material
that refers to sexual functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The
offensive
skit aired after 8 a.m.)
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Hostile comments WILL be used
to
further defame Islam and Muslims.)
Contact KFI and Clear Channel and demand that they apologize to the
American Muslim community for such bigoted and hurtful remarks.
CONTACT:
Greg Ashlock
KFI Regional Director
610 S. Ardmore Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
TEL: 213-427-7912 FAX: 213-380-8364
Robin Bertolucci, KFI Program Director
TEL: 213-427-7211 FAX: 213-380-8364
E-Mail: robinbertolucci@clearchannel.com, gregashlock@clearchannel.com,
bill@kfi640.com, michelle@kfi640.com, limon@kfi640.com
John Hogan
Chief Executive Officer
Clear Channel Radio
200 Basse Road
San Antonio, TX 78209
TEL: 210-822-2828 FAX: 210-822-2299
E-MAIL: pr@clearchannel.com, johnhogan@clearchannel.com,
lisadollinger@clearchannel.com, rosareeve@clearchannel.com
COPY ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: Michael.Powell@fcc.gov, socal@cair.com,
cair@cair-net.org
-----
TRANSCRIPT OF THE BILL HANDEL SHOW
March 10, 2004, KFI 640 AM
"The New Iraq Constitution --- Handelized"
Bill: You're aware that Iraqi officials signed an interim Constitution,
what you're probably not aware is what's inside that Constitution. No
one's
said anything about it. It happens to be a fascinating document. And
with
us is the … ("I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast," in Arabic
in
background) exactly. With us is that great Constitutional scholar, the
Iraqi Constitutional scholar, Mohammad Barak Faroud Kafi. (Thank you
very
much. Allah be praised). Alright. Now, uh, Mr. Mohammad, would you
share
some of those provisions in that Constitution that, uh, very few of us
are
aware of.
Mohammad: Yeah, I brought a couple of pages to read to you:
"We the people of Iraq, in order to form a more perfect union promote
injustice and insure domestic anarchy, provide for radical religious
fundamentalist theocracy, promote the subjugation of women, and secure
the
blessings of the almighty Allah for ourselves and our posterity. Do
ordain
and establish this interim constitution of the New Iraq.
Mohammad: Sounds very familiar doesn't it?
Bill: It does. I'm, I'm surprised. You took a lot of it from the United
States, didn't you Sir?
Mohammad: Yes, and we will take more of your money.
Bill: Yes, thank you.
Mohammad: Article 1 Section 1: All Legislative powers are herein
granted
and shall be vested in grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, who will
personally
see to it that personal freedoms and civil rights be set back 1000
years.
Section 2: Death to the Jews, death to the Jews, death to the Jews.
(laughter)
Section 3: The House of Representatives shall be composed of
[inaudible]
American-hating terrorists who shall conduct a war of attrition for
1000
years or until the infidel is eradicated from the planet entirely,
whichever comes first.
Section 4: Kill all the Jews, death to Israel, kill all Jews.
(laughter)
Bill: Thank you.
Mohammad: Section 5…Martyrs
Bill: Oh there's more.
Mohammad: Should I go on?
Bill: Yes. Go ahead.
Mohammad: Section 5: Everybody in the name of Allah should be given 72
virgins upon entrance into heaven. The virgins however, will not be
hairy
Iraqi women, but lovely Japanese schoolgirls. (laughter) This we
personally
guarantee in the name of Allah.
Section 6: The Hebrew must die. Free Palestine. The Hebrew must die.
(laughter)
Section 7: All western teachings shall from this day be banned
throughout
Iraq, especially the infidel custom of bathing on a regular basis.
(laughter)
Section 8: Death to the Zionists conspiracy. Death to the Zionist
conspiracy. Death to the Zionist conspiracy.
UH, Section 9: All homosexuals marriages are especially prohibited and
are
punishable by death, however civil unions between consenting Iraqi, uh,
adults and loving camels and goats will be recognized. (laughter)
Section 10: See sections 2, 4, 6, and 8. (laughter) They pretty much is
the
same thing… for the entire Constitution.
Bill: Thank you very much, uh, the great Mohammad, the uh,
Constitutional
scholar from Iraq. Thank you so much for being with us.
Mohammad: Allah be praised.
Bill: I appreciate that. Alright. ("I seek refuge in God from Satan
the
outcast," in Arabic in background) (laughter)
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CALIF. RADIO STATION APOLOGIZES FOR ISLAMOPHOBIC SKIT
(ANAHEIM, CA, 3/17/04) - A Los Angeles, Calif., radio station today
issued
an on-air apology for an Islamophobic skit that claimed Muslims have
sex
with animals, avoid bathing and are obsessed with killing Jews.
The apology by KFI AM 640 came one day after the Southern California
office
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) announced that
it
had filed complaints about the skit with both the Federal
Communications
Commission (FCC) and Clear Channel Communications, the station's parent
company.
In the March 10 Bill Handel show on KFI, a pretend "Muslim" allegedly
reading from the new Iraqi constitution refers to "hairy Iraqi women,"
"lovely Japanese schoolgirls," the "infidel custom of bathing on a
regular
basis," and "civil unions" between Iraqis and "loving camels and
goats."
Throughout the skit, the mock-Muslim repeatedly stated "Allah be
praised,"
"death to the Jews" and "kill all Jews." Listeners also heard
recordings of
Islamic prayers in Arabic.
TO LISTEN TO THE OFFENSIVE SKIT, GO TO:
http://www.kfi640.com/media/iraqcont.mp3 or
http://www.cair-net.org/audio/iraqcont.ram
Today's on-air apology by KFI Program Director Robin Bertolucci stated:
"Last Wednesday, we aired a satirical skit that was offensive to some
members of the Muslim community, for that we are sorry. KFI is
committed to
all of its Southern California listeners, including those in the Muslim
community."
An initial CAIR-LA request for an apology was denied, but the station
apparently relented after receiving hundreds of calls, faxes and
e-mails
from concerned Muslims and people of other faiths who responded to a
CAIR
action alert.
"We thank all those who contacted KFI to express their concerns about
the
skit's outrageous and inflammatory content," said CAIR-LA
Communications
Director Sabiha Khan. "This incident proves once again that positive
actions on the part of individuals and organizations can bring positive
results."
Khan said CAIR-LA will continue to monitor KFI programming for
anti-Muslim
material and will inform the station's sponsors about any future
Islamophobic incidents.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-390-0334, 714-776-1847; CAIR-DC,
Ibrahim
Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah
Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/17/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A FRIENDLY WORD
* LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: NEBRASKA
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS MOURN DEATH OF HERNANDO DOCTOR
- Dedicated Doctor Mourned (St. Pete Times)
* ARAB-AMERICANS CARRY WEIGHT IN PIVOTAL STATES (WSJ)
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: MAY I SEE YOUR ID? (NY Times)
- Judge Rejects Al-Arian Free Speech Claims (AP)
* WV: MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, JEWS CELEBRATE HOSPITALITY
* CAIR FILES COMPLAINT OVER L.A. RADIO SHOW (Reuters)
- Islamophobia or Satire? Muslims Complain (CNS)
- CAIR Calls Radio Skit Islamophobic (UPI)
* FL: GROUP ACCUSES COUNTY OF DISCRIMINATION (Tampa Bays 10)
- NY: Muslims Seek Larger Building (Observer Dispatch)
- Minarets Rise in Germany (LA Times)
- Promise of Mosque Unfulfilled in Athens (LA Times)
* DISCONTENT WITH U.S. GROWING OVERSEAS-SURVEY (Reuters)
- RESOURCE: Bush Administration's Statements on Iraq
* BILL STALLS CALLING FOR PROBE OF CORRIE'S DEATH (Olympian)
- A Friend Who Died For Peace (Kansas City)
* NC: MAS YOUTH CONFERENCE
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A FRIENDLY WORD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions: "Save
yourselves from (Hell) even if with half of a date (given in charity),
and
if that is not available, then (save yourselves) by saying a friendly
word."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 52
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,370 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Nebraska: 38 covered, 210 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
-----
FLORIDA MUSLIMS MOURN DEATH OF HERNANDO DOCTOR
Brooksville-based physician killed in plane accident
(TAMPA, FL 3/17/2004) - The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) joins other Florida Muslims in
mourning the death of Dr. Mohamed Nagi Kadri. Dr. Kadri, a
Brooksville-based physician was killed Monday night in a plane accident
in
a of Pasco County.
SEE:
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/17/Hernando/Dedicated_doctor_mour.shtml
Dr. Kadri, 44, had two practices in Hernando County, and operated at
four
area hospitals. Since opening his Brooksville office in May of 2000,
Kadri
has been an asset to the community and was known for his generosity and
kind smile. Kadri, a native of Egypt, leaves behind his wife Jeanette,
and
children Dahlia 14, Tarick 11, Nadia 7, and Nora 18 months.
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
WHAT: Dr. Kadri Interfaith Memorial Service
WHEN: Sunday March 21st, 2004 at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Palace Grande, 275 Della Court, Spring Hill
Contact: Dr. Eldin 352-592-4938 or Lisa 352-686-5003
"Our condolences and prayers go out to the wife and family of Dr.
Kadri,"
said CAIR-FL Communications Director Ahmed Bedier, "I've known him to
be
extremely generous and a very loving individual".
CAIR-FL also announced plans to establish a "Memorial Scholarship Fund"
in
the name of Dr. Kadri to keep his legacy of charitable giving alive.
ACTION RECOMMENDED
1. Send your condolences to the family of Dr. Kadri, E-MAIL (copy &
paste):
jeanettekadri@aol.com, dtallen@optonline.net, tampa@cair-florida.org
2. Contribute to the Kadri Scholarship Fund via mail: Dr. Mohamed Kadri
Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o CAIR Florida, 8056 N. 56th Street,
Tampa, FL
33617 TEL: 813-987-2400
ALSO SEE:
DEDICATED DOCTOR MOURNED
St Petersburg Times, 3/17/04
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/17/Hernando/Dedicated_doctor_mour.shtml
Friends, colleagues and patients in Hernando County mourned the death
of
prominent physician, Dr. Mohamed-Nagi Hassan Salam-Kadri, who was
killed in
a plane crash Monday night.
The crash happened a little after 8 p.m. Monday a little more than a
mile
south of Bowman Road and just over a mile east of U.S. 41.
A family physician on the staff of Brooksville Regional, Spring Hill
Regional, and Oak Hill Hospital, Dr. Kadri, 49, had left the Hernando
County Airport in a light rainfall and crashed about four to five miles
south.
Dr. Kadri, who had a student pilot's license, was on his way home to
Orlando, where he lived with his wife, Jeannette, and children.
Dr. Kadri was medical director for Brooksville Healthcare and also
worked
at HealthSouth Rehab and Bayonet Point. A native of Egypt, he was also
a
member of the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce and the Council on
American-Islamic Relations...
-----
ARAB-AMERICANS BLOC CARRIES WEIGHT FOR CAMPAIGNS IN PIVOTAL STATES
Shailagh Murray, Wall Street Journal, 3/17/04
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
FOUR YEARS AGO, George W. Bush courted Arab-Americans more avidly than
any
previous presidential candidate, meeting with community leaders and
complaining about anti-Arab discrimination in a debate with Al Gore.
He got his reward on Election Day: Arab-American voters strongly
supported
Mr. Bush. But this time around -- after invading Iraq, cracking down on
suspected Arab and Muslim extremists at home and abroad and
consistently
backing a hard-line Israeli government -- he may have to win
battleground
states such as Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania without them. A
new
Zogby International poll of voters in those four key states shows
Arab-Americans strongly disapprove of Mr. Bush. Only 28% favor his
re-election, while 65% want someone new.
The poll even suggests that, under current trends, perhaps 170,000
voters
in the four states who in 2000 supported Mr. Bush, might shift this
year to
the Democratic candidate, Sen. John Kerry. That assumes Ralph Nader,
who is
Lebanese-American, stays in the race. If he doesn't, 30,000 more Bush
supporters from 2000 would switch to Mr. Kerry. If the contest is as
tight
as last time, those votes could prove decisive…
The group most in flux is Arab-American Muslims, who represent 25% of
the
510,000 Arab-Americans likely to vote in those four states, according
to
the Zogby poll. In 2000, they preferred Mr. Bush to Mr. Gore 58% to
22%.
But this year they are staunchly opposed to Mr. Bush, preferring Mr.
Kerry
78% to 12% in a two-man race.
"It's pretty serious if it's left without being addressed," says Khaled
Saffuri, chairman of the Islamic Free Market Institute, and a
conservative
who helped Mr. Bush court Arab-Americans in 2000. "The White House will
need to meet with Arab-Americans and discuss substance..."
There is no sign that the Bush campaign plans a special effort to woo
Arab-American voters this time, but that doesn't mean the president
won't
seek their backing. "We are honored by the broad support we received in
2000 and we will work hard to maintain that support," says Bush-Cheney
spokesman Scott Stanzel. Prominent Arab-Americans serve on local Bush
re-election committees, Mr. Stanzel notes. Marc Racicot, director of
the
Bush-Cheney re-election campaign, attended an Arab-American leadership
conference in October. He told the group there has never been "a
president
in the history of the United States that has been available and ready
to
learn and to listen more than this president has to the Arab-American
community…"
Mr. Beydoun, a Republican, attended a 2000 meeting in Dearborn where
Arab-Americans complained to Mr. Bush about the use of secret evidence
in
immigration cases -- at the time, a major concern among recent Arab
arrivals in the U.S. The next day, in his second debate with Mr. Gore,
Mr.
Bush denounced the tactic while answering a question about racial
profiling. "Arab-Americans are racially profiled in what's called
secret
evidence," said candidate Bush. "People are stopped, and we got to do
something about that…"
Today, the most contentious issue among Arab-American voters is the
Bush
administration's support of Israeli leader Ariel Sharon, who is
building a
barrier separating Israel from the West Bank. The Zogby poll found that
80%
of Arab-American voters disapprove of Mr. Bush's Middle East stance.
And
72% of Arab-American voters disapprove of the Iraq war, according to
the poll.
Another sore spot is the administration's crackdown on Arab immigrants,
especially Muslims, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "There's
a
feeling that our community is being scapegoated and our civil rights
are
being violated," says Taleb Salhab, coordinator of the Arab American
Leadership Council in Florida.
"The Democrats have been working hard" at cultivating Arab-American
support, Mr. Beydoun says. If the election were held today, in a
one-on-one
race with John Kerry, 54% of Arab-American voters would back the
Massachusetts Democrat, and 30% would support Mr. Bush. Mr. Nader is a
wild
card; if he is on the ballot in the four states that Zogby
International
polled, Mr. Kerry's lead would fall to 43%, with Mr. Nader drawing 20%
and
Mr. Bush 27%. In the latest national poll, released this week and
conducted
by CBS News and the New York Times, Mr. Nader drew 7% of overall voter
support.
It isn't a lost cause for Mr. Bush, Arab-American leaders say. While
they
are unhappy with the president, they have yet to fall in love with Mr.
Kerry -- which explains the strong support for Mr. Nader, Mr. Zogby
notes.
The Democratic candidate voted for the Patriot Act, which
Arab-Americans
blame for some civil-liberties violations. Arab-Americans complain Mr.
Kerry has sent mixed signals on Israel, particularly on the West Bank
partition. Bush-Cheney spokesman Mr. Stanzel believes that
Republican-leaning Arab-Americans will return to the Bush fold once
they
have had a chance to compare their choices.
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: MAY I SEE YOUR ID?
Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, 3/17/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/17/opinion/17KRIS.html
Someday we'll look back with shame at the infringements of civil
liberties
in the last few years.
There's been a broad pattern of injustice to individuals (mostly
Muslims)
in the name of protecting security for the rest of us. Think of the
detention of more than 1,200 Muslim immigrants in the U.S., the jailing
of
children in an extralegal zone in Guantanamo, and the unending
imprisonment, without access to lawyers, of "enemy combatants," even
when
they are American citizens.
ALSO SEE:
FEDERAL JUDGE REJECTS AL-ARIAN FREE SPEECH CLAIMS
Associated Press, 3/15/04
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040315/APN/403150714
TAMPA, Fla. -- A federal judge has rejected an indicted former
professor's
claims that the government is trying to criminalize his exercise of
free
speech by prosecuting him on charges he helped raise money for
terrorists.
U.S. District Judge James S. Moody Jr. refused to dismiss parts of the
50-count indictment against Sami Al-Arian, who is charged with using an
Islamic charity and an academic think tank as a front to raise money
for
the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
In a 69-page ruling, Moody turned down several legal arguments made by
attorneys for Al-Arian and his co-defendants, seeking to have the first
four counts of their indictment thrown out on technical and
constitutional
grounds.
Al-Arian's attorneys were not immediately available for comment Monday.
Al-Arian is scheduled to go on trial in January, along with Sameeh
Hammoudeh, Hatim Naji Fariz and Ghassan Zayed Ballut, on charges that
they
provided financial and other support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad,
which has claimed responsibility for suicide bombings in Israel.
Al-Arian's attorneys have argued he is being prosecuted for his
political
beliefs and for supporting an organization that is involved in
legitimate
political and charitable activities...
-----
SACRED HEART DEDICATES NEW TAPESTRY
Mandy Rorrer, West Virginia Gazette, 3/15/04
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/Other%20News/200403159
Members of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths came together Sunday
at
Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral to celebrate a story of hospitality common to
all
three religions.
Sacred Heart held a special Mass on Sunday, and invited members of the
Jewish and Islamic faiths to dedicate a new tapestry in the church's
addition.
The four-paneled tapestry depicts Abraham showing hospitality to three
mysterious visitors. Abraham's son Isaac was the founder of the Jewish
faith, and his son Ishmael was an ancestor of the Islamic Prophet
Muhammad,
according to traditional stories.
The Rev. Edward Sadie, Sacred Heart's rector, said he had the idea
several
years ago to create a tapestry depicting Abraham's story. He had the
tapestry designed by a Canadian company, and placed it in Sacred
Heart's
new addition.
Sadie also wanted the tapestry to include the word "hospitality" in
Greek,
Latin, Arabic and Hebrew. The tapestry makers sent back a sketch with
several words for "hospitality" in Arabic and Hebrew, and Sadie said he
had
to ask Rabbi Victor Urecki of B'Nai Jacob Synagogue and Imam Mohammad
Jamal
Daoudi of the Islamic Association of West Virginia to choose the
appropriate form...
-----
ISLAMIC GROUP FILES COMPLAINT OVER L.A. RADIO SHOW
Dan Whitcomb, Reuters, 3/16/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=4582485§ion=news
LOS ANGELES - A Islamic rights group has filed a federal complaint
against
a Los Angeles talk radio station and the nation's largest radio chain
over
a skit that suggested Iraqis want to kill Jews, marry camels, avoid
bathing, and meet Japanese schoolgirls in heaven.
Meanwhile, an official for the Clear Channel Communications station,
KFI-AM, said she would read an apology on the air for the March 10
broadcast by morning-show host Bill Handel, which triggered the Federal
Communications Commission complaint.
"The Handel show was attempting to make a satirical point about the
extremist Iraqis in Iraq," KFI Program Director Robin Bertolucci told
Reuters. "In the process, we unwittingly offended a lot of people, and
for
that we are very sorry. That was not our intention. Our intention was
to be
satirical."
A representative of Clear Channel, which dumped top-rated talk-show
host
Howard Stern in February under a new "zero tolerance" policy toward
indecency, had no immediate comment.
An FCC spokesman could not immediately be reached. Handel also could
not be
reached.
Sabiha Khan, a spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
said her group filed the complaint after KFI and Handel initially
refused
to apologize.
"We're tired of being stepped all over and being made fun of over
airwaves," she said. "No American should ever have to take this type of
treatment."
The skit featured Handel with an unnamed performer who put on a
mock-Middle
Eastern accent to pose as an "Islamic constitutional scholar" and read
from
the "new Iraqi constitution..."
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMOPHOBIA OR SATIRE? MUSLIM GROUP COMPLAINS
Susan Jones, CNSNews.com, 3/17/04
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200403%5CNAT20040317b.html
Offended Muslims are demanding that the FCC do something about an
"Islamophobic" skit that aired on Los Angeles radio station KFI-AM last
week.
The Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR-L.A.) said it has filed complaints with both the Federal
Communications Commission and Clear Channel Communications, after a
"pretend Muslim" on the Bill Handel show suggested that Muslims have
sex
with animals, avoid bathing and are obsessed with killing Jews.
As part of the skit (read transcript), a Muslim character pretended to
be
reading from the new Iraqi constitution. Among other things, he joked
that
the constitution mentioned "hairy Iraqi women," "lovely Japanese
schoolgirls," and "civil unions" between Iraqis and "loving camels and
goats."
Throughout the skit, called "The New Iraq Constitution -- Handelized,"
the
mock-Muslim repeatedly said, "death to the Jews" and "kill all Jews."
Listeners also heard a brief recording of Islamic prayers in Arabic.
CAIR-L.A. said it asked the radio station to apologize for the skit,
but
the station has refused to do so.
"While we understand and appreciate the concept of comic satire, this
skit
obviously crossed the line from comedy to outright bigotry and racism
that
could negatively impact the lives of ordinary American Muslims," said
CAIR-L.A. Communications Director Sabiha Khan...
---
CAIR CALLS RADIO SKIT ISLAMOPHOBIC
United Press International, 3/16/04
LOS ANGELES - The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR,
announced
Tuesday it has filed complaints with the FCC over an Islamophobic skit
on a
Los Angeles radio station.
CAIR also filed a complaint with and Clear Channel Communications over
the
skit that claimed Muslims have sex with animals, avoid bathing and are
obsessed with killing Jews.
During the March 10 broadcast of the Bill Handel show on KFI AM 640, a
pretend "Muslim," allegedly reading from the new Iraqi constitution,
referred to "hairy Iraqi women," "lovely Japanese schoolgirls," the
"infidel custom of bathing on a regular basis," and "civil unions"
between
Iraqis and "loving camels and goats."
The fake Muslim repeatedly stated "Allah be praised," "death to the
Jews,"
and "kill all Jews." Listeners also heard recordings of Islamic prayers
in
Arabic.
CAIR asked the station to apologize for the skit, but the request was
denied.
-----
MUSLIM GROUP ACCUSES COUNTY OF DISCRIMINATION IN BUILDING DECISION
Ned Roberts, Tampa Bays 10, 3/15/04
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=7388
HYTHAM BAKR: "Initially we were very upset."
That's what Islamic Society of Sarasota & Bradenton board member Hytham
Bakr said about the county commission's recent decision to deny the
society's land use change request.
The only Muslim organization serving Sarasota and Manatee counties is
hoping to replace their current facility with a 62-foot-high dome-like
structure. Two weeks ago the commission denied their request, and
imposed a
40-foot height restriction.
BAKR: "This is the very first one that was put a restriction on it.
From
that some one drew a conclusion that there is some different
treatment."
Despite commissioners rare, if unprecedented, height restriction on a
place
of worship, Bakr claims he's not accusing them of bias. Others are.
RABIAH AHMED: "This is just another type of discrimination that
American
Muslims face in a post-9/11 climate."
Council on American-Islamic Relations spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed says
this is
just the latest example of a local government denying a Muslim mosque's
building request...
ALSO SEE...
NY: UTICA MUSLIMS SEEK LARGER BUILDING
Melissa Chadwick, Observer-Dispatch, 3/16/04
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2004/03/16/news/28331.html
UTICA -- The Muslim Community Association seeks a bigger building to
serve
the growing Islamic community in the Utica area.
There are several thousand Bosnian refugees, nearly all of them Muslim,
in
the city. The addition of so many Muslims to Utica's population in the
past
11 years has given the city one of the highest concentrations of Muslim
residents in the country.
In 1994, Utica's Kemble Street mosque opened with little fanfare in a
former Jehovah's Witnesses hall. Those who founded the mosque -- one
year
after the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center -- said at the time
they
wanted to keep its opening low key because some Americans misunderstood
Islam and linked it to violence.
The property was already zoned as a church, and "the neighbors were
very
nice" when the Muslim Community Association moved in, founding member
Sala
Qazi said.
The one-story building is open five times a day for salat (prayers),
offers
religious instruction for children during the school year and summer
school
for them in July and August.
"We are peaceful, and our neighbors have been very peaceful as well,"
said
Abdul Malik, who has been attending the mosque since its founding...
---
MINARETS RISE IN GERMANY
Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 3/17/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mosques17mar17,1,6774683.story
BERLIN - The chink and scrape of stonecutters echo through the
gray-domed
mosque that rises like a glimmer of misplaced architecture in a city
where
the Muslim call to prayer is a widening whisper.
Dusted in marble, workmen scurry in the muted glow of stained glass.
Some
paint Koranic verses on the walls; others make last-minute alterations
to
golden-tipped minarets pricking a drizzly skyline. Anxious Berliners
sometimes peek into the courtyard, where Ali Gulcek, a husky, nimble
man,
assures them his religion is not a threat.
"I need to enlighten the Germans so their prejudice of Islam will go
away,"
said Gulcek, whose Islamic organization is building the mosque. "Our
mosque
will be completed in May. We've wanted a legitimate mosque for so long.
For
years, we've been meeting in backyards and basements. We don't want to
hide
anymore."
Gulcek's mosque is part of the surge in Islamic construction sweeping
Germany. The number of traditional mosques with their distinctive
minarets
nearly doubled in Germany from 77 in 2002 to 141 in 2003, according to
Islam Archive, a Muslim research group in the city of Soest. An
additional
154 mosques and cultural centers are planned, many of them in the
countryside, where vistas are dotted with symbols of crescent moons and
crosses.
Like the cultural battles over allowing Muslim women to wear
headscarves in
European schools, mosques are an indication that immigration is
transforming social, religious and aesthetic landscapes. Staccato
Turkish
and throaty Arabic syllables whirl amid European vernaculars, and where
once there was a German bakery there is now a Moroccan kebab stand. In
some
bookshops, the Koran is as prominent as the Bible, and Islamic worry
beads
sometimes rattle alongside rosaries...
Mosques are landmarks of faith. But in Europe they are also symbols of
change that can instigate fear, especially as congregations at
Christian
churches steadily decline on a continent with the fastest-aging
population
in the world. A mosque often means a neighborhood is no longer what it
was.
Skin hues are darker, customs different, and society's failure at
integration is laid bare...
---
PROMISE OF MOSQUE UNFULFILLED IN ATHENS
Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 3/17/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nomosque17mar17,1,6768953.story
ATHENS - Muslims in the Greek capital can pray in a small room at a
crowded
cultural center, wedged between a clinic and a schoolroom, or in one of
several makeshift basement venues.
But government promises to build an official mosque for the city's
growing
Islamic community remain unfulfilled, sidelined by opposition from the
powerful Christian Orthodox Church and a small group of neighborhood
activists.
"There is no proper place for us to go and pray," said Abu Yassin, an
electrician who moved to Greece from the Gaza Strip 20 years ago.
"There
are thousands of Muslims here, and we don't have a place to gather."
On this score, Athens stands alone: It is the only European Union
capital
without an official mosque.
In fact, none has existed here for nearly 200 years, following the end
of
four centuries of Muslim Ottoman rule. Greeks' antipathy toward their
historic Turkish enemy has sometimes colored the way in which Muslims
are
viewed, analysts and human rights advocates say.
To allay that impression and showcase Greek tolerance just in time for
this
summer's Olympic Games in Athens, the government of former Prime
Minister
Costas Simitis announced the construction of an enormous mosque and
Islamic
educational center, financed by Saudi Arabia and scheduled to go up on
an
eight-acre plot of suburban land.
Nearly a year after the announcement, however, nary a brick has been
laid.
Outraged residents of Peania, the chosen suburb, challenged the
government
plan in court. They were not being racist, they said, it's just that
there
are no Muslims in the area 12 miles northeast of downtown Athens, so
why
give them a house of worship there?..
-----
DISCONTENT WITH U.S. GROWING OVERSEAS-SURVEY
Reuters, 3/17/04
WASHINGTON - Muslim nations are angry at the United States and a
growing
percentage of Europeans want a diplomatic and military divorce from
Washington, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center released
on
Tuesday.
"There is still considerable hostility toward the U.S. in the Muslim
countries surveyed," the survey showed.
"Overwhelming majorities in Jordan and Morocco believe suicide attacks
against Americans and other Westerners in Iraq are justifiable. As a
point
of comparison, slightly more people in those two countries say the same
about Palestinian suicide attacks against Israelis," it said.
"Doubts about the motives behind the U.S.-led war on terrorism abound,
and
a growing percentage of Europeans want foreign policy and security
arrangements independent from the United States," the survey summary
said.
"There is considerable support for the European Union to become as
powerful
as the United States," it added.
While hatred has diminished, "anger toward the United States remains
pervasive" in predominantly Muslim countries surveyed.
While the United States is unpopular in the countries surveyed, Osama
bin
Laden, thought to be behind the hijacked plane attacks that killed
about
3,000 people in America on Sept. 11, 2001, is popular, the survey
reported...
SEE ALSO:
RESOURCE: THE BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON IRAQ
http://www.house.gov/reform/min/pdfs_108_2/pdfs_inves/pdf_admin_iraq_on_the_record_rep.pdf
-----
HOUSE BILL STALLS CALLING FOR PROBE OF CORRIE'S DEATH
Ellyn Ferguson, Olympian, 3/16/04
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20040316/southsound/4906.shtml
WASHINGTON -- Chances seem dim for a U.S. investigation into the death
of
The Evergreen State College student Rachel Corrie, who was killed
trying to
stop an Israeli Army bulldozer from demolishing a Palestinian home last
year.
The Israeli government called her death an accident and ruled out
charging
the soldiers involved in Corrie's March 16, 2003, death.
Shortly afterward, Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, introduced a
nonbinding
resolution calling for a U.S. investigation into Corrie's death. Corrie
grew up in Olympia.
But Baird said the measure is increasingly unlikely ever to move out of
the
House International Relations Committee.
"It's an admittedly controversial and difficult issue," he said.
Although the Israelis made initial findings in the case last year,
Baird
said he still is waiting to see the full report and accompanying video
evidence...
Hasan Mansori, government affairs coordinator for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said Corrie's death has generated "a lot of
dialogue among people about the volatile situation in the Middle East."
Still, Mansori said he does not foresee Congress taking up Baird's
resolution any time soon.
"It's going to be difficult to pass it," Mansori said.
ALSO SEE:
A FRIEND WHO DIED FOR PEACE
Joe Carr, Kansas City Star, 3/16/04
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/03/16/2131884
I am a 22-year-old student from Kansas City who last year spent four
months
doing peace work with the International Solidarity Movement in
Palestine.
Movement volunteers began taking nonviolent direct action against
Israel
after the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution that would
have sent in professional peacekeeping troops. I had the privilege of
working with Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old student from Olympia, Wash.
Little did I know that I would witness her death.
One year ago, our group was opposing Israeli demolitions of Palestinian
homes. According to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, Israel has
demolished more than 11,000 Palestinian homes since 1968, fewer than 5
percent of them for security reasons. On March 16, 2003, we were in
Rafah,
Gaza Strip, where Israel was demolishing homes to construct a massive
wall.
We used our bodies to physically block bulldozers. A Palestinian would
be
shot for even going near a bulldozer, but our white skin and Western
passports provided us a measure of protection - but not quite as much
as
we'd thought.
Rachel, wearing a fluorescent jacket, knelt in front of the family home
Of
a Palestinian physician with whom Rachel had stayed. Though she was
clearly
in his view, the bulldozer driver continued forward until he was moving
the
earth underneath her. She climbed onto the mound he was pushing,
elevating
to eye-level with the driver...
-----
NC: MAS YOUTH CONFERENCE
WHAT: "Youth: Generation with a Mission" is designed to help our Muslim
Community to realize, understand, and find ways to deal with the
challenges
facing our Muslim Youth. Register now for the whole family and spend a
quality time with your family in the Hotel while you are attending the
function.
WHERE: Raleigh Convention Center, North Carolina
WHEN: April 9-11 2004
For more information, visit: http://www.masyouth2004.org/index.php
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. MUSLIMS MEET SPANISH AMBASSADOR TO OFFER CONDOLENCES
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/18/04) - A delegation of American Muslim leaders
met
today with the Spanish ambassador in Washington, D.C., to offer
condolences
for the more than 200 people killed in last week's terror attacks on
the
Madrid train system.
The delegation, organized by the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), expressed the American Islamic
community's condemnation of the bombings and told Ambassador Javier
Ruperez
that Muslims grieve for all those who died.
Ambassador Ruperez said Spain is going through a "very difficult time,"
and
compared the attacks to those carried out in the United States on
September
11, 2001. He said the people killed in the train bombings were of 11
different nationalities.
"An apparent goal of the terrorists is to divide the world along
religious
and national lines," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper,
who
took part in today's meeting. "The most appropriate response to these
vicious attacks is to strengthen and expand relations between people of
all
faiths and cultural origins."
Meeting participants included the head of the Coordinating Council of
Muslim Organizations (CCMO), representing more than 50 Islamic centers,
mosques and Islamic organizations in the greater Washington metro area.
"We join with all other American Muslims in both condemning the
bombings
and offering condolences to Ambassador Ruperez and the families of the
victims," said Muzammil Siddiqi, member of the executive council of the
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
The Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation also sent a letter of
condolence to Ambassador Ruperez.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/19/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Library Project Update: Vermont
- CAIR Summer Internship Program
* WEST MUST BACK 'MODERNIST' MUSLIMS - STUDY (Reuters)
* MI: FEDS DECIDE NOT TO DEPORT ELDERLY WOMAN (Detroit News)
- MI: Rabih Haddad Breaks His Silence (Metro Times)
* WA: GROUP SCALES BACK PLAN FOR MOSQUE (Seattle Times)
- TN/AZ: Native Could Become Next Imam (Ariz. Daily)
* BRITISH IMAMS LEAD PRAYERS FOR MADRID VICTIMS (Reuters)
- Muslim Graves Attacked in British Cemetery (AFP)
- CAIR: Grieving For Spain (Washington Times)
* FL: DON'T JUDGE ALL MUSLIMS (Tampa Tribune)
- CANADA: Muslim Condemns Anti-Semitism (Toronto Star)
* NV: CONFERENCE EDUCATES ABOUT ISLAM (Gazette Journal)
* SC: HIJAB REPRESENTS BOTH MODESTY AND FAITH (State)
* PROBE OVER HALABI INVESTIGATOR'S DOCUMENTS (Wash. Post)
- Air Force Criticized in Spy Case (Sac Bee)
* SECOND ARAB JOURNALIST DIES AFTER US SHOOTING (Reuters)
- Arab Reporters Walk Out of Powell Briefing (Reuters)
* EVANGELICALS FLOCK INTO IRAQ (Los Angeles Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When any (group of
people
remembers) God, angels surround them and mercy covers them, tranquility
descends upon them, and God mentions them to those who are with Him."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 102
"Without doubt, it is the remembrance of God that brings tranquility to
the
heart."
The Holy Quran, 13:28
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,377 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Vermont: 20 covered, 147 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
---
CAIR SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
CAIR is seeking applicants for its summer internship program in
Washington,
D.C. Applicants should be 18-years-old or older and college students
who
have legal status in the U.S.
CAIR's internship program provides first-hand experience and training
in
areas such as community outreach, chapter development, governmental
relations, lobbying, public and media relations, legal and civil
rights,
research and leadership. Interns will work with skilled and dedicated
mentors to gain valuable insight on CAIR's work. All interns receive a
monthly stipend.
The application deadline is April 30, 2004. Interested and qualified
applicants should call 202-488-8787 or email internship@cair-net.org to
receive an application form.
-----
WEST MUST BACK 'MODERNISTS' WITHIN ISLAM - STUDY
Carol Giacomo, Reuters, 3/18/04
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18568500.htm
WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - The world is focusing too much on
radical
fundamentalists and ignoring the diverse views struggling to define
Islam,
according to a new study that urges aggressive U.S. and European
efforts to
support pro-Western Muslim "modernists…"
DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE RAND STUDY AT:
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1716/
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1716/MR1716.pdf
Rand Abstract:
In the face of Islam's own internal struggles, it is not easy to see
who we
should support and how. This report provides detailed descriptions of
subgroups, their stands on various issues, and what those stands may
mean
for the West.
Since the outcomes can matter greatly to international community, that
community might wish to influence them by providing support to
appropriate
actors. The author recommends a mixed approach of providing specific
types
of support to those who can influence the outcomes in desirable ways.
-----
FEDS PULL BACK ON PLANS TO DEPORT ELDERLY WOMAN
Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, 3/19/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0403/19/d01-96965.htm
WARREN - Since Sunday, federal officials have been trying to force the
frail, 80-year-old Zeinab Ashour on a plane back to her native Egypt.
Her son and civil rights activists say federal security employees at
Detroit Metropolitan Airport tried to forcefully load her back on a
flight
to Cairo despite documentation from doctors that she should not fly due
to
several ailments, including "severe chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease."
But on Thursday, after a federal lawsuit was filed and after the
intercession of U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, earlier in the week
and
inquiries from reporters, federal officials changed their minds.
"In lieu of all of the considerations, and her health, it was decided
that
she could stay and continue the process of applying for permanent
resident
status," said James Michie, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border
Protection.
The decision ends a five-day ordeal for the Egyptian woman which,
Arab-American leaders say, is characteristic of the many problems
facing
people of Arab descent who fly back and forth from the Middle East.
While
readily admitting the need for increased security since the September
11
attacks, they said mistakes often occur and officials are often
overzealous
- even intolerant.
But Ashour's case has a happy ending...
ALSO SEE:
RABIH HADDAD BREAKS HIS SILENCE
Ann Mullen, Metro Times, 3/17/04
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6041
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Rabih Haddad crosses the marble floor of his
five-bedroom
apartment in a suburb south of the Lebanese capital. He peeks out glass
doors that open onto a balcony to a sweeping view of the Mediterranean
Sea.
Haddad doesn't want to miss the sunset.
"It's really amazing some nights," he says. "It looks like it might be
too
cloudy."
Haddad takes a seat on a sofa in the expansive living room. Beside him
is
his wife, Salma al-Rushaid, who is expecting their fifth child. She
appears
tired, and has been ambling in and out of the room to tend to their
children, her hands pressed against her lower back...
There was a time, not long ago, when Haddad feared he might never see
another sunset.
Last year, he was deported after 19 months in jails in Michigan and
Chicago.
He was residing in Ann Arbor, where he volunteered as an imam, leading
prayers at an area mosque. He was also raising funds for what he
insists is
an Islamic charity, when immigration officers hauled him away on Dec.
14, 2001.
Technically, he was deported for overstaying his tourist visa. But the
United States government clearly considered Haddad, who had lived in
the
United States on and off for 20 years, to be a terrorist threat, and it
treated him as such...
-----
MUSLIM GROUP SCALES BACK PLAN FOR MOSQUE
Seattle Times, 2/19/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/2001881997_glance18e.html
BELLEVUE - A Muslim organization whose plans for a mosque in a
residential
Bellevue neighborhood triggered an outcry from neighbors is returning
to
the city with a scaled-down proposal.
The Ithna-Asheri Muslim Association of the Northwest wants to build an
18,000-square-foot mosque on a 4.4-acre lot on 173rd Avenue Northeast
in
northeast Bellevue. That's down from roughly 30,000 square feet in
plans
first submitted to the city in 2000.
Association representatives could not be reached for comment.
A public meeting to discuss the proposal is scheduled tonight at 6 at
Bellevue City Hall, 11511 Main St.
The earlier plan, which included 151 parking spots and a building
topped by
minarets and a dome, drew criticism from some nearby residents who said
the
large facility was out of place and could draw too much traffic.
The larger plan came to a halt when it was discovered that much of the
construction would take place in wetlands, said city associate planner
Kenneth Thiem.
The revised version skirts around the wetlands, according to plans
submitted by the applicants.
ALSO SEE:
TENNESSEE NATIVE COULD BECOME NEXT IMAM OF TUCSON MOSQUE
Stephanie Innes, Arizona Daily Star, 3/17/04
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/metro/14130.php
Gary Edwards may sound like a curious candidate for imam of Tucson's
largest mosque.
A 39-year-old native of Tennessee, Edwards, also known as Na'eem abdul
Wali, grew up as a Southern Baptist on a farm in Indiana and studied
insects at Purdue.
Yet abdul Wali is not only qualified for the job, he's also a strong
contender to be spiritual leader for the 1,000 worshippers at the
Islamic
Center of Tucson, 901 E. First St., and will be the key Muslim
organizer in
this weekend's Children of Abraham Muslim-Jewish Peace Walk.
"Na'eem is a candidate on a short list to be imam of the Islamic
Center,
which is in the process of interviewing other candidates. He is charge
of
youth programs, prison programs and outreach for the center," Islamic
Center administrator Muhammad As'ad said.
An imam is by definition the man who leads prayers in a mosque. The
center's last imam, Jordanian Omar Shahin, left the mosque abruptly in
June
after leading the Islamic Center for three years and the center has
been
searching for a new spiritual leader ever since. Tucson has three
mosques
and the Islamic Center, made up mainly of Sunni Muslims, is the
largest.
About 8,000 Muslims live in the Tucson area...
-----
BRITISH IMAMS LEAD PRAYERS FOR MADRID VICTIMS
Reuters, 3/19/04
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B391723.htm
LONDON - Muslims were gathering at mosques across Britain on Friday to
hold
prayers for the 202 people killed in last week's Madrid train bombings,
which have been blamed on Islamic extremists.
"We want to remind the world that Islam forbids killing innocent
people. It
is our duty to condemn the bombings," the director of the UK Imams and
Mosques council, Mohammad Raza, told Reuters.
Arab leaders in the Middle East have expressed concern about a possible
backlash against Muslim communities in Europe in the wake of the Madrid
blasts.
Raza said thousands of worshipers will pray for peace at mosques across
the
UK, including in London, Glasgow and Manchester.
"We've had an excellent response from our request to hold prayers for
the
victims," he said.
British Muslims held similar prayers after the attacks in the United
States
on September 11, 2001 and after the bombs during the Shi'ite festival
in
Kerbala in Iraq earlier this month, Raza said.
"We totally support any mosque that decides to commemorate the people
who
were killed in Madrid," said Inayat Bunglawala of the Muslim Council of
Britain. "Sermons in mosques should speak up for all victims of
oppression."
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM GRAVES ATTACKED IN BRITISH CEMETERY
Agence France Presse, 3/19/04
LONDON - Vandals have attacked around 40 Muslim graves at a cemetery in
London in an apparent hate crime, police said on Thursday.
Headstones were smashed and pictures removed from graves in Charlton,
southeast London, local police said.
"We are treating this crime with the utmost seriousness. It appears to
have
been motivated by hatred of the Muslim faith," said Detective Inspector
Karl Amos.
"We utterly deplore the sentiments behind this crime as well as the
crime
itself and are seeking to reassure the faith leaders in our community
that
this sort of crime will not be tolerated."
The graves appeared to have been clearly targeted, he added...
---
GRIEVING FOR SPAIN
James Morrison, Washington Times, 3/19/04
http://www.washtimes.com/world/embassy.htm
A delegation of American Muslims yesterday denounced the bombings in
Spain,
as they met with Spanish Ambassador Javier Ruperez to express their
condolences to the survivors and relatives of the 202 persons killed in
the
terrorist attacks.
Mr. Ruperez told his guests that his country is going through "a very
difficult time." Investigators suspect Islamist terrorists in the train
bombings in Madrid last week.
Ibrahim Hooper, communications director of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations, said the terrorists' goal is to divide "the world along
religious and national lines."
"The most appropriate response to these vicious attacks is to
strengthen
and expand relations between people of all faiths and cultural
origins," he
said.
Muzammil Siddiqi, a member of the executive council of the Islamic
Society
of North America, added, "We join with all other American Muslims in
both
condemning the bombings and offering condolences to Ambassador Ruperez
and
the families of the victims."
-----
DON'T JUDGE ALL MUSLIMS
Cal Albritton, Tampa Tribune, 3/19/04
http://tampatrib.com/News/MGAHHNUGZRD.html
While I understand Roberta Holstein's view that Muslims need to
understand
the American way of life (Letters, March 10), and I applaud her desire
to
understand Muslim culture, I am horrified by the rest of her letter, in
which she explains that she distrusts Muslims because Muslims were the
ones
who bombed the World Trade Center. This statement, I feel, shows a very
prejudiced view of the whole Muslim community.
Judging all Muslims because of the actions of a few is absolutely
absurd!
This judgment can be likened to me saying, that I, as an Asian, can
rightly
call all white people bigoted just because one white racist called me a
name that is a racial slur.
In my opinion, this narrow- minded view may be one of the reasons some
people in other nations, such as terrorists, view Americans in general
as
stuck-up and narrow- minded.
(The writer is a sophomore at Hillsborough High School)
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM CONDEMNS ANTI-SEMITISM
Safiyyah Ally, Toronto Star, 3/18/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1079565009139
As a young child attending an Islamic private school, I recall coming
to
school one day only to see its once-brown brick walls decorated with
big,
red paint marks. Apparently, a few people had come to "express" their
rage,
targeting the little boys and girls at the school. Foul words were
spray-painted in angry red, calling the students racist and derogatory
names. It was at this point that I truly comprehended hatred and
injustice.
Although the words were scrubbed off eventually, I was not able to
erase
them from my impressionable mind.
I remember this incident as I sympathize with the Jewish neighbours
whose
homes were spray-painted. None of us are immune to hatred and
injustice. We
must stand together to guard against them. As a proud member of the
Muslim
community, I offer my support: I am willing to organize a group of
Muslim
and Jewish students who can help to remove the hateful symbols and
graffiti.
-----
MUSLIM CONFERENCE ALSO MEANT TO EDUCATE GENERAL POPULATION
Geralda Miller, Reno Gazette-Journal, 3/19/04
http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2004/03/19/66599.php
Muslims in Northern Nevada face similar issues and problems as those
confronted by families of other faiths, a local Muslim leader said
Muslims
in Northern Nevada face similar issues and problems as those confronted
by
families of other faiths, a local Muslim leader said.
Mahmoud Hendi, president of the Northern Nevada Muslim Community, said
a
three-day conference being held this weekend is not only for the 2,000
Muslim families who live in the area but is meant to educate the
Reno-Sparks community.
"We're no different than you are," Hendi said. "All of us care about
our
families."
The conference is Saturday and Sunday at the Northern Nevada Muslim
Community Center and Monday at the University of Nevada, Reno's Jot
Travis
Student Union auditorium. The theme of this first conference is
"Islam's
Role in American Society."
In addition to community unity, terrorism will be a key topic discussed
by
local and national experts, he said...
Aminah Assilmi, director of the International Union of Muslim Women,
will
speak on the women's issues...
WHEN and WHERE: Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Northern Nevada
Muslim Community Center, 1857 Oddie Blvd., Sparks.
Sunday: 12:30 to 6 p.m. at the Northern Nevada Muslim Community Center.
Monday: 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of Nevada, Jot Travis Student
Union
auditorium.
-----
SC: HIJAB REPRESENTS BOTH MODESTY AND FAITH
Christina Lee Knauss, The State, 3/19/04
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/living/8219617.htm
Sheima Salaam usually can be spotted around town wearing an
ivory-colored
silk scarf wrapped around her neck and head, its intricate folds
covering
her hair.
A scarf is always part of the Columbia woman's outfit, whether she is
going
to work, shopping or out with friends.
That is because Salaam is Muslim, and the scarf she proudly wears is a
hijab, a traditional garment that covers an observant Muslim woman's
hair,
head and neck.
"My hijab symbolizes modesty," said Salaam, 23.
For Salaam, that symbol of modesty is wrapped in her Islamic faith -
and it
is at the center of a political debate in much of Europe.
Muslim women wearing hijabs took to the streets last month to protest
the
approval of a controversial French law banning hijabs and other
"ostentatious" symbols of religious faith, including large crosses and
Jewish skull caps, in public schools.
The law is scheduled to take effect when the new school year begins in
September.
French officials say the law is meant to maintain the country's secular
tradition and avoid potential controversy in school classrooms. Muslim
women vehemently disagreed, saying that the hijab was a symbol of
religious
pride and that the ban was an assault on their rights.
Other European countries, including Germany and Belgium, have been
considering similar laws. Wearing a hijab in public schools and offices
is
also already banned in Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country that also
prides itself on a secular government....
-----
PROBE BEGUN OVER HALABI INVESTIGATOR'S DOCUMENTS
John Mintz, Washington Post, 3/18/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2862-2004Mar17.html
A military investigator who worked on the case of Air Force Senior
Airman
Ahmad I. Halabi, the Guantanamo Bay prison linguist charged with
mishandling classified documents, is himself under investigation for
allegedly having classified materials at his home, according to a
government document.
Last week, Air Force lawyers prosecuting Halabi asked the judge to
exclude
from the case any mention of the probe of Special Agent Marc Palmosina
of
the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Palmosina's alleged
misconduct is similar to some of the charges against Halabi.
The documents on compact discs at Palmosina's home did not concern the
Halabi case, but instead focused on cargo transport operations, an area
to
which the agent had been assigned before he was sent to Guantanamo Bay,
where the United States is holding more than 600 alleged al Qaeda and
Taliban operatives, the government document said.
Palmosina, who has been removed from work on the Halabi case, could not
be
reached for comment, and the Air Force declined to confirm whether he
is
being investigated or to provide the name of his attorney.
The Syrian-born Halabi, 25, who has been in detention at a California
military base since last summer, is accused of illegally possessing
letters
from Guantanamo Bay detainees and other documents about the jail. He is
also accused of espionage involving an alleged plan, apparently never
carried out, to pass information to someone in Syria. Halabi's lawyers
have
said he was in touch with the Syrian embassy to secure a visa to travel
there for his wedding...
ALSO SEE:
AIR FORCE CRITICIZED IN SPY CASE
Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 3/18/04
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/8559011p-9487465c.html
One week before his court-martial on espionage charges is set to
resume,
Senior Airman Ahmad I. Al Halabi's attorneys are charging the Air Force
with impeding their efforts to defend him by hiding or slowing access
to
evidence.
In unusually strong language about the Air Force's behavior in the
alleged
spying case, the defense says it has been stymied in its efforts to get
at
evidence and witnesses who can clear Al Halabi. They have asked that
charges against him be dropped.
Lawyers for the 24-year-old Syrian-born translator say their client has
been the victim of a hysterical witch hunt for spies at the Navy base
in
Guantánamo, Cuba, and that government agents went as far as to break
into
his sister's home in search of evidence against him.
"The government needs to make a fundamental decision here," defense
attorney Donald Rehkopf wrote in a motion filed at Travis Air Force
Base
last week. "If the executive branch wants to withhold classified
information, that is its prerogative under Article II of the
Constitution.
"But, the prosecution of this accused must thereby cease."
Officials at Travis, where the court-martial is set to resume
Wednesday,
did not respond to a request for comment or for access to motions filed
by
the prosecution in the case...
-----
SECOND ARABIYA JOURNALIST DIES AFTER US SHOOTING
Reuters, 3/19/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4602977
DUBAI - A second Iraqi journalist working for Dubai-based satellite
television channel Al Arabiya died on Friday from his wounds a day
after
U.S. troops shot at them in central Baghdad, the channel said.
It said correspondent Ali al-Khatib died in hospital in Baghdad. The
station's cameraman Ali Abdelaziz died on Thursday from a gunshot wound
to
the head after U.S. troops opened fire on their car at a checkpoint.
Arabiya on Thursday called the shootings a "horrid crime" and demanded
an
investigation. A member of the Iraqi Governing Council on Friday
strongly
condemned the U.S. forces, saying the shooting was a "clear
aggression."
"This is an absolutely clear aggression by the occupation forces
against
the media," Mohsin Abdel Hamid told al Arabiya.
"We've told them before not to behave like this...They have the right
to
defend themselves but not to kill people like this in the street at
random," he added.
The driver of the car carrying the Arabiya journalists said U.S. troops
fired at random after they sped away from the checkpoint when another
car
approached at speed.
A U.S. military spokesman said troops had shot dead an Iraqi after his
car
ran through a checkpoint and hit a Humvee. He said the Iraqi was the
only
person in the car and had no information on whether any journalists
were
killed or wounded...
ALSO SEE:
ARAB REPORTERS WALK OUT OF POWELL NEWS BRIEFING
Reuters, 3/19/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4605156
BAGHDAD - Arab journalists walked out of a Baghdad news conference
given by
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday in protest at the lack
of
security and the killing of two Iraqi journalists by U.S. troops.
A representative of the Iraqi media read out a statement at the start
of
the news conference, condemning Thursday's killing of the two
journalists
from the Dubai-based Al Arabiya television channel, as Powell and
Iraq's
U.S. governor Paul Bremer looked on.
The journalists then stood up and left the news conference.
---
EVANGELICALS FLOCK INTO IRAQ ON A MISSION OF FAITH
Charles Duhigg, Los Angeles Times, 3/18/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-missionary18mar18,1,2483855.story
BAGHDAD - An American missionary proudly watches as a sea of Iraqi arms
rise in witness to Jesus Christ and choruses of "Amen" compete with
distant
rattles of gunfire. The faithful sing familiar Christian hymns in
Arabic,
their voices bouncing off the shipping containers that protect the
church
from car bombs.
Every Sunday, more than 400 Iraqis travel to this well-to-do
neighborhood
far from the protection of an American base to worship in the National
Biblical Christian Federation Church. Converted from Islam and from
other
branches of Christianity, they are the first ripple of a tidal wave
that
evangelical leaders pray will inundate the Middle East.
"I learned about Jesus and eternal life from a friend, and came to this
church to see," said Rana Atass, who has attended weekly services at
another church for the last month. Her mother, bearing facial tattoos
as
some Iraqi women do, stood in a line of congregants to ask church
leaders
for help in buying food.
"The music is very enthusiastic here," Atass said. "They promise Jesus
will
solve many problems."
At least nine evangelical churches have opened in Baghdad in the last
eight
months, many supported by American organizations contributing up to
$100,000 per church. More than 900,000 Bibles in Arabic - along with
hundreds of tons of food and medical supplies - have been sent to Iraq
(news - web sites). About 30 Christian evangelical missionaries are
working
in Baghdad, and 150 others have visited since last summer. Some
Christian
groups focus on offering aid and avoid proselytizing...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/20/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: INJUSTICE
* CAIR-CAN: MUSLIMS AGAINST TERROR (GLOBE AND MAIL)
- CAIR-CAN Condemns Vandalism of Jewish Homes
* ARMY DROPS ALL CHARGES AGAINST MUSLIM CHAPLAIN (SPI)
- Military Drops All Charges Against Chaplain (ST)
* CA: ISLAMIC GROUP FILES FCC COMPLAINT OVER RADIO SKIT (AP)
* MARYLAND ISLAMIC CENTER VANDALIZED (Sentinel)
- MA: Teen Sentenced for Bias Attack (Standard-Times)
* RARE ISLAMIC ART EXHIBIT COMES TO DC (Washington Post)
* EDITORIAL: INJUSTICE IN AFGHANISTAN (Washington Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: INJUSTICE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(If) a man suffers
injustice and endures it with patience, God will grant him strength."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 3
-----
MUSLIMS AGAINST TERROR
SHEEMA KHAN, Globe and Mail, 3/20/20
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040320/COSH20/TPComment/Columnists
Sheema Khan is Chairperson of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations. SEE: http://www.caircan.ca
A certain amount of responsibility lies with those religious leaders
who
have blurred the line between armed combatants and unarmed civilians.
From
day one, Prophet Mohammed made a clear distinction between the two.
Today,
however, proponents of violence use dishonest logic to claim the
absence of
an "innocent" civilian.
Ordinary citizens -- by virtue of belonging to the state -- assume
responsibility for its crimes. Collective guilt therefore implies
collective punishment. Lest we forget, this policy has been used by
successive Israeli administrations against the Palestinians, along with
Middle East dictators, to silence opponents.
The perverse logic further categorizes Muslim casualties as "collateral
damage," a necessary evil, for the greater cause of inflicting damage
on
the "enemy." This slippery slope has now led to a freefall of mayhem
directed at anyone and everyone -- Shia pilgrims in Iraq; worshippers
in
Pakistan; commuters in Spain.
For Muslims, news of each such attack cuts like a knife. The emotional
burden is threefold. First, there is the sheer horror of witnessing the
carnage of terror. Second is the knowledge that the perpetrators are
Muslim. Third is the fact that in spite of arduous condemnations, they
remain a community under suspicion.
Muslims know deep down inside that Islam nurtures mercy while
encouraging
its adherents to the highest standards of morality. If only they could
disown the lunatic fringe who use it as an instrument of fear.
Then there is the issue of social participation, which for a community
as
young as ours, can be quite challenging.
While institutions have unanimously condemned terrorism, their
statements
have largely been unreported by the media. Activists often suffer
burnout,
due to the maintenance of a defensive posture in the face of constant
negative media coverage about Islam. Some have become exasperated by
the
lack of credulity accorded to their sincere denunciations of religious
extremism. Yet others are tired of having to always apologize for the
actions of a few.
Giving up, however, is not an option. And so, a young, fragmented
community
continues to reiterate its abhorrence of mass murder.
Mosque sermons, religion study circles and community lectures are used
as
platforms to reaffirm the sanctity of life as central to Islamic
teachings.
Even Arab satellite channels broadcast 30-second spots reminding
Muslims of
this central tenet.
There are also individuals who stand out for integrity at times of
difficulty. One such example is Laura Zajchowski, a PhD candidate in
the
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of
Calgary.
A Muslim community activist who has written and spoken out against
terrorism, she concedes that "at times, it feels like an exercise in
futility. No matter how many times you speak out, there is an
assumption of
guilt by association." Nonetheless Laura is certain of the long-term
benefit for each action -- no matter how small -- taken to condemn
terror...
Nonetheless, Laura -- along with others -- recognizes the need to raise
the
volume. "And even if it's not fair, we do have to condemn these things
over
and over again, and be very vocal due to the situation we are placed
in,"
she says. But how best to get the message across to the wider Canadian
public that Muslims stand in solidarity with humanity everywhere
against
such evil? In addition to the grassroots initiatives, there have been
suggestions to hold a large-scale peaceful demonstration by all
Canadians
-- including Muslims -- against terrorism. A coalition of the peaceful…
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CAN CONDEMNS VANDALISM OF JEWISH HOMES IN TORONTO
(Ottawa, Canada - 19/3/2004) - The Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) today condemned the recent vandalism that targeted
Jewish homes in Toronto.
In a statement issued today, CAIR-CAN wrote:
"The recent vandalism of Jewish homes in Toronto is horrifying and
unacceptable.
"We view with profound concern any attempt to stigmatize and spread
hate
against any community and, in this case, Jewish residents of Toronto.
We
call on local police to investigate the vandalism and to bring the
perpetrators to justice."
- END -
CONTACT: Riad Saloojee at 613-795-2012; E-mail: Canada@cair-net.org
-----
ARMY DROPS ALL CHARGES AGAINST MUSLIM CHAPLAIN
By SAM SKOLNIK, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/20/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/165638_yee20.html
The U.S. Army dropped all charges against Capt. James Yee yesterday,
ending
a six-month ordeal in which the former Fort Lewis chaplain had been
branded
a possible traitor and was charged with a range of accusations
including
mishandling documents and viewing pornography on his computer.
Yee's backers said the formal dismissal vindicates their contention
that
the former chaplain at a Guantanamo Bay detention center for suspected
terrorists was targeted because of his Chinese heritage -- and his
Muslim
faith.
In dismissing the charges, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, commander of
Joint
Task Force Guantanamo, which operates the detention center, cited
"national
security concerns that would arise from the release of the evidence" if
the
case proceeded.
"In the grand scheme of things, and in the interest of national
security,
General Miller felt like the charges needed to be dropped," said Lt.
Col.
Bill Costello, a spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command. "It seemed to
be
the prudent way to proceed."
But Yee's attorney, Washington, D.C., lawyer Eugene Fidell, said he
couldn't understand the military's shadowy explanation.
"I wouldn't begin to speculate about that," said Fidell. "I do think
their
explanation doesn't wash."
Fidell said instead that the allegations may have been prompted in part
by
heightened post-Sept. 11 concerns about Muslim terrorists and their
alleged
American supporters.
"People were working on a hair-trigger, and allowed some stereotyping
to
come into the picture," he said.
Yee's Seattle-area supporters were more blunt.
"This very much proves to us that (the federal government is)
hyper-sensitive in profiling Muslims," said Samia El-Moslimany, an
official
with the Seattle chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations…
SEE ALSO:
MILITARY DROPS ALL CHARGES AGAINST CHAPLAIN
By Ray Rivera and Ralph Thomas, Seattle Times, 3/20/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001884078_yee20m.html
The fading espionage case against Army Capt. James Yee, the Muslim
chaplain
who ministered to Guantánamo Bay prisoners, came to an abrupt end
yesterday
after the U.S. military dropped all charges against him.
In a surprise move, the Army dismissed allegations of mishandling
classified information - the most serious offenses left in a case
authorities once described as involving spying, mutiny, sedition and
aiding
the enemy.
"Chaplain Yee has won," said his lawyer, Eugene Fidell. "The Army's
dismissal of the classified-information charges against him represents
a
long-overdue vindication.
"Yee is entitled to an apology."
Yee, who was stationed at Fort Lewis before Cuba's Guantánamo, was
unavailable for comment yesterday, his lawyer said.
Army Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, the Guantánamo commander, said he
dropped
the charges because of national-security concerns that would arise from
the
release of evidence in a court proceeding, according to a statement
released by the U.S. Southern Command in Florida.
Miller made his decision after consulting with government lawyers and
intelligence officials, the statement said.
The military also dropped criminal charges of violating military law by
committing adultery and storing pornographic images on a government
computer…
-----
ISLAMIC RIGHTS GROUP FILES FCC COMPLAINT OVER LA RADIO SKIT
JEFF WILSON, Associated Press, 3/19/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/peninsula/8229299.htm
LOS ANGELES - An Islamic rights group has filed a federal complaint
against
talk radio station KFI-AM and parent Clear Channel Communications
because
of a skit mocking the new Iraqi constitution, saying it advocated
killing
Jews and banned such western teachings as "bathing on a regular basis."
The station issued an on-air apology after the Anaheim-based Southern
California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed
complaints about the March 10 skit with the Federal Communications
Commission.
The skit on morning host Bill Handel's show featured a pretend Muslim
allegedly reading from the new Iraqi constitution using a heavy accent.
Its preamble said the constitution would promote injustice and the
subjugation of women. Those entering heaven would be granted 72 virgins
(an
apparent reference to statements by the Sept. 11 hijackers) who would
"not
be hairy Iraqi women, but lovely Japanese schoolgirls." Iraqi adults,
the
skit said, would be allowed consenting relationships with "loving
camels
and goats…"
KFI program director Robin Bertolucci said the station didn't intend to
bash Muslims.
In an on-air apology read Wednesday, she said the station acknowledged
the
skit was "offensive to some members of the Muslim community. For that
we
are sorry. KFI is committed to all of its Southern California
listeners,
including those in the Muslim community."
Despite the apology, the Islamic organization said it would pursue the
complaint it faxed this week to the FCC's Washington headquarters.
"These Islamophobic comments are outrageous and hurtful, and only serve
to
increase animosity and hatred against the American Muslim community,"
the
complaint stated.
Telephone messages left Friday with the FCC's Consumer and Governmental
Affairs Bureau were not immediately returned.
"The FCC still needs to look into it. Talk shows think they can get
away
with bashing Muslims," the Islamic council's Sabiha Khan told The
Associated Press.
The station received hundreds of telephone calls, faxes and e-mail
complaints, KFI said.
Texas-based Clear Channel Communications, which last month announced a
zero-tolerance policy toward indecency and pulled radio personality
Howard
Stern off Clear Channel stations, also apologized in a statement
Thursday.
"The thoughts and opinions expressed by on-air personalities and guests
are
their own and do not reflect the views of KFI, its employees or Clear
Channel Communications," the statement read. "We deeply apologize to
our
listeners who may have been offended…"
-----
OFFICE BREAK-IN AT PRINCE GEORGE'S MUSLIM ASSOCIATION RAISES CONCERN
ABOUT
POST SEPTEMBER 11TH BACKLASH
Vincent J. Swanson, Sentinel, 3/20/04
http://www.thesentinel.com/280079623702626.php
The offices at the Prince George's Muslim Association were recently
broken
into, with files and papers strewn throughout its administrative
office,
yet the board of directors did not press the issue with law enforcement
or
the media, out of fear of further anti-Islam discrimination.
The board of directors would not elaborate on the nature of the
break-in,
and would not comment on whether they believed it was a hate crime, or
the
work of a government agency looking for possible terrorist links.
"We did report the break-in, I believe, with the Prince George's Police
Department, but it never really went anywhere, and to my knowledge it
was
not covered in the media," Munir Abdul-Latif said, a member of the
board of
directors. "Nothing was physically taken, but it generated a lot of
concern
for us."
The Prince George's Muslim Association, which in essence is a community
center with an array of social functions, caters to both foreign-born
and
American-born people of the Islamic faith. The central pillar of the
association, however, is the An-Nur Academy, which is a
pre-kindergarten to
third grade school providing both Islamic and academic education for
Muslim
children. The charter of the pre-school notes that children of Islamic
faith are a "first priority and they should be given every possible
opportunity to develop into pious and productive Muslims."
Members of the board of directors, some overly garrulous and others
less
emotive, spoke of the post-September 11 environment and the
difficulties
and prejudices American-Muslims have faced. "We have a multiracial,
multicultural, and peaceful approach to teaching Islam," Muctarr Jalloh
said, the Secretary General of the association. "The September 11th
attacks
were a terrible tragedy, and if anything, [the attacks] hurt all people
of
all faiths around the world," Jalloh explained. "If only the terrorists
understood that September 11th hurt Muslims and our faith, it did not
help
us." Since the office break-in, Abdul-Latif said that the vandalized
door
had been fixed and a new lock installed. "Security is now a concern for
us
since the break-in," he said.
SEE ALSO:
TEEN GETS 7½ YEARS FOR ATTACK ON STUDENT
Pizza delivery man was mistaken for Muslim
By RAY HENRY, Standard-Times, 3/20/04
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/03-04/03-20-04/a01lo629.htm
NEW BEDFORD -- A troubled teen admitted yesterday to kidnapping,
torturing
and stabbing a soft-spoken Hindu graduate student he and a group of
friends
mistook for a Muslim, prosecutors said yesterday.
The guilty plea by 19-year-old Ryan Marsh marks the first conviction in
a
case that galvanized civil rights groups across the nation this summer
who
feared a backlash against Muslims.
Nine months after a teenage driver found him bleeding on a Fairhaven
Street, Saurabh Bhalerao still carries the mark on his stomach that Mr.
Marsh inflicted with a steak knife…
"Anti-Muslim sentiment has affected a lot of communities," said Rabiah
Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic
Relations, which noted that the June 23 attack was one in a series of
assaults on Muslims nationwide.
"Every time there is some type of suicide bombing done in the name of
Islam
or after the beginning of the Iraq War, we all brace ourselves for a
backlash. Some (victims) aren't even Muslim," she said…
-----
WEST TO MEET EAST AT EXHIBITION OF RARE ISLAMIC ART
Jacqueline Trescott, Washington Post, 3/19/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6625-2004Mar18.html\
Starting in July, the National Gallery of Art will display rare Islamic
art
from the Victoria and Albert Museum, its first major display of art
from
the Arab world in 17 years.
The rare traveling show, which will be announced today, was possible
because the London museum is building a new gallery for its Middle
Eastern
artifacts. The Victoria and Albert, founded in 1851, is considered the
foremost museum of decorative arts in the world, and its holdings of
Islamic materials go back to the 10th century…
The show will exhibit calligraphy, including an illuminated Koran from
the
17th century. It will also feature decorative objects made for royal
courts, such as an ivory casket with engraved silver mounts, as well as
work created for mosques and Christian churches. Some of the objects
will
show cross-cultural influences. One section details how high-fired
ceramics
from China influenced potters in the Middle East and how the tin glaze
used
in the Middle East influenced the 16th-century Italian pottery known as
majolica...
-----
INJUSTICE IN AFGHANISTAN
Washington Post, 3/20/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9623-2004Mar19.html
UNDER PRESSURE from the Supreme Court and many foreign governments, the
Bush administration at last has begun to take steps toward providing a
review process for the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in
Cuba.
But it has yet to address the less publicized but possibly more serious
problems surrounding its detention of foreign nationals elsewhere in
the
world. Under the guise of the war on terrorism, the U.S. military and
CIA
are holding hundreds, if not thousands, of suspects in Iraq,
Afghanistan
and possibly other locations under conditions of extraordinary secrecy
and
without any formal legal process…
The 60-page report on U.S. practices in Afghanistan during the past two
years details questionable or possibly criminal behavior by American
personnel, including the use of excessive force during arrests and
systematic mistreatment of some detainees. It shows that U.S.
interrogators
have used practices, such as prolonged shackling and sleep deprivation,
that the State Department's annual human rights report describes as
torture
when they are used by other countries. Perhaps most disturbing, it
documents how numerous Afghan civilians have been held for periods of
up to
a year or more without charge, "virtually incommunicado without any
legal
basis for challenging their detention or seeking their release."
U.S. authorities have never disclosed how many prisoners are being held
or
where, nor have they permitted visits by family members or lawyers to
those
detained. No charges have been brought against any of the prisoners.
"Simply put," the report concludes, "the United States is acting
outside
the rule of law…"
The Bush administration should be acting aggressively to demonstrate,
both
to Americans and Afghans, that this is not the case. It should also
take
steps to regularize its handling of detainees abroad, disclose where
they
are, and ensure that they are being treated humanely and in accord with
the
Geneva Conventions. Though it must move forcefully against terrorists
or
remnants of the Taliban, the United States must also demonstrate that
it is
possible to wage this war while respecting basic standards of justice
and
human rights. For now, its actions in Afghanistan are sending the world
a
different message.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR CONDEMNS ISRAELI ASSASSINATION OF RELIGIOUS LEADER
Islamic civil rights group says Israel engaged in 'state terrorism'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/22/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today condemned the assassination of a wheelchair-bound
Palestinian
Muslim religious leader, calling it an act of "state terrorism."
Israel killed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a 67-year-old quadriplegic and the
most
prominent Palestinian Islamic figure, in a missile strike outside a
Gaza
City mosque on Monday.
In its statement, CAIR said:
"We condemn this violation of international law as an act of state
terrorism by Ariel Sharon's out-of-control government. Israel's
extra-judicial killing of an Islamic religious leader can only serve to
perpetuate the cycle of violence throughout the region. The
international
community must now take concrete steps to help protect the Palestinian
people against such wanton Israeli violence.
"We call on the United States to join its allies in condemning this
political assassination and to make that condemnation meaningful by
cutting
the flow American-taxpayer dollars to Israel. It is these tax dollars
that
pay for the weapons Israel uses to carry out such illegal attacks.
American
repudiation of Israel's brutal policies could also be demonstrated by
the
cancellation of Ariel Sharon's upcoming visit to Washington.
"Bland administration statements urging 'restraint by all parties' will
only be viewed internationally as tacit approval of Israel's actions
and
will undermine our moral and legal basis for the war on terrorism.
"Until Israel views Palestinians as human beings, and not just animals
to
be slaughtered at will during 'hunting season,'* there can be no viable
and
just resolution to the Middle East conflict. And until America adopts a
truly even-handed approach to that conflict, our nation's image will
continue to suffer worldwide."
(*Last week, a senior Israeli security official was quoted as saying
"hunting season has begun," in reference to assassinations of
Palestinians.
[Washington Times, 3/18/04])
World leaders have been uniform in their condemnation of Sheikh
Yassin's
assassination. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called the Israeli
attack an "unlawful killing." Straw said: "I don't believe Israel will
benefit from the fact that this morning an (elderly man) in a
wheelchair
has been the target of assassination."
European Union foreign ministers said in a statement: "Israel is
not…entitled to carry out extra-judicial killings." French Foreign
Minister
Dominique de Villepin said: "Such acts can only feed the spiral of
violence."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has consistently
condemned all terrorist acts, whether carried out by individuals,
groups or
states.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to ISLAM-INFONET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/22/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: ACTS OF KINDNESS
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Library Project Update: Alaska
* ATTEND CAIR-SOUTH FLORIDA BANQUET APRIL 3
* WHITE HOUSE 'DEEPLY TROUBLED' BY YASSIN ATTACK (Reuters)
* 'DEAR ABBY' READER PRAISES MUSLIM KINDNESS (Chicago Trib)
* UT: MESSAGE OF ISLAM IS ONE OF LOVE (Salt Lake Trib)
* FL: FESTIVAL AIMS TO SPREAD POSITIVE MESSAGE (Tampa Trib)
- Video of Muslim Charity Event (WTVT)
- Muslims Serve up Another Image of Islam (SP Times)
- TV Channel for North American Muslims (Wash. File)
* YEE OWED APOLOGY FOR HIS ORDEAL (Seattle PI)
- Chaplain's Mother Asks For Apology from Army (AP)
* AZ: JEWISH-MUSLIM PEACE WALK (Tucson Citizen)
* CAIR-FL: INDIVIDUAL ACTS DON'T REPRESENT ISLAM (Tampa Trib)
* FL: AL-ARIAN TRIAL MAY BECOME TEST CASE (St. Pete Times)
* A MINEFIELD FOR MISSIONARIES (Denver Post)
- CAIR-OH: Peace Rally on the Square (Cincinnati Post)
* MI: CAB DRIVER REPORTS ETHNIC INTIMIDATION (MI Live)
* GA: CANDIDATE SAYS LEAVE RELIGION OUT OF POLITICS (FOX)
* FL: FRIENDS, FAMILY MOURN MUSLIM DOCTOR (St Pete Times)
* GUNMEN EVICT FAMILY FROM HOME IN JERUSALEM (Guardian)
- McDonald's Worker Fired For Speaking Arabic (Newsday)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: ACTS OF KINDNESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Acts of kindness
protect
one from ruin wrought by evil."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 97B
The Prophet also said: "God is kind and He loves kindness…Kindness is
not
to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1186 and 1187
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7,377 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Alaska: 5 covered, 65 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call,
1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
-----
ATTEND THE CAIR-SOUTH FLORIDA BANQUET (APRIL 3RD)
Tickets Running out for event, purchase tickets today:
Theme "A DEFINING MOMENT AND A NIGHT OF HEROES"
http://www.cair-florida.org/banquet
The Florida office of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL)
cordially invites you to our Annual Banquet.
Theme: A DEFINING MOMENT AND A NIGHT OF HEROES
FEATURED SPEAKERS:
DR. ABDUL HAKIM JACKSON, Professor of Islamic Studies, University of
Michigan
NIHAD AWAD, Founder and Executive Director of CAIR
KEVIN JAMES, NY City firefighter who participated in the 9-11 rescue
efforts and was featured in the PBS documentary, "Muhammad-Legacy of a
Prophet"
What: Third Annual South Florida Banquet
When: Saturday, April 3, 2004 @ 6:00 PM
Where: Wyndham Ft. Lauderdale Airport; 1870 Griffin Road; Ft.
Lauderdale,
Florida
Tickets: $30 person or $250 for a table of 10.
Seats are limited, order your tickets now. Order can be placed any one
of
two ways: via web: http://www.cair-florida.org/banquet (Secure & Safe)
or
via phone: 954-916-5661
Pre-registration required for all attendees.
-----
WHITE HOUSE SAYS TROUBLED BY YASSIN ATTACK
Reuters, 3/22/04
WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday it was
"deeply troubled" by Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh
Ahmed
Yassin.
"We are deeply troubled by this morning's actions in Gaza," White House
(spokesman) Scott McClellan said...
-----
'DEAR ABBY' READER PRAISES MUSLIM KINDNESS
Grateful In St. Paul, Chicago Tribune, 3/21/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0403180483mar21,1,3768868.column
(Scroll down.)
Dear Abby: I enjoy the letters you print about acts of kindness. I am a
63-year-old woman with physical disabilities. While walking out of the
grocery store, I slipped on some ice and fell. Abby, four people walked
right past me without even offering to help. A Muslim family walked by,
and
the husband put his groceries down and helped me up. He then carried my
groceries while his wife and son helped me to my car. After that, they
followed my car to my house to make sure I arrived safely. Their son
helped
me unload the groceries and get them into my kitchen.
In all the chaos, I didn't even get their names. Please, Abby, let them
know how grateful I am. So many ugly things have been said about
Muslims
since Sept. 11. Their kindness and concern reminded me that there are
many
good people out there, and we should not forget that.
Dear Grateful: You're right. We shouldn't. Kindness and consideration
for
others aren't virtues confined by borders, nor are they restricted to
one
religion. Thank you for pointing it out.
NOTE: Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne
Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. It is the
most
popular and widely syndicated column in the world.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Send a note of appreciation to Dear Abby for publishing the letter
above.
CONTACT: Dear Abby, P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 SEE ALSO:
www.DearAbby.com
-----
THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM IS ONE OF TRUST, LOVE AND TOLERANCE
Carolyn Barrani, Salt Lake Tribune, 3/21/04
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Mar/03212004/commenta/149533.asp
It's time to set the record straight. The American people are confused
about Islam and what it teaches. They are constantly told that it is a
religion of hate, violence and intolerance, and that Muslims despise
Christians and Jews. They are told that it is an oppressive religion,
that
women have no rights under its statutes, and that the prophet Muhammad
was
a scoundrel.
As a lifelong member of the LDS Church, I have lived for 40 years with
my
Muslim husband in both his country and my own. I feel a deep
responsibility
to correct the misunderstandings about his precious people and their
noble
religion which have been cruelly demonized for decades in this country.
In living so long with Islam, I have not only maintained my testimony
as a
Mormon, but my testimony has grown even more solid with an increasing
appreciation of Islam's insights. If one were to carefully study the
Quran,
armed with latter-day information, one would come to see that the clash
between Islam and Christianity seems to be an illusion. This would
correspond with the Book of Mormon's claims in 2 Nephi that God has
given
light to all people throughout history, and did not confine all truth
to
the tribes of Israel alone…
It is absolutely essential that Americans understand that Islam teaches
that Jesus was born of a virgin, and in 11 places the Quran refers to
Jesus
as "The Messiah." Jesus is extremely important in Islam, as illustrated
in
a new book titled The Moslem Jesus by Tarif Khalidi which presents a
collection of legends about Jesus gleaned from various Muslim
traditions
from around the globe. Islam reveres Christians and Jews as "the people
of
the Book," and allows intermarriage with them as well as tolerance for
their practice of their faith. The Quran recognizes all of the prophets
of
the Old Testament and one cannot be a Muslim without accepting those
prophets and their teachings…
Islam teaches personal responsibility and one's responsibility for
families, homes and communities. This effort is called "Jihad," and is
the
same privilege and duty we assign ourselves when we grant ourselves the
right to defense against harm, oppression and poverty. Islam forbids
the
taking of life of any human "soul," whether Muslim, Christian, Jew or
pagan
unless it is in self-defense, and suicide is a crime against God. There
is
no excuse for taking any innocent life…
The message of Islam is one of total trust in God, love and tolerance
in an
imperfect world. Before one criticizes Islam's performance, one needs
to
first examine one's own religion's performance in dealing with reality,
and
our own failure to comply with the ideals set forth.
-----
ISLAMIC CHARITY FESTIVAL AIMS TO SPREAD POSITIVE MESSAGE
Kathy Steele, Tampa Tribune, 3/22/04
http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGANL2QZ3SD.html
TAMPA - Rhonda Holder walked through the tent picking out clothes for
herself and her children, ages 5 months to 5 years. Hanging from a
shelf
piled with shirts and pants, a flier read, "With love from Muslim
brothers
and sisters."
The positive message is what Holder says brings her back each year to
the
annual Islamic Charity Festival. On Sunday, she was among hundreds who
spent the day at Riverfront Park.
Nineteen organizations of the Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance set up tents
along
the bank of the Hillsborough River to give away clothes and toys and
provide health screenings. It was the eighth year for the festival,
which
since Sept. 11 also has become an opportunity for Bay area Muslims to
address issues about their faith.
"There are a lot of misconceptions in the media which we try to
dispel,"
alliance chairman Husain Nagamia said.
"Why relate terrorism to Islam? We feel it is an insult to Islam. Islam
is
a religion of 1 billion people and they are not terrorists."
Charitable giving is a requirement of the Islamic faith. Sunday's
event,
marking Eid Al-Adha, or the Muslim day of sacrifice, was a way of
meeting
that spiritual obligation, Nagamia said...
ALSO SEE:
VIDOE OF MUSLIM CHARITY EVENT, INCLUDING CAIR-FL VOTER REGISTRATION
Watch Video, WTVT (FOX13):
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/040321_muslimcharityfest.wmv
(broadband)
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/040321_muslimcharityfest_lo.wmv
(dial-up)
HUNDREDS OF MUSLIMS SERVE UP ANOTHER IMAGE OF ISLAM
Ron Matus, St Petersburg Times, 3/21/04
http://www.stpetetimes.com/
TAMPA - The images are beamed around the globe and seared into psyches:
In
Iraq, hotels bombed into rubble. In Spain, twisted metal where commuter
trains used to be. People covered in blood.
Dr. Husain Nagamia knows many Americans watch their TVs and think Islam
is
the common denominator. But rather than counter with words, he and
hundreds
of other Muslims came together in a Tampa park Sunday to offer
competing
images.
Muslims, serving barbecued chicken to the homeless.
Muslim children, chasing a clown.
Muslim men and women, praying for world peace.
"Look: Islam is a beautiful religion," said Nagamia, a Tampa heart
surgeon
who heads the Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance, a coalition of mosques,
schools
and community centers. "This is exactly what we are trying to tell the
world."
The alliance was the driving force behind Sunday's Eighth Annual
Islamic
Charity Festival. A year and a day after an American-led coalition
began
bombing Iraq, more than 700 people gathered in Riverside Park for food,
fellowship, prayer and good deeds.
Syed Hussain, 44, drove from Kissimmee with 33 other members of the
Jaffaria Islamic Center, a Muslim school. They brought 35 bags of
clothes
to give to the poor and seven trays of goat-meat curry.
"If people are hungry, we provide food," said Hussain, who was born in
Pakistan. "Everybody. Doesn't matter."
The festival included several high-profile guests, including
Hillsborough
County Commissioner Pat Frank; Tampa police Chief Stephen Hogue;
Hillsborough County Chief Deputy David Gee; and U.S. Senate candidate
Betty
Castor...
---
TV CHANNEL FOR NORTH AMERICAN MUSLIMS TO DEBUT IN 2004
Nidal M. Ibrahim, Washington File, 3/19/04
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=March&x=20040319150732cpataruk0.8424494&t=livefeeds/wf-latest
Buffalo, New York -- In late 2001, a few months after 9/11, Muzzammil
S.
Hassan was driving with his wife cross-country from Buffalo to Detroit
for
a business meeting. They were listening to a radio talk show on Islam.
"The radio show turned anti-Muslim," recalls Hassan, a 39-year-old
former
banker with a Master's in Business Administration from the University
of
Rochester.
"My wife got upset and she figured that, as a mother, there needed to
be a
medium where our children can grow up feeling self-confident about
their
identity. So she got on my case. 'You have an MBA. Why don't you write
a
business plan for something like that?' And she kept nagging me and
nagging
me," he said.
So, in the interest of domestic tranquility, Hassan said, he wrote a
business plan to establish an English-language nationwide television
channel that would be available via satellite and cable specifically
targeting American Muslims.
Hassan and his dream -- thanks to his wife's directive -- have come a
long
way since that drive. Bridges Television Network Inc. is planning to
launch
later this year, right before Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting
that will begin October 15. The main target audience for this new
channel
is the estimated population of eight million American and Canadian
Muslims,
two million of whom are Arab Americans...
-----
YEE OWED APOLOGY FOR HIS ORDEAL
Robert L. Jamieson Jr., Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/22/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/jamieson/165754_robert22.asp
Oops.
The government's blunder posse is at it again.
They took a loyal Army man and dragged his name through the mud. They
trumped up charges that fizzled. They failed to realize how their
prosecutorial zeal hurts innocent people.
I'm referring to the government's embarrassing case against Capt. James
Yee, the Muslim chaplain from Fort Lewis who was accused of doing all
sorts
of sinister things.
For the longest time we were told that Yee, who ministered to terror
suspects at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, mishandled classified
information.
He might have been part of some espionage ring, the government
suggested.
He might have been trying to infiltrate the military base. On top of
that,
the government huffed about how he was an adulterer and had computer
porn.
In this modern-day witch hunt -- and that's what this was -- Yee was
made
out to be despicable, morally bankrupt and possibly traitorous.
Un-American, even. Then on Friday night the military issued a terse
statement saying it had suddenly decided to drop all charges against
him.
Just like that.
It was as if Uncle Sam were saying: "Oh, never mind. You can have your
life
back, Mr. Yee -- now that we've worked it over with the wrecking ball
for
six months."
Oops.
No apology was offered with the dismissal of charges, which came down
at
the end of the week -- a time when the Bush administration likes to
release
news it would prefer to see buried deep in the weekend news cycle.
A government statement mentioned some mumbo jumbo about "national
security
concerns" that would have arisen had the Yee case gone to trial.
Sensitive
information, the government suggested, might have tumbled into public
view...
ALSO SEE:
CHAPLAIN'S MOTHER ASKS FOR APOLOGY FROM ARMY
Associated Press, 3/22/04
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/03/22/chaplains_mother_asks_for_apology_from_army/
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- The mother of an Army chaplain once charged with
mishandling classified information at a prison camp for suspected
terrorists wants the military to apologize for wrongly accusing her
son.
Fong Yee, mother of Captain James Yee, said the Army's decision last
week
to dismiss charges against her son offered little reason to celebrate
because the military dropped the matter without clearing his name.
"Realize you made a mistake, and apologize," she was quoted as saying
in
The Sunday Star-Ledger of Newark. "What's so wrong with that? It's an
honorable thing to do. That's just basic human decency."
The Army dropped the charges Friday, six months after accusing Yee of
mishandling classified material, failing to obey an order, making a
false
official statement, adultery, and conduct unbecoming an officer for
allegedly downloading pornography on his government laptop computer.
In dismissing the charges, Major General Geoffrey D. Miller, commander
of
the task force that operates the US military's detention center at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for terror suspects, cited "national security
concerns that would arise from the release of the evidence" if the case
proceeded...
-----
JEWISH-MUSLIM PEACEWALK: TUCSONANS MARCH AS MIDEAST RAGES
Ty Young, Tucson Citizen, 3/22/04
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=local&story_id=032204a4_peacewalk
Some of the approximately 400 people start their walk in yesterday's
Jewish-Muslim PeaceWalk hosted by local Muslims and Jews.
With a gentle breeze in their faces and a feeling of unity in their
hearts,
several hundred people walked a six-mile route to show their support
for a
peaceful resolution to the bloodshed between Jews and Muslims in the
Middle
East.
The Jewish-Muslim PeaceWalk brought together people of many races,
religions and ages yesterday. Starting at the Islamic Center, 901 E.
First
St., and ending at Congregation Chaverim, 5901 E. Second St., the
marchers
walked down Speedway Boulevard for blocks as passing drivers honked.
For some, it was a chance to meet new people and to dispel stereotypes
about Muslims and Jews.
"It shows that not everybody is fighting," said Jordan Handler, 16. The
Catalina Foothills High School student was forced to cancel a trip to
Israel because of recent violence. She said the march was an
educational
experience, teaching her that Muslims and Jews can coexist peacefully.
Cetin Urtis, a 30-year-old Muslim from Turkey, said the beauty of the
march
was in its subtlety.
"It's just a simple walk, but it shows that it is possible to have
peace
even though we have differences," he said...
-----
INDIVIDUAL ACTS DON'T REPRESENT ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Ahmed Bedier, Tampa Tribune, 3/22/04
http://tampatrib.com/News/MGAA4TZW0SD.html
In a March 10 letter to The Tampa Tribune, Roberta B. Holstein
portrayed
clear ignorance of the Muslim community. Her anti-Muslim comments were
a
reaction to the launch of the new Council on American-Islamic Relations
office in Tampa, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap of
understanding between Muslim-Americans and the greater community.
Unfortunately, her unwarranted fear of newcomers is not uncommon to our
nation; it wasn't that long ago that Catholic and Jewish Americans
faced
similar bigotry and doubts.
First, Holstein was concerned about the growth of Muslim-Americans in
the
Tampa Bay area, and her ignorance led her to ``assume that they are
emigrating from Middle Eastern countries.'' On the contrary, the
majority
of Muslims in the Bay area are not Middle Eastern; rather, most are
African-American and first- generation immigrants from the
subcontinents of
Asia. Furthermore, most Middle Easterners in Florida are Christian and
not
Muslim.
Second, Holstein echoed familiar anti-Muslim accusations of not
denouncing
9/11 and blaming Muslims for the act itself. Muslim-Americans and their
leaders have condemned and continue to publicly condemn 9/11 and other
acts
of terror. The overwhelming majority of Muslims declared such acts
un-Islamic and not sanctioned by the laws of Islam. However, one should
not
judge a religion by the acts of individuals. How often does one hear
people
blaming Christianity for the acts of Timothy McVeigh or Adolf Hitler?
In
the same breath, Muslim-Americans did not blame Judaism for the plot of
Robert Goldstein, a local podiatrist who was convicted in a plot to
blow up
area mosques.
Over the course of history, many religions have fallen victim to
violent
interpretations, and the texts of all faiths are vulnerable to
manipulation
and abuse by extremists. Judaism, Christianity, Islam and many other
religions share the basic values necessary to create a world where
tolerance and peace prevail. We have an opportunity to build bridges
between our faiths and challenge those who attempt to repeat history by
dividing humanity along religious and ethnic lines.
(The writer is communications director for the Florida office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations.)
-----
AL-ARIAN TRIAL MAY BECOME TEST CASE
Concerns about evidence, defendant complaints and the Patriot Act are
brewing into a major legal clash.
GRAHAM BRINK, St. Petersburg Times, 3/22/04
http://www.stpetetimes.com/2004/03/22/Hillsborough/Al_Arian_trial_may_be.shtml
TAMPA - One year after the arrest of Sami Al-Arian on terrorist
charges, a
potentially precedent-setting courtroom battle is taking shape.
The case of the former USF professor presents several unusual
challenges:
The sheer volume of evidence. The conversations of Al-Arian and others
that
federal agents secretly taped over a decade total more than 21,000
hours.
It would take 21/2 years to listen to all of them - if they were played
without a break.
The conditions under which Al-Arian and a co-defendant are confined as
they
await the January 2005 trial. They are being held in a federal prison
and
have complained about everything from limits on their access to lawyers
to
constant strip searches. Most recently the two defendants say two
notebooks
full of legal analysis vanished after a search of the cell they share.
Destroyed court records. Documents from the Al-Arian case were
inadvertently shredded by court employees who were preparing to move
into
the new federal courthouse in Tampa.
In the coming months, more issues will surface. The audibility of the
wiretap recordings. Disputes over translation of the Arabic
conversations.
The constitutionality of the USA Patriot Act…
-----
A MINEFIELD FOR MISSIONARIES
Eric Gorski, Denver Post, 3/21/04
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~6439~2031922,00.html
Chris and Norma Black pack their belongings for storage before they and
their kids, Annalise and Daniel, leave later this month for mission
work in
Bosnia. The Blacks say they know that overseas mission work can be
dangerous. "We believe it's worth it," Norma Black said.
The slayings last week of four American missionaries in Iraq have
highlighted not only the danger facing foreigners in postwar Iraq, but
the
under-the-radar strategy of evangelical Christian mission groups in the
predominantly Muslim country.
A car carrying the Southern Baptist volunteers - including 28-year-old
David McDonnall of Rowlett, Texas, a Colorado native - was ambushed
Monday
outside Mosul and sprayed with bullets and rocket-propelled grenades.
But in the parlance of the International Mission Board, the missionary
arm
of the Southern Baptist Convention, the victims were not missionaries
but
"humanitarian aid workers," there not to proselytize but to demonstrate
God's love with good works.
That, the agency said, is an important distinction because Iraq does
not
grant visas for missionary purposes...
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman with the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in Washington, D.C., a critic of missionary work in Iraq, condemned the
attacks on the Baptist missionaries and offered condolences to their
families.
"We still have concerns about foreign missionaries following in after
an
invading American army," he said. "At this point, we would save any
political analysis of missionary activities until after the families
have
an opportunity to mourn..."
ALSO SEE:
PEACE RALLY ON THE SQUARE
Roy Wood, Cincinnati Post, 3/20/04
http://www.cincypost.com/2004/03/20/peace032004.html
Between 500 and 1,000 people from 16 peace organizations are expected
to
take part in a rally on Fountain Square today to mark the first
anniversary
of the war in Iraq.
The message during the event will be that even though rally organizers
support U.S. troops, they do not support U.S. policies that sent
American
men and women to Iraq, said Sister Alice Gerdeman, a Cincinnati peace
activist.
The groups in Cincinnati are joining with millions of people in 50
countries for a Global Day of Action against War and Occupation.
By holding the Fountain Square event, participants are saying, "There
are
people all over the world who say war is not the answer," Gerdeman said
Friday. "We need to find solutions that work rather than killing people
and
putting people in harm's way."
Zeinab Schwen, a first generation Arab-American from Symmes Township
who
will speak today, agreed.
"I don't believe in this war," she said. "I was against send troops
into
Iraq from the beginning. Things are not solved by weapon use. -- There
has
to be more tolerance and more peaceful methods of resolution to
problems."
Music, poetry, short speeches and a moment to remember everyone who has
died in Iraq -- civilians as well as military personnel -- are planned
for
the rally...
Sponsors for the Cincinnati rally include the Intercommunity Justice
and
Peace Center, the Council of American Islamic Relations, the Claver
Jesuit
Mission, Moms and Dads for Peace, International Socialist Organization,
Coalition for Peace with Iraq, Southwest Ohio Green Party, Nuclear
Awareness Group, Women in Black, Welfare Rights Coalition, Vietnam
Veterans
Against the War, UC Antiwar Committee, XU Amnesty International
Chapter,
Peace Seekers, and Food Not Bombs.
-----
CAB DRIVER REPORTS ETHNIC INTIMIDATION
Michigan Live, 3/19/04
http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1079710991142290.xml
Ann Arbor police responded to the 900 block of Greenwood Avenue early
this
morning after a cab driver reported ethnic intimidation by passengers,
reports said.
The cab driver, a 50-year-old Somali immigrant, told police he picked
up
three men from Studio Four after 1 a.m. During the drive to their home,
one
of the men repeatedly asked where the driver was from. The driver
refused
to tell them and asked why it would matter. One of men then accused the
driver of taking a longer route to their home in order to increase the
fare
and repeatedly used a racial slur. Upon arrival at the destination, the
passenger threatened to kill him with a gun he was going to get from
inside
the house. The driver called police from the street.
Officers talked to the suspect, 21, who denied using a racial slur but
appeared intoxicated, reports said. He told police the cab driver was
upset
with them over a small tip but did not deny repeatedly asking where the
driver was from.
The case will be turned over to the Washtenaw County prosecutor's
office
for review.
-----
MUSLIM CANDIDATE: LEAVE RELIGION OUT OF POLITICS
Fox News, 3/21/04
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,114722,00.html
ATLANTA, Ga. - If Jamil Imran wins his bid for the Georgia House, he
will
become the Peach State's first and only Muslim legislator.
But Imran, born in Bangladesh (search) and an American citizen since
2000,
said his religious and ethnic background should have no bearing on his
political future.
"First of all, I'm an American and then I'm also a Democrat and I
happen to
also be Muslim," Imran said.
Georgia's legislative districts currently face legal challenges, which
Imran says could affect whether he stays in the race. But for now, he's
actively campaigning in a district that is both ethnically diverse and
predominantly minority.
Imran's Democratic primary challenger Annette Gelbrich says the race is
about experience, not ethnicity, but at least one political analyst
suggests Imran's immigrant status may actually help him.
"When someone is the first in their community running, and he is a new
American citizen - about four years, what happens is the money comes in
from that community," said analyst Martha Zoller. "The Bangladeshi
community in Gwinnett County (search) is a very wealthy community."
-----
FRIENDS, FAMILY MOURN DOCTOR
Robert King, St. Petersburg Times, 3/22/04
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/22/Hernando/Friends__family_mourn.shtml
His patients, colleagues and relatives share the pain of losing the
compassionate and beloved family physician.
SPRING HILL - Susan Heal came to Sunday's memorial service to honor the
doctor who cared for her even when she couldn't always pay him.
Marilyn McArdle came to honor the doctor who saved her son's life.
And Dr. Rodwan Hiba came to honor the friend and colleague who died
only
hours after consulting with him about the care of a patient.
In all, more than 300 people turned out Sunday to remember Dr.
Mohamed-Nagi
Hassan Salam-Kadri, 49, who was killed last Monday night when his
private
plane crashed in northern Pasco County. He was flying home to his
family in
Orlando at the time.
Held in the ornate Palace Grande ballroom, the service memorialized the
family physician with buttons featuring his picture, the singing of God
Bless America and discussions of grief from a protestant minister, a
Catholic priest and a Muslim imam.
A Muslim born in Egypt, Kadri was buried Wednesday in Tampa, as soon as
his
body was made available by the coroner, in accordance with Muslim
traditions of quick burial.
Heal, who lives in Spring Hill, said she was one of Kadri's first
patients
when he moved his practice to Hernando County four years ago. At the
time,
his office was so quiet she worried it might go out of business.
Nevertheless, Heal said Kadri gave her the medical care she needed -
and
numerous free samples of expensive medicines - even when she lacked
medical
insurance and couldn't always pay...
-----
GUNMEN EVICT FAMILY AT DAWN FROM HOME IN KING DAVID'S CITY
Chris McGreal, Guardian, 3/19/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1172960,00.html
The first Ruad Ajlouni knew that the Israelis were moving in was as he
awoke in the early hours to find a group of armed men standing over his
sleeping children.
The 30 or so Jewish activists had quietly clambered on to the terrace
roof
of the three torey apartment block in run-down Arab east Jerusalem,
drilled
their way through the locks of the outside doors and surrounded the
Ajlounis before they had a chance to stir.
"They said they had bought the flat and were moving in," said Mr
Ajlouni.
"At three o'clock in the morning. I said: 'Good for you. Show us the
documents and I will help you move the furniture'."
But there were no deeds, only weapons. Within a few minutes, the
Ajlounis
and their five children, the youngest just 18 months old, were out of
the
door. The furniture followed.
When the Israeli police finally arrived, after the Ajlounis had spent
hours
pleading for help, the officers said there was nothing they could do:
it
was a matter for the courts - and they nearly always back Jewish over
Palestinian property claims.
"This area is a prime target area for the settlers because they claim
this
is King David's city. They want to evacuate as many Palestinians as
possible and replace them with Jews so they can say there are no Arabs
in
it," said Mr Ajlouni...
ALSO SEE:
ISRAELI MCDONALD'S: FAST-FOOD WORKER FIRED FOR SPEAKING ARABIC
Conal Urquhart, Newsday, 3/22/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-womacd143718273mar22,0,872765.story?coll=ny-worldnews-headlines
JERUSALEM - "I'm lovin' it," say the T-shirts of McDonald's fast-food
employees in Israel - but on the job, they must voice their enthusiasm
(or
order up more fries) only in Hebrew.
The McDonald's chain has come under criticism for its Hebrew-only
policy in
the past month, since an ethnic Arab university student, Abeer Zinaty,
and
her McDonald's boss said she was fired for speaking Arabic.
Zinaty, 20, worked for more than two years at a McDonald's restaurant
in
Ramle, a partly Arab, partly Jewish town near Tel Aviv. She has told
Israeli newspapers that things were going well at work, and to make the
point she has shown reporters a company T-shirt, labeled "Excellent
Worker
2003," that she won from her superiors.
But in December, her manager fired her and "told me that ... above all
it
is because I speak too much Arabic" at work, Zinaty told the daily
Maariv
newspaper. Her regional supervisor, Hazem Natshe, also an Arab, said
speaking Arabic was one of several reasons she was let go.
When an Arab-Israeli civil rights group, Mossawa, complained,
McDonald's
Israeli human resources director, Talila Yodfat, explained in a letter
that
workers in the company's 80-plus restaurants in Israel must "speak
between
themselves and clients just in Hebrew. This is to prevent uncomfortable
situations for workers and clients, who mostly speak Hebrew."
The letter did not explain why it would be uncomfortable for
Hebrew-speakers to hear other languages in the company's restaurants...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/23/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Library Project Update: Hawaii
* MUSLIMS PUBLISH 'JESUS' AD IN CALIFORNIA (CAIR)
* CAIR-NY: NY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO SUPPORT YEE
* EEOC RULES IN FAVOR OF ILLINOIS MUSLIM WORKER
- Italian School Dismisses Employee for Headscarf (AFP)
* THE HIJAB: MY VEIL, MY CHOICE (Sagamore)
- UN Official Slams French Ban on Muslim Headscarf (AFP)
* IN: DIALOGUE SPARKS UNDERSTANDING (TRIB STAR)
* GREEK MUSLIMS FACE SCRUTINY AHEAD OF OLYMPICS (AP)
* EDITORIAL: DEATH IN GAZA (NY Times)
- Editorial: Mr. Sharon's Solution (Wash Post)
- Israelis Promulgate Murder, U.S. Looks On (Reuters)
* MANILA MUSLIMS REJECT ID CARD PLAN (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
Narrated Abu Qatadah - "We were sitting in the mosque when the (Prophet
Muhammad) came upon us carrying his (great-granddaughter). She was a
child
and he was carrying her on his shoulder. The (Prophet) led (the people)
in
prayer while she was on his shoulder. When he bowed (in prayer), he put
her
down and picked her up when he got up. He kept on doing so until he
finished his prayer."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 353
COMMENTS ON THE HADITH: "The purpose behind the action of the
Prophet...carrying (his great-granddaughter) in the (prayer) was to set
an
example (for those) who considered having daughters and carrying them
around as something bad or shameful. The Prophet...acted differently
from
them, and carried a girl on his neck in the prayer...Making something
clear
by example is much more effective than a mere precept."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 84
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7378 SPONSORSHIPS
Let's help the state of Hawaii: 2 sponsored, 51 more libraries to go!
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries. For only
$150, you may sponsor an 18-item package about Islam and Muslims, which
are
then distributed to the library of their choice. To sponsor a library
call,
1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit: ww.libraryproject.org.
-----
MUSLIMS PUBLISH 'JESUS' AD IN CALIFORNIA
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/23/04) - The Southern California office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today announced the publication
of
an advertisement in local newspapers highlighting Muslim respect for
Jesus.
TO VIEW THE AD, GO TO: http://www.cair-net.org/html/jesusad.html
The ad, headlined "More In Common Than You Think," features a
photograph of
the Old City of Jerusalem and text reading:
"''Behold (O Mary!)' The Angel said, 'God has chosen you, and purified
you,
and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you
good
news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Christ (Masih or
Messiah),
Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and in the hereafter, and one
of
those brought near to God.' (Holy Qur'an, 3:45)
"Like Christians, Muslims respect and revere Jesus. Islam teaches that
Jesus is one of the greatest of God's prophets and messengers to
humankind.
"Like Christians, every day, over 1.3 billion Muslims strive to live by
his
teachings of love, peace, and forgiveness. Those teachings, which have
become universal values, remind us that all of us, Christians, Muslims,
Jews, and all others have more in common than we think."
The ad is being published in five Orange County, Los Angeles-area and
Northern California community newspapers. It is an outgrowth of CAIR's
"Islam in America" advertising campaign.
SEE: http://www.americanmuslims.info
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-390-0334, E-Mail: socal@cair.com;
Alia
Aboul-Nasr, 714-776-1847, E-Mail: aliaa@cair.com
-----
NY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO SUPPORT CHAPLAIN YEE
(NEW YORK, NY, 3/23/04) - On Wednesday, March 24, New York City Council
Member John Liu will hold a press conference in support of Muslim Army
Chaplain James (Yousef) Yee. Council Member Liu, joined by James Yee's
family, fellow city council members, the Justice for James Yee East
Coast
Committee, and the New York Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-NY), will use the press conference as an opportunity to
raise awareness about Chaplain James Yee, and the larger issues of the
loss
of civil liberties post 9/11.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: City Hall Steps, New York, NY
CONTACT: CAIR-NY, Firdos Abdul-Munim, (212) 870-2002, 347-277-4061,
cair-ny@cair-ny.com
Yee, was arrested on suspicion of espionage on September 10, 2003,
after
working as a chaplain in Guantanamo Bay. He spent 76 days in solitary
confinement, and was later released on November 25, 2003. After the
postponement of a hearing by the US Army on five different occasions,
the
criminal charges against Yee were dropped on March 20, 2004.
Community members are encouraged to attend the news conference.
-----
EEOC RULES IN FAVOR OF ILLINOIS MUSLIM WORKER
Angelo Grant filed an EEOC charge in Chicago alleging that his
employer,
Asplundh Tree Expert Co., denied him permission to attend Islamic
Friday
Prayers. On March 18, 2004, the EEOC issued a Determination stating
that
there is "reasonable cause to believe that Respondent discriminated
against
the Charging Party because of his religion, Muslim, by denying him a
religious accommodation, in violation of Title VII."
Grant is represented by Kamran Memon, a Chicago Civil Rights Attorney,
who
can be reached at (312) 961-2354.
ALSO SEE:
ITALIAN SCHOOL DISMISSES MUSLIM EMPLOYEE FOR WEARING HEADSCARF
Agence France Presse, 3/23/04
ROME - A Moroccan woman has been dismissed from her job at a day care
center in northern Italy because school officials feared her headscarf
might scare the children, Italian newspapers reported Tuesday.
"No one can say how the children would have reacted to a veiled woman,"
Cristina Ferrari, an official at the day care center located in Samone,
near Turin, was quoted as saying in the daily newspapers La Stampa and
La
Repubblica. "They might have been scared and it was better not to run
that
risk."
The employee, Fatima Mouayche, 40, said she was upset and angered by
the
decision to dismiss her and was willing to take off her headscarf if
need be.
"I am willing to take it off if it's so important for them even though
there is no law banning women from wearing the headscarf in Italy,"
said
the divorced mother of two. "But they don't want a Muslim woman working
at
the day care center. The headscarf is just an excuse."
Ferrari said that religion had nothing to do with the decision to
dismiss
Mouayche.
Mouayche said that she had never encountered any criticism for wearing
the
headscarf since she settled in Italy eight years ago.
There are an estimated 800,000 Muslims in Italy.
-----
THE HIJAB: MY VEIL, MY CHOICE
Malak Chabkoun, Sagamore, 3/23/04
http://www.sagamore.iupui.edu/33_26/viewpoints/hijab.html
Summer is just around the corner, and that means it's time for the fun,
parties, beaches, and the questions. Every year, as summer nears, I get
into gear to answer a lot of, "Aren't you hot??" or, "How can you be
dressed like that when it's 90 degrees outside? I would never do it if
I
didn't have to!" or, "Man, you should take all those clothes off in
this
heat, you're in America now, you don't have to dress like that
anymore!"
Ever since I made the decision, yes, I chose this by my own will, to
wear
the Hijab, the Muslim women's veil and long dress, I've gotten a lot of
looks, remarks, and well-meant advice.
But, see, the thing is, I was born in Little Rock, Ark. I moved to
Indiana
when I was about two-years-old. The way I dress has nothing to do with
where I'm from and everything to do with what God has commanded the
Muslim
women with.
When I was getting ready to enter fifth grade, I begged and pleaded
with my
parents to wear the Hijab. They said I was too young. I said I was
ready to
do it. In the end, they relented, and it's been a decade now that I've
been
wearing the Hijab, and I haven't looked back.
In fact, rather than limiting me, the Hijab has given me freedom. It
has
allowed me to build myself as a woman and to focus on my inner-self
rather
than my outer appearance. Don't get me wrong, outer appearance matters
too,
but it doesn't matter one bit if there is nothing substantial inside. I
haven't been prevented from going to school and getting an education or
working because I am wearing the Hijab or because I am a Muslim
woman...
ALSO SEE:
UN OFFICIAL SLAMS FRENCH BAN ON MUSLIM HEADSCARF
Agence France Presse, 3/22/04
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=5898
GENEVA - A United Nations human rights official Monday criticised new
French legislation banning religious headscarves in schools, saying the
rule could foster discrimination against Muslims.
"The dominant perception ... is that behind the general ban on
religious
signs in state schools, it is Islam that is being targeted," said
Doudou
Diene, a special UN rapporteur on racism and xenophia.
The French parliament has passed a law to come into effect in September
prohibiting conspicuous religious symbols in the classroom, including
Islamic headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses.
A report by Diene on the situation of Muslims around the world was
submitted Monday to the UN Human Rights Commissioner.
"The stigmatisation of Islam, at least in public debate, contains ... a
serious risk of fostering and giving legitimacy to hatred of Islam and
discrimination against Muslims," he said.
He also claimed that the Muslim question was treated in other European
Union member states, which he did not identify, with more tolerance
than in
France, and recommended that defence of the secular principle in state
institutions - a jealously guarded principle of the French state -
should
be accompanied by strong support for cultural and religious diversity
and
measures against discrimination...
-----
IN: RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE SPARKS UNDERSTANDING
Kathy Hackleman, Daily Tribune Star, 3/21/04
http://www.tribstar.com/articles/2004/03/22/community/readers%20forum/let03.txt
I attend Unity Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Sixth and
Washington.
North and west of us is a Muslim mosque. For several year I have looked
on
as the mosque was being built and wanted to invite them to our church
as I
thought a good neighbor would do. That idea died when a person, whose
opinion I trusted, said, "They would not be caught dead coming to your
church." This last Sunday, as a part of a series we are having to
explore
sanctuary from various faith perspectives, we asked Dr. Hasan, a
Muslim, to
dialogue with us to help us understand Islam. He came with his wife.
Also
five young men who attend the mosque came as audience members.
Dr. Hasan explained that Islam, Christianity and Judaism come from the
same
history. We worship the same God. We believe we connect to God through
prayer. We believe we must help the poor. We believe it is wrong to
kill a
human being. We believe in helping our neighbor. Our form of prayer may
be
different. Our customs grow out of our culture and some are different.
On
some of our differences we agreed to disagree…
We will eradicate evil and bring peace to the world, not by
confrontation
and spreading hate, but by trying to understand each other and
radiating
love. And I have learned that opinions are just that. I hope people who
use
this forum to spread hate and divisiveness realize that is what they
are
doing...
-----
MUSLIMS FACE SCRUTINY AHEAD OF OLYMPICS
Derek Gatopoulos, Associated Press, 3/24/04
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/48-03232004-269417.html
ATHENS, Greece - Greek police have increased scrutiny of Muslim
immigrant
groups and makeshift mosques in Athens - a city with no official place
of
worship for Muslims - ahead of the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.
The surveillance, confirmed to The Associated Press by police sources,
was
intensified following the deadly train bombings in Madrid on March 11
and
seeks to gain insights into Greece's small and often insular
communities of
nonnative Muslims.
Greece has no record of Muslim extremist activity - as in other parts
of
Europe such as France or Britain - and many immigrants from the Middle
East
and elsewhere exist on the margins of Greek society in off-the-books
jobs
or as day laborers.
Greece has struggled with domestic terror, most notably from the
far-left
group November 17, which targeted U.S. and other Western officials. The
group was broken up and 15 of its members were jailed last year,
leaving
police to deal with a few minor homegrown militants.
Authorities have only a sketchy perception of the Muslim community.
Information is so sparse that even population figures for immigrants in
Greece are based on guesswork.
The flow of immigrants who try to slip into Greece never stops.
Thousands
of illegal migrants from Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe head
to
Greece each year, causing concern among those in charge of Olympic
security
- an effort that is costing more than $800 million and involves 50,000
police and troops...
-----
DEATH IN GAZA
New York Times, 3/23/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/opinion/23TUE2.html
The Israeli military's killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual
leader
of the militant Palestinian group Hamas, is one of those pivotal events
around which passions and hatreds coalesce. The Israeli government will
defend the killing, while Palestinians plot revenge. It's always so.
But
the Bush administration must resist the temptation to simply issue a
mild
rebuke and call for restraint - it needs to do more.
Hamas has never accepted peace with Israel, and while Sheik Yassin was
the
group's spiritual leader, Israel accused him of responsibility for
numerous
terrorist attacks. Still, it's hard to see how his martyrdom will make
Israel any safer. Hamas will now redouble its efforts to send human
torpedos into Israel. The Palestinian Authority will be even less
inclined
to confront terrorists in its midst and less able to coax Hamas into
observing a cease-fire. Moderate Arabs everywhere have been reacting
with
dismay and despair to Sheik Yassin's killing. The U.S. war on terrorism
may
also suffer as moderate Arab leaders feel compelled to distance
themselves
further from Washington.
One of Israel's most firmly held policies has always been that as a
small
Jewish state, it can never appear weak and must never shy away from
hitting
its enemies, no matter how politically inopportune this may be. Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon is perhaps the most inflexible Israeli advocate
of
the policy of an unflinching fist, but it has also been embraced by the
most dovish of Israeli leaders.
Ultimately, any argument that the assassination was "worth it" is
undermined by the fact that both sides will sink deeper into their
separate
passions. The hard, tragic truth is that the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict
is locked in a cycle of violence in which assassinations, suicide
bombings
and mutual demonization seem destined only to grow, feeding the sense
of
victimhood that is consuming both the Jewish state and any future
Palestinian state...
ALSO SEE:
MR. SHARON'S SOLUTION
Washington Post, 3/22/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16439-2004Mar22.html
ISRAEL'S ASSASSINATION of the founder and senior leader of Hamas, Sheik
Ahmed Yassin, is part of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's attempt to
radically
reshape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- an initiative that is
looking
as reckless as it is bold. Mr. Sharon's intention is to scrap a decade
of
the "peace process" aimed at a negotiated permanent settlement between
Israelis and Palestinians, and instead to impose a "long-term interim"
solution in which Israel would retreat behind a fortified border of its
own
choosing. That would involve an evacuation of Israelis from most or all
of
the Gaza Strip, and Mr. Sharon has recently faced objections that such
a
withdrawal could leave Hamas in charge, or at least allow the extremist
Islamic movement to boast that its suicide bombings had driven Israel
out.
With the killing of Sheik Yassin, an operation he supervised
personally,
Mr. Sharon probably hoped to neutralize these problems even while
eliminating one of Israel's most implacable enemies.
Though he was wheelchair-bound and nearly blind, Sheik Yassin rightly
could
be held responsible for a campaign of terrorism that has killed 377
Israelis and wounded more than 2,000 in the past 31/2 years alone. But
even
in the short term -- Mr. Sharon's usual focus -- the strike against him
was
risky. The storm of outrage among Palestinians yesterday will almost
certainly be followed by an all-out effort by Hamas, and possibly other
groups, to kill Israelis; history suggests that some suicide bombers
will
get through. Egypt and other Arab states may abandon efforts to build
up
Palestinian security forces and encourage a crackdown on terrorist
groups,
at least in the short term. Hamas may end up strengthening its position
in
Gaza, where Sheik Yassin now will be revered as a martyr...
---
ISRAELIS PROMULGATE EXTRAJUDICIAL MURDER AND THE U.S. LOOKS ON
Sherri Muzher, Reuters, 3/23/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/8252178.htm
(Sherri Muzher is a media analyst in Mason, Mich.)
As an American of Palestinian descent and Christian faith, I never
cared
much for the ultimate goal of Hamas: to establish a religious state in
Palestine.
But I find myself angered and baffled at Israel's decision to
assassinate
Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
What is even more baffling is the U.S. response, especially since its
close
ally, Ariel Sharon, personally commanded this extrajudicial killing.
National security adviser Condoleezza Rice said on NBC's Today that "it
is
very important that everyone step back now and try now to be calm in
the
region. There is always a possibility of a better day in the Middle
East,
and some of the things being talked about by the Israelis... might
provide
new opportunities."
So the good ideas will come from Israel, which just assassinated
Yassin? I
read that as implying that if Palestinians react, they will be held
responsible for any fallout. Unbelievable.
One thing is certain about the killing of the blind and quadriplegic
Yassin: A peace agreement that once seemed unlikely now seems
unreachable
in the near future. Sharon is not stupid; his government expects
retaliation. And the Israeli Defense Force will use that retaliation as
an
excuse to kill more Palestinians. It is a script that has played itself
out
for the last 31/2 years...
-----
MANILA MUSLIMS REJECT CONTROVERSIAL ID CARD PLAN
Geert De Clercq, Reuters, 3/23/04
MANILA - Muslims in the Philippine capital Manila on Tuesday rejected a
police plan to issue them with identity cards as part of an anti-terror
campaign.
Police said on Monday they had agreed with Muslim community leaders to
distribute the cards in Muslim areas in Manila, which has suffered a
series
of bombings attributed to Islamic militants.
"An identity card just for Muslims would be unfair," imam Alem Ali
Baulo of
Manila's Golden Mosque told Reuters.
"If the government wants an ID system, it should be for all Filipinos,
Muslim and Christian alike," he said.
Filipinos are not required to carry identity cards, although the issue
has
been hotly debated for years.
Islamic militants set off a series of bombs in Manila in December 2000.
The
southern Philippines is home to four rebel groups seeking a separate
Islamic state and is suspected of being a training ground for the
al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah militant group.
About 800,000 of Manila's 12 million people are Muslim. Most of them
live
in poor and crowded neighbourhoods that are a magnet for criminals and
Muslim rebels escaping conflict in the south.
Police said the proposed ID card system was modelled on an ID card
system
already in place at the Golden Mosque, which issues cards to residents
and
visitors in an effort to screen potential troublemakers. The mosque is
Manila's largest...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/24/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THANK PEOPLE
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
* CAIR-OHIO: CINCINNATI MUSLIMS HOST SHARE-A-MEAL FEAST
* CAIR-CAN: TORONTO FUNDRAISING DINNER 2004
- Canada Library Project Tops 125 Sponsors
* CAIR-LA: SCHWARZENEGGER TO VISIT ISRAEL (Sac Bee)
* WHO BEGAT H.R. 3077? (Press Action)
- Ask Your Senator to Defend Academic Freedom
* EDITORIAL: MILITARY INJUSTICE (NY Times)
- Smearing Captain Yee (Wash Post)
- Capt. Yee's Case (Miami Herald)
* ISLAM AWARENESS WEEK ENLIGHTENS THE HILLTOP (SMU Daily)
- Actors Struggle with Hollywood Stereotypes (AFP)
- Muslim Leader Reaches Out to All Faiths (AFP)
* HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR'S STORY MOVES LOCAL MUSLIM (Record)
* ISLAM, DEMOCRACY NOT INCOMPATIBLE (Deseret Morning News)
* BERLUSCONI ALLIES CALL FOR REFERENDUMS ON MOSQUES (AP)
* 14 `ENDURING BASES' SET IN IRAQ (Chicago Tribune)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THANK PEOPLE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who does not thank
people does not thank God."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 897
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
-----
CINCINNATI MUSLIMS HOST SHARE-A-MEAL FEAST
(CINCINNATI, OH, 3/24/2004) - On Saturday, March 27, the Cincinnati
office
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cincinnati) will
co-sponsor a share-a-meal event with the Over-the-Rhine community.
(CAIR-Cincinnati is a branch of CAIR-Ohio.)
A food tent will be set up next to Malik Islamic Center, a local mosque
that has been sharing meals with the neighborhood for the past two
years.
"Sharing food with neighbors of all faiths is a Muslim tradition that
helps
build bonds of friendship while helping those in need," said
CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub.
The share-a-meal event is sponsored by: CAIR-Cincinnati, the Islamic
Center
of Greater Cincinnati in West Chester, Malik Islamic Center, and
Ethicon
Endosurgery Inc. Ethicon Endosurgery will prepare and distribute gift
packages at the event.
WHERE: On 15th Street between Elm and Pleasant Streets. The tent will
be
set up next to the Malik Islamic Center at 1432 Elm Street.
WHEN: Saturday, March 27, 2004 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
CONTACT: Karen Dabdoub (513) 281-8200, (513) 604-4444, E-mail:
karen@cair-ohio.com or Brent Meyer (513) 276-1600. E-mail:
meyer_brent@hotmail.com
-----
CAIR-CAN TORONTO FUNDRAISING DINNER 2004
WHAT: The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN)
presents its second annual Toronto fundraising dinner, titled "Striving
for
Full Citizenship. Your Voice, Your Future." Attendees include Dr. Monia
Mazigh (wife of Maher Arar), Sheikh Abdalla Idris Ali, Dr. Munir El
Kassem,
Riad Saloojee LL.B. (Executive Director of CAIR-CAN), Dr. Sheema Khan
(Chair of CAIR-CAN). A multimedia presentation will also be shown.
WHEN: Saturday, March 27, 2004
WHERE: Toronto Congress Centre
Leonard Cohen Hall
650 Dixon Rd (near Pearson Airport)
Doors Open 5:45 PM
For more information, call 416.409.8451 or email toronto@caircan.ca
ALSO SEE:
NATIONAL LIBRARY PROJECT TOPS 125 SPONSORSHIPS
13-item package distributed coast-to-coast across Canada
(Ottawa, Canada 23/3/2004) Alhamdulillah (To God belongs all
praise),
CAIR-CAN and Soundvision Canada's joint national library project,
launched
in August 2003, has now topped 125 sponsorships. Aside from a few
Islamic
centres, the major recipients of the program have been public libraries
across Canada.
(A complete list of public libraries sponsored, including the city and
province, are reproduced at the end of this alert and at:
http://www.caircan.ca/libraries_list.php)
"The aim of the national library project is to provide a diversity of
balanced and accurate materials about Islam to every Canadian public
library," stated CAIR-CAN Director of Operations Naeem Saloojee.
"We are very pleased that libraries coast-to-coast across Canada have
been
sponsored and we hope that this effort will contribute to greater
literacy
about Islam and Canadian Muslims," he added.
In a few cases, libraries have indicated that they have a three to six
month waiting period before materials are displayed. CAIR-CAN is
suggesting
that donors call on their library to ensure that the materials are
displayed as quickly as possible.
For more details on the library project, please visit:
http://www.caircan.ca/lib_proj.php
-----
SCHWARZENEGGER TO VISIT ISRAEL IN MAY
Margaret Talev, Sacramento Bee, 3/23/04
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/8629186p-9557384c.html
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to carry out a visit to Jerusalem in
May,
his first overseas mission as governor, despite threats of retaliation
against Israelis and Americans for the Israeli government's
assassination
this week of the founder of Islamic militant group Hamas.
The governor committed months ago to serve as guest speaker at a May 2
groundbreaking for the Center for Human Dignity and Museum of Tolerance
in
Jerusalem.
The $200 million project is being directed by the Los Angeles-based
Simon
Wiesenthal Center, an organization Schwarzenegger has long supported,
which
describes its mission as preserving the memory of the Holocaust.
Schwarzenegger is expected to meet with Israeli political leaders and
various high tech and agriculture executives with investments in
California, although his office has not released any of those details.
No meetings had been set with Palestinian officials.
A spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said if
Schwarzenegger is serious about tolerance, he should meet with
Palestinians
as well. Sabiha Khan said the governor should "drop by the refugee
camps in
Gaza and the West Bank and see the present-day tragedy of the
Palestinian
people committed by the Israeli occupation…"
-----
SONS OF MALKOVICHES: WHO BEGAT H.R. 3077?
Richard (The Ox) Oxman, Press Action, 3/24/04
http://www.pressaction.com/pablog/archives/001546.html
"I want to shoot Robert Fisk" - John Malkovich, in May, 2002, telling
the
Cambridge Union that the reporter of the London Independent, as an
anti-semite, doesn't deserve to live. (1)
To question or not to question, is that, unquestionably, the question,
or what?
A federal tribunal to investigate and monitor criticism on American
college
campuses of... Israel? A bill was passed by the House in support of
creating such a tribunal? On September 17, 2003 the House Subcommittee
on
Select Education approved H.R. 3077 unanimously? Slightly over a month
later, the International Studies in Higher Education Act was passed by
the
full House of Representatives? How did your representative vote? You
don't
know?
No grassroots organizations are supporting this call for a federal
tribunal? None? The ADL (Anti-Defamation League), B'nai B'rith, the
American Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Committee, pro-Israel
publicist William Kristol's neo-conservative front Empower America,
Rupert
Murdoch's Weekly Standard, and the U.S.-India Political Action
Committee
are pushing for passage?
A seven-member advisory board would have the power to recommend cutting
federal funding for institutions of higher education that are deemed to
be
harboring academic critics of Israel? Two would come from the Senate?
Two
from the House, which has zero credibility since passing the
abomination?
Three from the back pockets of the Secretary of Education? You don't
know
who that is? Two of the Secretary of Education's candidates would have
to
be from U.S. federal security agencies? Does anyone remember that "blue
ribbon" panel provided by the Warren Commission? How about the one put
together to put the Fat Mouth on Oliver North? Did I draw faulty
analogies
here? What former panels does this proposed Son of Patriot Act remind
you
of? Is the present 9-11 abortion-of-a-panel a better one to cite?...
ALSO SEE:
ACTION ALERT: ASK YOUR SENATOR TO DEFEND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Urge HELP Committee to Reject Oversight Board
CAIR is urging American Muslims and other people who value academic
freedom
to contact their senators, particularly members of the Senate Committee
on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, to express opposition to the
creation of an International Studies Advisory Board that could be part
of
the Senate counterpart to H.R. 3077, the Education Reauthorization Act
now
being drafted by the HELP Committee.
Section 633 of the Education Reauthorization Act calls for the creation
of
an advisory board consisting of at least two appointees that represent
national security agencies overseeing curricula, course materials and
the
recruitment of faculty that accept federal government money for
international studies. While Asian, African, European, and Latin
American
area studies programs will be affected, Middle Eastern studies programs
are
the real target of the advisory board.
The advisory board could serve to stifle academic freedom by
suppressing
any views that are not viewed as supportive of Israel and in line with
Muslim-bashers like Daniel Pipes, who has been actively pushing for the
oversight board.
Pipes faced a storm of criticism when he launched Campus Watch, a web
site
that included "dossiers" on professors and academic institutions
thought to
be too critical of Israel or too sympathetic to Islam and Muslims.
In a January 13th Washington Post article, Pipes claimed "Middle East
studies have not served us well" and that the board will serve to
"....supervise the distribution of government funds…..of what he
considers
to be the radical Middle East studies lobby centered in universities
such
as Columbia, Georgetown and the University of Chicago."
H.R. 3077 passed the House floor with little notice of academic freedom
concerns.
"At a time when Congress is pushing for democracy and academic freedom
in
the Middle East, it is critical that we uphold these values in our own
universities," said CAIR Governmental Affairs Coordinator Hasan
Mansori.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE and RESPECTFUL.)
1) Contact the Chairman of the HELP Committee today and ask that
section
633, which creates the advisory board, be removed from H.R. 3077 in the
Senate bill. Send copies of correspondence to the other members of the
committee.
CONTACT:
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Chairman
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6300
TEL: (202) 224-5375, Majority Staff: (202) 224-6770, Minority Staff:
(202)
224-0767 FAX: (202) 228-5044
E-MAIL: greggstaff@labor.senate.gov
2) Contact the committee member who represents your state and ask that
section 633 be removed from H.R. 3077 in the Senate bill. Send copies
of
correspondence to the other members of the committee.
LIST OF OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
http://health.senate.gov/committee_members.html
Ranking Member: Edward Kennedy (MA)
202-224-4543 Phone
202-224-2417 Fax
Republicans:
Bill Frist (TN)
202-224-3344 Phone
202-228-1264 Fax
Mike Enzi (WY)
202-224-3424 Phone
202-228-0359 Fax
Lamar Alexander (TN)
202-224-4944 Phone
202-228-3398 Fax
Christopher Bond (MO)
202-224-5721 Phone
202-224-8149 Fax
Mike DeWine (OH)
202-224-2315 Phone
202-224-6519 Fax
Pat Roberts (KS)
202-224-4774 Phone
202-224-3514 Fax
Jeff Sessions (AL)
202-224-4124 Phone
202-224-3149 Fax
John Ensign (NV)
202-224-6244 Phone
202-228-2193 Fax
Lindsey Graham (SC)
202-224-5972 Phone
202-224-1189 Fax
John Warner (VA)
202-224-2023 Phone
202-224-6295 Fax
Democrats:
Christopher Dodd (CT)
202-224-2823 Phone
202-224-1083 Fax
Tom Harkin (IA)
202-224-3254 Phone
202-224-9369 Fax
Barbara Mikulski (MD)
202-224-4654 Phone
202-224-8858 Fax
Patty Murray (WA)
202-224-2621 Phone
202-224-0238 Fax
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
202-224-5521 Phone
202-224-2852 Fax
Jack Reed (RI)
202-224-4642 Phone
202-224-4680 Fax
John Edwards (NC)
202-224-3154 Phone
202-228-1374 Fax
Hillary Clinton (NY)
202-224-4451 Phone
202-228-0282 Fax
Independent: James Jeffords (VT)
202-224-5141 Phone
202-228-0776 Fax
Contact Information for the committee:
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6300
(202) 224-5375 - voice
(202) 228-5044 - Fax
Majority Staff #: (202) 224-6770
Minority Staff #: (202) 224-0767
-----
MILITARY INJUSTICE
New York Times, 3/24/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/24/opinion/24WED1.html
More than six months after Capt. James Yee, the former Muslim chaplain
at
Guantánamo, was arrested on suspicion of espionage, the military has
dropped the charges. Military officials insist that the prosecution was
halted only to keep sensitive information from becoming public. What
they
really are trying to hide from view, it seems clear, is not national
security secrets, but the incompetence and mean-spiritedness of their
prosecution.
Captain Yee was arrested last September after inspectors found what
they
claimed were suspicious, perhaps classified, papers in his luggage.
Captain
Yee spent 76 days in a naval brig, much of the time in leg irons, and
prosecutors suggested that they might seek the death penalty. As the
investigation proceeded, it became evident just how weak the
accusations
were. The military downgraded the charges to mishandling classified
data.
But it added charges that Captain Yee had engaged in an extramarital
affair
and had kept pornography on his government computer.
At a hearing in December, the government revealed that it had never
bothered to make a formal determination that the documents Captain Yee
was
charged with carrying were actually classified. The hearing was
adjourned
so prosecutors could make this basic determination. But before it was,
the
government made public the more salacious charges. As Captain Yee's
wife
and 4-year-old daughter looked on, a fellow officer testified under a
grant
of immunity about having an affair with him.
In dropping the prosecution last week, the military refused to clear
Captain Yee, contending that it had acted only because of "national
security concerns that would arise from the release of the evidence."
But
there is no reason to believe this is true. Lawyers on both sides had
security clearances, and sensitive evidence, if any existed, could have
been kept confidential. In a final unpleasant touch, rather than
letting go
of the accusations of possessing pornography and having an affair, the
military formally reprimanded Captain Yee this week, based on those
allegations. These are matters the military rarely investigates. The
reprimand appears to be the military's feeble attempt to make Captain
Yee
look bad...
ALSO SEE:
SMEARING CAPTAIN YEE
Washington Post, 3/24/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19206-2004Mar23.html
The military's prosecution of Army Capt. James Yee came to an
ignominious
end last week when authorities dropped criminal charges of mishandling
classified information, adultery and downloading pornography on a
government computer. These charges were already the dregs of what was
billed last September as a major spy scandal at the detention facility
at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where Mr. Yee served as a Muslim chaplain to
detainees. At the time, officials let it be known that the Chinese
American
convert to Islam was under suspicion of espionage, sedition, aiding the
enemy and other dire offenses.
As the case fell apart, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller and his team could
not
muster a touch of grace or forthrightly admit error. The military
announced
on Friday evening that it was dropping charges, thus guaranteeing that
Mr.
Yee's exoneration -- and its own embarrassment -- would not get much
news
play. And the announcement continued to insinuate that the prosecution
had
been somehow justified. The military dropped the charges of mishandling
classified information because of "national security concerns that
would
arise from the release of the evidence," the news release stated. And
the
statement went out of its way to note that the military had rejected
Mr.
Yee's offer to submit to a debriefing, because "relevant law
enforcement
agencies could not support Yee's request for immunity" from any further
prosecution. The implication is that, notwithstanding the dropping of
all
charges, Mr. Yee had done something warranting prosecution with
terribly
sensitive materials.
Perhaps this is the case. Having not seen the material in question, we
do
not know. But Mr. Yee's lawyer, Eugene Fidell, denies any suggestion
that
his client mishandled classified material; indeed, he questions whether
the
material was classified at all. And he said in an interview Monday that
prosecutors had refused to tell him whether a classification report on
the
materials had ever been completed, let alone give him a copy...
---
CAPT. YEE'S CASE
Miami Herald, 3/24/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/8261082.htm
The U.S. Army is being disingenuous in dismissing criminal charges
against
Capt. James Yee, the Muslim chaplain who ministered to detainees at the
Guantanamo Bay prison. No national-security issues exist today that
didn't
exist when prosecutors charged Capt. Yee with mishandling classified
information.
Yet the Army locked him up for 76 days in a maximum-security brig and
could
have pursued a 13-year sentence against him. But this week, Capt. Yee
got
an administrative slap on the wrist -- a written reprimand for adultery
and
downloading pornography.
Still, the Army implies that Capt. Yee was guilty of the charges it
dropped. That decision came about because revealing evidence during a
court-martial proceeding ''would have compromised national security,''
according to SouthCom spokesman Lt. Col. Bill Costello.
How ironic. Prosecutors themselves mistakenly sent classified documents
to
Capt. Yee's lawyers. By the Army's logic, no accused spy could ever be
court-martialed without risking a compromise of national security.
If the Army was so sure of Capt. Yee's guilt, then it should have
pursued
the criminal charges or accepted his offer to undergo a full debriefing
in
exchange for immunity. Capt. Yee has already been punished, personally
and
professionally. The Army shouldn't further smear his reputation.
-----
ISLAM AWARENESS WEEK ENLIGHTENS THE HILLTOP
Nate Regan, Southern Methodist University Daily, 3/24/04
http://www.smudailycampus.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/03/24/40611d45d40c8
Through Friday, the SMU Muslim Students' Association will be sponsoring
"Islam Awareness Week 2004," a time to introduce the Hilltop community
to
the values, beliefs and lifestyle of this growing religion.
"Islam Awareness Week takes place at various schools across the
country,"
senior Yasmeen Tadia said.
Drawing attention to the diversity of Islam will show, "that Islam is
prominent not only in the Middle East, but it is growing in America as
well," sophomore Mahnaz Rahman said.
America alone is home to over six million Muslims, and this number is
growing.
Islam continues to draw followers at an estimated rate of 135,000
converts
per year.
"[Islam] is the fastest growing religion in the world," Tadia said,
"and we
hope to increase awareness about the religion."
According to the Islam Guide Web site (www.islam-guide.com), the
Islamic
religion is founded upon five pillars - the testimony of faith, prayer,
giving zakat (support of the needy), fasting during the month of
Ramadan
and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
In addition to bringing an understanding of the religion to the SMU
campus,
the Muslim Students' Association also sees this week as an opportunity
to
break down preconceived notions about Islam...
ALSO SEE:
SOUTH ASIAN ACTORS STRUGGLE WITH HOLLYWOOD STEREOTYPES
Giles Hewitt, Agence France Presse, 3/24/04
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_636981,001600060001.htm
Making it as a serious actor in Hollywood has always been the longest
of
career long shots. And if you are of Indian or Pakistani origin,
chances
are you may never even have glimpsed the target.
Coupled with the struggle to break free of stereotyped immigrant
casting --
the cab driver, the convenience store clerk -- South Asian actors in
the
United States have often had to contend with the disapproval of their
own
communities, which frown on risky careers in the arts.
"When I started auditioning 10 years ago, you were looking at a small
part
as a pizza delivery guy with a line or two, because producers wanted
some
ethnic variety in the casting," said Iqbal Theba, 40, a Karachi,
Pakistan-born actor who came here as a student in 1981.
In recent years, however, the crossover commercial success of films
like
"Bend It Like Beckham" and "Monsoon Wedding" have opened more doors to
the
small but increasingly visible number of South Asians trying to make a
living in the US television and film industries.
The British-born Indian star of "Bend It Like Beckham," Parminder
Nagra, is
now a leading cast member of the high-profile medical drama "ER" and
the
NBC network just wrapped up casting on "Nevermind Nirvana" -- the first
mainstream US sitcom centered around an Indian family...
---
MUSLIM LEADER REACHES OUT TO ALL FAITHS
Paula Spreitzer, Kansas City Star, 3/24/04
http://www.kansascity.com/
El-Sherif, 48, is a leader in the Muslim community and encourages
interfaith dialogue. He speaks at many forums, organized the first
interfaith conference in Kansas City, co-organized the International
Conference of Parliamentarians that 200 countries attended in Belgium
and
co-organized a conference in Kansas City on children's rights.
The Leawood resident's humanitarian efforts include helping refugees
who
have resettled in the United States, as well as sending medical relief
abroad as founder and president of Shifa International and through
Heart to
Heart International. He has traveled to Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, the West
Bank,
Gaza, Bosnia and Afghanistan. He hopes to take medicine to Iraqis and
Palestinians by the end of the year.
He also has opened his home to foreign visitors, including Israeli
officials interested in a dialogue for peace. In addition, he is
president
of his own pharmaceutical research and development firm, Beta Chem Inc.
"I cannot help but get involved," El-Sherif said of his outreach. His
experience as a refugee is one reason for his involvement. Born in
Sinai, a
part of northeastern Egypt, he fled to Cairo with his family during the
War
of 1967 when he was 11 years old...
-----
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR'S STORY MOVES LOCAL MUSLIM WOMAN
Mirko Petricevic, Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 3/24/04
http://www.therecord.com/
A spate of anti-Jewish vandalism in and around Toronto during the past
week
brought back a torrent of bleak memories for Mania Kay.
"It frightens me," Kay said of the incidents in which vandals toppled
tombstones in a Jewish graveyard, smashed windows of a synagogue and
spray-painted swastikas on homes and construction hoarding.
Kay, of Kitchener, is a Jewish woman who emerged from the Nazi
extermination camps as a louse-infested and emaciated shell of a young
woman.
"I survived hell on Earth."
Kay shared her memories with more than 60 people in Kitchener City
Hall's
rotunda yesterday. She spoke during a day-long program to commemorate
the
United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which
happened on Sunday...
When Kay finished her talk, Ghada Hamouda, a Muslim woman wearing a
head
scarf, walked up to her and asked for the microphone.
Hamouda, of Waterloo, condemned the recent rash of anti-Semitic
vandalism
in Toronto.
"It hurts us all," Hamouda said.
In an interview after the program, Hamouda said that she was the target
of
racial slurs and threatening telephone calls after the terrorists
attacks
in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.
Racism "won't affect Jews only," she said. "It will affect me
personally as
a Muslim woman. This is not what Canada is about."
Hamouda's support for Kay was the kind of encounter that's dear to
Gehan
Sabry's heart.
-----
ISLAM, DEMOCRACY NOT INCOMPATIBLE
Abdullahi A. Gallab, Deseret Morning News, 3/24/04
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595051051,00.html
Is Islam compatible with democracy? The short answer is "yes." But
since
nobody is interested in the short answer, I will go for the long one.
The
tragic events of Sept. 11 made Islam a globally debated topic. Muslims
from
all ranks and different parts of the world condemned the attacks.
Nevertheless, many scholars, politicians, journalists and evangelists
in
the United States have been building on a "clash of civilizations"
ideology. Samuel Huntington asserts, for instance, that "Western ideas
of
individualism, liberalism, constitutionalism, human rights, equality,
liberty, the rule of law, democracy and the separation of church and
state
have little resonance" in Islamic culture. The Rev. Franklin Graham has
condemned the entire faith of Islam as "wicked, violent and not the
same as
God." For such people, no positive relation could ever be found between
Islam and democracy or civilization. Islam stands as separate culture.
In focusing on the compatibility between Islam and democracy, we first
need
to define what Islam is. The word itself signifies the believer's "move
toward God," a feeling of being promoted to a higher existence. But
Islam
also has another meaning. The Quran commands Muslims to "Say: we
believe in
Allah, and the revelation given to us, and Abraham, Ismail, Isaac,
Jacob,
and the tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus. submit to Allah."
(2:136)...
-----
BERLUSCONI ALLIES CALL FOR REFERENDUMS ON MOSQUE BUILDING
Associated Press, 3/24/04
ROME - Allies of Premier Silvio Berlusconi are pushing for a law that
would
require referendums on requests to build mosques in Italy, contending
that
Islamic culture is "historically antithetical" to Italian culture.
The Northern League, one of the parties in Berlusconi's conservative
government coalition, unveiled the legislation being proposed in the
Chamber of Deputies at a news conference in Rome Wednesday.
"The Madrid attacks show how dangerous is Islamic terrorism, which we
have
to deal with in our house, too," said the League's Chamber No. 2 whip
Federico Bricolo, referring to the March 11 train bombings in which
Islamic
extremists are the main suspects.
Mosques in Italy "aren't simple places of prayers" but sometimes serve
as
"centers of recruitment for terrorists and for propagation of hatred
for
the West," said Bricolo, one of the proposed law's authors, citing
Italian
anti-terrorism investigators' conclusions that Italy has become a major
center for recruiting potential Islamic terrorists.
Italy is predominantly Roman Catholic, but increasing numbers of
immigrants
from Africa, the Middle East and Asia have brought their Muslim faith
to
their neighborhoods, with mosques opening up in such makeshift
locations as
garages, many of them in the same northern provinces where the Northern
League, with its anti-immigrant plank, has its power base.
The presence of "foreign workers on our territory has opened a debate
on
how to update, or, better, to regulate the presence of communities with
cultures historically antithetical to ours," the text of the proposed
law
says...
-----
14 `ENDURING BASES' SET IN IRAQ
Christine Spolar, Chicago Tribune, 3/23/04
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/chitribts/20040323/ts_chicagotrib/14enduringbasessetiniraq&cid=2027&ncid=1473
Last year, as troops poured over the Kuwait border to invade Iraq (news
-
web sites), the U.S. military set up at least 120 forward operating
bases.
Then came hundreds of expeditionary and temporary bases that were to
last
between six months and a year for tactical operations while providing
soldiers with such comforts as e-mail and Internet access.
Now U.S. engineers are focusing on constructing 14 "enduring bases,"
long-term encampments for the thousands of American troops expected to
serve in Iraq for at least two years. The bases also would be key
outposts
for Bush administration policy advisers.
As the U.S. scales back its military presence in Saudi Arabia, Iraq
provides an option for an administration eager to maintain a robust
military presence in the Middle East and intent on a muscular approach
to
seeding democracy in the region. The number of U.S. military personnel
in
Iraq, between 105,000 and 110,000, is expected to remain unchanged
through
2006, according to military planners.
"Is this a swap for the Saudi bases?" asked Army Brig. Gen. Robert
Pollman,
chief engineer for base construction in Iraq. "I don't know. present
operation, not in terms of America's global strategic base. But this
makes
sense. It makes a lot of logical sense."
Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy chief of operations for the coalition
in
Iraq, said the military engineers are trying to prepare for any
eventuality...
ALSO SEE:
EVANGELICAL GROUP SPREADS GOSPEL IN IRAQ
Mae Gentry, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/24/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/atlanta_world/0304/24mission.html
An evangelical Christian ministry in Duluth is on a mission to seek
converts among Muslims in Iraq.
The nonprofit Equip plans to train 1 million Christian ministers and
lay
leaders outside the United States by 2008.
Group President John D. Hull said his recent trip to Iraq, where
Muslims
make up 90 percent of the 26 million population, was part of that
"Million
Leaders Mandate."
"This is an emerging church. Everything there is in its infancy," Hull,
45,
said of the post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, whose new leaders recently
approved a
constitution that guarantees freedom of religion.
Equip's mission is part of a growing evangelical movement of U.S.-based
groups worldwide, particularly in the Muslim world. Despite the risk of
violence, missionaries are flooding what they call "the 10/40 window,"
nations between the 10th- and 40th-degree latitude north, which spans
North
Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Hull said his group --- four Americans and eight Egyptians --- was
invited
to Iraq by Iraqi Christian ministers who knew of Equip's partnership
with
Kasr El-Dobarah Evangelical Church in Cairo, Egypt.
They met with a dozen or so Iraqi pastors in Baghdad and 144 in the
northern town of Irbil. The pastors were members of various
denominations,
including the Southern Baptist, Free Methodist, Evangelical
Presbyterian
and Assyrian Evangelical churches and the Christian and Missionary
Alliance, Hull said...
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/25/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SPEND RIGHTEOUSLY, TEACH WISDOM
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Summer Internship Program
* CAIR-NY: INTERFAITH LEADERS REFUTE REP. KING’S REMARKS
* CAIR-FL TO HOST ANNUAL BANQUET
- Town Hall Meeting On Post 9/11 Media
* CAIR-NOCAL: WORKSHOP ON ISLAM, MEDIA AND THE LAW
* BEAUTY OF ISLAM LIES IN SUBMISSION TO ALLAH (Oregonian)
- TX: Muslims Value Their Traditions (El Paso Times)
- MI: Groups Share Faiths at Prayer Breakfast (Free Press)
* EXPLORING THIS 'UNHOLY MESS' (Chicago Tribune)
* OH: SETBACK IN DEPORTATION CASE (Plain Dealer)
* FL: FMR. CAPTIVE DESCRIBES OTHER SIDE OF TALIBAN (Sun-Sentinel)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SPEND RIGHTEOUSLY AND TEACH WISDOM
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “There are (two kinds)
of
people worth envying: Someone whom God has made rich and who spends his
money righteously; and someone whom God has given wisdom and who acts
according to it and teaches it to others.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadith 255
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
CAIR is seeking applicants for its summer internship program in
Washington,
D.C. Applicants should be 18-years-old or older and college students
who
have legal status in the U.S.
CAIR's internship program provides first-hand experience and training
in
areas such as community outreach, chapter development, governmental
relations, lobbying, public and media relations, legal and civil
rights,
research and leadership. Interns will work with skilled and dedicated
mentors to gain valuable insight on CAIR's work. All interns receive a
monthly stipend.
The application deadline is April 30, 2004. Interested and qualified
applicants should call 202-488-8787 or email internship@cair-net.org to
receive an application form.
-----
CAIR-NY: INTERFAITH LEADERS REFUTE REP. KING’S ISLAMOPHOBIC REMARKS
(LONG ISLAND, NY, 3/25/04)- On Thursday, March 25, 2004, Long Island
interfaith leaders held a news conference to refute Islamophobic
accusations made recently by Rep. Peter King (R-NY).
King claimed in a number of media interviews that “85 percent” of
America’s
mosques are controlled by “extremists” and that Muslims have done
nothing
to aid law enforcement authorities in the war on terror. He also
referred
to Muslim leaders as an “enemy living amongst us.”
Interfaith leaders at the press conference described King’s claims as
the
dehumanization of an entire community of Americans and called for
better
interfaith understanding and dialogue. They also urged elected
officials to
join their interfaith coalition against King’s Islamophobic remarks.
In its statement, the New York chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-NY) demanded that King turn over evidence to support
his
allegations and questioned why he had refused several requests to meet
with
the members of the community.
“Mr. King is clearly trying to sell a book and has decided these
statements
will give much needed attention this endeavor,” said Firdaus
Abdul-Munim,
civil rights coordinator for CAIR-NY. “We, the Muslim community of New
York, are extremely disappointed in this behavior by one of our elected
officials and question the veracity of Mr. King’s allegations.”
Media Contact: Ghazi Khankan, (516) 729-8754 or (516) 335-6611(pager).
-----
CAIR-FL TO HOST ANNUAL BANQUET
(FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, 3/25/04)- On Saturday, April 3, the Florida
office of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will host its south
Florida annual banquet, titled “A Defining Moment and a Night of
Heroes."
Speakers include: Dr. Abdul Hakim Jackson, Professor of Islamic
Studies,
University of Michigan; Nihad Awad, founder and executive director of
CAIR,
and Kevin James, a NY City firefighter who participated in the 9-11
rescue
efforts and who was featured in the PBS documentary, "Muhammad-Legacy
of a
Prophet."
WHEN: Saturday, April 3, 2004 @ 6:00 PM
WHERE: Wyndham, Ft. Lauderdale Airport; 1870 Griffin Road; Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida
Tickets: $30 person or $250 for a table of 10.
Seats are limited. Orders can be placed via web:
http://www.cair-florida.org/banquet or via phone: 954-916-5661.
Pre-registration is required of all attendees.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL PARTICIPATES IN TOWN HALL MEETING ON AMERICA AFTER 9-11
WHAT: This is second in a series created by the Institute of Government
in
2003 to explore issues in a non-partisan manner, regarding civil
liberties
and America’s response after September 11, 2001. In this forum, access
to
information through the media and its role in civil liberties’ issues,
in
conjunction with protecting the safety of Americans, will be discussed
by
an exciting group of panelists who will take questions from the
audience. The evening will be fast-paced, informative and enlightening
exchange on today’s issues at forefront of public concern.
Heather Murphy, currently serving as Press Secretary to Mayor John
Peyton
and adjunct professor at UNF, will moderate the panel. She formerly
was a
WJXT-TV news reporter.
Joining her are the following representatives: Robert Cromwell, Special
Agent in Charge, Jacksonville FBI Office; Paul Perez, U.S. State
Attorney,
Middle District of Florida; Marcia Ladendorff, Associate Director,
Honors
Program, UNF and former anchor for CNN and WTLV-TV; Charles Griggs,
Columnist and Commentator, Jacksonville Free Press and Jacksonville
Exchange Week in Review on WJCT-TV and WCJT-90 FM; Staci Spanos,
Reporter,
WJXT-TV; Ken Hurley, President, American Civil Liberties Union, Greater
Jacksonville; Parvez Ahmed, Chair, Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
Florida.
WHERE: University Center Ballroom, University Center, 12000 Alumni
Drive.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 7, 2004; 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
For more information, call Laura D’Alisera, Associate Director,
Institute
of Government, UNF, at (904) 620-1086.
-----
CAIR-NOCAL: WORKSHOP ON ISLAM, MEDIA AND THE LAW
WHAT: From Rev. Jerry Falwell to Ann Coulter, anti-Islamic rhetoric in
elite neoconservative political and media circles is on the rise. As
our
nation grieved from the 9/11 attacks, some people in the highest levels
of
media and politics took advantage of the opportunity to defame Islam
and
further their special interest agendas.
Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR’s director of legal affairs, will discuss how to
respond to attacks on Islam and Muslims in the media and political
circles.
This workshop will cover a history of high profile Islamophobic
comments
since 9/11, a workshop on letter-writing campaigns and community
mobilization and legal actions which can be taken to punish false
statements about Islam and Muslims in America.
WHEN: Saturday, April 3, 2004 from 10 am to 2 pm, lunch included
WHERE: South Bay Islamic Association (SBIA), 325 N. 3rd Street, San
Jose
For more information about the event, Contact the CAIR office at
408-986-9874.
-----
BEAUTY OF ISLAM LIES IN SUBMISSION TO WILL OF ALLAH
Shagufta Hasan, Oregonian, 3/25/04
Http://Www.Oregonlive.Com/Metrowest/Oregonian/Beaverton/Index.Ssf?/Base/Metro_West_News/107961500198050.Xml
How many of us wonder: What is the purpose of life?
Are we created to go through the motions of mundane activities such as
eating, drinking, sleeping and so on, or is there more meaning to this
God-given gift of life?
The creator and the mystery of creation are not so hard to
understand...
If one looks around and closely examines the work of the creation, it
is
precise, powerful and beautiful beyond description and imagination. One
can
recognize the creator as it all attests to the oneness of the creator.
If
we look at the human body, it is amazing how the heart, kidney and
brain
are complex to understand but perform in an amazing, meticulous,
apparently
simple fashion. Think about the eye. It focuses, develops and prints
pictures in natural colors and the brain interprets them in seconds.
Islam means to attain peace through submission to the will of God and
that
is the whole purpose of creation.
By choosing to worship and obey Allah (God) we pass the test of life
and
get His pleasure and rewards.
Most Americans are ignorant about Islam, and Muslims in this country
have
failed to communicate who we are and what our beliefs are. What our
strengths are and what treasures we can offer to our communities in
America. Islam is a way of life and the beauty is that it addresses
each
and every phase of life and gives clear guidelines for day-to-day
life...
(Dr. Shagufta Hasan, M.D., is a member of the executive board of the
Muslim
Educational Trust.)
ALSO SEE:
EL PASOANS VALUE THEIR ISLAMIC TRADITIONS, ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS
Leonard Martinez, El Paso Times, 3/5/04
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/living/20040305-89425.shtml
Shelly Hernandez is just like any other parent at Putnam Elementary
School.
She helps raise money for the PTA, talks to other parents about movies
and
asks students which teachers give the most homework.
What sets Hernandez apart from the other parents is her religion and
the
clothing she wears -- a hijab (head scarf) -- which easily identifies
her
as a Muslim.
"I have heard so many comments; they see us around town but have no
idea
what we believe," Hernandez said. "They've come up to me and said, 'I'm
very ignorant about your religion.' It is important -- especially those
identifiable as Muslim -- for us to show that we're just regular
people."
While the numbers aren't large -- about 3,000 -- Muslims are very much
involved in the El Paso-Las Cruces area. They are part of the community
in
every way, including being PTA members and teaching gymnastics.
"People think we're off on a different planet," said Yusef Shere,
president
of the Islamic Center of El Paso.
That's why Hernandez is so involved in her child's school...
---
GROUPS SHARE FAITHS AT PRAYER BREAKFAST
Zlati Meyer, Detroit Free Press, 3/25/04
http://www.freep.com/news/cfp/1/lpray25_20040325.htm
Half a world away from the quiet elegance of Burton Manor, where
hundreds
of people gathered for the 30th annual Livonia Community Prayer
Breakfast
last Thursday, three Americans and eight Iraqis had been killed in the
latest attack in Iraq.
But one of the issues that prompted that war in former Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein's backyard was the topic of the morning's presentation –
the
relationship among the three faiths that descend from the patriarch
Abraham-- Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
Over the quiet cacophony of silverware scooping up Lyonnaise potatoes,
bacon and quiche, Bruce Feiler, an NPR commentator and the author of
"Abraham" and "Walking the Bible," highlighted the importance of
interfaith
dialogue and reminded all those in the cavernous room -- from
white-haired
volunteers to beefy firefighters, city officials to grade-schoolers --
that
we are all brothers, the descendants of the same biblical
protagonist...
He pointed to the well-known story of Abraham about to slay his son, as
God
commanded him. All three faiths, Feiler said, retell that tale during
their
respective holy weeks -- and all three have claimed Abraham as their
own.
But the Bible itself, he pointed out, relates that Isaac and Ishmael
would
oppose each other, yet the man who begat the Jews and the Christians
and
the man from whom all Muslims would descend stood side by side
peacefully
at their father's deathbed...
-----
EXPLORING THIS 'UNHOLY MESS'
Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune, 3/24/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-0403240050mar24,1,6683504.story
Gradually, fitfully, the wound at the heart of the world -- inflicted
Sept.
11, 2001 -- seemed to be mending.
And then it was ripped open once again, this time in Madrid. The
madness
was back.
The wound widened.
"After Sept. 11, I was dreading something like this happening," said
Karen
Armstrong of the recent train bombings in Spain that claimed more than
200
lives and which authorities believe may be linked to the terrorist
group Al
Qaeda.
"Obviously, the old solutions aren't working," she added with palpable
sadness. "We need something new. Look at Madrid. Terror is spreading."
Armstrong, the ex-nun whose explorations of Muslim, Christian, Judaic
and
Buddhist cultures have resulted in best-selling books both here and in
her
native England, had just embarked upon an 11-city tour promoting her
latest
work, a spiritual autobiography titled "The Spiral Staircase: My Climb
Out
of Darkness" (Knopf, $24), when the bombings in Spain shook the world.
And Armstrong, who has become the go-to woman for journalists seeking
to
explain Islam to readers famished for information, again found herself
talking about God and gore...
The notion that Islam "imposes itself by force and violence and has
always
been against Christianity -- that is not true at all," she declared...
-----
SETBACK IN DEPORTATION CASE
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/23/04
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1080037822239333.xml
A Palestinian woman's efforts to remain in the United States with her
three
U.S.-born children suffered a setback last week when a federal appeals
board declined to reopen her case. On Thursday, the Board of
Immigration
Appeals of the U.S. Department of Justice dismissed Amina Silmi's
motion to
have her case sent back to immigration courts for another hearing,
effectively upholding her court-ordered deportation to Venezuela, where
she
was born. Silmi's lawyers said they quickly appealed the ruling to the
U.S.
6th Circuit Court of Appeals and Silmi, 35, remains in federal
detention in
Trumbull County. She was to be deported to Venezuela Feb. 4 after
living in
America for 12 years without a visa. Friends and supporters of the
Muslim
woman succeeded in halting her deportation so that appeals could be
heard.
-----
FORMER CAPTIVE DESCRIBES THE OTHER SIDE OF TALIBAN TO UM CROWD
Tanya Weinberg, Sun-Sentinel, 3/25/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-cconvert25mar25,0,5854855.story?coll=sfla-news-miami
CORAL GABLES - In the back of a University of Miami auditorium, senior
psychobiology student Sarah Syed said she was shocked by what she was
hearing.
The speaker, British journalist and former Taliban captive Yvonne
Ridley,
had just finished describing the courtesy her captors showed her during
10
days of imprisonment in 2001.
Syed had recently seen the film Escape from the Taliban, which
portrayed
the former rulers of Afghanistan as brutal captors.
For Syed, the disparity in the two accounts of the Taliban boosted the
central claim of Ridley's talk: The U.S. government and the media have
manipulated the true stories of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq...
When the Taliban discovered her disguised in a burqa crossing the
Afghan
border a few weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, they took her captive
for 10
days...
Ridley had promised one of her captors she would read the Quran if she
were
released. After she did, she converted to Islam.
"I'm in no way a supporter of the Taliban. I thought they had some
weird
ideas, and having read the Quran and converted to Islam, I'd like to
run
back and say, `What are you guys reading?'"...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/26/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE BEST AMONG YOU
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Volunteer for CAIR
* CAIR TROUBLED BY U.S. VETO OF U.N. RESOLUTION ON ISRAEL
- U.S. Vetoes U.N. Council's Yasin Measure (AP)
* CAN: POLICE INVESTIGATE MOSQUE FIRE, VANDALISM (CP)
- Hate Attack Saddens Mosque (Toronto Star)
* HEADSCARF ISSUE CAUSES RIPPLES IN ITALY (AP)
- Hijab Is Liberating, Not Limiting (Pioneer Press)
* NY: MUSLIM LEADERS RIP KING'S 'EXTREMIST' COMMENT (Newsday)
* NC: UNFAIR TO MUSLIMS (News and Observer)
* IN: ALCOHOL IS FOE OF U.S. MUSLIMS (Chicago Trib)
* MI: PLAY BRINGS CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM TOGETHER (Free Press)
- Heartened By Muslim Support (Toronto Star)
* ARMY SHOULD CONVICT IN COURT, NOT ALLEGATION (Miami Herald)
* OR: SENATE ENDORSES PATRIOT ACT 'REVIEW' (Press Herald)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE BEST AMONG YOU
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I tell you who
are
the best among you?...The best of you are those who when seen are a
means
of God being brought to mind."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1302
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
VOLUNTEER FOR CAIR
Would you like to help the American Muslim community by giving some of
your
time and service? Consider volunteering for CAIR, the nations leading
Islamic civil rights and advocacy group dedicated to helping Muslims
across
the United States.
CAIR currently has volunteer openings for media watch, voter
registration,
membership recruitment, community relations building, political
activism
and the public libraries project.
CAIR's Volunteer Program is designed to utilize the community's skills
and
talents while contributing to CAIR's overall mission. This program
matches
dedicated brothers and sisters willing to donate some time each week on
specific projects that help further Islam and the rights of Muslims in
America.
For more information, contact Najlaa Abdul-Alim at 202-488-8787 or
1-800-78-ISLAM. Our email address is volunteer@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIM GROUP TROUBLED BY U.S. VETO OF U.N. RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ISRAEL
CAIR says veto will damage peace process, America's image abroad
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/26/04) - The nation's leading Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today expressed great concern over the United States'
veto
of a United Nations Security Council resolution Thursday evening
condemning
the Israeli government. The resolution censured Israel for their
targeted
assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, a 67-year-old quadriplegic and
the
most prominent Palestinian Islamic figure, outside of a Gaza City
mosque
earlier this week.
Eleven out of the 15 Security Council members, including France, Russia
and
Spain, voted to condemn Ariel Sharon's government for their latest
illegal
assassination. The United States' veto marked the only dissenting vote
in
the Security Council. Other world leaders, including the Vatican, UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan and the British government, have condemned
the
illegal assassination by Ariel Sharon as 'unlawful' and 'unacceptable'.
In its statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
said:
"We are deeply concerned by the continued failure of the Bush
administration to be an objective broker for peace in the Middle East.
This
latest veto of an overwhelmingly and internationally supported
resolution
does nothing to serve America's interest abroad or improve its
credibility
in the Muslim and Arab world.
"There is clear global consensus that assassinations are illegal under
both
the Hague and Geneva Conventions, which are hallmarks of international
law.
By vetoing this resolution, the Bush administration continues to
alienate
our allies in the United Nations, neglect world opinion and further
damage
our image abroad.
"As long as the Bush Administration continues this policy of remaining
silent to the illegal acts of the Israeli government, the Bush
administration will continue to be viewed worldwide as unable to be a
fair
broker towards any objective peace settlement."
To date, there have been 64 United Nations resolutions condemning
Israel
for its human rights violations and according to Amnesty International,
over 1,760 Palestinians have been killed, including 263 under the age
of
14, by the Israeli government since the beginning of the current
Intifada
which began in 2001.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has consistently
condemned all terrorist acts, whether carried out by individuals,
groups or
states.
CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-439-1441 or 202-488-8787, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org; Arsalan Iftikhar 202-415-0799 or 202-488-8787,
E-mail:
arsalan@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
U.S. VETOES U.N. COUNCIL'S YASSIN MEASURE
Chris Hawley, Associated Press, 3/25/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/8277242.htm
UNITED NATIONS - The United States used its veto power to quash a U.N.
Security Council resolution condemning Israel for killing Hamas leader
Ahmed Yassin in a missile strike.
U.S. diplomats said the measure stopped on Thursday had failed to
mention
the militant group's record of bombings and shooting attacks during 3
1/2
years of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
The resolution had also condemned the practice of killing suspected
militants without trial - a sensitive issue for the United States,
which
has killed suspected al-Qaida members in Yemen and Afghanistan.
Russia, which voted for the resolution, expressed regret over the U.S.
decision.
"We regret the failure to reach consensus at the U.N. Security Council
in
connection with a dangerous outbreak of violence in the Middle East,"
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said, according to the
Interfax news agency. "There was a chance to reach consensus if the
consultations continued."
U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said the United States disapproved of
Yassin's killing, but called the language of the resolution
"unbalanced"
and said it threatened to complicate peace efforts.
"This Security Council does nothing to contribute to a peaceful
settlement
when it condemns one party's actions and turns a blind eye to
everything
else occurring in the region," Negroponte said.
Eleven countries - China, Russia, France, The Philippines, Angola,
Chile,
Pakistan, Spain, Algeria, Benin and Brazil - voted in favor of the
resolution. Britain, Germany and Romania abstained from the vote. Only
the
United States voted against the measure.
-----
POLICE INVESTIGATING IF PICKERING MOSQUE FIRE, VANDALISM WAS HATE CRIME
Canadian Press, 3/26/04
www.cp.org
TORONTO - A mosque held evening services Thursday undeterred by vandals
who
set a fire and spray painted the words Jesus Rules inside the building
- an
attack both Muslims and Jews are calling a hate crime.
"I think this is a hate crime and our hope is that the police will
fully
investigate it as such and not (as) a random act by vandals,'' said
Ahsan
Butt, president of the 250-member Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre in the hamlet
of
Cherrywood, Ont., near Pickering.
"We are grieved by this, but we know it is not likely the work of
anyone in
this community of which we have been part since 1994,'' said Syed
Mazhar of
Markham, joint secretary of the mosque.
Vandals sprayed Jesus Rules in yellow paint and lit a fire under an
awning
that covers the women's entrance to the mosque early Thursday morning.
Pickering fire department estimated the damage at $5,000, all of it to
the
exterior of the one-storey, flat-roofed building.
Durham Region Police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Mallick said the incident
will
be fully investigated to determine if it was a racist act, random
vandalism
or a copycat incident stemming from recent anti-Jewish hate crime in
Toronto and York Region.
Jewish organizers quickly condemned the Pickering attack.
"After the enormous show of community support last night at our rally
against anti-Semitism and hate, in Toronto, we are both saddened and
outraged by this attack,'' said Ed Morgan, a spokesman with the
Canadian
Jewish Congress.
ALSO SEE:
HATE ATTACK SADDENS MOSQUE
Frank Calleja, Toronto Star, 3/26/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1080256210591
A Pickering mosque held its evening services as usual yesterday,
saddened
but undeterred by vandals who ignited a fire and spray-painted "Jesus
Rules" on an outside wall during the night.
"I think this is a hate crime and our hope is that the police will
fully
investigate it as such and not (as) a random act by vandals," said
Ahsan
Butt, president of the 250-member Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre in the hamlet
of
Cherrywood.
"We are grieved by this, but we know it is not likely the work of
anyone in
this community, which we've belonged to since 1994," said Syed Mazhar
of
Markham, joint secretary of the mosque, which is affiliated with The
Council of Islamic Guidance. Mazhar said it is the first such incident
at
the mosque.
Vandals lit a fire and spray-painted "Jesus Rules" in yellow paint on a
coat rack outside the canopied women's entrance. Firefighters arrived
shortly before 3 a.m. after a caretaker at the mosque called 911.
Damage was estimated at about $5,000, all of it to the exterior of the
one-storey, flat-roofed building on the 3rd Concession, just west of
White's Rd.
Durham Region police spokesperson Sergeant Paul Mallick said
investigators
will try to determine if it was random vandalism, a racist act or the
work
of a copycat mimicking vandals in Toronto and York Region who recently
toppled Jewish gravestones, broke synagogue windows and defaced homes
with
swastikas and graffiti...
-----
HEADSCARF ISSUE CAUSES RIPPLES IN ITALY
Aidan Lewis, Associated Press, 3/25/04
http://www.fox23news.com/news/world/story.aspx?content_id=E669B5D6-23AF-40C2-8C60-E4F735C0CFEF
ROME - The debate over headscarves that divided France has reached
Italy,
with a kindergarten asking a Muslim trainee teacher to remove her
headscarf
because it might frighten children.
The case has made headlines here and prompted debate among politicians
and
church officials over the role of Muslims in this predominantly
Catholic
country, just months after a Muslim activist went to court to have a
crucifix removed from his son's public school classroom.
The issue arose last week when a private kindergarten in Samone, in
northern Italy, voiced concern about the headscarf worn by a
prospective
intern, Moroccan-born Fatima Mouyache, who was being placed by a
teacher
training service.
The Miele & Cri-Cri kindergarten said it had agreed to accommodate
Mouyache's schedule of daily prayers, but asked the training service if
she
would be willing to remove her headscarf. The school said it feared it
might frighten the students.
In a statement sent to media organizations, the kindergarten said it
wasn't
acting out of prejudice but merely to avoid "the negative reaction of
the
children who aren't used to seeing this type of dress" and the
possibility
that parents might be uncomfortable with it.
In an interview Thursday in the Rome daily La Repubblica, Mouyache said
she
couldn't understand how the veil, which covers her hair but not her
face,
could frighten anyone...
ALSO SEE:
HEADSCARF IS LIBERATING, NOT LIMITING
Naheed Ali, Pioneer Press, 2/22/04
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/2004/02/22/news/opinion/8003081.htm
If I lived in France today, my future would be unfairly limited and I
would
be discriminated against, as a matter of law. Why? Only because I am a
Muslim woman who chose to wear the headscarf.
On Feb. 10 the French Parliament voted on its controversial proposal to
ban
headscarves in public schools. The bill passed with a strong majority.
While France may claim this to be democracy at work, it is actually
secularism gone haywire. It is an effort to stamp out Muslim practices
and
the rights of Muslim women.
French authorities say the law is meant to keep religion out of the
classroom and to protect secularism. Yet, some officials have admitted
the
law is directed specifically towards Muslims as they negotiate to
accommodate France's much smaller Sikh community, who wear the
religiously
mandated turban...
Clearly such a ban is fundamentally at odds with how Americans view
religious expression. It is common in the United States, certainly in
several neighborhoods in the Twin Cities, to see Muslim women who
observe
the headscarf. From university students and mothers helping their kids
into
the school bus to store owners and professionals, we see such Muslim
women
all the time.
Yet, what is our first impression of them? Do the underlying attitudes
and
misconceptions behind the French ban surface in our own country?...
-----
MUSLIM LEADERS RIP KING'S 'EXTREMIST' COMMENT
Dionne Searcey, Newsday, 3/26/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-nyland263723421mar26,0,7383793.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines
Leaders of Long Island's Muslim community and a congregationalist
minister
demanded yesterday that U.S. Rep. Peter King renounce his remarks that
85
percent of the nation's mosques have "extremist leadership."
At a news conference in Mineola, the group offered a blistering
critique of
comments King made last month on the Sean Hannity radio show. King, a
Seaford Republican, has since stood by his remarks, saying that while
most
Muslims are "loyal Americans," they are reluctant to cooperate with law
enforcement when they hear of anti-American plots.
Faroque Khan, president of the Islamic Center of Long Island in
Westbury,
labeled King's remarks as WMDs, or Words of Mass Distortion. "As a
respected senior congressman, his comments will resonate far and wide
and
will further widen the gap between Americans and the Muslim community
worldwide," Khan said.
The Rev. Mark Lukens, president of the Long Island Chapter of
Interfaith
Alliance and pastor of the Bethany Congregational Church in East
Rockaway,
called King's remarks unfortunate, outrageous and "shockingly out of
character" for a congressman who has supported religious minorities.
Yesterday, reached in his Washington office, King said "I'm not going
to
apologize. I stand by everything I've said." King said he had seen "a
pattern of irresponsible comments coming from Muslim leaders" and from
those with the Islamic Center in particular.
Islamic Center officials asked for a meeting with King in a Feb. 26
letter
to help resolve grievances. King has said he would meet with them but
"on
my terms."
-----
UNFAIR TO MUSLIMS
Ekram Haque, News & Observer, 3/26/04
http://www.newsandobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/3452539p-3068136c
The writer of the March 25 People's Forum letter captioned "Muslims'
goals"
claimed that elimination of Jews is "central to both the Qur'an and
Islamic
tradition..." This shows complete disregard for the Muslims' kind
treatment
of Jews throughout history. Some examples:
@* Upon conquering Jerusalem without a fight, the second caliph of
Islam,
Omar bin Al-Khattab, declared Jerusalem to be an international city and
allowed Jews to return to it.
@* When Saladin recaptured Jerusalem from the crusaders, he allowed
Jews to
return and live peacefully alongside Muslims and Christians.
@* A golden age of the Jewish people was in Muslim Spain -- al-Andalus
--
where they lived freely and rose to prominence.
@* When al-Andalus fell to Spanish conquistadors, the Muslim Ottoman
empire
gave the Jewish people much-needed refuge.
@* There have been no pogroms of Jews living in the Muslim lands, but
many
in Christian Europe.
To portray the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a fight between Islam
and
Judaism tries to divert attention from the root cause of the problem:
Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands. Part of that territory,
al-Quds,
is revered by all Muslims. Does the letter-writer expect the
Palestinians
to accept Israel's brutal occupation as a fait accompli?
The word terrorism is politically abused. Only 60 years ago Menachem
Begin
and Yitzhak Rabin were wanted by Britain for terrorist acts. The two
men
later became prime ministers of Israel and were awarded Nobel Peace
Prizes,
shared respectively with Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat, Israeli
Foreign
Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat.
Both Palestinians and Israelis need peace, but peace does not happen in
the
absence of justice. Unfortunately, with its blind pro-Israel policy,
the
Bush administration is unable to act as the agent of peace that many
expect
it to be.
(Ekram Haque is the Director of Media Relations for Muslim-American
Public
Affairs Council chapter in Raleigh, NC.)
-----
ALCOHOL IS FOE OF U.S. MUSLIMS
Chicago Tribune, 3/26/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0403260219mar26,1,1869430.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed
PLAINFIELD, Ind. - American followers of Islam, which forbids all
consumption of alcohol, are working with a veteran, Christian-based
temperance group to fight against drinking.
The Islamic Society of North America, representing 300 Islamic
organizations, last year joined the National Temperance and Prohibition
Council, forming a partnership with 14 Christian groups.
At the council's annual meeting in Plainfield, Rev. Allen Rice of the
Michigan Interfaith Council on Alcohol Problems, said, "Getting the
attention of millions of Muslims in America is a powerful boost for us.
The council meeting issued 10 resolutions, including a call for
reduction
of alcohol in medications and opposition to TV ads that promote alcohol
consumption by youths.
-----
PLAY ORGANIZERS HOPE TO BRING ALL THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM TOGETHER
David Crumm, Detroit Free Press, 2/26/04
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/crumm26_20040326.htm
Sometimes tiny sparks trigger bombs; sometimes they light candles.
As stories about conflict and terrorism explode on the front page each
week, consider for a moment a different kind of news story. It's about
a
local Muslim cleric who shared the spark of an idea with a Jewish
friend
over lunch last year. In turn, the friend used that spark to kindle
creative energy in dozens of teenagers, religious leaders, theater
professionals and university scholars.
At 8 p.m. Saturday, "The Children of Abraham Project" will debut with a
diverse troupe of young performers at the Jewish Ensemble Theatre at
Maple
and Drake roads in West Bloomfield. This drama, written partly by
Muslim,
Jewish and Christian kids, is expected to spark fresh dialogue across
old
barriers. From the premiere, the project will expand into a series of
performances across Michigan, and perhaps across the United States,
aided
by the University of Michigan's Arts of Citizenship program in Ann
Arbor.
"This started with an idea I shared over lunch with my friend Brenda
Rosenberg," Imam Abdullah El Amin, head of the Muslim Center in
Detroit,
said this week. "We were talking about all the problems in the world
that
involve Muslims and Jews and Christians. And I said, 'If we would only
remember that we all share the same father, Abraham, we might find ways
to
bring our family back together again.' "
El Amin pointed to a passage in the Bible in which Abraham's
long-separated
sons, Ishmael and Isaac, come together at Abraham's death to bury their
father. El Amin said to his friend, "We're tearing our world apart
today.
Why can't we do what Ishmael and Isaac did and come back together as a
family?"...
ALSO SEE:
HEARTENED BY MUSLIM SUPPORT
Frank Galea, Toronto Star, 3/25/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1080256210139
I attended the anti-Semitism rally at the Jewish Community Centre. When
the
many letters, sent to the Jewish community condemning the anti-Semitic
events of the past couple of weeks, were read to the mostly Jewish
audience, the ones which received the greatest applause were those
written
by the Muslim leadership.
I was struck by the degree of support given by the Muslim leadership
and
the generous reception they received. To be sure the attacks on the
Jewish
community are deplorable; however, the community rally gave all of us
an
opportunity to stand together, as Muslims Jews, and Christians, against
hate and anti-Semitism.
This event is truly a history- making moment for this city, somewhat
analogous to the Christie Pits riot in the 1930s which saw Jews and
Italians in the city uniting in a concerted effort to respond to the
right-wing bully fascists who were intimidating and beating up on Jews
for
no other reason than that they were Jews. The difference between the
two
events, of course, is that during the riot baseball bats were used. The
other significant difference between these two moments is that the
rally
was planned and received support from politicians, police and the
larger
community.
------
CAPT. YEE'S CASE: ARMY SHOULD CONVICT IN COURT, NOT BY ALLEGATION
Miami Herald, 3/25/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/editorial/8261082.htm
The U.S. Army is being disingenuous in dismissing criminal charges
against
Capt. James Yee, the Muslim chaplain who ministered to detainees at the
Guantanamo Bay prison. No national-security issues exist today that
didn't
exist when prosecutors charged Yee with mishandling classified
information.
Yet the Army locked him up for 76 days in a maximum-security brig and
could
have pursued a 13-year sentence against him. But this week, Yee got an
administrative slap on the wrist _ a written reprimand for adultery and
downloading pornography.
Still, the Army implies that Yee was guilty of the charges it dropped.
That
decision came about because revealing evidence during a court-martial
proceeding "would have compromised national security," according to
SouthCom spokesman Lt. Col. Bill Costello.
How ironic. Prosecutors themselves mistakenly sent classified documents
to
Yee's lawyers. By the Army's logic, no accused spy could ever be
court-martialed without risking a compromise of national security.
If the Army was so sure of Yee's guilt, then it should have pursued the
criminal charges or accepted his offer to undergo a full debriefing in
exchange for immunity. Yee has already been punished, personally and
professionally. The Army shouldn't further smear his reputation.
-----
SENATE ENDORSES PATRIOT ACT 'REVIEW'
Joshua L. Weinstein, Portland Press Herald, 3/24/04
http://www.pressherald.com/news/statehouse/040324patriot.shtml
The Legislature passed a resolution raising concerns about the USA
Patriot
Act Tuesday, making Maine the fourth state to officially question the
anti-terrorism law.
Maine's resolution - passed by the House without a roll call vote on
Friday
and by the Senate on a largely party-line vote of 18-15 Tuesday - asks
Congress to review the act and ensure that future laws "do not infringe
on
Americans' civil rights and liberties."
It also asks Maine's congressional delegation to work to repeal
sections of
the act that infringe "upon fundamental rights and liberties as
recognized
in the United States Constitution."
The resolution is nonbinding and does not require the governor's
signature.
The Patriot Act , which Congress passed only weeks after the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, comes up for renewal in 2005. President Bush
has
said he would like Congress to renew the law without changes.
U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat who represents Maine's 1st
Congressional
District, said that the "sunset provision" of the law - a mechanism
that
makes the law expire if it is not renewed - was key in passing it...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3-27-04
* CAIR-CAN: MUSLIMS ASK POLICE TO INVESTIGATE MOSQUE HATE CRIME
* OH: GOVERNMENT DELAYS WOMAN'S DEPORTATION (Plain Dealer)
* MUSLIMS CHILDREN DISCUSS LIFE IN AMERICA ON NICK NEWS (KR)
* TX: RISKS AND REASONS FOR MISSIONARIES (Dallas Morning News)
* 'ISLAM HAS HELPED CIVILISED WORLD FOR 1,400 YEARS' (Telegraph)
-----
MUSLIMS CALL ON POLICE TO INVESTIGATE MOSQUE HATE CRIME
(Ottawa, Canada - 3/27/2004) - The Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) yesterday called on local police to treat the
recent
arson and vandalism at the Al-Mahdi mosque in Pickering, Ontario as a
hate
crime.
Vandals entered the mosque, spraying the words "Jesus Rules" on its
walls,
broke tables and chairs, and set fire to the building. Mosque
officials
estimate the cost of the damages to be thousands of dollars.
This incident comes after a series of hate crimes perpetrated against
the
Jewish community in Toronto.
In a statement issued yesterday, CAIR-CAN wrote:
"We need to hear a clear message from religious leaders, law
enforcement
and elected officials that this type of hate crime will not be
tolerated in
Toronto or any other Canadian city. Canadian Muslims must have
assurances
that their institutions will be protected.
"Since September 2001, CAIR-CAN has documented hate-activity against 15
Islamic institutions and mosques, including attempted arson,
destruction
and defacement of mosque property, and graffiti threats. Attacks such
as
the one in Pickering reinforce community fear and anxiety. Mosques are
not
simply places of worship, they are also social and community centers."
CAIR-CAN recently condemned the string of hate activity against the
Jewish
community in Toronto last week. For CAIR-CAN's statement, please see:
http://www.caircan.ca/itn_more.php?id=885_0_2_0_C.
- END -
Contact: Riad Saloojee at 613-795-2012; E-mail: Canada@cair-net.org;
Hadeel
Al-Shalchi at 613-262-6619
-----
OH: GOVERNMENT DELAYS WOMAN'S DEPORTATION
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/27/04
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1080384957186410.xml
A Palestinian woman facing deportation will remain in the United States
at
least until Monday because of a stay issued late Friday by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, said Julia Shearson, director of the
Cleveland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The federal government plans to deport Amina Silmi to Venezuela, where
she
was born. She lived in the United States for 12 years without a visa. A
federal appeals board declined to reopen her case March 18.
-----
MUSLIM CHILDREN DISCUSS LIFE IN AMERICA ON NICK NEWS SPECIAL
Mike Duffy, Knight Ridder, 3/27/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/8288694.htm?1c
Victims of tragic circumstance, victims of religious ignorance.
That's been the uncomfortable plight of American Muslim children caught
in
the middle of the fearful, emotional aftermath of Sept. 11 and during
the
continued violent strife in Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel.
"It is easier to fear what you don't know. And most of us don't know
much
about Muslims or the Islamic faith," says Linda Ellerbee in her calm,
down-to-earth manner, jeans-clad legs comfortably crossed as she hosts
"Keeping Faith: Muslim Kids in America" at 8:30 p.m. EST Sunday on
Nickelodeon.
It's the veteran journalist's latest "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee"
special, an award-winning series that is the longest-running children's
news show in TV history…..
"Keeping Faith: Muslim Kids in America" echoes the straightforward and
respectful tone of the previous specials. The casually dressed Ellerbee
hosts the program while surrounded by a diverse group of young Muslims,
who
discuss what it's like growing up in America…
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. EST Sunday
WHERE: Nickelodeon
------
'ISLAM HAS HELPED CIVILISED WORLD FOR 1,400 YEARS'
Graham Tibbetts and Ben Bland, Telegraph, 3/27/04
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/27/nislam127.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/03/27/ixnewstop.html
Muslims worshipping at one of Britain's most important mosques mounted
a
vigorous defence of their religion yesterday after Lord Carey's attack.
As they left London Central Mosque near Regent's Park, London, members
of
the congregation were keen to deny suggestions that Islamic society was
backward, reluctant to embrace democracy and slow to condemn terrorism.
"Islam has contributed to the civilised world for the last 1,400
years,"
said Abdul-Razzaq Bezan, 45, who cited algebra as one of its main
achievements.
"There are three million Muslims here in this country and there is no
organisation without them - they work in Government, universities and
hospitals. Many have not come from abroad, they are British-born
Muslims…"
-----
RISKS AND REASONS FOR MISSIONARIES
Robin Russell, Dallas Morning News, 3/26/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/032704dnrelmissionaries.d2921.html
The news was personal last week for David and Rhonda Ochoa when they
heard
missionaries had been killed in Uganda. The couple, who live in The
Colony
with their three children – and are expecting another – plan to head
out in
May as missionaries to the East African country.
Their goal is to take the Gospel to the children of Jinja, some 45
minutes
east of Uganda's capital of Kampala…
Missionary danger is nothing new…
Particularly after 9-11, however, public concern has risen over
American
missionaries who put their lives in danger. Dayna Curry and Heather
Mercer,
two Baptist relief workers from Waco, were held hostage by
Afghanistan's
Taliban rulers for three months before their release in November 2001.
They
were sometimes criticized for being in that country in the first place…
Iesa Galloway, executive director of the Houston chapter of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations, said he supports attempts by Christian
missionaries to provide humanitarian relief.
"As long as it's not a disingenuous attempt to do a Bible presentation
...
as long as they're not abusing what people really need, we should be
praying for their protection," he said.
According to researchers at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in
South
Hamilton, Mass., the number of missionaries to Islamic countries nearly
doubled between 1982 and 2001 – from more than 15,000 to more than
27,000.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/29/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: AVOID WHAT IS DOUBTFUL
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- CAIR Library Project: 7392 Sponsorships
* CAIR-MI: FUNDRAISING DINNER ATTRACTS OVER 600
* IA: CONFERENCE STRESSES OPEN-MINDEDNESS (Daily Iowan)
- How Islam Views Other Religions (Collegian)
* TX: GROUP WANTS TO REACH OUTBRIDGE GAP (Houston Chron)
* BUSH APPOINTEE SAYS MUSLIMS 'NOT MODERN'
* CAN: PHONE THREAT FOLLOWS VANDALISM (Toronto Star)
- Can: More Tolerant But Hate Crimes on Rise (Gazette)
* AFTER LEGAL MISSTEPS, APOLOGIZE TO YEE (Seattle Times)
* MI: POLICE MONITORED ANTI-WAR PROTESTS (AP)
* US DETENTION OF SUSPECTS PROVES A PR DISASTER (The Age)
- Pentagon Counts Psychological Cost of War (Guardian)
* ARABS GLUED TO TV NEWS - BUT NOT US-SPONSORED AL HURRA (CSM)
* 17 WOMEN ARRESTED IN SOMALIA FOR WEARING BANNED VEIL (AFP)
* PROSECUTOR TO SEEK INDICTMENT OF SHARON (Wash Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: AVOID WHAT IS DOUBTFUL
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "That which is lawful is
clear, and that which is unlawful is also quite clear. Between these
two is
that which is ambiguous, which most people do not know. One who avoids
the
doubtful safeguards his faith and his honor."
Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 588
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7392 SPONSORSHIPS
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, Muslim individuals and groups may sponsor 18-item
packages
about Islam and Muslims, which are then distributed to the library of
their
choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
OVER 600 TURN OUT FOR CAIR-MI FUNDRAISING DINNER
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/29/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
today said some 650 people, including officials and community leaders,
turned out for the annual fundraising banquet of its Michigan chapter
(CAIR-MI) on Sunday in southeast Michigan. The Washington-based Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group said the dinner raised tens of
thousands in
contributions.
Speakers and attendees at the event included Rep. John Conyers (D-MI),
Rep.
John Dingel (D-MI), Wayne County Executive Robert Sicano, and
representatives from local civil rights and interfaith organizations.
The highlight of the program was the keynote speech given by civil
rights
law professor and author David Cole of Georgetown. In his speech, Cole
stressed the importance of striking a balance between securing a nation
and
protecting the rights of non-citizens. Historically, the infrigement
on
immigrant rights has been known to extend to the general public, he
said.
Cole called on the Muslim and Arab communities to educate themselves on
civil rights issues and build bridges between different communities.
"We would like to thank all those who made our dinner such a success,"
said
CAIR-MI Executive Director Umar Abdur-Rahman. "One of the greatest
strengths of our community is its diversity and that strength was
showcased
at the dinner. Attendees from all over Michigan showed great interest
and
appreciation for CAIR's work. And it's with their support that we will
be
able to better defend civil rights and promote a positive image of the
American Muslim community and Islam."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-MI, Executive Director Umar Abdur Rahman, 248-569-2203;
CAIR-National, Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIM CONFERENCE STRESSES OPEN-MINDEDNESS
Leslie Shafer, Daily Iowan, 3/29/04
http://www.dailyiowan.com/news/2004/03/29/Metro/Muslim.Conference.Stresses.OpenMindedness-644072.shtml
Dressed in everything from sweatsuits to multicolored cultural attire
with
head scarves, nearly 600 people attended the fourth-annual Iowa
Conference
on Islam last weekend.
Hosted by the Iowa Muslim Student Association, "Islam: Unity in
Diversity"
included a field trip to the Mother Mosque of North America in Cedar
Rapids
and a variety of speakers, workshops, and prayers that were held in the
IMU
and the Pappajohn Business Building.
"The conference went really well, and it was great to hear really
intelligent speakers with progressive ideas encourage people to be
open-minded," said Ahmir Khan, UI medical student and the vice
president of
the UI Association of Muslims in America. "I really liked getting to
see
Muslims from all over Iowa and all backgrounds come together."
Asma Haidri, a member of Iowa Muslim Student Association, said the
event
exceeded the expected turnout of 300-500.
Almost everyone registered for the conference attended Siraj Wahhaj's
March
26 lecture at Pappajohn on "Unity of Muslims, Diversity of Thought."
Wahhaj has served as vice president of the Islamic Society of North
America
since 1997, and he leads prayers at a New York mosque. He emphasized
that
Muslims need to accept that they are a diverse group of people...
ALSO SEE:
SPEAKER DISCUSSES HOW ISLAM VIEWS OTHER RELIGIONS
Spencer Goodfriend, Rocky Mount Collegian, 3/29/04
http://www.collegian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/03/29/4067c64beb4de
Zaid Shakir attempted to break down prejudices and misconceptions and
bring
truth to the forefront Friday night in the Lory Student Center.
This was the goal of his lecture, said Phil Howard, a former CSU
student.
Howard works with the Muslim Student Association, which organized the
event
along with the Muslim Intent on Learning and Activism.
The lecture, entitled, "How Islam Views Other Religions," featured
Shakir,
an expert on Islam who has traveled to Syria to study Islamic law and
now
travels extensively to lecture on Islam, Middle East politics and
issues
related to African Americans.
"It is important to discuss issues that are touchy, where
misunderstanding
has occurred," Shakir said. "There are higher questions that concern
humans, Muslims or otherwise. Our existence in this world is shared
together."
He emphasized the importance of separating ideology, which involves
economics, from religion because it alters interpretations of religious
doctrine and provides leeway for violence that is not sanctioned
through
faith. This is where he feels that people become blinded to the
similarities of the major religions, instead focusing more on the
differences...
-----
GROUP WANTS TO REACH OUTBRIDGE GAP
Edward Hegstrom, Houston Chronicle, 3/29/04
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2472550
It looks like just another vacant lot in the historically black Third
Ward,
a weed-strewn stretch of ground next to the the roar of the Gulf
Freeway
near Scott Street.
But on that piece of land, a group of mostly Pakistani Muslims hopes to
start something new. There will be a soup kitchen first, and then an
Islamic learning center and a library. If all goes well, the center
will
become the model for a plan to build bridges between immigrant Muslims
and
African-Americans.
"What we want to do is reach out to the community," said Jim Coates,
the
spokesman for the group sponsoring the project, the Islamic Circle of
North
America. (Though members of the group are mostly Pakistani, they have
chosen Coates, an Anglo convert to Islam, as their spokesman).
The new building will be named the Charles Freeman Human Services
Center,
in honor of a local African-American Muslim attorney who died last
year.
The Islamic Circle has bought the land but is still raising money for
the
building. A date for groundbreaking has not been set.
It might seem that African-Americans and immigrant Muslims would have
much
in common. Both have experienced discrimination. Prominent
African-Americans -- Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali -- have been Muslims. Some
African-Americans believe their ancestors were Muslims, and many have
converted. It is generally accepted that about a third of the Muslims
now
living in America are African-Americans...
-----
DANIEL PIPES SAYS MUSLIMS ´NOT MODERN´
"Americans and Muslims see the world very differently...Put in the
simplest
terms, Americans are mostly modern and Muslims are mostly not."
Daniel Pipes, 3/28/04 on his personal website
Pipes is President Bush´s appointee to the board of the United States
Institute of Peace.
-----
CAN: PHONE THREAT FOLLOWS VANDALISM
Melissa Leong, Toronto Star, 3/27/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1080431704106&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
Abbas Murtuza's face is calm.
Inside the Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre in Pickering, the program
co-ordinator
for the Council of Islamic Guidance holds a stereo. He plays a phone
message from the mosque's answering machine, received Friday.
"If your community didn't act so criminal maybe it wouldn't come back
and
bite you," a man says. "Get out of my country."
"It's a message of ignorance," Murtuza, a 40-year-old Scarborough
resident
and member of the mosque, says simply. The message has been forwarded
to
police.
The call was supposed to be a slap in the face after the mosque, in the
hamlet of Cherrywood, was vandalized early Thursday. A fire was set on
an
outside wall and a coat rack was spray-painted with "Jesus Rules,"
causing
damage estimated at $5,000. A caretaker smelled smoke and called 911 as
fire crept up a canopy over the women's entrance. The congregation is
organizing a community meeting with police, politicians and members of
the
public today at 4 p.m. at the mosque at 510 Concession 3 Rd.
"Some members of other mosques are scared so we want to ensure that
we're
getting support from the community," said Ahsan Butt, centre
president...
ALSO SEE:
CANADIANS MORE TOLERANT THAN MOST BUT HATE CRIMES ON RISE: SURVEY
POINTS
OUT CONTRADICTIONS IN PUBLIC OPINION, NATIONAL CONFERENCE TOLD
Gazette, 3/29/04
Surveys show Canadians view immigrants more favourably than their
counterparts from 17 other countries including Europe, a panel on
racism
was told yesterday.
But such tolerance hasn't precluded a rise in hate crimes in Canada
following major world events like the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
and
the first Gulf War.
"We have to better explain the contradictions in public opinion," Jack
Jedwab, director of the Association for Canadian Studies, told a
discussion
group on the aftermath of Sept. 11 in Canada.
"Canadians have a positive attitude toward multiculturalism but that
doesn't mean they value all (cultural) groups."
The panel was part of a three- day national conference on immigration
and
integration which wraps up today at the Sheraton Hotel.
The conference brings together more than 700 researchers and members of
non-governmental organizations.
The conference was organized by the Metropolis Project, a research
consortium composed of 60 researchers from institutions including
McGill
University and the Universite de Montreal.
After 9/11, police forces in Calgary and Toronto reported a 60-
per-cent
rise in reported hate crimes, said panelist Humera Ibrahim, a
researcher
with the federal government.
Threats were made against Jews, Muslims and Arabs across the country,
and a
Hindu temple in Hamilton, Ont., was destroyed by arson, she said.
Although the number of hate crimes eventually returned to levels
recorded
before 9/11, Ibrahim pointed to recent incidents of racism...
He cited a 2003 survey of 1,200 urban and rural Alberta residents on
current attitudes toward Muslims and Arabs.
For example, one in five respondents agreed that the word Muslim brings
to
mind something fearful, he said.
About a third of those replying to the survey said they feel the
wearing of
the hijab by Muslim women is alien to the Canadian way of life.
And four out of 10 respondents, he said, felt the hijab was a sign of
oppression.
-----
AFTER LEGAL MISSTEPS, APOLOGIZE TO CAPT. YEE
Seattle Times, 3/29/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2001890096_chaped29.html
No one troubled by the federal government's handling of terrorist
threats
can feel safer after the reckless assault on Army Capt. James E. Yee, a
34-year-old Muslim chaplain.
His treatment is a sober reminder about granting authorities the
benefit of
the doubt in dangerous times. One can never be casual or lazy about
freedom
and liberty.
Yee was locked away for 76 days as the government labored to make him a
terrorist.
Earlier this month, the military dropped all criminal charges against
Yee
when no credible case could be mounted. At its most breathless, the
Army
accused Yee of spying, mutiny, sedition, aiding the enemy and
espionage.
Eventually offering a legal version of the dog-ate-my-homework
rationale,
the Army said it could not proceed due to national-security concerns
that
would arise with the release of evidence.
Unable to throw relevant charges against him, the Army used
administrative
proceedings to slime him. He was found guilty of adultery and storing
pornographic images on a government computer.
This all began shortly after Yee was assigned to the U.S. naval base at
Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. He instructed U.S. military personnel in matters
relating to Islam, and counseled approximately 600 terrorism suspects.
Yee was an advocate for better treatment of detainees, some of whom
have
been held as long as two years without charges. His own troubles
followed a
series of confrontations over conditions...
-----
MI: GRAND RAPIDS POLICE MONITORED ANTI-WAR PROTESTS, CHIEF SAYS
Associated Press, 3/29/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/8299281.htm
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - When opposition to the war in Iraq began to mount
last year, city police sent undercover officers to anti-war meetings
and
rallies, collecting intelligence about the aims of activists, the
department's chief confirmed.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Harry Dolan said the officers were sent after
police received information activists planned unlawful measures, such
as
blocking traffic on a downtown Grand Rapids street.
Police had reason for heightened concern about protesters, because of
the
arrest of 12 people at a January 2003 rally protesting an appearance by
President Bush, Dolan said.
The protesters were arrested when dozens marched through downtown
streets
after the main rally had concluded and refused police orders to
disperse.
"We are living in a different time now. It's a different day," Dolan
told
The Grand Rapids Press for a story published Sunday.
But war protesters say the surveillance infringed on their civil rights
more than it protected them from terror. In one case, they say, police
threatened the job of a protester and said they would arrest her if she
identified undercover officers she recognized...
-----
US DETENTION OF SUSPECTS PROVES A PR DISASTER
The Age, 3/29/04
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/28/1080412234082.html
The American military is holding about 8000 Iraqi security detainees
without trial or formal charges, most of them in a prison where at
least
six US guards have been criminally charged with abusing inmates. While
legal under the Geneva Conventions, the detentions are proving
disastrous
to the image of the US-led occupation authority as hundreds of Iraqis
freed
this month spread stories of dismal conditions and say they were never
told
why they were arrested.
US officials insist they treat the prisoners fairly, but the widely
circulated stories about seemingly arbitrary arrests fuel the sense of
injustice here. In one such case, Mahmoud Khodair said American
soldiers
blasted into his basement apartment six months ago and dragged him off,
accusing him of aiding insurgents. Like hundreds more, he was released
earlier this month with no explanation of why he was arrested or why he
was
ultimately cleared to go home.
"Nothing has changed since Saddam," Mr Khodair said. "Before, the
Mukhabarat (secret police) would take us away and at least they
wouldn't
blow down the door. Now, some informant fingers you and gets $100 even
if
you're innocent." It is a problem the US recognises and it is crafting
a
new approach.
ALSO SEE:
PENTAGON COUNTS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL COST OF IRAQ WAR AS SURVEY REVEALS
SUICIDE LEVELS
Suzanne Goldenberg, Guardian, 3/19/04
http://news.ibn.net/newsframe.asp?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1180025,00.html
The Jeremy Seeley who went off to war was a man his grandfather
remembers
as tender-hearted. When Specialist Seeley returned from Iraq, he could
not
bring himself to tell his mother he was home, or even to hear her
voice,
leaving two disjointed messages on her answering machine but no contact
number.
On January 13 he walked out of the 101st Airborne base at Fort
Campbell,
Kentucky, checked into a motel room, and put a Do Not Disturb sign on
the
door. The police discovered his body four days later, along with
containers
of household poison. Seeley was 28.
In Canton, North Carolina, his grandfather, Rayburn Seeley, says the
soldier's family and friends still have no idea what drove him to his
death. He had recently re-enlisted in the army, and was awaiting a plum
assignment in Germany.
"There is a chance that they might have caught it, if he had had
additional
screening," Mr Seeley says. "Maybe this will cause them to see the need
that people get more help."
There have been 24 soldier suicides in Iraq since the start of the war,
according to the Pentagon's count. That figure does not include Seeley,
or
William Howell, 36. Howell, a special forces veteran, shot himself in
the
head on March 13 after chasing his wife around the garden of his
Colorado
home with a handgun. He was at least the seventh soldier believed to
have
committed suicide after returning from Iraq.
The Pentagon's figure also does not account for several other deaths in
Iraq that were attributed to non-combat related bullet injuries.
But as the war in Iraq enters its second year, the Pentagon has been
forced
to make its fullest acknowledgement to date of the psychological toll
exacted by the conflict. In a painful report, the Pentagon last week
made
available for the first time its findings on the extent of suicide in
Iraq,
low morale in the ranks, and soldiers' access to mental health care...
-----
ARABS GLUED TO TV NEWS - BUT NOT US-SPONSORED AL HURRA
Gregory D. Johnsen, Christian Science Monitor, 3/30/04
http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2004/0330/p09s02-coop.html
SANA'A, YEMEN - For the past two months in small, smoke-filled rooms
carpeted with discarded khat leaves, I have been watching television.
Television usually isn't a big part of the khat chew, a daily but
segregated ritual for most men and women here in which the leaves of
the
mildly stimulating khat plant are chewed and stored in one's cheek.
Conversation is the rule at these affairs, and the talk is given over
to
poetry, politics, and, as the hour grows late, simply listening to the
alchemic beauty of the language.
But when the US launched its new Arabic-language news channel - Al
Hurra -
on Feb. 14, television became politics.
I've watched the opinions of the small group of young Yemeni men that I
usually chew with go from anger and disappointment to surprise and
admiration and back over this latest US pitch to the Arab world.
Like many things the US does, Al Hurra - "the Free One" in Arabic -
inspires mixed emotions in its Middle East audience. The station, with
a
first-year budget of $62 million, is intended as an alternative to
pan-Arab
news stations like Al Jazeera and Al Arabiyya. President Bush has said
that
Al Hurra will cut through the "hateful propaganda that fills the
airwaves
in the Muslim world," and promote debate in the region.
But for most of my friends, like Amar al-Audi, a quick-witted
24-year-old
driver, the first day of broadcasting was insulting. After listening to
interviews with President Bush and Norman Pattiz, who heads the US
agency
overseeing the channel, Amar was livid.
"It is just like everything America does, they say every other Arab
station
is wrong and they [the US] are right," he said as he tuned the TV to Al
Jazeera...
-----
17 WOMEN ARRESTED IN SOMALIA FOR WEARING BANNED MUSLIM VEIL
Agence France-Presse, 3/27/04
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1504493,00.html
At least 17 women have been arrested in southern Somalia's Middle
Shabbelle
region for ignoring a decree banning women from wearing veils, a
spokesman
for the the area's administration said on Saturday.
"Seventeen women have been arrested for defying a decree that banned
women
from wearing the Muslim veil," spokesman for the region, controlled by
warlord Mohamed Omar Habeb, said on condition of anonymity.
Independent sources in Jowhar, 90 kilometres (56 miles) north of the
capital Mogadishu, confirmed the arrests.
Habeb banned the Islamic veils on Thursday in a bid to foil male
would-be
attackers who could be disguised as women.
He has also banned vehicles with tinted windows from operating in his
fiefdom, his spokesman said.
"Any vehicle with tinted glasses will be impounded from Monday. This is
a
security threat that can undermine peace in Jowhar and neighbouring
areas,"
he added...
-----
PROSECUTOR TO SEEK INDICTMENT OF SHARON
Molly Moore, Washington Post, 3/28/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29947-2004Mar27.html
JERUSALEM, - Israel's chief prosecutor will recommend Sunday that Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon be indicted on charges of accepting bribes in
connection with real estate deals, an Israeli television station
reported
Saturday night.
Justice Ministry spokesman Jacob Galanti said, "I can't affirm or deny"
the
Channel 2 report. An official in Sharon's office, who spoke on the
condition that his name not be used, said, "My office has no comment."
Sharon has denied wrongdoing in connection with several cases of
alleged
financial corruption that have been under investigation for months. The
widening scandal has severely eroded the prime minister's public
support
and prompted calls for his resignation, which were revived almost
immediately after State Attorney Edna Arbel reportedly decided to draft
an
indictment against him.
"Sharon must salvage whatever is left to the dignity of Israel's
democracy
and resign," Ran Cohen, a member of parliament from the dovish Meretz
party, told Israeli news media...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS – 3/30/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: REMEMBERING GOD
* SUPPORT CAIR’S IMPORTANT WORK
- NEW! Volunteer for CAIR
- Library Project: 7392 SPONSORSHIPS
* CAIR-CAN: VANDALIZED MOSQUE HOLDS SOLIDARITY EVENT
* CAIR-FL: COUNCIL ABHORS ALL TERRORIST ACTS (Sun-Sentinel)
* MN: ROCHESTER MANNEQUIN'S GARB ANGERS MUSLIMS (AP)
* OH: AREA STUDENTS GET LESSON IN ISLAM (Coshocton Trib)
- Protesters Take Aim at U.S. Mid-East Policy (Lantern)
* COURT OPENS DOOR TO SEARCHES WITHOUT WARRANTS (New Orleans)
* TX: BAPTISTS JUSTIFY PERILOUS MISSIONS (Houston Chron)
* ARMY CHAPLAIN APPEALS REPRIMAND, SEEKS APOLOGY (AP)
* FISK: IRAQIS ASK IS THIS DEMOCRACY US-STYLE? (Indep)
- Iraq War Launched To Protect Israel (Antiwar)
* NC: JERUSALEM WOMEN DELIVER A MESSAGE (N & O)
* UK: 'RAIDS COULD PROVOKE MUSLIM BACKLASH' (PA News)
* DON'T BAN HEAD SCARVES (The Record)
* 2004 A.L.I.M. SUMMER PROGRAM FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: REMEMBERING GOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated: “God says: ‘I am to
my
servant as he expects of Me, I am with him when he remembers Me. If he
remembers Me in his heart, I remember him to Myself, and if he
remembers me
in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly better than his...and he
comes
to me walking...I rush to him at [great] speed.”
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Vol. 4, No. 99.
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
VOLUNTEER FOR CAIR!
Would you like to help the American Muslim community by giving some of
your
time and service? Consider volunteering for CAIR, the nation’s leading
Islamic civil rights and advocacy group dedicated to helping Muslims
across
the United States.
CAIR currently has volunteer openings for media watch, voter
registration,
membership recruitment, community relations building, political
activism
and the public libraries project.
CAIR's Volunteer Program is designed to utilize the community's skills
and
talents while contributing to CAIR's overall mission. This program
matches
dedicated brothers and sisters willing to donate some time each week on
specific projects that help further Islam and the rights of Muslims in
America.
For more information, contact Najlaa Abdul-Alim at 202-488-8787 or
1-800-78-ISLAM. Our email address is volunteer@cair-net.org
---
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7392 SPONSORSHIPS
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, Muslim individuals and groups may sponsor 18-item
packages
about Islam and Muslims, which are then distributed to the library of
their
choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
CAIR-CAN: VANDALIZED MOSQUE HOLDS SOLIDARITY EVENT
(Ottawa, Canada – 3/29/2004) - A solidarity event and press conference
took
place at an Islamic center that was recently vandalized in
Pickering, Ontario. CAIR-CAN Executive Director Riad Saloojee joined
with
community leaders, elected officials and the local community in
pledging to
fight hate and strengthen ties of solidarity.
A video of the event can be viewed at www.cig.ca/home.php. Click on
the
link "Unity Rally Against Hate Crime at Al Mahdi Center."
The event, held on Sunday, March 28, was organized by the Al-Mahdi
mosque
in response to a recent vandalism and arson attack against the
institution.
Vandals entered the mosque, spraying the words "Jesus
Rules" on its walls, broke tables and chairs, and set fire to the
building.
Mosque officials estimate the cost of the damages to be thousands of
dollars.
(See http://www.caircan.ca/itn_more.php?id=900_0_2_0_C )
Invited speakers included city councilors, the Mayor of Pickering, the
Toronto mayor's office, the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Council of
Imams, the Association of Progressive Muslims, CAIR-CAN and Dan
McTeague,
the Member of Parliament for Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge Riding.
"The event organized by the community went beyond merely condemning the
hateful actions against the Al-Mahdi mosque. It also built profound
bridges of solidarity and understanding among community members and
elected
officials," stated CAIR-CAN Executive Director Riad Saloojee.
"We are thankful to CAIR-CAN and to all the other community members who
attended the event. The atmosphere at the event was filled with hope,
resolve and a common commitment to the values of justice, peace and
equality that we all share together as Canadians," stated Syed Mazhar,
the
Joint Secretary for the Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre.
-----
CAIR-FL: COUNCIL ABHORS ALL TERRORIST ACTS
Ahmed Bedier Sun-Sentinel, 3/30/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/sfl-brmail7950mar30,0,2788483.story
(Ahmed Bedier is Communications director for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations chapter in Tampa.)
On behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim
community of Florida, we condemned the barbaric assassination of a
wheelchair-bound Palestinian Muslim religious leader by the Israeli
military. The missile attack on Sheik Ahmed Yassin, a 67-year-old
quadriplegic, was a clear act of "state terrorism," unbefitting a
democratic nation.
Israel's extra-judicial killing of the religious leader can only serve
to
perpetuate the cycle of violence throughout the region. The
international
community must now take concrete steps to help protect the Palestinian
people against such wanton Israeli violence.
Just last week, an Israeli official was quoted as saying "hunting
season
has begun," in reference to assassinations of Palestinians (Washington
Times, March 18). Until Israel views Palestinians as human beings, and
not
just animals to be slaughtered at will during "hunting season," there
can
be no viable and just resolution to the Middle East conflict. And until
America adopts a truly even-handed approach to that conflict, our
nation's
image will continue to suffer worldwide.
We stand firm against all terrorist acts, whether carried out by
individuals, groups or states.
-----
MN: ROCHESTER MANNEQUIN'S GARB ANGERS MUSLIMS
Associated Press, 3/30/04
http://www.in-forum.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D81KH1QG0
ROCHESTER, Minn. - A mannequin that has stood virtually unnoticed in
the
corner of a Rochester used-car dealer's office for nearly two years is
suddenly raising the ire of the Islamic community in southeastern
Minnesota
and Washington, D.C.
The mannequin in the corner of Steve Lewis' office is dressed in what
has
been interpreted as ethnic garb - a neck-covering cloth that extends
from
the back of a red baseball cap and partially covers the back of a white
lab
technician's jacket.
A belt made of rope and wire holds three empty toilet-paper rolls, made
to
look like explosives. The mannequin is holding a gas-tank hose.
The mannequin is "clearly offensive and insulting," Rabiah Ahmed,
communications coordinator for the Council on American/Islamic
Relations,
America's leading Islamic civil rights advocacy group, said Monday from
Washington.
"These actions do nothing to promote anything positive between cultures
and
community," said Ahmed, whose group heard complaints from Rochester's
Islamic community, which is large enough to have its own mosque in the
city
of 86,000 people.
Wail Kailani, 31, a Winona State student from Sudan, made the initial
complaint and was asked by CAIR to photograph and videotape the
mannequin.
"There's a difference," Ahmed said, "between expressing yourself and
being
bigoted..."
-----
AREA STUDENTS GET LESSON IN ISLAM
Tonya Shipley, Coshocton Tribune, 3/30/04
http://www.coshoctontribune.com/news/stories/20040330/localnews/175578.html
Ahmad Al-Akhras hopes for a world where people don't give into
ignorance,
but strive to learn about those who are different.
As guest speaker at Rosecrans High School in Zanesville Monday he asked
an
audience of students, faculty and board members to learn about Islam, a
religion which many knew little about.
Al-Akhras, president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Ohio
Chapter, spoke in hopes of educating others about his religion and to
help
end the cycle of ignorance. He was invited to speak by the Bishop
Rosecrans
High School Foundation after one of the board members heard him give a
similar program to the Catholic Diocese in Columbus.
"We have so much in common," he said. "All the followers of
Christianity,
Judaism, Islam have the same core beliefs."
When speaking, he said people often don't know who Muslims are, what
they
believe in and hold many stereotypes about them. There are
approximately
1.2 billion Muslims worldwide, with an estimated six million Muslims in
America. In Ohio, alone there are 150,000 with 30,000 in Columbus,
according to him.
The presentation consisted of discussing the history of Islam, the
Quran,
Five Pillars of Islam, and about how Muslims believe in many of the
same
ideas as Christianity and Judaism. For instance he spoke of all the
prophets Muslims believe in, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses,
Solomon
and Jesus...
ALSO SEE:
OHIO PROTESTERS TAKE AIM AT U.S. MIDDLE EAST POLICY
James Moore, Ohio State Lantern, 3/29/04
http://www.thelantern.com/
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of Ohio's
statehouse on Saturday to join in a global protest of President George
W.
Bush's policies in Iraq, and the continued Isreali occupation of
Palestine.
The rally was held on the one year anniversary of the official
cessation of
war in Iraq. The rally featured guest speakers and several bands.
Organizer
Ewan Todd said this rally was just one of the nearly 300 taking place
in
the U.S., alongside some 250 taking place internationally.
"We do feel that the rally was a success. The numbers were good
considering
that it was spring break for students," Todd said. "More importantly,
though, we accomplished a couple of organizational enhancements,
including
better signs and the bands."
Ohio State University Professor of Philosophy Louis Antony spoke on
problems with the Patriot Act and the White House administrations
attacks
on critics of domestic policies.
"We have to keep vigilant and save freedom," Antony said.
Charletta Tovares of the Columbus City Council discussed the local
economic
impact of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
"This war has had an economic impact on all of us," Tovares said. "We
are
suffering because we can't meet the needs of the people. No one should
have
to go without health care or education."
Tovares' statements about the economy were echoed by Ahmed Al-Akhras of
the
Council on American Islamic Relations.
"There should be money for housing, health care, and education - not
war
and occupation," Al-Akras said...
-----
COURT OPENS DOOR TO SEARCHES WITHOUT WARRANTS
The New Orleans Channel, 3/29/04
http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/news/2953483/detail.html
NEW ORLEANS -- It's a groundbreaking court decision that legal experts
say
will affect everyone: Police officers in Louisiana no longer need a
search
or arrest warrant to conduct a brief search of your home or business.
Leaders in law enforcement say it will keep officers safe, but others
argue
it's a privilege that could be abused.
The decision in United States v. Kelly Gould, No. 0230629cr0, was made
March 24 by the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in Denham Springs in 2000, in
which
defendant Gould filed a motion to suppress information gleaned from a
search of his home. The motion was granted by district court, and the
government appealed this decision. The March 24 ruling by the 5th
Circuit
is an affirmation of that appeal.
In the case, the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office was contacted on
Oct.
17, 2000, by a Gould employee who told officers that Gould intended to
kill
two judges and unidentified police officers and to destroy telephone
company transformers. The LPSO informed the East Baton Rouge Parish
Sheriff's Office of the threats...
-----
BAPTISTS JUSTIFY PERILOUS MISSIONS
Thomas Korosec, Houston Chronicle, 3/29/04
www.houstonchronicle.com
FORT WORTH - David McDonnall's mission was saving souls.
"He had a passion for the Iraqis to know the good news of Jesus
Christ,"
said Brennen Searcy, a fellow student at the Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary here. "That's what he was about."
On March 15, gunmen in Mosul, Iraq, ambushed a truck carrying a
five-member
team McDonnall was leading for the International Mission Board of the
Southern Baptist Convention. He became the seventh Baptist missionary
killed in the Middle East in the past 16 months.
The attack shed light on a vigorous and controversial push by Southern
Baptists to evangelize in Iraq and other parts of the Islamic world.
While
Baptists say they are acting out of love and concern, critics say their
spiritual aspirations endanger lives, disrupt secular humanitarian
efforts
and fuel resentment of Westerners in a region shot through with
religious
and political tensions.
"You could imagine how we would feel if we here in America were
occupied
and our streets were filled with Muslim missionaries," said Kevin
Henry,
advocacy director for the aid group CARE. "We would find this deeply
offensive."
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American Islamic
Relations, a
Washington-based Islamic-rights organization, said he offered his
condolences to the families of the slain missionaries.
"We also maintain concerns about missionaries following in the wake of
an
invading American army and using human needs to draw people away from
their
faith," Hooper said.
He said he is particularly concerned because evangelicals have been
secretive in their work. "One of their main goals is to hide their
activities," he said, explaining that they often list other occupations
to
gain visas...
-----
MUSLIM ARMY CHAPLAIN APPEALS REPRIMAND, SEEKS RETURN TO DUTY, APOLOGY
Ken Thomas, Associated Press, 3/30/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-yee30mar30,1,5163851
MIAMI - A Muslim Army chaplain once suspected of being involved in an
espionage ring at a prison camp for terror suspects has appealed his
reprimand for two minor charges.
Capt. James Yee, 35, formerly assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash., was found
guilty last week of adultery and improperly downloading pornography
onto an
Army computer. His lawyer appealed Sunday.
The attorney, Eugene Fidell, wrote "a grave miscarriage of justice has
occurred. Decisions were made on insufficient evidence, and have had
devastating effects."
Fidell said the Army's decision to drop most of the charges and hold an
Article 15 proceeding - used to settle minor disciplinary issues - hurt
Yee's defense preparation and minimized media scrutiny. "This smacks of
gamesmanship and bias," he wrote.
Fidell is requesting Gen. James T. Hill, commander of the U.S. Southern
Command, recuse himself from the case and asks that the military return
Yee's passport, restore him to duty and grant him a formal apology...
Fidell has said he expects Yee to return to Fort Lewis and resume his
duties as a chaplain.
-----
BREMER CLOSES HARDLINE NEWSPAPER AND IRAQIS ASK: IS THIS DEMOCRACY
US-STYLE?
Robert Fisk, Independent, 3/30/04
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/
ANOTHER LITTLE lesson in democracy...
On Sunday morning, American troops blocked the four roads into the
square
and Iraqi policemen - 90, according to the journalists of the Al-Hawza
al-Natiqa newspaper - entered the paper's offices on the square and
presented the staff with a signed letter from Paul Bremer, the US
proconsul, ordering them to close down the weekly for 60 days. Then US
troops searched the premises. A few biscuits were left lying on the
sofa of
the editor's office. And the gates were closed with a new lock, marked
"American Made". "This is not America - this is Iraq," one of the
paper's
journalists said yesterday, pointing at the gate which had already been
forced open by the staff.
Now let us not be romantic. Al-Hawza al-Natiqa means "The Spoken
(Islamic)
College" and the paper is a mouthpiece of Muqtada Sadr, whose "Mehdi's
army" brings a chill even to the heart of Paul Bremer. Its sin, among
many,
was to criticise Mr. Bremer and - in his own words, for he signed the
letter - "to provoke violence against the Coalition Forces'." For
coalition, read occupation.
The letter was quite specific; anyone who disobeyed and dared to
publish
more "false reports" faced court, a possible year in prison and a $
1,000
(pounds 550) fine.
Mr Bremer was specific about the paper's alleged crimes. The letter was
addressed to the manager of the paper, Sheikh Abbas al-Raba'i, and
stated
that his publishing licence was being revoked. He and his editor,
Sheikh
Abbas Hassan Zargani, were guilty of publishing "false" articles.
"I am satisfied that your newspaper ... published many articles ...
that
made the security situation unstable and that you are encouraging
violence
against the Coalition Forces and the Coalition Provisional Authority
(CPA)..."
ALSO SEE:
9/11 COMMISSION DIRECTOR: IRAQ WAR LAUNCHED TO PROTECT ISRAEL
Emad Mekay, Inter Press Service, 3/30/04
http://www.antiwar.com/ips/mekay.php
IPS uncovered the remarks by Philip Zelikow, who is now the executive
director of the body set up to investigate the terrorist attacks on the
United States in September 2001 – the 9/11 commission – in which he
suggests a prime motive for the invasion just over one year ago was to
eliminate a threat to Israel, a staunch U.S. ally in the Middle East.
Zelikow's casting of the attack on Iraq as one launched to protect
Israel
appears at odds with the public position of President George W. Bush
and
his administration, which has never overtly drawn the link between its
war
on the regime of former president Hussein and its concern for Israel's
security.
The administration has instead insisted it launched the war to liberate
the
Iraqi people, destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and to
protect the United States.
Zelikow made his statements about "the unstated threat" during his
tenure
on a highly knowledgeable and well-connected body known as the
President's
Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB), which reports directly to
the
president.
He served on the board between 2001 and 2003.
"Why would Iraq attack America or use nuclear weapons against us? I'll
tell
you what I think the real threat (is) and actually has been since 1990
–
it's the threat against Israel," Zelikow told a crowd at the University
of
Virginia on Sep. 10, 2002, speaking on a panel of foreign policy
experts
assessing the impact of 9/11 and the future of the war on the al-Qaeda
terrorist organization.
"And this is the threat that dare not speak its name, because the
Europeans
don't care deeply about that threat, I will tell you frankly. And the
American government doesn't want to lean too hard on it rhetorically,
because it is not a popular sell," said Zelikow.
The statements are the first to surface from a source closely linked to
the
Bush administration acknowledging that the war, which has so far cost
the
lives of nearly 600 US troops and thousands of Iraqis, was motivated by
Washington's desire to defend the Jewish state.
The administration, which is surrounded by staunch pro-Israel,
neo-conservative hawks, is currently fighting an extensive campaign to
ward
off accusations that it derailed the "war on terrorism" it launched
after
9/11 by taking a detour to Iraq, which appears to have posed no direct
threat to the United States.
Israel is Washington's biggest ally in the Middle East, receiving
annual
direct aid of three to four billion dollars.
Even though members of the 16-person PFIAB come from outside
government,
they enjoy the confidence of the president and have access to all
information related to foreign intelligence that they need to play
their
vital advisory role.
Known in intelligence circles as "Piffy-ab", the board is supposed to
evaluate the nation's intelligence agencies and probe any mistakes they
make.
The unpaid appointees on the board require a security clearance known
as
"code word" that is higher than top secret.
The national security adviser to former President George H.W. Bush
(1989-93) Brent Scowcroft, currently chairs the board in its work
overseeing a number of intelligence bodies, including the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA), the various military intelligence groups and
the
Pentagon's National Reconnaissance Office.
Neither Scowcroft nor Zelikow returned numerous phone calls and email
messages from IPS for this story.
Zelikow has long-established ties to the Bush administration.
Before his appointment to PFIAB in October 2001, he was part of the
current
president's transition team in January 2001.
In that capacity, Zelikow drafted a memo for National Security Adviser
Condoleezza Rice on reorganizing and restructuring the National
Security
Council (NSC) and prioritizing its work.
Richard A. Clarke, who was counter-terrorism coordinator for Bush's
predecessor President Bill Clinton (1993-2001) also worked for Bush
senior,
and has recently accused the current administration of not heeding his
terrorism warnings, said Zelikow was among those he briefed about the
urgent threat from al-Qaeda in December 2000.
Rice herself had served in the NSC during the first Bush
administration,
and subsequently teamed up with Zelikow on a 1995 book about the
unification of Germany.
Zelikow had ties with another senior Bush administration official –
Robert
Zoellick, the current trade representative. The two wrote three books
together, including one in 1998 on the United States and the "Muslim
Middle
East".
Aside from his position at the 9/11 commission, Zelikow is now also
director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs and White Burkett
Miller
Professor of History at the University of Virginia.
His close ties to the administration prompted accusations of a conflict
of
interest in 2002 from families of victims of the 9/11 attacks, who
protested his appointment to the investigative body.
In his university speech, Zelikow, who strongly backed attacking the
Iraqi
dictator, also explained the threat to Israel by arguing that Baghdad
was
preparing in 1990-91 to spend huge amounts of "scarce hard currency" to
harness "communications against electromagnetic pulse", a side-effect
of a
nuclear explosion that could sever radio, electronic and electrical
communications.
That was "a perfectly absurd expenditure unless you were going to ride
out
a nuclear exchange – they (Iraqi officials) were not preparing to ride
out
a nuclear exchange with us. Those were preparations to ride out a
nuclear
exchange with the Israelis", according to Zelikow.
He also suggested that the danger of biological weapons falling into
the
hands of the anti-Israeli Islamic Resistance Movement, known by its
Arabic
acronym Hamas, would threaten Israel rather than the United States, and
that those weapons could have been developed to the point where they
could
deter Washington from attacking Hamas.
"Play out those scenarios," he told his audience, "and I will tell you,
people have thought about that, but they are just not talking very much
about it".
-----
NC: JERUSALEM WOMEN DELIVER A MESSAGE
Michael Easterbrook, News and Observer, 3/30/04
http://www.newsandobserver.com/news/story/3462254p-3077293c.html
The cycle of bloodshed in the Middle East can give the impression that
few
Israelis and Palestinians are talking.
But today, three women from the region with different religious beliefs
will tell Triangle residents that dialogue is possible.
"Not all are advocating violence," said one of the women, Nura Khoury,
41,
of Bethlehem. "There are still some who are sitting down and talking."
The women -- a Christian, a Jew and a Muslim -- are the key speakers in
the
seventh "Jerusalem women speak: Three women, three faiths, one shared
vision."
The speaking tour of the Southeastern United States began this month.
It is organized by Partners for Peace, a Washington, D.C.-based group
that
supports an end to Israel's occupation of territories seized during the
1967 Six-Day War....
The tour comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East.
People
on both sides of the conflict are bracing for more violence after the
Israeli government last week killed the founder and spiritual leader of
the
Hamas militant group.
"Of all the stupid things that governments do, this was one of the
stupidest," said Sagi, expressing an opinion shared by the other women.
"It
won't get us anywhere..."
-----
UK: 'RAIDS COULD PROVOKE MUSLIM BACKLASH'
Pat Hurst, PA News, 3/30/04
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2717497
Police raids on terror suspects could provoke a backlash from British
Muslims, community leaders warned today.
Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission
(IHRC),
said police raids and arrests made big headlines - but most suspects
were
never charged with terrorism offences.
Non-Muslims were then left with the impression there was a big problem
with
British Muslims and the effect was to create Islamophobia, Mr Shadjareh
said.
"We are extremely concerned about this. These raids are usually given a
lot
of importance when they are taking place but when people are released
without charge it is not news.
"It is creating a deception in the minds of ordinary people that we
have a
bigger problem than we really have."
Mr Shadjareh said violent attacks on Muslims had increased since 911.
"Our community, the Muslim community is being demonised through these
events. It is unprecedented in our life time. It could create a
backlash
from the Muslim community," he said.
"We are all concerned for safety and urge the police force to be
vigilant
but we need to put these things in the right perspective."
A study by the London-based IHRC of Home Office figures showed there
had
been 544 people arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000, since September
11,
2001 up to January 31, 2004.
Of those 98 had been charged with an offence but only six convicted -
two
of whom were non-Muslims, Mr Shadjareh said...
-----
DON'T BAN HEAD SCARVES
Alicia Good, The Record, 3/30/04
www.therecord.com
I recently read about the banning of Muslim head scarves, Jewish skull
caps
and large crosses in French schools. I think that the people of France
should be doing more to protest this movement.
The French government is taking away their right to express themselves.
The
government says that it is only trying to preserve the French culture,
but
why? It's not going anywhere. People make a choice to wear those items,
and
who says that the government won't start banning them in banks and
restaurants or other public places.
The women wear their head scarves so they feel free from sexual
oppression.
By taking them away, the women could feel unsafe, and they should be
defending themselves to ensure that they do feel safe.
Women wear other clothes to ensure that they aren't treated like
objects
and they wouldn't feel too good if those types of clothes were banned.
Those who practise the French culture are still in the majority in
France.
-----
2004 A.L.I.M. Summer Program for Islamic Studies
WHAT: The American Learning Institute for Muslims will host its 7th
Annual
A.L.I.M. Summer Program for Islamic Studies and 4th Annual Al-Lisan
Program
for Classical Islamic Arabic Texts.
The American Learning Institute for Muslims (ALIM) Summer Program is an
intensive course seeking to educate and empower Muslims with the
requisite
knowledge to understand their religion in the light of a changing
world.
This curriculum strikes a balance between such traditional subjects as
Fiqh, Tafsir and Seerah with a look at contemporary issues in Islam and
Modernity and Islam in America.
The Al-Lisan program seeks to empower Muslims through access to
traditional
Islamic sources in classical Arabic. There is a rich tradition of
Islamic
thought and reflection that was built over the
1400 years of Islamic scholarship. This tradition must be looked at and
processed critically so that it might be developed further.
Scholars: Dr. Abdul-Hakim Jackson; Dr. Muneer Fareed; Dr. Ali Sulaiman
Ali;
Dr. Umar Farooq Abd-Allah; Dr. Yusuf Talal Delorenzo; Imam Siraj Wahaj;
Imam Zaid Shakir.
WHEN: ALIM: July 15 August 11
AL-LISAN: July 15 August 4
WHERE: Madonna University
Livonia, Michigan
For registration and more information regarding both programs, please
visit: www.alimprogram.com
Phone: Saqib Masood (734) 377-4708, Fouzia Haq (816) 668-7372
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 3/31/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A CLEAN HEART
* SUPPORT CAIR’S IMPORTANT WORK
- NEW! Volunteer for CAIR
- Public Library Project Update: 7392
* CAIR: MUSLIMS WELCOME JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HIJAB DEFENSE
- U.S. To Defend Girl Wearing Scarf in School (CNN)
* CAIR-CA: LEGISLATURE TO VOTE ON RES. CONDEMNING BIGOTRY
* NB: LINCOLN INVESTIGATING HATE CRIME (Omaha Channel)
- Ok: Tulsa Police Investigate Mosque Burglary (KOTV)
* UT: STUDENTS EXPLAIN ISLAM TO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS (Statesmen)
- We're All Hurt by Ignorance (CC Times)
* WAIT FOR FACTS, MUSLIM LEADER URGES (Ottawa Sun)
* JEWISH SETTLERS MOVE INTO ARAB AREA (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A CLEAN HEART
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “No companion of mine
should
tell me anything bad about another person. For when I meet you, I would
like my heart to be clean (unbiased).”
Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 1539
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
VOLUNTEER FOR CAIR!
Would you like to help the American Muslim community by giving some of
your
time and service? Consider volunteering for CAIR, the nation’s leading
Islamic civil rights and advocacy group dedicated to helping Muslims
across
the United States.
CAIR currently has volunteer openings for media watch, voter
registration,
membership recruitment, community relations building, political
activism
and the public libraries project.
CAIR's Volunteer Program is designed to utilize the community's skills
and
talents while contributing to CAIR's overall mission. This program
matches
dedicated brothers and sisters willing to donate some time each week on
specific projects that help further Islam and the rights of Muslims in
America.
For more information, contact Najlaa Abdul-Alim at 202-488-8787 or
1-800-78-ISLAM. Our email address is volunteer@cair-net.org
---
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7392 SPONSORSHIPS
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, Muslim individuals and groups may sponsor 18-item
packages
about Islam and Muslims, which are then distributed to the library of
their
choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
MUSLIMS WELCOME JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HIJAB DEFENSE
DOJ supports religious attire of OK Muslim student
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/31/04) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today welcomes a Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to support
the
right of an Oklahoma student to wear an Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
School officials in Muskogee, Okla., had suspended the Muslim
sixth-grader
twice last fall because they claimed her hijab violated their dress
code
policy prohibiting hats, caps, bandanas or other headwear.
A CAIR alert about the girl's suspension drew international media
attention
and prompted hundreds of concerned Muslims to contact local and state
education officials to request religious accommodation. School district
officials subsequently allowed the Muslim student to attend classes
pending
a review of the dress code policy.
The girl’s parents filed suit against the Muskogee School District last
October. Yesterday, the federal government filed a motion in the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma to support of the
family’s lawsuit. (Hearn et al. v. Muskogee Public School District
020.)
"No student should be forced to choose between following her faith and
enjoying the benefits of a public education," said Assistant Attorney
General R. Alexander Acosta in a DOJ news release. "Religious
discrimination has no place in American schools."
SEE: http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/March/04_crt_195.htm
“This significant legal step may help set a precedent that will benefit
students of all faiths,” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Our
government’s action also sends a clear message to the international
community that America will defend its citizens' religious freedoms."
Earlier this year, France moved to ban Muslim head scarves in public
schools. Other countries, even some with Muslim-majority populations,
have
or are considering similar bans.
The DOJ complaint alleges that the school district violated the equal
protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution,
which
bars states from applying dress codes in an inconsistent and
discriminatory
manner. CAIR also cited the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act as legal
support
for religious accommodation. That act states: "No governmental entity
shall
substantially burden a person's free exercise of religion.”
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END –
CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
rahmed@cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
U.S. TO DEFEND MUSLIM GIRL WEARING SCARF IN SCHOOL
Terry Frieden, CNN, 3/31/04
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/LAW/03/30/us.school.headscarves/
WASHINGTON- The Justice Department announced Tuesday the government's
civil
rights lawyers have jumped into a legal case to support a Muslim girl's
right to wear a head scarf in a public school.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Alex Acosta said government
lawyers would support 11-year-old Nashala Hearn, a sixth-grade student
who
has sued the Muskogee, Oklahoma, Public School District for ordering
her to
remove her head scarf, or hijab, because it violated the dress code of
the
Benjamin Franklin Science Academy, which she attended.
The girl continued to wear her hijab to school and was subsequently
suspended twice for doing so. The family appealed the suspensions,
which
were upheld by a district administrative hearing committee.
Her parents filed suit against the Muskogee School District last
October.
On Tuesday the federal government filed a motion in a federal court in
Muskogee to intervene in support of Nashala's position...
The Council on American-Islamic Relations -- which has often been
critical
of the Bush administration's policies -- praised the government's
support
in the case.
"This moves comes in a time when the Muslim community feels like they
are
being singled out and their civil rights threatened," a statement from
the
group said.
"The news also sends out a message to the international community,
especially some European countries where the wearing of the head scarf
is
being banned, that America will defend its citizens' religious
freedoms..."
-----
CAIR-CA: COMMUNITY URGED TO CONTACT CA LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT RES.
AJR 64 condemns bigotry against Muslim, Arab, South Asian, and Sikh
Americans
(Anaheim, CA - 3/30/2004) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations -
California (CAIR-CA) urges the Muslim community to contact their
assembly
member to vote 'yes' on Assembly Joint Resolution AJR 64 condemning
bigotry
and violence against American Muslims, Arab Americans, South Asian
Americans, and Sikh Americans. The resolution, introduced by Assembly
member Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and sponsored by CAIR-California,
will be
voted on April 1st on the Assembly floor. A press conference will be
held
on Friday, April 2, 2004 at the Islamic Society of Orange County. (The
resolution has the support of an overwhelming majority in the
legislature.)
(To view resolution, go to
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm and type '64' for
Bill
Number)
AJR 64 also recognizes the contributions of Arab, Muslim, South Asian,
and
Sikh Americans to the nation, calls upon law enforcement authorities to
work vigorously to prevent bias-motivated crimes, investigate and
prosecute
all crimes committed against the aforementioned groups (see list of
sample
hate incidents in addendum below), and reaffirms the California
Assembly's
commitment to ensuring that the civil rights of all Americans,
including
individuals of Arab, Muslim, South Asian and Sikh descent, are
protected.
Thirty-five other organizations and governmental entities have signed
on as
co-sponsors including the office of California Attorney General Bill
Lockyer and other law enforcement officials from across the state.
California will be the first state to pass such a resolution. Similar
bills, House Resolution 234 and Senate Resolution 133, were passed
unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in 2003.
"This is a significant moment in the life of American Muslims.
American
Muslims, Arabs, South Asians, and Sikhs are integral to our country's
prosperity and continue to contribute to our country's success in every
sphere of life," said CAIR-LA Director of Governmental Relations Omar
Zaki. "With this resolution, California reaffirms its stance against
bigotry and for inclusiveness of all Californians regardless of race or
religion," he added.
ACTION REQUESTED (As always be POLITE):
1) Contact your local member of the state Senate and Assembly and
request
them support AJR 64. Write a letter, Fax, E-Mail, or Call. To find your
State Senator and Assemblyperson, go to:
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset9text.htm
2) Write a letter of support to the California Assembly Public Safety
Committee. Go to:
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a49/contacts.htm or send to:
Assembly member Judy Chu, California State Capitol, PO Box 942849,
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001 94249-0049, or fax to: 916-319-2149
-----
NB: LINCOLN INVESTIGATING HATE CRIME
Omaha Channel, 3/31/04
http://www.theomahachannel.com/news/2961850/detail.html
LINCOLN, Neb. -- An Iraqi man who owns a Lincoln car dealership
reported
Tuesday that racial slurs had been written all over his business.
"They threatened him if he did not go back to his country," said
employee
Michelle Ramsey. "They gave him a certain amount of time to sell the
business or they were going to hurt his friends and family. They came
in
this back door and they just destroyed everything."
The vandals didn't touch any cars or steal anything.
There are about 6,000 Iraqis in Lincoln, many of whom told KETV they've
always felt comfortable in the capital city.
"I don't feel many people in Lincoln are like this. There's a lot of
Arab
businesses that are prosperous," Ramsey said.
Police said they believe the vandalism may be connected to about a
half-dozen others at Lincoln businesses, but it is the first to leave
behind hate messages.
"We take this very seriously," said Katherine Finnel, with Lincoln
police.
"We don't want to harbor an environment where people think this is
right to
do this."
ALSO SEE:
TULSA POLICE INVESTIGATE BURGLARY AT THE ISLAMIC CENTER
KOTV, 3/31/04
http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=60048
Thieves broke into an Islamic Center in Tulsa early Wednesday morning.
They
may have been in search of money, but they created a big mess instead.
Tulsa Police were called to the Islamic Center at 4600 South Irvington
around 2:30 AM. They found a window smashed, where the thieves had made
their way in.
This isn't the first time there's been a break-in here. Intruders in
the
past have taken money from the donation box. This time police believe
nothing was taken, even from the offices.
No one has been arrested. Police have recovered a video tape that they
believe might help catch those responsible for the break-in.
-----
USU STUDENTS EXPLAIN ISLAM TO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
Brooke Nelson, Utah Statesman, 3/29/04
http://www.utahstatesman.com/news/2004/03/29/CampusNews/Usu-Students.Explain.Islam.To.Middle.Schoolers-644195.shtml
Mount Logan Middle School students had the opportunity to learn about
Islam
when Utah State University students from the Study Abroad program spoke
to
them last week.
Muhammad Hussain, a senior studying business information systems and
agribusiness, and a life-long Muslim who lived most of his life in
Pakistan, said he spoke to students in an effort to spread awareness
about
Islam and clarify for students some of the misunderstandings that have
developed since Sept. 11.
"The most important thing [for students to understand] is that we're
not
terrorists and that Islam ... spreads peace, and it has never initiated
war," he said. "There is a lot more to the religion than media tells."
Students were shown a video narrated by two Muslim children living in
Cache
Valley which showed the children participating in daily activities such
as
attending school, watching television and playing soccer.
"Our lives are a lot like your lives," one narrator said.
The video also showed the children praying and involved in practices of
their religion. Basic facts about Islam, including the five pillars of
Islam, information about the Quran, the Arabic language, how Islam is
similar to and different from Christianity and Judaism and information
about cultures in predominantly Muslim countries were also presented.
Students were then encouraged to ask questions about what they had
seen....
ALSO SEE:
WE'RE ALL HURT BY IGNORANCE
Contra Costa Times, 3/29/04
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/8318969.htm
Living in the United States, I have experienced firsthand the prejudice
Arabs face. I have seen the way we are portrayed on television and in
the news.
Having grown up in both the United States and the Middle East, I have
an
unusual perspective, I think. I was born in Jerusalem, but I also lived
in
the United States for four years when I was younger. My parents decided
that they wanted my brother and me to learn about and experience our
culture firsthand and decided to move to the West Bank when I was 6
years
old. I visited the United States numerous times during the 10 years I
lived
in the Middle East. When the fighting made life unbearable in the
troubled
region, my family moved back to the United States where we got the
chance
to experience a newfound "freedom..."
"Is she being forced to wear that thing on her head?" I have heard this
question many times. Is a Muslim woman required to wear the "hijab" or
head
scarf? This act is a religious practice and not a cultural practice.
Islam
teaches that a woman should wear a hijab out of modesty. Although some
may
view this as disrespectful of women, it is in fact the opposite, as it
liberates women from being sexual objects.
This practice is not "forced," and it is not uncommon for females in
the
same family to have differing views on whether they want to wear the
hijab...
Most Arabs do not hate Americans, but embrace the American culture and
what
the United States has to offer. So next time you see an Arab, surprise
that
person with how much you know about his/her culture.
Understanding leads to peace. Peace leads to happiness, and what a
great
world this would be if we had all three.
Start with yourself, and you won't believe how much your changed
attitude
will affect those around you...
-----
WAIT FOR FACTS, MUSLIM LEADER URGES
Nelly Elayoubi, Ottawa Sun, 3/31/04
http://www.ottawasun.com/
The threat of terrorism must be thoroughly investigated, but a local
Muslim
leader warns Canadians shouldn't jump to conclusions about members of
his
community before all the facts are in.
"Every time there is a premature conclusion about Muslims being
terrorists,
in advance of any thorough investigation, that chills relations between
Canadians and Canadian Muslims," Riad Saloojee, the director of
Canadian
Council on American-Islamic Relations said yesterday.
Saloojee was contacted by the Khawaja family late Monday night, after
the
Orleans family's home was raided by the RCMP.
"Everyone is waiting, waiting with bated breath," he said yesterday.
Calling the details of the raid "sketchy," Saloojee said he is eager to
find out more before the council decides what, if any, action to take.
In the meantime, he offered these words: "If there is a security
danger, or
any danger that's imminent, then we want our security forces to act
quickly
... but the concerns we have are simply that an entire community or
individuals should not be prejudged until that process is complete."
Premature conclusions harm innocent people and deny them the right to
be
thought of as innocent until proven guilty, Saloojee said.
The RCMP issued a statement last night reassuring Muslims that the
department harbours no bias...
-----
JEWISH SETTLERS MOVE INTO ARAB AREA
Ravi Nessman, Associated Press, 3/31/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3925107,00.html
JERUSALEM - Ultra-Orthodox Jews armed with assault rifles lugged boxes,
sofas and potted plants into two buildings in a crowded Arab
neighborhood
of Jerusalem at daybreak Wednesday, sparking clashes between Israeli
troops
and angry residents.
Israeli officials said the group had the right to live in the buildings
in
east Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after capturing it in the 1967
Mideast
War.
Palestinian officials said the incident proved Israel was less
interested
in peace than in tightening its grasp on east Jerusalem, which they
want
for the capital of a future state.
Later Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended his plan
to
unilaterally withdraw from most or all of the Gaza Strip and parts of
the
West Bank. A day earlier, he agreed to a binding referendum among his
rebellious Likud Party members on the "disengagement" plan.
Sharon said Israel must draw its own security line, which would mean
"withdrawal from areas which it is understood will not be under Israeli
control in any permanent agreement to be signed in the future, which
cause
great friction between Israelis and Palestinians - the Gaza Strip, for
example."
A poll published Wednesday in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper showed 51
percent of Likud members support the plan, while 36 percent oppose it.
The
Dahaf Institute poll questioned 507 Likud members and had a margin of
error
of 4.4 percentage points.
Sharon blamed the Palestinians for not acting to stop violence. An
Israeli
pullout from Gaza would remove their main "excuse," he said, and then,
"we
need to tell them, please gentlemen, when there is no Israeli presence,
let's see you start to act."
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia cautiously welcomed the Gaza
plan,
but only as a first step to a full West Bank withdrawal.
"In principle, we welcome the Israeli withdrawal from our Palestinian
land," Qureia told Palestinian lawmakers. "But for any withdrawal to
have
meaning for us ... it should be followed by a complete Israeli
withdrawal
from the West Bank, too..."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, The Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR CONDEMNS MUTILATION OF BODIES IN IRAQ
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/31/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today condemned the mutilation of those killed in Iraq on
Wednesday.
Four American civilian contractors were ambushed in their SUV's,
burned,
mutilated, dragged through the streets and then hung from a bridge
spanning
the Euphrates River, according to news reports.
CAIR said the mutilations violated both Islamic and international norms
of
conduct during times of war and called on all parties to the conflict
to
respect the sanctity of the dead and the sensitivities of their
families.
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group cited a
tradition of the Prophet Muhammad that prohibits mutilating bodies
(Hadith
654.3).
In another tradition, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Do not
kill
women or children, or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down
fruit-bearing
trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place." (Al-Muwatta, Vol. 21,
Hadith 9)
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS – 4/1/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD BEHAVIOR
* SUPPORT CAIR’S IMPORTANT WORK
- Volunteer for CAIR
- Public Library Project Update: 7392
* CAIR-NY: MUSLIMS VOTE 2004 DINNER
* CAIR-FL TO HOST ANNUAL BANQUET
* MUSLIM GROUP PROTESTS THE DEPORTATION OF OHIO WOMAN
- Woman Deported to Venezuela without Children (AP)
* A CONCRETE LESSON IN FAITH (Boston Globe)
* CHAPLAIN'S ATTORNEY CONTESTS SPY CLAIMS (Wash Times)
* UK: GROUP ISSUES PLEA FOR MOSQUES TO COOPERATE (G & M)
- Peace Call Rings out at Mosque (GC)
* FIRST GERMAN STATE OUTLAWS HIJAB FOR MUSLIM TEACHERS (AFP)
* HATRED OF JEWS AND MUSLIMS TAKES ROOT IN FRANCE (Reuters)
* SETTLERS MOVE TO ARAB AREA, IGNITING CLASH (Pioneer Press)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD BEHAVIOR
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Nothing is weightier in
the
scales of a believer on the Day of Judgement than his good behavior.
God
treats with displeasure a person who is given to loose and vulgar
talks.”
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 215
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
VOLUNTEER FOR CAIR!
Would you like to help the American Muslim community by giving some of
your
time and service? Consider volunteering for CAIR, the nation’s leading
Islamic civil rights and advocacy group dedicated to helping Muslims
across
the United States.
CAIR currently has volunteer openings for media watch, voter
registration,
membership recruitment, community relations building, political
activism
and the public libraries project.
CAIR's Volunteer Program is designed to utilize the community's skills
and
talents while contributing to CAIR's overall mission. This program
matches
dedicated brothers and sisters willing to donate some time each week on
specific projects that help further Islam and the rights of Muslims in
America.
For more information, contact Najlaa Abdul-Alim at 202-488-8787 or
1-800-78-ISLAM. Our email address is volunteer@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-NY: MUSLIMS VOTE 2004 DINNER
WHAT: Speakers at the dinner will discuss the role of the 7 million
American-Muslims in the 2004 election. Confirmed Guest Speakers include
Omar Ahmad, Chairman, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR);
Nihad
Awad, Executive Director of CAIR; Agha Seed, Chairman, American Muslim
Alliance,
WHEN: Saturday, April 10 at 630 PM
WHERE: CROWNE PLAZA LAGUARDIA HOTEL
104-04 Ditmars Blvd,
East Elmhurst, Queens, NY 11369
(Across LaGuardia Airport)
(For directions please call hotel at (718) 457-6300)
-----
CAIR-FL TO HOST ANNUAL BANQUET
WHAT: On Saturday, April 3, the Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will host its south Florida annual
banquet, titled “A Defining Moment and a Night of Heroes."
Speakers include: Dr. Abdul Hakim Jackson, Professor of Islamic
Studies,
University of Michigan; Nihad Awad, founder and executive director of
CAIR,
and Kevin James, a NY City firefighter who participated in the 9-11
rescue
efforts and who was featured in the PBS documentary, "Muhammad-Legacy
of a
Prophet." Several public officials are expected to attend.
WHEN: Saturday, April 3, 2004 @ 7:00 PM
WHERE: Wyndham, Ft. Lauderdale Airport; 1870 Griffin Road; Ft.
Lauderdale,
Florida
CONTACT: Altaf Ali 954-298-8214
-----
MUSLIM GROUP PROTESTS THE DEPORTATION OF OHIO WOMAN
Mother of three American-born children deported, denied due process
(CLEVELAND, OHIO, 4/1/04) - The Cleveland office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH) will hold a news conference today
to
protest the deportation of Amina Silmi. The mother of three
American-born
children was deported to Venezuela late Wednesday afternoon, despite
recent
progress to her case.
Early Wednesday morning, Immigration and Custom officials said Silmi
was
scheduled to return to Cleveland and her family had been told to
prepare a
bond. It became clear, however, that Immigration and Customs
Enforcement
(ICE) suddenly reversed its decision when Amina called CAIR-OH to say
she
was on board a plane for Caracas. Silmi, a Venezuelan national of
Palestinian ancestry, was the center of a high-profile battle with ICE
to
stay in the U.S. where she has lived for 13 years.
WHEN: Thursday, April 1, at 8:00 pm
WHERE: The Congregation of St. Joseph, 3430 Rocky River Drive,
Cleveland Ohio
“The deportation of Amina Silmi, coming at the expense of little
children,
is unconscionable,” said Julia Shearson, Director of the CAIR Cleveland
Office.
CONTACT: CAIR, Cleveland Office, Julia A. Shearson, Director,
216-440-2247
or 216-830-2247, Cleveland@cair-ohio.com
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM WOMAN DEPORTED TO VENEZUELA WITHOUT HER CHILDREN
Associated Press, 4/1/04
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/04/01/us.deportation.ap/
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Muslim woman fighting to remain in the United
States
was deported to her native Venezuela without her three American-born
children.
Immigration officials put Amina Silmi on a flight to Caracas on
Wednesday.
Silmi, of the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio, was born in Venezuela
to
Palestinian parents. She came to the United States in 1990, married
twice
and had three children without attaining legal residency.
Her second husband was deported in December after being convicted of
trafficking in food stamps before their marriage.
In 2001, an immigration judge ordered her to be deported. Her appeals
were
exhausted on March 18.
Silmi left her children, ages 5, 6 and 12 and all U.S. citizens, in the
care of a sister. She has no family or friends in Venezuela.
Because of immigration violations, she is barred from returning to the
United States for 10 years...
Opponents say Silmi did not receive due process and characterized her
plight as a civil rights issue.
"It's very easy to scapegoat immigrants," said Julia Shears, director
of
the Cleveland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
-----
A CONCRETE LESSON IN FAITH
John Laidler, Boston Globe, 4/1/04
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/04/01/islamic_high_school_opens_in_renovated_catholic_church
For nearly three quarters of a century, it served the Catholic
community in
Mansfield, first as a church and later as a place for religious
education.
Now, after sitting idle for nearly two decades, the former St. Mary's
church is again filled with the voices of the faithful. But this time,
they
are the voices of Muslims.
On March 5, Al-Noor Academy, the state's first Islamic high school,
moved
into the former St. Mary's building, relocating from the space it had
been
leasing at the Islamic Center of New England facility in Quincy.
Al-Noor
bought the Church Street building from a private owner.
The relocation followed the completion of a nearly year-long renovation
project, which included replacement of the building's aging mechanical
systems, new coats of paint, and the construction of a second story
within
the former sanctuary space to serve as a prayer area.
The project and relocation, paid for with funds raised from the area's
Muslim community, represents a milestone for the four-year-old academy,
marking the first time it has had its own space.
It also allows the coeducational school, which now serves 43 students,
to
grow in a way it could not have previously. Its new quarters can
accommodate up to 150 pupils...
----
MUSLIM CHAPLAIN'S ATTORNEY CONTESTS MILITARY SPY CLAIMS
Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 4/1/04
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040331-110836-2285r.htm
A defense attorney filed legal papers yesterday rebutting the U.S.
military's contention that it never accused Army Capt. James J. Yee, a
Muslim chaplain, of being a spy.
Eugene Fidell, the officer's civilian attorney, cited a confidential
confinement order submitted by military prosecutors last summer that
accused Capt. Yee of spying and espionage.
The latest volley in a case that has become embarrassing for the
military
came as Mr. Fidell on Sunday appealed a nonjudicial punishment meted
out to
his client for adultery and storing pornography on his government
computer.
The attorney augmented that appeal with a new filing, which was
prompted by
a letter to the New York Times published yesterday. Lt. Col. Bill
Costello,
the deputy director for public affairs at U.S. Southern Command in
Miami,
was responding to a Times editorial that criticized the military's
handling
of the case. Col. Costello said in his letter that Capt. Yee was never
charged with spying...
"This is plainly disingenuous," Mr. Fidell said yesterday. The lawyer
wrote
that top military officers signed a confinement order that listed five
"offenses charged." They were: failure to obey a lawful order, mutiny
and
sedition, aiding the enemy, spying and espionage. The accusations
resulted
in a magistrate agreeing to jail Capt. Yee pending further
investigation...
-----
MUSLIM GROUP ISSUES PLEA FOR MOSQUES TO CO-OPERATE
Alan Freeman, Globe and Mail, 4/1/04
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040401/TERROR01/TPInternational/TopStories
CRAWLEY, ENGLAND -- A leading British Muslim organization took the
extraordinary step yesterday of asking mosques across the country to
condemn violence and co-operate with the police, a day after a massive
anti-terrorism sweep in London led to the arrest of eight Britons and
the
discovery of a half-tonne of a bomb-making chemical.
In a two-page statement, the Muslim Council of Britain called on the
country's two million Muslims to maintain "utmost vigilance" and
contact
the authorities if they suspect criminal activity.
"Islam categorically forbids violence and the killing of innocents, let
alone indulging in violence which can cause death and mayhem," the
letter said.
The letter had been planned before Tuesday's arrests of eight British
men,
aged 17 to 32, but was rewritten after the police raids. It appeared
aimed
to deflect criticism that Britain's Muslims had not been forceful
enough in
condemning terrorism in the past, and immediately won praise from Prime
Minister Tony Blair.
"The threat from terrorism affects every family in this country, Muslim
and
non-Muslim alike," Mr. Blair said. "It is right that we all work
together
to defeat this threat and do not allow the extremists to divide us."
ALSO SEE:
PEACE CALL RINGS OUT AT MOSQUES
Gloucestershire Citizen, 4/1/04
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=111001&command=displayContent&sourceNode=111000&contentPK=941825910:30
The message of "peace and harmony" is already a regular aspect at
mosques
in Gloucester, a spokesman has said.
And that message will be reinforced in the wake of a letter sent by the
Muslim Council of Great Britain to all mosques in the UK. It calls on
followers to report suspicious activity to authorities and reminds them
that "Islam categorically forbids violence and killing of innocents,
let
alone indulging in violence which can cause death and mayhem".
Ahmed Bham is secretary of Gloucester's Masjid-E-Noor, in Ryecroft
Street.
He said: "We send the same message to young people as anyone else,
about
living in peace and harmony and being law-abiding citizens. That
message
has been very clear to all our members right from the outset."
He had not yet seen the letter, but when it arrived the executive
committee
would give it every attention.
"Of course, we will co-operate fully with the police in terms of
ensuring
that every member of the Muslim community, and indeed the wider
community,
remains vigilant," he said.
The Muslim Council revealed that the letter had been sent out to
mosques in
an effort to bring to their attention concerns that have been expressed
about an immediate attack taking place in the UK, in the wake of the
Madrid
bombings which claimed 191 lives...
The council's intervention follows fears that fringe elements are
misleading young people for political reasons.
Its hope is that the letter will be used to get across the message
during
Friday prayers that terrorism has no place in Islam...
-----
FIRST GERMAN STATE OUTLAWS HEADSCARVES FOR MUSLIM TEACHERS
Agence France Presse, 4/1/04
http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/313608.htm
STUTTGART, Germany - A conservative German state became the first in
the
country Thursday to ban Muslim public school teachers from wearing
headscarves amid a fierce debate on religious symbols in public life.
The legislature of the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, led by a
coalition of the Christian Democratic Union and the liberal Free
Democrats,
voted almost unanimously for the new law. It will go into effect this
month.
State culture minister Annette Schavan said that because Muslim head
covering was "open to interpretation" including a possible espousal of
the
"Islamist political views," it had no place in the classroom.
Germany's highest tribunal, the constitutional court, ruled in
September
that Baden-Wuerttemberg was wrong to forbid a Muslim female teacher,
Fereshta Ludin, from wearing a headscarf in the classroom.
But it said Germany's 16 regional states could legislate to ban
religious
apparel if it was deemed to unduly influence children.
Six states have now put forward draft laws banning headscarves or other
religious symbols in public institutions.
The latest came this week when the left-wing government in Berlin
agreed on
a sweeping ban on religious symbols that would cover not only Muslim
headscarves but also large Christian crosses and Jewish skullcaps and
apply
to police officers, judges and bailiffs as well as public school
teachers.
Muslim groups have fiercely criticized the headscarf bans as
compromising
their freedom of religious expression.
-----
HATRED OF JEWS AND MUSLIMS TAKES ROOT IN FRANCE
Reuters, 4/1/04
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=487280§ion=news
PARIS - Hatred of Jews and Muslims has taken root in France, with
anti-Semitism behind most racist crime and hostility towards Islam on
the
rise, a national human rights commission says in its annual report.
The persistent high level of such hate crimes and the spread of racist
attitudes among school pupils are serious causes of concern, even if
the
overall number of racist crimes fell last year compared to 2002, it
said on
Thursday.
"The link with international events, already seen in recent years, was
confirmed in 2003 with a spike in the spring at the start of the war in
Iraq," Joel Thoraval, head of the National Consultative Commission on
Human
Rights, told journalists.
Thoraval said outside events had a direct influence on hate crimes but
did
not identify the perpetrators and victims.
The final version of a controversial European Union report issued on
Wednesday blamed "young, disaffected white Europeans" for the rise in
anti-Semitic violence. An earlier version had blamed Muslim youths for
the
rise in attacks on Jews in Europe...
Anti-Semitic violence accounted for 72 percent of the hate crimes and
threats registered in France last year, or 588 out of 817, the report
said.
In 2002, 932 of the 1,313 acts of racist violence were anti-Jewish.
By comparison, France registered 614 racist and anti-Semitic attacks
and
threats in 1995, and 189 in 1990.
Regarding other racist violence, four-fifths of attacks and threats
were
against Muslims, the report said...
-----
SETTLERS MOVE TO ARAB AREA, IGNITING CLASH
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 4/1/04
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/world/8325157.htm
JERUSALEM -- Jewish settlers protected by Israeli police moved into a
crowded Arab neighborhood in Jerusalem before dawn Wednesday, sparking
a
clash with angry Arab residents.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was an early supporter of an organized
effort
to move Jews into the traditionally Arab eastern sector, and he bought
a
house in the walled Old City's Muslim Quarter in 1987. Israel captured
the
Old City from Jordan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
But Wednesday's move by the settlers could prove an embarrassment to
Sharon
as he tries to convince President Bush this month in Washington that he
is
sincere about plans to withdraw some settlers from parts of the Gaza
Strip
and West Bank.
On Wednesday, Israeli soldiers dismantled two uninhabited Jewish
outposts
in the West Bank, consisting of a couple of empty shipping containers,
a
tent and a shack.
In recent years, hawkish Jewish groups have steadily strengthened their
footing in Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, and now an estimated
180,000 Jews live there.
On Wednesday, eight Jewish families moved into a new six-story
apartment
building in East Jerusalem, and a dozen religious-school students moved
into part of an older Arab family compound.
After the move was completed, armed settlers and police officers
guarded
the entrances and kept watch from rooftops...
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
MAJOR STUDY OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS TO BE RELEASED
(DETROIT, MI, 4/2/04) - On Tuesday, April 6, the Institute for Social
Policy and Understanding (ISPU) will hold a news conference in
Washington,
D.C., to release the results of a year-long study of the American
Muslim
community.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 6, 2004, 9 a.m.
WHERE: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington D.C.
CONTACT: ISPU Director of Development Muzammil Ahmed, 734-368-2127,
586-416-1150, E-Mail: muzammil@enoor.com
The study, coordinated by University of Kentucky Professor Ihsan Bagby,
provides a penetrating look at the American Muslim community and its
member's views on policy issues, politics and religion. It also
provides a
detailed demographic look at the Muslim community in metro Detroit.
(Some
1300 American Muslims participated in the study.)
(NOTE: The full results of the study will be presented by Dr Bagby at
the
"Islam in America" conference sponsored by Wayne State University and
ISPU
on April 7th and 8th in Detroit, Mich. For more information about that
conference, see:
http://www.ispu.us/pdfs/Islam%20in%20America%20Brochure.pdf )
"This report gives us a rare glimpse into a community that is often
talked
about but rarely understood," said Farid Senzai, ISPU Director of
Research.
"It deserves a wide readership and should exert substantial influence
on
public policy."
Major findings of the study include:
* The vast majority of Muslim Americans hold "moderate" views on issues
of
policy, politics and religion.
* More than 90 percent of mosque-attending Muslims support greater
involvement in their local community and national politics
For embargoed copies of the report, media professionals may contact the
ISPU office at (586) 416-1150. SEE ALSO: www.ispu.us
- END -
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/2/04
* U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK PENTAGON PROBE OF IRAQ PHOTO
* CAIR-MD APPLAUDS REPUDIATION OF ISLAMOPHOBIC E-MAIL
- Dwyer E-mail Alarms Colleagues (Baltimore Sun)
- Anti-Islam Essay Angers State Legislators (News-Post)
* CAIR-CA: LEGISLATURE PASSES RESOLUTION CONDEMNING BIGOTRY
* CAIR-SEATTLE: MUSLIMS WELCOME YEE HOME
* CAIR-DFW: IMMIGRANTS BLAST RENTAL DISCRIMINATION (Express-News)
* CAIR-OH: STUDENTS GET LESSON IN ISLAM (Times Recorder)
- PA: Hijab Doesn't Mean Oppression, Women Say (Pitt News)
- U.S. Takes Opposite Track from France on Hijab (IHT)
- WI: Student in Hijab Reveals Discrimination (Freeman)
- DC Mosque Excels in Reaching Out (UPI)
* BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY ON CAMPUS (Seattle PI)
- USIP Says Daniel Pipes Uses 'Guilt by Association'
* CLARKE HIRED STEVEN EMERSON TO ADVISE WHITE HOUSE (Newsweek)
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK PENTAGON PROBE OF IRAQ PHOTO
Soldier's sign says he killed boy's father, impregnated sister
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/2/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today called for a Pentagon investigation of a photograph
circulating on the Internet that apparently shows an American soldier
mocking an Iraqi child.
The photo sent to CAIR seems to be of an American soldier standing next
to
two Iraqi children who are giving the thumbs-up sign. One child holds a
hand-lettered sign in English that reads: "Lcpl Boudreaux killed my
Dad,
th(en) he knocked up my sister!" ("Knocked up" is American slang for
making
someone pregnant out of wedlock.) SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/images/lcpl11.jpg
"If the United States Army is seeking to win the hearts and minds of
the
Iraqi people, this is the wrong way to accomplish that goal," said CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Defense Department officials must take
action to let military personnel know that such offensive behavior
harms
America's image and will not be tolerated."
Awad said CAIR has also received an anonymous letter from a soldier who
recently returned from Iraq that claims a commanding officer engaged in
inappropriate conduct with prepubescent Iraqi girls. The letter states
that
the officer, who was named by the writer, referred to the girls as
"pre-rag
heads" and coerced local Iraqi leaders to provide them in exchange for
protection by American soldiers. (The officer's military unit was also
named in the letter.)
The letter-writer indicated revulsion at the officer's alleged actions.
He
or she wrote: "The thought of all this makes me sick to my stomach. I
am
afraid to bring this to anyone in the Army, because I am doubtful that
they
would believe a soldier over the Battalion Commander."
"These reports point to a disturbing pattern of behavior that needs to
be
addressed by our military," said Awad.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has consistently
condemned all terrorist acts, whether carried out by individuals,
groups or
states.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-MD APPLAUDS REPUDIATION OF ISLAMOPHOBIC E-MAIL
(BETHESDA, MD, 4/2/04) - The Maryland Office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MD) today applauded the widespread
repudiation of an Islamophobic e-mail circulated by House Delegate
Donald
Dwyer of District 31 (Anne Arundel County). (See Baltimore Sun article
below.)
"We are encouraged by the fact that Delegate Dwyer views are not
representative of Anne Arundel County or the State of Maryland," said
Seyed
Rizwan Mowlana, Executive Director of CAIR-MD. "CAIR applauds those
members
of the Maryland State General Assembly who spoke out against this
offensive
and inaccurate message." Mowlana also asked that the Joint Committee on
Ethics look at this matter seriously and take appropriate actions.
- END -
CONTACT: Seyed Rizwan Mowlana, 301-672-9355; seyed.mowlana@cairmd.org
SEE ALSO:
DWYER E-MAIL ON ISLAM ALARMS HIS COLLEAGUES
Delegate who shared nephew's essay criticized
Michael Dresser and Kimberly A. C. Wilson, Baltimore Sun, 4/2/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.dwyer02apr02,0,5226777.story
An Anne Arundel County legislator stirred controversy in Annapolis
yesterday by e-mailing to colleagues an essay contending that Islam is
a
"militaristic and violent" religion.
Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr., one of the most conservative Republicans in
the
General Assembly, apparently used his state-provided computer to
distribute
the treatise titled "Is Islam Really Peaceful?" Purportedly written by
his
eighth-grade nephew, it cites Islamic scripture to make a case that the
religion is not peaceful.
Among other things, it states that "the Koran gives clear warrant for
killing those who will not comply with Islam; therefore Muslims must
kill
those who will not allow Islam."
Seyed Rizwan Mowlana, who runs the Maryland chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, the nation's leading Muslim civil rights
organization, said Dwyer's e-mail amounted to hate-mongering.
"This is very, very alarming," said Mowlana. "Sending this out as an
elected official, it becomes conduct unbecoming. He used the
legislative
e-mails, my taxpayer money, to send his hate out."
Dwyer told colleagues he was distributing the "clarification" at the
request of his nephew, Alex Dwyer, a student at Rockbridge Academy, a
Christian school in Millersville.
"I was very proud of the work he had done, and I wasn't trying to fire
anybody up," Dwyer said.
At 9:35 a.m., the lawmaker forwarded the essay by e-mail to all 187 of
his
legislative colleagues and quickly learned how inflammatory his
nephew's
words were, even on a day filled with gruesome images in the news of
jubilant Iraqis mutilating the charred corpses of American workers.
Within two hours, Sen. Sharon M. Grosfeld shot Dwyer a reply calling
the
e-mail an "inappropriate" message that "perpetuates hateful stereotypes
at
a time when building bridges is necessary."
"Simply because your nephew asked you to distribute his views does not
mean
you cannot use your adult, professional discretion to tell him that it
is
inappropriate to do so," the Montgomery County Democrat wrote. "I
suggest
that rather than trying to shield yourself, you keep your nephew's and
your
discriminatory diatribe to yourself."
Sen. Gwendolyn T. Britt replied more curtly.
"I take exception to your assumption that I welcome receiving a message
of
this nature. Please refrain from repeating this in the future," the
Prince
George's County Democrat wrote…
---
ANTI-ISLAM ESSAY ANGERS STATE LEGISLATORS
Clifford G. Cumber and Dave Loos, News-Post, 4/2/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.dwyer02apr02,0,5226777.story
ANNAPOLIS -- An eighth-grader's essay condemning the Muslim faith as a
"militaristic and violent religion" was forwarded to the private e-mail
accounts of the entire 188-member Maryland General Assembly, provoking
outrage among legislators Thursday.
Anne Arundel Delegate Don Dwyer said he had sent the essay, titled "Is
Islam really peaceful?" at the request of the author, his nephew Alex
Dwyer, who attends private school, according to the mailing.
In his e-mail, Mr. Dwyer, a Republican, called the essay a "compelling
explanation of the facts related to the question." He could not be
reached
for comment Thursday.
The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were considered a holy war
against
America by some Muslims and the paper argues against the depiction of
Islam
as a peaceful religion.
"From the standpoint of an American, those attacks seemed very
militaristic. This paper is written from the standpoint that Islam is,
although many modern Muslims deny it, a militaristic and violent
religion,"
the eighth-grader said.
Maryland GOP Chairman John Kane criticized the mailing, though he
praised
Mr. Dwyer's work in Annapolis. Mr. Kane said he was "extremely wrong"
on
the notion Islam was violent.
"These kinds of divisive comments are not what the Republican Party
stands
for," Mr. Kane said. "Islam is a peaceful religion and its followers
believe in following a life of opportunity and success..."
Seyed Rizwan Mowlana, executive director of the Bethesda-based Council
on
American-Islamic Relations of Maryland, said his organization was
appalled
by the e-mail: "He's talking of the population who contribute
tremendously
to the land and he's trying to demonize them…"
-----
CAIR-CA GOOD NEWS ALERT #39
CA LEGISLATURE PASSES RESOLUTION CONDEMNING BIGOTRY
Special thanks to Assemblywoman Judy Chu and other cosponsors
(SACRAMENTO, CA - 4/2/2004) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations-
California (CAIR-CA) announced today the unanimous passage (70-0) of
Assembly Joint Resolution 64 (AJR 64) condemning bigotry and violence
against Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, South Asian Americans, and
Sikh
Americans in the California legislature.
The resolution, introduced by Assembly member Judy Chu (D-Monterey
Park),
and co-authored by 66 Assembly members, was voted on the Assembly floor
yesterday. AJR 64 was sponsored by CAIR-California.
CAIR-LA, community leaders and elected officials will hold a press
conference on AJR 64 today at the Islamic Society of Orange County
after
Jum'ah prayer.
(To view resolution, go to
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm and type '64' for
Bill Number)
More than forty other organizations and governmental entities signed on
as
co-sponsors including the office of California Attorney General Bill
Lockyer and other law enforcement officials from across the state.
California is the first state to pass such a resolution. Similar bills,
House Resolution 234 and Senate Resolution 133, were passed unanimously
in
Congress in 2003.
A large number of community members were present in the Upper Gallery
of
the Assembly to witness this historic event, including representatives
of
CAIR, various Islamic centers and mosques of Northern California, and
other
Asian, Chicano and Sikh organizations. A press conference was held at
the
state capitol after the passage of AJR 64.
"This is a significant moment in the life of American Muslims," said
CAIR-LA Director of Governmental Relations Omar Zaki. "American
Muslims,
Arabs, South Asians, and Sikhs are integral to our country's prosperity
and
continue to contribute to our country's success in every sphere of
life.
With this resolution, California reaffirms its stance against bigotry
and
for inclusiveness of all Californians regardless of race or religion."
CAIR-CA offered special thanks to Assemblywoman Judy Chu for sponsoring
AJR
64, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and other officials and community
leaders
for co-sponsoring the resolution, and the California assembly for
unanimously passing it.
CONTACT: CAIR- Southern California: 2180 W. Crescent Ave. Suite F,
Anaheim,
CA 92801, Tel: 714-776-1847, Fax: 714-776-8340, E-Mail: socal@cair.com
-----
SEATTLE MUSLIMS WELCOME YEE HOME
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON On Monday, April 5, the Seattle area Muslims will
gather at Sea-Tac Airport to welcome home Captain James Yee and
celebrate
the dismissal of the most serious charges against him.
WHEN: Monday, April 5 (Yee arrives at 1:09 p.m. on American Airlines
Flight
1403. News conference to immediately follow Yee's arrival.
WHERE: Sea-Tac Airport Mezzanine Level near sky bridge near carrousels
#14
and #15, near the American Airlines baggage claim.
CONTACT: CAIR-Seattle, Samia El-Moslimany, 206-409-3407, E-MAIL:
samia@cair-seattle.org
-----
IMMIGRANTS BLAST RENTAL RULE AS DISCRIMINATION
Hernán Rozemberg, Express-News, 4/2/04
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA02.01A.immig-housing.1942c907.html
It was the perfect setting to start their new life as a married couple
- a
nice apartment, decent rent, just down the street from the mosque.
About two weeks ago, Amina Rojas and Mohamed Abdel-Rahem filled out the
rental application and even cut a security deposit check. They were all
set
to take the place in Richardson, a Dallas suburb.
Then the leasing agent at the apartment complex pulled out another
piece of
paper.
Abdel-Rahem, a permanent resident of the United States who was born in
Egypt, had indicated in the application that he wasn't a U.S. citizen.
So
he was asked to complete another form with detailed questions on his
immigration status.
The couple were shocked. The feeling quickly turned into anger.
"It was discriminatory," said Rojas, executive director of the
Dallas-Fort
Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "He wasn't
treated like any other applicant."
Federal officials said the form doesn't violate fair housing laws, but
immigrants still feel they're being unfairly targeted.
Countless immigrants have been presented with the form, which was
introduced by the Texas Apartment Association two months after the 9-11
attacks.
Dubbed the "supplemental rental application for non-U.S. citizens," it
was
created as an option for property managers who clamored for ways to
help
boost national security and maintain financial piece of mind, according
to
the TAA.
Following 9-11, many landlords were questioned by the FBI about tenants
who
were terror suspects, but they didn't have any background information
to
help the investigation. That prompted landlords to quickly improve
their
applicant-screening process.
Asked whether the non-citizen form has helped its ongoing
counterterrorism
efforts, the FBI declined comment...
-----
ROSECRANS STUDENTS GET LESSON IN ISLAM
TONYA SHIPLEY, Times Recorder, 3/30/04
http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/
ZANESVILLE -- Ahmad Al-Akhras hopes for a world where people don't give
into ignorance, but strive to learn about those who are different.
As guest speaker at Rosecrans High School Monday he asked an audience
of
students, faculty and board members to learn about Islam, a religion
which
many knew little about.
Al-Akhras, president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Ohio
Chapter, spoke in hopes of educating others about his religion and to
help
end the cycle of ignorance. He was invited to speak by the Bishop
Rosecrans
High School Foundation after one of the board members heard him give a
similar program to the Catholic Diocese in Columbus.
"We have so much in common," he said. "All the followers of
Christianity,
Judaism, Islam have the same core beliefs..."
The presentation consisted of discussing the history of Islam, the
Quran,
Five Pillars of Islam, and about how Muslims believe in many of the
same
ideas as Christianity and Judaism. For instance he spoke of all the
prophets Muslims believe in, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses,
Solomon
and Jesus...
Liz Wolfe, 15, a sophomore, was one of those students who found herself
learning more than she expected.
"I didn't know that the God they worship is the same God as ours. I
felt
kind of stupid when he said it because I was kind of like we should
have
known that," she said.
While Christians and Muslims believe there is only one God, students
like
Wolfe didn't think of it in terms of it being the same God.
Her classmate, Tori McNeil, 16, was equally surprised by the
revelation.
"I found it interesting, just how many similarities there are between
his
religion and the beliefs we have as Catholics or Christians," she said.
Both McNeil and Wolfe were also surprised to learn about Muslim women.
"All you ever seen on television about the customs of the women make it
seem like they are sheltered," McNeil said.
"There are a lot of stereotypes about women. I didn't know they were
able
to do the things they can," Wolfe said.
Under Islamic law, women have always had the right to own their own
property, have the right to an education and take part in community
life.
The stereotypes about women was just one of many Al-Akhras showed the
students so they would understand what they see portrayed through the
media
isn't always true…
SEE ALSO:
HIJAB DOESN'T MEAN OPPRESSION, WOMEN SAY
KATHERINE BRINTON, Pitt News, 4/2/04
http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/02/406d02a791670
Pleated, lime-green, zebra-striped, ruffled, silk or bow-tied. Hijab --
the
practice of wearing headscarves observed by many Muslim women -- serves
the
physical purpose of concealing the head and neck from public sight in
an
act of modesty.
But according to some, it is an American symbol of oppression.
A panel discussion, presented by the Women's Studies Program Wednesday
in
the William Pitt Union, sought to examine these Western assumptions
from a
feminist perspective by bringing together two women from the Islamic
community in a formal discussion.
Dalia Mogahed -- panel member, practicing Muslim and self-proclaimed
ardent
feminist -- said that for her, hijab is the ultimate profession of her
faith. Hijab, she said, brings her dignity and respect, and is meant
not to
conceal, but to make her body her own private business.
Hijab, according to Mogahed, gives Islamic women the opportunity to be
judged based on their true selves as human beings, and not on their
physical exteriors.
Mogahed, the outreach director for the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh,
said
she made the decision to wear hijab at age 17 because, "that's what God
wanted me to do."
"The assumption that wearing hijab because we are forced to is making a
judgment that [Muslim women] would not want to wear it," said Mogahed.
She
later commented that the assumption belittles her humanity and
intelligence.
The idea of the panel discussion was prompted by reactions towards
hijab
and Islam after Sept. 11, 2001, and the consideration by the French
government to institute a legal ban on all conspicuous religious
symbols in
public schools…
Both Mogahed and McAllister explained throughout the discussion that
women
of Islam are afforded equal rights, dignity, autonomy and influence --
but
that in some Islamic nations, such as Afghanistan, both men and women
have
been oppressed.
Riffat Chughtai, a panel member and executive director of Pittsburgh
Muslim
Family Support Services, said that young women of Islam, specifically
in
public schools, are unable to identify with culturally accepted
clothing
trends, such as bikinis, tank tops, or even shorts.
Hijab, she said, gives young women the opportunity to gain an identity
by
"going back to their Muslim roots..."
---
U.S. TAKES OPPOSITE TRACK FROM FRANCE ON HIJAB
Brian Knowlton, International Herald Tribune, 4/2/04
http://www.iht.com/articles/513140.html
WASHINGTON The hallways of Benjamin Franklin Science Academy in quiet
Muskogee, Oklahoma, are far from those of the tough, lower-class Paris
suburbs where the battle was fought over the right of Muslim girls to
wear
head scarves required by their religion. The Muskogee school system is
small and peaceful; its part-time attorney, D.D. Hayes, said he was far
more likely to spend time poring over contracts for a new school
gymnasium
than over big constitutional issues. But this week the federal
government
came knocking.
The Justice Department is intervening on the side of an 11-year-old
Muslim
girl, Nashala Hearn, who has been banned from classes for wearing a
head
scarf to her Muskogee school. That is exactly opposite to the approach
taken by the French government, which stirred up controversy in that
country. The French prohibition on wearing religious garb to schools,
the
Bush administration said earlier this year, violated "a basic right
that
should be protected."
While Hearn is just one girl in a small heartland town, Muslim groups
say
she represents a growing number of Muslim women in America who, as
their
faith has become both more conspicuous and more controversial since the
Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, have chosen to wear their scarves, or
hijabs, in public.
To Hayes and the Muskogee school district, Hearn's scarf clearly
violated a
system-wide ban on the wearing of hats, caps, bandannas or jacket
hoods. To
the Justice Department, however, Muskogee was infringing on Hearn's
constitutional right to practice her religion freely. Hearn, a sixth
grader, has twice been temporarily barred from Benjamin Franklin
Science
Academy. The first exclusion came not long after the second anniversary
of
the 2001 attacks, the second after she returned to school a few days
later,
still wearing a head scarf.
The matter has caused what one resident called "a big hullabaloo" in
Muskogee, a town of about 40,000 best known to Americans as a place
people
fled during the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s - and a town with few
Muslims.
The Justice Department this week filed a complaint in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and filed a motion
to
intervene in private litigation by the girl's parents. "No student
should
be forced to choose between following her faith and enjoying the
benefits
of a public education," Assistant Attorney General Alexander Acosta
said in
announcing the action. Hayes pointed to a federal Education Department
guideline that says, "schools may not single out religious attire in
general, or attire of a particular religion, for prohibition or
regulation."
Muskogee's blanket ban on all headwear, he said, clearly does not
single
out religious garb. Islamic groups in the United States and Eyvine
Hearn,
the girl's father, welcomed the federal intervention. "It's definitely
a
boost," said Hearn, a shipping clerk in Muskogee. "We're just glad to
have
such important support."
Hearn said that he had "embraced Islam" four years ago, and that most
of
his family had followed. Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, in Washington, said that her group had been
trying to help the Hearnses. She applauded the Justice Department's
decision as a sign of its determination to protect Muslims' rights.
"It's also good for other religious minorities -- for the Jewish
community
and the Sikh community," she said, because the action is protecting the
right to wear a yarmulke or turban to school. Ahmed added, "On the
international level, it sends messages to European countries such as
the
French who have banned hijabs in schools that our laws and
interpretation
of religious freedom are protected here…"
---
STUDENT IN ISLAMIC DRESS REVEALS DISCRIMINATION
MARK A. SIEFERT, Waukesha Freeman, 4/2/04
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2004/April_04/04022004_02.asp
A class project by Oconomowoc High School juniors Erin Edlhuber, left,
and
Katie Rather showed them the discrimination faced by those from
different
cultures. Both pretended to be transfer students at Hartford Union High
School, with Edlhuber dressing as an American teenager and Rather
wearing a
hijab, a traditional headdress worn by Arab and Muslim women.
The 16-year-old Oconomowoc High School junior, whose real name is Katie
Rather, attended Hartford Union High School on March 18 wearing a
hijab, a
traditional headdress worn by Arab and Muslim women.
"Everyone was staring at me; watching me as I walked past," Rather
said.
Rather was joined by fellow OHS junior Erin Edlhuber, who also
"attended"
the Hartford school as a "transfer student." Edlhuber dressed like a
typical American teenager.
Edlhuber said she heard other students make racially insensitive
comments
because of the way Rather looked.
Rather is neither Arab nor Muslim.
So why would she wear the headdress? Rather and Edlhuber were
conducting an
experiment to determine how students from a predominantly white and
Christian community would react to someone who was not like them.
Rather and Edlhuber are students in Brad Ducklow's "Understanding
Differences" class. The elective class examines issues and root causes
of
intolerance and discrimination throughout history.
"In this project, kids were allowed to work in groups to pick the group
of
their choice to do some in-depth research on," Ducklow said. "Katie and
Erin choose Arabs and Muslims in this country..."
"I heard some people make comments like 'Who's the Arab in the
corner?,'
and 'Who's the towel-head?'" Edlhuber said. "They didn't believe me
when I
told them that she was from around here. They thought she was an
exchange
student."
"They all seemed to think that because I was a Muslim I had to be from
a
different country," Rather said.
The girls' project also examined the history of intolerance toward
American
Muslims as well as profiled the civil rights groups that exist to
combat it...
---
INNER-CITY MOSQUE EXCELS IN REACHING OUT
MILA S. KOUMPILOVA, United Press International, 4/1/04
http://www.upi.com/
To the bleeps of cell phones being turned off and the drone of fans
spinning from the high ceiling, the female congregation of Masjid
Muhammad,
an inner-city Washington mosque, is settling in on the bright-green
carpet
at the back of the prayer hall.
It's nearing 12:30 on a spring afternoon, and Friday prayer is about to
get
underway. A couple of women with "Hostess" nametags point out vacant
spots
to mosque members trickling in: a woman in a flowing African robe, one
in a
sharp pinstriped pantsuit, one in the Gap's trendy "Fresh Crop" jeans
line.
Although she doesn't sport a nametag, Najmah Salim has taken on hostess
duties of her own. A photojournalist is taking pictures of the prayer
service for a news story, and she points out a few good angles in the
hall,
tried and tested by photographers who have visited in recent months.
Salim
is something of a colleague, a Washington correspondent for the Muslim
Journal weekly.
Later, as the photographer kneels in the space between the men making
individual prayers before the altar and the women in the back, a woman
in
the front row walks over. She crouches next to him and hands him her
contact information, a potentially risque move even at the Masjid
Muhammad,
where women and men share the same room for prayer.
In fact, Hasnah Tauhidi is a colleague, too. A graduate of Emerson
College's prestigious broadcast program, she is in charge of Islamic
Perspectives, an award-winning educational program airing on local
cable
stations.
Salim, a part-time aide to a real-estate agent, has been going to this
mosque since she converted to Islam in 1970, almost 10 years after the
yellowish, two-story building sprang up on Fourth Street in downtown
Washington. She saw its transition from a Nation of Islam temple to a
more
traditional Sunni Islamic mosque as W. D. Mohammad, son of Nation of
Islam
head Elijah Muhammad, took over his father's movement in the mid-'70s
and
did away with its intense civil rights focus.
Still predominantly African-American, the mosque's regular worshippers,
about 200 in all, include recent arrivals from Afghanistan, Senegal and
Pakistan, among other countries.
These days, non-Muslim visitors, like the photographer this Friday, get
a
warm welcome, complimentary crash courses in the basic tenets of Islam,
and, if female, the opportunity to select a matching headscarf from a
bin
near the prayer hall entrance, just in case they want to make "a
fashion
statement." Salim has been known to give inquisitive outsiders guided
tours
of Washington-area mosques.
A collection of stories about Masjid Muhammad events, Salim's Muslim
Journal clip file captures in straight journalistic prose this
eagerness to
step out and draw others in: open houses, interfaith meetings and Sept.
11
memorial services at the mosque. Reaching out has always dominated the
religious philosophy of W. D. Mohammad, who has met Pope John Paul II
twice
and top U.S. politicians countless times.
But even here, outreach has been more of a priority since Sept. 11.
What's
more, Masjid Muhammad's outward bent is becoming more prevalent in
mosques
nationwide. Outreach is now less the exclusive purview of
Washington-based
Muslim civil rights organizations and more a part of day-to-day mosque
life, in the face of lingering stereotypes about the introversion of
Muslim
communities.
"After Sept. 11 and the constant barrage of anti-Muslim hostility from
some
quarters, we realized it's important to present our own accurate image
of
Islam," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American
Islamic
Relations, a Washington-based civil liberties organization. "Prior to
Sept.
11, those who openly attacked Islam and Muslims were on the fringes,
but
now they are moving more toward the center…"
-----
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY ON CAMPUS
BESHARA DOUMANI, Post-Intelligencer, 4/2/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/167348_academic02.html
The most ominous threat to academic freedom in decades looms in a
seemingly
innocuous Senate bill expected to come up for vote shortly. A short but
critical clause would rob our society of the open exchange of ideas on
college campuses that is vital to our democracy.
House Resolution 3077 passed last fall. It included a provision to
establish an advisory board to monitor campus international studies
centers
in order to ensure that they advance the national interest. While the
law
would apply to all federally funded institutes with an international
focus,
the target is clearly the nation's 17 centers for Middle East studies.
The
driving force behind this provision is the same group of conservative
ideologues who have long promoted the war on Iraq and who support the
extreme right-wing politics of the Sharon government in Israel. Their
aim
is to defend the foreign policy of this administration by stifling
critical
and informed discussion on U.S. campuses.
The Senate vote comes at a time in which conservative activists walk
the
corridors of power in Washington, D.C. They include Education Secretary
Rod
Paige, who in a moment of failed but revealing levity, recently
described
the National Education Association, with 2.7 million member teachers,
as a
terrorist organization.
For professors like me, entrusted with teaching facts as well as
critical
thinking and the ability to analyze all sides of an issue, the pending
legislation must be viewed against the backdrop of other recent and
chilling developments.
Be careful what books you buy or check out from the library. You could
be
monitored under the terms of the U.S. Patriot Act. A further provision
of
that law threatens criminal prosecution of anyone alerting you to
government inspection of your selections.
Be careful what readings you assign. The University of North Carolina
at
Chapel Hill was sued by the American Family Association Center for Law
and
Policy for assigning a book on Islam for incoming freshman students.
The
university held firm, and, fortunately, the court of appeals dismissed
the
suit.
Be careful what you say in or out of class. Campus Watch and other
hawkish,
pro-Israeli right-wing organizations have launched campaigns to
pressure
and discredit professors judged to be un-American for questioning U.S.
policy in the Middle East. Some organizations openly recruit students
to
inform on their teachers…
These are dangerous times indeed when politicians and private interest
groups are willing to sacrifice academic freedom in order to achieve
their
domestic partisan or foreign policy goals. A key supporter of the
current
Senate legislation, Campus Watch founder Daniel Pipes, shared his
thoughts
with Salon.com. In discussing MIT linguistics Professor Noam Chomsky --
recipient of numerous honorary degrees and scientific awards -- Pipes
said,
"I want Noam Chomsky to be taught at universities about as much as I
want
Hitler's writing or Stalin's writing. These are wild and extremist
ideas
that I believe have no place in a university."
Should academic freedom be effectively shelved in order to pursue a war
against terror without end? Are these dark clouds hanging over U.S.
campuses a passing storm or the harbinger of fundamental changes in the
freedom to teach, learn, question, discuss and debate? How will
universities and colleges respond when they are starved for resources
and
more dependent than ever on the funding that would be withdrawn if a
professor were deemed out of line?
At stake is the continuation of the academy as the bastion of informed,
independent and alternative perspectives crucial to a better
understanding
of the world we live in. If teachers and students cannot think and
speak
freely, who can?
Beshara Doumani is associate professor of history at the University of
California, Berkeley. He organized a national conference, Academic
Freedom
After September 11th, which was held at UC Berkeley in February.
SEE ALSO:
USIP SAYS DANIEL PIPES USES 'GUILT BY ASSOCIATION'
NOTE: The following e-mail was sent to those who contacted the United
States Institute for Peace (USIP) to comment on attacks on that
institution
by Daniel Pipes, President Bush's appointee to the USIP board. In a
published commentary, Pipes accused his own organization of "co-hosting
an
event with a group closely associated with radical Islam."
Subject: Center for Islam and Democracy
From: Kay King
To: xxxx
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Dear xxxx:
Dr. Richard Solomon asked me to respond to your e-mail regarding the
Institute's March 19 workshop on "Ijtihad: Reinterpreting Islamic
Principles for the 21st Century," which we co-sponsored with the Center
for
Islam and Democracy (CSID).
The purpose of the workshop was to provide an occasion for Muslim
scholars
committed to the reform of Islam and the advancement of a moderate
Islamic
agenda to address some of the most troublesome obstacles to adapting
Islam
for life in the 21st century, with implications for the status of
women,
the role of democracy in the Muslim world, and the nature of interfaith
relations. The panelists, who are well established and highly regarded
moderate Muslim scholars, presented very thoughtful and reformist
positions…
The Institute was aware of and took seriously the accusations made
against
CSID and some of the speakers at the event. These allegations were
investigated carefully with credible private individuals and U.S.
government agencies and found to be without merit. The public criticism
of
CSID and the speakers was found to be based on quotes taken out of
context,
guilt by association, errors of fact, and innuendo.
The speakers invited to the event have well-established records of
promoting moderate Islamic perspectives, advocating democracy within
the
Muslim world, and opposing terrorism. One speaker, Dr. Muzammil
Siddiqi,
was invited by President Bush to lead a Muslim prayer at the Interfaith
Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral after 9/11. He is
also
the leading Muslim participant in the Catholic/Muslim dialogue with the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and has been very actively involved
in
other interfaith projects.
CSID, which co-sponsored the event, is judged by senior officials at
the
State Department and the National Endowment for Democracy, who have
spoken
from CSID's platform, to be a moderate organization dedicated to
promoting
Islamic reform and the establishment of democracy in Muslim countries.
It
strongly opposes dictatorship everywhere in the Arab and Muslim worlds…
The Institute, in accordance with its Congressional mandate, and as
requested by the Administration, is focusing on the full range of
issues
associated with relations between the United States on the one hand,
and
the varied countries of the Muslim world on the other hand…
Again, we appreciate your having taken the time to contact us with your
concerns.
Kay King
Director, Congressional and Public Affairs
U.S. Institute of Peace
-----
CLARKE HIRED STEVEN EMERSON TO ADVISE WHITE HOUSE
HOW CLARKE 'OUTSOURCED' TERROR INTEL
Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball, Newsweek, 3/31/04
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4639986/
As White House counterterror czar, Richard Clarke was so frustrated by
the
FBI's inability to identify Islamic radicals within the United States
that
he turned for help to a freelance terrorism researcher whose work was
deeply resented by top bureau officials.
Clarke's secret work with private researcher Steven Emerson is among a
number of revealing disclosures in the ex-White House aide's new book,
"Against All Enemies," that has been all but obscured by the furor over
the
author's politically charged allegations against President George W.
Bush.
As recounted by Clarke in his book, and confirmed by documents provided
to
NEWSWEEK, Emerson and his former associate Rita Katz regularly provided
the
White House with a stream of information about possible Al Qaeda
activity
inside the United States that appears to have been largely unknown to
the
FBI prior to the September 11 terror attacks.
In confidential memos and briefings that were sometimes conducted on a
near
weekly basis, Emerson and Katz furnished Clarke and his staff with the
names of Islamic radical Web sites, the identities of possible
terrorist
front groups and the phone numbers and addresses of possible terror
suspects-data they were unable to get from elsewhere in the government.
This private pipeline of information-which began under President
Clinton
and continued under Bush even after September 11-irritated top
officials at
FBI headquarters, especially when much of the private research bore
fruit
and was later used to help develop a U.S. government list of banned
organizations whose assets were frozen by the Treasury Department.
"There was a fatwa against me at the FBI," Emerson joked to NEWSWEEK in
an
interview. "Al Qaeda would have been more welcome at FBI headquarters
than
me…"
With funding from wealthy donors and foundations, who he has declined
to
identify, Emerson has employed a number of different tactics-including
extensive Web-based research as well as deploying undercover
researchers to
attend and secretly record meetings of Islamic groups in the United
States.
Emerson's research has, in the past, sometimes been controversial. For
years, major Arab-American and Muslim organizations would denounce him,
accusing him of painting with too broad a brush…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/4/04
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
* VERSE/HADITH OF THE DAY: JUSTICE
* CAIR-NY: MUSLIMS VOTE 2004 DINNER
* CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: FBI URGED TO INVESTIGATE TX ARSON FIRES
- Pair of Fires Leave Muslims Concerned (Express-News)
* NC: SIKHS BEATEN, CALLED 'BIN LADEN' (Herald-Sun)
- Continental Settles Bias Complaint (Houston Chron)
* CA: MUSLIM STUDENTS PUSHED OFF CAMPUS TO PRAY (SJMN)
* MUSLIM COVERT ENCOURAGES ISLAMIC REFORM (Toronto Star)
* COMMENTARY: EURABIA? (NY Times)
* CA: ARAB CANDIDATE SEEKS TO BUILD BRIDGES (AP)
- TX: College Students Visit Mosque (Baytown Sun)
* BUSH LOYALISTS PACK IRAQI PRESS OFFICE
------
VERSE OF THE DAY: SPEAK FOR JUSTICE
"Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant."
The Holy Quran, Chapter 7, Verse 199
HADITH OF THE DAY: A WORD OF JUSTICE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best (Jihad) is (to
speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2040
-----
CAIR-NY: MUSLIMS VOTE 2004 DINNER
WHAT: Confirmed Guest Speakers include CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad;
Agha
Saeed, Chairman, American Muslim Alliance; CAIR Executive Director
Nihad Awad
WHEN: SATURDAY APRIL 10, 2004 at 630 PM
WHERE: CROWNE PLAZA LAGUARDIA HOTEL, 104-04 Ditmars Blvd, East
Elmhurst,
Queens, NY 11369 (Across LaGuardia Airport) For directions please call
hotel at (718) 457-6300)
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE AT: http://www.cair-ny.com/
-----
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: FBI URGED TO INVESTIGATE TX ARSON FIRES
(SAN ANTONIO, TX, 4/4/04) - The San Antonio, Texas, office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Antonio) will contact local FBI
officials on Monday to urge that two recent arson fires targeting
Muslim-owned gas stations in that city be investigated as possible hate
crimes. (See article below.)
CAIR-San Antonio representatives have also scheduled a meeting with
local
law enforcement agencies to discuss the fires.
Last month, vandals wrote "sand n**gers" and "America rocks b*tch" on
the
interior walls of the Islamic Center of the South Plains in Lubbock,
Texas.
CONTACT: CAIR-San Antonio, Sarwat Hussain, 210-378-9528,
sanantonio@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
PAIR OF FIRES LEAVE MUSLIM COMMUNITY CONCERNED
Mary Moreno, Express-News, 4/4/04
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA04.02B.gas_fires_0404.5f44843.html
Two arson fires less than a week apart at Muslim-owned gas stations on
the
North Side have some in the Muslim community worried that the crimes
might
have been motivated by hate.
Though arson investigators haven't uncovered a link, chilling
similarities
have members of the Muslim community asking authorities to look closely
at
the possibility that the businesses were targeted because of their
owners'
religion.
"My feeling is, we don't have the proof, so we can't say for sure,"
said
Nazli Siddiqui, an employment consultant. "But in this time and age
it's
something we need to look into. It's just concern. There's no anger,
there's no talk about vigilantes being organized. It's just a concern
that
it might continue and more people might become targets."
The first fire was set at Zia Abbasi's Texaco station in the 7000 block
of
UTSA Boulevard on March 24. The second was at Ameen Jiveni's Kwik
Pantry in
the 6400 block of Camp Bullis Road on March 29.
Both fires were set in similar fashion - someone doused an outside wall
with gasoline and lit it - and were set at the same time of night,
about 3
a.m. Investigators also found melted red plastic gasoline containers
among
the charred debris at both fires.
Arson detectives are investigating the fires and don't have a suspect
or a
motive...
The worry that hate motivated the fires extends beyond the Muslim
community, said Sarwat Husain, chairwoman of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. Arabs and Southeast Asians also are worried
because some who harbor hatred of Muslims don't recognize the
distinctions
among the groups.
The anxiety has been brewing since 9-11, when members of the Muslim
community nationwide felt a strong backlash, she said. The hostility
had
lessened, but as casualty reports from the war in Iraq have mounted, so
have the glares and insults, most frequently directed at women wearing
Muslim garb or men with beards...
Husain said she is trying to arrange meetings with top law enforcement
officials to express her community's concerns.
"It's only a few bad apples," Husain said of the people who target
Muslims.
"Every time something like this (arson) is happening, the fear is
rising. I
just hope it is not true what I'm thinking. I hope it is not a hate
crime."
-----
3 TEENS HELD IN SIKH ASSAULT
Beth Velliquette, Herald-Sun, 2/2/04
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-466062.html
CHAPEL HILL -- A Sikh student at UNC claims he and his friend were
beaten
by a trio of teenagers on Franklin Street after one of them called him
Osama bin Laden.
Chapel Hill police charged each of the teens with assault inflicting
serious injury and simple assault after the student identified them
shortly
after the assault Sunday morning. Although police categorized the
assault
as a hate crime, they did not charge the teens with ethnic intimidation
--
the state statute that covers hate crimes.
Chapel Hill Police Chief Gregg Jarvies said the charge of ethnic
intimidation was not filed because it was not clear whether the assault
occurred because of the victim's race, clothing or religion.
The charge of ethnic intimidation would have to be provable, Jarvies
said.
"You may believe one thing, but we can't prove it," he said.
Gagandeep Bindra, who has a short beard, brown skin and wears a Patka,
a
scarf wrapped around his hair, said that it is not uncommon for people
to
call him and others with brown skin Osama bin Laden or a terrorist.
"This is like a normal occurrence after 9/11," Bindra said Friday.
"Every
night when I go out to Franklin Street, someone shouts out bin
Laden..."
SEE ALSO:
CONTINENTAL AGREES TO SETTLE BIAS COMPLAINT
Bill Hensel Jr. Houston Chronicle, 2/2/04
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2483937
Continental Airlines has settled a complaint that after the Sept. 11,
2001,
terrorist attacks it discriminated against passengers who appeared to
be
Arab, Middle Eastern or Muslim.
At the urging of the federal government, Continental agreed to provide
$500,000 in civil rights training for employees.
The training was part of a Transportation Department consent order
released
Friday that found Continental "acted in a manner inconsistent with
federal
laws" in treatment of certain air travelers.
However, the Houston-based carrier said Friday it violated no law and
noted
that the federal order made no findings of violations.
The Continental settlement was the third by the Transportation
Department
regarding discrimination allegations in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
The department also has entered orders involving United Airlines and
American Airlines.
The department began getting complaints about a number of Continental
flights in the weeks after the attacks, according to the order.
Several passengers complained they were removed from flights because of
their ethnic background or national origin...
-----
MUSLIM STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA PUSHED OFF CAMPUS TO PRAY
Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News, 2/3/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/8345246.htm
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Flanked by a "Street Fighter II" video game and
pingpong
tables, Muslim students from San Jose High Academy knelt and bowed
Friday
during their holy juma'a prayer. The service was held at a nearby youth
center, which one student vacuumed while others laid bed sheets on the
ground.
Praising Allah at the Roosevelt Park community center, near Santa Clara
and
19th streets in downtown San Jose, came a week after about 50 Muslim
students were evicted from a sixth-period classroom they used for
prayers.
School officials said they recently discovered that the practice
violated
separation of church and state, although Muslim students had been
allowed
to pray on campus for many years.
The issue at San Jose High emerged as the U.S. Supreme Court wrestles
with
a case in which a Sacramento father asked to declare unconstitutional
the
phrase, "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. And in France,
officials
have banned students from wearing Islamic head scarves and other
religious
apparel in public schools.
Trekking to the new venue for the first time Friday was a scramble for
students.
"It took a lot of time to get here," said Hana Hisham, 15, adding that
she
had only 13 minutes to scurry back to school for seventh period. "But I
didn't mind the video games. I don't notice them when I'm praying..."
-----
MUSLIM CONVERT ENCOURAGES AN ISLAMIC REFORM
Raheel Raza, Toronto Star, 3/3/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1080774613825&call_pageid=991479973472&col=991929131147
It's been two decades since academic and author Jeffrey Lang made the
passage from atheist to devout Muslim, yet he remains as passionate as
ever
about his conversion.
Born to a Roman Catholic family in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1954, Lang
spent
his early years questioning the existence of God and finding no
satisfactory answers.
"I rebelled against all the institutions that society held sacred,
including the Catholic Church," Lang said in a recent talk to Toronto's
Forum for Learning, where he spoke from the heart about his passage
from
questioning to conviction and from bitterness to belief.
His abusive home life, with an alcoholic father, led to more
bitterness, so
at 16, Lang publicly declared himself an atheist.
In 1982, at age 28, Lang accepted Islam, based primarily on a chance
reading of the Qur'an.
As Lang became a practising Muslim he also experienced the challenges
of
being a convert, both from within and outside the community...
-----
EURABIA?
Niall Ferguson, New York Times, 4/4/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/04/magazine/04WWLN.html
In the 52nd chapter of his ''Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,''
Edward
Gibbon posed one of the great counterfactual questions of history. If
the
French had failed to defeat an invading Muslim army at the Battle of
Poitiers in A.D. 732, would all of Western Europe have succumbed to
Islam?
''Perhaps,'' speculated Gibbon with his inimitable irony, ''the
interpretation of the Koran would now be taught in the schools of
Oxford,
and her pulpits might demonstrate to a circumcised people the sanctity
and
truth of the revelation of Mahomet.''
When those words were published in 1788, the idea of a Muslim Oxford
could
scarcely have seemed more fanciful. The last Muslim forces had been
driven
from Spain in 1492; the Ottoman advance through Eastern Europe had been
decisively halted at the gates of Vienna in 1683.
Today, however, the idea seems somewhat less risible. The French
historian
Alain Besancon is one of a number of European intellectuals who detect
a
significant threat to the continent's traditional Christian culture.
The
Egyptian-born writer Bat Yeor has for some years referred to the rise
of a
new ''Eurabia'' that is hostile in equal measure to the United States
and
Israel. Two years ago, Pat Buchanan published an apocalyptic book
titled
''The Death of the West,'' prophesying that declining European
fertility
and immigration from Muslim countries could turn ''the cradle of
Western
civilization'' into ''its grave.''
Such Spenglerian talk has gained credibility since 9/11. The ''3/11''
bombings in Madrid confirm that terrorists sympathetic to Osama bin
Laden
continue to operate with comparative freedom in European cities. Some
American commentators suspect Europeans of wanting to appease radical
Islam. Others detect in sporadic manifestations of anti-Semitism a
sinister
conjunction of old fascism and new fundamentalism.
Most European Muslims are, of course, law-abiding citizens with little
sympathy for terrorist attacks on European cities. Moreover, they are
drawn
from a wide range of countries and of Islamic traditions, few of them
close
to Arabian Wahhabism. Nevertheless, there is no question that the
continent
is experiencing fundamental demographic and cultural changes whose
long-term consequences no one can foresee...
Still, it is hard not to be reminded of Gibbon -- especially now that
his
old university's Center for Islamic Studies has almost completed work
on
its new premises. In addition to the traditional Oxford quadrangle, the
building is expected to feature ''a prayer hall with traditional dome
and
minaret tower.''
When I first glimpsed a model of that minaret, I confess, the phrase
that
sprang to mind was indeed ''decline and fall.''
COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO: letters@nytimes.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
Letters for publication should be no longer than 150 words and must
include
the writer's address and phone numbers.
-----
SAUDI-AMERICAN CANDIDATE SEEKS TO BREAK BARRIERS, BUILD BRIDGES
Michael R. Blood, Associated Press, 4/4/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/8354667.htm
NEWBURY PARK, Calif. - As a high school government teacher, Ferial Amin
Masry can talk about democracy with the conviction of a founding
father.
But it's no textbook discourse.
The mother of three has lived an immigrant-makes-good story that took
her
from a childhood in politically repressive Saudi Arabia - where women
at
the time could not be educated, much less drive or vote - to an America
where she lectures classes on "the only workable constitution in the
world."
But lately, she's not just teaching democracy.
She's living it.
In a surprise to anyone but herself, the 55-year-old Masry won the
Democratic nomination for a state Assembly seat on March 2 in a
last-minute
write-in campaign. If elected in November in the suburban Los Angeles
district, she would become the first Saudi-American to hold an elected
government office in the United States, according to the Arab American
Institute in Washington.
"For me to run, it's unheard of," Masry said, reflecting on the limited
role of women in Saudi society. People in Saudi Arabia "see me as a
symbol..."
-----
LEE COLLEGE STUDENTS VISIT BAYTOWN MOSQUE
Ken Fountain, Baytown Sun, 2/4/04
http://web.baytownsun.com/story.lasso?wcd=15572
BAYTOWN - Several Lee College students and instructors got some
firsthand
knowledge of Islam Friday when they visited the local masjid, or
mosque, of
the Islamic Society of Greater Houston.
The students are members of the Lee College Multicultural Institute,
said
Susan Cummings, the institute's director. The institute's purpose is to
introduce students to various ethnic groups and cultures on the campus,
in
Baytown and in the greater Houston area to help them enhance their
employment prospects by demonstrating awareness of cultural diversity.
Students don't receive credit for their participation, but they do
receive
a special designation on their transcripts, Cummings said.
The students began their day Friday hearing a lecture on the major
tenets
of Islam in class. Then they were able to observe a traditional Friday
prayer service and pose questions about the faith to an imam, or prayer
leader.
Zoubir Bouchikhi, who is the imam of the Islamic Society's mosque in
southeast Houston, told the group that there are many "commonalities"
between the three Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
He said that adherents have not done enough in the past to "build
bridges"
between the three faith.
"This is a concept that many of us don't pay attention to," Bouchikhi
said.
"Only when we are tested by God will we show our true colors," he said,
comparing such testing to the geologic forces that form diamonds...
-----
BUSH LOYALISTS PACK IRAQ PRESS OFFICE
Jim Krane, Associated Press, 4/4/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3940735,00.html
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Inside the marble-floored palace hall that serves as
the
press office of the U.S.-led coalition, Republican Party operatives
lead a
team of Americans who promote mostly good news about Iraq.
Dan Senor, a former press secretary for Spencer Abraham, the Michigan
Republican who's now Energy Secretary, heads the office packed with
former
Bush campaign workers, political appointees and ex-Capitol Hill
staffers.
One-third of the U.S. civilian workers in the press office have GOP
ties,
running an enterprise that critics see as an outpost of Bush's
re-election
effort with Iraq a top concern. Senor and others inside the coalition
say
they follow strict guidelines that steer clear of politics.
One of the main goals of the Office of Strategic Communications - known
as
stratcom - is to ensure Americans see the positive side of the Bush
administration's invasion, occupation and reconstruction of Iraq, where
600
U.S. soldiers have died and a deadly insurgency thrives...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/5/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GUIDE TO GOOD
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Volunteer for CAIR
- CAIR Library Project Update: 7397 Sponsors
* CAIR-NY: EEOC FILES SUIT AGAINST BURGER KING OWNERS
* CAIR OPENS CINCINNATI OFFICE (Cincinnati Enquirer)
* CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE: SENATE RESOLUTION 325
* UT: MATHESON TALKS PATRIOT ACT WITH MUSLIMS (SL Trib)
- OH: Civil Liberties Experts to Speak (Beacon Journal)
* FISK: LAY LOW AND STAY OFF THE STREETS (Independent)
- The Worst Idea, Ever...Invading Iraq (Antiwar.Com)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GUIDE TO GOOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "One who guides (a
person)
to something good has a reward similar to that of (the person who does
the
good deed itself)."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 877
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
VOLUNTEER FOR CAIR
Would you like to help the American Muslim community by giving some of
your
time and service? Consider volunteering for CAIR, the nation's leading
Islamic civil rights and advocacy group dedicated to helping Muslims
across
the United States.
CAIR's Volunteer Program is designed to utilize the community's skills
and
talents while contributing to CAIR's overall mission. This program
matches
dedicated people willing to donate some time each week on specific
projects
that help empower American Muslims and defend civil liberties.
For more information, contact Najlaa at 202-488-8787 or e-mail
volunteer@cair-net.org
---
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7397 SPONSORSHIPS
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, Muslim individuals and groups may sponsor 18-item
packages
about Islam and Muslims, which are then distributed to the library of
their
choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
CAIR-NY: EEOC FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST BURGER KING OWNERS
(NEW YORK, NY - 4/5/04)- The New York office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today announced that the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against
Quick
Quality Restaurant, Inc. and Candu Management, Inc., joint owners of
several Burger King Restaurants in New York.
The EEOC suit indicates that a group of workers were fired on the basis
of
their national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of
1964. Three of the workers are of Jordanian origin and one is of
Pakistani
origin.
One of the owners is reported to have yelled at the men, "You're
cheating
me, you're stealing from me, you're all [expletive] Arabs! Get out of
here!" The EEOC says there is no evidence that any theft occurred.
CAIR-NY CONTACT: Firdos Abdul-Munim, 212-870-2002; 347-277-4061
-----
CAIR-CINCINNATI: MUSLIM ACTIVIST OFFICE OPENS
Liz Oakes, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/5/04
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/04/05/loc_loc4isl.html
AVONDALE - A Muslim advocacy group opened a Cincinnati office on Sunday
at
a reception that drew about 60 people from a variety of faiths, and
even no
faith.
Edwin Kagin, an official with the national American Atheist Center,
drove
from Union, Ky., to the open house to support the Council on
American-Islamic Relations' effort.
"Everybody needs to get along," said his wife, Helen.
Officials with the council, a social and political activist group based
in
Washington, D.C., agree.
Karen Dabdoub, formerly director of the Islamic Center of Greater
Cincinnati in West Chester, left that post a few weeks ago to lead the
American-Islamic Council's third office in Ohio.
The other two are in Columbus, with about 30,000 Muslims, and
Cleveland,
with about 45,000, according to the council. Of the more than 150,000
Muslims in Ohio, about 15,000 live in Greater Cincinnati.
At the Islamic Center, Dabdoub said, she sometimes would get calls from
Muslims who had trouble getting time off work for holy days.
Some Muslims at the reception said they also see a need for the group
to
target bias.
Adele Johnson-Kebe, 35, of Springfield Township, who converted to Islam
about five years ago, said she and others have faced difficulties over
clothing.
At a traffic stop in Camp Washington a few months ago, Johnson-Kebe
said,
police told a Muslim friend who wears a veil that she couldn't have a
driver's license unless it showed her entire face.
Her friend has driven with the veil for more than 30 years without a
problem, Johnson-Kebe said.
Johnson-Kebe said she's sometimes gotten stares because of her head
scarf.
"It's just a scarf," she said. "It's not an aardvark, it's not an
iguana. I
don't think it's prejudice; it's just ignorance."
-----
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE: SENATE RESOLUTION 325
Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) has introduced Senate Resolution 325,
regarding the creation of refugee populations in the Middle East, North
Africa, and the Persian Gulf region.
The resolution states in part: "Whereas the discussion of refugees in
the
Middle East generally centers on Palestinian refugees, even though
estimates indicate that, as a result of the 1948 war in which numerous
Arab
armies attacked the newly-founded State of Israel, more Jews
(approximately
850,000) were displaced from Arab countries than were Palestinians
(approximately 726,000)…
TO READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION, GO TO: http://thomas.loc.gov
(Enter "S. Res. 325" in the search field.)
TO COMMENT ON THE RESOLUTION, GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/dbq/officials/
-----
MATHESON TALKS PATRIOT ACT WITH MUSLIMS
Holly Mullen, Salt Lake Tribune, 4/4/04
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Apr/04042004/utah/153951.asp
WEST VALLEY CITY -- Congressman Jim Matheson stood in stocking feet
before
about 150 members of Utah's diverse Islamic community Saturday and
promised
to keep fighting what he views as the harshest aspects of the post-9-11
Patriot Act: unreasonable search provisions and racial profiling.
"I believe that some of the search provisions of that act go too far. I
have voted to take those out," said Matheson, who held his first town
meeting ever at the Khadeeja Islamic Center. The 2nd Congressional
District
Democrat removed his shoes before entering the main room of the mosque,
in
keeping with Islamic tradition.
Male Muslims gathered on the ground floor to hear and question
Matheson;
women members sat apart from the men upstairs, also in keeping with
their
religious custom.
The Patriot Act, which the Bush administration tailored in an effort to
root out suspected terrorists living in the United States, gives
federal
law enforcement authorities unprecedented power to search homes and
businesses, seize property and monitor activities of private citizens.
Matheson reminded his audience the act was authorized by Congress
"while
the smoke was still rising from the Pentagon a couple of miles away"
from
the nation's Capitol.
The act is set to expire at the end of 2005.
"The Patriot Act has been a good object lesson for us. But as we move
into
this post-9-11 world, we want to react to global events in a rational
way.
Putting an expiration date on the act was a wise move. We will have
lived
with it for four years by then..."
-----
OH: HOMELAND SECURITY, CIVIL LIBERTIES EXPERTS TO SPEAK
Katie Byard, Akron Beacon Journal, 4/5/04
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/8357725.htm
Nawal Ammar, a teacher at Kent State University, negotiates issues of
national security in her public and private life.
Ammar, a 45-year-old Egyptian native with dark hair, eyes and skin, has
--
after 9/11 -- been stopped frequently for searches in airports.
Appropriately enough, Ammar is chairing a symposium -- free and open to
the
public -- April 26 and 27 at Kent State titled Democracy and Homeland
Security: Strategies, Controversies and Impact.
The keynote speakers -- Adm. James M. Loy, the deputy secretary of the
U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, and law professor David Cole -- are
expected to represent different aspects of the debate about balancing
civil
liberties and national security after 9/11.
Loy was appointed in December to the No. 2 position in the department
that
was formed in 2002. His address is titled Homeland Security: Preserving
Our
Freedoms, Protecting America.
Cole is a Georgetown University law professor and author who earlier
this
year won a ruling from a federal court that struck down a portion of
the
U.S.A. Patriot Act, the controversial law approved by Congress six
weeks
after the attacks. The decision was the first time a section of the act
had
been ruled unconstitutional...
-----
DUST OFF THE FLAK JACKET. LAY LOW. AND STAY OFF THE STREETS...
Robert Fisk, Independent, 4/4/04
http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news1/fisk15.html
What would happen if the Americans left tomorrow? This has become the
latest buzz-question in the US media. Civil war. Chaos. Anarchy. So we
cannot leave. We have to protect the Iraqi people. Ergo, the Iraqi
people
don't want us to leave. We are protecting them from civil war. We are
saving them from themselves. The problem is that many Iraqis would
prefer
to have the responsibility to look after themselves without our
presence.
Simple. On 30 June, "we" are handing over sovereignty - a delicate and
illusionary commodity - to the Iraqi "people" who will, no doubt, be
profoundly grateful for our generosity. The Baghdad palace of the
occupying
power will then become the largest American embassy in the world and
our
appointed and unelected "Iraqi government" will become the beacon of
freedom, liberty, equality and everything else we profoundly wish it to
be.
But now, let's take a look at the facts.
As Nathan Brown, professor of political science and international
affairs
at George Washington University, has pointed out, the so-called
"Coalition
Provisional Authority" - the occupying power - has issued unchangeable
"orders" on highly significant matters, non-governmental organisations
and
the judiciary. For example, this places the Iraqi military under US
military command until a final constitution begins operating; the new
"government" - unelected, of course - will have no power over the
Special
Tribunals to try former members of the Baath Party.
The Americans control the central bank law and companies law.
Institutions
to control the press and television in Iraq have been set up by the
Americans, including a Communications and Media Commission which will
be
"solely responsible for licensing and regulating telecommunications,
information and other media in Iraq". "Lingering pockets" of American
influence will remain...
ALSO SEE:
THE WORST IDEA, EVER...INVADING IRAQ, THAT IS…
Justin Raimondo, antiwar.com, 4/5/04
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/
The invasion and occupation of Iraq is turning out to have been the
worst
idea in the history of American foreign policy, far stupider than the
Vietnam debacle, and potentially even more destructive and futile than
our
entry into World War I.
Up until now, the scale of our mistake has been masked by the
prominence of
the Sunni insurgency in central and northern Iraq. This has kept the
conflict contained to the infamous "Sunni Triangle," which has so far
been
the focus of the revolt against Anglo-American power. But now the
opposition is shifting, ideologically and geographically, in the
direction
of the majority Shi'ite Muslims.
The spark that set this blaze to burning was the closing of a newspaper
associated with the radical Sadrist faction, followers of Muqtada
al-Sadr.
The charge was "inciting violence," although no specific article in the
weekly Al Hawza was cited by the occupation government. In any case,
the
closure invigorated the Sadrist movement, which had been pushed to the
sidelines recently by more moderate forces: this edict, combined with
the
arrest of a key Sadrist aide and rumors that Sadr's house was
surrounded by
U.S. troops, provoked pitched street battles in Sadr City, outside
Baghdad,
and, more significantly, in the Shi'ite south.
They're still counting the casualties, but a battle in the streets of
the
holy city of Najaf appears to have killed at least 19, with hundreds
wounded. Sadr's supporters also demonstrated in Basra, Nassiriya, and
Amara, where they clashed with authorities. Earlier, British troops had
fired on Iraqi protesters in Basra, killing one and wounding two: a
crowd
of unemployed had gathered at Coalition facilities demanding jobs … as
policemen.
The knowledgeable Juan Cole, Middle East scholar and commentator,
estimates
that anywhere from one third to half of Iraq's Shi'ites support the
Sadrists,. He sees the crackdown as an American attempt to shape the
post-"handover" era, which commences on June 30, the day Iraqis
supposedly
get their sovereignty back. Except, of course, they won't really be
getting
anything of the kind...
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
THIRD MUSLIM BUSINESS TORCHED IN TEXAS
CAIR-San Antonio to hold 'community solidarity' news conference
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/6/04) - On Wednesday, April 7, the San Antonio,
Texas,
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Antonio)
will
hold a "community solidarity" news conference in reaction to an arson
attack Monday on a local Muslim business, the third such incident in
three
weeks.
Participants in the news conference will include local elected
officials
and representatives from a number of civil liberties organizations,
minority groups and law enforcement agencies.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 7, 1:15 p.m.
WHERE: Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro, San Antonio,
Texas
CONTACT: CAIR-San Antonio, Sarwat Husain, 210-378-9528,
sanantonio@cair-net.org
"If bias is indeed the motive for these attacks, our community needs to
send a clear message to the perpetrators that bigotry and hatred will
not
be tolerated," said CAIR-San Antonio Executive Director Sarwat Husain.
The first fire was set at Zia Abbasi's Texaco station on March 24. The
second was at Ameen Jiveni's Kwik Pantry on March 29. The latest fire
occurred at the Muslim-operated Commercial Food Mart early Monday. All
fires were set using gasoline at about 3 a.m. Arson investigators say
they
cannot label the fires as hate crimes until they arrest a suspect.
"We are monitoring the situation in San Antonio to see if it fits into
the
growing pattern of anti-Muslim incidents in our society," said CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad. Last month, vandals wrote "sand n**gers"
and
"America rocks b*tch" on the interior walls of the Islamic Center of
the
South Plains in Lubbock, Texas.
SEE: "Third Muslim Owned Convenience Store Set On Fire"
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=6DE79D2E-EE7D-4FF9-A7A8-21C778DD3720
"Pair of Fires Leaves Muslim Community Concerned"
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA04.02B.gas_fires_0404.5f44843.html
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to ISLAM-INFONET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/6/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S MERCY IS NOT LIMITED
* DEPORTED OHIO MUSLIM SPENDS FIRST NIGHT IN PARK (AP)
* CAIR-CAN CONDEMNS ATTACK ON JEWISH SCHOOL
* AMERICAN MUSLIMS WANT ROLE IN POLITICS (AP)
- Study Gauges 9/11 Effects on Muslims (Chicago Trib)
- Muslims' Goals: Be Active, Be Moderate (Free Press)
* CAIR-HOUSTON PROVIDES TRAINING TO EEOC
- CA: Harassed Muslim Workers Receive $550K
- NY: BK Franchise Sued By EEOC for Discrimination
* CAIR-DALLAS TO HOST FASHION SHOW FOR WOMEN
* MD: DWYER'S ILL-THOUGHT SLAP AT ISLAM (Baltimore Sun)
* NC: VICTIM SAYS POLICE EFFORTS FALL SHORT (Daily Tarheel)
* CAIR-SEATTLE: YEE REUNITED WITH FAMILY (Seattle PI)
* IL: ABUSE COUNSELORS REACH OUT TO ARAB WOMEN (Chicago Trib)
- CA: Comfortable in One's Own Skin (Daily Republic)
* KY: MUSLIM LEADERS ARRIVE FOR STUDY VISIT (Courier Journal)
* 26 IRAQIS DIE IN U.S. STRIKE ON FALLUJAH (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S MERCY IS NOT LIMITED
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "My servants who have
transgressed against their souls (through sinning should) not despair
of
God's mercy, for God pardons all sins."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 745
The Prophet also quoted the devil as saying to God: "I shall continue
to
lead Thy servants astray as long as their spirits are in their bodies."
God
replied: "(And) I shall continue to pardon them as long as they ask My
forgiveness."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 742
-----
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia A. Shearson, Director, 216-440-2247 or
216-830-2247, Cleveland@cair-ohio.com
WOMAN DEPORTED FROM U.S. SPENDS FIRST NIGHT BACK IN A PARK
Alexandra Olson, Associated Press, 4/6/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0404/06deported.html
VALENCIA, Venezuela - For lack of anywhere else to go, Amina Silmi
spent
her first night in Venezuela in a park, worried sick about the three
children she left behind in the United States.
Last week Silmi, 35, was deported to this South American nation after
13
years as an illegal resident in the United States. Her case has
outraged
the Muslim community in Cleveland, the city she considers her home.
"I'm so depressed right now," she told The Associated Press in a
weekend
interview, squeezing a crumpled napkin she used to wipe her tearstained
face. "I don't know when I'll see my kids again. I can't think. I can't
do
anything."
The thin, raven-haired woman said she has no friends or family in a
country
she hasn't seen in more than a decade. She has no idea where to look
for a
job or a home.
In Ohio, a sister is looking after her children: Haiat Awad, 12; Fida
Salti, 6; and Belal Salti, 5. They are U.S. citizens. Silmi let them
stay
because she didn't want to drag them into destitution with her.
Silmi's supporters, including Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, had lobbied
U.S.
Department of Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge, arguing that a
"zealous
interpretation" of immigration laws was breaking a family apart.
Silmi is barred from returning to the United States for 10 years for
failing to obey a 2001 order to leave, according to Greg Palmore,
spokesman
for Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Homeland Security...
"Often, the abuser holds their status over head. They say, 'If you
report
me, I'm going to report you to immigration.' It's another tool of power
and
control," said Julia Shearson, director of the Cleveland offices of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Her lawyers won a temporary stay, and she spent the next two months in
prisons in several U.S. cities. One of her worst memories was being put
in
shackles while a reporter interviewed her in Atlanta.
"It was so humiliating. I begged them not to put them on," she said.
She lost her appeal March 18. She was jailed in Beaumont, Texas, before
she
was deported…
-----
CAIR-CAN CONDEMNS FIREBOMB ATTACK ON JEWISH SCHOOL
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 4/5/2004) - The Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) today condemned the recent firebombing of the
United
Talmud Torah Elementary School in Montreal.
In a statement released today, CAIR-CAN wrote:
"The recent firebomb attack against the United Talmud Torah School in
Montreal is a shameful act of violence and hate. It is an assault on
all
the values that Canadians hold dear.
"There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for this hate crime.
No
purpose, political or otherwise, can ever be advanced with the
targeting of
an entire community and its dearest resource - its children."
CONTACT: Hadeel Al-Hadeel at 613-254-9704; E-mail: Canada@cair-net.org
-----
AMERICAN MUSLIMS WANT ROLE IN POLITICS
Rachel Zoll, Associated Press, 4/6/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/8363931.htm
Even the most religiously traditional Muslims believe they should
participate in American politics, according to a newly released study
of
one of the largest Muslim communities in the nation.
The survey of Detroit-area Muslims is the latest to show that the
isolationism that once pervaded the immigrant Muslim community is
dissipating. Muslims ranked protecting their civil rights as a top
public
policy issue, according to the study.
``A couple of decades ago, Muslims were, for the most part, internally
focused and had very few involvements at any level'' with American
civic
life, said Ihsan Bagby, a University of Kentucky professor who
conducted
the study last summer but has just released the findings. ``Starting in
the
1980s, the Muslim community, as it matured and it became a lot
stronger,
started to focus outside, to become more involved.''
Government scrutiny of American Muslims after the terrorist attacks on
Sept. 11, 2001, has drawn even more members of the community into the
public arena to defend themselves and their faith.
The project was conducted for the Institute for Social Policy and
Understanding, a Michigan think-tank that specializes in Muslim issues.
Bagby, who also conducted a 2000 nationwide survey of mosques, said he
focused this study in the Detroit-area because the ethnic mix of its
Muslim
community was representative of Muslims around the country...
ALSO SEE:
STUDY GAUGES 9/11 EFFECT ON U.S. MUSLIMS
Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune, 4/6/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0404060215apr06,1,1724577.story
Muslims in the United States are becoming more religious and
politically
active, they tend to believe America is an immoral society, and members
of
the younger generation appear more conservative than their parents,
according to a detailed study to be released Tuesday.
The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had a lasting effect on the lives
of
American Muslims and led to two significant changes, the researchers
said:
More are attending mosques and activities in Islamic centers, and they
want
to become more involved in American politics to change policies they
oppose.
Fallout from the attacks "made them realize they are a vulnerable
community," said lead researcher Ihsan Bagby, a professor of Islamic
studies at the University of Kentucky. "It accelerated their desire to
become more involved both in their own communities and in America. This
is
an expansion of what it is to be pious. This process was already in
place,
but was accelerated by 9/11."
For the study, sponsored by the Institute for Social Policy and
Understanding, a Michigan think-tank that studies Islamic issues, 1,298
Detroit-area Muslims completed questionnaires in mosques and at social
events. Sixty-four percent of the respondents were male and 36 percent
female. Researchers also drew some conclusions from interviews with
mosque
leaders.
Bagby said the study focused on the Detroit area but identified trends
typical of the broader Islamic community. There are 6 million to 7
million
Muslims in the U.S., according to the most reliable statistics.
Other Islamic experts said the findings do reflect trends among pious
U.S.
Muslims.
---
MUSLIMS' GOALS: BE ACTIVE, BE MODERATE;
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 4/6/04
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/musl6_20040406.htm
The vast majority of Muslims in metro Detroit say they should be
politically active and work more to help non-Muslims, according to a
survey
to be released today.
Many also favor practicing an Islam that is flexible and moderate.
The findings were among the results of a survey taken last summer of
almost
1,300 Muslims in metro Detroit, conducted by the Clinton Township-based
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. The report will be
discussed
in detail at a two-day conference about the lives of U.S. Muslims
beginning
Wednesday at Wayne State University.
While Muslims in metro Detroit are eager to take part in America's
civic
life, they say they are also concerned about their civil rights after
the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the survey shows...
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON PROVIDES SENSITIVITY TRAINING FOR EEOC
(HOUSTON, TX) - The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-Houston) recently conducted sensitivity and diversity
training on Islam and Muslim religious practices for the Equal
Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The training, held at the request of the EEOC, was attended by
employees
from federal agencies, including the US Coast Guard, Social Security
Administration, the Federal Detention Center, and Veterans Affairs. The
event, hosted by the Houston Federal Executive Board diversity
Committee,
was the first of a series of training planned for this year.
"We should have dedicated half the day to CAIR because the comments and
questions from the audience were so positive," said Joe Bontke Outreach
Manager of the EEOC.
CAIR-Houston conducted a two-hour training package that included
PowerPoint
presentations, lectures, videos, and Q&A. Attendees stated in their
evaluations that they wanted CAIR representatives to present to their
entire staff in the future and that the information being given out was
well received and appreciated.
CONTACT CAIR-Houston: 713-838-CAIR (2247), info@cairhouston.org
ALSO SEE:
RELIEF FOR AFGHANI, MUSLIM WORKERS HARASSED AT CA CAR DEALER CHAIN
EEOC and Barber Auto Settle Bias Lawsuit
Sacramento - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
today
announced a $550,000 settlement with Barber Dodge and Fairfield Toyota,
part of the Barber Dealer Group, a network of thirteen auto dealerships
in
Fairfield and Vallejo of Solano County, California. This resolves a
federal
lawsuit that alleged constant harassment of seven employees between
June
and December 2000, with name-calling such as "terrorists" and "thieves"
and
public derision of their Afghani national origin, dark skin color and
Muslim faith. The suit also raised charges of constructive discharge
and
retaliation.
Under the terms of the Consent Decree signed today by U.S. District
Judge
Garland E. Burrell, Barber Dodge and Fairfield Toyota deny all charges
but
have agreed to resolve the lawsuit (EEOC v. Fairfield Toyota, Barber
Dodge,
CIV. S-03-0657 GEB GGH). The dealerships will pay the seven former
employees $550,000, and will conduct training to prevent future
discrimination, revise anti-discrimination policies and implement an
effective complaint procedure.
A former employee recounted of her experience, "What I remember is, I
remember hatred." Marcia Mitchell, the EEOC attorney who worked on
this
case, said, "The discrimination haunted the employees. One young Woman
noted that this was her first 'real' job after college, and because of
her
experience at Barber Dodge, she fears future employment will hold more
harassment and bias."
For more information about EEOC, please visit www.eeoc.gov.
---
NY: HUDSON VALLEY BURGER KING FRANCHISE SUED BY EEOC FOR DISCRIMINATION
Suit Says Owner Fired Group of Workers Because of Middle Eastern Origin
NEW YORK - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
today
filed suit against Quick Quality Restaurant, Inc., and Candu
Management,
Inc, joint owners of five Burger King fast-food restaurants located in
Yonkers, Scarsdale, Fishkill, Elmsford and Yorktown Heights, N.Y.,
alleging
that they fired several individuals of Arab and/or Middle Eastern birth
or
descent in violation of the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The EEOC's lawsuit, 04 CV 02472, filed in U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York in White Plains, charges that the owner
of
the franchises terminated a number of workers (three of Jordanian birth
or
ancestry and one of Pakistani origin) at the Fishkill store, some of
them
long-time employees, because they were of Arab and/or Middle Eastern
birth
or ancestry.
In one specific instance four individuals were fired when the owner
yelled
"You're cheating me, you're stealing from me, you're all [expletive]
Arabs! Get out of here!"
The EEOC says there is no evidence that any theft occurred. The agency
filed suit after exhausting its conciliation efforts to reach a
voluntary
pre-litigation settlement.
-----
CAIR-DALLAS TO HOST ISLAMIC FASHION SHOW FOR WOMEN
On Saturday, April 25, the Dallas Fort Worth chapter of the Council on
American Islamic Relations Dallas (CAIR-DFW) will host an Islamic
fashion
show for women.
With the help of the CAIR-DFW, Casual Corner Groups will present the
latest
in Muslim attire. Participating stores include: Casual Corner, Petite
Sophisticate, August Max. Special savings will also be offered for this
event only. Attendees will have the choice of donating the discounted
portion of their purchase to CAIR-DFW.
WHEN: Sunday, April 25, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Casual Corner Store, Collin Creek Mall off of Central Expressway
and
15th St. in Plano, TX (Upstairs near Foley's)
To reserve seats, call CAIR-DFW office at 972-241-7233 by April 20th,
2004.
-----
DWYER'S ILL-THOUGHT SLAP AT ISLAM
Michael Olesker, Baltimore Sun, 4/6/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/balmd.olesker06apr06,0,345003.column
ON THE THEORY that the less said, the better about Del. Donald H. Dwyer
Jr.'s illuminating insights into theology and the American ecumenical
mix,
let us be as concise as possible:
Shame on Dwyer.
Shame on him for injecting a mean and incendiary spirit into the
country's
war anxieties, and shame on him for ducking behind his eighth-grade
nephew
when the going got a little rough, and shame on him for perpetuating
any
manner of religious stereotyping when the country needs as much calm as
it
can muster.
Just in time for the Christian celebration of Easter and the Jewish
observance of Passover, Dwyer's contribution to the holiday season is
his
trashing of the faith of Islam. He did it last week, in an e-mail sent
to
all 187 of his legislative colleagues, calling Islam a "militaristic
and
violent" religion whose followers are given "clear warrant for killing
those who will not comply with Islam." The paper, purportedly written
by
Dwyer's eighth-grade nephew and proudly distributed by Dwyer, was
titled,
"Is Islam Really Peaceful?"
Then, apparently indifferent to complaints by appalled colleagues - and
buoyed by what he called "dozens" of e-mails and phone calls from
constituents over the weekend - he reiterated his feelings during a
telephone interview yesterday.
So, just to set the record straight for Dwyer: The United States is not
at
war with Islam - nor Islam with the United States...
-----
NC: HATE CRIME VICTIM SAYS POLICE EFFORTS FALL SHORT
Shannan Bowen, Daily Tarheel, 4/5/04
http://www.dailytarheel.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/05/40715e6655229
Gagandeep Bindra thought he was safe walking down Franklin Street until
he
was assaulted last weekend after three teenage boys called him al-Qaida
leader Osama bin Laden.
Bindra, a Sikh UNC senior economics major from Punjab, India, said he
is
more disappointed with the way Chapel Hill police handled the incident
than
he is with the verbal attack.
According to police reports, each of the three boys was arrested on
charges
of simple assault but was not charged with ethnic intimidation. N.C.
law
makes it a misdemeanor to assault another person, to damage property or
to
make threats because of a person's race, color, religion or national
origin.
But, according to reports, police did categorize last week's incident
as a
hate crime. Chapel Hill police Chief Gregg Jarvies said a charge of
ethnic
intimidation was not filed because police did not think it was clear
that
the assault occurred as a result of verbal attack.
"We have to prove the assault was a direct result of the slur," Jarvies
said. "We can't act on how someone feels. We have to look at what the
statute requires."
Jarvies said the incident was still considered a hate crime because of
the
possibility that hate was involved in the assault.
But Bindra claims he was intimidated. "If it's not intimidation, what
is
it?" he said. "It's not like these guys are being friendly to me..."
-----
YEE REUNITED WITH FAMILY
Mike Barber, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4/6/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/167868_yee06.html
SEATAC - Next to his wife and 4-year-old daughter, the most cheering
sight
yesterday for Army Capt. James Yee, a Muslim chaplain now no longer
facing
accusations of espionage at Guantanamo Bay, was the family of Shaheed
Nuriddin of Olympia.
Despite Nuriddin's own battle with cancer, "this family made justice a
priority," Yee said, gesturing broadly to Nuriddin, 51, his wife,
Fatima,
and their daughter, Hanan, neighbors who stood by his family while he
fought to vindicate himself.
Yee acknowledged them after he was greeted at Sea-Tac Airport by
family,
friends and supporters with the Seattle chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
Yee's arrival, however, reminded them that his case is not completely
over.
Yee arrived later than expected after missing a plane because he
remains on
an airport "watch" list, even though the Army dropped all criminal
charges
against him last month, Yee's lawyer, Eugene Fidell of Washington,
D.C., said.
"Both he and his father have experienced this problem since the
character
assassination against him began last year," Fidell said.
Yee, a West Point graduate, will soon resume the chaplaincy of a
support
battalion at Fort Lewis, his permanent duty station. He was deployed
from
there in October 2002 to help at Guantanamo, where al-Qaida and Taliban
prisoners are being held...
-----
ABUSE COUNSELORS REACH OUT TO ARAB WOMEN
Deborah Horan, Chicago Tribune, 4/6/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northwest/chi-0404060267apr06,1,6010944.story
For years, the stories swirled in shops and beauty salons along Harlem
Avenue. A wife had been disfigured by a jealous husband; a rape victim
had
been sent back to the Middle East.
One thing was clear to social workers hearing such accounts from
community
leaders, but not seeing the women in counseling: Local Arab-Americans
lacked a safe place where sexual assault victims could comfortably seek
help.
That will change by June 1, when Pillars Community Services--a
non-profit
agency in Summit, aided by Muslim women activists--starts airing radio
and
television spots, running newspaper ads and plastering posters on bus
shelters alerting women in Arabic and English that help is available.
The goal is to aid victims by providing therapists who speak Arabic and
people who understand a culture in which the family's honor depends on
the
chastity of the women and sexual crime is spoken of in whispers, if at
all...
SEE ALSO:
COMFORTABLE IN ONE'S OWN SKIN
Yasmin Assemi, Daily Republic, 4/6/04
http://www.dailyrepublic.com/articles/2004/04/06/news/news1.txt
FAIRFIELD -- It's impossible not to feel comfortable around Reema
Rehman.
She smiles easily and her eyes could melt a glacier. But it's
impossible to
know whether her hair is curly or straight.
Like a growing number of women in the U.S., Rehman wears the hijab, a
cloth
worn by Muslim women to cover their hair. The term also refers to
dressing
modestly in accordance with one's Islamic faith, according to a
definition
provided by www.wordiq.com.
The practice of wearing the hijab is based on religious doctrine found
in
the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book. Women who wear the hijab must also
wear
loose, modest clothing that covers the arms and legs.
Many women choose to wear it because they want to be valued by their
character and intellect, and not by their looks...
-----
FOREIGN MUSLIM LEADERS ARRIVE FOR STUDY VISIT SET UP BY UOFL
Peter Smith, Courier-Journal, 4/6/04
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/04/06ky/B1-islam04060-4424.html
A group of Muslims from Asia embarking on a monthlong study visit to
the
United States made pledges of friendship and pleas for religious
tolerance
yesterday at a University of Louisville forum.
The 14 religious and intellectual leaders are visiting under a $343,785
grant from the State Department, participating in a UofL program
designed
to show Muslims abroad how Islam is practiced in America.
A.N.M. Wahidur Rahman, a professor of philosophy from Bangladesh, said
he
came to help overcome "the misunderstanding between the West and the
Muslims."
Rahman said he would be telling Americans in the coming month: "Islam
is a
religion of peace. Terrorism and extremism is not allowed in Islam.
Another member of the group is Hayatullah, whose name has one word. He
is a
member of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government and said his
people
are grateful that the United States helped liberate them after the
Soviet
invasion of the 1980s and from the rule of the Taliban after the Sept.
11,
2001, terrorist attacks...
-----
26 IRAQIS DIE IN U.S. STRIKE ON FALLUJAH
Associated Press, 4/6/04
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - U.S. warplanes firing rockets destroyed four
houses
in the besieged city of Fallujah late Tuesday, witnesses said. A doctor
said 26 Iraqis, including women and children, were killed and 30
wounded in
the strike.
U.S. Marines have been battling Iraqi guerrillas since Monday in a
siege
aimed at putting down Iraqi guerrillas in Fallujah, one of their main
strongholds…
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FLORIDA MUSLIM WOMAN ASSAULTED IN MALL
Attackers blamed victim for Madrid train bombings
(TAMPA, FL, 4/7/04) - The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-FL) today called on law enforcement authorities to
investigate an assault on a Muslim woman at a shopping mall in that
state
as a hate crime.
The victim, the owner of a jewelry kiosk at Westshore Mall in Tampa who
wears an Islamic head scarf, says she was verbally and physically
assaulted
on Tuesday by three people who told her to "get out of (America)" and
said
her religion is "hateful and violent." The assailants allegedly blamed
the
woman for the recent Madrid train bombings.
During the assault, one of the attackers allegedly grabbed the victim's
throat and attempted to remove her head scarf. The perpetrators fled
when
the victim ran to find mall security officers. Police are currently
investigating the incident as a case of simple battery.
"The facts of this case mandate that law enforcement authorities treat
it
as a hate crime and amend the possible charges accordingly," said
CAIR-FL
Communications Director Ahmed Bedier. "We must send an unambiguous
message
that anti-Muslim attacks will be prosecuted to the full extent of the
law,"
said CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali.
Since the 9/11 terror attacks, Florida Muslims have witnessed an
alarming
rise in bias-related incidents. In 2001, a Tallahassee man drove his
truck
into a local mosque. In 2002, a Pinellas county man was arrested for
plotting to attack some 50 Islamic institutions in Florida.
According to CAIR's national office, the Florida assault is part of a
recent rise in anti-Muslim incidents. Today in Texas, CAIR's San
Antonio
office is holding a news conference to express community concerns about
arson attacks on three local Muslim businesses. Last month, vandals
wrote
"sand n**gers" and "America rocks b*tch" on the interior walls of the
Islamic Center of the South Plains in Lubbock, Texas.
A CAIR "Muslim Community Safety Kit" booklet, designed to help local
Islamic leaders protect institutions and individuals, may be obtained
by
e-mailing publications@cair-net.org or calling 202-488-8787.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-Mail: abedier@cair-florida.org;
Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org; Ibrahim
Hooper,
202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org;
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/7/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK GOD'S PARDON
* SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
- Volunteer for CAIR
- CAIR Library Project Update: 7397 Sponsors
* BUSH APPOINTEE FORMS 'ISLAMIC' INSTITUTE (IPS)
* SINCE '94 HORROR, RWANDANS TURN TOWARD ISLAM (NY Times)
* TX: MUSLIMS FEAR ARSONS ARE FUELED BY HATRED (SA Express)
- San Antonio Muslims Decry Fires (WOAI-TV)
- NC: Cab Driver's Body Found On Golf Course
* ACLU TO SUE GOVERNMENT OVER 'NO-FLY' LIST (AP)
- CAIR-CAN: Law Must Respect Values (Ottawa Citizen)
* SURVEY FINDS MUSLIMS ARE MODERATES (Scripps Howard)
- IA: Professor Provides Muslim Education (Press Citizen)
- IA: Quran Does Not Command Violence by Muslims (DM Reg)
* CAIR ADS HIGHLIGHT ISLAM'S LINKS TO JESUS (Jerusalem Post)
* U.S. HITS MOSQUE COMPOUND; 40 SAID KILLED (AP)
* ISRAELIS UPROOT PALESTINIAN OLIVE GROVE (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SEEK GOD'S PARDON
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Blessed is he who finds
many requests for (God's) pardon in his record."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 750
CORRECTION TO HADITH OF THE DAY: Yesterday's "Hadith of the Day" should
have read: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited: "My
servants
who have transgressed against their souls (through sin should) not
despair
of God's mercy, for God pardons all sins." (Quran, 39:53)
-----
SUPPORT CAIR'S IMPORTANT WORK
Support and view CAIR's important work by visiting:
https://www.cair-net.org
ALSO SEE:
VOLUNTEER FOR CAIR
Would you like to help the American Muslim community by giving some of
your
time and service? Consider volunteering for CAIR, the nation's leading
Islamic civil rights and advocacy group dedicated to helping Muslims
across
the United States.
CAIR's Volunteer Program is designed to utilize the community's skills
and
talents while contributing to CAIR's overall mission. This program
matches
dedicated people willing to donate some time each week on specific
projects
that help empower American Muslims and defend civil liberties.
For more information, contact Najlaa at 202-488-8787 or e-mail
volunteer@cair-net.org
---
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7397 SPONSORSHIPS
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, Muslim individuals and groups may sponsor 18-item
packages
about Islam and Muslims, which are then distributed to the library of
their
choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
BUSH APPOINTEE FORMS 'ISLAMIC' INSTITUTE
From Nation-Building to Religion-Building
Jim Lobe, IPS News, 4/7/04
http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=23221
WASHINGTON, Apr 7 (IPS) - One thing that can be said about U.S.
neo-conservatives is they do not lack for ambition.
"We need an Islamic reformation," Deputy Defence Secretary Paul
Wolfowitz
confided on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq last year, "and I
think
there is real hope for one."
Echoing those views one year later, another prominent neo-conservative,
Daniel Pipes of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum (MEF),
recently
declared that the "ultimate goal" of the war on terrorism had to be
Islam's
modernization, or, as he put it, "religion-building."
Such an effort needs to be waged not only in the Islamic world,
geographically speaking, added Pipes, who last year was appointed by
President George W. Bush to the board of directors of the U.S.
Institute
for Peace (USIP), but also among Muslims in the West, where, in his
view,
they are too often represented by "Islamist (or militant Islamic)"
organizations.
Pipes is currently seeking funding for a new organization, tentatively
named the "Islamic Progress Institute" (IPI), which "can articulate a
moderate, modern and pro-American viewpoint" on behalf of U.S. Muslims
and
that, according to a grant proposal by Pipes and two New York-based
foundations obtained by IPS, can "go head-to-head with the established
Islamist institutions…"
CAIR's spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, said his organisation strives to
represent the views of all U.S. Muslims, and pointed to a new survey of
the
views of mosque leaders and congregants in Detroit, which has one of
the
largest Muslim populations in the country, as an example of the
fundamental
moderation of U.S. Muslims and those of his group...
"There's a big difference between organisations that emerge organically
from a community in response to the demand of their constituencies and
one
which is manufactured for political reasons by people who dislike what
the
consensus views of that community are," said Hussein Ibish of the
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which has also been a
target
of Pipes.
"For Mr. Pipes to create an organisation that purports to represent the
community that he makes a living systematically defaming demonstrates
an
amazing degree of effrontery."
"It's a free country," said CAIR's Hooper. "If Pipes and his friends
think
they can gain legitimacy in the Islamic community, good luck, but I
wouldn't hold my breath."
-----
SINCE '94 HORROR, RWANDANS TURN TOWARD ISLAM
Marc Lacey, New York Times 4/7/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/07/international/africa/07RWAN.html
IGALI, Rwanda - When 800,000 of their countrymen were killed in
massacres
that began 10 years ago this week, many Rwandans lost faith not only in
their government but in their religion as well. Today, in what is still
a
predominantly Catholic country, Islam is the fastest growing religion.
Roman Catholicism has been the dominant faith in Rwanda for more than a
century. But many people, disgusted by the role that some priests and
nuns
played in the killing frenzy, have shunned organized religion
altogether,
and many more have turned to Islam.
"People died in my old church, and the pastor helped the killers," said
Yakobo Djuma Nzeyimana, 21, who became a Muslim in 1996. "I couldn't go
back and pray there. I had to find something else."
Wearing a black prayer cap, Mr. Nzeyimana was one of nearly 2,000
worshipers at the Masdjid Al Fat'h last Friday. The crowd was so large
that
some Muslims set their prayer mats on the dirt outside the mosque and
prayed in the midday heat.
The Muslim community now boasts so many converts that it has had to
embark
on a crash campaign to build new mosques to accommodate all of the
faithful. About 500 mosques are scattered throughout Rwanda, about
double
the number that existed a decade ago.
Although no accurate census has been done, Muslims leaders in Rwanda
estimate that they have about a million followers, or about 15 percent
of
the population. That, too, would represent a doubling of their numbers
in
the past 10 years...
-----
MUSLIMS FEAR ARSONS ARE FUELED BY HATRED
Mary Moreno, San Antonio Express-News, 4/7/04
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA07.02B.third_fire_0407.4c6360d.html
A third arson at convenience stores owned by local Muslims is prompting
a
vocal response from local activists concerned the offender is targeting
members of the Islamic faith.
Arson investigators have determined all the blazes were deliberate, but
have no evidence they were set by the same person, or that Muslims are
being targeted.
However, the Council on American-Islamic Relations is holding a news
conference at 1:30 p.m. today at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
to
discuss the group's fears the fires are motivated by hate.
"If bias is indeed the motive for these attacks, our community needs to
send a clear message to the perpetrators that bigotry and hatred will
not
be tolerated," said Sarwat Husain, executive director of CAIR-San
Antonio.
The first fire was March 24 at a Texaco station on UTSA Boulevard.
The second was March 29 at the Kwik Pantry on Camp Bullis Road.
The latest fire occurred at Commercial Food Mart on the 2600 block of
Commercial Avenue early Monday...
ALSO SEE:
SAN ANTONIO MUSLIMS DECRY FIRES
Jim Forsyth, WOAI-TV, 4/7/04
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7D41D44C-DD0F-4D70-B9AE-0F1EA884ED71
(SAN ANTONIO) -- South Texas Muslims said today they're 'scared'
following
three arson fires in the past three weeks at San Antonio convenience
stores
owned by Middle Eastern families.
Sarwat Husain, head of the San Antonio Office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations told a rally at the Esperanza Peace and
Justice
Center this afternoon that 'the fear level is very high' among local
Muslims following the fires.
"This is chilling," she said. "We cannot help but feel that we are
being
targeted. We hope that this is not so."
San Antonio police say in all three cases, gasoline was poured on the
outside of the convenience stores and set on fire. Investigators say
all
three fires were arson, but they have not determined if all three are
related and they have stopped short of labeling the incidents a 'hate
crime.' San Antonio police chief Albert Ortiz attended the rally.
Husain said the fear that Texas Muslims feel has intensified with the
escalation of fighting in Iraq and the increase in U.S. casualties…
---
GREENSBORO CAB DRIVER'S BODY FOUND ON GOLF COURSE
Associated Press, 4/7/04
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/2982095/detail.html
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Police are investigating the death of a cab driver
whose
body was found at a golf course.
The body of Abdoelhafiz Hassan Hamed Dowleib, 32, was found between the
9th
and 10th holes on the Grandover Golf Course early Tuesday by a woman
delivering newspapers, police said. Authorities did not say how or
where
Dowleib died. They did not have suspects or a solid motive Tuesday, but
Capt. Gary Hastings said detectives have not ruled out robbery.
Dowleib, a native of Sudan, had worked for United Yellow Taxi for about
three years, manager James Clark said.
Dowleib picked up his last customer near downtown before 1 a.m., Clark
said. He didn't tell dispatchers where he was headed, unusual for
company
drivers.
"That's the last we heard from him," Clark said, adding that about half
of
the company's drivers are foreign-born Muslims.
Dispatcher Diane Grace called Dowleib a quiet but friendly man who "was
a
delight to work with."
Police say the crime is the city's third homicide in as many days.
-----
ACLU TO SUE GOVERNMENT OVER 'NO-FLY' LIST
Leslie Miller, Associated Press, 4/7/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V6889.AP-No-Fly-Lawsuit.html
WASHINGTON - American Civil Liberties Union's officials declined to
comment
in advance of their planned announcement Tuesday that they would file a
class-action lawsuit challenging the list of travelers that the
government
has barred from flying because they're considered a threat. The civil
rights group is representing seven plaintiffs.
Airlines are instructed to stop anyone on the ``no fly'' list that is
compiled by the Transportation Security Administration. The ACLU
contends,
though, that some people are wrongfully put on the list.
David Nelson is a law-abiding 34-year-old lawyer from Belleville, Ill.
But
he says the government treats him as if he's a threat to commercial
aviation who shouldn't be allowed on a plane.
Nelson says he believes his name appears on the government's ``no-fly
list,'' which names people deemed too dangerous to board commercial
flights. For Nelson, it's a case of mistaken identity: he's not the
David
Nelson the government believes is a threat.
Still, he says he's been delayed at airports dozens of times as
government
officials questioned him.
Nelson is among seven people whom the ACLU brought together in a
class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday against the TSA, which administers
the list.
``Few would line up in sympathy for a trial lawyer delayed for a few
minutes at the airport every time he wants to hop on the plane,''
Nelson
said in an interview. ``But surely it affects individuals of color
disproportionately, individuals of Arab descent or who practice the
Muslim
religion, and it's very much those people on my mind when I volunteered
to
be a named plaintiff...''
ALSO SEE:
ANTI-TERROR LAW MUST RESPECT OUR VALUES
Hadeel Al-Shalchi, Ottawa Citizen, 4/7/04
http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=69a2a21c-a986-40ad-84cf-646b53aef031
Re: Caught in the crossfire of the war on terror, April 3.
It is a relief to know that former House of Commons Speaker Lloyd
Francis
finds some of "us" Muslims as law-abiding people who have adapted to
"his"
values and morals.
This is my Canada, too, as well as the Canada of the 580,000-strong
Canadian Muslim population who call this great land of ours home.
Separating "us" from "you" creates anxiety, distrust and discomfort
within
a population that is too often brow-beaten to prove its citizenship and
loyalty to this country.
As a Canadian Muslim, I too want to see our security forces do their
best
to ensure the safety of all Canadians. Canadian Muslims have a sacred
obligation to ensure that their home country should not have to suffer
any
harm.
But I also believe that there is no dichotomy between ensuring Canada's
safety and preserving our rich heritage of values such as equality,
justice
and the rule of law. Concede these values, and the terrorists win -- as
do
Islamophobes out there.
Hadeel Al-Shalchi is the Director of communications for the Canadian
Council on American-Islamic Relations.
-----
SURVEY FINDS MUSLIMS ARE MODERATES
Melissa Sanchez, Scripps Howard, 4/6/04
http://www.axcessnews.com/national_040604.shtml
Washington - Mosque-attending Muslims are very interested in
participating
in their community and in politics, according to a study released
Tuesday.
About 93 percent of participants support community and political
involvement, and 68 percent are registered to vote. The study, from the
Institute for Policy Study and Understanding, surveyed leaders at 33
Detroit-area mosques and about 1,300 Muslims from the 12 largest...
About 85 percent of survey participants disapprove of President George
Bush's job in office, the study found.
The Council on American-Islamic Relation, an organization aimed at
promoting a positive image of Muslims, estimates there are 7 million
Muslims in the United States. Metro Detroit has the highest Arab
population
outside the Middle East, the group says.
"This is definitely a community that has a strong political clout,"
said
Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the council.
The study was conducted in part to increase public awareness of
Islam...
"The accusation that the Muslim community is radical ... is
unfortunately
an accusation that is made regularly," said Ihsan Bagby, the University
of
Kentucky professor who conducted the yearlong study.
Bagby - a converted Muslim and nationally recognized expert on Islam -
said
most Muslims hold moderate political and religious views...
ALSO SEE:
PROFESSOR PROVIDES MUSLIM EDUCATION
Kristen Schorsch, Iowa City Press-Citizen, 4/7/04
http://www.press-citizen.com/news/040704souaiaia.htm
A University of Iowa visiting professor aims to teach others about
Islam,
its origins and human rights as understanding the Muslim faith becomes
increasingly important.
Ahmed Souaiaia, a visiting professor in the UI department of religion,
teaches an introductory Islamic course as well as a human rights class
to
UI students. Souaiaia, 36, also has recently written a paper in
response to
students' and scholars' questions regarding Islam and the Muslim faith.
"I think it's a topic that always keeps regenerating itself," Souaiaia
said, adding that he thinks people have always been interested in
Islamic
studies.
Recent fighting amongst U.S. troops and Iraq's majority Shiites, a
Muslim
sect, has resulted in dozens of fatalities.
The most recent attack includes four American contractors whose charred
bodies were dragged through the streets of Fallajuah, Iraq, and hung
from a
bridge spanning the Euphrates River.
A large Muslim population, natural resources in the Middle East and a
world
moving toward globalization is also causing an interest in Islamic
studies,
Souaiaia said.
"Learning about the habits and customs of (Muslims) obviously is
advantageous from an economic perspective as well," he said.
Interest in Islamic studies has prompted UI to offer more courses to
students. Souaiaia has been hired as a permanent professor next fall to
continue teaching Islamic courses, he said, the first permanent
position at
UI for Islamic studies...
---
QURAN DOES NOT COMMAND VIOLENCE BY MUSLIMS AGAINST NON-MUSLIMS
A. Kamal, Ames, Des Moines Register, 4/4/04
http://desmoinesregister.com/opinion/stories/c2129999/23954058.html
Cal Thomas' March 14 column, "Peace with Honor (Again?)," is full of
distortions, half-truths and misinterpretations of the Quran. As such,
it
is defamatory to Islam and Muslims.
Thomas relied not on the Quran, or an authentic translation of the
Quran,
but rather on a book written by Dr. Labib Mikhail, a person with a very
well-known agenda who volunteered his own unauthentic interpretation
and
translation that serve this agenda.
Nowhere in the Quran does it command Muslims to fight non-Muslims until
they exterminate all religions so that Islam will be the world's only
religion, as Thomas quoted from Mikhail's book. And in the translation
of
verse 193 of Chapter 2 in the Quran, that is quoted without referring
to
the original text of the Quran, Thomas makes two mistakes: 1) He
translates
the Arabic word fitnah as disbelief and worshipping of others along
with
Allah. Fitnah is literally translated to tribulation or persecution,
which
is far from the meaning quoted by Thomas. 2) He translated A-Zalimun
(incorrectly written as As-Zatimun) as the polytheists and wrongdoers.
A-Zalimun means transgressors, and the verse simply means that there
should
be no hostility except against the transgressors, which makes perfect
sense.
The Quran never commands Muslims to fight anyone, except in
self-defense.
And this is evident in verse 190 in the same chapter, of which verse
193 is
a continuation. It states: "And fight in the way of Allah against those
who
fight against you." Thomas and Mikhail are misinterpreting the Quran
and
presenting Quran verses out of the context in which they appeared.
It is never the case that Islam commands hostilities against
Christians, as
implied by Thomas. Non-Muslims, including Christians and Jews, lived
and
prospered under the Muslim rule since the dawn of Islam. Contrary to
what
Thomas and Mikhail are saying, the Quran and the prophet Muhammad
command
Muslims to treat people, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, justly and
fairly,
and to protect them and their houses of worship.
Devout and practicing Muslims, who read and understand the Quran, live
in
harmony with non-Muslims, in the United States and elsewhere, while
rejecting the distorted interpretations quoted by Thomas.
[The author is writing on behalf of the board of directors, Islamic
Center
of Ames.]
-----
PRESS ADS HIGHLIGHT ISLAM'S LINKS TO JESUS
Tom Tugend, Jerusalem Post, 4/7/04
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/index.html?ts=1081365729
LOS ANGELES - The large advertisement in five California weekly
newspapers
has a photo of Jerusalem's Old City, showing a cross in the foreground
with
a mosque behind it.
Its headline is "More In Common Than You Think" and the text proclaims
Islam's reverence of Jesus, ending in the paragraph: "Like Christians,
every day, over 1.3 billion Muslims strive to live by his Jesus'
teachings
of love, peace, and forgiveness. Those teachings, which have become
universal values, remind us that all of us, Christians, Muslims, Jews,
and
all others have more in common than we think."
The ad is part of a long-term campaign, launched after 9/11 by the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to correct "misconceptions" about
Islam and present a kinder, gentler image of American Muslims.
Future ads may cite the Koran's respect and reverence for Abraham and
Moses, to show Islam's kinship to Jews, said Sabiha Khan,
communications
director for CAIR's southern California chapter, which initiated the
current Jesus ad.
CAIR, which describes itself as "America's largest Islamic civil
liberties
group," is headquartered in Washington and has 25 chapters in the US
and
Canada.
Its national spokeswoman, Rabiah Ahmed, speaks of CAIR as a "Muslim
NAACP,"
referring to the African-American civil rights organization.
Founded in 1994, CAIR's declared purpose is "to promote a positive
image of
Islam and Muslims in America and to empower the Muslim community
through
political and social activism..."
CAIR's ad campaign, which up to now has appeared mainly in The New York
Times, runs under the overall motto, "We are Americans and we are
Muslims."
Its skillfully- produced ads generally feature attractive young
Muslims, of
different ethnic backgrounds, contributing to American society as girl
scouts, nurses, teachers and parents.
"We have received very positive feedback, but we still have much work
ahead
of us," said Ahmed...
-----
U.S. HITS MOSQUE COMPOUND, 40 SAID KILLED
Bassem Mroue and Abdul-Qader Saadi, Associated Press, 4/7/04
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - U.S. Marines in the third day of a battle to
pacify
this Sunni Muslim city fired a rocket and dropped a 500-pound,
laser-guided
bomb on a mosque compound Wednesday, and witnesses said dozens were
killed.
Shiite-inspired violence spread to key cities in Iraq.
The fighting in Fallujah and neighboring Ramadi - just east of Baghdad
-
has killed 15 Marines since Monday and was part of an intensified
uprising
involving other Sunni towns in northern and central Iraq, and Shiite
population centers south of the capital.
Marines waged a six-hour battle around the Abdul-Aziz al-Samarrai
mosque
with militants holed up inside before a Cobra helicopter fired a
Hellfire
missile at the base of its minaret and an F-16 dropped the bomb, said
Marine Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne.
The fight began when a Marine vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled
grenade
fired from the mosque, wounding five Marines, and a large U.S. force
converged on it, Byrne said.
Witnesses said the strike came as worshippers had gathered for
afternoon
prayers.
An Associated Press reporter saw cars ferrying out dead and wounded.
Witnesses estimated that as many as 40 people were killed.
The military gave widely varying accounting of the casualties. Master
Sgt.
Robert Beyer, a spokesman for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in
Camp
Pendleton, Calif., said that one ``enemy combatant'' was killed, and
there
were ``no worshippers'' or civilian casualties. Byrne, in Iraq, said
``we
believe we killed a bunch of these guys.''
Witnesses said part of a wall surrounding the mosque compound was
destroyed
but the main building was not damaged.
In Baghdad, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told CNN that from photos of the
mosque
he had seen, ``the actual mosque structure itself'' was not damaged.
Its minaret was damaged, but still standing, an AP reporter said.
``It is a holy place, there is no doubt about it,'' Kimmitt added. ``It
has
a special status under the Geneva Convention that it can't be attacked.
``However, it can be attacked when there is a military necessity
brought on
by the fact that the enemy is storing weapons, using weapons, inciting
violence and executing violence from its grounds,'' he said.
Because casualties were rushed to makeshift clinics in private homes
and
mosques, the number of dead and wounded was unclear.
During fighting elsewhere in Fallujah, U.S. forces seized another
mosque,
the al-Muadidi mosque, and a Marine climbed its minaret and fired down
on
gunmen, witnesses said. Insurgents hit the minaret with
rocket-propelled
grenades, causing it to partly collapse, the AP reporter said.
Insurgents also blew up two highway overpasses into the city to prevent
U.S. troops from using them. A helicopter rocketed three houses, and
the
reporter saw at least five wounded people, including a young boy, being
pulled out of one them.
Byrne said the Marines controlled about a quarter of Fallujah…
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMAM'S WIFE ASSAULTED AT MARYLAND MOSQUE
CAIR calls for repudiation of Islamophobic rhetoric
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/8/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today called on national political and religious leaders to
repudiate Islamophobic rhetoric following another in a series of
attacks on
American Muslim institutions, businesses and individuals.
The latest incident involved an assault on the wife of the Imam, or
religious leader, of the Islamic Society of Annapolis in Annapolis, Md.
The
woman, who was wearing an Islamic head scarf, was hit by a bottle this
morning as she left the mosque. The assailant allegedly shouted
something
unintelligible at the victim before fleeing into a nearby office. CAIR
is
calling on law enforcement authorities to investigate the attack as a
possible hate crime.
In a similar incident on Tuesday, the owner of a jewelry kiosk at a
Tampa
mall who also wears an Islamic head scarf, says she was verbally and
physically assaulted by three people who told her to "get out of
(America)"
and said her religion is "hateful and violent." The assailants
allegedly
blamed the woman for the recent Madrid train bombings. SEE: "Trio At
Mall
Attack Muslim Employee Over Spain Assault,"
http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGAZ2QADSSD.html
In Texas, CAIR's San Antonio office held a news conference on Wednesday
to
express community concerns about arson attacks on three local Muslim
businesses. SEE: "Arsons Investigated as Likely Hate Crimes,"
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2492010
Last month, vandals wrote "sand n**gers" and "America rocks b*tch" on
the
interior walls of the Islamic Center of the South Plains in Lubbock,
Texas.
They also broke windows and damaged, destroyed or removed other items
in
the mosque. SEE: "FBI Investigates Vandalism at Lubbock Mosque,"
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw94143_20040308.htm
Many Muslims believe the rise in such incidents can be tied to the
ant-Muslim rhetoric used by some conservative commentators,
particularly
radio talk show hosts. CAIR has received a number of reports in recent
weeks of hosts using terms such as "rag heads" when referring to
Muslims
and painting Islam as inherently violent. Some even implicitly endorse
violence against Muslims.
On Thursday of last week, WMAL host Michael Graham in Washington, D.C.,
said: "I don't wanna say we should kill 'em all [Muslims], but unless
there's reform [within Islam], there aren't a lot of other solutions
that
work in the ground struggle for survival."
Last month, A Los Angeles, Calif., radio station was forced to issued
an
on-air apology for an Islamophobic skit that claimed Muslims have sex
with
animals, avoid bathing and are obsessed with killing Jews.
"Healthy public debate on all issues should be encouraged, but when
that
debate crosses the line into incitement and hate-mongering, it harms
our
nation and must be challenged," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad
Awad.
Awad said silence on the part of mainstream political and religious
leaders
only encourages the hate-mongers.
A CAIR "Muslim Community Safety Kit" booklet, designed to help local
Islamic leaders protect institutions and individuals, may be obtained
by
e-mailing publications@cair-net.org or calling 202-488-8787.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/8/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: RELIEVED OR RELIEVING?
* CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
- CAIR-DC Employment Discrimination Workshop
* MD LAWMAKERS ISSUE REBUKE OVER ISLAM E-MAIL (Balt Sun)
* NJ: IRAQI-AMERICANS COMPLAIN OF MISTREATMENT (Record)
* DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES DETENTION OF MUSLIMS (SL Weekly)
- Cal State Seeks To Offer Islamic Center (PE)
* ISLAM: HIJAB IS NOT OPPRESSION (Buffalo News)
- PA: Spiritual Side of Islam (Daily Penn)
* TX: 3 MUSLIM-OWNED GAS STATIONS TORCHED (LA Times)
- Blazes of Hatred? (San Antonio Express-News)
* 9/11 STOKED POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS OF MUSLIMS (AFP)
* FL: MUSLIM WOMAN ALLEGES HATE CRIME AT TAMPA MALL (WFTS)
* US WARNS MOSQUES LEGITIMATE TARGETS FOR FIGHTING (AFP)
- Hospital Chief: Over 280 Iraqis Killed (AP)
- U.S. Defends Bombing Mosque (AJC)
- US Troops Kill 13 Iraqis in Protest (News.com)
* ISNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: RELIEVED OR RELIEVING?
A funeral procession once passed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him) and he said: "Relieved or relieving?" The people asked: "What is
relieved and relieving?" He said: "A believer is relieved (by death)
from
the troubles and hardships of the world, and leaves for the Mercy of
God,
while (the death of) a wicked person relieves the people, the land, the
trees, (and) the animals from him."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 519
-----
CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER AND CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced web designer
responsible
for developing and updating CAIR website. The applicant should have: a
bachelors degree or a minimum of 5 years web development experience,
including advanced experience in ASP (VB script), HTML, Java Script,
SQL,
MS Access and Photoshop; experience in programming web databases is a
must
with verifiable knowledge in database driven content management; have
an
eye for developing a clean user interface with experience in graphics
design using Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash; familiarity with
streaming audio and video using Windows Media Player and Real Player;
good
working knowledge of how to integrate office components to create
charts,
graphs, and reports using Excel, Word, and Power Point; ability to work
independently and formulate an exhaustive and extensive plan to keep
the
website current and maintaining content that is fresh.
Applicant MUST also have an understanding of online security, including
credit card processing and online shopping cart, and must be able to
juggle
multiple tasks and be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Internet
applications
as they apply to civil rights/activism driven organization, effective
writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills is also needed. This
position requires travel and weekend work.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience
CAIR offers an excellent health and dental benefit for its full time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply before April 20, 2004 in
confidence
via email to: hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202.488.0833 or mail to
address
above. When applying via email please ensure to write the position
title
"Webmaster" in the subject of the email.
CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced, dynamic person to
take
the position of Civil Rights Attorney. The position involves handling
of
civil rights cases and communication between the entities involved in
the
civil rights disputes. Candidate should have working knowledge of
alternate
dispute resolution (mediation/arbitration), law degree from ABA
accredited
law school required, and 1-2 years experience in the area of civil
rights
and/or in employment/labor law. Applicants should also be licensed to
practice law in District of Columbia, Virginia or Maryland. She or he
must
possess excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills and be able
to
work well with others. Traveling will also be required.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience, CAIR offers an
excellent retirement, health and dental benefit packages for its full
time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202-488-0833. When applying via email please
ensure to write the position title "Civil Rights Attorney" in the
subject
of the email.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR HOSTS WORKSHOP ON EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations will host a workshop
for
community leaders and activists interested in learning about the steps
to
address employment discrimination.
The workshop, conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity officials
(EEOC), will educate participants about what constitutes employment
discrimination and explain their rights in the workforce. Officials
will
also offer insight into EEOC polices and procedures as well as offer
common
remedies for settling complaints.
It is a must for activists or leaders who want to educate others within
their respective communities about their rights in the workplace.
WHEN: Sunday, April 17 from 1-3 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR National's office, 453 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington
D.C. 20003
Registration is free but seating is limited.
To register or obtain more information, call Israa Rahman at
202-488-8787
or email at irahman@cair-net.org
-----
LAWMAKERS ISSUE REBUKE TO DWYER OVER ISLAM E-MAIL
Baltimore Sun, 4/8/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.br.dwyer08apr08,0,4152996.story
More than 30 senators and delegates issued a public rebuke to Del.
Donald
H. Dwyer Jr. yesterday over what they described as a "prejudicial and
hateful" e-mail he sent to all General Assembly members last week
questioning whether Islam is a peaceful religion.
The lawmakers, all Democrats, released a statement criticizing the Anne
Arundel County Republican's use of the Assembly's computer system to
circulate an essay concluding that Muslims practice a warlike religion.
Separately, the Maryland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, a leading advocacy group for Muslims' civil rights,
announced
that it will hold a news conference today to call on the Joint
Committee on
Legislative Ethics to conduct an inquiry into Dwyer's conduct.
-----
IRAQI-AMERICANS COMPLAIN OF MISTREATMENT
Eman Varoqua, The Record, 4/8/04
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NTExNjEz
Abdul Razaq and Sarwat Barzanji wanted to become U.S. soldiers and help
in
Iraq. Instead, while pursuing the paperwork they needed, they were
detained, handcuffed, and interrogated, they say.
As the fighting in Iraq takes a chilling turn for the worse, so does
life
for Iraqi-Americans in North Jersey: They're feeling animosity from
neighbors - this despite having remained supporters of President Bush's
conduct of the war…
Razaq said he had gone to the Robert A. Roe Federal Building in
Paterson on
Tuesday to track down his immigration information - papers needed to
enlist
in the U.S. Army. But when he and his friend Barzanji, who lives in
Newark,
were leaving, security guards stopped them. The Iraqi expatriates, who
are
in their 40s, said they were handcuffed for two hours while authorities
verified their identification…
-----
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS EXPLORE THE POST-9/11 DETENTION OF MUSLIM
IMMIGRANTS
IN PERSONS OF INTEREST
Scott Renshaw, Salt Lake Weekly, 4/8/04
http://www.slweekly.com/editorial/2004/arts_2_2004-04-08.cfm
For many documentary filmmakers, finding the right subject is the easy
part. For Tobias Perse and Alison Maclean, literally finding their
subjects
could have been the hardest part of all.
Their project was Persons of Interest, which made its debut at the 2004
Sundance Film Festival. Screenwriter Lawrence Konner (Mona Lisa Smile)
was
beginning a project called The Documentary Campaign, and approached
acquaintances Perse (a veteran journalist for Rolling Stone) and
Maclean
(writer/director of Jesus' Son) about co-directing the first film. It
was
to be an exploration of the U. S. Justice Department's arrest and
detention
of Muslim immigrants in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks, made up almost entirely of interviews with those who were
rounded
up as "persons of interest" in anti-terrorist investigations. In some
cases, individuals were imprisoned for more than a year without access
to
family, lawyers or due process.
But how do you find the victims of a policy for which there was no
official
accounting? The government never released the names of those detained,
and
Perse finds the reasons for the secrecy both absurd and telling.
The notion that anyone might have to "prove innocence" lies at the
heart of
civil liberties vs. national security questions raised by Persons of
Interest. A discussion will follow a community screening of the film
sponsored by Salt Lake Film Center on April 12, with attendees
including
Perse, ACLU of Utah director Dani Eyer, Utah Islamic Society
representative
Iqbal Hossain and invited guest U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch...
PERSONS OF INTEREST COMMUNITY SCREENING, Tower Theatre, 876 E. 900
South,
Monday, April 12, 7 p.m.
ALSO SEE:
CAL STATE SEEKS TO OFFER ISLAMIC CENTER
Marisa Agha, Press-Enterprise, 4/8/04
http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_islam07.a0dcd
Cal State San Bernardino President Al Karnig wants to raise $15 million
in
private money to start a center for Islamic and Middle Eastern studies
at
the university by 2006. Karnig cited the Iraqi war, the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks and the Arab-Israeli conflict as reasons that study
of
the region is important.
"I think the Middle East is the key linchpin in promoting peace for the
future because it is the place where so much of the conflict is taking
form," Karnig said.
The San Bernardino campus would become the first in the Cal State
system
with a center focusing on Middle Eastern studies. Cal State San
Bernardino
already offers Arabic classes and has hosted three conferences focusing
on
the region in the last six months.
"If there is a belief that exists in the Muslim world, it is that the
U.S.
has declared war on the Islamic world," Karnig said.
Cal State San Bernardino would join institutions such as UC Berkeley,
the
University of Chicago and Harvard in offering a center specializing in
Islamic and Middle Eastern studies. ..
-----
ISLAM: HIJAB IS NOT OPPRESSION
Salma Mirza, Buffalo News, 4/7/04
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20040407/1049868.asp
Hijab is derived from an Arabic word meaning "something that conceals."
In
explaining the concept, I have often resorted to saying that it means
simply a head-covering or a scarf. But it also refers to an inner state
of
being that is only dimly reflected in the external choice to wear a
veil.
Throughout history, it seems to me that society has always maintained
at
least two main, sweeping generalizations regarding the two genders.
Women
are valued for their beauty, while men are judged on their wealth. The
dictate for modesty in the Qur'an and the Hadith applies to both men
and
women, according to how they are viewed. Men cannot flaunt their wealth
by
wearing flashy clothing and gold jewelry, and, rather than be party to
their own sexual objectification, modesty of dress is stipulated for
women.
At age 10, I was still young enough that fasting during the holy month
of
Ramadan was not obligatory. However, I chose to both fast and to try
wearing hijab everywhere I went, not just while reading Qur'an or
praying
in the mosque. I had been sheltered from a world that did not
understand
Islam. I wasn't prepared for the reception I got from the rest of the
world, my classmates in particular. It was a wide spectrum of
reactions,
depending on their personality and level of ignorance...
ALSO SEE:
EXPERT UNVEILS SPIRITUAL SIDE OF ISLAM
Faatima Qureshi, Daily Pennsylvanian, 7/8/04
http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/4074fd8422b41
In the race to establish the presence of science in Islam, the Sufi
focus
on spirituality is often overlooked, according to Religious Studies
professor Barbara von Schlegell.
In front of an audience of around 30 students, von Schlegell addressed
the
position of Sufism Islamic mysticism in Islam Tuesday in Houston Hall
for
the Penn Arab Student Society's Arab Heritage Month.
Von Schlegell began by dispelling any belief in the secular founding of
Penn. In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin reveals that the academy
was
initially founded for his friend, Rev. George Whitefield, who did not
have
a place to preach, von Schlegell said.
However, Franklin meant to establish a place where even the "Mufti
[Muslim
scholars] of Constantinople could have a place in Philadelphia to
preach,"
she added.
Having set the tone for her talk, von Schlegell then focused on Sufism.
The
goal of Sufis is often misunderstood as the desire to attain oneness
with
God, but, according to von Schlegell, no Sufi writing upholds this
statement. Instead, the goal of the Sufis is to realize divine
mysteries,
love God and gain knowledge of Him.
The strong Sufi desire for nearness to God, not union with God, is
found in
Jewish mysticism as well, von Schlegell noted.
"This is an important lecture on a topic people know little about,"
College
freshman Rania Riad said. "It's good to shed light on it..."
-----
3 MUSLIM-OWNED GAS STATIONS TORCHED IN TEXAS
Lianne Hart, Los Angeles Times, 4/8/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-torch8apr08,1,889159
HOUSTON - Three Muslim-owned gas stations in San Antonio have been set
on
fire by an arsonist in the last three weeks, raising the specter of
hate
crimes in a city that prides itself on its diversity.
"No one has taken responsibility and it's difficult to say what the
motive
is, but there are too many similarities between the fires for it to be
a
coincidence," said Capt. Art Villarreal, head of the arson unit at the
San
Antonio Police Department. "It flies in the face of logic to say these
are
random attacks."
For the 12,000 Muslims who live in San Antonio, the fires are a
reminder
that fallout from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks continues. "The police
aren't
saying 'hate crime' yet, but we as a community are thinking it is
because
of what we've been going through, of being singled out," said Sarwat
Husain, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
in
San Antonio. "Our community needs to send a clear message to the
perpetrators that bigotry and hatred will not be tolerated."
The first fire was set March 24 at a Texaco station on San Antonio's
northwest side. Five days later, a nearby combination convenience store
and
gas station was torched. On Monday, a third station, in the south part
of
the city, went up in flames. No injuries were reported in the fires.
All were set around 3 a.m. In each case, an accelerant was poured on an
outside wall and ignited, causing between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of
damage, Villarreal said. In at least two of the cases, investigators
found
red plastic gasoline containers among the charred rubble...
ALSO SEE:
BLAZES OF HATRED?
Sonja Garza and Mary Moreno, San Antonio Express-News. 4/8/04
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA08.01B.muslim_solidarity_0408.a04a383.html
Standing beyond a line of yellow caution tape, Alex Amin once again
surveyed the charred remains of his South Side convenience store: a
singed
cash register, a scorched ceiling, a melted storefront sign.
"It's sad. It hurts me because I work so many years here," said Amin,
whose
Commercial Food Mart was the latest target in a string of arsons that
police say may be hate crimes.
The three recent fires - all occurring within two weeks at Muslim-owned
or
operated businesses - have sent a wave of fear across the local Muslim
community. Some say they are being singled out because of their Islamic
faith.
"I am really scared. We all as Muslims are really scared to let our
children go out, to go out ourselves," said Noor Zain, a local
housewife.
"We can't help but feel that we are targeted," said Sarwat Husain,
executive director of the local chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations. "We hope it is not true."
Husain and Zain were among about 100 people of varying faiths and
ethnic
backgrounds who attended a "community solidarity" news conference
Wednesday
to raise awareness of the recent arsons and aggression against Muslims
since 9-11...
-----
STUDY FINDS 9/11 LEGACY STOKED POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS OF US MUSLIMS
Agence France Presse, 4/7/04
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1505&ncid=1505&e=14&u=/afp/20040407/ts_alt_afp/us_muslim_survey_040407135028
WASHINGTON - The post-September 11 crackdown on Americans Muslims has
intensified the community's political awareness, according to the
author of
a study, in a detailed portrait of a well-known Arab-American
community.
Ihsan Bagby, author of the study "A Portrait of Detroit Mosques," said
the
growing political sophistication emerged in interviews with community
leaders and from feedback from hundreds of ordinary Muslims.
A professor of Islamic studies at the University of Kentucky, Bagby had
interviewed many of the imams in the heavily Arab city of Detroit,
Michigan, in 2000, one year before the attacks on New York and
Washington.
"Many of them did not see political involvement as a high priority" at
the
time, he said. But when he went back two years later, all the imams and
leaders he spoke with were convinced of the importance of raising their
profile in the political arena.
Fallout from the attacks "made them realize they are a vulnerable
community," explained Bagby, who was lead researcher on the year-long
project...
American Muslim leaders made a concerted attempt to deliver a Muslim
bloc
vote for the first time in the November 2000 elections that brought
President Bush to power...
The political action committee formed by the leading Muslim and
Arab-American groups, such as CAIR to co-ordinate political campaigning
this year has not declared in favour of either candidate but is widely
expected to throw its weight behind Democractic Senator John Kerry.
-----
AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMAN ALLEGES HATE CRIME AT TAMPA MALL
WFTS, 4/8/04
http://www.wfts.com/stories/2004/04/040408hatecrime.shtml
TAMPA - As the violence escalates in Iraq, Tampa police say terror may
be
to blame for a hate crime at Westshore Mall.
Tuesday afternoon, a jewelry kiosk owner was verbally assaulted by
three
suspects, one of whom also tried to grab the Islamic woman's headscarf.
The suspects claimed to be from Madrid, and blamed the victim for the
violent train explosions in that city last month.
"She found it ironic that she's American. She's born in this country,
her
parents are from this country. And they were telling her get out of
America
when the people asking her to get out are not American themselves,"
observed Ahmed Bedier of the Council on American-Islamic Relations...
WATCH VIDEO NOW:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/040407_wfts_mall_assault_hi.wmv
(broadband)
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/040407_wfts_mall_assault_lo.wmv
(dial-up)
-----
US WARNS MOSQUES LEGITIMATE TARGETS AS FIGHTING RAGES ACROSS IRAQ
Agence France Presse, 4/8/04
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/79221/1/.html
BAGHDAD - US forces seeking to gain control of Fallujah bombed a mosque
believed to be sheltering Iraqi insurgents, while US military leaders
Wednesday warned troops headed home might stay longer in Iraq to quell
the
uprising spreading across the country.
More than 200 Iraqis, as well as 15 Americans, have died in cities
across
Iraq since the uprising began at the weekend.
Hundreds of Iraqis have been wounded since Sunday when radical Shiite
cleric Moqtada Sadr's militiamen unleashed protests and US forces
started
an offensive in the restive Sunni town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad.
Despite earlier indicating that up to 40 suspected insurgents were
killed
in the air strike on the mosque, a marine officer later admitted that
US
forces had failed to find any bodies inside.
"When we hit that building I thought we had killed all the bad guys,
but
when we went in they didn't find any bad guys in the building,"
Lieutenant
Colonel Brennan Byrne told AFP.
Instead, he speculated the insurgents may have fled after a Cobra
helicopter gunship fired a Hellfire missile at the mosque, and before
an
aircraft dropped a laser-guided precision bomb.
Meanwhile, Marines moved cautiously through Fallujah's neighborhoods as
they sought to round up those responsible for the recent deaths and
brutalisation of four US security contractors...
ALSO SEE:
HOSPITAL CHIEF: OVER 280 IRAQIS KILLED
Bassem Mroue and Abdul-Qader Saadi, Associated Press, 8/9/04
http://bastrop.townnews.com/articles/2004/04/07/ap/Headlines/d81qhvag1.txt
FALLUJAH, Iraq - More than 280 Iraqis have been killed and 400 wounded
this
week in the U.S. Marines' siege of insurgents in this city west of
Baghdad,
the director of Fallujah's hospital said Thursday.
Taher Al-Issawi told The Associated Press that the toll was likely
higher.
"We also know of dead and wounded in various places buried under
rubble,
but we cannot reach them," because of fighting, he said.
The U.S. assault on Fallujah began early Monday, when Marines
surrounded
the city of 200,000 people. Since then, U.S. forces have been waging
heavy
street battles, using warplanes and tanks against Sunni insurgents dug
in
heavily populated neighborhoods…
---
U.S. DEFENDS BOMBING MOSQUE
Moni Basu and Gayle White, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/8/04
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0404/08mosque.html
At the height of combat in Iraq last year, Saddam Hussein's fighters
attacked advancing U.S. soldiers from the Grand Imam Ali Mosque in
Najaf.
But the Americans did not return fire, for fear of damaging the
historic
shrine that lies at the epicenter of the Shiite Muslim faith.
Back then, the question hounding U.S. strategists centered on how to
purge
violent militia elements without violating the sanctuary of mosques and
sparking rage among Muslims.
A year later, U.S. troops are facing the same dilemma. On Wednesday,
they
found themselves under fire from militants hiding in a mosque in the
volatile city of Fallujah.
Marines battled insurgents for six hours around the Abdul-Aziz
al-Samarrai
Mosque before a Cobra helicopter fired a Hellfire missile at the base
of a
minaret and an F-16 fighter dropped a 500-pound laser-guided bomb.
Witnesses said as many as 40 people were killed and several others
injured,
a claim disputed by U.S. authorities.
The incident came in the middle of Holy Week for Christians and Jews
and
ahead of Saturday's Shiite commemoration of Imam Hussein, a grandson of
the
Prophet Muhammad and a Shiite saint martyred in Karbala in 680...
---
US TROOPS KILL 13 IRAQIS IN PROTEST
News.com, 4/8/04
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9225119%5E1702,00.html
Thirteen Iraqis were killed and 20 wounded in an exchange of fire
involving
US troops during a protest near the northern city against US attacks in
the
hotbed town of Fallujah, police said.
As well clashes broke out early today near a US army base west of
Kirkuk,
Major General Torhan Yusef, head of the police forces in the district,
said.
Two Katyusha rockets were also fired on the US army base, the city's
former
airport, he said.
Yusef said "final toll of the clashes during the demonstrations was put
by
hospitals at 13 killed and 20 wounded".
Awad Khalaf al-Juburi, police chief in Hawija, 50 km west of Kirkuk,
said
there had been a demonstration by 1500 people to denounce what they
called
the massacres committed by the US army in Fallujah, west of Baghdad.
-----
ISNA'S FOURTH ANNUAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
(Plainfield, IN) - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) will be
holding its annual Community Development Conferences on April 9-11,
2004 at
the Westin O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Chicago, IL.
A press briefing will take place from 11:30 am 12:30 p.m. on Friday,
April 9, in the Westin O'Hare's Madison Room, by ISNA Secretary General
Dr.
Sayyid M. Syeed on topics relating to the following conferences:
1-Best Practices for Muslim Charities Conference: Recent loss of number
of
Muslim charities has created an environment of fear and suspicion
within
the American Muslim community. ISNA has been in dialogue with White
House
and Department of Treasury officials regarding this concern.
2- Grant Writing Conference: The President's Faith Based Initiative has
opened the possibility for Muslim groups to receive funding from the
various federal agencies. ISNA has invited officials of these various
agencies as well as other foundations interested in providing funding
support to Muslim organizations.
3- Fifth Annual Education Forum: Over 500 Principals and teachers from
full-time Islamic schools throughout the United States and Canada will
attend this event.
Keynote Speakers will include Assistant Secretary of State Ms.
Christina
Rocca; Assistant Secretary of Treasury Mr. Juan Zarate; Dr. Sayyid M.
Syeed, Secretary General of ISNA.
Resources Contact: Mohamed Elsanousi, at 317-506-2835
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
CAIR TO CALL FOR RELEASE OF IRAQ HOSTAGES, CEASEFIRE
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/9/04) - On Friday, April 9, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold an afternoon news
conference in
Washington, D.C., to call for the release of hostages taken by Iraqi
insurgents and for a ceasefire in the city of Fallujah to allow the
entry
of humanitarian supplies. CAIR will also discuss the deteriorating
American
policy toward Iraq and will seek an investigation of an American attack
on
a Fallujah mosque.
WHEN: Friday, April 9, 2 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR's Washington Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue S.E.
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726
Iraqi insurgents today said they seized four Italians and two Americans
in
Iraq. A number of other hostages have also been seized since a recent
wave
of violence engulfed that nation. Three Japanese hostages have been
threatened with death unless Japan removes its forces from Iraq.
Media reports indicate that several hundred residents of Fallujah have
been
killed during attacks by American Marines. Many of the dead are being
buried in a city soccer stadium because access to cemeteries is not
possible. On Wednesday, Iraqis said an American air strike killed
dozens of
civilians as they gathered for prayers in a Fallujah mosque. That claim
was
denied by the Marines.
"We call for the safe release of the foreign hostages and for a swift
resolution of the humanitarian crisis in Fallujah and throughout Iraq,"
said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Every image of suffering
Iraqi
civilians and every threat against the hostages only serves to
perpetuate
the cycle of violence."
Awad said even members of Iraq's American-selected Governing Council
are
calling for an end to operations in Fallujah. "We condemned U.S.
military
operations in Fallujah, which was a form of mass punishment," said
Adnan
Pachachi, a senior member of the Council. Another Council member
threatened
to resign in protest.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/9/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD IS GENEROUS
* CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
- CAIR-DC Employment Discrimination Workshop
* MUSLIMS IN U.S. VOICE CONCERN ABOUT IRAQ (AP)
- CAIR Calls for Release of Hostages, Ceasefire
- MI Arabs Denounce Iraq Violence (AP)
- Pachachi: US Operation in Fallujah Is Illegal (AFP)
- FallujaH Fighting Killed 450 Iraqis (Reuters)
- Refugees Stream Out Of Fallujah (AP)
* CAIR-CAN: WE'VE LOST OUR BALANCE (Globe and Mail)
* FL: BILL WOULD CUT AID TO FOREIGN STUDENTS (AP)
- MD: Lawmaker Pushes For Training at Capital (AP)
* HEAD SCARVES IN THE HEADLINES (RFE)
* MN: RELIGIOUS SIMILARITIES IN ISLAMIC FAITH (MN Daily)
- MN: Man Disrupts Campus Islam Event (Star Tribune)
- PA: Muslims and Jesus (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
* NE: STUDENT DESCRIBES CONVERSION TO ISLAM (Daily Neb)
- MN: Muslim Convention (MN Daily)
* PA: JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN DETAINEE (AP)
- NY: Man Admits He Participated in Extortion (Newsday)
* CAIR-FL: POLICE INVESTIGATE HATE CRIME (Miami Herald)
- FL: Police Seek 3 in Assault of Muslim (St Pete Times)
* SOLUTION IN SIGHT FOR INDIA'S TEMPLE-MOSQUE ROW (AFP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD IS GENEROUS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Your Lord is munificent
and
generous, and is ashamed to turn away empty the hands of His servant
when
he raises them to Him (in supplication)."
Sunan of Abu Dawood, Hadith 581
-----
CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER AND CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced web designer
responsible
for developing and updating CAIR website. The applicant should have: a
bachelors degree or a minimum of 5 years web development experience,
including advanced experience in ASP (VB script), HTML, Java Script,
SQL,
MS Access and Photoshop; experience in programming web databases is a
must
with verifiable knowledge in database driven content management; have
an
eye for developing a clean user interface with experience in graphics
design using Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash; familiarity with
streaming audio and video using Windows Media Player and Real Player;
good
working knowledge of how to integrate office components to create
charts,
graphs, and reports using Excel, Word, and Power Point; ability to work
independently and formulate an exhaustive and extensive plan to keep
the
website current and maintaining content that is fresh.
Applicant MUST also have an understanding of online security, including
credit card processing and online shopping cart, and must be able to
juggle
multiple tasks and be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Internet
applications
as they apply to civil rights/activism driven organization, effective
writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills is also needed. This
position requires travel and weekend work.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience
CAIR offers an excellent health and dental benefit for its full time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply before April 20, 2004 in
confidence
via email to: hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202.488.0833 or mail to
address
above. When applying via email please ensure to write the position
title
"Webmaster" in the subject of the email.
CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced, dynamic person to
take
the position of Civil Rights Attorney. The position involves handling
of
civil rights cases and communication between the entities involved in
the
civil rights disputes. Candidate should have working knowledge of
alternate
dispute resolution (mediation/arbitration), law degree from ABA
accredited
law school required, and 1-2 years experience in the area of civil
rights
and/or in employment/labor law. Applicants should also be licensed to
practice law in District of Columbia, Virginia or Maryland. She or he
must
possess excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills and be able
to
work well with others. Traveling will also be required.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience, CAIR offers an
excellent retirement, health and dental benefit packages for its full
time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202-488-0833. When applying via email please
ensure to write the position title "Civil Rights Attorney" in the
subject
of the email.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR HOSTS WORKSHOP ON EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations will host a workshop
for
community leaders and activists interested in learning about the steps
to
address employment discrimination.
The workshop, conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity officials
(EEOC), will educate participants about what constitutes employment
discrimination and explain their rights in the workforce. Officials
will
also offer insight into EEOC polices and procedures as well as offer
common
remedies for settling complaints.
It is a must for activists or leaders who want to educate others within
their respective communities about their rights in the workplace.
WHEN: Sunday, April 17 from 1-3 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR National's office, 453 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington
D.C. 20003
Registration is free but seating is limited.
To register or obtain more information, call Isra'a Rahman at
202-488-8787
or email at irahman@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIMS IN U.S. VOICE CONCERN ABOUT IRAQ
RICHARD N. OSTLING, Associated Press, 4/9/04
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/100/nation/Muslims_voice_concern_about_Ir:.shtml
WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) - Muslims on Long Island signed a petition
condemning
the American bombing of mosques in Iraq, while worshippers and clerics
at
Friday prayers around the United States worried that the war is getting
out
of control.
After their weekly service at the Islamic Center of Long Island, 200
worshippers signed a petition to President Bush. It not only condemned
military actions at mosques, but urged the president to "bring home our
boys and girls."
The prominent, New York-area mosque was one of many where American
Muslims
were talking about the situation in Iraq on Friday. Over the past week,
the
conflict there has increased significantly - with heavy fighting around
a
mosque compound in Fallujah that was hit with a U.S. missile and bomb.
U.S. military officials have said insurgents were using the mosque as a
base of operations, making it a legitimate target under international
rules
of armed engagement.
Copies of the Westbury petition - written Thursday night by Ghazi
Khankan,
regional director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations - will
be
sent to 150 other mosques in the New York City area for more
signatures…
Khankan's petition, which also condemned Israel's treatment of the
Palestinians, said the United States should only work through the
United
Nations.
At the Islamic Center of America in northwest Detroit, Imam Hassan
Qazwini
said that millions in Iraq and around the world were happy to see the
collapse of the regime of Saddam Hussein.
But, he added, the situation there hasn't improved and "the coalition
forces are moving from one mistake to another."
"Yes, we condemn the killing of innocent people, and there is no
justification for this kind of massacre," he said, referring to the
slaying
and mutilation of four American contractors in Fallujah.
"But there's no justification for killing women and innocent children,
there is no justification for attacking mosques...We have to respect
the
Muslim community."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR CALLS FOR RELEASE OF IRAQ HOSTAGES, CEASEFIRE
The following is a statement CAIR released at today's news conference
in
Washington, D.C. The statement was read by CAIR Executive Director
Nihad Awad:
The ongoing violence in Iraq is creating a humanitarian crisis that not
only causes immense suffering among the civilian population, but also
negatively impacts America's image and interests throughout the Middle
East.
Hundreds of innocent Iraqis have been killed and a number of hostages
have
been taken by insurgents. Today, the director of the main hospital in
Fallujah said at least 450 people have been killed and more than 1,000
wounded in this week's fighting. Three Japanese hostages are being
threatened with death.
In an incident that is still subject to conflicting claims, American
forces
bombed a Fallujah mosque earlier this week, causing outrage in the
Muslim
world.
Even members of Iraq's American-selected Governing Council are calling
for
an end to operations in Fallujah. Adnan Pachachi, a senior member of
the
Council, called the American actions there a "form of mass punishment."
Another Council member threatened to resign in protest.
We therefore call for:
* The immediate and safe release of all hostages held by Iraqi
insurgents.
* A ceasefire by all parties in Fallujah and other Iraqi cities to
allow
entry of humanitarian supplies, medical treatment for the injured and
proper burial of the dead.
* A complete investigation into the bombing of the Fallujah mosque.
* A United Nations Security Council discussion of the crisis in Iraq.
* Complete reappraisal of America's deteriorating policy toward Iraq.
America's Muslim community stands ready to do whatever it can to help
bring
stability, freedom and true independence to the people of Iraq."
---
DETROIT-AREA ARABS DENOUNCE IRAQ VIOLENCE
Tarek El-Tablawy, Associated Press,
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V2052.AP-Iraq-Michigan.html
DEARBORN, Mich. - Images of a bombed mosque complex in Fallujah
flickered
on the restaurant's television screen Thursday. Seconds later, they
were
replaced by footage of angry Iraqis scowling under a blistering sun.
Staring wide-eyed, Ahmed Abdel-Wahab held his hand frozen by his mouth
-
his lunch forgotten.
``This is unbelievable, it's just madness,'' said Abdel-Wahab, 35, of
Yemen, shaking his head and putting down his pita stuffed with mashed
fava
beans. ``I hope that this doesn't get any worse. ... All these people
that
are dead, the Americans, the Iraqis, they're all dying for nothing.''
Across town, at the Karbalaa Islamic Center, Imam Husham al-Husainy
also
was shaking his head.
"I'm worried that all this violence from all sides has fertilized
Iraq's
soil, making it ripe for the planting of seeds of hatred. This isn't
how it
should be," said the Shiite cleric, a staunch supporter of the war.
A year ago, Iraqi and other Arab-Americans here were divided about the
wisdom of going to war in Iraq. About one-third of Dearborn's roughly
100,000 residents are Arab-American.
But as violence escalates there, both sides are denouncing the
killings.
They say the coalition forces' actions are fueling the kind of
extremism
and resentment that could undermine efforts to rebuild the country a
year
after the fall of Baghdad.
For Arabs like Abdel-Wahab, the situation in Iraq is an unwelcome
vindication of the initial reluctance many felt when the Bush
administration made its case for war...
---
US OPERATION IN FALLUJAH IS ILLEGAL, TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE: PACHACHI
Agence France Presse, 4/9/04
DUBAI - A Sunni Muslim member of US-installed Governing Council Friday
slammed a US military operation against Iraqi insurgents in the restive
town of Fallujah as "illegal and totally unacceptable".
"We consider the action carried out by US forces as illegal and totally
unacceptable," Adnan Pachachi told the Dubai-based Arab satellite
channel
Al-Arabiya.
The octogenarian former Iraqi foreign minister confirmed he had been
"informed officially that there would be a 24-hour ceasefire in
Fallujah,
beginning at noon (0800 GMT) Friday that could be extended".
"During the ceasefire, the way would be open to deliver humanitarian
aid to
the residents to alleviate their suffering, and negotiations would take
place between the top leaders of Fallujah and a committee from the
Governing Council," he said.
"This was decided after we denounced the military operations carried
out by
the American forces because in effect, it is (inflicting) collective
punishment on the residents of Fallujah."
Although the US-led coalition earlier announced the 24-hour ceasefire,
fighting continued in the city as field commanders said they were
pressing
their assault, an AFP correspondent said.
US forces have pressed the six-day-old offensive to flush out militants
behind the brutal murder of four American civilians, whose bodies were
mutilated last week.
But Pachachi said their murders "should not merit such a development.
It is
not necessary to punish everyone living in Fallujah for this act..."
---
FALLUJA FIGHTING THIS WEEK KILLED 450 IRAQIS-DOCTOR
Reuters, 4/9/04
FALLUJA, Iraq - At least 450 Iraqis were killed and more than 1,000
wounded
in fighting in the city of Falluja this week, the director of the main
hospital, Rafi Hayad, told Reuters.
U.S. Marines launched a major mission last weekend to confront
guerrillas
in the town. The U.S. military said on Friday it had agreed a temporary
suspension of offensive operations in Falluja.
---
REFUGEES STREAM OUT OF FALLUJAH
Lourdes Navarro and Abdul-Qader Saadi, Associated Press, 4/9/04
FALLUJAH, Iraq - The people of Fallujah carried their dead to the
city's
soccer stadium and buried them under the field on Friday, unable to get
to
cemeteries because of a U.S. siege of the city.
As the struggle for Fallujah entered a fifth day, hundreds of women,
children and the elderly streamed out of the city. Marines ordered
Iraqi
men of ``military age'' to stay behind, sometimes turning back entire
families if they refused to be separated.
``A lot of the women were crying,'' said Lance Cpl. Robert Harriot, 22,
of
Eldred, N.Y. ``There was one car with two women and a man. I told them
that
he couldn't leave. They tried to plead with me. But I told them no, so
they
turned around.''
-----
WE'VE LOST OUR BALANCE
Sheema Khan, Globe and Mail, 4/9/04
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040409/COSHEEMA09/TPComment/TopStories
It happened one afternoon during my Grade 9 physics class. The
vice-principal quietly pulled me aside for an interview. Where had I
been
the day before during such-and-such hours? In class, I replied. He
mentioned that school property had been vandalized, and that someone
had
seen me do it. I was shocked. I denied it, and implored him to check
with
my teachers as proof of my alibi. He agreed to do so. I did not hear
from
him again.
Despite my innocence, I felt humiliated and angry that someone had
wrongly
accused me of a crime. In retrospect, it could have been worse. The VP
used
discretion in the matter, thus sparing public embarrassment.
Up until that point, I had thought that if you play by the rules and
remain
honest, you'll stay out of trouble. I learned quickly that
rule-breakers
could still get you in trouble.
This incident came flashing back last week as the RCMP raided the
Ottawa
home of the Khawaja family, detaining many members for questioning
before
bringing terrorism-related charges against 24-year-old Momin. The
family is
well-respected in the community as law-abiding citizens. The harsh
publicity -- with minute details of the family history -- added
humiliation
to a difficult situation.
Some had a cynical view of the raid's timing, given that it occurred
the
day before the Auditor-General was to announce a scathing report of the
government's anti-terrorism efforts. A publication ban about the exact
nature of the charges had fuelled further skepticism.
The list of prior high-profile "terror" busts has done little to add
further confidence....
-----
BILL WOULD CUT AID TO FOREIGN STUDENTS
David Royse, Associated Press, 4/9/04
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/8390818.htm
TALLAHASSEE - Mohammed Nasim came to Florida from Egypt, looking to
earn a
dual degree in computer engineering and computer science. He was a good
student, but that's not why he was attractive to the University of
South
Florida.
Nasim made the Tampa school a more diverse community, perhaps even
broadened the horizons of some American students there. And when he
goes
back to Egypt, he says, he can tell Middle Easterners about the real
America, a place he likes.
State Rep. Dick Kravitz, R-Jacksonville, hopes Florida continues to
attract
students like Nasim - but believes the state shouldn't help pay for
their
education.
Kravitz says the nearly $6 million a year that goes to assist foreign
students who don't work for the aid would be better spent expanding the
pool of Florida students who can receive aid...
Basic grants prohibited University officials who try to lure
international
students say they're concerned about a Kravitz-sponsored bill that
would
cut off some aid to foreign students.
Under the measure (HB 341), which easily cleared its only House
committee
and is ready for a full House vote, overseas students still could get
paid
to work as teaching or research assistants or in other campus jobs. And
they'd still be eligible for fellowships...
ALSO SEE:
LAWMAKER WILL PUSH FOR MULTICULTURAL TRAINING FOR WORKERS AT CAPITAL
Gretchen Parker, Associated Press, 4/9/04
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0404/138295.html
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Democratic Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez said Thursday
she
will push for multicultural sensitivity training for workers in the
seat of
state government, after seeing what she calls a swelling of
anti-immigrant
attitudes in the state capital during the 2004 legislative session.
The delegate's comments came a week after one of the legislature's most
conservative Republicans, Delegate Don Dwyer of Anne Arundel County,
used
the legislature's internal e-mail to distribute to the entire General
Assembly an essay condemning Islam as a "militaristic and violent"
religion.
Although Gutierrez said she's not advocating special training for
lawmakers, she says the mass e-mailing is symbolic of a larger problem
in
Annapolis during this year's session.
Gutierrez, of Montgomery County, also cited a well-publicized, vehement
argument last month between two lawmakers and immigrant advocates - an
altercation that turned into a scuffle - as evidence that sensitivity
training is needed.
Gutierrez, a native of El Salvador, said immigrants "finally are here
at
the State House, and our presence has broken a mold. We need to make
sure
we have an environment that is respectful of everyone."
When immigrant groups traveled to Annapolis last month to testify at
hearings on bills that aimed to limit their rights, they were treated
unfairly by state workers, Gutierrez said. They were held to an unfair
"level of inquiry" in several state buildings, she said.
"There is profiling. There is even a different tone of voice by
personnel,
by guards, and we need to make people understand those behaviors are
not
indicative of what we need to set," Gutierrez said.
She blamed what she calls a negative atmosphere on Dwyer and other
conservative lawmakers, who introduced the state's first legislation to
restrict the rights of undocumented workers. Among the legislation was
a
bill explicitly banning them from getting driver's licenses and a bill
requiring police to arrest any such immigrants they come across. Both
bills
died…
-----
HEAD SCARVES IN THE HEADLINES, BUT COUNTRIES TAKE DIFFERENT APPROACHES
Kathleen Knox, Radio Free Europe, 4/9/04
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/04/b48b33db-99cd-47af-95d1-1aef4153b5f1.html
When Basma El Shayyal began wearing an Islamic head scarf to her Roman
Catholic school, teachers asked her to take it off. Eventually, El
Shayyal
and her parents persuaded the teachers it wasn't just a passing phase,
and
the teachers relented.
That was some years ago. Since then, El Shayyal says, British attitudes
to
the hijab have become more accepting. "Attitudes are changing, they're
maybe becoming more polarized, but in the middle spectrum they're
becoming
a lot more, not just tolerant but accepting," she says. "Examples of
that
are for instance the recent attitude to uniforms -- particularly in the
[London] Metropolitan police force, where they've recently incorporated
it
as part of the uniform should a Muslim lady wish to take that up as an
option."
In Western countries with large Muslim minorities, official attitudes
to
the head scarf vary from restrictive to supportive. If Britain is at
one
extreme, at the opposite end of the spectrum may be France, where head
scarves and other overt religious symbols will be banned from public
schools as of September. It's all in the name of protecting France's
strict
secularist principles against what some see as a particularly assertive
brand of Islam.
The ban has prompted large street protests. But it has many supporters
--
including Rachida Ziouche, an Algerian-born journalist who writes for
"Clara," a French women's rights magazine. "I say it's important that
the
law banning head scarves should be applied," she says. "It's necessary
to
counter the actions of the Islamists. Things can't be dictated by
religion.
It's not religion that dictates the law of a country."
Behind the ban is the longstanding principle that religion should be
kept
out of the public sphere. A long history of battles between church and
state has led many people in France to see secularism as the best way
to
guarantee national unity and peace.
Other countries too have constitutions that separate religion and
state.
But none guard the separation so strenuously as France. That may
explain
why recent moves to curb the hijab in Germany have taken a different
form.
Last week, Baden-Wuerttemberg became the first federal state in Germany
to
bring in an anti-head-scarf law. Other parts of Germany have similar
laws
in the pipeline...
-----
PRESENTER DISCUSSES RELIGIOUS SIMILARITIES IN ISLAMIC FAITH
Chad Hamblin, MN Daily, 4/9/04
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2004/04/09/9181#repeat
Muslim speaker at Coffman Union said the film "The Passion of the
Christ"
has reawakened many Christians' faith.
"The Passion of Jesus: An Islamic Perspective" took place at Coffman
Union
Theater Thursday. Presenter Asad Zaman said Christians and Muslims have
common roots and it is his mandate from God to find a common ground.
"We are all from the same place," Zaman said. "We have common blood in
us.
We are relatives. We are cousins."
He explained that while Muslims agree with Christians on many points
about
Jesus, there is one substantial difference.
"We Muslims believe that Jesus was a messenger of God, not the son of
God,"
he said.
Zaman graduated from the Carlson School of Management and is a member
of
the Muslim American Society.
The presentation was part of Islam Awareness Week.
The week is an annual event put on by the Al-Madinah Cultural Center
and
the Muslim Student Association. Other events during the week covered
topics
such as "Islamic Character: Who is Your Muslim Neighbor?" and "Islam
101..."
ALSO SEE:
MAN DISRUPTS CAMPUS ISLAM EVENT
Koran Addo, MN Daily, 4/9/04
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2004/04/09/9176#repeat
An unidentified man disrupted the "Meet Your Muslim Neighbor" program,
which is part of Islam Awareness Week, on campus Monday, according to a
police report. "(The man) came in harassing us, accusing people of
being
terrorists," University professor David Mulla said.
According to police reports, the man, who witnesses described as being
mentally disturbed, was removed from the event and served with a
trespass
warning effective for 30 days.
University police Deputy Chief Steve Johnson said the only thing police
can
do in situations such as these is remove the person from the area
because
they have not committed a crime until they start making threats.
---
MUSLIMS AND JESUS
Mohammed Ahmed, Pittsburg Post-Gazette, 4/8/04
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04099/297698.stm
Regarding Ann Rodgers' March 29 article on Mel Gibson's "The Passion of
the
Christ": The article quotes Rabbi Eugene Korn as saying that Muslims
completely reject the idea that Jesus died to save humanity.
All Muslims accept Jesus as a savior to humanity, but they believe that
God
saved him from death.
Rabbi Korn also said that Muslims "will interpret it as a story of the
Jews
as the source of evil." How does Rabbi Korn know how Muslims will
interpret
the movie? All Muslims who saw the movie immediately connected to it,
and
the Council on American Islamic Relations ran ads in newspapers
praising Jesus.
Jewish leaders predicted wrongly how Christians were going to react to
the
movie before it was shown. Are they now saying that the movie is bad
because of the way Muslims are going to react to it?
Let us just enjoy the movie for its message. If some of us have to
criticize it, please do so without maliciously assailing others.
-----
UNL STUDENT DESCRIBES RELIGIOUS TRANSFORMATION
John Wenz, Daily Nebraskan, 4/9/04
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/09/4076a14945a4f
(Editor's Note: This is the last in a three-part series detailing how
people in religious orders maintain their ideals while taking on the
challenges of school. For Tareq Khedir al-Tiae, the decision to become
Muslim was his own.)
Born to a Christian mother and an Islamic father, Khedir al-Tiae was
raised
Christian until his early teens.
It was then he had a change of heart.
"I believed in Jesus," Khedir al-Tiae said, "but I just didn't believe
in
God being man and that man dying."
At first, Khedir al-Tiae, a Lincoln native and senior Spanish major at
the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, adopted many philosophies of Islam but
didn't strictly adhere to them.
While visiting Spain, his thinking transformed as he immersed himself
in
the country's Muslim culture.
"I just knew inside my heart that I should be a better person," he
said.
As Khedir al-Tiae incorporated the faith more into both his heart and
life,
he became more involved in its practices.
He began following rules on drinking and other taboo activities of the
Islamic world.
It affected his choice of friends at the university and eventually led
him
into the role of president of UNL's Muslim Student Organization.
To Khedir al-Tiae, every day is a constant reminder of his choice...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM CONVENTION
Paul Walsh, Star Tribune, 4/9/04
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4713094.html
The Twin Cities' first Muslim convention opens tonight in Minneapolis,
with
the theme "Islam: A Way of Life for Individuals, Families and
Societies."
The three-day gathering, sponsored by the Muslim American Society,
opens at
6 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Organizers say they are
prepared to welcome anywhere from 500 to 2,000 visitors, Muslim and
non-Muslim alike.
The convention includes lectures, workshops, panel discussions and
various
ethnic shops. Sunset prayers will be said shortly before 8 p.m.
Convention hours Saturday and Sunday are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-----
FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN DETAINEE
Associated Press, 4/8/04
http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1081471448271870.xml
HARRISBURG, Pa.- A federal judge on Thursday ordered the release of a
Palestinian whom she called a "stateless man," saying the government
did
not prove he was to blame for the fact he has not been deported.
Farouk Abdel-Muhti, 56, has been jailed since April 2002 on the basis
of a
1995 deportation order. His arrest came a month after he began working
with
a New York radio station to arrange live telephone interviews with
Palestinians in the West Bank.
The government has been trying to deport Abdel-Muhti for years, but
neither
the United States or Abdel-Muhti have had success getting a country to
accept him, the judge found.
U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane in Harrisburg said Abdel-Muhti is to be
released within 10 days because he has shown there is no significant
likelihood that the government will deport him in the foreseeable
future.
The government's argument, the judge wrote, was that it was
Abdel-Muhti's
fault that he couldn't be repatriated. But Kane found that Abdel-Muhti
made
"substantial" efforts to obtain travel documents to leave the United
States.
Abdel-Muhti, who has produced a Jordanian birth certificate and
provided
U.S. immigration officials with varying dates of birth and
nationalities,
argues that because he left the West Bank before 1967, Israel will not
issue travel documents. He was born in Palestine in 1947 when it was
controlled by Britain...
ALSO SEE:
UPSTATE NEW YORK MAN ADMITS HE PARTICIPATED IN EXTORTION
Newsday, 4/8/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--lackawannakidnapp0408apr08,0,3727.story
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- An upstate New York man admitted he participated in
the
extortion of a $1 million ransom for an abducted man.
Timothy Fischer, 26, of Angola, pleaded guilty to two federal counts
Thursday in the kidnapping of Abdul K. Almontaser of Lackawanna in
September 2003, according to U.S. Attorney Michael Battle.
Prosecutors said Fischer and co-defendant, Brett Bigelow, held
Almontaser
hostage and threatened him with a Remington shotgun while they made
their
ransom demands. FBI agents freed Almontaser unharmed a day after his
abduction after they raided Bigelow's automotive garage in South
Buffalo.
Fischer pleaded guilty to the use of a telephone to make threats and
demands for money and the use of a gun during a violent crime. He faces
five years to life in prison when he's sentenced Aug. 11.
Bigelow, 29, of Boston, N.Y., has not been tried yet.
The focus of the extortion was Sameer Taher, a relative of Yahein
Taher,
one of six men from Lackawanna who attended a terrorist training camp
in
Afghanistan...
-----
TAMPA POLICE INVESTIGATING BATTERY OF MUSLIM WOMAN AS HATE CRIME
Miami Herald, 4/9/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/8387427.htm?1c
TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa Police are investigating the attack on a Muslim
woman
working at a mall kiosk as a hate crime after she reported that three
Spanish tourists grabbed her head scarf in reaction to the
commuter-train
attacks last month.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said police were reviewing
mall
security tapes to see if they could identify the trio, who fled after
the
Tuesday incident at Westshore Plaza.
The 27-year-old victim, who works at a jewelry kiosk in the mall, is an
Islamic convert.
A couple in their 50s and a woman in her early 20s confronted the
victim
about the March 11 bombings, police said. When the victim told them she
is
an American and went to get help, the older woman grabbed her by her
head
scarf, police said.
Prosecuting the incident as a hate crime could increase the penalty to
more
than a year in prison, said Tampa Police spokesman Joe Durkin.
"A lot of it is backlash that has continued after 9/11," said Ahmed
Bedier,
a Florida spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"Muslims
in America feel they are paying the price for the actions of
individuals
overseas..."
ALSO SEE:
POLICE SEEK 3 IN ASSAULT OF MUSLIM
Kevin Graham, St. Petersburg Times, 4/9/04
TAMPA - Police are investigating allegations of an assault on a Muslim
woman working in a Tampa mall as a hate crime.
The owner of a jewelry kiosk at WestShore Plaza told investigators that
on
Tuesday, three shoppers from Spain told her to "get out of America" and
said her religion was "hateful and violent," according to reports from
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Islamic civil
liberties
group. One of the shoppers reportedly grabbed the Muslim woman by her
throat and tried to remove her hijab, an Islamic head scarf.
"We originated (the report) as a battery hate crime, and clearly it is
a
hate crime," Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin said Thursday.
Ahmed Bedier, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations
Florida group, said the shoppers said they were from Madrid and blamed
the
kiosk owner for recent bombings there. Authorities in Madrid suspect
Arab
terrorists were involved in a March 11 railway bombing that killed
close to
200 people and wounded more than 1,800.
The kiosk owner, whose name was not released, converted to Islam about
eight years ago, Bedier said.
"She's an American," he said. "She's Caucasian. Her parents are not
Muslim.
Her parents are of European descent."
Bedier said the woman tried to tell the shoppers, a man and two women,
that
America is her homeland. Bedier said they called the kiosk owner a
"dirty
Arab" and one of them, a woman, grabbed her by the throat and tried to
remove her head scarf.
After the incident, Bedier said the kiosk owner called the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, which in turn encouraged her to report the
incident to police...
-----
SOLUTION IN SIGHT FOR INDIA'S EXPLOSIVE TEMPLE-MOSQUE ROW
Palash Kumar, Agence France Presse, 4/9/04
NEW DELHI - Indian Hindu and Muslim leaders are considering a proposal
to
build a Hindu temple close to the ruins of a razed mosque in northern
India
and give Muslims a nearby tract of land to try to settle India's most
explosive religious row, a source close to the talks said.
Under the formula, the mosque site in the holy Hindu town of Ayodhya
would
be left untouched pending a court decision on its ownership while a new
temple would be constructed on 67 surrounding acres of land.
"In return, Muslims will get land outside this area for a huge Jama
Masjid
(mosque) and an Islamic university," the source said. "As far as the
disputed land where the mosque stood, all sides will give a commitment
in
writing to the court that they will abide by its verdict."
On Thursday, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led
alliance, unveiling its manifesto for national elections due to be held
this month, pledged to press for a peaceful resolution of the dispute
which
has been a lightning rod for Hindu-Mulsims tensions in recent years.
The source said they were ready to present the solution in writing to
the
Supreme Court in mid-March but the BJP decided not to in order to avoid
controversy ahead of the phased elections to be held from April 20...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/10/04
* ANTI-MUSLIM ARSON SUSPECT CAUGHT IN TEXAS (Express-News)
- TX Teen May Get 6 Years for Mosque Vandalism (NBC5)
* EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS REACH OUT TO MUSLIMS (Wash Post)
* CO: ANTI-TERROR LAW FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL (AP)
* TX: MUSLIM CHARITY ASKS U.S. FOR FROZEN FUNDS (AP)
* U.S. MUSLIMS CONCERNED ABOUT IRAQ VIOLENCE (AP)
- NY Muslims Ask Bush to Withdraw From Iraq (Newsday)
- CA Muslims Angry Over Violence (SF Chronicle)
- Children Lie Wounded in Falluja Clinic (Reuters)
* RIGHTS GROUPS CONDEMN CHECHEN ABUSES (BBC)
* CANADA: MAPLE LODGE ANGERS MUSLIM GROUP (Observer)
* PA CONFERENCE ON HOW TO TEACH ABOUT ISLAM (Phil Inq)
- MN: Islam: A Way Of Life (MPR)
* NJ: MUSLIM TEEN PRODIGY RECITES NAUHAS (NY Times)
* MILITANT HINDUS THREATEN SCHOLARS (Wash Post)
-----
SUSPECT ARRESTED AT SCENE OF FIRE
Maro Robbins, Sonja Garza, Tracy Idell Hamilton, Express-News, 4/10/04
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/crime/stories/MYSA10.01A.Arson_arrest_0410.1490fe0e.html
A man already accused of setting fire to one Arab-operated store and
ramming his car into another was arrested Friday outside yet another
burning business operated by Middle Eastern entrepreneurs.
It was the fourth fire to erupt at convenience stores owned or operated
by
Muslims in the past 16 days.
Thomas C. Carroll, a transmission shop manager whose recent years have
been
marred by a volatile divorce, business losses and run-ins with the law,
was
wearing a black jacket decorated with orange flames when police
arrested
him outside the burning convenience store in the 14300 block of
Nacogdoches
Road.
Authorities charged the 32-year-old with arson and deadly conduct and
said
they were considering using the state's hate-crime statute to upgrade
the
arson charge to a first-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 99
years in
prison.
Arson investigators also predicted they would connect Carroll to at
least
some of the other fires, which have elevated anxieties of local Muslims
to
levels not felt by since the days after 9-11.
"I think there's enough evidence to link him to several, if not all, of
these other crimes," said Capt. Art Villarreal, head of the San Antonio
Fire Department's arson bureau...
Sarwat Husain, chairwoman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
urged investigators to look closely at Carroll even as she
congratulated
them for making the arrest.
"We have to make sure it is just him - that he is not connected to a
group," she said...
ALSO SEE:
TEEN COULD GET 6 YEARS FOR MOSQUE VANDALISM
NBC 5, 4/8/04
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/2989154/detail.html
LUBBOCK, Texas -- A 15-year-old boy accused with three others of
desecrating a Lubbock mosque will spend up to six years in state
custody.
The Lubbock Avalanche Journal reports that the boy, whose name was not
released, will be in the custody of the Texas Youth Commission until up
to
his 21st birthday.
The Islamic Center of the South Plains was ransacked earlier this
month.
The March 7 vandalism included anti-Muslim scrawls and misspelled
racial slurs.
More than 100 people crowded into the trashed mosque the day after the
crime to voice support for the center's worshippers.
-----
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS REACH OUT TO MUSLIMS
Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, 4/10/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A171-2004Apr9.html
Nearly a year ago, evangelical Christian leaders gathered in Washington
to
try to moderate their rhetoric toward Islam and begin a more
respectful,
positive dialogue with Muslims around the world.
This week, a handful of evangelical ministers announced the first fruit
of
that effort, a plan to put on a Christian music festival, establish
humanitarian relief projects and hold a theological conference in
Morocco.
The goal, they said, is not to proselytize but to break down hostile
images. "We have stereotypes of Muslims, and they certainly do of
conservative Christians. They're both caricatures we need to dispense
with," said the Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president for government
affairs
at the Washington-based National Association of Evangelicals.
The meeting of about 40 evangelical leaders last May followed highly
publicized statements by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist
Billy
Graham, that Islam was an "evil" religion, and by the Rev. Jerry Vines,
a
past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, that Muhammad was a
"pedophile."
"We don't want the whole Islamic world to think that a couple of
spokesmen,
though well-intentioned perhaps, speak for everyone. We're taught to
love
people," said the Rev. Harry L. Thomas, a Medford, N.J., producer of
Christian concerts. "I don't know anyone who has been won over by hate
talk. We prefer to reach out and build some bridges."
Cizik and Thomas were part of a nine-member delegation, including five
evangelical clergy, that visited Morocco from Feb. 29 to March 8. They
met
with the North African nation's prime minister, several cabinet
ministers,
regional governors, and top Muslim, Jewish and Roman Catholic
authorities. ..
-----
ANTI-TERROR LAW FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Jon Sarche, Associated Press, 4/10/04
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/lateststories/index.ssf?/base/national-21/108155515450390.xml
DENVER - A federal judge has declared an anti-terrorism law
unconstitutional in the case of a Somali man accused of illegally
sending
thousands of dollars to the Middle East.
At issue is a 1992 law enacted as part of legislation aimed at
punishing
drug rings and money laundering. It was revised after the Sept. 11
attacks
to make it a felony for anyone to transfer money without a state
money-transferring license.
The judge ruled that the law arbitrarily divided money-transfer
operators
into two groups - those covered by state laws that punish failure to
obtain
a license and those who work in states that don't require a license.
``The difference is wholly geographic and arbitrary,'' U.S. District
Judge
Lewis Babcock wrote in the Monday ruling. ``There is nothing at all to
differentiate one group from the other except an operator's presence in
one
state rather than another state.''
The case involves Ismail Issa Barre, a 34-year-old Somali who is
accused of
sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to the United Arab Emirates
without a transfer license.
Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver,
said
prosecutors were considering an appeal.
The decision also could affect the government's criminal case against
two
Iraqi brothers living in Denver who are accused of funneling millions
of
dollars to Iraq in what authorities said they suspect was a terrorist
funding scheme.
Barre and the two Iraqis are legal U.S. residents. None have been tied
to
terrorism.
Until the U.S. attorney's office decides whether to appeal, Barre
remains
free on $25,000 bond...
-----
MUSLIM CHARITY ASKS U.S. FOR FROZEN FUNDS
Associated Press, 4/9/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3960292,00.html
WASHINGTON - A Muslim charity is seeking permission to have some of its
money, which was frozen by the government, released for legitimate aid
purposes.
The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development filed a request
Friday
to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control to
unfreeze
$50,000 to be sent to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, which seeks
to
provide free medical care for Palestinian children in the Middle East.
The Bush administration in 2001 accused Holy Land, a Texas-based group,
of
financing the militant Islamic group Hamas and ordered U.S. banks to
freeze
its assets. Holy Land says it has never donated money or provided
services
to Hamas, a group the government says is a foreign terrorist
organization.
The Treasury Department had no immediate comment on Holy Land's
request.
Last year, a Treasury official said the general notion of taking frozen
charitable assets and releasing them for legitimate aid purposes was a
complex matter worth exploring.
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS CONCERNED ABOUT IRAQ VIOLENCE
Ryan Pearson, Associated Press, 4/9/04
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/topstories_story_101083801.html
POMONA, Calif. - Muslim Americans are growing increasingly alarmed by
the
escalating violence in Iraq, and said the bloody fighting has
overshadowed
the happiness they felt on the first anniversary of the fall of Saddam
Hussein's regime.
Disappointment and outrage at the violence in Iraq was matched at the
Ahlul
Beyt mosque in Pomona on Friday by anger at the Bush administration's
policies.
The U.S. military ``did a good job occupying Iraq. They did a poor job
occupying the heart of the Iraqi people,'' said Basam al-Hussaini, who
came
to the United States from Iraq in 1982.
Widespread fighting across Iraq raised the toll of U.S. troops killed
there
this week to 46. The fighting has killed more than 460 Iraqis. At least
647
U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.
Al-Hussaini and others gathered at the mosque - which caters to
Iraqi-Americans, most of them Shiite Muslims - blamed the United States
for
the rise of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, a young, anti-U.S.
cleric...
Worshippers at a Long Island mosque signed a petition to President Bush
condemning military actions at mosques and urging the president to
``bring
home our boys and girls.''
A mosque compound in Fallujah was hit with a U.S. missile and bomb
during
heavy fighting this week. U.S. military officials have said insurgents
were
using the mosque as a base of operations, making it a legitimate target
under international rules of armed engagement.
Copies of the petition - written Thursday by Ghazi Khankan, regional
director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations - will be
circulated
at 150 other mosques in the New York City area...
ALSO SEE:
NY MUSLIMS ASK BUSH TO WITHDRAW FROM IRAQ
Erin Texeira, Newsday, 4/10/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limus0410,0,2329556.story
American military leaders should not target Iraqi mosques, and should
bring
U.S. soldiers home and allow the United Nations to lead the effort in
Iraq,
according to a letter to President George W. Bush signed by hundreds of
Long Island Muslims Friday.
The letter, drafted by officials with the Islamic Center of Long Island
in
Westbury, follows an upsurge in violence in Iraq, including deadly
attacks
outside a mosque in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, on Wednesday, killing
several dozen Iraqis.
"We don't believe it's in America's best interest to get near a house
of
worship," said Ghazi Khankan, communications director of the Islamic
Center, who wrote the letter Thursday. "It's a very sensitive issue and
it
could create an anti-American backlash."
More than 300 signed the letter Friday after regular services at the
Islamic Center. Organizers also forwarded it to more than 150 other
mosques
in the state, and plan to send it to Bush next week, Khankan said.
The letter calls for the United Nations to lead reconstruction efforts
in
Iraq going forward, urged the president to "bring home our boys and
girls"
and condemns American troops for firing rockets on the mosque in
Fallujah.
The letter comes as part of an effort by area Muslims to voice their
political views and encourage voting in November's presidential
contest...
---
MUSLIMS SAY THEY'RE FEARFUL, ANGRY OVER VIOLENCE IN IRAQ
Vanessa Hua, San Francisco Chronicle, 2/10/04
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/04/10/BAGLA638171.DTL
Although the Tenderloin mosque was an oasis of prayer Friday, many
worshipers said they were angered by the violence engulfing Iraq and
their
fellow Muslims...
About 200,000 Muslims live in the Bay Area, according to estimates by
the
South Bay Islamic Association. Though some expressed support for the
toppling of Saddam Hussein's government, many are worried about the
chaos
in Iraq that has followed. A week of violence has marked the first
anniversary of the fall of Baghdad.
More than 280 Iraqis have been killed and 400 wounded this week in the
U.S.
military siege of insurgents, the director of Fallujah's hospital told
the
Associated Press.
On Friday, insurgents said they had seized four Italians and two
Americans,
and they have threatened three Japanese hostages unless Japan removes
its
forces from Iraq.
U.S. forces bombed the wall of a mosque complex in Fallujah on
Wednesday,
infuriating Muslims around the world. U.S. military officials have said
insurgents were using the mosque as a base of operations, making it a
legitimate target...
Clerics and followers of Islam across the United States denounced the
escalating conflict...
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called for the release of
hostages taken by Iraqi insurgents and for a ceasefire in the city of
Fallujah to allow the entry of humanitarian supplies.
"There's no reason to be kidnapping civilians, but the whole system is
out
of control," said Helal Omeira, executive director for the council's
Bay
Area office. "You cannot control people by bombing them. Unless you
have an
open dialogue, it's simply not going to work."
---
IRAQI CHILDREN LIE WOUNDED IN FALLUJA CLINIC
Reuters, 4/10/04
FALLUJA, Iraq, April 10 (Reuters) - Wounded children lie in a makeshift
hospital in Falluja, bandaged and bloodied from fighting between U.S.
forces and Sunni guerrillas that has raged through the town's alleyways
for
days.
Hundreds have been killed in the fighting, and attempts at a ceasefire
have
so far failed to halt the bloodshed.
There were too many dead and wounded for hospital workers in the
besieged
town to deal with. Outside a hastily erected field hospital, Reuters
television footage shows corpses lying in the street, wrapped in
bloodstained white sheets.
The dead include small children, women and old men, a new born baby.
Beside
the corpses, there is a pile of body parts which no one has had time to
deal with.
The U.S. military says its operations are precise and it does not
target
civilians or women and children.
-----
RIGHTS GROUPS CONDEMN CHECHEN ABUSES
Steve Rosenberg, BBC Moscow, 4/10/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3611629.stm
Human rights organisations have issued a joint statement condemning
what
they say are widespread abuses in the Russian republics of Chechnya and
Ingushetia.
The groups - including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch -
say
that despite Moscow's claims to have normalised the situation in the
north
Caucasus, the cycle of violence there continues.
The Kremlin says that life in Chechnya is gradually returning to
normal,
but human rights organisations tell a very different story.
They have provided new evidence of rape, torture and summary execution
of
Chechen civilians by Russian troops and an increasingly powerful
militia
commanded by the son of Chechnya's pro-Moscow president, Ahmad Kadyrov.
And the violence is now reported to be spreading from Chechnya to
neighbouring Ingushetia.
Anna Neistat, from Human Rights Watch said: "Over the last three
months,
we've documented a number of abductions and disappearances on the
territory
of Ingushetia as well as several attacks against civilians resulting in
either deaths or serious injuries...
-----
MAPLE LODGE ANGERS MUSLIM GROUP
Scott Paradis, Observer, 4/7/04
http://observer.thecentre.centennialcollege.ca/life/zhalal040604.htm
After months of lobbying, a Muslim group is prepared to make an
official
complaint to the federal government against Canada's largest chicken
producer.
In June of 2003 Maple Lodge launched a line of Zabiha Halal products.
In
the Islamic religion, Zabiha Halal refers to a process by which animals
are
slaughtered by hand in the name of God.
A group called the Campaign for the Protection of Zabiha Halal (CPZH)
is
angry because Maple Lodge machine-slaughters its chickens instead of
slaughtering them in the Muslim tradition by hand.
"We have been calling on them (Maple Lodge) since last summer," said
Mohammed Khan, international co-ordinator for CPZH. "We are considering
all
options. As our next step we are considering filing a complaint with
the
federal government."
Khan believes the Zabiha Halal label alienates many Muslims, mainly
because
the chickens being sold are not slaughtered by hand. He says that CPZH
would like to see a label clearly identifying the product as
machine-slaughtered...
-----
PA CONFERENCE ON HOW TO TEACH ABOUT ISLAM
Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/10/04
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/8398857.htm
Episcopal Academy will hold a national conference next week on ways to
teach Islam in secondary schools - a hot-button topic, as its keynote
speaker knows firsthand.
Haverford College religion professor Michael Sells made the headlines
in
2002 when three University of North Carolina freshmen and a Christian
group
sued to protest that his book, Approaching the Qur'an, was required
reading
for the school's incoming freshmen.
Students were allowed to opt out and write essays explaining their
decision. Also, state legislators voted to ban public money for the
reading
requirement unless it gave equal time to "all known religions."
Though religion can be taught in both public and private schools, Sells
said in an interview that some people "only want books to affirm their
religion and show why all others are false."
Organizers said the goal of the conference is to go beyond the
customary
"Five Pillars of Islam" curriculum and offer other approaches, such as
Muslim family and gender roles, legal codes, and beliefs about jihad...
ALSO SEE:
ISLAM: A WAY OF LIFE
Brandt Williams, Minnesota Public Radio, 4/9/04
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/04/09_williamsb_conference/
This weekend between 500 to 1,000 Muslims from around the Midwest are
expected in Minneapolis for a convention called, "Islam, a Way of
Life."
The convention is the first of its kind in the state. Organizers have
two
objectives: to help Muslims navigate their way through American life
and
help non-Muslims gain a better understanding of Islam.
At the Islamic Center of Minnesota in Columbia Heights, Hyder Mohamed
Khan
greets some of the nearly 200 Muslims who are leaving Friday prayers.
Khan
is handing out flyers announcing an upcoming event at the center in
May.
The people walking past Khan represent Islam from all corners of the
world...
Khan -- who is from India -- is one of an estimated 140,000 Muslims
living
in Minnesota. Islam is considered the fastest growing religion in
America.
There are about six million Muslims in the United States. However,
those
who follow Islam are still a mystery to many Americans. Khan says
people
might be surprised to know that most Muslims are not Arabs...
Americans are not completely unfamiliar with Islam. However organizers
of
the conference say 9/11 and the recent upsurge in violence in Iraq
don't
provide accurate representations of true Islam...
-----
IN NEW JERSEY, SHIA FINDS ITS VOICE
Daniel J. Wakin, New York Times, 4/10/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/10/nyregion/10shiite.html
ALISADES PARK, N.J. - He makes grown men weep with his singing. Fans
set up
Web sites and address him as "Master" and "Dear Brother" in e-mail
messages
from thousands of miles away. Powerful clerics are said to know his
work.
But in this town near the George Washington Bridge, Mesum Abbas Naqvi
inhabits the role of a typical suburban teenager, playing football and
Xbox
(Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a favorite), watching Mr. Bean DVD's
and
"chilling" with his cousins.
Mesum Abbas, as he is known professionally, is 14 and something of a
prodigy in the world of Shiite Islam. Since the age of 2, he has been a
reciter of nauhas, the ritual lamentations that accompany Shiite
devotions
around two holy days of the faith, Ashura and Arbaeen, which is marked
this
weekend.
His cassettes, CD's and DVD's sell all across his family's native land,
Pakistan, where 20 percent of the population of 140 million is Shiite.
Mesum is also in demand for live performances at Shiite mosques in New
Jersey, New York and elsewhere in the United States.
"I feel good about myself when I do this because I'm spreading the
word,"
said Mesum, who is given to the monosyllabic answers of a teenager with
a
shadowy mustache and recently changed voice...
-----
WRATH OVER A HINDU GOD
Shankar Vedantam, Washington Post, 4/9/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A334-2004Apr9.html
Folklore has it that elephants never forget, and Paul Courtright has
reason
to believe it. A professor of religion at Emory University, he immersed
himself in the story of Ganesha, the beloved Hindu god with the head of
an
elephant. Detecting provocative Oedipal overtones in Ganesha's story --
and
phallic symbolism in his trunk -- he wrote a book setting out his
theories
in 1985.
Nineteen years later, thanks to an Internet campaign, the world has
rediscovered Courtright's book. After a scathing posting on a popular
Indian Web site, he has received threats from Hindu militants who want
him
dead.
"Gopal from Singapore said, 'The professor bastard should be hanged,' "
said Courtright, incredulous."A guy from Germany said, 'Wish this
person
was next to me, I would have shot him in the head.' A man called
Karodkar
said, 'Kill the bastard. Whoever wrote this should not be spared.'
Someone
wanted to throw me into the Indian Ocean."
Other academics writing about Hinduism have encountered similar
hostility,
from tossed eggs to assaults to threats of extradition and prosecution
in
India.
The attacks against American scholars come as a powerful movement
called
Hindutva has gained political power in India, where most of the world's
828
million Hindus live. Its proponents assert that Hindus have long been
denigrated and that Western authors are imposing a Eurocentric world
view
on a culture they do not understand.
That argument resonates among many of the roughly 1.4 million Hindus in
North America as well...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 Years of Community Service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/11/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: SIGNS FOR THOSE WHO THINK
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: QURAN IS CORNERSTONE OF SCIENCE
* MUSLIM AMERICANS WILL FLEX POLITICAL MUSCLE (AP)
* INCITEMENT WATCH: 'BOUND BY THE CHAINS OF ISLAM'
* FALLUJAH DEATH TOLL FOR WEEK MORE THAN 600 (AP)
- Iraqi Battalion Refuses to 'Fight Iraqis' (WPost)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: SIGNS FOR THOSE WHO THINK
It is God who raised the heavens without any supports that you can see,
and
is firmly established on the throne (of authority). He has subjected
the
sun and the moon (to His law). Each one runs (its course) for a term
appointed. He governs all that exists. Clearly does he explain these
Signs
in detail that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your
Lord.
And it is He who spread out the earth and placed on it firm mountains
and
running waters, and created two sexes of every [kind of] plant. He
draws
the Night as a veil over the Day. Verily, in these things there are
Signs
for those who think.
The Holy Quran, 13:2-3
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: QURAN IS CORNERSTONE OF SCIENCE
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04102/299292.stm
"The Koran actually forms one of the cornerstones of science in Islam
in a
way unlike any other scripture of any other religion," said Glen M.
Cooper,
a professor of the history of science and Islam at Brigham Young
University.
"The Koran enjoins the believer and the unbeliever alike to examine
nature
for signs of the creator's handiwork, evidence of his existence, and
his
goodness," Cooper said. "Reason is revered as one of the most important
of
God's gifts to men. The examination of nature led historically into a
scientific perspective and program."
-----
MUSLIM AMERICANS SAY THEY WILL FLEX POLITICAL MUSCLE IN 2004
JENNIFER FRIEDLIN, Associated Press, 4/11/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--muslimamericans0411apr11,0,5721446.story
NEW YORK -- Nizar Yaghi hasn't decided for whom he'll vote on Election
Day,
but one thing is certain _ the Muslim American will cast his ballot
this
November.
"After Sept. 11, I understood that Muslim Americans need to come out
and
present themselves to the Americans," said Yaghi, a 28-year-old
engineer
from Schenectady, N.Y. "One way to do this is through the political
process."
With the 2004 presidential election approaching, people like Yaghi are
stepping up efforts to encourage their fellow Muslims to register to
vote
and to convince the presidential candidates that they need to be
accountable to the Muslim American community, which numbers up to 7
million, according to estimates.
Although Muslim groups say there are only about 4.2 million eligible
Muslim
voters out of 200 million eligible voters overall, they believe these
voters could have considerable influence on the November election.
"We believe this election will be a very tight one and small
communities
can play a major role, particularly in battleground states such as
Michigan, Ohio and Florida, where a majority of Muslims live," Omar
Ahmad,
national chairman of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said at
a
news conference on Saturday.
Ahmad's group is one of several that belong to the American Muslim
Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections, an umbrella organization that
aims
to register 1 million Muslims to vote and to educate Muslims about the
presidential candidates' positions.
Agha Saeed, the chairman of the task force, said his group hasn't
decided
which presidential candidate it will endorse, but he said it would
weigh
the candidates' positions on civil rights issues, the economy, crime
prevention and education.
"We are going to hold town hall meetings all over the United States for
the
community and for the candidates to engage in a dialogue where we bring
ourselves up to speed on these issues and create common cause with
fellow
Americans," Saeed said…
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: 'BOUND BY THE CHAINS OF ISLAM'
RISKING DEATH IN THE BEST OF CAUSES
Gregory Tomlin, Star-Telegram, 4/11/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/8402440.htm
A little more than a year ago, I wrote a commentary reflecting on the
murder of three Christian hospital workers in Jibla, Yemen. Six months
before, I had written about the death of missionary Martin Burnham in
the
Philippines.
The task of honoring the lives of those who have been killed by radical
Islamists while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through their words
and
deeds has become strangely familiar.
On both occasions I wondered how to walk the fine line of cultural
sensitivity while maintaining a clear, precise presentation of the
differences between the Christian faith and all other religious
systems.
Explaining the motivation of the missionaries that breathed life into
their
surroundings even in their deaths was easy enough. They had traversed
the
globe to follow the call of God to love, give, heal, pray and share
their
good news with the spiritually destitute bound by the chains of Islam…
Comparing the loving, righteous, merciful and just God of Christianity
with
the distant, unapproachable deity of Islam challenged deeply held
traditions and earned a number of stern replies. Cries of intolerance
were
second only to accusations of ignorance and bigotry.
A familiar indictment against me and the countless others who have
proclaimed that there is no other way for humanity to achieve salvation
than through faith in Jesus Christ was that of arrogance.
So be it…
Gregory Tomlin is director of communications at Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO:
E-MAIL: letters@star-telegram.com, harral@star-telegram.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
Letters should include full name, address and daytime phone number.
They
should be concise, to the point and original.
-----
FALLUJAH DEATH TOLL FOR WEEK MORE THAN 600
ABDUL-QADER SAADI, Associated Press, 4/11/04
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - More than 600 Iraqis have been killed in Fallujah
since Marines began a siege against Sunni insurgents in the city a week
ago, most of them women, children and the elderly, the head of the
city's
hospital said Sunday.
Statistics and names of the dead were gathered from four main clinics
around the city and from Fallujah General Hospital, said hospital's
director Rafie al-Issawi.
Bodies were being buried in two soccer fields, one of which was visited
by
an Associated Press reporter. It was filled with row after row of
graves.
The death toll from the siege, which started early last Monday, may be
even
higher than the hospital's tally
"We have reports of an unknown number of dead being buried in people's
homes without coming to the clinics," al-Issawi said.
Asked about the report of 600 dead, Marine Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne said:
"What I think you will find is 95 percent of those were military age
males
that were killed in the fighting."
"The Marines are trained to be precise in their firepower. The fact
that
there are 600 goes back to the fact that the Marines are very good at
what
they do," he said…
Residents started burying bodies in the soccer fields starting Friday,
when
there was a pause in fighting to allow people to tend to the dead.
At one of the fields, which residents dubbed the ``Graveyard of the
Martyrs,'' an AP reporter saw rows of freshly dug graves with wooden
planks
for headstones over an area about 30 yards wide and 100 yards long.
Some headstones bore the names of women; others had markings indicating
the
dead were children...
SEE ALSO:
IRAQI BATTALION REFUSES TO 'FIGHT IRAQIS'
Thomas E. Ricks, Washington Post, 4/11/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2680-2004Apr10.html
BAGHDAD, April 10 -- A battalion of the new Iraqi army refused to go to
Fallujah earlier this week to support U.S. Marines battling for control
of
the city, senior U.S. Army officers here said, disclosing an incident
that
is casting new doubt on U.S. plans to transfer security matters to
Iraqi
forces.
It was the first time U.S. commanders had sought to involve the postwar
Iraqi army in major combat operations, and the battalion's refusal came
as
large parts of Iraqi security forces have stopped carrying out their
duties.
The 620-man 2nd Battalion of the Iraqi Armed Forces refused to fight
Monday
after members of the unit were shot at in a Shiite Muslim neighborhood
in
Baghdad while en route to Fallujah, a Sunni Muslim stronghold, said
U.S.
Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, who is overseeing the development of Iraqi
security forces. The convoy then turned around and returned to the
battalion's post on a former Republican Guard base in Taji, a town
north of
the capital.
Eaton said members of the battalion insisted during the ensuing
discussions: "We did not sign up to fight Iraqis."
He declined to characterize the incident as a mutiny, but rather called
it
"a command failure."
The refusal of the battalion to perform as U.S. officials had hoped
poses a
significant problem for the occupation. The cornerstone of the U.S.
strategy in Iraq is to draw down its military presence and turn over
security functions to Iraqis...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FLORIDA MUSLIM CHILD ASSAULTED IN SCHOOL
Attackers hits student with belt, called her "Osama"
(FT. LAUDERDALE, FL, 4/12/04) - The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today called on law enforcement
authorities to investigate an assault on a Muslim child at a school in
that
state as a hate crime.
The 12-year-old victim, a student at a middle school in Boyton Beach
who
wears an Islamic head scarf, says she was assaulted in the hallway of
her
school last week by four teenage boys who hit her across the face with
a
leather belt, injuring her lip.
During the assault, the boys allegedly called the Muslim child "Osama"
and
used derogative remarks about her head scarf and about her ethnic
background. (The child is of Pakistani heritage.) The perpetrators also
threatened further attacks if the victim notified school authorities.
The same student told CAIR-FL that she was the target of several
similar
but less violent incidents of harassment in the recent past. She says
school officials failed to take corrective action following those
incidents.
"We call on our elected leaders and law enforcement authorities to once
again send a message that attacks against American Muslims,
particularly
children, will not be condoned and that perpetrators of such attacks
will
be punished to the full extent of the law," said CAIR-FL Executive
Director
Altaf Ali.
Last week, a Muslim woman was similarly attacked in Tampa. The victim,
who
also wears an Islamic head scarf, says she was assaulted by three
people
who told her to "get out of (America)" and said her religion is
"hateful
and violent." The assailants allegedly blamed the woman for the recent
Madrid train bombings.
According to CAIR's national office, the Florida assault is part of a
recent rise in anti-Muslim incidents. In Texas, a suspect was arrested
last
Friday following four arson attacks on Muslim-operated businesses. Last
month, vandals wrote "sand n**gers" and "America rocks b*tch" on the
interior walls of the Islamic Center of the South Plains in Lubbock,
Texas.
In Maryland, the wife of the Imam, or spiritual leader, of an Annapolis
mosque was assaulted.
CAIR-FL officials say Florida Muslims have witnessed an alarming rise
of
bias-related incidents in recent years. In 2001, a Tallahassee man
drove
his truck into a local mosque. In 2002, a Pinellas county man was
arrested
for plotting to attack some 50 Islamic institutions in Florida.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org; Ahmed
Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-Mail: abedier@cair-florida.org; Ibrahim Hooper,
202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
IMPORTANT ALERT FOR CAIR-NET SUBSCRIBERS:
HELP KEEP CAIR-NET COMING - Many people tell us that reading the
information carried daily on CAIR-NET is one of the best ways to stay
"in
the loop" about issues impacting American Muslims. Items distributed on
CAIR-NET are often not available from any other source.
Those who benefit from CAIR-NET messages every day should be the first
to
become a CAIR member or to renew your membership. SEE ALERT BELOW.
Each CAIR-NET message takes a tremendous commitment of time and
resources,
both human and financial.
Membership is just $10 a year and entitles you to be a CAIR-NET
subscriber.
GO TO: https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT #420
CAIR LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR 25,000 NEW MEMBERS
Join or renew your CAIR membership today!
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/12/04) - CAIR today announced a new membership
drive,
"Building a Better America...One Member at a Time," intended (God
Willing)
to sign up 25,000 new members by its 10th year anniversary celebration
scheduled for June 12, 2004.
American Muslims, and people of all faiths who support CAIR's work, are
being urged to become members of the nation's leading Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group. TO JOIN, GO TO: http://www.cair-net.org/memcamp.asp
For the past 10 years, CAIR has worked effectively in empowering
American
Muslims, defending civil liberties and portraying an accurate image of
Islam. Your membership today will allow CAIR to continue and expand its
important work.
"There is strength in numbers," said CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad.
"The
more members we have, the better job we can do for you. There has never
been a better time for those who support building a better America to
join
CAIR. Just $10 a year will make you a part of an organization that is
recognized worldwide for its high standard of advocacy work."
Read what Congressman Pete King (R-NY) recently said about CAIR on a
major
news show:
"Yes, I'm getting literally thousands of e-mails, phone calls. There's
a
pretty good Muslim leadership network. One of the groups is CAIR,
Committee
on American-Islamic Relations [sic]. And as soon as I say anything, I
can
assure you after this show tonight...my e-mail will be coming in. They
just
have a nationwide network that just plugs in..."
A FEW EXAMPLES OF CAIR'S WORK:
* CAIR'S PUBLIC LIBRARY PROJECT - CAIR's ambitious library project is
designed to place accurate and objective information about Islam in
more
than 16,000 public libraries in the U.S. Already, more than 7,000
libraries
have received or are scheduled to receive the Islamic books, videos,
DVDs,
and audio cassettes. SEE: http://www.libraryproject.org/
* CAIR'S "ISLAM IN AMERICA" AD CAMPAIGN - CAIR launched this campaign
to
counter attacks on the American Muslim community and Islam following
the
9/11 terror attacks. Several of these professionally-produced ads ran
on
the editorial page of the New York Times. SEE:
http://www.americanmuslims.info/
* CHALLENGING MUSLIM-BASHERS AND ISLAMOPHOBES - CAIR consistently takes
the
lead in challenging the smears, lies and distortions of Islam-bashers
and
anti-Muslim bigots. We led the successful campaign to expose the
extremist
anti-Muslim views of Daniel Pipes, who was blocked from a full term on
the
board of the United States Institute of Peace in large measure due to
CAIR's efforts. We also took the lead on challenging the bigoted views
of
Islamophobes such as Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and
Gen.
Boykin in the Pentagon.
* DEFENDING YOUR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL RIGHTS - Whether it's fighting for
religious accommodation in the workplace or schools, challenging
unconstitutional provisions of the USA Patriot Act, working with local
and
national authorities, or exposing anti-Muslim hate crimes, CAIR is in
the
forefront of the struggle to maintain your rights and promote Islam. To
help defend your rights, CAIR has developed a series of guides designed
to
educate employers, educators, health care workers, prison officials,
and
law enforcement personnel about Islamic religious practices.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1. For only $10 a year, become a member or renew your membership today!
Go
to: http://www.cair-net.org
2. Encourage all of your friends, relatives and colleagues to become
members of CAIR. (Your spouse should also be a member.)
3. Sign up members for CAIR at your local mosque or Islamic center. We
encourage large centers to sign up at least 100 new members and smaller
centers to sign up everyone above the age of 18.
4. It's never too early to be involved. We encourage all college and
high
school students to hold membership drives via email and after Friday
prayers and meetings.
5. Thousands of you have also enjoyed receiving our free emails over
the
years, informing you about issues of concern for our community. This is
one
of the many services you will receive as a CAIR member. Show your
appreciation and support for CAIR's work by becoming a member today!
PLEASE NOTE: You do not have to be a U.S. citizen or Muslim to be a
member
of CAIR or to donate. CAIR welcomes donations by everyone who agrees
with
its mission and objectives.
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/12/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S ORDERS
* NEW! CAIR SEEKS 25,000 NEW MEMBERS
* LIBRARY PROJECT: 7401 Sponsors
* CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
- CAIR-DC Employment Discrimination Workshop
* 300 TURN OUT FOR CAIR-NY FUNDRAISING DINNER
* MARINE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR IRAQ PHOTO (MC Times)
- U.S. Muslims Seek Pentagon Probe of Photo (CAIR)
* IL: ARABS AND JEWS TO PROTEST JACKIE MASON (NIMN)
* PA STUDENTS OPEN ABOUT ISLAM AT OPEN HOUSE (Pitts News)
- FL: An American As Well As a Muslim (Sun-Sentinel)
* NY: THREE COUSINS KILLED ON RETREAT IN PA (AP)
* TRIAL IN IDAHO WILL TEST ANTITERROR TACTIC (WSJ)
* INDIAN MUSLIMS SKEPTICAL AT RULING HINDUS' PITCH (AFP)
- Court Orders Retrial of Gujarat Case (Reuters)
* ONE FALLUJAH FAMILY'S HARROWING TREK (USA Today)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S ORDERS
When a foreign leader asked a Muslim emissary what the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) ordered his followers to do, the emissary replied:
"He
orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste, and to keep good
relations with our relatives."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 6
-----
CAIR SEEKS 25,000 NEW MEMBERS
CAIR today announced a new membership drive, "Building a Better
America...One Member at a Time," intended (God Willing) to sign up
25,000
new members by its 10th year anniversary celebration scheduled for June
12,
2004.
American Muslims, and people of all faiths who support CAIR's work, are
being urged to become members of the nation's leading Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group. TO JOIN, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/membercamp.asp
For the past 10 years, CAIR has worked effectively in empowering
American
Muslims, defending civil liberties and portraying an accurate image of
Islam. Your membership today will allow CAIR to continue and expand its
important work.
Need a reason to join CAIR? Just imagine yourself and our community
today
without CAIR.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: 7401 SPONSORSHIPS
The goal of CAIR's library project is to send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
For only $150, Muslim individuals and groups may sponsor 18-item
packages
about Islam and Muslims, which are then distributed to the library of
their
choice.
To sponsor a library call, 1-800-392-7876, ext. 320, or visit:
www.libraryproject.org.
-----
CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced web designer
responsible
for developing and updating CAIR website. The applicant should have: a
bachelors degree or a minimum of 5 years web development experience,
including advanced experience in ASP (VB script), HTML, Java Script,
SQL,
MS Access and Photoshop; experience in programming web databases is a
must
with verifiable knowledge in database driven content management; have
an
eye for developing a clean user interface with experience in graphics
design using Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash; familiarity with
streaming audio and video using Windows Media Player and Real Player;
good
working knowledge of how to integrate office components to create
charts,
graphs, and reports using Excel, Word, and Power Point; ability to work
independently and formulate an exhaustive and extensive plan to keep
the
website current and maintaining content that is fresh.
Applicant MUST also have an understanding of online security, including
credit card processing and online shopping cart, and must be able to
juggle
multiple tasks and be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Internet
applications
as they apply to civil rights/activism driven organization, effective
writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills is also needed. This
position requires travel and weekend work.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience
CAIR offers an excellent health and dental benefit for its full time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply before April 20, 2004 in
confidence
via email to: hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202.488.0833 or mail to
address
above. When applying via email please ensure to write the position
title
"Webmaster" in the subject of the email.
ALSO SEE:
CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced, dynamic person to
take
the position of Civil Rights Attorney. The position involves handling
of
civil rights cases and communication between the entities involved in
the
civil rights disputes. Candidate should have working knowledge of
alternate
dispute resolution (mediation/arbitration), law degree from ABA
accredited
law school required, and 1-2 years experience in the area of civil
rights
and/or in employment/labor law. Applicants should also be licensed to
practice law in District of Columbia, Virginia or Maryland. She or he
must
possess excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills and be able
to
work well with others. Traveling will also be required.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience, CAIR offers an
excellent retirement, health and dental benefit packages for its full
time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202-488-0833. When applying via email please
ensure to write the position title "Civil Rights Attorney" in the
subject
of the email.
---
CAIR HOSTS WORKSHOP ON EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations will host a workshop
for
community leaders and activists interested in learning about the steps
to
address employment discrimination.
The workshop, conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity officials
(EEOC), will educate participants about what constitutes employment
discrimination and explain their rights in the workforce. Officials
will
also offer insight into EEOC polices and procedures as well as offer
common
remedies for settling complaints.
It is a must for activists or leaders who want to educate others within
their respective communities about their rights in the workplace.
WHEN: Sunday, April 17 from 1-3 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR National's office, 453 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington
D.C. 20003
Registration is free but seating is limited.
To register or obtain more information, call Isra'a Rahman at
202-488-8787
or email at irahman@cair-net.org
-----
300 TURN OUT FOR CAIR-NY FUNDRAISING DINNER
Civil right and advocacy group raises more than 100,000
(NEW YORK, N.Y., 4/12/04 - Some 300 people turned out on Saturday for
the
annual fundraising banquet of CAIR's New York office (CAIR-NY). The
dinner
raised more than $100,000 for the Islamic civil rights and advocacy
group's
work.
At the dinner, held in New York's LaGuardia Crowne Plaza Hotel,
speakers
praised CAIR's efforts to combat anti-Muslim prejudice and to promote
civil
rights for all Americans.
"The success of our banquet shows that the American Muslim community is
eager to participate in the political process," said CAIR-NY Executive
Director Ghazi Khankan. "American Muslims have come to rely on CAIR to
be
at the forefront of advocacy for them in the political and social
arenas."
Speakers and attendees at the event included Nihad Awad, Executive
Director
of CAIR, Omar Ahmad, National Chairman of CAIR, and Professor Agha
Saeed,
Chairman of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and
Elections.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 offices nationwide and in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-NY, Ghazi Khankan, 516-729-8754
-----
RESERVIST UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR CLAIMS IN IMAGE
Laura Bailey, Marine Corps Times, 4/9/04
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2810106.php
An Islamic civil liberties group has called for a Pentagon
investigation
into an apparent gag photograph of a Marine in Iraq taken during the
last
year.
In the photo, a smiling Lance Cpl. Ted J. Boudreaux Jr. is standing
next to
two Iraqi boys. All three have their thumbs up as one of the boys holds
a
cardboard sign that reads "Lcpl Boudreaux killed my Dad, th[en] he
knocked
up my sister!"
The photo has been circulating around the Internet for at least a
month.
On April 2, a Muslim upset by the image e-mailed the photo to the
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. The
organization,
which describes itself as America's largest Islamic civil liberties
group,
promptly issued a press release calling for an investigation, said
organization spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.
"We're asking 'was it legitimate, what were the circumstances, did this
guy
do these crimes or was it a joke?'" Hooper said April 5.
In the April 2 release, the council called on the Defense Department to
take action "to let military personnel know that such behavior harms
America's image and will not be tolerated."
"If the United States Army is seeking to win the hearts and minds of
the
Iraqi people, this is the wrong way to accomplish that goal," stated
council executive director Nihad Awad in the release...
Boudreaux is a reservist with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd
Battalion, 23rd Marines, according to Capt. Jeff Pool, a Marine Forces
Reserve spokesman. The New Orleans-based infantry unit deployed to the
Kut
area of Iraq in May and returned home in mid-September.
Pool said the command began an investigation shortly after it received
the
photo via e-mail several weeks ago.
Investigating officers have spoken with Boudreaux and are working to
determine whether the claims on the sign are true and what, if any,
charges
to bring against him, Pool said. Investigation results were not
expected to
be released for another week or two, Marines Forces Reserve spokesman
Capt.
Patrick Kerr said April 8.
One Arab-American Marine who teaches culture to fellow military
personnel
called the photo “deplorable” and said such behavior is a serious issue
to
be addressed.
Gunnery Sgt. Jamal Baadani, the president and founder of the
Association of
Patriotic Arab Americans in Military, is on a one-year tour in the
Middle
East. There, he gives cultural lessons to newly assigned personnel and
is
Chief of Host Nation Training Support Coordination.
“This picture and sign directed towards a Muslim family is
inexcusable,” he
said via e-mail. “Inexcusable because if this lance corporal was given
a
basic class on Islam, he would have known that remarks such as
‘knocking
up’ a Muslim Arab woman is not tolerated and violates the honor of a
Muslim
woman and her family...
SEE ALSO:
U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK PENTAGON PROBE ON IRAQ PHOTO
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=1058&page=NR
-----
ARABS AND JEWS TO PROTEST JACKIE MASON
Not in My Name, 4/12/04
CHICAGO - There will be daily protests during the April 13-18th
engagement
of comedian Jackie Mason at the Auditorium Theater to show that his
extremist views on the Israeli/Palestinian situation are not funny, and
to
help make the public more aware of the injustice and dangers of such
anti-peace stands. Vigils will be held from 6:30-7:30 each night...
Jackie Mason says, "We will never win this war unless we immediately
threaten to drive every Arab out of Israel" and "Why are we obligated
to
care where they go?" ("Time to Threaten Arabs with Mass Eviction," by
Jackie Mason and Raoul Felder, Jewish World Review, January 29, 2003)…
In 2002 Ray Hanania, a Chicago based writer and comedian, was bounced
from
an appearance in Chicago with Jackie Mason, because - according to
Mason's
manager - "It's not exactly like he's just an Arab-American...This
guy's a
Palestinian. We were not told about it ahead of time. Jackie does not
feel
comfortable having a Palestinian open for him. Right now it's a very
sensitive thing" (See news reports from AP, CNN and others 8/29/02)…
CONTACTS:
Neal Resnikoff, of Not in My Name (MIMN), a predominantly Jewish
organization opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands
seized in
1967, 773.267.6764 before 9 p.m. or Ray Hanania, Chicagoan, who is a
Palestinian-American writer and comedian and who was the victim of
Jackie
Mason's racism, 312-933-9855
-----
STUDENTS OPEN ABOUT ISLAM AT MSA'S OPEN HOUSE
Andy Medici, Pittsburgh News, 4/12/04
http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/12/407a48007ca5f
In Islam, serving one's parents is a duty second only to worshipping,
and
it is the parents' right to expect such service.
Aisha Qureshi, a junior at Pitt, plans to have her parents live with
her in
their old age, and she has never thought about putting them in a
nursing home.
"It is something we can do to pay them back for raising us," Qureshi
said.
"To give them the same respect and love as they gave us when we were
younger."
Students were able to learn more about Islam through posters,
slideshows
and Muslim students, like Qureshi, in an open house on Islam, hosted by
the
Muslim Student Association.
Jamila Marr, a junior and president of the MSA, said the main reason
for
the event was to educate people about Islam and dispel stereotypes
associated with Muslims...
Marr also gave her opinion on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict...
According to one of the posters at the open house, Islam only permits
fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on behalf of those
who
have been forcibly expelled from their homes.
Marr also attacked the idea of the Muslim women are oppressed through
the
clothes they wear...
ALSO SEE:
AN AMERICAN AS WELL AS A MUSLIM
Mohammad Ayoub, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 4/12/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/search/
I am a Muslim and profoundly conscious of the fact that I have
inherited
Islam's glorious traditions of the last 1,400 years. I am not prepared
to
lose even a small part of that legacy. As a Muslim, I have a special
identity within the field of religion and culture and I cannot tolerate
any
undue interference with it.
But with all these feelings, I have another equally deep realization,
born
out of my life's experience, which is strengthened and not hindered by
the
spirit of Islam.
I am equally proud of the fact that I am an American -- an essential
part
of the indivisible unity of American nationhood, a vital factor in its
total makeup without which this noble edifice would remain incomplete.
I can never give up this sincere claim. I am a Muslim. I am an
American.
-----
NY: THREE COUSINS KILLED ON RETREAT IN PA
Associated Press, 4/12/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/8413511.htm
LAKE HARMONY, Pa. - A sport utility vehicle slammed into a tree and
burst
into flames, killing three teenage cousins attending a weekend
religious
retreat.
The boys, Omar Abdelmonem Talaat, 14, Moustafa Rabat, 16, and Ahmed
Elzanaty, 14, were killed, police said. Three other boys were injured,
and
two of them were in critical condition Monday.
The teens, all from New York's Long Island, were apparently speeding on
a
private road when they failed to negotiate a curve and slammed into a
tree
shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday, police said.
``The only thing getting us through this is our faith in God,'' said
Omar's father, Talaat Abdelmonem, as dozens of family and friends
gathered
at his home to pay their condolences.
Kidder Township police Chief Joseph M. Protasiewicz would not comment
on
whether the driver - believed to be one of the survivors, a 16-year-old
-
had a license or why the boys were out driving so early in the morning.
He
said the investigation was continuing.
The teens were part of a group of 160 people who had rented a
convention
hall at the Split Rock Resort for a religious retreat.
On Sunday, mourners gathered at the Islamic Center of Melville on Long
Island. ``The whole community is like one family,'' said Amro Elnakib
of
Bay Shore, N.Y., a family friend. ``These are all our kids...''
-----
TRIAL IN IDAHO WILL TEST ANTITERROR TACTIC
Paul M. Barrett, Wall Street Journal, 4/12/04
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
Moscow, Idaho - One of the Bush administration's favorite legal weapons
in
the domestic war on terrorism faces a critical test at a trial set to
begin
tomorrow in Boise, Idaho.
The weapon is a law aimed not at masterminds or bombers but at
secondary
players who provide terrorists with "material support and resources."
The
phrase provides a flexible net, and prosecutors have used it to charge
57
people in Detroit; Lackawanna, N.Y.; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Tampa and
other cities since Sept. 11, 2001. But some federal judges, uneasy
about
the provision's vagueness and its potential to squelch free speech,
have
begun to poke holes in it.
Now, the case of Saudi graduate student Sami Omar al-Hussayen could
help
determine how aggressively the government will be able to pursue
alleged
promoters of terrorism: people who raise money, offer advice or amplify
calls to violence.
No one disputes that Mr. Hussayen, a 34-year-old Ph.D. candidate in
computer science, is a loving husband, a gentle father of three young
boys
and an esteemed leader of the Muslim community in this small town. But
in
its indictment, the government accuses the University of Idaho student
of
setting up a series of Web sites and an e-mail group that recruited
fighters and collected funds "for violent jihad in Israel, Chechnya and
other places."
The most incendiary message that has come to light in government court
filings is an "urgent appeal" posted in February 2003 by another
individual
in the e-mail group that Mr. Hussayen allegedly helped to moderate. It
called on Muslim-American soldiers to "provide information on potential
targets for attacks," such as U.S. military bases in the Middle East
and
the bases' drinking-water supplies.
Describing the Hussayen case in a statement last month, Attorney
General
John Ashcroft said: "We will aggressively pursue and prosecute those
who
use their specialized computer skills to knowingly and intentionally
support such terrorist conspiracies."
Mr. Hussayen, who has been held in jail on immigration charges for more
than a year, asserts he's innocent and opposes terrorism in any form.
His
lawyer, David Z. Nevin, likens his client to an online-magazine editor,
exercising his First Amendment right to disseminate a range of views,
some
of which he may not share.
The Hussayen case first surfaced publicly in February 2003, when dozens
of
federal agents swarmed the University of Idaho campus to arrest Mr.
Hussayen and question his family and friends. Court filings alluded to
tens
of thousands of tapped phone calls and e-mails. In pretrial hearings,
the
government referred repeatedly to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda.
But the actual counts in the original indictment involved only visa
fraud
and false statements. Mr. Hussayen allegedly failed to tell immigration
officials that in addition to studying, he was doing Web-site work and
fund
raising for a Saudi-backed group called the Islamic Assembly of North
America. Hussayen friends -- both Muslim and non-Muslim -- pointed out
that
the man they knew joined a candlelight march in the days after Sept. 11
and
helped run a blood drive for victims...
-----
INDIAN MUSLIMS SKEPTICAL AT RULING HINDUS' FEEL-GOOD RE-ELECTION PITCH
Shaun Tandon, Agence France Presse, 4/12/04
After making history as the first avowedly Hindu party to rule secular
India, the BJP is testing the waters with Muslim voters by running on a
new
moderate message that stresses peace at home and with Pakistan.
For a party accused of setting off two of India's deadliest rounds of
communal rioting, tearing down a high-profile mosque and rewriting
schoolbooks to portray Muslims as villains, it is not an easy task.
To cynics, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party
is
not truly interested in the 140 million-plus Indian Muslim community,
but
instead wants to secure the support of Hindus uneasy about the BJP's
far-right roots.
Under the towering Jama mosque in Delhi's old city, where the alleyways
are
clogged with cycle-rickshaws and hawkers, half a dozen Muslims had a
zero-word answer when asked about the staggered national election that
starts April 20.
They held up their palm, the symbol of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty's main
opposition Congress party, which ruled India with wide Muslim support
for
45 years...
ALSO SEE:
INDIAN COURT ORDERS RETRIAL OF GUJARAT DEATHS CASE
Reuters, 4/12/04
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL89201.htm
NEW DELHI - India's highest court ordered on Monday a retrial of a
high-profile murder case after 20 Hindus were acquitted of slaying 12
people during 2002 religious riots.
The Supreme Court ordered the Hindu nationalist government of the state
of
Gujarat to take up the issue of a retrial, through state prosecutors.
In a
rare move, it also ordered the new trial be moved from Gujarat to
neighbouring Maharashtra state.
"This judgement is a victory for justice, secularism and the Indian
constitution," said Mihir Desai, a lawyer for survivor and chief
witness
Zahira Sheikh, 20.
The Best Bakery case, named after the shop where the killings happened,
has
come to symbolise the lack of major progress in bringing to account
those
responsible for the riots in which rights groups say about 2,000
people,
most of them Muslims, were killed.
The riots broke out after 59 Hindu pilgrims were burned to death in an
attack on a train.
Sheikh had appealed to the Supreme Court for a retrial outside Gujarat
after saying she had been intimidated into changing her testimony in
the
original case...
-----
FOR ONE FALLUJAH FAMILY, HARROWING TREK TO SAFETY
Csar G. Soriano, USA Today, 4/12/04
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-04-11-fallujah_x.htm
BAGHDAD - When Mahmoud Salaiman Abid awoke on April 5, he was surprised
to
see U.S. Marines sealing off Fallujah. At 2 p.m., a mortar shell
exploded
in his front yard. For Abid and his family, their hellish captivity was
just beginning.
"The Americans came in one column from the west and across the bridge,"
said Abid, 16, whose house is in north Fallujah, near a bridge over the
Euphrates River. The guerrillas, whom Abid calls "mujahedin," began
firing
from the other side. Abid ran inside his home and stayed there until
Friday.
"It's a doomsday in Fallujah, a doomsday," said his cousin, Amal Abbas,
38.
Amal Abbas and other family members fled Fallujah over the weekend when
U.S. Marines allowed women, children and the elderly to leave the
besieged
city 35 miles west of Baghdad.
A cease-fire called this weekend follows a week of intensive street
fighting that has killed about 600 Iraqis. Members of the Iraqi
Governing
Council spoke with city officials during the lull.
Marines launched the offensive in response to the killing and
mutilation of
four American civilian security contractors March 31. Their bodies were
dragged through the streets, and two corpses were hung from a bridge.
Marines entered the city with heavy firepower last week. Members of the
family said a shell landed about 100 feet from the home of Hanan Abbas,
Amal's sister.
"There was intensive fighting and bombing near my house. I can never
forget
that day," she said.
The shelling and shooting went on for the next five days...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/13/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S EXAMPLE
* NEW! CAIR SEEKS 25,000 NEW MEMBERS
* CAIR-HOUSTON: GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
* ANCIENT ISLAMIC TEXTS CRUMBLE IN AFRICA (AP)
* TX MUSLIM GETS 5 YEARS FOR BLADES IN CARRY-ON (Star-Tel)
* FL MUSLIM GIRL COMPLAINS OF HATE ATTACK (Sun-Sentinel)
- Group Decries Assault in School (PB Post)
- Muslim Girl Beaten (Miami Herald)
* PHOTOGRAPH DISTURBS MUSLIM GROUP (UPI)
* KY: MUSLIM VISITORS CONFRONT ISSUES (Courier Journal)
* NY: BAND OF 'BROTHERS' (NY Post)
- Inseparable in Death (Newsday)
* FALLUJAH GAINS MYTHIC AIR (Wash Post)
- Fallujah Resistance Vows To Continue Fight (UPI)
- Scale of Falluja Violence Emerges (BBC)
- Half the Iraqis Killed Were Civilians (AFP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE PROPHET'S EXAMPLE
Narrated Anas ibn Malik - "(The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,)
said
to me: 'My son, if you are in a position to pass your morning and
evening
keeping your heart free from malice against anyone, then act according
to
(this high ideal).' He then said: 'That is my Sunnah (example), and he
who
loves my Sunnah loves me.'"
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 59
-----
CAIR SEEKS 25,000 NEW MEMBERS
CAIR has initiated a new membership drive, "Building a Better
America...One
Member at a Time," intended (God Willing) to sign up 25,000 new members
by
its 10th year anniversary celebration scheduled for June 12, 2004.
American Muslims, and people of all faiths who support CAIR's work, are
being urged to become members of the nation's leading Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group.
TO JOIN, GO TO: http://www.cair-net.org/asp/membercamp.asp
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
WHAT: On April 17 and 18, the Houston office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) will be host a grant writing
workshop. The workshop will be conducted Dr. Khalifah Ramadan, an
expert in
the grant writing and reviewing process.
WHERE: Epsolon Networks - 10692 Westheimer, Houston, TX, 77042
WHEN: April 17-18, 2004
COST: $75 per person
Contact CAIR-Houston to RSVP and for pre-workshop materials. TEL:
713-972-0400, 713-838-CAIR-(2247), http://www.cairhouston.org/
-----
ANCIENT ISLAMIC TEXTS CRUMBLE IN AFRICA
Associated Press, 4/13/04
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040413_1086.html
TIMBUKTU, Mali - Lit by a sunbeam slanting through his broken roof, a
16-year-old Islamic student chants verses from a brittle, yellowing
page
one of an estimated 1 million ancient texts that experts say are
crumbling
to dust in this once-thriving city of Islamic learning.
Twice in the past eight years, conservationists working to save the
manuscripts have come to this fly-buzzed home of sand floors and
outdoor
toilets, hoping to buy the disintegrating pages.
But while the family earns no income and lives on handouts, it refuses
to
part with its sole possession of value about 40 volumes with ripped
bindings and torn pages, heaped in a medical supplies box.
The student, Alhousseini Ould Alfadrou, cites the Prophet Muhammad to
explain that holy writ cannot be sold for money.
"So we're obliged to keep them," Alfadrou says. "We're the ones who
read
them. It's written in these books: Those who read them must protect
them."
But scholars say irreplaceable Islamic texts representing a historic
era of
Muslim culture, including West Africa's unique part in it, are decaying
to
oblivion in sweltering homes.
Tens of thousands have been rescued and put in safe storage here and
abroad, but many more are scattered around Timbuktu private heirlooms
handed down from parents to children over the centuries.
The Timbuktu texts "are probably among the most important unused
scholarly
materials in the world," said Chris Murphy of the U.S. Library of
Congress,
who was co-curator of an exhibition of 23 of the manuscripts in
Washington
last year...
-----
PAKISTANI GETS FIVE YEARS FOR BLADES IN CARRY-ON AT D/FW
Toni Heinzl, Star-Telegram, 4/13/04
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/8415861.htm
FORT WORTH - Federal prosecutors believe that security screeners at
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport foiled a Pakistani national's attempt last
March
to evade and test airport security for potential terrorist aims.
Authorities found 32 double-edged razor blades tucked in a coiled belt
inside a cardboard box in Fazal Karim's carry-on luggage March 5, 2003.
A few months later, a federal jury convicted Karim of carrying and
attempting to carry concealed dangerous weapons in air transportation
and
of making false statements about his immigration status. Karim, who is
a
Canadian citizen, was an undocumented immigrant at the time of his
arrest.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Terry Means of Fort Worth sentenced
Karim to
63 months in prison and ordered that he be turned over to immigration
authorities for deportation after completing his sentence. Means also
ordered Karim to pay a $20,000 fine.
The judge rejected a maximum sentence of 30 years requested by
Assistant
U.S. Attorney Fred Schattman, who argued that Karim carried out a test
run
to aid terrorism.
At a hearing in November, a federal agent testified that the names and
phone numbers of the current directors of the civil aviation systems in
Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates were found in Karim's address
book _
10 years after he worked as a computer programmer for the Pakistan
Civil
Aviation Authority...
A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in an
earlier interview that Karim's prosecution fit a pattern of singling
out
travelers from predominantly Muslim nations after the terrorist attacks
on
Sept. 11, 2001. Karim's defense attorney agreed...
-----
MUSLIM GIRL COMPLAINS OF HATE ATTACK AT BOYNTON BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL
Scott Travis, Sun-Sentinel, 4/13/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pattack13apr13,0,5837664.story
A 12-year-old Muslim girl says four boys assaulted her last week in the
hallways of Congress Middle School in Boynton Beach and referred to her
as
"Osama," an activist group is reporting.
The American-Islamic Relations Council says the Palm Beach County
School
District has been slow to respond to the complaint and wants
law-enforcement officials to investigate the incident as a hate crime.
A district spokesman said school administrators and police are
investigating but are lacking crucial details about what happened after
school on April 5.
The council learned of the incident Monday morning when it received a
call
from the girl's uncle, said Altaf Ali, executive director of its
Florida
chapter. He declined to name the girl or her family members.
Ali said the girl, who wears a headscarf because of her faith, told
council
officials she was hit in the face with a leather belt, injuring her
lip...
ALSO SEE:
GROUP DECRIES ASSAULT IN SCHOOL
Lona O'Connor, Palm Beach Post, 4/13/04
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/auto/epaper/editions/tuesday/south_county_04b755257341915300d3.html
An Islamic advocacy group is claiming that four boys assaulted a
12-year-old girl at Congress Middle School because she was wearing an
Islamic head scarf.
The boys confronted the girl in a school hallway, yanked at her hijab,
or
head scarf, pulled her hair and hit her across the mouth with a leather
belt, said Altaf Ali, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, a civil liberties group based in Washington.
The boys also called her "Osama" and made other derogatory remarks, and
they threatened more attacks if she told school officials, Ali said.
The girl, who is of Pakistani heritage, enrolled in the seventh grade
at
the beginning of the school year. She was "very traumatized" by the
incident, Ali said.
She had experienced several similar but less violent incidents at
school,
but school officials took no action, he said. The girl's mother does
not
speak English, and her father is out of the country, he said.
"What is alarming is that when she informed her teacher, the response
from
the teacher was, 'Kids are like that,' " he said.
Ali said that Congress Middle Principal Kathy Harris told him that the
incident was being investigated but would not give more details.
Harris could not be reached for comment...
---
GROUP: MUSLIM GIRL BEATEN
Miami Herald, 4/13/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/8417112.htm
A girl of Pakistani descent was attacked by other students at a middle
school who hit her with a belt and called her ''Osama,'' a civil
liberties
group says.
Students at a Palm Beach County middle school lashed a 12-year-old
Muslim
classmate in the face with a belt and made derogatory remarks about her
ethnicity, according to an Islamic civil liberties group.
Altaf Ali, executive director for the Davie-based Florida chapter of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the Congress Middle School
student suffered a swollen lip after the alleged attack.
He said that he spoke Monday to Kathy Harris, principal of the Boynton
Beach school, and she told him the sixth-grade principal was looking
into
the matter. No police report was filed, Ali said.
According to the group, the girl said she had been harassed previously,
but
none of those incidents were as violent.
Boynton Beach Police Assistant Chief Matt Immler said Monday that he
was
not aware of the case...
-----
PHOTOGRAPH DISTURBS MUSLIM GROUP
United Press International, 4/13/04
WASHINGTON - A Muslim advocacy group Monday urged Pentagon officials to
investigate an Internet picture, which it says is tarnishing the U.S.
image
among Muslims.
The photograph shows U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Ted Boudreaux Jr. standing
next
to two Iraqi boys, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations said. One of the boys holds a cardboard sign that reads "Cpl.
Boudreaux killed my Dad, (then) he knocked up my sister!"
The photo has been circulating around the Internet for at least a
month.
"We're asking was it legitimate, what were the circumstances ... or was
it
a joke?" said council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.
Boudreaux is a reservist with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd
Battalion, 23rd Marines. The New Orleans-based infantry unit deployed
to
the Kut area of Iraq in May and returned home in mid-September.
Marine Corps spokesmen said an investigation is under way, but its
results
may not be released for another week or two.
-----
MUSLIM VISITORS CONFRONT ISSUES
Peter Smith, Courier Journal, 4/13/04
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/04/13ky/B1-islam0413-11439.html
Against a backdrop of escalating violence in Iraq and televised
hearings on
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the University of Louisville has
brought a group of high-profile Asian Muslims to visit the United
States
this month.
And so far, tip-toeing around controversy - including some opposition
to
the U.S. invasion of Iraq - has not been on the agenda.
For example: Bangladeshi professor Kazi Nurul Islam has said he has
"tremendous differences with the foreign policy" of the United States,
although he has "love and respect" for its people.
S. Zafar Mahmood, president of an Islamic charity in India, challenged
a
group of Christians about atrocities against Muslims, referring to a
Bosnian Serb general and Orthodox Christian who was indicted by a
United
Nations war-crimes tribunal for allegedly ordering a 1995 massacre.
"Should
we be concerned about what prayer Ratko Mladic made before he
slaughtered
7,500 Muslims?" Mahmood asked.
In response to the visitors' repeated assertions that Islam is a
religion
of peace and that a crime committed by a Muslim is "not a crime
committed
by Islam," an American-born Muslim meeting with them last week
retorted:
"Without Muslims, there is no Islam." Danya Karram of Cincinnati said
during a session at Xavier University in Cincinnati that "to say Islam
is
perfect and Muslims are the problem is a cop-out in my opinion."
The Muslims' visit is being coordinated by UofL under a $343,785 grant
from
the U.S. State Department. The department implemented the program after
the
Sept. 11 attacks to help foreign Muslims to better understand the
United
States and to study the compatibility of Islam and democracy, according
to
program coordinator Riffat Hassan.
"Dialogue is not all about being nice," said Hassan, professor of
humanities and religious studies at UofL. "It's about being authentic.
It's
about discussing real issues with candor, with honesty."
The university and various cooperating organizations have arranged a
monthlong tour for the 14 scholars and activists, who come from India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. They are going to sites in
Kentucky,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, California and Washington, D.C...
-----
BAND OF 'BROTHERS'
Devin Smith, New York Post, 4/13/04
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/22698.htm
A close-knit Muslim community on Long Island grieved the loss of three
teens who died during a weekend retreat to the Poconos when the SUV
they
were joyriding in slammed into a tree and burst into flames.
Mostafa Rabbat, 16, and Omar Abdelmoneim, 14, both of Williston Park,
and
Ahmed Elzanaty, 14, of Dix Hills, were buried yesterday.
"They were like brothers," said a friend, Somer Elemam, adding that the
trio was so close they even had a motto: "We ride together, we die
together."
Ahmed, an eighth-grader whom friends called "Puffy," loved playing
lacrosse
and football. Mostafa, a k a "Moose," was a high-school sophomore.
Omar, an
eighth-grader, wanted to be a doctor, his mother said.
Yesterday, all three were in plain pine caskets pointing toward Mecca
for a
traditional Muslim funeral ceremony at the Islamic Association of Long
Island in Selden. Later, they were buried in the same plot at
Washington
Memorial Park Cemetery in Coram - again tilted so that the boys' heads
would always be facing Islam's holiest city.
It's not the first time tragedy has visited these families. Both sets
of
Omar and Ahmed's grandparents died in the Egypt Air 990 crash in 1999.
The teens were killed early Saturday morning when an SUV driven by
their
friend, Karim Abouelfadl, 16, swerved off a winding road and slammed
into a
tree. Abouelfadl, of Bellmore, had apparently taken his parents'
vehicle
for an early morning joyride with his friends...
ALSO SEE:
INSEPARABLE IN DEATH
Erin Texeria, Newsday, 4/13/04
www.newsday.com
Blanketed by rainy, gray skies, hundreds prayed and wept yesterday over
the
graves of three Long Island teenagers who died in a fiery car accident
in
Pennsylvania Saturday, and police began what they said will likely be a
weeks-long, painstaking investigation into the crash.
Family and friends gathered at a prayer service, burial and funeral -
all
held jointly for the three dead and three critically injured boys who
had
been inseparable for years.
Many were trying to make sense of the accident that happened when the
teenagers borrowed a family SUV early Saturday during a vacation in the
Poconos.
"In our belief, each one that gets born on earth has a particular
moment to
live," said Dr. Mohamed Rabbat, father of Mostafa Rabbat, 16, of
Williston
Park, who died. "When we went over there, it was their time to go."
Family and friends remembered Mostafa, Ahmed Elzanaty, 14, of Dix Hills
and
Omer Abdelmonem, 14, of Williston Park as typical teens who loved to
joke,
play sports and surf the Internet.
Omer's brother, Ahmed Abdelmonem, said the night before the crash, a
large
group of boys were hanging out at the Split Rock Resort near Lake
Harmony
in Kidder Township, Pa., where about 160 others in their
Muslim-American
community had traveled for a weekend getaway. When some of the
teenagers
got tired and went to their rooms at the Galleria hotel, others met
Karim Abu-Elfadel in the lobby, he said.
"They didn't want to go to sleep," said Mohamed Elzanaty, father of
Ahmed
Elzanaty. "All of a sudden [early the next morning], the police came
and
said ... there was a terrible accident. Who were the parents of the six
kids? We started checking."
Elzanaty sighed deeply once, twice, his hands clasped tightly, at a
gathering of families yesterday afternoon. "Finally, it came out that
it
was my son," he said...
-----
FALLUJAH GAINS MYTHIC AIR
Karl Vick and Anthony Shadid, Washington Post, 4/13/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6462-2004Apr12.html
BAGHDAD -- The U.S. Marine siege of Fallujah, designed to isolate and
pursue a handful of extremists in a restive town, has produced a
powerful
backlash in the capital. Urged on by leaflets, sermons and freshly
sprayed
graffiti calling for jihad, young men are leaving Baghdad to join a
fight
that residents say has less to do with battlefield success than with a
cause infused with righteousness and sacrifice.
"The fighting now is different than a year ago. Before, the Iraqis
fought
for nothing. Now, fighters from all over Iraq are going to sacrifice
themselves," said a Fallujah native who gave his name as Abu Idris and
claimed to be in contact with guerrillas who slip in and out of the
besieged city three and four times daily.
He spoke in a mosque parking lot emptied moments earlier of more than a
ton
of donated foodstuffs destined for Fallujah -- heavy bags of rice, tea
and
flour loaded into long, yellow semitrailers by a cluster of men who,
their
work done, joined a spirited discussion about the need to take the
fight to
the enemy. They included a dentist, a prayer leader, a law student, a
lieutenant colonel in the Iraqi police and a man who until 10 days
earlier
had traveled with U.S. troops as a member of the Iraqi Civil Defense
Corps...
The lopsided battle 35 miles to the west -- where 2,500 Marines have
been
deployed -- has had a profound impact here, redefining for many in
Baghdad
the nature of the campaign against U.S. troops...
Intense, sympathetic and often startlingly graphic coverage on Arab
channels has deepened a vein of nationalism, stirred in part by still
unconfirmed reports of high civilian casualties. Over the weekend, in
the
living room of a decidedly secular family, a woman wept over the images
on
a screen she finally leaned forward and kissed. ..
ALSO SEE:
FALLUJAH RESISTANCE VOWS TO CONTINUE FIGHT
P. Mitchell Prothero, United Press International, 4/12/04
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040412-031514-2639r
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The young man did not want to leave Fallujah where he
has
been fighting American troops for a week. But as the oldest son, he was
responsible for getting his mother and grandmother out of the besieged
city
and the current cease-fire offered the chance to get the family's women
and
children out of harms way and into a relative's home in west Baghdad.
It took the family five hours to cross what is normally a 35-mile trip
down
a modern highway east to Baghdad because they had to swing wide through
the
desert. Despite the cease-fire, they had to avoid U.S. military
checkpoints
because the Americans were not letting men of fighting age out of the
city.
And Ahmed, not his real name, is a member of the Army of Mohammed, the
Fallujah-based Sunni insurgent group doing battle with U.S. Marines in
and
around the restive city of about 200,000 people. The siege is a week
old
and came after the brutal killing and mutilation of four U.S. security
contractors.
But Fallujah has always been a problem for U.S. troops and its been
long
understood that most of the resistance effort in and around Baghdad
comes
from the Army of Mohammed, which formed from a combination of former
Baath
Party members and military officials as well as Sunni religious
followers
who had a shared goal to rid Iraq of American forces...
---
SCALE OF FALLUJA VIOLENCE EMERGES
BBC, 4/12/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3619661.stm
The scale of the fighting in the Iraqi town of Falluja last week is
becoming clear as a shaky ceasefire takes hold.
A group of five international charities estimated that about 470 people
had
been killed, while hospital officials put the death toll at about 600.
Reuters television footage from Falluja showed corpses of children,
women
and old men lying in the street beside body parts no one has had time
to
collect.
"Hospitals and medical staff are overwhelmed," the five charities said.
They added that they were "asking desperately for blood, oxygen and
antiseptics".
The group said that at a conservative estimate, about 1,200 had been
wounded, according to Reuters, which did not name the aid agencies
involved.
Residents of Falluja have reportedly been burying the dead in their
gardens
and a football field because it is too dangerous to go to the
cemeteries on
the outskirts of town...
---
HALF THE IRAQIS KILLED IN FALLUJAH WERE CIVILIANS: MEDIATOR
Agence France Presse, 4/13/04
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=9624
BAGHDAD - Half the Iraqis killed in a US offensive in the town of
Fallujah
were women, children and elderly people, a mediator said Tuesday, but
US
officials insisted they take all precautions to avoid non-combattants.
Fouda Rawi, senior member of the Iraqi Islamic Party spearheading
efforts
to negotiate a ceasefire in the city west of Baghdad, quoted hospital
sources as saying more than 600 Iraqis had been killed and 1,250
wounded.
"Among those killed were 160 women, 141 children and many elderly," he
told
AFP, providing the first precise figures on the number of civilian
deaths
from the nearly week-long offensive..."
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SECRET SERVICE BARS MUSLIM GUARD FROM DC HOTEL FLOOR
Security officer told 'Muslims and Arabs' not allowed in area with
Israeli
official
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/14/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today called on the Secret Service to explain why a
Muslim
security officer at a Washington, D.C., hotel was denied access to a
floor
in the building because of his faith and ethnicity.
The Muslim guard at The Madison hotel, a native of Ethiopia and a U.S.
citizen, told the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) that his supervisor said he could not go to a floor
occupied last month by a visiting Israeli official because "you are
Muslim
and Arab."
According to the guard and a top hotel official, that order came
directly
from the Secret Service, the agency charged with guarding the Israeli
guest. The hotel's general manager cited the "Patriot clause," an
apparent
reference to the USA Patriot Act, as justification for the agency's
request. Another Muslim employee, a housekeeper, allegedly told the
Muslim
guard that she too was barred from the floor based on the same Secret
Service directive.
"We are concerned that an American citizen may have been singled out
for
discriminatory treatment based solely on his religion and ethnicity,"
said
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. Awad called for an investigation
and an
apology to the Muslim employees.
Last year, the Secret Service took responsibility for sending an
Arab-American waiter home from his job at a Baltimore hotel before a
presidential fundraiser. The waiter said he was sent home by a manager
who
asked him just one question: "Is your name Mohamad?"
Awad noted that the alleged discrimination by the Secret Service would
contradict recent government actions in defense of American Muslims and
their religious rights. Just this week, the Justice Department was
allowed
to join a lawsuit supporting a Muslim girl in Oklahoma suspended for
wearing an Islamic head scarf to school.
In today's Oklahoman newspaper, CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim
Hooper
praised the Justice Department for its support of religious
accommodation.
"The government is sending a message that it will defend its Muslim
citizens," said Hooper.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org; CAIR-Maryland, Rizwan Mowlana, 301-986-1900,
301-672-9355
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/14/04
* VERSE OF THE DAY: MANIFOLD INCREASE
* CORRECTION: 'SECRET SERVICE' WAS FOREIGN, NOT AMERICAN
* REASON #2 TO JOIN CAIR
* CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
- CAIR-DC Employment Discrimination Workshop
- CAIR-Cincinnati Fundraising Dinner
* U.S. RESTRICTS IMMIGRANT DETENTIONS (Chicago Trib)
* MI: BELLS VS. MUSLIM PRAYER CALLS (Detroit Free Press)
* ID: TRIAL COULD BE A TEST OF USA PATRIOT ACT (AP)
- NJ: Long-Held Palestinian Freed (AP)
* BUSH ENDORSES ISRAEL'S W. BANK RETENTION (AP)
* MD: DWYER'S VIEW OF ISLAM BETRAYS STEREOTYPES (Balt. Sun)
* OK: DOJ JOINS HEAD SCARF LAWSUIT (Oklahoman)
* MARINES PROBING PHOTO OF SOLDIER, IRAQI CHILDREN (Fox)
- Iraqi Beaten to Death by U.S. Troops in Kut (AFP)
* UZBEKISTAN USING TORTURE, RAPE IN CRACKDOWN (AFP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: MANIFOLD INCREASE
The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of God is
that of
a grain of corn: It grows seven ears and each ear has a hundred grains.
God
gives manifold increase to whom He pleases.
The Holy Quran, 2:261
-----
CORRECTION TO DC HOTEL DISCRIMINATION STORY
'SECRET SERVICE' WAS FOREIGN, NOT AMERICAN
CORRECTION - It appears now that the "secret service" that allegedly
denied
Muslim and Arab employees access to a floor in a Washington, D.C.,
hotel
was foreign, not American.
A Muslim guard at The Madison hotel, a native of Ethiopia and a U.S.
citizen, told the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) that his supervisor said he could not go to a floor
occupied last month by a visiting Israeli official because "you are
Muslim
and Arab."
According to the guard and a top hotel official, that order came
directly
from the "secret service." Another Muslim employee, a housekeeper,
allegedly told the Muslim guard that she too was barred from the floor
based on the same directive.
A spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service called CAIR today to say that
his
agency was not involved in providing security for the Israeli official.
"American citizens should not be subject to the discriminatory dictates
of
foreign security agents," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim
Hooper.
"We regret any confusion caused by earlier reports."
-----
CAIR SEEKS 25,000 NEW MEMBERS
REASON #2 TO JOIN CAIR
Many people tell us that reading the information carried daily on
CAIR-NET
is one of the best ways to stay "in the loop" about issues impacting
American Muslims. Items distributed on CAIR-NET are often not available
from any other source. Those who benefit from CAIR-NET messages every
day
should be the first to become a CAIR member or to renew your
membership!
In our new membership drive, "Building a Better America...One Member at
a
Time," CAIR intends (God Willing) to sign up 25,000 new members by its
10th
year anniversary celebration scheduled for June 12, 2004.
TO JOIN, GO TO: http://www.cair-net.org/asp/membercamp.asp
If you have any problems signing up as a CAIR member through the web
site,
please call 202-488-8787 and ask for "membership," or e-mail:
membership@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced web designer
responsible
for developing and updating CAIR website. The applicant should have: a
bachelors degree or a minimum of 5 years web development experience,
including advanced experience in ASP (VB script), HTML, Java Script,
SQL,
MS Access and Photoshop; experience in programming web databases is a
must
with verifiable knowledge in database driven content management; have
an
eye for developing a clean user interface with experience in graphics
design using Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash; familiarity with
streaming audio and video using Windows Media Player and Real Player;
good
working knowledge of how to integrate office components to create
charts,
graphs, and reports using Excel, Word, and Power Point; ability to work
independently and formulate an exhaustive and extensive plan to keep
the
website current and maintaining content that is fresh.
Applicant MUST also have an understanding of online security, including
credit card processing and online shopping cart, and must be able to
juggle
multiple tasks and be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Internet
applications
as they apply to civil rights/activism driven organization, effective
writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills is also needed. This
position requires travel and weekend work.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience CAIR offers an
excellent health and dental benefit for its full time employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply before April 20, 2004 in
confidence
via email to: hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202.488.0833 or mail to
address
above. When applying via email please ensure to write the position
title
"Webmaster" in the subject of the email.
ALSO SEE:
CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced, dynamic person to
take
the position of Civil Rights Attorney. The position involves handling
of
civil rights cases and communication between the entities involved in
the
civil rights disputes. Candidate should have working knowledge of
alternate
dispute resolution (mediation/arbitration), law degree from ABA
accredited
law school required, and 1-2 years experience in the area of civil
rights
and/or in employment/labor law. Applicants should also be licensed to
practice law in District of Columbia, Virginia or Maryland. She or he
must
possess excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills and be able
to
work well with others. Traveling will also be required.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience, CAIR offers an
excellent retirement, health and dental benefit packages for its full
time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202-488-0833. When applying via email please
ensure to write the position title "Civil Rights Attorney" in the
subject
of the email.
---
CAIR HOSTS WORKSHOP ON EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations will host a workshop
for
community leaders and activists interested in learning about the steps
to
address employment discrimination.
The workshop, conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity officials
(EEOC), will educate participants about what constitutes employment
discrimination and explain their rights in the workforce. Officials
will
also offer insight into EEOC polices and procedures as well as offer
common
remedies for settling complaints.
It is a must for activists or leaders who want to educate others within
their respective communities about their rights in the workplace.
WHEN: SATURDAY, April 17 from 1-3 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR National's office, 453 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington
D.C. 20003
Registration is free but seating is limited.
To register or obtain more information, call Isra'a Rahman at
202-488-8787
or email at irahman@cair-net.org
---
CAIR-CINCINNATI FUNDRAISING DINNER
THEME: "Muslims Uniting for Justice"
SPEAKERS:
Rafael Narbaez
Dennis Kucinich Campaign,
Khalid Iqbal, Director of Operations, CAIR-National
WHEN: Sunday, April 25, 2004 @ 5:30 - 8:30 PM
WHERE: Oasis Conference Center, 902 Loveland-Miamiville Rd., Loveland,
Ohio
TICKETS: $30/Adult ($35 at the door) $10/Child, incl. babysitting &
pizza
--tickets are going fast, please RSVP
INFO: Please call CAIR-Cincinnati 513-281-8200, cincinnat@cair-ohio.com
-----
U.S. RESTRICTS INDEFINITE DETENTION OF IMMIGRANTS
Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Chicago Tribune, 4/14/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0404140262apr14,1,2183103.story
WASHINGTON - Immigrants detained in terrorism investigations can no
longer
be held indefinitely without evidence, the Homeland Security Department
said Tuesday, announcing a new policy to prevent abuses of authority.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, hundreds of men, mainly from the Middle
East,
were arrested because of alleged minor immigration violations and
jailed
for months, some under harsh conditions.
Widespread complaints from detainees, their relatives and civil rights
groups prompted an investigation by the Justice Department inspector
general's office. Last summer, that office issued a report that said
the
government had failed to uphold basic standards of due process, and had
allowed physical abuse and mistreatment at a federal facility in
Brooklyn.
The new policy is intended to correct those problems and create a
system of
"checks and balances," said Asa Hutchinson, the Homeland Security
Department's undersecretary for border and transportation security.
"This is not a fine-tuning; it's a very significant correction," he
said.
Civil rights groups applauded the changes. "There will be no more
blanket
detentions of whole classes of aliens," said Kareem Shora, legal
adviser to
the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. "We welcome this step
as a
very positive one."
But the Justice Department remained steadfast in its defense of the
detentions. Officials said the policy was lawful and that authorities
could
not risk allowing any suspects to flee the country...
-----
IT'S CHRISTIAN BELLS VS. MUSLIM PRAYER CALLS
CECIL ANGEL, Detroit Free Press, 4/14/04
http://www.freep.com/news/locway/npray14_20040414.htm
Hamtramck Muslim community members' request to amend the city noise
ordinance so mosques can use loudspeakers for a call to prayer has
divided
some residents along religious lines.
At a City Council public hearing Tuesday, Muslim speakers said they
often
hear church bells that are louder and ring as early as 6 a.m., but they
don't complain. They said the call to prayer would be less noisy.
"We don't want to make it a big deal, like you're trying to make it,"
said
Abdul Algazali, a Hamtramck businessman. "It's a low-pitched voice.
It's
not going to wake up anybody."
Some Christians said the call to prayer, which occurs five times a day
and
starts as early as 6 a.m., would disrupt their lives.
"When you call to prayer, you are proselytizing, and as a citizen of
the
United States I don't want to hear it," said Bob Golen, 68, a Hamtramck
resident.
Resident Caroline Zarski, 81, agreed.
"It is not my God. My God is Jesus Christ. I don't want this noise
invading
my home at 10 p.m.," she said.
The Al-Islah Islamic Center asked the city in January to amend its
noise
ordinance to allow the call to prayer between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. In
February, the council appeared to support the change but wanted to hold
a
public hearing.
At that meeting, Council President Karen Majewski likened the call to
prayer to church bells.
But other residents disagreed.
According to Councilman Scott Klein, "Petitions have circulated among
mainly white and Christian members of the community for weeks asking
the
council not to amend the ordinance…
"Both sides have issued threats of federal lawsuits based on the
constitutionality of the ban or the removal of the ban."
Muslims have come to the city from Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan and
other
Islamic countries. According to the Bangladesh Association of Michigan,
20,000 Bangladeshis live in metro Detroit, mostly in Hamtramck and
adjacent
Detroit neighborhoods.
There are five mosques in the city and three other mosques just over
the
border in Detroit.
Their influence has been growing steadily. The City Council has its
first
Muslim member, Shahab Ahmed.
-----
ID: TRIAL COULD BE A TEST OF USA PATRIOT ACT
Bob Fick, Associated Press, 4/14/04
http://www.insidebaltimore.com/news/national/04-04-14-patriot-act.shtml
BOISE, Idaho - The trial of a Saudi Arabian student accused of using
his
computer to help Islamic militants overseas is being seen as a key test
of
a USA Patriot Act provision that prohibits offering help to terrorist
groups.
A 12-person jury was seated Tuesday to hear the case of Sami Omar
Al-Hussayen, 34, a University of Idaho graduate student facing three
counts
of supporting terrorism by running Web sites that support the violent
Palestinian group Hamas and organizations that advocate attacks on the
United States.
He also has been accused of maintaining bank accounts in four states to
funnel money to a Michigan organization that federal agents claim has
links
to terrorists. In addition, the government has filed visa fraud and
false
statement charges against Al-Hussayen.
A federal judge questioned potential jurors on their knowledge of
Islam,
religious conflicts in the Middle East and Chechnya, their computer
ability
and their personal feelings on terrorism before attorneys picked the
final
panelist.
``These issues are somewhat volatile and the type of things that
sometimes
cause a person to get angry,'' U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge said.
``It's important that you keep an open mind throughout the trial.''
Opening statements were scheduled Wednesday...
ALSO SEE:
LONG-HELD PALESTINIAN FREED
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 4/13/04
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11312225&BRD=2212&PAG=461&dept_id=465812&rfi=6
NEWARK, N.J. - Delighted to be free again, a renowned Palestinian
activist
knelt down, kissed the ground and celebrated his release after spending
nearly two years in jails in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Farouk Abdel-Muhti, 56, sued the federal government in November 2002,
claiming it had held him far longer than its own standards allow. He
asserted that as a stateless Palestinian, there was no nation to which
he
could lawfully be deported.
He was freed Monday night from an Atlanta jail and put on a plane to
New
York, where he was met by friends several hours later.
"I kissed the land because I finally felt freedom," Abdel-Muhti said
Tuesday morning. "This is a victory not for me, but for everyone who is
fighting for their rights, for social justice and democracy."
To immigrant rights advocates and critics of the Bush administration's
handling of civil liberties after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks,
Abdel-Muhti
had become a symbol of the dragnet that took more than 1,200 people,
mostly
Arabs and south Asians, into custody.
He still faces deportation to the West Bank under an agreement the
United
States recently reached with Israel to return Palestinians there once
Israel verifies that their names are on its population registry of
Palestinian territories, said his attorney, Shayana Kadidal...
-----
BUSH ENDORSES ISRAEL'S W. BANK RETENTION
Barry Schweid, Associated Press, 4/14/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3977314,00.html
WASHINGTON - Breaking with long-standing U.S. policy, President Bush on
Wednesday endorsed Israel's retention of part of the West Bank as a
peace
settlement with the Palestinians. Bush also ruled out Palestinian
refugees
returning to Israel.
An elated Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said his plan would
create
``a new and better reality for the state of Israel.''
In a historic meeting with Sharon, Bush endorsed the Israeli leader's
plan
to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank as ``courageous.''
But on the West Bank, anticipating Bush's move, Palestinian leader
Yasser
Arafat said before the Oval Office meeting that ``the Palestinian
leadership warns of the dangers of reaching such an accord, because it
means clearly the complete end of the peace process.''
Arafat also said the U.S. assurances to Sharon would lead to a ``cycle
of
violence and end all the signed agreements'' between the Palestinians
and
Israel.
Bush, in what appeared to be a major shift in U.S. policy, said it is
now
``unrealistic'' to expect that Israel, in any final peace deal with the
Palestinians, would make ``a full and complete return to the armistice
lines of 1949.'' That is significant because Israel seized the West
Bank,
Gaza and East Jerusalem in the 1967 war.
And, in a concession sought by Sharon, Bush also said a final peace
deal
should call for Palestinian refugees to be settled in a Palestinian
state,
not in Israel...
-----
DWYER'S VIEW OF ISLAM BETRAYS UGLY STEREOTYPES
Mujeeb Basha, Baltimore Sun, 4/13/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-ed.le.13aapr13,0,716405
Sun columnist Michael Olesker is to be commended for unmasking
Republican
Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr.'s distribution of his nephew's now-famous
juvenile
rant which charged that Islam is a "militaristic and violent" religion
to
fellow Maryland legislators ("Delegate gets holidays rolling with
ill-thought slap at Islam," April 6).
Mr. Dwyer appears to hold stereotypes espoused by Christian radicals
who
elevate themselves by marginalizing and squashing others.
But Mr. Dwyer would be wise to abandon some of his stereotypes about
Islam
and Muslims.
Here are some facts: The first major group of Muslims who came to
America
were African slaves; in recent years, Islam has been the
fastest-growing
religion in the United States; most Muslims in the U.S. are either
Asian
immigrants or African-American converts from Christianity -- a minority
of
Muslims in America have Arab or Middle Eastern origin; the Quran
recognizes
Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Noah and Adam as prophets; finally, the Quran
espouses respect for other faiths -- particularly Jews and Christians
--
and challenges Muslims to demonstrate respect and piety by following
the
example of the Prophet Muhammad.
In Maryland alone there are more than a dozen Islamic centers and
mosques
which are frequented by thousands of Mr. Dwyer's fellow citizens.
Just because they follow a religious tradition different from his brand
of
fundamentalist Christianity does not make them violent.
Mr. Dwyer should bring his nephew to an Islamic center so that he can
prepare a follow-up letter to Maryland legislators on the true meaning
of
Islam, and how Christian and Jewish tenets are held in highest regard
by
Muslims.
-----
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT JOINS MUSLIM HEAD SCARF LAWSUIT
Sheila Stogsdill and David Zizzo, Oklahoman, 4-14-04
http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1218601&TP=getarticle
MUSKOGEE - In what one supporter called "a ground-breaking step," the
Justice Department has been allowed to join a lawsuit supporting a
Muslim
girl suspended for wearing a head scarf to school.
Leah Farish, a Tulsa attorney for the family of Nashala Hearn, said
Tuesday
that Frank H. Seay, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of
Oklahoma, on Monday granted a Justice Department request to join in the
federal lawsuit.
The move strengthens the girl's constitutional fight for religious
accommodation, said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. The Washington-based non-profit group
promotes
"an accurate image of Islam and Muslims in America," according to its
Web
site.
Hooper said the Justice Department's action "has great political
significance beyond just the issue of whether a Muslim school girl can
wear
a head scarf. The government is sending a message that it will defend
its
Muslim citizens."
"It's a ground-breaking step," he said. "I don't think any
administration
has taken a step like this in defense of Muslim religious freedom..."
-----
MARINES PROBING PHOTO OF SOLDIER, IRAQI CHILDREN
Fox News, 4/13/04
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117026,00.html
NEW ORLEANS - The Marines are investigating a photograph circulating on
the
Internet that depicts a soldier with two Iraqi boys and a sign, in
English,
proclaiming the soldier had killed one boy's father and impregnated the
boy's sister.
A Washington, D.C.-based Muslim civil rights group complained about the
photo and urged the Marines to punish the soldier.
Investigators have not determined if the photo showing Lance Cpl. Ted
J.
Boudreaux Jr. was altered, said Capt. Jeffrey Pool, a spokesman for
Marine
Reserves (search) in New Orleans.
Results of the investigation and possible punishment were expected
Wednesday, Pool said.
"How the military reacts to this case I think will send a message to
Muslims in the Middle East and worldwide as to how seriously the United
States takes these issues," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (search).
Boudreaux is with the Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion,
23rd
Marines; the company was deployed in Iraq from last May to September.
Pool
said he did not know exactly when Boudreaux was in Iraq.
No phone number for the soldier could be obtained Tuesday.
ALSO SEE:
IRAQI BEATEN TO DEATH BY US TROOPS IN KUT: POLICE, MEDICS
Agence France Presse, 4/14/04
Iraq - An Iraqi has died of his wounds after US troops beat him with
truncheons because he refused to remove a picture of wanted Shiite
Muslim
leader Moqtada Sadr from his car, police said Wednesday.
The motorist was stopped late Tuesday by US troops conducting search
operations on a street in the center of the central city of Kut,
Lieutenant
Mohamad Abdel Abbas told AFP.
After the man refused to remove Sadr's picture from his car, the
soldiers
forced him out of the vehicle and started beating him with truncheons,
he said.
US troops also detained from the same area five men wearing black pants
and
shirts, the usual attire of Sadr's Mehdi Army militiamen and followers.
Qassem Hassan, the director of Kut general hospital, identified the man
as
Salem Hassan, a resident of a Kut suburb.
He said the man had died of wounds sustained in the beating.
A spokesperson for the US-led coalition could not confirm the incident.
-----
UZBEKISTAN USING TORTURE, RAPE IN ANTI-TERROR CRACK DOWN: HUMAN RIGHTS
WATCH
Agence France Presse, 4/14/04
TASHKENT - A recent spate of suicide blasts and shoot-outs in
Uzbekistan
has prompted a wave of arbitrary arrests and the reported use of
torture
including rape by the security forces, Human Rights Watch said on
Wednesday.
"The arrests indicate a broadening of the governments crackdown on
non-violent independent Muslims -- police appear to have been given
carte
blanche," Rachel Denber, Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia
director, said in a written statement.
The New York-based rights watchdog said it had documented the detention
by
Uzbekistan's secular authorities of 40 people, including 13 women and
five
minors.
"In most cases, no charges at all have been filed ... the Uzbek
government
is taking this opportunity to broaden its campaign against religious
dissidents who have no apparent connection to the attacks" that began
on
March 28 and left at least 46 people dead, the statement read.
"Reports from local rights groups indicate that new arrests of
independent
Muslims, including women, may number in the hundreds," the statement
continued.
Witnesses had reported officers raping male detainees with bottles and
other objects as well as burning and beating detainees and inserting
needles under their finger nails, Human Rights Watch said...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
BREAKING NEWS -
MUSLIM CHAPLAIN CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES
CAIR welcomes dismissal of convictions as 'total vindication'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/14/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) tonight welcomed a decision by the U.S. military to dismiss the
convictions against a Muslim Army chaplain who was initially suspected
of
espionage at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba.
The decision by Army Gen. James Hill clears the record of Capt. James
Yee,
who was found guilty in March of noncriminal charges of committing
adultery
and storing pornography on a government computer. Yee was arrested on
suspicion of espionage in September and was held in solitary
confinement
for 76 days. The Army later dismissed all criminal charges.
SEE: "Yee Cleared On Appeal"
http://www.kirotv.com/news/3006144/detail.html
"We welcome what amounts to total vindication for a man who only wished
to
serve his country by ministering to military personnel of all faiths,"
said
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.
Following the announcement of the dismissal of his convictions, Yee
told
CAIR: "I want to thank the many Americans and those around the world
who
have given me an enormous outpouring of support through the entirety of
this ordeal and who continue to support the cause of justice and
freedom."
CAIR's Seattle office undertook a number of efforts on Yee's behalf
during
his eight-month ordeal.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #421
MOSQUE LEADERS URGED TO SIGN UP 100 CAIR MEMBERS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/15/04) - CAIR is calling on all Muslim community
leaders and activists to organize membership drives after Jumah prayers
to
sign up 100 new members for our new member campaign, "Building a Better
America...One Member at a Time." The campaign is intended (God willing)
to
sign up 25,000 new CAIR members by our 10th year anniversary
celebration
scheduled for June 12, 2004.
(NOTE: We can mail you membership forms or you may print the form below
and
fax it or mail it to CAIR. For more information, call 202-488-8787 or
e-mail: iabusway@cair-net.org)
CAIR depends on you to be more active and organized locally so we can
be
more effective nationally. Now is the time to start a membership drive.
In
your khutbah, you can talk about CAIR's service to the Muslim community
in
the past 10 years.
* CAIR has defended the rights of thousands of community members. When
someone has been discriminated against at school, on the job, or
anywhere
else, CAIR was there.
* CAIR representatives have taken to the nation's airwaves and
conducted
thousands of interviews to defend Islam and Muslims and to educate
people
about Islam and issues of concern to American Muslims. CAIR has given
Muslims a voice in the media.
* CAIR has provided steady leadership through times of crisis. After
the
terror attacks of 9/11, both Muslims and non-Muslims looked to CAIR for
guidance and support.
* CAIR educates our community through its many lectures and workshops
on
how to deal with the media and elected officials.
We must support our institutions in order to be respected and well
represented. CAIR has raised the standard of work not only for our
community, but for all advocacy and civil rights groups. NOW is the
time to
show your support for CAIR. IT IS SIMPLE, the more members we have, the
more effective CAIR can be in empowering American Muslims, defending
civil
liberties and portraying an accurate image of Islam.
For only $10 a year, you can become a CAIR member. Sign up today and
become
a part of the team. In addition to the Friday khutbah, you should
encourage
membership through your email lists or community newsletters.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Organize a membership drive after Friday prayers at your mosque or
Islamic center. Set a goal of at least 100 new members if you are a
large
community. Small communities should sign up everyone as a member.
Through a
khutbah, discuss the above points.
2. Join in the effort yourself. Become or renew your membership, and
make
sure to add your spouse as a member for only $10. Go to:
http://www.cair-net.org
3. Ask all your friends, relatives and colleagues to become members of
CAIR.
4. Make your Islamic center an "organizational member" of CAIR for
$1,000
per year.
5. A special thanks will go out on CAIR-Net for the Islamic Centers
that
sign up the most members.
6. Down load the following membership form for mail-in (for those who
do
not have internet access) or contact us at 202-646-6043 or
iabusway@cair-net.org to receive actual envelopes.
7. Please note: you do not have to be a US citizen or a Muslim to
become a
CAIR member or to donate.
8. If you receive CAIR email, this does not mean you are a member! We
urge
those of you have been receiving our complimentary emails for all these
years to be the first to become a member for only $10/year.
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
---
CAIR MOSQUE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE PARTICIPATION FORM
------ CLIP AND FAX/MAIL/E-MAIL ------
___YES, my Islamic center/mosque/organization/student group will help
signup __________ members for CAIR.
* Name of Center:
* Contact Person:
* Address:
* City:
* State:
* ZIP:
* Phone:
* Fax:
* E-Mail:
FAX FORM TO: 202-488-0833
E-MAIL: iabusway@cair-net.org
MAIL TO: CAIR Membership Campaign, 453 New Jersey Avenue S.E.,
Washington,
D.C., 20003
---
CAIR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP FORM
----- CLIP AND MAIL/FAX/E-MAIL -----
___YES, I would like to support CAIR's important work by
donating/becoming
a member. Memberships are $10/year. Any amount may be donated.
Enclosed is my check, payable to CAIR, in the amount of:
$______________
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
TEL:
FAX:
E-MAIL:
Method of Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money
Order
Credit Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
FAX FORM TO: 202-488-0833
E-MAIL: iabusway@cair-net.org
MAIL TO: CAIR Membership Campaign, 453 New Jersey Avenue S.E.,
Washington,
D.C., 20003
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
CONTACT 630 WMAL to express your concerns about Michael Graham's
Islamophobic rhetoric.
Mr. Chris Berry
President & General Manager
630 WMAL-AM
4400 Jenifer Street NW
Washington DC 20015
URL: http://www.wmal.com
TEL: 202-686-3100
FAX: 202-686-3061
E-MAIL: chris.j.berry@abc.com, ernie.fears@abc.com,
john.matthews@abc.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS LAUNCH 'HATE HURTS AMERICA' RADIO CAMPAIGN
Islamic civil rights group says anti-Muslim rhetoric harms America
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/15/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today announced a new campaign designed to counter
anti-Muslim hate on radio talk shows.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the campaign,
called
"Hate Hurts America," is based on the premise that the increasing
attacks
on Islam by conservative talk show hosts nationwide is not only
offensive
to Muslims and other people of conscience, but also harms the United
States
by creating a downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility.
As an example of anti-Muslim rhetoric on the radio, CAIR quoted
statements
by Michael Graham, a talk show host at 630 WMAL-AM in Washington, D.C.
Graham recently made an implicit call for violence against Muslims. He
said: "I don't wanna say we should kill 'em all [Muslims], but unless
there's reform [within Islam], there aren't a lot of other solutions
that
work in the ground struggle for survival." (Graham now claims he was
only
referring to so-called "Islamists," but the context of the quote
indicates
otherwise.)
Just today, Graham strongly supported blocking an American Muslim
security
guard from a floor in a Washington, D.C., hotel because he is "Muslim
and
Arab." Graham said: "Oh, you're a Muslim, oh, you're an Arab Muslim,
oh,
you have a gun around Jewish people, whoa...given the belief system,
yes,
red flags do go way up." (The Muslim guard, a U.S. citizen, is a native
of
Ethiopia, a nation that is not part of the Arabic-speaking world.) He
also
said: "Would you hire an Arab-Muslim group for a friend's daughter's
Bat
Mitzvah, I wouldn't, if you would you're a dope, that's not bigotry,
that
completely reasonable smart discrimination."
SEE: "MUSLIM'S TREATMENT ASSAILED"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12983-2004Apr14.html
Last month, A Los Angeles, Calif., radio station was forced to issued
an
on-air apology for an Islamophobic skit that claimed Muslims have sex
with
animals, avoid bathing and are obsessed with killing Jews.
"We believe that hate-filled rhetoric not only leads to attacks on and
discrimination against American Muslims, but also harms our nation by
fostering a climate of intolerance and bigotry," said CAIR
Communications
Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed.
Ahmed said a recent rise in Islamophobic incidents, such as four arson
attacks on Muslim businesses in San Antonio, Texas, racist graffiti at
a
Lubbock, Texas, mosque and an assault on a Muslim woman in Florida,
could
be blamed at least in part on pervasive anti-Muslim rhetoric on
America's
airwaves.
As part of the "Hate Hurts America" effort, Muslims will be given
step-by-step instructions on how to monitor local and syndicated radio
programs, report anti-Muslim hate, file FCC complaints, and contact
advertisers to register their concerns. (See guidelines below.)
Ahmed said CAIR will also issue periodic alerts though its e-mail and
fax
lists to inform Muslims and others about which radio advertisers they
need
to contact.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
HOW TO CHALLENGE ANTI-MUSLIM RHETORIC ON THE RADIO
1. Force yourself to listen. It may be distasteful and upsetting, but
unless people of conscience listen to these programs, the bigotry they
spew
will go unchallenged.
2. Document the program's anti-Muslim content. Without exact quotes
from
the program, any response will be ineffective. Record the show. Label
and
date your tapes, and indicate the time on the tape of the most
offensive
quotes. You can record programs that are broadcast on the Internet
using
sound recording software such as Audacity. SEE:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
3. Set up a quick-response list of people in your area who can be
contacted
quickly by phone or e-mail to call in to the program.
4. Transcribe the most offensive comments. Distribute these transcripts
to
those on your action list.
5. Call in to the show. If several people call in, it can change the
entire
direction of the program. REMEMBER - On radio, the first person to get
angry loses the debate.
6. Write letters to station managers or owners and ask other to write
letters. Station officials need to hear your views. Even a few letters
can
have an impact.
7. Request a meeting between station officials and local Muslim leaders
and
activists. Bring interfaith and minority coalition partners along to
the
meeting.
8. Notify local media of your efforts. Send a press release about any
action, such as protests or letter-writing campaigns to advertisers
that
you initiate.
9. Organize a demonstration. A demonstration can draw attention to the
problem. Large signs or placards and a one-page flyer with some of the
worst on-air statements by the host and your coalition's demands will
educate the public.
10. Put pressure on advertisers. Make note of the advertisers on the
offensive program. Contact each one and ask that others in your action
list
contact them as well. Ask that they drop their commercials from the
offensive programs. BE POLITE and PROFESSIONAL in all you
communications.
11. File a complaint with the FCC, particularly if the host uses
indecent
or obscene language.
To file a complaint, go to: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html
E-MAIL: fccinfo@fcc.gov
TEL: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
FAX: 1-866-418-0232
12. Report all incidents to CAIR by calling 202-488-8787, faxing
202-488-0833, or e-mailing: cair@cair-net.org
---
* Thanks to Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), "Challenging Hate
Radio: A Guide for Activists"
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/15/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: DO GOOD, DESPITE EVIL
* REASON #3 TO JOIN CAIR
* CAIR-OHIO TO ANNOUNCE DIVERSITY CONTEST AWARDEES
* MUSLIM HOTEL GUARD CALLED MISTREATED (Wash Post)
* SETTLEMENTS OVER PEACE (NY Times)
- Sharon Coup: U.S. Go-Ahead (NY Times)
* US 'EMULATES' ISRAELI TACTICS (BBC)
- Siege of Fallujah Polarizing Iraqis (CSM)
* CANADA SENDS SUSPECTS TO TORTURE (Toronto Star)
* INTEREST IN SUFI MYSTICISM RISING IN WEST (RNS)
* MD: MUSLIM ARTIST/ARCHITECT SHOW
* MUSLIM FAMILY VALUES DAY IN NEVADA
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: DO GOOD, DESPITE EVIL
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do not be people
without
minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat
them
well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong. Instead, accustom
yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong if they do
evil."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1325
-----
CAIR SEEKS 25,000 NEW MEMBERS
REASON #3 TO JOIN CAIR
CAIR offers reports on Muslim civil rights that are not available
anywhere
else. In its 10 years of service, CAIR has dealt with more than 6,000
cases
of discrimination and harassment, thousands of which are documented in
its
annual reports.
In our new membership drive, "Building a Better America...One Member at
a
Time," CAIR intends (God Willing) to sign up 25,000 new members by its
10th
year anniversary celebration scheduled for June 12, 2004.
TO JOIN, GO TO: http://www.cair-net.org/asp/membercamp.asp
If you have any problems signing up as a CAIR member through the web
site,
please call 202-488-8787 and ask for "membership," or e-mail:
iabusway@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-OHIO TO ANNOUNCE DIVERSITY CONTEST AWARDEES
(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 4/15/04) - On April 20, the Ohio office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will announce the winners of its
recent
art contest, held in collaboration with Columbus and Upper Arlington
Public
Schools and Sunrise Academy. The contest was designed to encourage
tolerance and acceptance of diversity in area schools.
WHAT: An award ceremony recognizing the winners of the CAIR-Ohio
T-shirt
contest. The theme of the contest this year was "We Can Do It: Building
Better Relations in the Community."
WHEN: April 20th, 3 p.m.
WHERE: The Columbus Board of Education Board Room, 270 E. State, St.
Columbus
CONTACT: Jad Humeidan, Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio 614-451-3232 or
614-571-2770, E-Mail: Jad@cair-ohio.com
CAIR-Ohio reviewed more than 400 submissions for its contest, which had
students design t-shirts that best interpreted the theme, "We Can Do
It:
Building Better Relations in the Community."
The contest was open to all high school and middle school students
enrolled
in Columbus Public Schools, Upper Arlington Public Schools and Sunrise
Academy.
"As an organization that assists Muslims who have been victims of
religious
discrimination, we wanted to help eliminate prejudice and hatred by
promoting the idea of building bridges of understanding," said
CAIR-Ohio
Executive Director Jad Humeidan. "We are delighted that so many
students
took part in this effort and hope that the students, teachers and other
community members will take the unifying message of the contest to
heart."
CAIR-Ohio is also currently holding an essay contest on the same theme
for
Columbus-area students. The contest, which will end April 23rd, 2004,
has
already garnered some wonderful writings.
There are an estimated 150,000 Muslims in Ohio. CAIR, America's largest
Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C.,
and
has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
------
MUSLIM HOTEL GUARD CALLED MISTREATED
Caryle Murphy, Washington Post, 4/14/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12983-2004Apr14.html
A Muslim security guard at the Madison Hotel was told to stay away from
the
10th floor of the hotel during a recent stay there by a senior Israeli
official, a Muslim advocacy group said yesterday.
Stephen Bello, the general manager at the Madison, confirmed that the
guard, Ahmed Kadi Haji, was asked to avoid the floor. But he said the
request was made by security units guarding the visiting foreign
dignitary,
whose name and nationality he declined to disclose.
The Israeli Embassy confirmed that Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz
stayed at the hotel on a visit to Washington the second week of March,
during which he met with several senior U.S. officials. The incident
involving Haji occurred March 10.
Bello said that security units for visiting foreign officials are
provided
a list of all hotel employees and their Social Security numbers so they
can
conduct background checks.
In this instance, Bello said, the hotel followed this procedure, and
the
security unit subsequently asked that Haji avoid the floor where the
guest
was staying.
Bello noted that Haji's hours and pay were not affected. He said he has
"an
obligation to all the employees of this hotel to treat everyone fairly
and
equally."
Bello said the hotel also has an obligation to its guests. "If we're
asked
by a government official to comply with their wishes, we would attempt
to
do that," he said, adding that "we as a company would not single anyone
out
for any reason that way."
Haji, a U.S. citizen who was born in Ethiopia and lives in College
Park,
did not return messages left at his home and cell phone yesterday.
"We are concerned that an American citizen may have been singled out
for
discriminatory treatment based solely on his religion and ethnicity,"
said
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, which reported the incident. Awad called for an
investigation
and an apology to Haji.
In a signed statement reporting the incident to CAIR, Haji related that
while he was on duty March 10, his supervisor told him that he was not
allowed on the 10th floor because "you are Muslim and Arab..."
-----
SETTLEMENTS OVER PEACE
New York Times, 4/15/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/15/opinion/15THU2.html
Too much for the constructive mediator. In a costly blow yesterday to
America's credibility as an honest broker for a Middle East peace,
President Bush endorsed Israeli plans to retain some West Bank
settlements
and to essentially reject the Palestinians' "right of return."
It has long seemed inevitable that a lasting peace would allow Israelis
to
keep some of the large West Bank settlements contiguous to Jerusalem
and
would offer, at most, a very limited right of return for the
Palestinians
whose families fled at the dawn of a Jewish state. But by accepting
Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon's terms absent any negotiation between the
parties,
Mr. Bush is essentially supporting Israel's right to impose a
settlement of
its choice on the Palestinians.
Mr. Bush's drastic and unfortunate policy reversal was announced as a
beaming Mr. Sharon stood next to him in the White House. Mr. Sharon was
eager to secure American backing on these issues in exchange for his
plan
to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, a decision that has proved to be quite
divisive within his Likud Party. Mr. Bush, the affable host, obliged,
just
as two days earlier he had seemed to oblige a different guest,
President
Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, at his Texas ranch. Then, as this page
approvingly
noted, Mr. Bush indicated that he was not prepared to approve Mr.
Sharon's
plans to declare unilaterally that Israel would keep its West Bank
settlements on the Israeli side of the recently constructed security
barrier.
Until now, the United States has insisted that boundary questions -
which
are central to any eventual two-state deal - had to be negotiated as a
last
step.
Mr. Bush's desire to give Mr. Sharon a prize for pledging to withdraw
from
Gaza will compromise any subsequent attempts by Washington to broker a
lasting settlement, to put it mildly. Palestinians and moderate Arab
nations - as well as the European allies, for that matter - are furious
that Mr. Bush acceded to Mr. Sharon's demands.
ALSO SEE:
SHARON COUP: U.S. GO-AHEAD
James Bennet, New York Times, 4/15/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/15/international/middleeast/15MIDE.html?hp
JERUSALEM -- By throwing his support on Wednesday behind an Israeli
plan to
withdraw from the Gaza Strip, President Bush provided diplomatic
assurances
that represented a victory for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Mr. Sharon wanted three commitments: backing for the Gaza withdrawal,
American recognition that Israel would hold on to parts of the West
Bank,
and an American rejection of the right of millions of Palestinian
refugees
from the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 and their descendants to return to
their
lands in what is now Israel. He got them all by promising to trade
something Israelis overwhelmingly do not want any more: the Gaza
settlements and a handful of settlements in the West Bank. And he got
them
without having to negotiate with the Palestinians.
Palestinian officials knew that Israel strongly opposed yielding the
whole
West Bank or accepting the ''right of return,'' and they had explored
compromises in the past. But they relied on both demands as formidable
negotiating levers. Mr. Bush has now moved to pluck both from their
hands.
''Imagine if Palestinians said, 'O.K., we give California to Canada,'
''
said Michael Tarazi, a legal adviser for the Palestine Liberation
Organization. ''Americans should stop wondering why they have so little
credibility in the Middle East.''
For the first time in American diplomacy in the Middle East, Mr. Bush
announced that major Jewish settlements on the West Bank had achieved
the
status they aimed for: rooted ''facts on the ground,'' or, as Mr. Bush
called them, ''already existing major Israeli population centers.'' The
innovative, though risky, element in Mr. Sharon's strategy was to trade
his
concessions in Gaza and the West Bank not to the Palestinians as part
of a
negotiated agreement but to the Americans, over outraged Palestinian
opposition.
-----
US 'EMULATES' ISRAELI TACTICS
Jonathan Marcus, BBC, 4/15/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3625315.stm
US soldiers in Iraq have been faced with revolts on more than one front
With sporadic fighting in Falluja and US forces moving into position
outside Najaf, the Arab press is pointing to similarities between US
military operations in Iraq and the tactics Israeli forces employ in
the
West Bank and Gaza. Such similarities are not coincidental.
The Israeli army has long experience of offensive operations in urban
areas
and it is experience that the Pentagon has been eager to draw upon.
Israel and the US have developed a close military relationship over the
years.
Israel's armed forces are undergoing a process of transformation
similar to
that advocated by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with the
emphasis on
lighter, more agile units employing devastating firepower and drawing
on a
variety of new information and intelligence gathering systems.
Go to any US military exercise and Israeli observers are much in
evidence.
But the transfer of doctrine and tactics is not just a one-way street.
US commanders have drawn extensively on Israel's experiences in the
West
Bank and Gaza Strip for lessons that might be applicable to Iraq...
ALSO SEE:
SIEGE OF FALLUJAH POLARIZING IRAQIS
Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor, 4/15/04
http://csmonitor.com/2004/0415/p01s02-woiq.html
BAGHDAD - Few were happier than Ayatollah Imad al-Deen Awadi when
Saddam
Hussein was deposed. "This was a man so bad that people said they'd
rather
be ruled by Satan - the king of hell himself,'' says the cleric, who
spent
10 years in Mr. Hussein's prisons.
But now Ayatollah Awadi worries that vicious fighting between US
Marines
and local insurgents in the Sunni triangle city of Fallujah is likely
to
spread across the country.
"This is no longer about Fallujah," he says. "If they aren't ready for
peace, it will spread and be just as hot in Ramadi, Abu Ghraib, the
southern provinces, the whole country, really."
"Fallujah has created a major polarization of Iraqi public opinion.
There
is no middle ground any more,'' says an adviser to the CPA. "Two weeks
ago
Iraqis wanted to see us make promises and deliver on them - rebuild,
improve - but then they saw pictures of US bombs falling on a mosque in
Fallujah. Now they want us out..."
-----
CANADA ACCUSED OF SENDING SUSPECTS TO TORTURE
Toronto Star, 4/14/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1081980906508&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968705899037
OTTAWA - Canada is on a list of countries believed to deport terror
suspects to states that torture prisoners, violating international law.
A study by the worldwide advocacy group Human Rights Watch specifically
cites the case of Canadian Maher Arar, who was tortured in Syria before
being released without charge.
Although Arar was deported to Syria by the United States, it is alleged
the
Americans were acting on information received from Canadian security
and
intelligence agencies and perhaps with their approval.
It concludes that diplomatic assurances - where one country promises
another that it won't use torture on an extradited suspect - have no
value.
"The Arar case reinforces Human Rights Watch's concern that diplomatic
assurances may be used to return persons suspected of having
information
about terrorism-related activities to countries where torture is
routinely
used, specifically to extract such information," says the report.
And that violates international law, the group concludes in a 39-page
report titled Empty Promises: Diplomatic Assurances No Safeguard
against
Torture.
Riad Saloojee agrees.
Canada and other countries are increasingly using diplomatic assurances
as
a means to end-run the rule of law and basic human rights, said
Saloojee,
executive director of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"I don't think these diplomatic assurances mean much at all. I think
it's
frightening because in some of these cases, people are being sent
specifically to be tortured," said Saloojee, who is involved in the
Arar case.
"If people are suspected of terrorist activities, they should be
prosecuted
to the full extent of the law - but the key word is, the law," he said
in
Ottawa.
"We can effectively prosecute terrorists using due process and the rule
of
law. We don't have to resort to illegal treatment or presuming people
are
guilty and we certainly don't have to resort to torture..."
-----
INTEREST IN SUFI MYSTICISM RISING IN WEST
Pythia Peay, Religion News Service, 4/15/04
http://beliefnet.com/story/144/story_14437_1.html
High on a mountain above the ancient city of Damascus, Syria, a Sufi
mystic
with silver hair and cream-colored robes peered deep into the heart of
scholar Yvonne Seng -- and reawakened in her a vision she had once had
of
Jesus.
The year was 1998, and Seng, a cultural historian in Middle East
studies
from Washington, D.C., was on a pilgrimage to interview spiritual
leaders
of Egypt and Syria.
As she recounts the story in her recent book, "Men in Black Dresses: A
Quest for the Future Among Wisdom Makers of the Middle East" (Simon &
Schuster), Seng had arranged to meet with the noted Syrian Sufi poet
and
teacher Assad Ali.
Seated in his home with hand-calligraphed verses of the Quran dotting
the
desert-colored walls, Seng writes that she waited along with several
guests
and an interpreter for Ali to return from the desert, where he had been
in
seclusion.
When finally the Sufi master entered the room, said Seng during an
interview, his presence felt "like an electrical current. I'm not
joking --
the room filled with light. He was emanating energy and looked
transparent.
But he also had a sense of humor and a sparkle in his eyes -- which I
found
in all the Sufis I met."
After exchanging greetings, Assad Ali paged through Seng's academic
resume,
politely acknowledging her impressive credentials. But, he asked
through
his interpreter, "Where on this paper is there room for your heart--and
your family?"
Indeed, Seng said, few of the Sufis she met on her travels were
interested
in her accomplishments or her appearance. "Every single one of them
went
straight for my heart," she said. "It was unnerving, because in the
West we
define ourselves by our jobs and who we know..."
-----
MUSLIM ARTIST/ARCHITECT GALLERY SHOW
http://www.adnaanahmad.com/temp/artgallery/artgallery.html
WHAT: There will be a Muslim Artist and Architect Panel at 1:30pm (not
at
11:00am as some flyers may read) featuring Artist and Professionals
from
different backgrounds.
WHEN: Sunday, April.18th . 1:00pm - 9:00pm
WHERE: Grand Ballroom, College Park, Maryland
If you are interested in submitting work or have questions, please
contact
Br. Adnaan at aahmad3@umbc.edu
-----
MUSLIM FAMILY VALUES DAY IN NEVADA
SPARKS, Nev. -- The Northern Nevada Muslim Community (NNMC) announces
that
April 30, 2004 is "Muslim Family Values Day" in the State of Nevada.
Governor Kenny Guinn issued the official proclamation after the
successful
March 20-22 Northern Nevada Islamic Conference hosted by the NNMC and
the
University of Nevada Reno Muslim Students Association (UNR-MSA).
"This really is a great honor," said NNMC President Mahmoud Hendi. "We
are
grateful to Governor Guinn and his team for promoting an environment of
mutual support and cooperation."
The NNMC is coordinating with Las Vegas Muslim communities in achieving
statewide participation and national recognition honoring Islamic
family
life...
The NNMC Community Center is located in Sparks, Nevada and serves
nearly
2,000 Muslim in Northern Nevada. Las Vegas is home to over 15,000
Muslims
and is served by numerous mosques, Muslim community centers and an
Islamic
Academy grade school.
To learn about Muslim Family Values and to download the proclamation
visit
the NNMC website at www.nnvmuslims.org. Also visit Governor Guinn's
proclamation page at http://gov.state.nv.us/proclamations.htm.
NNMC Contact: Mahmoud Hendi at 775.742.7282 or president@nnvmuslims.org
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR: Celebrating 10 years of community service
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/16/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SHARE WITH OTHERS
* REASON #4 TO JOIN CAIR: MEMBERS = EFFECTIVENESS
* CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
- CAIR-DC Employment Discrimination Workshop
* SURVEILLANCE WARRANTS UP 85 PERCENT (AP)
- NY: Chaplain Yee's Parents to Hold News Conference
* OH: DETAINEE, CHILDREN STILL APART (Beacon Journal)
* AZ POLICE REACHING OUT TO MUSLIMS (Ariz Republic)
- TX: Interfaith Panel Discuss Jesus (NT Daily)
* KS: 'DOME-RAISING' EVENT SET FOR NEW MOSQUE (Eagle Star)
* NY: ARAB-AMERICANS FILE DISCRIMINATION SUIT (Saudi Gazette)
* BOOK ALLEGES SECRET IRAQ WAR PLAN (AP)
- Mr. Sharon's Coup (Wash. Post)
- Turning Into Israel? (Salon.com)
- US Holding 200 Iraqi Troops Who Mutinied (Reuters)
* CAIR-CAN: RIGHTS REPORT BLASTS CANADA (Ottawa Sun)
- Arar Case Puts Canada on Rights Group's List (CP)
* CAN: RELIGIOUS LEADERS UNIFIED AGAINST HATE (Toronto Star)
* FRANCE: GREEN BAND IN LINE WITH VEIL BAN (ANSA)
- Bandannas May Be Spared In Ban on Hijabs (AP)
* FRENCH MOSQUE VANDALIZED WITH SWASTIKAS (Reuters)
- Disputed Athens Mosque Given Go Ahead (Telegraph)
- UK Muslims Calls for Education After Attacks
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SHARE WITH OTHERS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He whose property
exceed
his needs, let him support the one whose property does not (meet his
needs), and he whose food exceeds his needs, let him share it with
those
who do not have food."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 3:93C
-----
CAIR SEEKS 25,000 NEW MEMBERS
REASON #4 TO JOIN CAIR: MEMBERS = EFFECTIVENESS
Members give strength and support to their organizations. Our ability
to
empower Muslims, defend civil liberties and promote an accurate image
of
Islam is determined by our membership base.
In our new membership drive, "Building a Better America...One Member at
a
Time," CAIR intends (God Willing) to sign up 25,000 new members by its
10th
year anniversary celebration scheduled for June 12, 2004.
TO JOIN, GO TO: http://www.cair-net.org/asp/membercamp.asp
If you have any problems signing up as a CAIR member through the web
site,
please call 202-488-8787 and ask for "membership," or e-mail:
iabusway@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR JOB OPENINGS: WEBMASTER
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced web designer
responsible
for developing and updating CAIR website. The applicant should have: a
bachelors degree or a minimum of 5 years web development experience,
including advanced experience in ASP (VB script), HTML, Java Script,
SQL,
MS Access and Photoshop; experience in programming web databases is a
must
with verifiable knowledge in database driven content management; have
an
eye for developing a clean user interface with experience in graphics
design using Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash; familiarity with
streaming audio and video using Windows Media Player and Real Player;
good
working knowledge of how to integrate office components to create
charts,
graphs, and reports using Excel, Word, and Power Point; ability to work
independently and formulate an exhaustive and extensive plan to keep
the
website current and maintaining content that is fresh.
Applicant MUST also have an understanding of online security, including
credit card processing and online shopping cart, and must be able to
juggle
multiple tasks and be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Internet
applications
as they apply to civil rights/activism driven organization, effective
writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills is also needed. This
position requires travel and weekend work.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience CAIR offers an
excellent health and dental benefit for its full time employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply before April 20, 2004 in
confidence
via email to: hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202.488.0833 or mail to
address
above. When applying via email please ensure to write the position
title
"Webmaster" in the subject of the email.
ALSO SEE:
CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
CAIR has an immediate opening for an experienced, dynamic person to
take
the position of Civil Rights Attorney. The position involves handling
of
civil rights cases and communication between the entities involved in
the
civil rights disputes. Candidate should have working knowledge of
alternate
dispute resolution (mediation/arbitration), law degree from ABA
accredited
law school required, and 1-2 years experience in the area of civil
rights
and/or in employment/labor law. Applicants should also be licensed to
practice law in District of Columbia, Virginia or Maryland. She or he
must
possess excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills and be able
to
work well with others. Traveling will also be required.
Salary Range: Based on education, skills and experience, CAIR offers an
excellent retirement, health and dental benefit packages for its full
time
employees.
All those interested and eligible to work in US (Citizens or proper
work
visa holders) are encouraged to apply in confidence via email to:
hr@cair-net.org, or by fax 202-488-0833. When applying via email please
ensure to write the position title "Civil Rights Attorney" in the
subject
of the email.
---
CAIR HOSTS WORKSHOP ON EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
WHAT: The Council on American-Islamic Relations will host a workshop
for
community leaders and activists interested in learning about the steps
to
address employment discrimination.
The workshop, conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity officials
(EEOC), will educate participants about what constitutes employment
discrimination and explain their rights in the workforce. Officials
will
also offer insight into EEOC polices and procedures as well as offer
common
remedies for settling complaints.
It is a must for activists or leaders who want to educate others within
their respective communities about their rights in the workplace.
WHEN: SATURDAY, April 17 from 1-3 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR National's office, 453 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington
D.C. 20003
Registration is free but seating is limited.
To register or obtain more information, call Isra'a Rahman at
202-488-8787
or email at irahman@cair-net.org
-----
TERROR SURVEILLANCE WARRANTS UP 85 PCT.
Curt Anderson, Associated Press, 4/16/04
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3982749,00.html
WASHINGTON - The number of secret surveillance warrants sought by the
FBI
has increased 85 percent in the past three years, a pace that has
outstripped the Justice Department's ability to quickly process them.
Even after warrants are approved, the FBI often does not have enough
agents
or other personnel with the expertise to conduct the surveillance. The
FBI
still is trying to build a cadre of translators who can understand
conversations that are intercepted in such languages as Arabic, Pashto
and
Farsi.
These findings are among those of investigators for the commission
investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, which has harshly criticized the
intelligence-gathering efforts of the CIA and FBI.
FBI and Justice Department officials said Thursday they are working to
address all three issues, which limit the government's ability to
gather
the kind of intelligence needed to head off another catastrophic
terrorist
attack.
The warrants, authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,
allow for wiretaps, video surveillance, property searches and other
spying
on people believed to be terrorists or spies. After the 2001 Patriot
Act
and a key 2002 court decision crumbled the legal wall separating the
FBI's
criminal and intelligence investigations, use of FISA warrants has
soared
as sharing of information has become easier.
Since 2001, the number of warrants has risen from 934 to more than
1,700 in
2003, according to the FBI. The FBI adopted streamlined procedures to
move
the warrant requests quickly from the field offices to headquarters
after
Sept. 11...
SEE ALSO:
JUSTICE FOR JAMES YEE AD HOC COMMITTEE
MUSLIM CHAPLAIN'S PARENTS TO HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE
CONTACTS: Firdos Abdul-Munim 212-870-2002; 347-277-4061
WHO: The Justice For James Yee Ad Hoc Committee East Coast will hold
a
press conference on the decision of the appeal filed by Chaplain James
Yee.
The parents of James Yee, Joseph and Fong Yee, will speak on this
decision
on April 14, 2004.
WHERE: Silk Road Mocha Café, 30 Mott St. (off Bowery), Manhattan, NYC
WHEN: Saturday, April 17, 2004, 11 a.m.
WHAT: On April 14, Chaplain James Yee's convictions of the noncriminal
charges brought against him were dismissed. Yee was arrested on
suspicion
of espionage in September 2003 and was held in solitary confinement for
76
days. The Army later dismissed all criminal charges.
The family and the Ad Hoc Committee demands an investigation and an
apology.
-----
DETAINEE, CHILDREN STILL APART
Stephen Dyer, Beacon Journal, 4/16/04
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/8445103.htm
SHALERSVILLE TWP. - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security refused to
allow a former Kent man of Yemeni descent -- who has been held by the
government without charge for 19 months -- to attend a Portage County
hearing Thursday where his three American-born children could have been
taken from him.
But the hearing was canceled anyway after a return receipt proving the
man
had been properly notified of the hearing didn't make it back to
Portage
County Juvenile Court.
While Homeland Security officials say they turned down the man's
request to
appear at the hearing because they didn't have time to evaluate it, the
agency's decision drew not-so-veiled criticism Thursday from a Portage
County magistrate.
Ashraf Al-Jailani, 39, has been held in the York County, Pa., Jail
without
being charged or allowed to post a bond since FBI agents alleged he has
ties to terrorists and planned to blow up GOJO Industries' Cuyahoga
Falls
plant, where he worked.
Federal Immigration Judge Walter Durling has called the FBI's case
``transparent'' and utterly unconvincing. Durling has ordered on three
occasions that Al-Jailani be released on a $1,500 bond, but the federal
government has blocked his release, appealing each decision.
Al-Jailani wants to return to Portage County because county authorities
want to make his three children, ages 3, 5, and 7, wards of the state
after
his wife -- Michele Swensen -- was hospitalized for depression last
month.
The hearing is expected to be rescheduled within two weeks...
-----
POLICE REACHING OUT TO MUSLIMS
Peter Ortiz, Arizona Republic, 4/15/04
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ahwatukee/articles/0415muslimpolicetrainingZ14.html
Tempe police have inched closer to fortifying their trust with a
community
still suspicious of law enforcement after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks.
Sgt. Jon Waide joined more than 20 other civilian and sworn supervisors
April 1 and listened as Aneesah Nadir told them how police could work
better with local Muslims. The meeting marked the third one for Tempe
police and the Arizona State University West professor since she
started a
Sept. 11 Anti-Bias Project Valley-wide.
"When things heat up in the Middle East we usually get together with
the
Jewish community to see if they have any concerns," Waide said. "I
think it
would be a good idea to do that with the Muslim community as well."
Nadir, president of the Islamic Social Services Association, has been
meeting with Valley law enforcement agencies, media, social service
agencies and health organizations to dispel myths about Muslims.
Even though Nadir praised Tempe police for their work with the Muslim
community, she said other factors still make many of the Valley's
50,000
Muslims hesitate to fully trust law enforcement.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, many Muslims feared they were being
profiled,
monitored and investigated. And for Muslims like Nadir, who is
African-American, there is also the concern of racial profiling...
For more information on the ISSA Anti-Bias Project call 1-888-415-9920.
ALSO SEE:
INTERFAITH PANEL ASKS 'WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?'
Natosha Griffin, North Texas Daily, 4/15/04
http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/15/407e1efda9664
About 150 people gathered Wednesday evening in the Lyceum as
representatives from the three Abrahamic faiths -- Islam, Judaism and
Christianity -- gave their answers to the question "Who was Jesus?"
Sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, Eagle's Nest and the
International Studies Program, the evening focused around three main
categories of questions: the history, resurrection and second coming of
Jesus.
For Rabeya Bashri, Denton senior and Muslim Student Association
officer, it
was a chance to "get together to solve problems, understand each other
and
make it a better community." He said, to do this, "You have to know
each
other's background."
The first to speak was Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis, an NT professor and
rabbi
for Congregation Kol Ami in Flower Mound. Speaking on behalf of the
Jewish
religion, he acknowledged the significance of Jesus as a "historical
figure." Dennis included Jesus in categories of heroes such as "Albert
Einstein or Sigmund Freud," men who lived and made an impact. Dennis
spoke
confidently for the Jewish faith by later saying, "If you had to pull
out
the deck of cards, Judaism would trump [other religions]."
Speaking for the Christian religion was Charles Stolfis of Denton Bible
Church. He opened by emphasizing Jesus's place in history by naming
important figures who have acknowledged him over the years. However,
Stolfis emphasized that the general belief in Jesus begins to take
shape in
a different way for each religion. "The rub comes with the significance
of
Jesus," he said.
That Jesus existed as a historical figure was never refuted by any of
the
speakers, but much of the discussion grew from the controversy of the
details of his birth, prophecies made regarding his life and how he
died...
-----
'DOME-RAISING' EVENT SET FOR NEW MOSQUE
Abe Levy, Wichita Eagle Star, 4/16/04
http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/news/local/8435026.htm
The Islamic Society of Wichita plans to hold a "raising the dome"
ceremony
at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Muslim Community Center, 6655 E. 34th St.
North.
The event is designed to watch the placement of a 26-foot-wide dome on
a
new mosque. The mosque will cost about $1.5 million.
If weather permits, the mosque will be ready for use by the start of
the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan in mid-October, leaders said, and will be
completed sometime next year.
At 7 p.m. that day, the Islamic society will offer a panel called "Why
I
Accepted Islam," led by people who became Muslim after Sept. 11, 2001.
The day's events are open to the public. For more information, call the
Islamic Society at 682-5479.
-----
4 ARAB-AMERICANS FILE DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT
Karen Bradway, The Saudi Gazette, 4/16/04
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/sgazette/Data/2004/4/16/Art_95307.XML
A FEDERAL agency in the United States has filed a complaint on behalf
of
four Arab-Americans who contend they were fired as employees of a fast
food
restaurant franchise in New York because they are Arab.
The complaint was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) on March 29, 2004, on behalf of Daniel Fakhoury, his daughter
Laila
Fakhoury, his nephew Murad Qaqish -- all naturalized immigrants from
Jordan
-- and Farida Khan, an immigrant from Pakistan.
Fakhoury, 50, with a wife and five children, managed five fast food
restaurants owned by Daniel Sutz, for whom he had worked for 13 years.
On
Oct. 22, 2002, Fakhoury contends that Sutz abruptly fired him and the
three
others at the Fishkill, New York, franchise after yelling, You re
cheating
me, you re stealing from me, you re all (expletive) Arabs! Get out of
here!
The EEOC says there is no evidence that any theft occurred.
Fakhoury s lawyer, Julie Gaughran, says that while any discrimination
case
that goes to US district Court must be filed with the EEOC, it is
unusual
for the EEOC to file a complaint…
The EEOC claims that Quick Quality Restaurant, Inc. and Candu
Management,
Inc. the two companies through which Daniel Sutz and co-owner Peggy
Canniff
operate their 25 fast food eateries in the New York area fired the
employees on the basis of their national origin, in violation of the
Civil
Rights Act of 1964...
-----
BOOK ALLEGES SECRET IRAQ WAR PLAN
Calvin Woodward and Siobhan McDonough, Associated Press, 4/15/04
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/nation/8446501.htm
WASHINGTON - President Bush secretly ordered a war plan drawn up
against
Iraq less than two months after U.S. forces attacked Afghanistan and
was so
worried the decision would cause a furor he did not tell everyone on
his
national security team, says a new book on his Iraq policy.
Bush feared that if news got out about the Iraq plan as U.S. forces
were
fighting another conflict, people would think he was too eager for war,
journalist Bob Woodward writes in ``Plan of Attack,'' a
behind-the-scenes
account of the 16 months leading to the Iraq invasion.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the book, which will be
available
in book stores next week.
``I knew what would happen if people thought we were developing a
potential
war plan for Iraq,'' Bush is quoted as telling Woodward. ``It was such
a
high-stakes moment and ... it would look like that I was anxious to go
to
war. And I'm not anxious to go to war.''
Bush and his aides have denied accusations they were preoccupied with
Iraq
at the cost of paying attention to the al-Qaida terrorist threat before
the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A commission investigating the attacks just
concluded several weeks of extraordinary public testimony from
high-ranking
government officials. One of them, former counterterrorism chief
Richard
Clarke, charged the Bush administration's determination to invade Iraq
undermined the war on terror...
SEE ALSO:
MR. SHARON'S COUP
Washington Post, 4/16/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16268-2004Apr15.html
ARIEL SHARON left Washington yesterday with a landmark achievement in
hand:
For the first time, an American president has put the United States on
record as supporting Israel's eventual annexation of parts of the West
Bank
and as rejecting the return to its territory of Palestinian refugees.
Whatever happens in the coming months -- Mr. Sharon's political future
is
uncertain, as is President Bush's -- those written commitments will
reshape
the diplomacy surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role
of
the United States in any future peace settlement.
What did Mr. Bush receive in exchange for these historic pledges and
for
his willingness to absorb the inevitable backlash from an Arab Middle
East
already roiled by the U.S. mission in Iraq? Mr. Sharon made a series of
promises, some of which he has made before and not fulfilled, and
others
that he may not be able to implement. If the Israeli leader lives up to
his
promises, including the withdrawal of settlements from the Gaza Strip,
administration officials believe the United States will be able to
capitalize on them to move toward the goal of a peace settlement
between
side-by-side Israeli and Palestinian states. They may be right -- but
making this bold gamble pay off will require a more determined U.S.
diplomacy than the Bush administration has displayed thus far.
The Gaza withdrawal must still be approved by a referendum in the
ruling
Likud Party and a vote by parliament; if it goes forward, it will not
begin
until next year nor be completed until the summer of 2005. Mr. Sharon,
76,
meanwhile faces the threat of a possible indictment on criminal charges
that could force him from office as soon as next month; if he goes, his
successor may not support the planned withdrawal...
---
TURNING INTO ISRAEL?
Outraged by President Bush's embrace of Ariel Sharon and the bloody
U.S.
assault on Fallujah, the Arab world is linking America's occupation
with
Israel's. That's ominous.
By Juan Cole, Salon.com, 4/16/04
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/04/16/israel/index_np.html
April 16, 2004 | One year after Baghdad fell to victorious U.S. troops,
the
Americans had to conquer the country all over again. The great
rebellion of
April 2004 expelled the U.S. from much of the capital, humiliated
coalition
allies, cut supply and communications lines to the south, and revealed
a
reservoir of popular hatred for the U.S. among both some Sunni Arabs in
Fallujah and some Shiites in the cities. But perhaps the most ominous
development for the U.S. was that the events tied together two
occupations
and two intifadas, or popular uprisings -- Iraq and Palestine.
In his press conference of April 13, President Bush gave several
reasons
for cracking down on Iraqi insurgents. He said their motivation was the
same as those who set off bombs in Jerusalem; he tied them to the
murder of
Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, executed by al-Qaida in part
for
being Jewish. He also cited Shiite radical Muqtada al-Sadr's support
for
the Palestinian Hamas organization and the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah
party.
He gave as one reason for having gone to war against Saddam Hussein the
former dictator's support for Palestinian terrorists. In this speech,
he
presented the Iraq war and its violent aftermath as an extension of the
Israeli struggle to subjugate the Palestinians and Hezbollah.
Before the war, Bush connected nonexistent dots between Saddam Hussein
and
al-Qaida. Now he and his neoconservative brain trust are mapping the
Iraq
conflict onto the Likud Party agenda in Palestine. This time, however,
it's
a self-fulfilling prophecy -- and one that will have devastating
repercussions for U.S. interests in both Iraq and the entire Arab
world…
The upshot: In many minds, there are now two major occupations of Arab
land
by outside powers, the West Bank and Iraq. This perception is a very
dangerous development for Americans seeking legitimacy in Iraq and the
Muslim world…
-----
US HOLDING 200 IRAQI TROOPS WHO MUTINIED -COMRADES
Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Reuters, 4/16/04
BAGHDAD, April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. forces have detained around 200
Iraqi
paramilitary soldiers who refused to take part in a U.S. offensive
against
the Sunni Muslim city of Falluja, their former comrades said on Friday.
The U.S. military declined to confirm whether the men were being held.
Senior officers play down the significance of such incidents but, asked
about reports of mutiny among Iraqi troops, have acknowledged a
"command
failure" took place during the Falluja offensive.
Soldiers from the Baghdad-based 36th Security Brigade, part of the
Iraqi
Civil Defence Corps (ICDC), told Reuters that last week U.S. commanders
took them at night to Falluja, west of the capital, where U.S. forces
were
massing to crush a growing insurgency.
"They told us to attack the city and we were astonished. How could an
Iraqi
fight an Iraqi like this? This meant that nothing had changed from the
Saddam Hussein days. We refused en masse," said Ali al-Shamari…
-----
RIGHTS REPORT BLASTS CANADA
Ottawa Sun, 4/15/04
http://www.canoe.com
Canada is on a list of countries believed to deport terror suspects to
states that torture prisoners, violating international law.
A study by Human Rights Watch cites the case of Canadian Maher Arar,
who
was tortured in Syria before being released without charge.
Although Arar was deported by the U.S., it is alleged the Americans
were
acting on Canadian information.
It concludes that diplomatic assurances -- where one country promises
another it won't use torture on an extradited suspect -- have no value.
LEGAL VIOLATION
"The Arar case reinforces Human Rights Watch's concern that diplomatic
assurances may be used to return persons suspected of having
information
about terrorism-related activities to countries where torture is
routinely
used, specifically to extract such information," reads the report.
And that violates international law, the group concludes in a 39-page
report titled Empty Promises: Diplomatic Assurances No Safeguard
against
Torture.
Canada and other countries are increasingly using diplomatic assurances
as
a means to end-run the rule of law and basic human rights, said Riad
Saloojee, executive director of the Canadian Council on
American-Islamic
Relations.
"I don't think these diplomatic assurances mean much at all."
ALSO SEE:
ARAR CASE PUTS CANADA ON RIGHTS GROUP'S LIST
Canadian Press, 4/15/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1081980906782&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467
Canada is on a list of countries believed to deport terror suspects to
states that torture prisoners, violating international law.
A study by the worldwide advocacy group Human Rights Watch specifically
cites the case of Canadian Maher Arar, who was tortured in Syria before
being released without charge.
Although Arar was deported to Syria by the United States, it is alleged
the
Americans were acting on information received from Canadian security
and
intelligence agencies and perhaps with their approval.
It concludes that diplomatic assurances - where one country promises
another that it will not use torture on an extradited suspect - have no
value: "The Arar case reinforces Human Rights Watch's concern that
diplomatic assurances may be used to return persons suspected of having
information about terrorism-related activities to countries where
torture
is routinely used ... to extract such information."
That violates international law, the group concludes in a 39-page
report
titled, Empty Promises: Diplomatic Assurances No Safeguard against
Torture.
Reached in Ottawa, Riad Saloojee, executive director of the Canadian
Council on American-Islamic Relations, said, "I don't think these
diplomatic assurances mean much ... We don't have to resort to illegal
treatment or presuming people are guilty and we certainly don't have to
resort to torture..."
------
CAN: THORNHILL RELIGIOUS LEADERS PLEDGE UNITY AGAINST HATE
Nicholas Keung, Toronto Star, 4/16/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1082067019777&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
A shared driveway between a mosque and a synagogue in Thornhill is a
symbol
of the solidarity among religious groups in Toronto, faith leaders
heard
yesterday.
"This driveway is really a metaphor and message of a shared commitment
by
both the Muslims and Jews, and a shared commitment by all the religious
faiths represented today," Irwin Cotler, federal justice minister and
attorney-general, said yesterday after a meeting with religious
leaders.
The connection between Thornhill's Temple Har Zion and Ja'ffari Islamic
Centre, which have been neighbours for more than three decades, also
symbolizes the community's determination to combat recent hate crimes,
Cotler said.
"There is a concrete expression of our shared citizenship, of our
shared
responsibility to one another. ... Here's the action by the two temples
sharing a driveway, more importantly, sharing a vision and sharing a
commitment and acting upon it (combating racism)."
The 40-minute meeting with leaders of eight religious groups (Muslim,
Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Catholic, Anglican and Zoroastrian)
representing 18 congregations comes after a string of recent hate
crimes in
Canada, including arson at Pickering's Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre and the
firebombing of a United Talmud Torahs school in Montreal.
Although the meeting did not result in a concrete action plan, Cotler,
a
graduate of the Montreal school, said the "unequivocal condemnation"
against hate crimes is significant.
"We will not be silenced. We will speak. We will act and there will be
no
refuge for hate, no sanctuary for bigotry in this country," he said to
media outside Temple Har Zion on Bayview Ave. near Steeles Ave.
As a symbolic gesture of support, officials with the temple and the
Ja'ffari Islamic Centre each contributed $500 to the Pickering mosque
and
Montreal school.
"This is our show of solidarity from all those who'd like to live in
peaceful co-existence," said Har Zion's president Ron Smith...
-----
ISLAM: GREEN BAND IN LINE WITH VEIL BAN
ANSA, 4/16/04
PARIS - It is acceptable for female Muslim students to wear a green
band on
their upper arm instead of the veil, as long as they do not display it
in
an ostentatious manner undermining school secularity, French Education
Minister Francois Fillon told radio Europe 1 on Friday.
"We need some flexibility but we should never forget the general
principle," Fillon said.
The statement came to calm discontent among French Muslims who oppose
the
controversial law banning all religious symbols from public schools,
saying
it discriminated Muslims in France and Islam in general.
The bill was passed in parliament in February and will enter into force
in
September 2004 at the beginning of the new school year.
Last week, the Union of French Islamic Organisations UOIF called on the
government to apply the new rules flexibly in order to avoid
inter-religious and social tension.
"The executive regulations are almost ready," Fillon said. "We are
giving
them the final touches and will be able to release them soon," he
added.
ALSO SEE:
EDUCATION MINISTER SAYS BANDANNAS MAY BE SPARED IN BAN ON ISLAMIC
HEADSCARVES
Associated Press, 4/16/04
PARIS - With France set to ban Muslim headscarves from public schools
this
fall, the government is not ruling out whether students can wear
bandannas
to class, the education minister said.
Francois Fillon's comments on French radio Friday amounted to the
latest
hairsplitting over a controversial law to forbid Muslim girls from
wearing
Islamic head coverings to school.
Some Muslim girls wear bandannas to cover their hair -- an alternative
to
the traditional head scarf that some girls feel is easier to blend in
to
the crowd. Most Islamic headscarves are silky and larger than cotton
print
bandannas.
"There were bandanas in school before the question of the headscarf
came
up," Fillon told Europe-1 radio. "It's necessary only that it not be
conspicuous, because that's what the law says."
In January, former Education Minister Luc Ferry said bandannas would
fall
under the ban -- part of France's efforts to maintain the tradition of
secularism in the classroom.
French leaders hope the law, signed last month by President Jacques
Chirac,
will quell debate over headscarves that has divided France since 1989,
when
two girls were expelled from their school in suburban Paris for wearing
the
head scarves. Since then, scores more have been expelled.
The ban in public schools has drawn outrage from Muslims in France and
abroad.
-----
FRENCH MOSQUE VANDALISED, DAUBED WITH SWASTIKAS
Reuters, 4/16/04
http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp;:407fbe00:61c2a843838a4f?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&storyID=4848343
STRASBOURG, France - Vandals have burned the entrance to a mosque in
eastern France and daubed swastikas on the walls, police said on
Friday.
A rubbish bin outside the mosque was set on fire in the early hours of
Thursday and the flames damaged the entrance to the building in the
town of
Haguenau, just north of Strasbourg.
Two swastikas and a Christian cross were also daubed on the mosque's
walls.
Police did not know who was responsible for the attack.
France is trying to ease tensions with its Muslim and Jewish
communities,
the largest minorities of their kind in Europe. The country is home to
five
million Muslims and 600,000 Jews.
Last month, separate attacks badly damaged a mosque and a Muslim prayer
centre in the southeastern town of Annecy...
SEE ALSO:
DISPUTED ATHENS MOSQUE GIVEN GO AHEAD
Harry de Quetteville, Telegraph, 4/16/04
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/04/16/wathens16.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/04/16/ixworld.html
GREECE'S new government has approved plans for Athens's first mosque
since
the fall of Ottoman rule almost two centuries ago. A plan for an
Islamic
centre just north of the city has long been dogged by controversy, as
local
people and representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church campaigned
fiercely
against it. Despite that resistance, officials of the conservative
government voted into power last month have confirmed that they have
given
the green light for the mosque, which is to be financed by King Fahd of
Saudi Arabia. At present Athens is the only capital in the European
Union
without a mosque although there are estimated to be tens of thousands
of
Muslim immigrants in the city.
Greece is 97 per cent Orthodox Christian and suspicion still lingers
between the Christian and Muslim communities. In 2002, the mayor of the
Athens suburb where the mosque is to be built was elected because of
his
pledge to bar it from the town. "We are still strongly opposed to
having a
mosque here," said Paraskevas Papkostopoulos, mayor of Peania, about
ten
miles north of Athens.
---
UK MOSQUE MEMBER CALLS FOR EDUCATING COMMUNITY ON ISLAMIC FAITH AFTER
ATTACKS
Grimbsy Evening Telegraph, 4/16/04
http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=59380&command=displayContent&sourceNode=58907&contentPK=9616948
A Grimsby mosque could be forced to move because of an increase in
racially
motivated attacks. Islamic leaders say some sections of the community
need
to be educated more about Islam. Grimsby Telegraph reporter Phillip
Norton
speaks to Walid Belkair, a committee member for the Islamic Association
of
South Humberside, about the problems followers' face.
Global terrorism has constantly been in the headlines since the
atrocities
of September 11, 2001. It is partly because of these headlines that
religious leaders believe there has been an increase in the number of
attacks on ethnic communities.
"We have noticed that there has been a lot of interest in our religion.
"People want to know more about Islam since September 11," said
25-year-old
Walid Belkair...
In recent months, the mosque in Stanley Street, Grimsby, has been
targeted
by vandals.
It was recently burgled while the Imam, the person who leads prayers in
the
mosque, slept in the building with his family.
Mr Belkair also said a Muslim woman was attacked and mugged outside the
mosque during Ramadan in October last year.
Now, as the number of incidents increase, Mr Belkair has agreed that
one
way of allaying misconceptions about the faith is to speak out on world
events...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS WILL SEE BUSH 'GREEN LIGHT' FOR ASSASSINATION
CAIR: American leaders must promote America's interests, not Israel's
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/17/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group said today's assassination of Palestinian political
leader
Abdel Aziz Rantisi will create the impression throughout the Muslim
world
that President Bush gave a "green light" for the killing.
Rantisi died following an Israeli missile strike on his car Saturday,
just
days after President Bush met with Ariel Sharon in the White House. At
that
meeting, President Bush overturned decades of American diplomacy to
side
with Israel on issues, such as the removal of settlements and the
Palestinian right of return, that had been viewed by past Republican
and
Democratic administrations as subject to bilateral negotiations.
In its statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) said:
"Once again we see Ariel Sharon thumbing his nose at America's image
and
interests. Sharon surely knew that this assassination, which has been
universally condemned by the international community, would create the
impression that President Bush gave him a 'green light' at their recent
meeting in Washington. The State Department's meek response to yet
another
act of state terrorism by Israel merely serves to confirm that
impression.
"Until our leaders act in America's interests, and not just those of a
foreign state or its domestic lobby, we will continue to be viewed
worldwide as a party to oppression, not as a force for freedom or
justice."
World leaders have been uniform in their condemnation of Rantisi's
assassination. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called it
"unlawful,
unjustified and counterproductive." European Union Foreign Policy Chief
Javier Solana said "actions of this type are not only unlawful, they
are
not conducive to lowering tension." A spokesman for U.N.
Secretary-General
Kofi Annan said: "(Annan) reiterates that extrajudicial killings are
violations of international law and calls on the government of Israel
to
immediately end this practice."
America's allies in the Muslim world are also expressing outrage at the
attack and linking it to Sharon's meeting with President Bush. Yemeni
Foreign Minister Abubakr Al-Qirbi said: "The United States bears the
responsibility for what happens, since after every visit by Sharon to
Washington he commits more terrorism and assassinations."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has consistently
condemned all terrorist acts, whether carried out by individuals,
groups or
states.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 4/18/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE GOLDEN RULE
* CAPT. YEE'S MUZZLE (Wash. Post)
- ID: Terrorist or Pillar of the Community? (AP)
* FL: JEWISH GROUP CANCELS ANTI-MUSLIM SPEAKER (NJ)
* CAIR-CAN: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOP
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIM GIRL DETAILS STUDENTS' ATTACK (PB Post)
- Girl Tells Media of School Attack (Sun Sentinel)
* CAIR-SA: OUR PEOPLE IN CROSS HAIRS OF HATE (SA Express)
* BUSH PUSHES RENEWAL OF PATRIOT ACT (Reuters)
- Detention Cases Test Presidential Power (NY Times)
* CA: MOSQUE REINFORCES ISLAMIC IDENTITY (Modesto Bee)
* IS THE HIJAB A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY? (Centre Daily)
* ISRAEL WOULD KEEP ITS ACCESS UNDER GAZA PLAN (Wash Post)
- Rights Groups Accuse Israel of Torture (JTA)
- Israelis Seek NZ Passports (New Zealand Herald)
* EXPERIENCING ISLAM IN IRAN (Democrat-Herald)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE GOLDEN RULE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If you are pleased with
what God has (given you), you will be the richest of men. If you are
kind
to your neighbor, you will be a believer. If you like others to have
what
you want for yourself, you will be a Muslim."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1334
-----
CAPT. YEE'S MUZZLE
Washington Post, 4/18/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20841-2004Apr17.html
THE ARMY HAS a message for Capt. James Joseph Yee: Keep your mouth
shut.
Mr. Yee, you'll recall, was the army's Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo
Bay,
Cuba, until he was arrested last year on suspicion of spying. Mr. Yee
was
held for more than two months while the military dragged his name
through
the mud, but he was never charged with more than mishandling of
classified
materials, and the Army finally dropped all charges against him -- save
administrative sanctions for adultery and downloading pornography from
the
Internet. On Wednesday, Mr. Yee won his bid to have the reprimand that
had
been issued to him removed from his record. Yet the Army has also gone
out
of its way to continue smearing him, writing letters to newspapers --
including this one -- that implied that Mr. Yee was, in fact,
dangerous,
and argued that it was "Yee, not the Army, who sullied his reputation
as a
Chaplain and a military officer." And behind the scenes, it turns out,
the
Army has done its best to make sure that Mr. Yee doesn't respond.
Earlier this month, when Mr. Yee returned to his permanent base at Fort
Lewis, Wash., he was handed a memo titled "Duties, Responsibilities,
and
Standards of Conduct." This document helpfully reminded him that "Like
any
soldier, you are permitted to exercise your First Amendment rights to
free
speech." But it then went on to explain: "Speech that undermines the
effectiveness of loyalty, discipline, or unit morale is not
constitutionally protected. Such speech includes, but is not limited
to,
disrespectful acts or language, however, expressed, toward military
authorities or other officials. Adverse criticism of [the Defense
Department] or Army policy that is disloyal or disruptive to good order
and
discipline is similarly limited." For good measure, the memo concludes
that
"compliance" with its terms "is an order."
It is true that active-duty military officers accept limits on their
free-speech rights. Military law forbids contemptuous words directed
against the president and other specified state and federal officers,
for
example, not to mention disrespect toward superior officers and conduct
that discredits the military. But the order to Mr. Yee appears broader
than
the restrictions actually in the Uniform Code of Military Conduct, and
the
Army did not respond to our inquiries as to its legal basis. How
exactly
could Mr. Yee talk in public about what must have been a nightmarish
few
months without risking undermining the loyalty of his listeners? Merely
to
describe a case that began with allegations of mutiny, sedition, and
espionage and ended with adultery is to criticize it, after all. The
military ought, at this stage, to be apologizing to Mr. Yee instead of
muzzling him with one hand while continuing to tar him with the other.
SEE ALSO:
BANKER FOR TERRORISTS OR PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY?
BOB FICK, Associated Press, 4/18/04
http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D821DQ6O0.html
Sami Omar Al-Hussayen watches his court proceedings intently each day,
conferring frequently with his four lawyers.
The bearded, bespectacled computer whiz makes a point to acknowledge
supporters who come to the courtroom on the sixth floor of the federal
building in Boise. He does the same with the children of his attorneys
when
they stop in.
A member of a prominent, well-to-do Saudi Arabian family, Al-Hussayen
faces
years in prison as the jury of eight women and four men sitting across
from
him in the courtroom each day listens to the testimony that prosecutors
say
will show he fostered terrorism.
"Even if the jury finds him not guilty," said Rand Lewis of the Martin
School of International Affairs at the University of Idaho, "the Feds
are
going to deport him. And so they have achieved their goal, which is to
show
that they've strenuously fought terrorism within the United States.
It's a
face-saving case..."
His lawyers and allies claim the government has it all wrong. The
34-year-old doctoral student is a leader of the Muslim community on the
University of Idaho campus, a devoted husband and father and an
opponent of
terrorism, they say. He may be deeply concerned about the oppression of
Muslims around the world, but only as any other deeply religious Muslim
man
would be…
"I think he's real confident in his innocence and glad to get the trial
going after 14 months," said defense attorney Scott McKay, as the first
week of the anticipated six-week trial drew to a close last Thursday.
Testimony resumes Monday…
Lead defense attorney David Nevin maintains the public face is all
Al-Hussayen has.
"He's not an angry fundamentalist bent on murder, maiming and
kidnapping,"
Nevin said. "He's respected in the community. He raised his kids as
Americans. His youngest son is a U.S. citizen by virtue of being born
here."
As president of the Muslim Student Association on the Moscow campus,
Al-Hussayen issued a public letter to the community in September 2001
condemning the terrorist attacks on the East Coast. He marched in a
peace
rally, donated blood and worked to educate locals about Islam…
"He's not a pacifist," Nevin admitted. "He thinks the Chechens and
Palestinians should continue to fight. But he did not want terrorism."
-----
FL: JEWISH GROUP CANCELS ANTI-MUSLIM SPEAKER'S VISIT
Donna Callea, News Journal, 4/17/04
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/03AreaEAST01041704.htm
DAYTONA BEACH -- The local Jewish federation has canceled a Holocaust
remembrance speech by an American-born Israeli who believes Islam ought
to
be abolished.
Inviting Avi Lipkin, who also writes under the name of Victor Mordecai,
to
speak at a community Holocaust Memorial Observance on April 25 was a
mistake, said Gloria Max, executive director of the Jewish Federation
of
Volusia & Flagler Counties. The federation sponsors the free event open
to
people of all faiths.
"I was totally unaware," Max said Friday, of some of Lipkin's views
when
she booked him as a speaker and sent out a press release about the
event.
News of Lipkin's planned appearance caused turmoil within the Jewish
community after people were made aware of some of the things he stands
for,
said Rabbi Gary Perras of Temple Israel.
"He was yanked for the simple reason we want good relationships (with
other
faiths) . . . We are not down on Islam," the rabbi said. "For the sake
of
peace in our community, he's not the appropriate speaker."
In a telephone interview from New York on Wednesday, after appearing on
Fox
News as an expert on Israel, Lipkin confirmed he calls for "world
mobilization to terminate Islam as a system" on his Internet site.
"Islam has to be banned in order for there to be peace on Earth," he
said,
although he was unable to explain how a religion of more than a billion
people worldwide could be banned, especially in the United States where
freedom of religion is sacrosanct...
-----
CAIR-CAN: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOP
WHAT: CAIR-CAN, together with other Muslim organizations and mosques,
is
hosting a lecture and workshop entitled "Fight Ignorance: Know your
Rights,
Engage the Media. CAIR-CAN Executive Director and lawyer Riad Saloojee
will
provide a comprehensive overview of essential rights and essential
media
skills.
Topics include: Religious accommodation at the workplace, racial
profiling,
and what to do if visited by the CSIS or the RCMP, and media activism.
WHEN: April 17th, 2004 at 3:00 pm with a Q&A period
WHERE: Bell Theatre, Minto Building, Carleton University
Seating is limited. Parking is free. Refreshments will be available.
-----
MUSLIM GIRL DETAILS STUDENTS' TAUNTS, ATTACK
Lona O'Connor, Palm Beach Post, 4/17/04
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/south_county_04087ac9145a12cf00de.html
DAVIE -- A 12-year-old Pakistani girl faced the news media on Friday
for
the first time, recounting an attack that has been described as a hate
crime against her.
She also cleared up several conflicting details that lingered since
Monday,
when an Islamic advocacy group publicized her story.
The sixth-grader said she was not called "Osama" during the attack, as
was
previously reported. However, she was taunted and called "Osama"
several
times before that, she said.
During the news conference, she wore a black hijab, a scarf that Muslim
women and girls wear to cover their hair in public. She described how a
group of boys approached her on April 5 after school as she was about
to
head home from Congress Middle School. They pulled the hijab off her
hair,
then struck her with a belt buckle in the lip. She said they told her
not
to tell anyone, then ran away.
Since transferring to Congress Middle in March, she said, she has been
the
target of a series of incidents that started with questions and
staring,
but soon escalated to insults and culminated in the belt attack.
Shortly after she began attending Congress, students crowded around her
and
on more than one occasion asked why she wore the hijab and where she
came
from, she said. When she told them she was from Pakistan, they said,
"Osama
country." The reference was to Osama bin Laden, leader of the terrorist
group Al-Qaeda, who was born in Saudi Arabia...
ALSO SEE:
GIRL TELLS MEDIA OF SCHOOL ATTACK
Marc Freeman, Sun-Sentinel, 4/17/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pmuslim17apr17,0,2489600.story
A 12-year-old Muslim girl spoke publicly Friday about being taunted
with
ethnic slurs and struck by a belt buckle by four boys at Congress
Middle
School in Boynton Beach.
The girl made the statement without being named at a news conference
called
by the Council on American-Islamic Relations to counter the Palm Beach
County School District's preliminary finding that the girl was the
target
of horseplay, not a hate crime. She was accompanied by her uncle and
the
Florida executive director of the council, an Islamic civil-liberties
group.
"They call me Osama bin Laden," the girl told reporters gathered at the
Davie headquarters of the council.
Leaders of the council, who said the boys also made derogatory remarks
about her Islamic headscarf, called on the school district to
investigate
the April 5 incident as a hate crime. That echoed a request initially
made
on Monday...
But Ahmed Bedier, the council's Florida communications director, said
from
his Tampa office, "It is possible that the authorities or the school
district misunderstood her during their questions or investigation.
"This tragic incident involving this little girl has the markings of a
hate
crime," Bedier said. "The girl and our organization stand by the
initial
reports and demand the authorities investigate this situation as a hate
crime..."
-----
CAIR-SA: OUR PEOPLE IN THE CROSS HAIRS OF HATE
Susan Ives, San Antonio Express-News, 4/17/2004
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/columnists/sives/stories/MYSA17.11B.ives0417.3792ad60.html
A man claiming to be a journalist called Sarwat Husain, she told me,
and
tried to give her a hard time about the string of recent arsons that
targeted Muslim-run convenience stores.
"I bet that the guy who did it is one of your people," he taunted.
"I just heard from the police and they have captured a suspect," she
replied. "You are right. He is one of our people."
She could hear his excited scribbling on the other end of the line.
"He is an American," she continued. "One of our people."
In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, hate crimes against American Muslims -
our
people - increased 17-fold. There were five murders in the waning
months of
2001, four of them convenience store owners.
One was nearby, in Dallas. According to the Southern Poverty Law
Center,
Waqar Hasan, 46, left his native Pakistan in 1989. His father and a
brother
had been kidnapped a few years before; earlier in the year he had been
held
at gunpoint.
Hasan, his wife and four daughters came to Texas for a safer life.
On the night of Sept. 15, 2001, someone walked into his small grocery
store
in a blue-collar neighborhood and shot him in the head.
The killer has never been caught, and you won't find this murder listed
in
the FBI's hate crime statistics. They can't prove that the killing was
motivated by hate.
But the Muslims in Texas know. And they are worried that as the war in
Iraq
intensifies, the hate is starting again...
----
BUSH PUSHES RENEWAL OF PATRIOT ACT
Reuters, 4/17/04
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=852598&tw=wn_wire_story
WASHINGTON - President Bush on Saturday urged the U.S. Congress to
renew
the Patriot Act, the post-Sept. 11, 2001 law that beefs up law
enforcement
powers, as he sought to highlight his national security credentials.
The president sees his pledge to keep America safe as a cornerstone of
his
argument for re-election, but his image as a leader on fighting terror
took
a hit amid recent public hearings by the commission investigating the
9/11
attacks.
The actions of the president and some of his advisers have been called
into
question by critics such as his ex-counterterrorism chief Richard
Clarke,
who accused Bush of ignoring warnings.
"Key elements of the Patriot Act are set to expire next year," Bush
said in
his weekly radio address. "Some politicians in Washington act as if the
threat to America will also expire on that schedule."
Although it was supported by a large majority of lawmakers when it came
up
for a vote in Congress in the weeks after the attacks, the Patriot Act
has
become controversial.
Opponents fear it may give federal agents too much power, for example
to
invade privacy with provisions such as those that make it easier to tap
telephone conversations...
ALSO SEE:
DETENTION CASES BEFORE SUPREME COURT WILL TEST LIMITS OF PRESIDENTIAL
POWER
Linda Greenhouse, New York Times, 4/18/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/18/politics/18SCOT.html
WASHINGTON -- Three Supreme Court cases generated by the Bush
administration's detention of those it deems ''enemy combatants'' will
be
argued over the next 10 days, framing a debate of historic dimension
not
only about the rights of citizens and noncitizens alike, but also -- or
perhaps principally -- about the boundaries of presidential power.
It was always evident that these cases would invite the justices to
re-examine the balance between individual liberty and national
security,
and perhaps to recalibrate that always delicate balance for the modern
age
of terrorism. But the full extent to which the arguments turn on
competing
visions of presidential authority became clear only after the dozens of
briefs filed in the three cases began to arrive at the court after the
first of the year.
In each of its three main briefs, the administration's lawyers argue
for a
muscular view of executive authority that leaves no room for
''second-guessing'' or ''micromanaging'' by the federal courts.
For example, in its brief arguing that the courts have no jurisdiction
even
to hear challenges to the open-ended detention of hundreds of men taken
from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the United States naval base at
Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, the administration says judicial review ''would place the
federal courts in the unprecedented position of micromanaging the
executive's handling of captured enemy combatants from a distant combat
zone'' and of ''superintending the executive's conduct of an armed
conflict.''
That would ''raise grave constitutional concerns'' under the separation
of
powers, the brief says.
The Guantanamo case will be argued Tuesday. Appeals in two lawsuits
filed
on behalf of separate groups of detainees, Rasul v. Bush, No. 03-334,
and
Al Odah v. United States, No. 03-343, are consolidated for a single
argument...
-----
CA: CLASSES AT MODESTO MOSQUE REINFORCE ISLAMIC IDENTITY
Amy White, Modesto Bee, 4/17/04
http://www.modbee.com/life/faithvalues/story/8450226p-9284599c.html
Like at any school, students play basketball and chatter excitedly in
groups between classes. Backpacks of many colors line the classroom
aisles,
and folders with worksheets top the desks.
But during Saturday classes at Islamic Center of Modesto, students also
recite passages of the Koran in Arabic and highlight coloring books
that
teach the tenets of Islam.
On a recent day, small boys and girls sat at desks learning about
Islamic
identity, why they have Islamic names and the background of the
faith...
One 4-year-old boy has memorized 186 verses in the Koran's long
chapters
and 13 short chapters, Mitwally said...
About 160 students -- mostly children and young adults -- attend
classes at
the mosque, learning about Islamic beliefs, values, history and
rituals.
They also say prayers, and read and write in Arabic...
More advanced students read Koranic verses and write sentences in
Arabic.
Younger children learn Arabic alphabet letters or fill in coloring
books...
Classes offer students the opportunity to learn about their faith and
culture in an Islamic environment, said Mitwally, who coordinated the
curriculum, which includes books, tapes and CDs with Arabic and English
translations.
-----
IS THE MUSLIM HEAD SCARF A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY?
Centre Daily, 4/17/04
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/living/8454845.htm
With images of a provocatively dressed Britney Spears and an unclad
Janet
Jackson, along with the barrage of midriffs and miniskirts nearly
impossible to avoid in our daily lives, the concept of "modesty" is
often
seen as a strange relic of another age.
Even the word modesty is not well-known today. Yet it was not so long
ago
that perhaps our grandmothers came to this country wearing long dresses
and
covering their hair, and men would not go shirtless in public.
According to Random House, modesty is "freedom from vanity and
boastfulness; regard for decency of behavior, speech and dress;
simplicity
and moderation."
The Prophet Muhammad once said, "Every religion has its character and
the
character of Islam is modesty," which has become a well-known saying
among
the world's 1.3 billion Muslims...
Modest dress is not unique to Islam. Other faith traditions practice it
or
contain references to it in their sacred texts. In most pictures, Mary,
the
mother of Jesus, is depicted as a veiled woman. A modern-day Christian
woman and Nobel Prize winner, Mother Theresa, also wore the veil. Hats
and
wigs are standard attire for Orthodox Jewish women, and many Jewish men
still cover their heads with yarmulkes or skullcaps...
Unfortunately and incomprehensively, the head scarf has been stolen
away
from the Muslim woman as the vehicle of her modesty in today's society.
Inappropriately and unabashedly, the West has assigned the head scarf
meanings that it simply does not have for the Muslim: extremism,
oppression
and inequality. In reality, this lack of appreciation for the meanings
and
purposes of objects from other traditions indexes the West's own
ignorance
of Islam and the Western desire to marginalize it and exclude it from
its
rightful place in a pluralistic society...
(Mumina Kowalski is the Muslim Chaplain at the State Correctional
Institution at Muncy).
-----
ISRAEL WOULD KEEP ITS ACCESS UNDER GAZA EVACUATION PLAN
John Ward Anderson and Molly Moore, Washington Post, 4/17/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18625-2004Apr16.html
JERUSALEM -- The proposed Israeli evacuation of Jewish settlements and
soldiers from the Gaza Strip would allow the military to continue to
enter
Gaza and permit Israel to maintain control over its airspace, seaports
and
border crossings, according to the first official text of the plan made
public late Thursday.
All 7,500 Jewish settlers and the Israeli troops that protect them
would be
evacuated by the end of 2005, according to the document, which stated,
"Israel will aspire to leave standing the real estate assets" as well
as
"the water, electricity and sewage infrastructure" in the 21
communities to
be abandoned.
The general outline of the unilateral disengagement plan proposed by
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been known for several months,
but
details of Israel's continued controls over Gaza and other details
remained
a closely guarded secret as Israeli and U.S. officials negotiated what
commitments the United States was willing to make. After meeting with
Sharon at the White House on Wednesday, President Bush strongly
endorsed
the plan and agreed to several major U.S. policy shifts on borders,
refugees and settlements, making the U.S. positions more favorable to
Israel.
Palestinian officials, already dismayed by Bush's endorsement, said the
text exposed new flaws in the disengagement proposal...
ALSO SEE:
RIGHTS GROUPS ACCUSE ISRAEL OF TORTURE
Dan Baron, JTA, 4/17/04
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Rights+groups+petition+over+secret+jail&intcategoryid=1
FACILITY 1391, Israel - Just off a highway linking the Mediterranean
coast
to the Galilee, on a hilltop screened by eucalyptus trees, lies a
facility
known only by its military code number, 1391.
To human-rights groups, this is Israel's Guantanamo, a secret detention
center where top-priority Arab prisoners are questioned and allegedly
abused far from the eye of judicial scrutiny.
"The facility, the secrecy in which it is held and the manner of its
operation assist in attaining the goal of applying . . . physical and
psychological torture outside of public view," one psychiatrist said in
a
petition against 1391 filed by the Hamoked Center for the Defense of
the
Individual.
Hamoked repeatedly has demanded that Israel's High Court of Justice
order
1391 closed. The state has rebuffed these calls, citing national
security
needs.
That rationale may resonate internationally, given the U.S.-led war on
terrorism and Washington's reluctance to allow inspection of its
interrogation center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
But having set a new standard by allowing the security services to
employ
"moderate physical pressure" on some terrorist suspects in strictly
limited
circumstances, Israel's justice system is especially attuned to charges
that 1391 strays from this accepted norm.
A spokeswoman for the Israeli Defense Forces said, "The IDF does not
comment on the nature or activities of military facilities."
A spokeswoman for the State Attorney's Office said 1391 was "an
important
case that we handle with the appropriate gravity..."
---
HOW THE TRAP WAS SPRUNG
Tony Stickley, Bridget Carter, Eugene Bingham, New Zealand Herald,
4/17/04
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3561101&thesection=news&thesubsection=general
EXCLUSIVE - A quadriplegic, wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy sufferer
was
the victim of an alleged plot by Israelis looking to secure a New
Zealand
passport.
The clandestine plan unravelled in the Auckland District Court
yesterday
when two men appeared in a case fast-tracked in highly unusual
circumstances.
Papers given to Judge Chris Field showed how suspicious Internal
Affairs
staff called in police who set a trap.
Defence lawyers Grant Illingworth, QC, and Nigel Faigan, representing
Eli
Cara and Uriel Zoshe Kelman, consented for the case to proceed to trial
although they did not concede there was a prima facie case.
According to the police, a third Israeli man, Zev William Barkan, tried
to
get the passport in the name of the New Zealander.
In unsigned hand-up depositions, a Lynfield GP, Howard Way, told the
court
that he was visited by a man using the name of the cerebral palsy
sufferer.
He was suffering from a minor ailment.
At the end of the consultation the man, said to be Barkan, asked him to
witness his passport application, which he did.
He said he needed a passport urgently to go to Australia to get
married. He
"was calm and gave me no reason not to believe him. I filled out the
form".
The alleged ruse in the doctor's surgery was all part of the plot to
assume
a new identity. A post box and a voicemail phone service were also set
up
in the name of the victim, whose birth certificate was used to lodge
the
passport application.
When Internal Affairs staff noticed an irregularity, they rang the
applicant.
Ian Tingey, an investigations officer with Internal Affairs, said that
the
applicant had a Canadian or American accent. "When I quizzed him on his
accent his explanation to me was he had not travelled or held a New
Zealand
passport before but had spent a lot of time in New Zealand with
Canadian
friends and family."
The officer said that he spoke to the father of the person named in the
application who said his son was wheelchair bound and in residential
care.
Police were tipped off and a covert operation was set up.
According to the police allegations, Barkan left the country and the
passport was to be picked up by one of the other two.
-----
EXPERIENCING ISLAM IN IRAN
Les Gehrett, Albany Democrat-Herald, 4/16/04
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2004/04/16/news/religion/religion01.txt
When Wally and Evie Shellenberger traveled to Iran three years ago as
part
of a religious student exchange program, they had no idea of the
changes
that would soon take place in the world.
From the summer of 2001 until this February when they returned home,
the
couple had a unique view of the events involving the United States and
the
Muslim world. They lived during this time in Qom, Iran, a city that is
a
center for the study of the Shia branch of Islam.
They were there as part of a Mennonite Central Committee exchange
program
that brings Muslims to North America for study in a Christian setting
and
sends North American Christians to Iran for a similar cross-cultural
experience.
The couple is from southern Indiana, but has family in Albany, and they
spent the past week talking to various church and school groups
throughout
western Oregon about their visit.
Their stay was certainly affected by world events, they said...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FBI PROBES THREAT AGAINST TEXAS MUSLIMS
El Paso mosque threatened with 'death and destruction'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/19/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today said the FBI is investigating the latest in a series of
incidents targeting the Muslim community in Texas.
CAIR said the Islamic Center of El Paso in El Paso, Texas,
(www.icoep.com)
received an e-mailed threat of violence on Sunday, April 18. The
e-mail,
from a person called "freedom lover," said that if hostages in Iraq
were
not freed within three days, "your islamic (sic) center will become the
center of death and destruction." The message went on to say: "The will
of
the people has been portrayed to you and your Satan worshiping faith."
Local law enforcement authorities told CAIR they will step up police
patrols in the area of the mosque.
"Islamophobic rhetoric is unfortunately on the rise in our society,
prompting a minority to act out their bigoted views through threats and
violence," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. He called on
political
and religious leaders in Texas to speak out strongly against
anti-Muslim hate.
Awad noted that earlier this month, an arson suspect was arrested at
the
scene of a fire at a Muslim business in San Antonio. It was the fourth
arson fire at a Muslim-operated business in that city. In March,
vandals
scrawled racist graffiti on the interior of a Lubbock mosque.
An official with the Islamic Center of El Paso told CAIR that Sunday's
threat was the first since the anti-Muslim backlash following the 1995
attack on the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. After the 9/11
terror attacks, when other American Muslim communities faced threats
and
attacks, citizens of El Paso brought cards and flowers to the center.
Last week, CAIR announced a new campaign designed to counter
anti-Muslim
hate on radio talk shows. The campaign, called "Hate Hurts America," is
based on the premise that the increasing attacks on Islam by
conservative
talk show hosts harms the United States by creating a downward spiral
of
interfaith mistrust and hostility.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and
in Canada.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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