cair-net Digest of: get.1401_1500
Topics (messages 1401 through 1500):
CAIR-NET: Muslims Launch Quake Appeal/US Latinas Seek Answers in Islam
1401 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Urged to Help Tsunami Survivors
1402 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Meet Congressman to Protest Imam's Detention
1403 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: American Muslims Fingerprinted by U.S. at Canadian Border
1404 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Asked to Pray for Tsunami Victims
1405 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Govt Admits Detaining Muslim Conference Attendees
1406 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Pray For, Aid Tsunami Victims
1407 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Christians, Jews Reach Out to MA Muslims/Lifetime Detention
Sought
1408 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: IL Muslim Files Bias Suit/Prof Slams Pipes on Internment
1409 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Seeks Answers on Fingerprinting of Hajjis
1410 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: AZ Court to Hear Anti-Muslim Letter Case
1411 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Hajj Publicity Resource Kit
1412 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FL Mosques to Tally Funds for Tsunami Relief
1413 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Yee to Leave Military/Muslims Join Relief Effort
1414 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Missionaries Exploit Tsunami Suffering/Watch '24' Tonight on
Fox
1415 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: New Financing for Muslim Homebuyers/CA Police Learn About
Islam
1416 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CA Coalition to Hold Prayer for Muslim Rights/FL Mosques Pool
Tsunami Aid
1417 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims to Meet With Fox Over Depictions in '24'
1418 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Missionaries Relocate Muslim Orphans/CAIR Meets with State
Dept. Officials
1419 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Encouraged by Fox '24' Meeting
1420 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Teacher Suspended Over Quran Remark
1421 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Says Exploitation of Tsunami Aid Hurts America's Image
1422 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Hajj Headache for Returning U.S. Muslims?
1423 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening CAIR
1424 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FL Muslims Seek Recognition of Holidays
1425 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslims, Christians to Show Interfaith Solidarity
1426 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR-LA Launches Eid Radio Ads/CAIR-FL Seeks Equal Treatment
for Eids
1427 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Quran Mentioned in Inaugural Address/NJ Slayings Spur
Anti-Islam Bias
1428 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Eid and Abraham/Eids and the School Calendar/20 Years for
Al-Arian Case?
1429 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'Nightline' Invites Muslims to Iraq Town Hall Meeting
1430 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NY Radio Station Sorry for Mocking Tsunami Victims
1431 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Latinos Convert to Islam/CAIR-Philly Kickoff/TN Islam Class
Canceled
1432 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CA Muslims Demand Release of Iraq Hostage/ Islamophobic
Graffiti Sprayed on MO Home
1433 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Calif. Museum Urged to Reject Extremist Group
1434 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Sex, Muslims and Interrogations/EEOC Sues Firm for
Anti-Muslim Bias
1435 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Prof Who Defended Muslim Awarded $1.5 Million/ Secret Gitmo
Hearings
1436 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Facts Ought to Dispel Mistrust of U.S. Muslims
1437 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Videos Show Gitmo Abuse/Dunkin' Donuts Allows Hijab
1438 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Thank Sens. Kennedy, Feinstein for Rejecting Torture
1439 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR 'Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism' Conference
1440 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: U.S. General Says Shooting People is 'Fun'
1441 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Charity Targeted/General 'Counseled' for Comments/REAL
ID Act
1442 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Whistle-Blower's View of DHS Nominee/'Fascism' Card and Islam
1443 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Banks Offer Usury-Free Mortgages/The Hellish World of Gitmo
1444 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: KKK Protests Hijab/Fox to Air '24' Disclaimer Tonight
1445 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Outsourcing Torture/View Fox's '24' Disclaimer/Shop CAIR
Online
1446 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ohio Bill Threatens Academic Freedom/Border Incident Angers
Muslims
1447 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: VT Landlords Discriminate Against Muslims/FL Mosque Sign
Vandalized
1448 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Fla. Christian Radio Station Drops Muslim Ad
1449 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslims, Christians Reject Hate/Clergy Silent on Torture
1450 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Hariri Assassination/Iraqi-American Alleges
Abuse
1451 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Yusuf Islam Gets Libel Damages/CAIR-GA 'Know Your Rights'
Workshop
1452 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Falwell's New Dean Offends Muslims/Iraq Contractors Allege
Abuses
1453 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Respond to Freedom House Report/Bias Suit Settled for
$40K
1454 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Students Lose Prayer Room/'Palestinian Hanging' Kills
Iraqi
1455 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FL Teacher Threatens Muslim Student/NE Hijab Suit Settled
1456 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'Brooklyn's Abu Ghraib'/Guilty Plea to Battery of Muslim
1457 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ahmed Abu Ali Released, to be Indicted in VA
1458 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Decry Closure of NJ Mosque's Bank Account
1459 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ask State Dept. to Block Entry of Gujarat Massacre Figure
1460 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Halal Goes Mainstream in NJ/PA Mosques Tie African Muslims to
Faith
1461 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Leader Sues Boston TV Station for Defamation
1462 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Pipes Plans 'Islamic' Institute/Con Artist Strikes Again
1463 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Some Feds Think Govt Won't Win Abu Ali Case
1464 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims and the Ten Commandments Debate/Traveling While
Muslim
1465 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Texas Terrorist Handed 30-Year Sentence
1466 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: State Dept. Critical of Abuses Used by U.S.
1467 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Gujarat Official Linked with Book Praising Hitler to Speak in
FL, NY
1468 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ten Commandments Mirror Islamic Values/Police Seek
Translators
1469 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CIA Avoids Scrutiny of Detainee Treatment
1470 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Applaud Arrests in Slaying of NJ Family
1471 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Gitmo Captives Allege Religious Abuse/CIA 'Renditions'
1472 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Wary of OH Security Bill/Fired TX Worker Wins
$150K/FL Muslims Seek Recognition of Islamic Holidays
1473 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: FL 'Ramadi Madness' Video Shows U.S. Abuse
1474 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'Hardball' Host Withdraws From Controversial FL Event
1475 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Halal Slaughterhouse is 'Deeply American'/A Smarter Way to
Fight for Muslim Women
1476 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Dell Fires 30 Muslims Over Maghrib Prayer
1477 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: No Sleeper Cells Found in U.S./FL Teacher Fired for Mocking
Muslim Student
1478 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Canadian Muslims Denounce Xenophobic Comments
1479 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Prison Staff Mistreated Muslims/Muslims Say Dell Forbade
Prayers
1480 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Islamic Schools See Enrollment Surge/First U.S. Mosque
Rebuilt
1481 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 21 Dell Employees Retain CAIR as Legal Counsel
1482 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Ask AmEx to Withdraw Sponsorship of FL Event
1483 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Neocon Mag Promotes Anti-Muslim Hate Literature
1484 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims Reach Settlement with Dell, Spherion on Workplace
Prayer
1485 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Applauds Denial of Visa to Narendra Modi
1486 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslim Comic on 'Nightline'/Modi Visa Denial Follows Campaign
1487 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Church Drops Mission Over Muslim Servers/ Indian-Americans
Exert Clout
1488 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: CAIR Conference to Tackle Islamophobia, Anti-Americanism
1489 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Ask Neocon Magazine to Repudiate Anti-Muslim Hate
1490 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Man Charged for Anti-Arab Taunts/Canadian Muslims May Double
by 2017
1491 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslim Voters Wooed/AmEx Drops FL Event/TX Mosque
Firebombing/IL Muslim Dies in Custody
1492 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Bill Would Accommodate Muslim Burials/National Review Silent
on Anti-Muslim Hate
1493 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Muslims See Employment Bias/Muslim Firefighter Fights Ban on
Beards
1494 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Contact Boeing About National Review's Attack on Prophet
Muhammad
1495 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Right-Wing Groups Omitted From DHS Terror List
1496 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: National Review Removes Books Attacking Islam
1497 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: Latinas Embrace Islam/Muslim-Friendly Hospitals/Journalist's
Guide to Islam
1498 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: IN Muslim Trucker's Hazmat Rights Restored/CT Muslims Meet
with DMV on Religious Accommodation
1499 by: cair.cair-net.org
CAIR-NET: 'After This Movie, There May Be Hate Crimes'/Police Offered
Training on Islam
1500 by: cair.cair-net.org
---------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 12/26/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TEARS ARE A MERCY
- Verse of the Day: Patience in Adversity
* CAIR ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIMS SHOULD REACH OUT (Gazette-Mail)
- CAIR-St. Louis Helps Those in Need (Post-Dispatch)
* ISLAMIC RELIEF LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
- ICNA Relief Update
* US LATINAS SEEK ANSWERS IN ISLAM (Christian Science Monitor)
* MI: MUSLIMS REACH OUT AT INTERFAITH SERVICES (Det News)
- NY: A Muslim's Gift to an Interfaith Group (NY Times)
- CA: Muslim Volunteers Run Free Clinic (Press-Ent)
- MD: 'Floating Holidays' Urged For Schools (Wash Post)
* CAIR: TENN. MUSLIMS FACE RESISTANCE TO CEMETERY PLANS (AP)
- CAIR-FL: Muslim in America (Orlando Weekly)
* FL: SPEAK UP ABOUT BIAS TOWARD MUSLIMS (Bradenton Herald)
- Scary Intolerance (Wash Post)
* MI: GIFTS TO ISRAELI ARMY CHARITY UNFAIR (Free Press)
* CANADIAN MUSLIM TRAVELER CLAIMS PROFILING (Winnipeg Sun)
* FURTHER DETAINEE ABUSE ALLEGED (Wash Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TEARS ARE A MERCY
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was questioned about
weeping
following the death of his granddaughter, he said: "(Weeping) is the
mercy
that God has placed in the hearts of His servants. And surely God
bestows
mercy upon those who are merciful (to others)."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 21
VERSE OF THE DAY: PATIENCE IN ADVERSITY
"And most certainly shall We try you by means of danger, and hunger,
and
loss of worldly goods, of lives and of [labor's] fruits. But give glad
tidings unto those who are patient in adversity - who, when calamity
befalls them, say, 'Verily, unto God do we belong and, verily, unto Him
we
shall return.' It is they upon whom their Sustainer's blessings and
grace
are bestowed."
The Holy Quran, 2:155-157
-----
CAIR ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIMS SHOULD REACH OUT
Familiarity will breed understanding, not contempt
Omar Ahmad, Charleston Gazette, 12/26/04
http://wvgazette.com/section/Perspective/200412256
[Omar Ahmad is a California entrepreneur and is national board chairman
of
the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, the
nation's
largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be reached at
omar@cair-net.org.]
A recent report by Cornell University indicated that 44 percent of
Americans would curtail Muslim civil liberties in some way, including
having them register their location with the federal government.
Similarly, a survey by my organization, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), showed that one in four Americans believes
anti-Muslim
stereotypes. And poll after poll in the Muslim world reveals rampant
anti-American attitudes.
This disturbing trend deserves a response from all those who are
concerned
about the kind of world our children will inherit.
But what can one person do to reverse the hardening of views on all
sides
of an apparently widening religious and cultural divide in this country
and
around the world?
Two findings in the CAIR survey seem to indicate the direction we
should
take. Researchers found that those who had more basic knowledge about
Islam
tended to have less bias, as did those who had Muslim friends or
colleagues.
And consider the fact that the Muslims with the greatest attachment to
American values, members of this nation's Islamic community, are the
very
ones who know those values best and see them put into practice every
day.
Familiarity apparently does not breed contempt. In interfaith relations
at
least, it leads to greater understanding and a decrease in hostility.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "O mankind! We created you
from a
single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and
tribes so
that you might come to know one another. Surely the noblest of you in
the
sight of God is the one who is the most righteous." (49:13)
Muslims appreciate the fact that God did not make us all into
cookie-cutter
automatons who look the same or believe the same things. Our
differences
create a God-given opportunity to "come to know one another" in a
spirit of
mutual respect.
It is this mutual respect that is a prerequisite for true understanding
and
acceptance. We cannot really accept someone as long as we maintain
attitudes of religious, ethnic or cultural triumphalism.
A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad whether love of one's own
people
is an indication of unhealthy partisanship. The Prophet replied: "No,
but
when a man helps his people in an unjust cause, it indicates
partisanship."
In other words, you can love those who share your ethnicity or beliefs,
but
that love should not be used as an excuse for wrongdoing or intolerance
of
others.
There are some practical steps we all can take to help decrease
interfaith
hostility.
Reach out to people of other faiths. Your Muslim co-worker will not be
insulted if you ask him or her about Islam. Muslims enjoy a good
religious
discussion and would rather have you ask difficult questions in a
respectful manner than to have you harbor myths and stereotypes.
Muslims
should also be open to learning more about other faiths.
Speak out against religious or racial bigotry. Muslims are obviously
sensitive to Islamophobic bigotry and discrimination, but we also need
to
be just as sensitive to discrimination against others.
Teach your children to be open and tolerant. It is our children who
will
inherit a world that is either increasingly divided or one that is
moving
toward peace and reconciliation.
Despite the depression and powerlessness that can be caused by watching
the
violence and hatred on the nightly news, we all have a role to play in
making this world a better place to live.
The future is in our hands.
SEE ALSO:
MANY JEWS AND MUSLIMS DO VOLUNTEER WORK ON CHRISTMAS
Aisha Sultan, Post-Dispatch, 12/25/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/6E
0374B30F2DE46C86256F760008CE0A?OpenDocument&Headline=Many+Jews+and+Muslims+d
o+volunteer+work+on+Christmas
Though they may not have been opening presents or singing carols, many
St.
Louis-area Jews and Muslims spent Christmas Day spreading holiday
cheer.
Followers of the three Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity and
Islam -
share some religious roots and similar community values.
Gulten Ilhan, a Muslim in West County, agreed that giving back to the
community was a key priority for area Muslims, as well. She spent
Christmas
Day delivering meals to the elderly with her two young daughters. The
service group Faith Beyond Walls runs the program and called on the St.
Louis chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations to help out
this
year. People from all religious backgrounds participate in the program.
Ilhan said the Council on American-Islamic Relations was told that many
Jewish organizations usually participate, but the Sabbath may prevent
some
of those individuals from coming.
"Of course, we would love to help out," she said. "Muslims revere Jesus
as
a beloved prophet of God." Plus, she wanted to teach her daughters the
importance of caring for the elderly.
Waldman said many families brought their children to the fire stations
on
Christmas Eve for the cookie deliveries. The children tried on toy hats
and
climbed on the fire trucks, he said. The congregants adopted the
program as
a way to show their appreciation for local heroes who have to work
during
the holidays, he said.
Ilhan said visiting the elderly made a big impression on her
children...
CONTACT: CAIR-St. Louis, 314-602-3794
-----
MAGNITUDE 9.0 - OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqinthenews/2004/usslav/
ISLAMIC RELIEF LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
http://www.irw.org/asiaquake/
BURBANK, California (December 26, 2004) - Islamic Relief Worldwide has
responded to the most powerful earthquake to hit the earth in 40 years,
measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, by launching an initial $1,350,000
appeal to assist the victims.
The earthquake struck deep in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of
Sumatra on Sunday, triggering tidal waves up to 30 feet high that
obliterated villages and seaside resorts in six countries across
southern
Asia. An estimated 10,000 people have been reported killed thus far in
the
devastation. At least 4,185 have been reported killed in Indonesia, and
at
least 3,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka, which is 1,000 miles west
of
the epicenter.
In addition, about 2,300 were reported dead along the southern coasts
of
India, at least 289 in Thailand, 42 in Malaysia and two in Bangladesh.
As
more information comes in from different countries, officials are
expecting
the death toll to rise.
Islamic Relief Worldwide Response
IRW has launched an initial $1,350,000 appeal to assist the victims.
This
includes an initial $270,650 for relief and rehabilitation intervention
in
the region, and $27,000 to meet the immediate needs of victims in Sri
Lanka.
IRW is constantly monitoring events and making contact with those on
the
ground in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. Our representative in Sri
Lanka
is performing a needs assessment. An Emergency Response Team will be
operational in Sri Lanka within the next 5 to 7 days.
An assessment team from our Indonesia office is leaving for Aceh,
Indonesia
tomorrow morning and our partners in India are on their way to Chennai
for
an assessment.
The victims of the disaster are in need of medical supplies, tents and
sanitation facilities. Islamic Relief USA will continue to send updates
as
additional information becomes available.
Media Contacts:
Arif Shaikh
Director, Media and Public Relations
Islamic Relief USA
arif@irw.org
(310) 351-3931 mobile
(818) 238-9520 office
(818) 238-9521 fax
SEE ALSO:
ICNA RELIEF UPDATE
The world's most powerful earthquake in 40 years triggered massive
tidal
waves that slammed into villages and coastal lines across southern and
southeast Asia, killing thousands of people in six countries,
Indonesia,
India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh. This devastating
earthquake also left thousands injured and hundreds of thousands
homeless.
ICNA Relief is in process of collecting more information and to find
out
how to help the victims of this Earthquake immediately and effectively.
SEE: http://www.reliefonline.org/
-----
US LATINAS SEEK ANSWERS IN ISLAM
Christine Armario, Christian Science Monitor, 12/27/04
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1227/p11s02-ussc.html
UNION CITY, N.J. - Jasmine Pinet sits on the steps outside a mosque
here,
tucking in strands of her burgundy hair beneath a white head scarf, and
explaining why she, a young Latina, feels that she has found greater
respect as a woman by converting to Islam.
"They're not gonna say, 'Hey mami, how are you?'" Ms. Pinet says of
Muslim
men. "Usually they say, 'Hello, sister.' And they don't look at you
like a
sex object."
While some Latinas her age try to emulate the tight clothes and
wiggling
hips of stars like Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera, Ms. Pinet and
others are adopting a more conservative lifestyle and converting to
Islam.
At this Union City, N.J., mosque, women account for more than half of
the
Latino Muslims who attend services here. Nationwide, there are about
40,000
Latino Muslims in the United States, according to the Islamic Society
of
North America.
Many of the Latina converts say that their belief that women are
treated
better in Islam was a significant factor in converting. Critics may
protest
that wearing the veil marks a woman as property, but some Latina
converts
say they welcome the fact that they are no longer whistled at walking
down
a street. "People have an innate response that I'm a religious person,
and
they give [me] more respect," says Jenny Yanez, another Latina Muslim.
"You're not judged if you're in fashion or out of fashion."
Other Latina Muslims say they also like the religion's emphasis on
fidelity
to one's spouse and family.
But for many family members and friends, these conversions come as a
surprise - often an unwelcome one. They may know little of Islam other
than
what they have heard of the Taliban and other extremist groups.
That creates an inaccurate image, insists Leila Ahmed, a professor of
women's studies and religion at Harvard University. "It astounds me,
the
extent to which people think Afghanistan and the Taliban represent
women
and Islam." What's really going on, she says, is a reshaping of the
relationship between women and Islam. "We're in the early stages of a
major
rethinking of Islam that will open Islam for women. [Muslim scholars]
are
rereading the core texts of Islam - from the Koran to legal texts - in
every possible way."
New views of women and Islam may be more prevalent in countries like
the
US, where women read the Koran themselves and rely less on patriarchal
interpretations.
"I think the women here are asserting more their rights and their
privileges," says Zahid Bukhari, director of the American-Muslim
Studies
Program at Georgetown University. "
Some Latina Muslims say they harbored stereotypes about Muslim women
before
deciding to convert, but changed their minds once becoming close
friends
with a Muslim.
"I always thought, geez, I feel sorry for women who have to wear those
veils," says Pinet. Then she met her Muslim boyfriend and began
studying
the Koran with a group of Muslim women. She says she was impressed with
the
respect they received.
"A women is respected because she is the mother, she takes care of the
children, and she's the one that enforces the rules," Pinet says.
"They're
the ones who are sacred."
Critics of the decisions of Latinas to convert to Islam say they are
adopting a religion just as patriarchical as the Roman Catholic faith
that
many are leaving behind.
"While it's true the Latino culture tends to be more male-dominated,
and
there's a tendency toward more machismo, I would venture to say it
exists
[in Islam] as well," says Edwin Hernandez, director of the Center for
the
Study of Latino Religion at the University of Notre Dame.
Latinos account for six percent of the 20,000 Muslim conversions in the
United States each year, according to a report published by the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations. Anecdotal evidence suggests this number may
be
rising…
-----
FAITHFUL REACH OUT AT SERVICES
Shanteé Woodards and Christine MacDonald News, Detroit News, 12/26/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/religion/0412/26/D01-42138.htm
DEARBORN -- Booming organ music filled downtown Detroit's Fort Street
Presbyterian Church on Friday night as worshippers packed pews to
celebrate
one of the holiest of Christian holidays.
Among them was Eide Alawan of Dearborn, a Muslim, who since the
September
11 attacks has worked to strengthen relationships among faiths, making
it a
point each Christmas to reach out to Christians.
"Where else but in America?" asked Alawan as he listened to the
church's
Christmas Eve organ concert, featuring songs like "Ava Maria." "I don't
think it would happen anywhere else.
"I want to feel the spirituality of someone else's faith."
For a week, he had been sending e-mails to fellow Muslims, inviting
them to
attend the services with him. He has noticed more Christians and Jews
visiting mosques to learn more about Islam, but hasn't seen as much
interest the other way around. Last year about six Muslims came with
him to
various services.
He was disappointed to see that none came this year: "I just continue
to
work on it."
"Right after September 11, I felt that I had to engage within the
interfaith community and better understand it," said Alawan, who works
with
the Islamic Center of America. "It's an opportunity not only to learn
about
faith traditions, but an opportunity to have spiritual
understanding..."
ALSO SEE:
A MUSLIM SANTA'S GIFT TO AN INTERFAITH GROUP: FREE RENT
Joseph Berger, New York Times, 12/24/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/24/nyregion/24faith.html
As the onetime dean of the cavernous Cathedral of St. John the Divine,
the
Very Rev. James Parks Morton cheerlessly savored the reversal of
fortune.
There he was, two weeks before Christmas, no longer able to afford to
shelter the small interfaith group that has been his passion for the
past
eight years. He and his scrappy staff in Midtown Manhattan were,
without
over-roasting a Christmas chestnut, about to be as homeless as a
certain
family of yore.
But in irrepressible holiday tradition, an unlikely gift appeared from
an
unexpected source. Dean Morton's group, the Interfaith Center of New
York,
found its manger in the Bronx - rent free - and its benefactor is a
Muslim
immigrant, Sheikh Moussa Drammeh.
"Santa is from Senegal," is the way Timur Yuskaev, a staff member, put
it.
In the story of a Muslim helping a Christian find offices in which to
plan
conferences for Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs and others, Dean Morton
sees
a moral that validates the interfaith enterprise.
"Everyone recognizes it's a time of gifts, and we've received an
amazing
gift," he said. "After all, the wise men who brought their gold,
frankincense and myrrh were probably Persians - Zoroastrians. It was
not a
Christian Christmas party. It was a global Christmas party."
The gently rumpled Dean Morton, 74, was more than the administrator of
St.
John the Divine, at 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, for 25 years. He
was
its impresario, turning a staid seat for the Episcopal bishop of New
York
into a place that had a resident tightrope walker, Philippe Petit, a
pet
Hudson River blue crab as an environmental statement, free-roaming
peacocks
for whimsy and a stonecutting program for neighborhood youths.
He started the Interfaith Center after resigning from the cathedral
post in
1997. Through conferences and other events, the center brings together
priests, rabbis, imams and other clergy to work on urban problems like
navigating the judicial system.
For the past five years, the Interfaith Center was ensconced in what
had
been a Persian rug emporium on East 30th Street in Manhattan. But in
October, Dean Morton learned that two major donors were cutting their
annual contributions by half. That month he could not pay the $20,000
rent...
---
CA: MUSLIM VOLUNTEERS RUN A MUSCOY MEDICAL FACILITY FOR THOSE WITHOUT
INSURANCE
Bettye Wells Miller, Press-Enterprise, 12/23/04
http://www.pe.com/breakingnews/local/stories/PE_News_Local_alshifa23.58312.h
tml
SAN BERNARDINO - Margaret McNichols was in pain.
Four cavities. Three broken teeth. No dental insurance.
The 52-year-old student teacher from Mira Loma said she didn't know how
she
would get her teeth repaired until she saw a flier for Al-Shifa Dental
Clinic, where volunteer dentists provide care at no cost two days a
week.
"To hear of a place where I could come, I'm so excited," the full-time
student at Azusa Pacific University said as she filled out a medical
information form at the Muscoy clinic. "This is a real blessing."
Dental services are the newest offering of Al-Shifa Clinic, which a
group
of Muslim physicians started in March 2000 to provide free medical care
for
people with no health insurance. The dental clinic opened in July.
Both clinics are located in a portable building on Mallory Street on
land
owned by the Dar-al-Uloom Al-Islamiya of America mosque...
Al-Shifa Clinic
What: Free medical and dental care
Where: 2034 B Mallory St., San Bernardino
Information: (909) 473-0600 or www.alshifafreeclinic.org
---
'FLOATING HOLIDAYS' URGED FOR SCHOOLS
Muslim Activists Lobby Md. Panel
Daniel de Vise, Washington Post, 12/25/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24989-2004Dec24.html
Schools across the Washington region sat empty yesterday in observance
of
Christmas, a Christian holiday, just as many shut down on Sept. 16 this
year to mark Judaism's Rosh Hashanah.
Some local Muslims want to know why Nov. 15, Eid al-Fitr, the
celebratory
conclusion of Ramadan, doesn't merit equal treatment.
Complaints from Muslim leaders in Baltimore County this week prompted
an
obscure state education committee to recommend that all Maryland
students
be given two floating holidays for religious observance. Students could
use
those days to mark the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha,
the
feast that follows the pilgrimage to Mecca -- or other religious
holidays
-- without fear of being marked absent or penalized for missing a test.
Bash Pharoan, a surgeon who leads the Baltimore County Muslim Council,
brought public speakers to school board meetings in every county this
year
to lobby for an official Islamic holiday in the schools. Although the
Muslim parents failed in that venue, they attracted the interest of a
22-member group called the Achievement Initiative for Maryland's
Minority
Students Steering Committee. The group's recommendation awaits review
by
State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick…
-----
TENN. MUSLIMS FACE RESISTANCE TO PLANS
Woody Baird, Associated Press, 12/24/04
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/nation/10500228.htm
SOMERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Muslims planned to turn an old sod farm near
Memphis into a cemetery, but angry neighbors protested, complaining the
burial ground could become a staging ground for terrorists or spread
disease from unembalmed bodies.
It was not the first time a group faced opposition when trying to build
a
cemetery or a mosque, but the dispute stood out for the clarity of its
anti-Muslim rhetoric.
``We know for a fact that Muslim mosques have been used as terrorist
hideouts and centers for terrorist activities,'' farmer John Wilson
told
members of a planning commission last month.
Similar disputes have arisen elsewhere when Muslim groups sought to
develop
mosques or cemeteries, which are often the first Islamic institutions
in
some communities.
Opponents of a proposal to open a mosque in Voorhees, N.J., distributed
an
anonymous flier warning that Islamic worshippers might include
``extremists
and radicals.'' Arguments over a proposed Muslim cemetery near Atlanta
persisted for more then a year before officials approved preliminary
plans.
Critics of the projects generally complain about potential damage to
the
environment, reduced property values and traffic congestion, but many
also
associate Islam with terrorism.
Rabiah Ahmed of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said she
noticed
more protests of Muslim building proposals after the 2001 terrorist
attacks, so she was not surprised by the cemetery critics near Memphis…
SEE: TENNESSEE MUSLIMS DENIED RIGHT TO CEMETERY
http://cair.com/asp/article.asp?id=1337&page=NR
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM IN AMERICA
Orlando Weekly, Leigh de Armas, Orlando Weekly, 12/23/2004
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/Story.asp?ID=4748
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Clermont resident Imam Abdurrahman
Sykes
flew into Washington, D.C., just behind history. Four minutes before
his
flight's landing gear touched the asphalt of the Washington Dulles
International Airport runway, American Flight 77 had crashed into the
Pentagon a few miles away. Wearing the same type of clothing he had
proudly
worn for 20 years - a long, calf-length shirt traditionally worn by
religious Arab Muslim males (known as a galabiya), and a long, thick
beard
- Sykes casually walked to the airport's main terminal along with
dozens of
other travelers, unaware that the nation had been attacked.
A few yards away, Sykes noticed a large crowd of people gathered around
an
airport restaurant's television. But it was the grief-stricken and
angry
faces within the crowd that caused Sykes to quicken his pace and join
them.
The blur on the television set became clearer, and he was confronted
with
the images of the attacks.
Filled with confusion and immense sadness, Sykes immediately thought of
his
wife and four young children in North Carolina. The family had been
separated for a few months while Sykes was finishing school in
Washington,
D.C., and preparing a new home for them in Clermont. He was making his
weekly commute to attend classes at the Graduate School of Islamic and
Social Scientists in Leesburg, Va., 30 minutes outside of the nation's
capital. He was working on a master's degree to secure a job as a
religious
chaplain at a Florida prison.
Sykes dialed his home number but could not break through the busy
signal on
the other end. He had no idea that a misinformed friend of the family
was
mistakenly telling his wife that her husband was on the flight that
crashed
into the Pentagon, and that he was dead.
As Sykes stood frozen in front of the television, the TV reporter told
the
nation that America was being attacked by terrorists who were Muslim
extremists. Sykes began to notice uneasy stares in his direction. He
was
wearing the same long beard and Arab clothing as the terrorists on the
screen.
But Sykes is no terrorist. Nor is he a foreigner. He is the son of two
Christian farmers from North Carolina who had converted to Islam two
decades before. For the first time in his life, Sykes was terrified to
tell
anyone his name
It isn't an unusual story. Muslim Americans throughout this country
have
watched their lives change since Sept. 11, and according to the Florida
Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Florida
has
been a center for anti-Muslim activity.
Ahmed Bedier, spokesperson for the Tampa center, has seen the
after-effects
of hate crimes in Central Florida, including the vandalism of the
Community
Education Center in Lutz, an Islamic center in a Tampa suburb. In June,
a
group of vandals broke into the center and scrawled anti-Muslim phrases
on
the walls in red lettering - "Kill all Muslims!!!" and "You killed my
sister and now I seek to kill you." Bedier was devastated by the act.
"This is very offensive," he said in an interview with the Tampa
Tribune.
"It makes me so sad and upset. When Muslims see this, they feel
intimidated
and helpless. Clearly this was done by a bunch of ignorant people, a
bunch
of bigots who have a lot of hatred in their hearts..."
-----
SPEAK UP ABOUT BIAS TOWARD MUSLIMS
Ute Forsythe, Bradenton Herald, 12/26/04
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/10499648.htm
". . .But I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Socialist or Communist
or a
Jew or a Catholic and so when they came for me, there was no one left
to
speak up for me."
This is part of the powerful quote by Pastor Martin Niemoller which
tells
of his failure to stand up during the Third Reich when the Nazis
arrested,
tortured and killed innocent people. The former World War I U-bonotat
commander and Protestant pastor spoke up too late and was sent to
various
concentration camps and was ultimately freed by German soldiers in
southern
Tyrol at the end of World War II.
It is time for me and all the people in this country to speak up to
what is
happening to our democracy and to those among us who are of Middle
Eastern
heritage and to those who are Muslims. When I read the article in your
Dec.
18 edition quoting a survey that claims that 44 percent of Americans
want
to restrict the civil liberties of Muslim-Americans, and the story of
AmSouth bank closing accounts of customers of Middle Eastern descent, I
was
struck by the parallels. For the first time I started to feel fear -
fear
that our civil liberties are indeed endangered. But not from an outside
foreign enemy - rather from the hysterical, paranoid confusion created
by
the Patriot Act. How much longer until an order will be issued to
create
internment camps for all Muslims and people of Middle Eastern descent?
Don't be afraid to stand up now or it will be too late when they come
for
you.
---
SCARY INTOLERANCE
Richard W. Vorder Bruegge, Washington Post, 12/26/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26069-2004Dec25.html
I was flabbergasted by an item about an opinion poll in the Dec. 18
Nation
in Brief column, which said, "Nearly half of Americans believe the
government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans."
What happened to the America where tolerance is valued?
The article also said, "Pollsters found that Republicans and people who
described themselves as highly religious were more apt to support
curtailing Muslims' civil liberties than Democrats or people who say
they
are less religious."
Are these the "moral values" that got President Bush reelected?
This poll further gave more ammunition to terrorists who say that
America
is waging a new crusade against Islam. Doesn't the Constitution mean
anything anymore?
-----
GIFTS TO ISRAELI DEFENSE CHARITY CALLED UNFAIR
Jewel Gopwani and Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 12/24/04
http://www.freep.com/money/business/banks24e_20041224.htm
Some in metro Detroit's Arab-American community are wondering why five
local banks recently donated to a nonprofit group that aids Israeli
soldiers.
The group, part of a national nonprofit that raises money for social,
educational and recreational programs for Israeli soldiers and their
families, took out a full-page ad in an October issue of the Detroit
Jewish
News, naming Comerica Bank, Bank One, Huntington National Bank,
National
City and Standard Federal Bank among dozens of companies as generous
sponsors.
The ad prompted a community leader to send letters to banks asking why
they
made the tax-deductible donations to a group associated with what many
Arab-Americans consider an occupying force in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
The donations also resulted in protests last week at some of the banks
in
Ann Arbor and a prominent article about the issue in the Arab American
News.
The donations give the appearance of a double standard, said Imad
Hamad,
regional director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee,
who
is convinced the same institutions wouldn't donate to groups associated
with Arab defense forces.
"These financial institutions should be more careful, more sensitive
not to
put their nose in the middle of unnecessary debate because
unfortunately,
it's a losing situation to them," Hamad said.
But the Michigan Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces has nothing to
do
with military action, so it shouldn't be an issue, said Tamir
Oppenheim,
executive director of the group.
"We are taking care of the welfare of the Israeli soldiers. We are not
taking care of anything that concerns with military action or
violence,"
Oppenheim said. "We are not buying any ammunition, any bullets. We are
taking care of widows. We are taking care of children who lost their
fathers."
The group's Web site shows its capital projects include cultural
centers,
briefing rooms, as well as sports and recreation centers for
soldiers...
-----
U.S. BARS WINNIPEG TRAVELLER
Paul Turenne, Winnipeg Sun, 12/23/04
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2004/12/23/794427-sun.html
A Winnipeg man who was denied entry to the United States last month
says
American customs officers detained him for five hours, strip-searched
and
fingerprinted him and photographed the contents of his wallet before
sending him home with no explanation. Youssouf Gandega, 28, fears he
may
have been the victim of post-9/11 profiling.
"I know I didn't do anything. I'm clear. I don't have a criminal
record,"
said Gandega, who is originally from the North African country of
Mauritania but is now a Canadian citizen. "I'm Muslim and my name on my
passport is Youssouf, a Muslim name. I think that's the reason, but
they
didn't want to tell me the truth."
"I understand they have to protect the U.S. citizens from terrorists,
but I
am not one of them," he said.
On Nov. 30, Gandega was supposed to fly from Winnipeg to Chicago and on
to
Paris for a family visit. It was cheaper to fly through Chicago than
any
Canadian cities, he said.
When he tried to clear U.S. customs in Winnipeg, his problems began.
"(The officer) checked my passport, then told me to wait," said
Gandega.
"He came back with his boss and his boss told me to follow him."
The officers then searched his bags and told him they were waiting for
a
fax from Washington.
The fax arrived hours later...
-----
FURTHER DETAINEE ABUSE ALLEGED
Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, 12/25/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25962-2004Dec25.html
At least 10 current and former detainees at the U.S. military prison in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have lodged allegations of abuse similar to the
incidents described by FBI agents in newly released documents, claims
that
were denied by the government but gained credibility with the reports
from
the agents, their attorneys say.
In public statements after their release and in documents filed with
federal courts, the detainees have said they were beaten before and
during
interrogations, "short-shackled" to the floor and otherwise mistreated
as
part of the effort to get them to confess to being members of al Qaeda
or
the Taliban.
Even some of the detainees' attorneys acknowledged that they were
initially
skeptical, mainly because there has been little evidence that captors
at
Guantanamo Bay engaged in the kind of abuse discovered at Iraq's Abu
Ghraib
prison. But last Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union released
FBI
memos, which it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit,
in
which agents described witnessing or learning of serious mistreatment
of
detainees.
"On a couple of occasions, I entered interview rooms to find a detainee
chained hand and foot in a fetal position to the floor, with no chair,
food
or water," an unidentified agent wrote on Aug. 2, 2004, for example.
"Most
times they had urinated or defecated on themselves, and had been left
there
for 18, 24 hours or more."
Brent Mickum, a Washington attorney for one of the detainees, said that
"now there's no question these guys have been tortured. When we first
got
involved in this case, I wondered whether this could all be true. But
every
allegation that I've heard has now come to pass and been confirmed by
the
government's own papers."
A Pentagon spokesman has said the military has an ongoing investigation
of
torture claims and takes credible allegations seriously. Pentagon
officials
and lawyers say the military has been careful not to abuse detainees
and
has complied with treaties on the handling of enemy prisoners "to the
extent possible" in the middle of a war.
The detainees who made public claims of torture at Guantanamo Bay
describe
a prison camp in which abuse is employed as a coordinated tool to aid
interrogators and as punishment for minor offenses that irked prison
guards. They say military personnel beat and kicked them while they had
hoods on their heads and tight shackles on their legs, left them in
freezing temperatures and stifling heat, subjected them to repeated,
prolonged rectal exams and paraded them naked around the prison as
military
police snapped pictures...
-----
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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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. MUSLIMS URGED TO HELP TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
(Washington, D.C., 12/27/04) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR)
today asked members of the American Muslim community and all people of
conscience worldwide to offer humanitarian assistance and pray for the
victims
in Sunday’s tsunamis in southern Asia.
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group also
expressed
condolences to the families of the victims.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragedy in southern Asia,"
said CAIR
Chairman Omar Ahmad. "We extend our sincerest condolences to the
families of
those killed and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured as a
result of
the earthquake. CAIR is working on identifying relief organizations
that will
provide aid to the affected areas."
The underwater tremor - the world's biggest earthquake in 40 years -
struck deep
in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra, triggering tidal
waves up to
30 feet high that obliterated villages and seaside resorts in six
countries
across southern Asia.
An estimated 20,000 people have been reported killed thus far in the
devastation. As more information comes in from different countries,
officials
are expecting the death toll to rise.
HOW TO HELP
The following organizations have announced that they will take part in
relief
efforts to assist the victims of the earthquake:
ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE RESPONSE launched an effort to get medical
supplies,
tents and sanitations facilities for the victims of the earthquake. To
donate,
send checks to Islamic Relief, 1919 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506,
call
(888) 479-4968, or visit: www.irw.org
ASIA RELIEF, a Maryland based nonprofit organization, is accepting
donations of
nonperishable food items, clothing and toys for victims of the tsunami
in Sri
Lanka. Cash donations are also being accepted. To contribute, drop
off
donations anytime at 19409 Olive Tree Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879.
Contact
Seyed Rizwan Mowlana at 301-672-9355 for more information.
ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA (ICNA) Relief has established an
Indonesia,
India & Seri Lanka Relief Fund to provide food, medicine, clothes,
tents &
other urgently needed supplies. To donate, visit www.ReliefOnLine.org
or send
checks to 166-26 89th Ave Jamaica, NY 11432, Tel.718-68-7028.
The INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT societies in south Asia
have begun
to mobilize staff and volunteers to affected areas to assist with the
immediate
needs. Emergency assessment and first-aid teams have already reached
some of
the affected areas.
Call 1-800-435-7669. Contributions to the International Response Fund
may be
sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red
Cross
International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Internet
users can make a secure online contribution by visiting
www.redcross.org.
CARE Australia teams from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand are
traveling
to affected areas to gauge the impact of the disaster. Donations can be
made
through the CARE Australia website (www.careaustralia.org.au) or by
phoning
1-800-020-046.
Other relief organizations that have established similar funds should
notify
CAIR by sending an e-mail to: cair@cair-net.org. Additional names will
be added
to a list on CAIR’s website, www.cair.com.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 29 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; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726,
E-Mail:
ihooper@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 - 12/28/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SHOW MERCY
* CA: MUSLIMS MEET CONGRESSMAN TO PROTEST IMAM'S DETENTION (LA Times)
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS TO HOLD PRAYER SERVICE FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- CAIR-MD & VA: Groups Mobilize to Help Tsunami Survivors (AP)
- Many Nations Move Swiftly to Help Tsunami Victims (SHN)
- NY: Muslims Pray for Tsunami Victims (Democrat & Chron)
- CAIR-FL: Temple, Mosque Offer Support (Miami Herald)
- CAIR-FL: Floridians Await Word of Loved Ones (Sun Sentinel)
* TN: CENTER CLASS TO DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS (Tennessean)
* TX: MAN SENTENCED FOR ISLAMIC CENTER THREAT (El Paso Times)
* US, BRITAIN HOLDING 10,000 PRISONERS IN IRAQ (ABC)
* JET IS AN OPEN SECRET IN TERROR WAR (Wash Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SHOW MERCY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The Compassionate One
[God] has
mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on
earth,
He Who is in heaven will show mercy on you.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2322
-----
MUSLIMS MEET CONGRESSMAN TO PROTEST IMAM'S DETENTION
Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times, 12/28/04
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-muslim28dec28,1,1886945.story
Members of the Muslim community, including the family of a jailed
Islamic leader
who has been held at a federal detention facility since Nov. 4, met
Monday with
Rep. Christopher Cox to protest alleged violations of due process by
immigration officials.
About two dozen community members delivered a petition signed by more
than 1,000
people and asked Cox, a Newport Beach Republican who is chairman of the
Select
Committee on Homeland Security, to investigate the case of Wagdy
Mohamed
Ghoneim, an Egyptian immigrant who serves as an imam at the Islamic
Institute
of Orange County.
Ghoneim was arrested at his Anaheim home and has been held at a federal
detention facility in San Pedro on suspicion of being in the country
illegally.
His attorneys have said he had a valid visa. A bond hearing is
scheduled for
today.
His 17-year-old daughter, Afnan, said the situation had been stressful.
"We
cried a lot," she said. "We can visit him, but only with glass between
us. You
cannot even hug him and touch him."
Last week, he was taken to a hospital after becoming ill. But family
members
were not told which hospital and were not allowed to visit or speak to
him.
Later, he told them that he was chained to his hospital bed at the
ankles and
wrists.
"He is a peaceful person," said Sabry Aziz, an Anaheim accountant who
attended
the meeting with Cox. "He never said anything against the United
States."
Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, said
she could not discuss details of the case but said administrative
procedures
were being followed.
"He's going before an immigration judge, being represented by an
attorney and he
will have a chance to state his case," she said. "This plays out dozens
of
times a day throughout the greater Los Angeles area. I would argue that
that is
due process."
During their meeting with Cox, representatives from the Muslim Public
Affairs
Council and the Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized an
earlier
hearing held for Ghoneim, during which the government suggested that
the imam
is a national security risk and presented information from anti-Islamic
websites that mentioned his name...
-----
FL MUSLIMS TO HOLD PRAYER SERVICE FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(MIAMI, FL., 12/28/2004) The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold a prayer service today to pray for those
killed
and affected by Sunday's tsunamis in southern Asia.
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy group also
expresses
condolences to the families of the victims and appeals to members of
the
American Muslim community and all people of conscience worldwide to
offer
humanitarian assistance.
SEE: "U.S. Muslims Urged to Help Tsunami Survivors" at
http://www.cair.com/asp/article.asp?id=1368&page=NR
WHAT: A prayer service by the South Florida Muslim leaders
WHEN: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at 5:00PM
WHERE: Miami Gardens Mosque, 4305 NW 183rd Street, Miami, FL. 33055
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490, 954-298-8214; Email:
altaf@cair-florida.org
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 29 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and in
Canada. This event is co-sponsored by all south Florida mosques and
will be
attended by all the Imams in the south Florida area.
- END -
CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, altaf@cair-florida.org; Ahmed Bedier,
813-731-9506, abedier@cair-florida.org
ALSO SEE:
MARYLAND GROUPS MOBILIZE TO HELP TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Associated Press, 12/28/04
http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=373946&nid=25
BALTIMORE - Relief agencies in Maryland are working to provide
assistance to the
countries devastated by Sunday's earthquake and tsunami waves in
southern Asia
and Africa.
Groups pledged money, contacted organizations in the affected areas and
mobilized employees. Buddhist temples asked members for donations and
prayers.
And one man quickly set up an organization to help his native Sri
Lanka
Rizwan Mowlana of Gaithersburg created Asia Relief, a group dedicated
specifically to relief efforts in his native Sri Lanka.
Mowlana said he lost about 30 members of his family in the earthquake,
cousins
and aunts and uncles who were at the beach in southern Sri Lanka on
vacation.
The body of one was washed ashore. The rest are missing.
He said he was supposed to go on his annual trip to Sri Lanka this
month and
probably would have been at his beach house in the south when the
earthquake
struck.
Instead, he found himself on Monday pledging to help his
poverty-stricken
homeland. He hopes to work through the United Nations Relief Agency and
wants
to go to Sri Lanka next month to meet with government officials.
The civil war in Sri Lanka will make the logistics of relief more
difficult, he
said.
"I don't trust any politicians there at the moment," said Mowlana, who
is also
executive director of the Maryland and Virginia office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations. "And I don't know how we're going to get
relief to
the northeast," which is controlled by a rebel, separatist group, the
Tamil
Tigers.
---
MANY NATIONS MOVE SWIFTLY TO HELP TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Lisa Hofffman, Scripps Howard News Service, 12/27/04
http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=TSUNAMI-AID-12-27-04&cat=WW
- Italy is sending a portable field hospital. The Czech Republic has
dispatched
eight tons of drinking water. Israel has sent a planeload of baby food,
medicine and doctors.
And the United States is making a $15 million initial contribution of
search
aircraft, 21 evaluation teams and emergency cash to governments of the
10
nations that suffered from Sunday's tragic tsunami disaster in the
Indian Ocean
region.
Although the recovery of bodies and a full count of the dead could take
weeks,
the number of victims Monday remains short of the estimated 30,000
killed
exactly a year ago by an earthquake in Bam, Iran. But tens of thousands
- if
not many more - have been left homeless and vulnerable to disease and
hunger in
the Asian and African countries hit Sunday.
Amidst some grumbling at the United Nations that the United States has
been
miserly with emergency aid, U.N. Undersecretary-General Jan Egeland
said Monday
that the earthquake is expected to be the most costly in world history.
"The effects may be the biggest ever because many more people live in
exposed
areas than ever before," Egeland told reporters, estimating a total of
"several
billion" dollars.
The rescue response, both short- and long-term, is also likely to be
the globe's
biggest humanitarian mobilization
And the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on the American
Muslim
community to offer humanitarian aid and prayers.
"CAIR is working on identifying relief organizations that will provide
aid," the
Washington, D.C.-based organization announced.
---
NY: LOCAL MUSLIMS PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Matthew Daneman, Democrat and Chronicle, 12/28/04
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041228/NEWS01/412280336/1002/NEWS
BRIGHTON More than 23,000 killed, with the death toll mounting. A
million
people left homeless, with that number sure to climb as well.
In the face of a natural disaster such as the Indian Ocean earthquake
and
tsunami, where the word "tragedy" seems pale and meaningless, sometimes
all
there is left to do is pray.
"Please help them. Help those people, Allah," said Muhammad Shafiq,
imam and
executive director of the Islamic Center of Rochester, as he knelt
Monday night
in prayer.
A small crowd of about a dozen worshippers came on short notice to the
Westfall
Road center for a quick, informal prayer service for the victims and
survivors
of Sunday's disaster.
"Any human tragedy, especially with such a large size, it really pains
everyone," said worshipper Shoaeb Razvi, a software engineer and native
of
India now living in Henrietta.
Monday night's service also marked the unofficial start of a
fundraising effort
for disaster relief by the Rochester area's Muslim community, Shafiq
said.
Yasir Mohamed, 23 and a management information systems major at
Rochester
Institute of Technology, is a native of Somalia.
And while none of his family or friends was harmed in the tsunami, he
can
identify and empathize with the losses there. Raising money to help in
the
disaster relief, "that's the least we can do," Mohamed said after the
service.
The local Muslim community raised thousands of dollars early this year
for the
survivors of the earthquake that killed 35,000 Iranians in December
2003
---
TEMPLE, MOSQUE OFFER SUPPORT
Nikki Waller, Miami Herald, 12/28/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/10510558.htm
In the wake of a massive earthquake and tsunamis that swept across the
Indian
Ocean, South Floridians with roots in South Asia worked Monday to find
facts
and send help to their devastated homelands.
South Floridians sought news through 24-hour coverage on Indian
satellite
channels.
As the hours went by, they learned the extent of the destruction, but
not the
more personal, vital details: who was spared and who wasn't.
''People are obviously very distraught. They're still not able to
communicate
with family members in the affected areas,'' said Ramanuja Iyengar,
incoming
president and one of the founders of Shiva Vishnu Temple of South
Florida in
Southwest Ranches.
Many of Shiva Vishnu's congregants hail from Sri Lanka and India's
Tamil Nadu
state, two of the hardest-hit areas.
A Sunday evening gathering at Iyengar's Pembroke Pines home became an
impromptu
news exchange. Nearly all 20 families invited had relatives in Tamil
Nadu.
''Even back home, people aren't sure what is what,'' he said. ''I'm
sure there
will be families who have lost relatives and close friends.''
The temple plans to organize a condolence service and will soon begin
collecting
donations for relief efforts.
Many of the area's 50,000 Muslims also hail from the regions struck by
Sunday's
earthquake, said Altaf Ali, a member of the Florida Council on
American-Islamic
Relations.
Area Muslims gather tonight for a 5 p.m. service at a Masjid Miami
Gardens, 4305
NW 183rd Street.
Recent closures of Islamic charities in the area have made Muslims
leery of
donating money to similar charities, said Ali, but local and national
organizations are working to establish funds
---
S. FLORIDIANS AWAIT WORD OF LOVED ONES AS TSUNAMI TOLL EXCEEDS 40,000
Jamie Malernee, Doreen Hemlock and Chris Kahn, Sun Sentinel, 12/28/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cquakelocal28dec28,0,3891173.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
The tsunami should have made her an orphan.
But Deerfield Beach resident Sukanti Iyne-Husain, a native of India, is
raising
money for the victims of Sunday's disaster instead of being one. Her
entire
family was headed to the beach in Sri Lanka before an earthquake sent a
wall of
water through the area. One thing saved them.
"My father just happened to lose his keys, and they were delayed," she
said,
describing the scene they saw as they approached the beach later in the
day:
"They heard people shouting that the sea was coming in and saw they
were
carrying children and pets, running in the streets. It was
pandemonium."
Her parents turned the car around, but her uncle and his parents were
in a
separate car and kept going to see more.
"[They said] it looked like the sea had just drawn back. A lot of coral
was
exposed. It was beautiful. They say a lot of children went out to try
and pick
up the fish," said Iyne-Husain, 29. "Then they were just floating; the
car was
floating at a 180-degree angle."
But somehow, her uncle got the car to safety. "It was a really close
call," she
said.
Many were not so lucky, and now their friends and relatives in South
Florida are
feeling the effects as the death toll climbed past 40,000 in India,
Indonesia,
Thailand and South Asian countries. Selva Selvendran, an engineer in
Boynton
Beach who also has family in Sri Lanka, already knows of three friends
who
died
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today
will
conduct a prayer service for the tsunami victims. It will be at 5 p.m.
at Miami
Gardens Mosque, Northwest 183rd Street in Miami. A majority of the
imams in
South Florida are expected to be there.
-----
ISLAMIC CENTER CLASS TO DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FAITH
Holly Edwards, Tennessean, 12/27/04
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/12/63400747.shtml?Element_ID=63400747
When Awadh Binhazim holds diversity training in the Nashville area, he
asks his
students what comes to mind when they hear the word Muslim.
Many say ''murderer,'' ''terrorist'' or ''bad religion.''
To counter these beliefs, Binhazim and other leaders of the Islamic
Center of
Nashville will hold free weekly classes on Islam at Tennessee State
University
starting next month. As outreach director of the center, it's
Binhazim's job to
promote understanding of the Islamic faith in the community one of
the
center's primary missions.
''We want to say to people that they can't use the actions of a few to
judge the
faith of 1.5 billion people,'' Binhazim said. ''Our religion does not
pro- mote
violence and doesn't accept anything related to terrorism.''
Leaders of the center say misunderstanding and a lack of knowledge have
contributed to the negative views some have of Muslims.
The first step toward eliminating the misunderstandings surrounding
Islam is to
''open the doors of dialogue with non-Muslims,'' said Amir Arain, an
Islamic
Center board member and Vanderbilt University neurology professor.
''The most common misconception is that Islam preaches terrorism and
intolerance
and teaches violence, which are quite contrary to Islamic beliefs,''
Arain
said. ''People think it's a closed society and we don't want to
assimilate. But
Islam teaches peace, justice and peaceful coexistence.''
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, two local mosques were
vandalized
and some local Muslims were harassed in public, Binhazim said. Since
then, he
said that outward hostility has waned but negative views of Muslims
persist
-----
MAN SENTENCED FOR ISLAMIC CENTER THREAT
Tammy Fonce-Olivas, El Paso Times, 12/28/04
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20041228-5062.shtml
A 30-year-old man who sent a threatening e-mail to the Islamic Center
of El Paso
on April 18 was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Dec. 21, the
Office of
U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton reported.
Jared Bjarnason pleaded guilty in September to one count of sending a
threatening interstate communication and to making a threat against a
religious
property.
By his guilty plea, Bjarnason admitted to sending an e-mail threatening
to burn
down the center if hostages held in Iraq were not freed within three
days.
-----
US, BRITAIN HOLDING 10,000 PRISONERS IN IRAQ
ABC, 12/27/04
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1273053.htm
Over 350 foreigners are among about 10,000 detainees being held in
US-run
prisons in Iraq, Iraq's Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin Over says.
"US forces told us on December 23 that they are holding 353 foreign
terrorists,"
Mr Amin said.
He says they include: 61 Egyptians, 59 Saudis, 56 Syrians, 40
Jordanians, 35
Sudanese, 22 Iranians, 10 Tunisians, 10 Yemenis, eight Palestinians and
five
Lebanese, among others.
US military detainee operations spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Barry
Johnston
refused to comment on the figures.
"I will not confirm numbers of specific nationalities held among
foreign
fighters," Lt Col Johnston said.
"As a matter of policy, we only share those numbers with government
officials."
Both the Iraqi and US governments blame foreigners mainly from Syria
and Iran
for much of the violence in the country.
Mr Amin says 4,691 prisoners were being held in Camp Bucca near the
southern
port city of Umm Qasr, 3,411 in Abu Ghraib west of Baghdad and 818 in
Al-Shuaiba British controlled Basra.
He also says that 104 are being held in Camp Cropper, near Baghdad's
airport,
where Saddam and other so-called "high-value" detainees are located
-----
JET IS AN OPEN SECRET IN TERROR WAR
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 12/27/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27826-2004Dec26.html
The airplane is a Gulfstream V turbojet, the sort favored by CEOs and
celebrities. But since 2001 it has been seen at military airports from
Pakistan
to Indonesia to Jordan, sometimes being boarded by hooded and
handcuffed
passengers.
The plane's owner of record, Premier Executive Transport Services Inc.,
lists
directors and officers who appear to exist only on paper. And each one
of those
directors and officers has a recently issued Social Security number and
an
address consisting only of a post office box, according to an extensive
search
of state, federal and commercial records.
This Gulfstream V turbojet is believed to be used to transport
suspected
terrorists to other countries for interrogation -- a practice called
rendition.
(Special To The Washington Post)
Bryan P. Dyess, Steven E. Kent, Timothy R. Sperling and Audrey M.
Tailor are
names without residential, work, telephone or corporate histories --
just the
kind of "sterile identities," said current and former intelligence
officials,
that the CIA uses to conceal involvement in clandestine operations. In
this
case, the agency is flying captured terrorist suspects from one country
to
another for detention and interrogation.
The CIA calls this activity "rendition." Premier Executive's Gulfstream
helps
make it possible. According to civilian aircraft landing permits, the
jet has
permission to use U.S. military airfields worldwide.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, secret renditions have become a principal weapon
in the
CIA's arsenal against suspected al Qaeda terrorists, according to
congressional
testimony by CIA officials. But as the practice has grown, the agency
has had
significantly more difficulty keeping it secret...
-----
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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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMERICAN MUSLIMS FINGERPRINTED BY U.S. AT CANADIAN BORDER
CAIR calls for probe of 'profiling,' says incident chills religious
freedom
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/29/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group today called for a formal investigation by the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into an incident at the Canadian
border in which American Muslim citizens were apparently singled out
for
special security checks based on their attendance at an Islamic
conference
and then held until they agreed to be fingerprinted.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said
the
incident was a disturbing example of religious profiling that would
have a
chilling effect on the constitutional rights of American Muslims,
particularly the right to the free exercise of religion, freedom of
speech,
peaceful assembly, and the right to be "secure in their persons…against
unreasonable searches."
A number of the up to 40 Muslims who were singled out for questioning
and
fingerprinting told CAIR that they were returning from a weekend
Islamic
conference of more than 10,000 in Toronto when they were stopped by
U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the Lewiston Bridge
crossing near Niagara Falls, N.Y. (CBP is part of the Department of
Homeland Security. For conference details, see:
http://www.revivingtheislamicspirit.com/)
Several of the Muslim citizens held at the border for up to six hours
on
Sunday night and Monday morning told CAIR they objected strenuously to
being fingerprinted, but were informed by CBP representatives that "you
have no rights" and that they would be held until they agreed to the
fingerprinting procedure. One person was allegedly threatened with
arrest
if she attempted to leave the detention area without being
fingerprinted.
CBP officials on the scene cited "orders from above" to justify their
actions. One CBP official reportedly agreed with a Muslim traveler that
"it
would not look good" if the news media saw the detention area filled
exclusively with Muslims in Islamic attire. CAIR is investigating
similar
reports of demands for fingerprinting of conference attendees at other
border crossings.
When contacted by CAIR, a CBP spokesman in Washington, D.C., initially
said
fingerprinting of American citizens would be a "violation of policy."
He
later said fingerprinting would be allowed "if there was a law
enforcement
reason for doing so," but would not state what that reason might be.
Media reports on the incident quote CBP officials as saying some of the
Muslim citizens who were fingerprinted had names similar to those on
watch
lists. But that claim does not explain why everyone in the group of
conference attendees, even Muslim converts, were fingerprinted.
SEE: "Muslim-Americans Say Border Inspections Were Unwarranted"
http://www.wkbw.com/morenews/morenews.asp#8
Local DHS officials now say they will hold a community meeting next
week to
address the concerns of those who were forced to be fingerprinted.
"The image of a room full of American Muslim citizens apparently being
held
solely because of their faith and the fact that they attended an
Islamic
conference is one that should be disturbing to all Americans who value
religious freedom," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "This
incident
must be investigated to determine what the policy on fingerprinting
Muslim
citizens is and who is behind it."
Awad also urged anyone treated in a similar manner to contact CAIR's
Civil
Rights Department by calling 202-488-8787 or e-mailing
civilrights@cair-net.org.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@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
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 12/29/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE EACH OTHER
* U.S. MUSLIMS ASKED TO PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- Sample Press Release
- CAIR-FL: Tampa Bay Religious Leaders to Hold Interfaith
Service
- CAIR-OH: Central Ohio Muslims to Pray For Those Killed
* CAIR-FL: HELP, HOWEVER THEY CAN (The Star)
- CAIR-FL: Wallets Open To Aid Relief Effort (Tampa Trib)
- CAIR-FL: Drive Launched For Tsunami Victims (Sun Sentinel)
- CAIR: Faiths Offer Prayers for Victims (RNS)
- CAIR-MD & VA on American Muslim Relief Efforts (CNN)
- PA: Local Immigrant Groups Organizing Relief (Post-Gazette)
- NY: Fundraising Efforts Help Tsunami Victims (WOKR13.tv)
* CAIR-CAN: RIGHTS AND SECURITY: WE MUST HAVE BOTH (Toronto Star)
* BUILDING BRIDGES OF FAITH (News Review)
* INCITEMENT WATCH: ANN COULTER ‘TO THE PEOPLE OF ISLAM’
- No Muslims on Israeli Soccer Team (Haaretz)
* WHY'S THE FBI BLOWING UP BUSES? (Weekly Planet)
* IL: TWO FIRMS SUPPLYS JEWISH, ISLAMIC MILITARY MEMBERS (KWQC)
- Kosher Firm Finds Military Niche (Chicago Trib)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE EACH OTHER
“The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent Mu’adh and Abu Musa to
Yemen,
telling them: “Treat the people with ease don’t be hard on them; give
them glad
tidings and don’t fill them aversions (to good deeds); love each other,
and
don’t disagree.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 275
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS ASKED TO PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/29/04) - CAIR is calling on mosques and Islamic
centers
around North America to hold special prayers this Friday for those who
died as
a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The prayers,
called
salat al-ghaib, are performed for those who have died in a distant
place.
(NOTE: Normally, Islamic funeral prayers would be performed by the
local Muslim
community. Given the devastating nature of the tsunami, local prayers
may not
be possible and victims may not be recovered or identified.)
A sample news release is provided below for local Muslim communities.
CAIR also repeats its call for humanitarian relief for the survivors.
HOW TO HELP
The following organizations have announced that they will take part in
relief
efforts to assist the victims of the earthquake:
ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE RESPONSE launched an effort to get medical
supplies,
tents and sanitations facilities for the victims of the earthquake. To
donate,
send checks to Islamic Relief, 1919 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506,
call
(888) 479-4968, or visit: www.irw.org
ASIA RELIEF, a Maryland based nonprofit organization, is accepting
donations of
nonperishable food items, clothing and toys for victims of the tsunami
in Sri
Lanka. Cash donations are also being accepted. To contribute, drop
off
donations anytime at 19409 Olive Tree Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879.
Contact
Seyed Rizwan Mowlana at 301-672-9355 for more information.
ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA (ICNA) Relief has established an
Indonesia,
India & Seri Lanka Relief Fund to provide food, medicine, clothes,
tents &
other urgently needed supplies. To donate, visit www.ReliefOnLine.org
or send
checks to 166-26 89th Ave Jamaica, NY 11432, Tel.718-68-7028.
The INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT societies in south Asia
have begun
to mobilize staff and volunteers to affected areas to assist with the
immediate
needs. Emergency assessment and first-aid teams have already reached
some of
the affected areas.
Call 1-800-435-7669. Contributions to the International Response Fund
may be
sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red
Cross
International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Internet
users can make a secure online contribution by visiting
www.redcross.org.
CARE Australia teams from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand are
traveling
to affected areas to gauge the impact of the disaster. Donations can be
made
through the CARE Australia website (www.careaustralia.org.au) or call
1-800-020-046.
LIFE FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT is sending drinking water, food,
hygiene kits,
tents and blankets. LIFE will work on sending more emergency items in
the days
to come.
To make a donation, visit LIFE’s website at www.lifeusa.org or call
1-800-827-3543
ALSO SEE:
SAMPLE NEWS RELEASE
(NOTE: Modify the press release below by using local information. Then,
call
your local newspapers, TV and radio stations to find out the
appropriate person
to send the press release to. Also send a copy to the Daybook editor at
the
nearest Associated Press office. Visit www.ap.org for more details.)
LOCAL MUSLIMS TO PRAY FOR THOSE KILLED IN TSUNAMI
WHAT: On Friday, December 31, Muslims in [your city or state] will
offer prayers
for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in
Asia.
The prayers, called salat al-ghaib (sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or "prayers
for those
who have died in a distant place," will be held following the regular
Friday
Jum'ah prayers at [location].
WHEN: Friday, December 21. Jum'ah prayers begin at [time].
WHERE: [location, address and directions]
CONTACT: [names and phone numbers of contact people]
NOTE: Because this is a religious service, reporters and photographers
of both
sexes should dress modestly. Photographers should arrive early to get
into
position for the best shots. Photographers are also advised not to step
directly in front of worshipers and to seek permission for close-up
shots.
---
TAMPA BAY RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO HOLD INTERFAITH SERVICE FOR TSUNAMI
VICTIMS
(TAMPA, 12/29/04) The Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-FL) will join other religious groups in remembering
Tsunami
victims. A special Interfaith Service of Remembrance will held on
Thursday,
Dec. 30 and hosted by the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater.
WHAT: Interfaith Service for Tsunami Victims
WHEN: Thursday, December 30, 7:00PM
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church of Clearwater, 2470 Nursery Road,
Clearwater, FL
Participants include Ahmed Bedier, Council on American-Islamic
Relations(CAIR),
Rev. Leddy Hammock from Unity, Mr. Aziz Merchant from the Dunedin
Mosque,
Rabbis David Weizman and Danielle Upbin from Temple Beth Shalom, Bhante
Dhammawansha from the Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Meditation Center, Rev.
Abhi
Janamanchi from the Unitarian Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater and
other
faith leaders.
A special offering (donations) will be received to support relief and
rehabilitation efforts in South Asia.
Contact: Rev. Abhi Janamanchi 727-531-7704; Ahmed Bedier 813-731-9506
---
CENTRAL OHIO MUSLIMS TO PRAY FOR THOSE KILLED IN TSUNAMI
WHAT: On Friday, December 31, Muslims in Columbus will offer prayers
for those
who died as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The
prayers,
called salat al-ghaib (sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or "prayers for those who
have died
in a distant place," will be held following the regular Friday Jum'ah
prayers
at the Islamic Center of Columbus and other area mosques.
WHEN: Friday, December 21. Jum'ah prayers begin at 12:45 -- salat al-
ghaib will be around 1:15 pm following the Jum'ah prayer.
WHERE: Islamic Center of Columbus
1428 E Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio
CONTACT: Siraj Haji, 614-805-0001 or Ahmad Al-Akhras, CAIR-Ohio
president, 614-989-5916
-----
CAIR-FL: HELP, HOWEVER THEY CAN
Shanno Tan, The Star, 12/29/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1103802174272&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
TAMPA - She held out hope that her sister was alive, perhaps lying in a
hospital
somewhere in Sri Lanka. But Yasanthi Wedande learned Tuesday that the
bodies of
her sister and her sister's 3-year-old son had been found.
They were vacationing in a hotel along the coast when the waves came,
Wedande
said.
Jayantha Mallikarachchi's first cousin and his family were driving
along the
coast in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit. Their car was swept away. Only
one
body was found.
Wedande and Mallikarachchi were among several dozen mourners at a
special
service Tuesday night at the Florida Buddhist Vihara in Tampa. They
carried
flowers and offered prayers for the more than 58,000 people who died in
Sunday's disaster.
"We are grieving for the entire nation," said Vinita Witanachchi, 45,
of New
Tampa.
Sitting cross-legged on a rust-colored carpet, they chanted and prayed
for the
dead, who came from more than 11 countries.
"That's the only thing we can do now," said Renu Mallikarachchi, 37,
who lost
two relatives when their vehicle overturned. "What else?"
They poured water from a jug into a glass until the glass overflowed.
By doing
this, the good deeds they have performed in this life will transfer to
their
relatives who were killed.
Shanthi Paranawithana's sister in Sri Lanka got caught in the waves but
was
rescued. But her sister's mother-in-law and sister-in-law were washed
out to
sea.
The home she grew up in was flattened. Bodies were hanging from the
branches of
trees.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-FL: LOCAL WALLETS OPEN TO AID RELIEF EFFORT
Sherri Ackerman, Tampa Trib, 12/29/04
http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGBW5PV2B3E.html
TAMPA - Randall Knowles stares at a 5-year-old snapshot of him and a
Japanese
tourist in Phuket, Thailand.
They are smiling and posing amid shops and restaurants at Patong Beach
- exactly
where Knowles planned to be the day a deadly tsunami hit, leaving
thousands of
tourists and residents dead or missing.
``You kind of get dizzy,'' said the south Tampa man who runs Royal
Palace Thai
Restaurant on Howard Avenue with his wife, Tapanee Damrongwatanasuk.
``We
would've been right there.''
Knowles, 44, wanted to spend Christmas on the Southeast Asian island
with a
college friend, but a torn knee ligament kept the restaurateur home.
Now Knowles and his wife, whose family members in northern Thailand
were
unharmed, want to help any way they can. They have set up an account at
Bank of
America and a box inside the restaurant for donations toward relief
efforts.
They plan to deliver the money in person in February.
They are not alone in their support. From ethnic restaurants and
markets to
temples, mosques and churches, Tampa Bay area residents are working to
aid
countries affected by one of the world's worst disasters.
Customers stream into Thailand Restaurant on South Dale Mabry Avenue
asking
owner Amnuay Thambundit what they can do.
Some have visited the middle-class coastal area, where Europeans love
to
vacation, said Thambundit, a Bangkok native. Others are longtime
clients moved
by Internet and news accounts of the devastation.
Thambundit said he would like to have a donation box in his restaurant,
but
``I'm not a nonprofit.''
Instead, he tells his customers to call Wat Mongkolratanaram, the
Buddhist
Temple of Florida, in Tampa.
With about 500 members in the Tampa Bay area, the temple on Palm River
Road has
organized a fundraising drive with six Thai restaurants along with a
special
day of prayer and meditation.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, anyone wishing to donate money or
offer prayers
is welcome to attend the service, spokeswoman Chantana Turchany said.
Collections have just begun, she said, with the temple receiving many
telephone
calls from people wanting to know what they should do.
``Nothing like this has ever happened before,'' said Turchany, so
organizers are
still planning how to get the money to the Thai Army Relief Center in
Thailand
for distribution.
She worries that with the hurricanes this year, residents might not be
able to
give donations. But ``this is the giving season,'' Turchany said. ``So
hopefully they'll still have that generosity in mind.''
If they can't give a financial donation or come to the temple Saturday,
``please
say a special prayer,'' she said.
Ahmed Bedier, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
office in
Tampa, said there will be a special prayer for the victims and a
collection at
mosques on Friday. Local donations can be dropped off at the Islamic
Society of
Tampa Bay Area at 7326 E. Sligh Ave. or at the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations office at 8056 N. 56th St.
Muslims in the Bay area are grieving, Bedier said. About 50 percent of
the Sri
Lankan casualties were Muslims…
---
CAIR-FL: S. FLORIDA ASIANS LAUNCH DONATION DRIVE FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Madeline Baró Diaz and Lori Sykes, Sun Sentinel, 12/29/04
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-dquakeservice29dec29,0,6389628.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
South Floridians with ties to the South Asian countries devastated by
the
tsunami gathered Tuesday at a mosque in Miami-Dade County and a Hindu
Temple in
Davie to pray for the victims and appeal for donations.
At the Miami Gardens Mosque, an Islamic house of worship in northwest
Miami-Dade
County that is one of the largest and oldest mosques in South Florida,
Muslim
leaders launched relief efforts in South Florida's Muslim community.
"As believers, we believe this could be a test from God, to see how we
behave,
how we act, how we help each other," said Abdul Hamid Samra, imam of
the Miami
Gardens Mosque, late Tuesday afternoon. "We believe this is part of our
religion. These are good deeds. These are righteous deeds."
Some of the worshippers that go to Samra's mosque come from countries
affected,
such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia, he said. Although he had not
heard if
any of them were related to victims of the tsunami, Samra said he
expected to
hear more in the next few days.
When Ibrahim Dremali, imam of the Islamic Center of Boca Raton, heard
about the
massive earthquake and wave, he knew how devastating it could be. He
teaches
geology and oceanography at Broward Community College.
"I was completely shocked," he said. "This is a real disaster."
On Tuesday Dremali looked for the religious meaning behind the
geological
phenomenon.
"God puts people in tests all the time," he said.
That was a sentiment shared by the other imams and worshippers who
gathered at
the mosque. They said at a time like this, Muslims must step up and
show they
care about other human beings.
"It is our responsibility for each individual Muslim to carry this
mission,"
Dremali said. "All of us need to be very united, especially in this
kind of
disaster."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations of Florida, known as CAIR,
distributed
a list of places that will be accepting donations. CAIR executive
director
Altaf Ali said the hope was that the imams would speak to their
worshippers at
Friday prayers this week about the importance of helping the tsunami
victims.
"They will take this message back to their community," he said.
"Whenever
calamity befalls humanity, people of faith must come together…"
---
FAITHS OFFER PRAYERS FOR VICTIMS OF SOUTH ASIAN EARTHQUAKE, FLOODS
Religion News Service, 12/28/04
As relief organizations collect aid for the South Asian victims
devastated by
Sunday's (Dec. 26) earthquake and tidal waves, religious groups are
holding
services for families in the United States who have lost relatives in
the
disaster.
The Washington Buddhist Vihara, whose members are mostly from Sri Lanka
-- home
to an estimated 18,000 of the 44,000 victims -- will hold a memorial
service on
Friday (Jan. 31).
Katugastota Vidura, a monk at the Washington temple, said he and other
monks
have been visited by many families and conducted funeral services for
their
relatives who died in Sri Lanka. The rites include "transference"
ceremonies to
release the positive energy of the deceased's life work. The Vihara is
also
collecting funds to send to survivors.
Some of the hardest-hit American Muslims are those with relatives in
Indonesia,
the world's most populous Muslim nation, where the 9.0 earthquake
originated
off the coast of the island of Sumatra.
"Our chapters in various states are organizing prayer services for
those who
have lost loved ones," said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations. "There is a prayer that Muslims engage in
for those
who have lost loved ones in a distant land, in the absence of the body.
On
Friday, many mosques, I'm sure will be asking people to pray and give
aid…"
---
CAIR-MD & VA ON AMERICAN MUSLIM RELIEF EFFORTS
Bob Franken, CNN, 12/29/04
FRANKEN: Rizwan Mowlana says he has lost more than 30 members of his
family
after the tsunami slammed into his native Sri Lanka. But now he's
trying to
turn his personal grief into help from afar.
MOWLANA: I'm in a place, in a position, better position than most
people. And I
think it's my -- it's incumbent on me to do something (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
FRANKEN: As word of Mowlana's effort has spread, strangers are
gathering what
they can and bringing it here to his home, hoping to fill a container
that will
be shipped to Sri Lanka and fill their need to be involved.
MOWLANA: It was one of the ways that I thought that we could assist in
this
horrendous disaster
VERONICA MCFADDEN, CONTRIBUTOR: Everyone is tested at some time in
their life.
And I think it's part of -- part of your life to affect others and give
what
you can.
FRANKEN: Mowlana works for the Council on American-Islamic relations,
but this
relief effort, he says, reaches beyond any one group.
MOWLANA: It doesn't matter if you are Jewish or Christians or Hindus or
Buddhists. Times of calamity, you've got to be out there. Otherwise,
you know,
you are less than human being. FRANKEN (on camera): There are obvious
questions
about these individual efforts, particularly with established, credible
organizations sending relief, massive relief.
(voice-over): But Mowlana explains this is his personal way to provide
assistance from this country to help the devastated one he left.
---
LOCAL IMMIGRANT GROUPS ORGANIZING RELIEF
Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12/28/04
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04363/433495.stm
The tidal waves that swept from South Asia to East Africa Sunday
morning have
riveted the attention of every major relief agency -- and may bring new
attention to relief efforts by minority communities in the United
States.
V. Velpari of Monroeville could picture the devastation in southeast
India even
before he saw it on satellite television. He is from Tamil Nadu, a
state hit
hard by the tsunami. And, as treasurer of the Southwestern Pennsylvania
Chapter
of the Tamil Nadu Foundation, which runs relief programs in that
region, he
knew he would be involved in the response.
His native city of Chennai -- formerly known as Madras -- is just
inland from
the fishing villages that were obliterated by the towering wall of
water.
Sunday mornings are a popular time for people to gather on the beach
and
purchase fresh fish from boatmen who have been on the water all night.
The wave
could not have hit at a worse time, he said.
Although Chennai has prospered through India's technology boom, the
fishing
villages have not shared the wealth.
"Most of the people who got killed are poor people," he said.
The Tamil Nadu Foundation will be collecting relief funds. The group
has a
social service center in Chennai that will determine how the money is
used.
Donations can be sent to the Tamil Nadu Foundation. USA, 1500 Scenery
Ridge
Road, Pittsburgh 15241…
Donations for both the International Red Crescent and International Red
Cross
should be made through the Pittsburgh office of the American Red Cross
at 225
Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. They should be marked
"International
Response Fund." Islamic Relief Worldwide, www.irw.org/asiaquake/, is
channeling
donations to the victims…
-----
NY: FUNDRAISING EFFORTS SEEK TO HELP TSUNAMI VICTIMS
WOKR13.TV, 12/29/04
http://www.wokr13.tv/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=88E95D78-2BFA-40C3-B372-633B80B13D5D
Rochester, NY - Islamic groups in cities across upstate New York are
rallying to
help the victims and survivors of the Indian Ocean earthquake and
devastating
tsunami.
More than 22,000 people were killed and a million were left homeless in
the
disaster that struck on Sunday.
At the Islamic Center of Rochester, about a dozen worshippers gathered
for an
informal prayer service Monday night. The service marked the start of a
fund-raising effort for the victims and survivors.
The local Muslim community raised thousands of dollars early this year
for the
survivors of the earthquake that killed 35,000 Iranians in December
2003.
On Monday, Governor George Pataki urged New Yorkers to donate to the
Red Cross
relief effort.
-----
CAIR-CAN: RIGHTS AND SECURITY: WE MUST HAVE BOTH
Riad Saloojee, Toronto Star, 12/29/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1103802174272&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
Eight to one. That margin represented an overwhelming repudiation by
Britain's high court when it ruled recently that the London government
cannot
detain foreign suspects indefinitely without bringing them to trial.
Nine Muslims launched the appeal after being held for nearly three
years under
the country's Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act.
In its ruling the court stressed both the disproportionality of the
measures -
"draconian measures" that "cannot strictly be required by the
exigencies of the
situation" - and their clear and present violation of the rule of the
law.
The British ruling rings familiar. In June of this year, the U.S.
Supreme Court
held, 6-3, that Guantanamo Bay prisoners are entitled to due process
"no less
than American citizens" to challenge the evidence against them, among
other
rights.
In Canada, the issues ring familiar. Five Muslim non-citizens have
waited a
combined total of more than 174 months - about 14 years - in Canadian
jail
cells under what might be the country's dirtiest little secret:
security
certificates.
The men have languished in a legal black hole, without bail or charge
and unable
to respond to the evidence against them. All face the risk of
deportation to
torture.
Much to the shock of human rights advocates, the Federal Court of
Appeal
recently upheld the use of secret evidence and the differential
treatment of
non-citizens. The case will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court.
The decisions underscore a key intellectual battle of our times that is
usually
presented as a take-it or leave-it binary: security or human rights.
In Canada, as in a number of other countries, the victor has been an
expansive
security agenda that has seen a host of legislation passed with much
still in
the works. The loser has been both a number of fundamental rights - the
right
of an open trial, to due process, to see the evidence against you, to
be free
from torture, not to be held without cause - and the rule of law, with
its
insistence that state actions cannot be arbitrary, discriminatory or
without
accountability…
Riad Saloojee is executive director of the Canadian Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
-----
BUILDING BRIDGES OF FAITH
Paul Craig, News Review, 12/28/04
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20041228/NEWS/112280007
Roseburg United Methodist pastor Robert Flaherty will lead a class on
Christianity and Islam starting Monday.
The Rev. Robert Flaherty once had a Muslim man in Saudi Arabia call him
"the
closest thing I've ever seen to a Muslim in a Christian."
That feeling of brotherhood and humanity is what Flaherty hopes to
convey with a
series of classes on Christianity and Islam beginning Jan. 3.
Flaherty, pastor at Roseburg's First United Methodist Church, will lead
the
five-class discussion on the two philosophies. While they have
coexisted as two
of the world's oldest known religions, they are often characterized by
their
differences.
Flaherty even put that to a test on an Internet message board. He asked
Christians there what the word Islam made them think. Answers included,
"terrorist," "Shiite," "Taliban" and "jihad."
"Until we, on both sides, are willing to stop these negative
characterizations
... we're just perpetuating animosity," Flaherty said.
Flaherty has firsthand knowledge of many religions, including Islam. He
helped
organize a "gathering of many faiths" for more than a year in Roseburg,
through
May 2004.
In July, he attended the Parliament of the World's Religions in
Barcelona,
Spain. Around 8,000 people attended and Flaherty said he learned about
spirituality, fundamentalism and Islam.
Flaherty also served as an active duty Army chaplain for nine years,
acting as
supervisor for all religions, including the Muslim community.
It was in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War that Flaherty encountered
the
aforementioned Muslim man who accepted him, even calling him his
"Muslim
brother…"
WHAT: Five-week series of classes on Christianity and Islam, presented
by the
Rev. Robert Flaherty.
WHERE: First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 1771 W. Harvard
Ave.,
Roseburg.
WHEN: 7 p.m., Mondays from Jan. 3 through Jan. 31. The class agenda
will be
repeated at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from Jan. 5 through Feb. 2.
RESERVATIONS: The class is free and nondenominational, but please call
672-1629
to reserve a space.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: ANN COULTER “TO THE PEOPLE OF ISLAM”
Washington Post, 12/29/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32621-2004Dec28.html
And we leave you with a belated and un-Christmasy Christmas thought
given to us
by none other than that the liberal-blasting, knock-you-off-your-seat
Ann
Coulter, as posted on her Web site last week. Stand back, people, here
it
comes: "To The People Of Islam: Just think: If we'd invaded your
countries,
killed your leaders and converted you to Christianity YOU'D ALL BE
OPENING
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS RIGHT ABOUT NOW! Merry Christmas." When we asked
Coulter
what the response was to this little ditty, she e-mailed us: "It's a
big hit!"
We bet.
ALSO SEE:
NO MUSLIMS AT BETAR, FANS WARN
Itzik Ganish, Haaretz, 12/29/04
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520409.html
Two months after Nigerian defender Ibrahim Nadala departed from Betar
Jerusalem
after fans verbally harassed him for being a Muslim, some fans are
voicing
similar feelings about a possible Betar signing of Ghanaian forward
Ismail
Ido.
Two Betar fans made calls to this reporter on his cellular phone at
Hadashot
Netanya yesterday, inquiring about Ido's religious background. Ido
played for
Maccabi Netanya in the past.
The first caller, who identified himself as Yisrael, said: "They told
us in
Jerusalem that you could help us."
Reporter: "How?"
"Do you know if Ismail is Muslim or Christian?"
"I'm not sure."
"Check for us, b'hayat rabak (by the life of God), before our
management screws
up again. I'll get back to you. Check, do me a favor, so there won't be
any
mistakes.
"Why? What difference does it make?"
"What do you mean? If he's Muslim, then we veto him, [Betar chairman
Meir]
Fenigil will have a veto on his hands. You know, it's serious, I'm
asking
you."
An hour and a half later, another fan called:
"My name is Lior. I'm with some Betar fans, we called you earlier to
find out if
Ismail Ido is an Arab or a Christian. Can you let us know?"
"He's Christian. He even has a cross, and before he goes out on the
field he
crosses himself…"
-----
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ORKIN? WHY'S THE FBI BLOWING UP BUSES?
John F. Sugg, Weekly Planet, 12/29/04
http://www.weeklyplanet.com/news_feature2.html
Ah, the end of December. Time to tie up some loose ends on stories I've
written
in the past year. First, some New Year's debugging.
In September, I wrote about curious affairs involving America's
best-known pest
terminator, Orkin. The Atlanta-based company promises to inspect
properties
annually after treating them for termites. If more wood-eating vermin
are
found, Orkin vows (depending on the contract) either to re-treat the
property
or to repair any damage.
In a pesky swarm of litigation throughout the South, customers claimed
that
Orkin violated its pledges. Orkin's response was that the lawsuits
represented
isolated incidents. Even with several million-dollar-plus judgments,
the
company's $671 million in revenues last year ($36 million in profits)
was
hardly threatened.
That may change.
A Florida judge on Dec. 16 pinned a giant target on the red diamond
Orkin
emblem. The judge said there were sufficient facts to transform
individual
lawsuits into a "class action." Now, instead of customers seeking
relatively
minor sums to settle complaints, Orkin faces a bill that could run as
high as
$150 million.
The question that the Planet raised in our earlier report -- and one
that Orkin
won't answer -- is how did a company known for quality and integrity
descend
into activities that reflect the worst of corporate America?
For example, I disclosed internal Orkin memos where executives fretted
that
"fraud, theft and forgery" by company employees were getting out of
hand.
Depositions by ex-employees documented that properties weren't
re-inspected,
and thousands of customers' signatures were forged on re-inspection
forms. More
critical, in cases ranging from a Baptist church in the hamlet of
Winton, N.C.,
to apartment houses in Tampa, to homeowners throughout the South,
evidence
supports claims that the company hid termite devastation from customers
and,
rather than repair damage, merely covered it up.
Orkin's new boss, Glen Rollins, gives every indication of wanting to
clean up
the nastiness that occurred under his father, Gary. In an October
deposition,
Gary Rollins essentially admitted many of the company's faults -- but
insisted
policies and procedures were rectifying the problems. However, such
reform has
yet to extend to notifying customers that in the past they may have
been
scammed and victimized.
Now those customers are likely to get the word, despite Orkin's furious
legal
efforts to keep its disputes quiet. Floridians who have called the
Orkin Man
now will get letters from the Anti-Orkin Men -- the lawyers who have
won
class-action status for their lawsuits.
In Tampa, state Circuit Court Judge Emmett Battles ruled that
litigation brought
by two homeowners qualified for class-action status. A conservative
estimate
contained in the judge's order is that 60,000 Florida customers are
covered by
the "class."
-----
IL: TWO CHICAGO FIRMS SUPPLY MRES FOR JEWISH, ISLAMIC MILITARY MEMBERS
KWQC, 12/29/04
http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=2742783
CHICAGO - There was a time when military members who adhered to Jewish
or
Islamic dietary requirements often faced the choice of violating their
consciences or lugging their own rations in their duffel bags.
But now observant Jewish or Muslim troops in places like Afghanistan
and Iraq
can dine guilt-free on meals from two Chicago companies that produce
military
rations.
The kosher firm My Own Meals Incorporated and its Islamic counterpart,
J-and-M
Company, are the military's sole providers of Meals Ready to Eat that
meet the
standards of the Jewish and Muslim diets.
The meals are produced under the eye of Jewish or Muslim inspectors.
They adhere
to religious requirements, like not cooking with alcohol for Muslims,
or not
combining dairy and meat for Jewish soldiers.
ALSO SEE:
KOSHER FIRM FINDS MILITARY NICHE;
Russell Working, Chicago Tribune, 12/29/04
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0412290261dec29,1,6395998.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed
There was a time when military members who adhered to Jewish or Islamic
dietary
requirements often faced the choice of violating their consciences or
lugging
their own rations in their duffel bags.
But nowadays observant Jewish and Muslim troops in places such as
Afghanistan and Iraq can dine guilt-free on meals such as chicken
Mediterranean
or Florentine lasagna from two Chicago companies that produce military
rations.
The kosher firm My Own Meals Inc. and its Islamic-oriented spinoff, J&M
Co., are the military's sole providers of Meals Ready to Eat--a form of
prepackaged rations--that meet the standards of the Jewish and Muslim
diets.
Produced under the eye of Jewish or Muslim inspectors, the meals have
found a
market niche in serving troops whose needs the Pentagon had overlooked
until
the mid-1990s.
The military long ago abandoned its much-maligned C rations in favor of
MREs, which feature dinners like pork ribs and beef enchiladas. These
don't have
to be refrigerated and can be heated in a pouch with a chemical element
that
boils when water is added.
But Muslims and kosher-eating Jews can't consume pork, and there are
other
requirements. For example, Muslims may not consume food prepared with
alcohol,
while Jews may not eat shellfish, or dairy and meat together…
-----
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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 - 12/30/04
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE KEYS TO PARADISE
* CAIR-SV: MUSLIMS LAUNCH TSUNAMI RELIEF FUNDRAISING DRIVE
- ICNA-Houston Host Tsunami Fundraiser
- IMRC Tsunami Relief Efforts
* CAIR: ISLAMIC GROUP PROTESTS DETENTION AT BORDER (AP)
- Muslims Seek Probe on Being Fingerprinted (Buffalo News)
- 38 Muslims Stopped After Local Conference (Toronto Star)
* INTIMIDATION, PROFILING: INEFFECTIVE TERRORISM TOOLS (Miami Herald)
* MUSLIMS DECRY '24' DEPICTION (NY Daily News)
- FOX'S 24 Angers Muslim Group (B & C)
* DON'T HAVE TO BE CHRISTIAN TO RESPECT CHRISTIANITY (Post Dispatch)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE KEYS TO PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “O people, Greet others
in peace,
feed (the poor and needy), behave kindly to your relatives, offer
prayer when
others are asleep, and (thus) enter Paradise in peace.”
Al- Tirmidhi, Hadith 269
-----
CAIR-SV: MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO LAUNCH TWO WEEK LONG TSUNAMI RELIEF
FUNDRAISING
DRIVE
WHAT: Special Prayers: On Friday, December 31, Muslims in Sacramento
Valley will
offer prayers for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake
and
tsunami in Asia. The prayers, called salat al-ghaib
(sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or
"prayers for those who have died in a distant place," will be held
following
the regular Friday Jum'ah prayers at various Sacramento Valley area
Mosques
(See below).
Tsunami Relief Fundraising Drive: The Imams will speak on the Tsunami
tragedy in
Juma Khutba (Friday Congregational Prayer Sermon) and encourage
worshippers to
contribute to the relief efforts. This will begin a two week long
Tsunami
Relief Fundraising Drive by the Muslim Community.
WHEN: Friday, December 31. Jum'ah prayers begin at 1:00 PM.
WHERE: Area Mosques. For location, address and directions, please
contact
CAIR-SV
CONTACT: Basim Elkarra, 916-289-3748, E-Mail: sacval@cair.com
NOTE: Because this is a religious service, reporters and photographers
of both
sexes should dress modestly. Photographers should arrive early to get
into
position for the best shots. Photographers are also advised not to step
directly in front of worshipers and to seek permission for close-up
shots.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 28 offices nationwide and in Canada.
ALSO SEE:
ICNA-HOUSTON HOST TSUNAMI FUNDRAISER
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Houston Chapter invites the
whole
Houstonian Community to the "Tsunami Fundraiser" on Saturday, January
15, 2005
between 7PM.-10PM. at Islamic Dawah Center Downtown located at Travis
and
Franklin.
A team of ICNA Relief volunteers soon after will take the funds raised
at this
occasion on a "Tsunami Disaster Recuperation Effort" visit to
Indonesia, India
& Sri Lanka.
ICNA Relief has done similar assistance work in the past in several
countries
hit by natural disasters and/or war.
More information on ICNA Relief can be received from the website:
www.ICNA.Org
More details will soon be announced about this fund-raising effort.
In the mean time, if you have suggestions and/or questions, please call
for more
information Hanif Harris at 713-298-6811 or Ayub Badat at 832-276-9850.
---
INDIAN MUSLIM RELIEF & CHARITES TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS
WHAT: Emergency relief work is underway in 3 areas in India: Andhra
Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu & the Andaman/ Nicobar Islands.
The immediate work is to identify dead bodies, especially those of the
Muslims,
in the mortuaries and other locations to arrange appropriate burials.
At this
time, distributing basic foodstuffs such as rice, bread and other
necessities
such as drinking water, clothing, medicine and utensils is the
immediate
priority. 100% of your donation goes to the victims.
IMRC’s goal is to raise $250,000 within the next 10 days.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. Please help us reach our goal by donating generously to IMRC in
order to
enable us to help the unfortunate people who have been affected by this
calamity. Contributions to IMRC (Tax-Id #: 27-0058132) can be made
through
secure online credit-card deductions via IMRC's website
(http://www.imrc.ws).
Please indicate that your contribution is for "Tsunami Relief". Checks
made out
to "IMRC" can also be mailed to: IMRC, 800 San Antonio Road Ste #1 Palo
Alto CA
94303
2. Please spread the word among your friends, family and the community.
a. Help make announcements at your local masjid, distribute copies of
this
appeal and collect help for the victims. A khutba on this topic would
be
great.
3. See if your employer has donation matching program and make use of
it. Please
contact your human resources department for such information.
For additional information, please call (650) 856-0440 or email
info@imrc.ws
-----
CAIR: ISLAMIC GROUP PROTESTS DETENTION AT BORDER
Associated Press, 12/29/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/30/nyregion/30muslim.html
BUFFALO - An Islamic civil rights group accused United States border
agents on
Wednesday of religious profiling after dozens of American Muslims were
searched, fingerprinted and photographed while returning from a
religious
conference in Toronto.
Some of those stopped said they were held at the Lewiston-Queenston
Bridge for
six hours or more with no explanation.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and
Border
Protection bureau, Kristie Clemens, said that agents had detained
anyone who
said they attended the three-day convention, titled "Reviving the
Islamic
Spirit." She said that such gatherings could be a means for terrorists
to
promote their cause.
Galeb Rizek, 32, who was born in the United States and attended the
conference, said that being detained, "you really feel like a criminal,
and you
haven't done anything wrong."
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations demanded an
investigation by Homeland Security officials.
"The image of a room full of American Muslim citizens apparently being
held
solely because of their faith and the fact that they attended an
Islamic
conference is one that should be disturbing to all Americans who value
religious freedom," said Nihad Awad, the council's executive director…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS SEEK PROBE ON BEING FINGERPRINTED
Buffalo News, 12/30/04
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20041230/1022459.asp
NIAGARA FALLS - The fingerprinting of Muslims returning from a
religious
conference in Canada has prompted calls for an investigation from an
Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group.
The Washington, D.C.,-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said
the
incident is a disturbing example of religious profiling that would have
a
chilling effect on the constitutional rights of American Muslims.
It happened earlier this month, when Muslims returning from an Islamic
conference in Toronto were detained at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
until they
agreed to be fingerprinted. Some said they were held for as long as six
hours.
A spokeswoman for Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection
said agents
stopped anyone who said they attended the three-day convention,
"Reviving the
Islamic Spirit," based on information that such gatherings can be a
means for
terrorists to promote their cause.
A Customs and border spokeswoman, Kristie Clemens, said 34 people were
stopped
at the Lewiston bridge and four others were checked at the Rainbow
Bridge in
Niagara Falls. They were held for an average of 21/2 hours and offered
coffee
and tea, she said.
Clemens acknowledged the inconvenience over the additional security
measures but
said with the threat of terrorism, there was no room for error.
"As the front-line border agency, it is our duty to verify the identity
of
individuals - including U.S. citizens - and one way of doing that is
fingerprinting," Clemens said.
The Muslim group is demanding an investigation by homeland security
officials…
---
38 MUSLIMS STOPPED AFTER LOCAL CONFERENCE
Hicham Safieddine, Toronto Star, 12/30/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1104362424911&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
A Muslim civil rights group is calling for an investigation by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security after nearly 40 American Muslims were
detained,
photographed or fingerprinted upon returning to the United States after
attending a religious conference in Toronto last weekend.
The Council on American Islamic Relations said the group was singled
out at
Canadian border crossings Sunday night and Monday morning on their way
back
from the three-day Reviving Islamic Spirit conference at SkyDome.
"It is absolutely outrageous that American citizens are being forced to
undergo
such unwarranted inspection," Washington-based council spokesperson
Ibrahim
Hooper said yesterday.
Kristie Clemens, a spokesperson for Homeland Security's Customs and
Border
Protection, said 34 people were stopped at the Lewiston crossing and
four
others were checked at the nearby Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. They
were
held for an average of 21/2 hours and offered coffee and tea. "We have
ongoing
credible information that conferences such as the one that these 34
individuals
just left in Toronto may be used by terrorist organizations to promote
terrorist activities, which includes travelling and fundraising,"
Clemens
said.
"As the front-line border agency, it is our duty to verify the identity
of
individuals - including U.S. citizens - and one way of doing that is
fingerprinting."
Hamza Yusuf, a keynote speaker at the conference attended by thousands
of North
American Muslims, had met with U.S. President George W. Bush after the
Sept. 11
attacks. He was detained and interrogated for several hours by U.S.
Customs
officials at Pearson airport Tuesday afternoon before boarding his
flight to
San Francisco.
"They asked me about the religion of my family and wanted to make
photocopies of
my notebook and other material without being able to tell me what I was
accused
for.
"When I said I have rights as an American citizen, they said they don't
apply at the border…"
"If anyone is to blame, it is those who are giving orders, not the
people
following them," he said after arriving in California.
-----
INTIMIDATION, PROFILING ARE INEFFECTIVE TERRORISM TOOLS
Miami Herald, 12/30/04
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/editorial/10527068.htm
Two new reports on post-9/11 treatment of immigrants by the U.S.
government
question how effectively immigration officials are dealing with the
threat of
terrorism posed by foreign nationals.
A report from the American Civil Liberties Union documents the
devastating
effects of the 2002 rule requiring men from Arab and Muslim countries
to
register with the Department of Homeland Security. The program, which
has since
been dropped, didn't ferret out any terrorists. But it did result in
the
indefinite detention of 5,000 Muslim men for no legitimate reasons and
deportation of thousands of men for minor immigration violations. The
deportations split families and emptied predominantly Muslim
communities of
businesses and workers.
Increased vigilance
The Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center report says that federal
officials in
Florida intimidate undocumented migrants and wrongly detain Haitian
refugees
seeking asylum. Immigration officials say that's not true, that they
simply
carry out their duties as defined by U.S. laws.
In truth, we can't fault them for increased vigilance. U.S. immigration
and
customs officials crack down on illegal immigration to safeguard our
borders.
However, U.S. officials deserve censure for using intimidation tactics
and
targeting distinct groups for Gestapo-like treatment.
The Muslim-and-Arab registration program succeeded only in alienating
Muslim
communities at a time when the U.S. government needed their support to
find
real terrorist plotters. Men were held without charges and without
access to
lawyers for months and even held long after their cases were decided in
their
favor. The majority of the deportees were law-abiding, taxpaying
residents who
had minor immigration infractions. Their deportations did nothing but
fuel
resentment against the United States…
-----
MUSLIMS DECRY '24' DEPICTION
Richard Huff, Daily News, 12/30/04
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/266720p-228238c.html
Kiefer Sutherland of '24.'
The first new episode this season of Fox's "24" has yet to hit the
screen and
already the network has offended a Muslim group.
After viewing a portion of the first episode included on a DVD in
Entertainment
Weekly, officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations
expressed
dismay at the depiction of a Muslim family.
"At first I was shocked," organization spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed told
the Daily
News. "In this particular case, they show an American-Muslim family and
they
portray them as terrorists."
Ahmed was alerted to the 24-minute promotional DVD earlier this week.
At issue is a scene in which a teenager helps his parents plot to kill
Americans.
"What we will accomplish today will change the world," the father tells
the son
over breakfast. "We are fortunate that our family has been chosen to do
this."
Ahmed said the scene "casts a cloud of suspicion over every
American-Muslim
family out there."
A Fox spokesman said the company had no comment.
Ahmed acknowledged the possibility that in the remaining half of the
first
episode - which was not on the promotional DVD - the story line could
have
indicated this was not a typical family.
In fact, based on preview episodes sent to critics for the start of the
"24"
season, while the family appears traditional on the surface, they turn
out to
be a sleeper terrorist cell.
Such a story line is not unusual for "24," which centers on Kiefer
Sutherland,
as Jack Bauer, an counterterrorism agent who works for the secretary of
defense.
ALSO SEE:
FOX'S 24 ANGERS MUSLIM GROUP
Jim Finkle, 12/29/04
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA490488?display=Breaking+News
Fox is under fire from at least one group for scenes in the Jan. 9
debut of
drama 24 that portray a Muslim teen-ager and his parents as members of
a
terrorist cell plotting a mass attack on Americans.
It’s the second Fox show to generate controversy in the past two weeks,
following demands by the National Council for Adoption that Fox cancel
Who’s
Your Daddy, a guess-your-birthfather reality special the network may
develop
into a series.
Concerns about 24 were raised by a preview of the Jan. 9 season-opener
in a DVD
sent to some general entertainment magazine subscribers..
On of the villains is a Walkman-toting, bubble-gum-chewing teenager who
fights
with his conservative Dad about dating an American girl and talking on
the
phone.
The young man also helps his parents mastermind a plot to kill large
numbers of
Americans that begins with an attack on a train.
Over the breakfast table, the father tells his son: “What we will
accomplish
today will change the world. We are fortunate that that our family has
been
chosen to do this. “Yes, father,” his son replies.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights and advocacy
group,
plans to bring their concerns about the episode to Fox, says group
spokeswoman
Rabiah Ahmed.
That group has previously received complaints about the depiction of
Muslims on
24, but this episode is particularly egregious, she said.
“They are taking everyday American Muslim families and making them
suspects;
they’re making it seem like families are co-conspirators in this
terrorist
plot." In another scene, she says, a terrorist is shown coming out of a
mosque.
The way the episode depicts Muslims creates an atmosphere in which many
Americans look at all Muslims as suspects in the war on terror, she
adds. “It’s
very dangerous and very disturbing.”
Hate crimes and civil rights abuses against Muslims have soared since
the Sept.
11 attacks. Surveys commissioned by the council show that more than 40%
of
Americans believe it’s appropriate to curb the civil rights of Muslims
as part
of the war on terror…
------
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CHRISTIAN TO RESPECT CHRISTIANITY
Eric Mink, Post-Dispatch, 12/29/04
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/ericmink/story/52C8DAB903B0E9EA86256F790037B517?OpenDocument&Headline=RELIGION%3A+You+don't+have+to+be+Christian+to+respect+Christia&highlight=2%2Cmink
People of different faiths coexist respectfully and have much in
common; shared
moral, ethical and religious values transcend religious labels.
Last week, this commentary page carried an opinion piece by Ibrahim
Hooper, who
represents the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Reflecting the season's sentiments of peace and good will, Hooper wrote
of the
commonalties of Islam and Christianity. Among other things, he noted
that
"disrespect toward Jesus, something we have seen all too often in our
society,
is very offensive to Muslims."
For some Christian readers, however, it was Hooper's comments that gave
offense. "Can anything be more disrespectful," wrote an Illinois man,
"than the
Quran's denying that (Jesus) was crucified and raised from the dead?"
Others
noted that Islam does not accept Jesus' divinity.
These reactions - the article didn't provoke a lot of response, but the
references above are representative - disturbed me deeply. Not for
their
personal testimonies of faith, certainly, but because by the criteria
they set
forth, the only way to show respect for Christianity is to be a
Christian.
They have every right to feel that way, of course, but with 2 billion
Christians and 4.4 billion non-Christians in the world, it is a formula
for
conflict and hostility without end. If they regard affirmations of
other
beliefs as declarations of contempt for theirs, they are left no basis
on which
to seek common ground and shared values and no incentive to embrace,
much less
practice, tolerance.
I am not a Christian. I am Jewish. I do not believe that Jesus was the
son of
God or that he rose from the dead. I do not believe that he was the
messiah
prophesied in the Old Testament or that the New Testament is a holy
text…
-----
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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 - 1/1/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: EVERYONE RETURNS TO GOD
* CAIR-FL REP HONORED (Tampa Tribune)
- CAIR-Chicago: Prayers, Pledges from Chicago (Chicago Trib)
- CAIR-LA: Bush Boosts U.S. Aid Tenfold (LA Times)
* DANIEL PIPES CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON MUSLIM CIVIL LIBERTIES (E&P)
- PIPES: 'I do support the internment of Japanese Americans'
- Respect American Muslims (Washington Post)
* U.S. MUSLIMS PRAY FOR, AID TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- FL: Muslims Share in Grief (Orlando Sentinel)
- NY: Muslims Pray for Tsunami Victims (Poughkeepsie Journal)
- UT: Mormons, Muslims Team Up for Airlift (Salt Lake Tribune)
- KY: Muslims Pray for Victims of Tsunamis (Courier-Journal)
- FL: Prayers Said for Quake Victims (Miami Herald)
- IL: Muslims Raise Funds for Tsunami Survivors (Journal-Reg)
- CT: Muslims Organize Help for Tsunami Victims (WTNH)
- TX: Wichita Falls Muslims to Pray for Dead (Times Record News)
- GA: Muslims Will Pray for Tsunami Victims (Banner Herald)
- WV: Muslims Raising Funds, Praying for Victims (Daily Mail)
* CA: HIDAYA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES COLLECTION DRIVE FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
* MOHAMMED IS HAVING AN ALL-STAR SEASON (New York Times)
* JUSTICE DEPT. TOUGHENS RULE ON TORTURE (New York Times)
- Torture Akin to Terror (Palm Beach Post)
* WILL AIPAC BE FORCED TO FILE AS 'FOREIGN AGENT'? (Forward)
* UT: MOSQUE HELPS BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER (Deseret Morning News)
- KS: First Permanent Mosque Opens in Overland Park (KC Star)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: EVERYONE RETURNS TO GOD
"Every human being is bound to taste death. We test you (all) through
the
bad and the good (things of life) by way of trial. And unto Us you all
must
return."
The Holy Quran, 21:35
-----
CAIR-FL REP HONORED
TAMPA BAY'S 25 PEOPLE TO WATCH
Tampa Tribune, 1/1/05
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBTLX98F3E.html
AHMED BEDIER
If it involves Hillsborough County's Muslim community, Bedier probably
will
be on the front lines. The director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations office in Tampa spoke out on a University of South Florida
basketball player's right to wear Muslim attire on the court and asked
the
Hillsborough County school board to recognize Islamic holidays. The
media
frequently tap Bedier, 30, for views on the backlash against the
Islamic
community stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks.
AHNED BEDIER QUOTE:
St. Petersburg Times, 1/1/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/01/Northpinellas/Congregations_gather_.shtml
Ahmed Bedier, communications director of the Tampa office of the
Council on
American Islamic Relations, said the disaster served as a reminder that
life is short, precious and fragile.
"All of us at one time or another will taste death," he said. "To a
Muslim,
death is not the end of a journey. This is a temporary life."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO: PRAYERS, PLEDGES FROM CHICAGO
Gayle Worland, Chicago Tribune, 1/1/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0501010241jan01,1,5780991.story
In Islam, the traditional funeral prayer is called Salat Al-Janazah.
But during their regular Jumu'ah prayer services at mosques across the
Chicago area Friday, congregations instead said Salat Al-Ghaib.
As the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia climbed
past the 121,000 mark Friday, religious communities responded with
sacred
rituals to remember the dead and looked for ways to help survivors…
During Friday prayers at the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook,
spiritual leader Imam Senad Agic urged members to do something
different
Jan. 20 as they observe Eid-ul-Adha, a holiday during which Muslims
traditionally donate money to buy meat for the poor.
This year, he suggested, they might consider directing their gifts to
help
feed survivors of the tsunami. The center also has set up accounts in
three
Asian countries to speed the delivery of cash to those who need it,
said
Ahmed Rehab, communications director for the Chicago office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations.
Rehab, who attended services at the center Friday, said funds from the
congregation will be collected over time, and no total was immediately
available. "I did overhear one doctor giving $25,000," he said…
---
CAIR-LA: BUSH BOOSTS U.S. AID TENFOLD
Edwin Chen, Maggie Farley and Elizabeth Shogren, LA Times, 1/1/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-quake1jan01,0,4678680.story
CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush announced a tenfold increase Friday in
U.S. aid to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, pledging $350 million
to
address an "epic disaster" that he said could require still greater
sums.
The leap in assistance marked the fourth consecutive day in which the
Bush
administration has widened its response to the Asian catastrophe amid
criticism that the U.S. reacted to the burgeoning humanitarian crisis
with
too little and too late…
In spite of Bush administration efforts to convey a deep involvement in
the
crisis, Muslim community leaders said that the White House's early
inaction
would be remembered, especially by those who see U.S. war outlays as an
indicator of Bush's priorities.
"If we can afford to spend hundreds of billions of dollars waging war,
I'm
sure we can do more to help alleviate the suffering of millions of
people
in that part of the world," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of
the
Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
which represents a community of 600,000.
Ayloush called Friday's commitment of $350 million "a good start," but
added, "I have no doubt in my mind that the American people will give
more
in private donations."
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in Washington, said Bush needed to continue trying to make up for a
slow
start.
"I think even the president's advisors recognize now that he was a
little
late about speaking out about the dimensions of the disaster, and the
United States was a bit tardy in real material assistance," Hooper
said.
"I'm hoping they're going to make up for initial perception and aid
those
in need, whoever they are…"
-----
COLUMNIST PIPES CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON CIVIL LIBERTIES FOR ALL
MUSLIM-AMERICANS
Editor & Publisher, 12/31/04
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000744193
NEW YORK When an opinion survey released by Cornell University last
week
found that 44% of Americans wanted to curtail the civil liberties of
all
Muslim-Americans, with better than one in four saying they should all
be
required to register their location with the federal government, many
commentators expressed concern. Not syndicated columnist Daniel Pipes,
however.
In his latest column he declares that he was "encouraged" by the
Cornell
survey, calling it "good news." But he also identifies "the bad news,"
which he describes as "the near-universal disapproval of this realism.
Leftist and Islamist organizations have so successfully influenced
public
opinion that polite society shies away from endorsing a focus on
Muslims."
In addition to those who want all Muslim-Americans to register, 29%
agree
that law enforcement agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and
volunteer
organizations, and 22% said the federal government should profile
citizens
as potential threats based on the fact that they are Muslim or have
Middle
Eastern heritage…
He hailed the recent work of columnist Michelle Malkin, who supports
the
Japanese internment and claims the apology by President Ronald Reagan
in
1988, plus the nearly $1.65 billion in reparations paid to former
internees, was premised on faulty scholarship.
According to Pipes: "Malkin has done the singular service of breaking
the
academic single-note scholarship on a critical subject, cutting through
a
shabby, stultifying consensus to reveal how, given what was known and
not
known at the time,' FDR and his staff did the right thing…
SEE: "Why the Japanese Internment Still Matters"
http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewCommentary.asp?Page=\Commentary\archive\200412\COM20041227b.html
SEE ALSO: "44 Percent of Americans Queried in Cornell National Poll
Favor
Curtailing Some Liberties for Muslim Americans"
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Dec04/Muslim.Poll.bpf.html
TO VIEW THE CORNELL STUDY, GO TO:
http://www.comm.cornell.edu/msrg/report1a.pdf
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES: 'I DO SUPPORT THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS'
"Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans in World War
II…"
From Daniel Pipes' website, 12/28/04
---
RESPECT AMERICA'S MUSLIMS
Washington Post, 1/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40049-2004Dec31.html
Regarding the Dec. 27 news story "Plan for Muslim Cemetery Met With
Fear":
America is supposed to be the beacon of hope for the weak and
defenseless.
That any American would equate innocent Muslims with Islamic extremism
is
reprehensible. It is the same thing that happened to the Japanese in
World
War II: We were at war with Japan, so we locked up innocent Japanese
Americans. Now, it would seem many Americans wish to do the same to
innocent American Muslims…
I hope that America can return to its roots as the defender and
protector
of the weak and defenseless. Until then, I will pray that America does
not
do to Muslims what others have done to the Jews, Japanese, Gypsies and
countless others.
MICHAEL MAKOVI
Silver Spring
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS PRAY FOR, AID TSUNAMI VICTIMS
MUSLIMS SHARE IN GRIEF
Robert Perez, Orlando Sentinel, 1/1/05
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-locmosques01010105jan01,1,4359822.story
Aafaq Sheikh made a donation Friday afternoon to the tsunami relief
fund at
the Islamic Society of Central Florida, but it failed to soothe the
sorrow
and frustration he feels.
Images of the destruction and the growing death toll have dominated
Sheikh's thoughts since Sunday's killer waves swept over South Asia,
leaving more than 121,000 dead and millions homeless from Sumatra to
Somalia.
"I have sorrow and sadness for the families of the dead and the people
who
survived," he said. "Most of them didn't have much to begin with."
Sheikh was one of thousands of Florida Muslims who attended Friday
prayer
services and donated to tsunami relief. Contributions were sought at
all
seven Central Florida mosques, said Muhammad Musri, president of the
Islamic Society of Central Florida…
---
MUSLIMS PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Poughkeepsie Journal, 1/1/05
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/localnews/stories/lo010105s1.shtml
---
MORMONS, MUSLIMS TEAM UP FOR AIRLIFT
Salt Lake Tribune, 1/1/05
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2507136
---
MUSLIMS PRAY FOR VICTIMS OF TSUNAMIS
Courier-Journal, 1/1/05
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2005/01/01ky/B1-muslim0101-5041.html
---
PRAYERS SAID FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
Miami Herald, 1/1/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10541122.htm
---
LOCAL MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Journal-Register, 1/1/05
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/43961.asp
---
LOCAL MUSLIMS ORGANIZE HELP FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=2748864&nav=3YeXUgnH
---
WICHITA FALLS MUSLIMS TO PRAY FOR DEAD
Times Record News, 12/31/04
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/trn/local_news/article/0,1891,TRN_5784_3437062,00.html
---
MUSLIMS WILL PRAY FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Athens Banner Herald, 12/31/04
http://onlineathens.com/stories/123104/new_20041231025.shtml
---
AREA MUSLIM COMMUNITY RAISING FUNDS, PRAYING FOR DISASTER VICTIMS
Charleston Daily Mail, 12/20/04
http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2004123031/
-----
Hidaya Foundation
1765 Scott Blvd. Suite 115
Santa Clara, CA 95050
http:// www.hidaya.org
E-mail: mail@hidaya.org
Phone (408) 244-3282
Phone (866) 244-3292
Fax (866) 344-3292
For Immediate Release:
HIDAYA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES COLLECTION DRIVE FOR ASIA QUAKE AND TIDAL
DISASTER VICTIMS:
Santa Clara, California, USA, December 29, 2004. Hidaya Foundation
(www.hidaya.org) has started collecting in-kind donations for the
victims
of the Tidal Wave Disaster caused by a 9.0 Richter scale earthquake off
the
coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Tidal waves up to 30ft tall caused much
devastation in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand and several
other
countries. Over 100,000 people have died; tens of thousands more are
still
missing. Several million people have become homeless in more than 12
countries.
Hidaya Foundation has initiated relief efforts in Sri Lanka and is
planning
to also work with organizations in India and Indonesia to provide funds
for
medical supplies, temporary shelters, and particularly long term
rehabilitation for victims of the disaster.
Hidaya Foundation has collected more than $30,000 in cash donations
since
the drive began on Monday, December 27, 2004. Hidaya Foundation is now
announcing an emergency re-routing of its container program to deliver
relief supplies to Sri Lanka. On January 10th, 2005 Hidaya Foundation
will
ship a 40 ft container stocked with relief supplies for victims in Sri
Lanka.
Hidaya Foundation is requesting people of all denominations and faiths
to
donate generously to help alleviate the victims of this tragedy of
unprecedented human suffering. In addition to monetary donations, we
are
currently collecting new and used blankets, clothes, shoes, medical
supplies, bottled water, plastic sheeting, computers, toys, and other
emergency supplies. We are requesting all donations intended for Sri
Lanka
be delivered by January 9th, 2005 at our Milpitas collection facility.
Cash donations may be made online at our website at
http://www.hidaya.org
by credit card or by checks payable to "Hidaya Foundation" and should
be
mailed to:
Hidaya Foundation
P.O. Box 5481
Santa Clara, CA 95056-5481
In-kind donations may be dropped off at our collection facility
Saturdays
and Sundays from 12:00PM-4:00PM at:
91 Montague Expressway
Milpitas, CA 95035.
Ph: (866) 244 3292 Toll Free or (408) 244 3282 (Pl. call to schedule an
off-hour drop-off.)
-----
MOHAMMED IS HAVING AN ALL-STAR SEASON
HOWARD BECK, New York Times, 12/31/03
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/31/sports/basketball/31knicks.html
Nazr Mohammed has never given himself a clever nickname or made a rap
CD,
and he would not know how to start a superstar feud. Shaquille O'Neal
he is
not.
But Mohammed has, unexpectedly, become perhaps the best Eastern
Conference
center not residing in south Florida. Or the most consistently
productive
one, anyway.
Mohammed, the Knicks' starting center, is averaging career highs of
12.5
points and 9.3 rebounds. He is also shooting 53.2 percent from the
field.
His hustle and grit have helped the Knicks (16-13) to first place in
the
Atlantic Division. And his steady production has put him squarely in
the
conversation about who should back up O'Neal in the All-Star Game on
Feb.
20 in Denver…
In the first two weeks of the regular season, Mohammed often looked
passive
and sometimes lethargic. It was not until mid-November when Mohammed, a
devout Muslim, revealed he had been fasting for Ramadan and had lost
seven
or eight pounds. His game took off after that. In the nine games from
Nov.
13 to 30, he averaged 15.8 points and 11.2 rebounds. Those are All-Star
numbers…
-----
JUSTICE DEPT. TOUGHENS RULE ON TORTURE
NEIL A. LEWIS, New York Times, 1/1/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/politics/01torture.html
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 - The Justice Department has broadened its
definition
of torture, significantly retreating from a memorandum in August 2002
that
defined torture extremely narrowly and said President Bush could ignore
domestic and international prohibitions against torture in the name of
national security.
The new definition was in a memorandum posted on the department's Web
site
late Thursday night with no public announcement. It comes one week
before
the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to question Alberto R. Gonzales,
the
White House counsel and nominee for attorney general, about his role in
formulating legal policies that critics have said led to abuses at Abu
Ghraib prison in Iraq and at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The new memorandum, first reported in The Wall Street Journal and The
Washington Post, largely dismisses the August 2002 definition,
especially
the part that asserted that mistreatment rose to the level of torture
only
if it produced severe pain equivalent to that associated with organ
failure
or death.
"Torture is abhorrent both to American law and values and to
international
norms," said the new memorandum written by Daniel Levin, the acting
assistant attorney general in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel,
which
had produced the earlier definition.
Mr. Gonzales, who will go before the Senate committee for confirmation
hearings, served as a supervisor and coordinator inside the
administration
as lawyers drafted new approaches on the limits of coercive techniques
in
interrogations and the scope of the president's authority in fighting a
war
against terrorists.
A memorandum in January 2002 to President Bush that Mr. Gonzales signed
sided with the Justice Department in asserting that the Geneva
Conventions
did not bind the United States in its treatment of detainees captured
in
the fighting in Afghanistan...
SEE ALSO:
TORTURE AKIN TO TERROR
Palm Beach Post, 12/30/04
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2004/12/30/a20a_guantanamoedit_1230.html
Even some defense attorneys doubted the horror stories their clients
told
them about the interrogation tactics at the Guantanamo Bay prison. Then
human rights groups sued for government documents, and reports from FBI
agents confirmed the worst claims of abuse.
The recently released FBI accounts describe often-sadistic treatment of
detainees - chaining prisoners in the fetal position for hours, leaving
them in their own feces and urine, threatening them with growling dogs.
Sleep deprivation and exposure to extreme temperatures were
commonplace.
What the FBI agents witnessed parallels the complaints filed in federal
courts by more than 60 of the 550 men still detained. The Pentagon had
no
trouble dismissing the prisoners' stories as fiction, but assailing the
credibility of the FBI is another matter. The government's own papers
substantiate the government's abuses…
The abuses seriously damage the U.S. struggle against terror, in Iraq
and
around the globe. A strategy of denial and coverup makes the impact
worse.
So does the failure to hold any policymakers accountable.
Until now, Congress has reacted to the torture charges with
indifference
and deference to the Bush administration. Were it not for the
intercession
of the courts, Americans still would believe their government always is
committed to upholding human rights and following international law.
It's
up to Congress to lay out the disturbing truth for the nation once and
for all.
-----
LEADERS FEAR PROBE WILL FORCE PRO-ISRAEL LOBBY TO FILE AS 'FOREIGN
AGENT'
COULD FUEL DUAL LOYALTY TALK
Ori Nir, Forward, 12/30/04
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?id=2460
WASHINGTON = As the Department of Justice intensifies its investigation
of
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Jewish communal leaders
fear
that the goal of the probe is to compel the powerful lobbying
organization
to register as a "foreign agent" representing the government of another
country.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential organizations on Capitol
Hill, Aipac is registered with Congress as a lobbying group. Under
American
law, registering as a foreign agent would require Aipac to provide
significantly more detailed information about its aims and activities
to
the government - thereby robbing the group of a key weapon: the ability
to
operate behind the scenes...
-----
UTAH COUNTY MOSQUE HELPS BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER
Marin Decker, Deseret Morning News, 1/1/05
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view2/1,4382,600101431,00.html
OREM -- Utah County isn't exactly lacking in church buildings --
chapels
frequented by members of the LDS Church can be found on practically
every
corner.
Until recently, however, Lindon resident Usama Baioumy had to travel to
a
Salt Lake mosque to practice his faith, Islam.
Baioumy talked about the lack of a mosque when he was interviewed for a
newspaper story about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and a man
came
forward to offer him a space to rent.
Thus was born the first and only mosque in Utah County…
SEE ALSO:
COUNTY'S FIRST PERMANENT MOSQUE OPENS IN OVERLAND PARK
LINDSAY HANSON, Kansas City Star, 1/1/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/local/states/kansas/counties/johnson_county/cities_neighborhoods/shawnee/10539868.htm
It's been a long wait, but the Islamic Center of Johnson County has
found a
permanent home.
The site at 9001 W. 151st St. in Overland Park smells of fresh lumber,
drywall and tile grout. A rough pine stairway weaves from the upper
floor's
classrooms to the former garage, which now houses an ablution area,
with 10
tiled washing stations for cleansing before prayer.
The exterior of the former four-bedroom home shows few indications of
the
building's new religious purpose, other than a makeshift, leaning sign
at
the driveway entrance. The modesty of the new mosque shields its
founders'
grandiose intentions.
It is a school to its children, a center for community outreach and a
place
of worship. Mostly, though, Johnson County's first permanent mosque
symbolizes the establishment of the Muslim community.
"It's a place where our families can get together and our children can
grow
up together," said Wohaib Hasan, the secretary of the center's board of
trustees…
-----
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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 - 1/3/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: CERTAINTY OF FAITH
* CAIR-NY JOB OPENING/INTERNSHIP
- CAIR-SV: Muslims Mourn Death of Rep. Matsui
* MA: CHRISTIANS, JEWS REACH OUT TO MUSLIMS
- KY: Meeting Muslims Dispels Fear (Lex Herald)
* MUSLIMS DETAINED WHILE RETURNING FROM CANADA (Epoch Times)
- 38 Muslims Stopped After Local Conference
* FRESH DETAILS EMERGE ON HARSH METHODS AT GITMO (NY Times)
- Lifetime Detention Sought For Suspects (Wash Post)
- Gitmo Detainee Punished for Reciting Quran (Observer)
* OH: FAMILY GROWS APART AS ABSENCE LENGTHENS (Beacon Journal)
* NJ: YOUNG MUSLIMS PROMOTE LEADERSHIP (Newhouse)
- FL: Muslim Youth Serving the Homeless (Herald Trib)
* IN: MUSLIMS SAY PRAYERS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS (SB Tribune)
- IL: Special Prayers for Quake Victims (Journal Star)
- CAIR-FL on US Aid for Victims (Baynews9)
* S. CALIF. THAI MUSLIMS LAUNCH TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT
- MO: Islamic Foundation Raises $65,000 (Post Dispatch)
- IMRC Relief Work Underway
- TN: Muslim Pray For Tsunami Victims
- Islamic Relief Sends Plane with Emergency Supplies
- HI: Muslims Appeal for Relief (Honolulu Ad)
- NJ Mosques Raise $250,000 for Victims (AP)
* INCITEMENT WATCH: FIGHT NASTY WAR ACCORDINGLY
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CERTAINTY OF FAITH
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O God, apportion to us
such...certainty (of faith) that the calamities of this world will be
made
easy for us by Thee."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 783
-----
CAIR-NY JOB OPENING/OFFICE ASSISTANT
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-NY)
has a part-time position available for an executive/office assistant:
* Perform administrative tasks
* Update website (no knowledge of HTML is required)
* Must have excellent written skills (writing sample required)
* Morning hours: 9 a.m. -1 p.m.
CAIR-NY Internships: Assist with: Civil rights, fundraising, outreach,
etc.
Please contact Wissam Nasr, Executive Director, CAIR-NY at
director@cair-ny.org.
------
MUSLIMS MOURN THE DEATH OF REP. MATSUI
Longtime leader remembered for his fight for Civil liberties
The Muslim Community of Sacramento Valley mourns the death of our
Congressman, the Honorable Robert T. Matsui. With his passing, our
country
has lost a great leader. For 26 years in the US House of
Representatives,
Matsui, a survivor of WWII Internment Camps, fought for civil rights of
all
Americans. With dignity and passion, Bob Matsui served his community
and
his country. He will be sorely missed and long remembered. Our thoughts
and
prayers are with his family and the Japanese American Community of
Sacramento.
CONTACT: Basim Elkarra, 916-289-3748, E-Mail: sacval@cair.com
-----
CHRISTIANS, JEWS REACH OUT TO MASS. MUSLIMS
SERVICE REACHES OUT TO MUSLIMS
Natalia Munoz, Republican, 1/3/05
http://www.masslive.com/hampfrank/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-6/11047421
46166280.xml
SPRINGFIELD - The Al-Baqi Islamic Center ended the year in flames, but
yesterday a different fire burned for the mosque as some 50 people from
all
denominations showed support for the Muslims who lost their house of
worship.
"We just wanted to do something to let you know how important you are
to
us," said The Rev. Karen Rucks, executive director of the Council of
Churches of Springfield. The Council spearheaded a fund-raising effort
as
well as last night's special service of prayer and support for the
mosque
at Wesley United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Cordella J. Brown, who immediately upon being asked opened her
church for the special service, said, "They are a community of faith.
To be
Muslim is to worship the same God as Christians and Jews."
The Rev. Robert Loesch of the United Church of Christ, in charge of the
fund-raising campaign, read a letter of support from the United Church
of
Christ congregation in Williamstown, about 90 miles away.
"You still remain very close to us in our hearts and our spirit," read
the
letter signed by the church's pastor, the Rev. Caroline Bail. That
congregation had reached out to the mosque after Sept. 11 in an effort
to
establish ties with Muslims. Since then, both houses of worship have
collaborated at interfaith events.
The mosque was severely damaged by fire Dec. 8. Seven youths have been
charged with arson…
ALSO SEE:
MEETING MUSLIM NEIGHBORS DISPELS UNFOUNDED FEAR
Michael Longinow, Lexington Herald Leader, 1/2/05
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/10535587.htm
I'll admit I was nervous -- and felt ashamed for it.
I had been invited by a man I trust to a Ramadan fast-breaking meal at
Tates Creek Country Club. I know the place fairly well, yet as I
approached
the door, I felt a cold shiver. Too many action movies, too many news
clips
showing Middle-Eastern-looking men doing scary things with automatic
weapons and explosives.
I told myself that overcoming that shiver was part of why I was here
and
stepped through the doors.
Inside, a long, gray folding table was set up near the entrance to a
narrow
ballroom. Round tables with markers on them were spread along its
length,
and after I'd picked up a name tag, I was assigned a table near the
door.
Other non-Arabic-looking people were standing around, but they were the
minority. Most of the men in the big room were dark-haired,
olive-skinned
and well-dressed. Some had beards; others were clean-shaven. Many were
speaking languages I couldn't understand. They were trying not to stare
--
like me.
All the non-guest women -- not all of whom looked Middle Eastern --
wore
head-coverings and long-sleeved robes that brushed their shoes. They
were
moving fast, conferring with caterers in a far room, with men near the
registration table and with one another.
I found out later that more people were showing up than had been
expected.
The women were scrambling for chairs and tables for everyone and doing
the
math on portions of food and beverage for the growing crowd.
What struck me as I watched the scene was that these men and women,
along
with their teenagers and younger children, lived all around me in the
Bluegrass region but I had never known that they, or their way of life,
were there. I'd been too busy figuring out my own routine…
Michael Longinow of Wilmore is a journalism professor at Asbury
College.
-----
MUSLIM AMERICANS DETAINED WHILE RETURNING FROM CANADA
Evan Mantyk, The Epoch Times, 1/3/05
http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-1-3/25411.html
NEW YORK-Last week 38 Muslim Americans were detained while traveling
back
to the United States from an Islamic conference in Toronto, Canada.
"This is the most blatant case of religious profiling," said Mr. Wissam
Nasr of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Inc (CAIR). Nasr
said
that there was no reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or
smuggling.
He attributes the search to the fact that they were identified as
Muslims
from the head scarves the women wore.
Kristie Clemens, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland
Security's
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said agents stopped anyone who
said
they attended the three-day convention, titled "Reviving the Islamic
Spirit," based on information that such gatherings can be a means for
terrorists to promote their cause.
Attendees say the conference was about spirituality and Islamic unity.
"[The conference] had scholars from all over North America speaking
about,
among other things, how Muslims should reach out to non-Muslims in
light of
9-11, in order to help remove the ignorance many people have about
Islam,"
said Nasr.
Included in the 38 detained were four college students. Among them,
Noha
Solaman and her younger sister-both born and raised in the United
States-were detained for six hours without explanation. According to
Solaman, after watching other detained Muslims get released within two
hours, she asked when she would be too. A DHS agent gave her a dirty
look
and said, "We're not in McDonald's."
CBP spokesperson Clemens said 34 people were stopped at the Lewiston,
New
York crossing and four others were checked at the nearby Rainbow Bridge
in
Niagara Falls. They were held for an average of 2-1/2 hours and offered
coffee and tea. Clemens acknowledged the inconvenience of the
additional
security measures, but said that with the threat of terrorism, there
was no
room for error.
"We have ongoing credible information that conferences such as the one
that
these 34 individuals just left in Toronto may be used by terrorist
organizations to promote terrorist activities," Clemens said. "As the
front-line border agency, it is our duty to verify the identity of
individuals-including U.S. citizens-and one way of doing that is
fingerprinting."
On Thursday, CAIR filed formal complaints and is demanding a complete
investigation by the DHS. Nasr said they want to find out where the
order
to detain attendees of the Islamic conference came from. They are also
considering filing a class-action lawsuit…
ALSO SEE:
38 MUSLIMS STOPPED AFTER LOCAL CONFERENCE
The Toronto Star, 1/3/05
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Artic
le_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1104521199375
After attending the "Reviving the Islamic Spirit" conference last
weekend
at the SkyDome, I was astonished to read that American citizens were
detained while trying to return to their homes.
Kristie Clemens of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection
stated
that such conferences "may be used by terrorist organizations to
promote
terrorist activities..."
I would like to inform her that this conference was one of the most
peaceful events I have attended. Not one of the lectures or sessions
promoted any type of terrorism activity or group.
It would be nice if those responsible for Homeland Security would do
their
research before inconveniencing their own citizens.
-----
FRESH DETAILS EMERGE ON HARSH METHODS AT GUANTÁNAMO
Neil A. Lewis, New York Times, 1/1/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/national/01gitmo.html
WASHINGTON - Sometime after Mohamed al-Kahtani was imprisoned at
Guantánamo
around the beginning of 2003, military officials believed they had a
prize
on their hands - someone who was perhaps intended to have been a
hijacker
in the Sept. 11 plot.
But his interrogation was not yielding much, so they decided in the
middle
of 2003 to try a new tactic. Mr. Kahtani, a Saudi, was given a
tranquilizer, put in sensory deprivation garb with blackened goggles,
and
hustled aboard a plane that was supposedly taking him to the Middle
East.
After hours in the air, the plane landed back at the United States
naval
base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where he was not returned to the regular
prison compound but put in an isolation cell in the base's brig. There,
he
was subjected to harsh interrogation procedures that he was encouraged
to
believe were being conducted by Egyptian national security operatives.
The account of Mr. Kahtani's treatment given to The New York Times
recently
by military intelligence officials and interrogators is the latest of
several developments that have severely damaged the military's
longstanding
public version of how the detention and interrogation center at
Guantánamo
operated.
Interviews with former intelligence officers and interrogators provided
new
details and confirmed earlier accounts of inmates being shackled for
hours
and left to soil themselves while exposed to blaring music or the
insistent
meowing of a cat-food commercial. In addition, some may have been
forcibly
given enemas as punishment…
ALSO SEE:
LONG-TERM PLAN SOUGHT FOR TERROR SUSPECTS
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 1/2/04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41475-2005Jan1?language=printer
Administration officials are preparing long-range plans for
indefinitely
imprisoning suspected terrorists whom they do not want to set free or
turn
over to courts in the United States or other countries, according to
intelligence, defense and diplomatic officials.
The Pentagon and the CIA have asked the White House to decide on a more
permanent approach for potentially lifetime detentions, including for
hundreds of people now in military and CIA custody whom the government
does
not have enough evidence to charge in courts. The outcome of the
review,
which also involves the State Department, would also affect those
expected
to be captured in the course of future counterterrorism operations…
---
GUANTANAMO BRITON 'IN HANDCUFF TORTURE'
Observer, 1/2/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story/0,13743,1382132,00.html
A British detainee at Guantanamo Bay has told his lawyer he was
tortured
using the 'strappado', a technique common in Latin American
dictatorships
in which a prisoner is left suspended from a bar with handcuffs until
they
cut deeply into his wrists.
The reason, the prisoner says, was that he was caught reciting the
Koran at
a time when talking was banned…
-----
FAMILY GROWS APART AS ABSENCE LENGTHENS
Muslim couple unhappy that foster homes teach different customs to kids
Andale Gross, Beacon Journal, 1/3/05
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/community/10553510.htm
Glenda and Herbert Hill have found a more livable home but still don't
have
what they want most: their nine children.
It's been 10 months since the Hills' five daughters and four sons were
taken from their care amid allegations of neglect. The tall,
mosque-looking
house in North Akron where the Hills lived had exposed electrical
wires,
windows with glass missing and damaged floors and ceilings.
Social workers and police, who removed the children last February and
put
them in county custody, also thought the house was too dirty and didn't
have enough food. So the house was declared unfit, and Glenda and
Herbert
Hill each were convicted of child endangering and sentenced to
probation.
Today, the Hills still deny neglecting their children, who range in age
from 5 to 16. They say their money may be limited, but they're more
than
capable parents…
-----
YOUNG MUSLIMS PROMOTE LEADERSHIP
Development as a whole is emphasized
Raviya H. Ismail, Newhouse, 1/3/05
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-0/110475784158360.xml
In 1998, three college students actively involved in Muslim student
associations on their campuses determined there was no forum for
professional development, leadership training and spiritual development
for
Muslims after college. So they came up with their own.
"Once you graduate, you are lost," said Amber Malik Sheikh, 31, of
Secaucus, a founding member of the Secaucus-based Muslim Leaders
organization. "There's no place for Muslim professionals to go to
either
network or learn."
In November, the group held its held sixth annual conference - part
career
fair, leadership training and spiritual education for college-age and
young
professional Muslims. Hundreds of participants attended the three-day
event
in Franklin Township…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM YOUTH SERVING THE HOMELESS IN PORT CHARLOTTE
Betsy Williams, Herald Tribune, 1/3/05
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005501030563
Following a long tradition, youngsters from the Islamic community are
following in their mothers' footsteps.
"We are here to help the less fortunate," 10-year-old Nadia Kemal said.
"In our religion, you are to help every chance you get."
Nadia and others youngsters have been spending one night a month
serving
food at the Genesis Center Homeless Coalition.
While their mothers fill the plates of food from the steam table, the
young
servers carry the trays to every person who shows up for a meal.
When dinner is over, they help clean up and do whatever other jobs need
doing.
Their help is much appreciated and their young, smiling faces help
bring a
smile to those dining at the center.
-----
AREA MUSLIMS SAY ADDITIONAL PRAYERS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
'Salat al-ghaib' offered for those who died in a distant place.
Sara Toth, South Bend Tribune, 1/2/05
http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2005/01/01/local.20050101-sbt-MWKA-A
1-Area_Muslims_say_add.sto
SOUTH BEND -- Friday prayers at the mosque are simply part of life's
routine for Abul and Parveen Basher and their children.
But this Friday, after some of Abul Basher's distant relatives and a
friend
in his hometown of Chennai, India, died along with at least 135,000
others
in Sunday's tsunami disaster, the power and significance of prayer in
Islam
were more deeply appreciated.
The Basher family, of Granger, comprised six of the approximately 125
people who filled the mosque to pray Friday afternoon at the Islamic
Society of Michiana, 3310 Hepler St. The imam, Mohammad Sirajuddin, led
worshippers in regular Friday prayers as well as the "salat al-ghaib,"
or
prayers for people who have died in a distant place.
"It means a lot to us, praying for people who died in the tragedy
because
tragedy can happen to any one of us," Abul Basher said. "At the same
time,
we support those there in the tragedy."
For both the regular prayer and the prayer for the dead, men and women,
on
their respective sides of a room, formed lines and talked to God with a
series of bows, prostrations and chants.
In his message, Sirajuddin tied the emerging new year with the
tsunamis'
destruction.
Both events remind us that life on earth is short and temporary; time
is
always passing, he said.
"Life is only a few days," he said. "You should never waste it on
something
that will not benefit you."
Time comes in three parts, he said: the past, present and future. The
past
is for learning from. The present is for thanking God and using his
gifts.
And the future is for hoping…
ALSO SEE:
SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
Muslims' silent thoughts travel to faraway places
Matt Buedel, Journal Star, 1/2/05
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/010105/TRI_B55VNPB7.053.shtml
---
CAIR-FL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AHMED BEDIER APPEARED ON BAYNEWS9 TO
OFFER
PERSPECTIVE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF U.S. AID TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS.
Follow the below links to view video:
IGH SPEED / BROADBAND
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/041230_baynews9_bedier_on_tsunami_relief_h
i.wmv
LOW SPEED / DIAL-UP
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/041230_baynews9_bedier_on_tsunami_relief_l
o.wmv
-----
S. CALIF. THAI MUSLIMS LAUNCH TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT
Mosque seeks to build homes for people on devastated island
(AZUSA, CA, 1/3/05) - Southern California Muslims of Thai heritage have
launched an emergency fundraising appeal for survivors of the recent
tsunami that struck Thailand, leaving thousands dead and many others
homeless or in need of relief supplies.
Masjid Al-Fatiha in Azusa, Calif., launched the relief effort to help
the
people of Thailand's Phi Phi Island, which was virtually wiped out by
the
tsunami that hit coastal areas across South Asia on December 26.
Rahmat Phyakul, the religious leader (Imam) of Masjid Al-Fatiha, said
he is
in direct contact with community leaders on Phi Phi Island who told him
the
greatest need is for immediate supplies of food and water, followed by
a
long-term need for new homes and boats for the island's fisherman.
He added: "One Imam on the island has 250 tsunami survivors under his
care,
mainly small children and women. Many of the surviving children do not
have
immediate relatives who can care for them. A number of men are still
missing and feared dead. Unfortunately, due to the remote location of
the
island, relief supplies have not arrived in sufficient quantities."
Imam Phyakul said he has been told that each rebuilt home will cost
$4,000.
He said the local Thai Muslim community has set a goal of rebuilding 50
homes.
DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO: (Make check payable to the "Relief Fund of
Southern Thailand."
Relief Fund of Southern Thailand
c/o Masjid Al-Fatiha
210 N. Citrus Avenue
Azusa, CA 91702
Donations may be wired to the following Trust Fund Account:
Bank of Whittier (Tel: 562-945-7553)
Routing Number: 122 239 542
Account Number: 1022 512
Beneficiary: Masjid Al-Fatiha
References: Relief Fund of Southern Thailand
- END -
CONTACT: Imam Rahmat Phyakul at 626-359-9292, E-Mail:
rhphyakul@yahoo.com
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION HAS RAISED $65,000 FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Jo Mannies, Post-Dispatch, 12/1/05
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/metroeast/story/2E0A64A8E3
B8993D86256F7D000EC1CB?OpenDocument&Headline=Islamic+foundation+has+raised+$
65,000+for+Tsunami+victims+
With so many children among the tsunamis' victims, it seemed fitting
that
children here are among those seeking to help.
Eight-year-old Katherine Wolter and two friends - Kirston Doty, 10, and
Lara Yeast, 7 - were among a group of children who collected $151 in
their
Frontenac neighborhood on Friday. On Saturday, the three girls brought
the
money in a purple pitcher to an interfaith prayer service and
fund-raiser
held at the headquarters for the Islamic Foundation of Greater St.
Louis,
at 517 Weidman Road in west St. Louis County.
Belal Ahmed, 8, of Ellisville, carried to the podium his entire week's
allowance of $5 to aid the cause.
About 150 people attended the event, co-sponsored by the foundation and
the
Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis. Since Tuesday, the
foundation has raised more than $65,000, said foundation spokeswoman
Ghazala Hayat. The money is being forwarded to the Red Crescent-Red
Cross,
she said.
The foundation is among several groups here collecting aid for the
countries in Asia and Africa hit hardest by last week's tidal waves.
Chandra Gamlath, president of the local Sri Lanka Association, said his
group has collected $6,500 so far, and plans to donate most of that to
a
medical aid effort run by Doctors Without Borders.
Gamlath emphasized that money and medical supplies are the only
donations
being sought, because it's too expensive to ship clothes and heavier
items
overseas. It's cheaper and more efficient to purchase such supplies
near
the affected areas, he said.
Sri Lanka was among the countries reporting the most victims. But so
far,
most of the region's 80 or so Sri Lankan families are reporting that
their
relatives back home appear to have survived, Gamlath said. On Saturday,
Gamlath was among those attending a special Buddhist service in Augusta
in
memory of the victims.
At the Islamic Foundation's interfaith service, attendees heard words
or
written messages from local representatives for various religions,
reflecting the religious diversity of the devastated countries and the
victims. Behind the speakers, a large screen projected images of the
tsunamis' destruction.
Among those in the audience was Maheen Malik, 46, of Chesterfield.
Originally from Pakistan, she's now a U.S. citizen. Malik noted that
her
native country was little affected by the tsunamis, but added that she
was
pleased that the effort to help appeared to transcend religious and
geographic divisions around the globe.
"This is the type of calamity you read about in the Bible or the
Quran,"
she said. "There are no words for it, it is so devastating."
Contributions may be sent to:
Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, 517 Weidman Road, Manchester,
Mo.
63011.
Sri Lanka Association, 1456 Shagbark Court, Chesterfield, Mo. 63017…
---
IMRC EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK UNDERWAY IN THE ANDAMAN/NICOBAR ISLANDS AND
SOUTHERN INDIA.
As the impact of this disaster unravels in front of us, it is still
beyond
comprehension. According to our field partner Zubair Ahmed in South
Andamans - only 8,000 people have been rescued from the Nicobar islands
which had a population of over 50,000 people. We are learning of
similar
tragedies all over.
At IMRC, we immediately launched emergency relief work in the areas
where
we already had field workers. Working on the ground are teams
coordinated
by Abbadullah in Andhra Pradesh, P.K. Hamza and Mohammed Ali in
Andaman/
Nicobar islands and Shuaib Musvee in Tamil Nadu.
We are distributing essentials for survival: drinking water, blankets,
utensils, food grains and medicines. Rehabilitation work will be taken
up
later. IMRC has already disbursed $60,000 so far. We will be sending
money
on an ongoing basis as we receive it. Our goal is to raise $250,000
within
the next 10 days.
We look forward to your generosity to help as many helpless victims of
this
calamity as possible.
YOU CAN DO A LOT. IF ONLY YOU DON'T PUT IT OFF FOR A LATER TIME.
o Donate generously to send critical help to the survivors. 100% of
your
contributions reach the people in need. You can go online to our secure
website (http://www.imrc.ws) or call us with credit card information at
650
856-0440. You can write checks made out to "IMRC" and mail them to
IMRC,
800 San Antonio Road, Ste. #1, Palo Alto CA 94303. Please write
"Tsunami
Relief" in the memo.
o Please raise funds among your friends and family. Help raise funds at
your local Masajid. Distribute copies of this appeal and collect help
for
the victims. A juma khutba on this topic would be great. You can
download
material from our web site and print it before juma for distribution.
---
NASHVILLE MUSLIM PRAY FOR VICTIMS OF TSUNAMI
On Friday, December 31, Muslims at Islamic Center of Nashville offered
prayers for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake and
tsunami
in Asia. Imam Abdulhakim Muhammad spoke on the Tsunami tragedy in Juma
Khutba (Friday Congregational Prayer Sermon) and encouraged worshippers
to
contribute generously to the relief efforts. This started the Tsunami
Relief Fundraising Drive by the Muslim Community.
The worshippers donated generously and $22,786 were collected for the
victims. The Islamic Center is collecting donations for the affected
people
in the current tragedy. People can donate to the victims through the
Islamic Center of Nashville. Please send your donations to:
Islamic Center of Nashville
P.O. Box 120953
Nashville, TN 37212
CONTACT: Amir Arain, M.D. 668-4381
---
ISLAMIC RELIEF USA SENDS PLANE WITH 160,000 POUNDS OF EMERGENCY
SUPPLIES
Islamic Relief USA sent an airplane filled with 160,000 pounds of
emergency
aid materials to Indonesia. The shipment left for Jakarta, Indonesia
from
from Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, January 1, 2005.
The supplies were shipped in cooperation with the Church of Jesus
Christ of
Ladder-day Saints. Islamic Relief USA provided an air cargo charter
flight
filled with goods from the Church's welfare and humanitarian
storehouses,
including medical supplies, food supplies, high-protein milk powder,
hygiene kits and soap.
The contents of the shipment include:
40,000 pounds of medical supplies:
surgical tools, medical devices, gloves, sponges, bandages, gowns, test
tubes, blood pressure cuffs, etc.
20,000 pounds of first aid supplies:
bandages, aspirin, disinfectants, etc.
28,000 individual hygiene kits:
soap, toothpaste, combs, washcloths, etc.
40,000 pounds of clothing and shoes
Islamic Relief Action in Indonesia
Islamic Relief began distributing emergency aid on December 29, and the
distribution is ongoing. Items distributed include mineral water, food,
oil, disinfectants, flashlights and candles.
Islamic Relief is providing immediate emergency assistance to
approximately
50,000 displaced people (12,500 families) in the Aceh province. This
assistance includes shelter, repair for water and sanitation, food
distribution, education and agriculture projects.
Islamic Relief Action in Sri Lanka
Islamic Relief Worldwide is focusing relief efforts in the Eastern
Province, particularly in the Ampara district, where a needs assessment
was
performed on December 30 and 31. Islamic Relief Worldwide is currently
in
the process of distributing 1,000 hygiene kits. Relief efforts will
also
include distribution of emergency supplies to 10,000 families,
reconstruction materials to 2,000 displaced families, as well as
sanitation
supplies to over 50 camps.
Islamic Relief Action in India
IRW is working in Chennai, India with its partners to implement
emergency
projects in the next few days.
Islamic Relief USA's Efforts Covered Extensively in the Media
Islamic Relief
1919 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91506
(888) 479-4968
http://www.irw.org/
info@irw.org
Tax ID#: 95-4453134
---
MUSLIMS IN HAWAI'I APPEAL FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
Will Hoover, Honolulu Advertiser, 1/1/05
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jan/01/ln/ln09p.html
---
NJ MOSQUES RAISE $250,000 IN 24 HOURS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Associated Press, 1/3/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-nj--tsunami-njmosques0103jan03
,0,7572556.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey
NEWARK, N.J. - Less than 24 hours after appealing for help for victims
of
the Asian tsunamis, New Jersey's mosques raised $250,000.
The Majlis Ash-Shura of New Jersey, the state's council of mosques,
issued
a call for assistance Thursday. By the end of Friday afternoon prayers,
the
$250,000 in cash was received, along with donations of clothing.
"Governments and people the world over are compelled by compassion to
assist in the relief effort," said Yaser El-Menshawy, the council's
chairman. "New Jersey's Muslims have also answered the call to aid the
millions suffering and displaced by the worst natural disaster in
recent
history."
Imams across the state reminded their congregations that generosity and
giving to those in need are integral parts of Islam, he said.
The largest amounts were raised at Dar-ul-Islah in Teaneck ($55,000);
the
Islamic Center of Passaic County, Paterson ($50,000); the Islamic
Society
of Central Jersey, South Brunswick ($50,000); the Institute of Islamic
Studies, West Windsor ($25,000) and Masjid Al-Amaan, Middletown
($23,000).
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: FIGHT NASTY WAR ACCORDINGLY
Gary Cooper, Enterprise Record, 1/3/05
http://www.chicoer.com/Stories/0,1413,135~27922~2631970,00.html
A recent letter in response to mine intrigued me. The writer asked how
we
should treat our local Muslim population given that I stated we are in
World War III with most of them.
No, don't take the baby's candy or run them off the road. Just realize
our
country is at war and the odds of an attack from someone in that
community
is virtually 100 percent. Racial profiling is acceptable to me. Having
picture IDs of both men and women without scarves is mandatory. Any
Muslim
here illegally should be jailed. All Muslim organizations must respect
that
the freedoms granted to us all under our constitution trumps their
religious rights and refusal to submit to this fact would be grounds to
declare that organization "terrorist."
I do not hate all Muslims. But my country is at war with the majority
of
them. There is no prejudice or discrimination by our country in taking
reasonable efforts to identify our enemy to protect our loved ones from
them. This is by definition a clandestine war with our enemy embedded
in
our country like never before in history and must be fought
accordingly. To
not do so because of some liberal bunch of politically correct nonsense
is
unfair to our population as a whole and insane.
To our Muslim population who don't like it, move back to that hellhole
Mideast pit that your radical Muslim brothers have created for you.
Don't
bring it here because it ain't welcome.
SEND POLITE COMMENTS THROUGH:
http://www2.chicoer.com/siteservices/letters.php
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.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
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/4/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: AFTER DIFFICULTY COMES RELIEF
- Hadith of the Day: Help Alleviate Suffering
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: UGLY TRUTHS ABOUT GITMO (Wash Post)
- QUOTE: Aid Can Help U.S. Image (Baltimore Sun)
* CAIR-SAN ANTONIO LECTURE SERIES ON ISLAM
* CAIR-CHICAGO: ILLINOIS MUSLIM WORKER FILES BIAS SUIT
- Muslim Charges Bias Led To Firing (Chicago Trib)
* NJ: MUSLIM IMAGE-BUILDER (Star-Ledger)
- LA: Muslims and Jews Seek Common Ground (LA Weekly)
* BACKING GONZALES IS BACKING TORTURE (LA Times)
- Iraq Exhostage Says U.S. Troops Tortured Him (UPI)
* CO PROF SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT (Rocky Mtn News)
* INDIAN MOSQUE OPENS DOORS TO HINDUS (WSJ)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: AFTER DIFFICULTY COMES RELIEF
"God puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him. After a
difficulty, God will soon grant relief."
The Holy Quran, 65:7
HADITH OF THE DAY: HELP ALLEVIATE SUFFERING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who alleviates the
suffering of a brother (in this) world, God will alleviate his
(suffering)
of the Day of Resurrection. He who finds relief for one who is hard
pressed, God will make things easy for him in the Hereafter."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1245
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: UGLY TRUTHS ABOUT GUANTANAMO
Richard Cohen, Washington Post, 1/4/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45936-2005Jan3.html
The revelations coming out of Guantanamo are hideous. The ordinary
abuse of
prisoners, the madness instilled by gruesome incarcerations, the
incessant
lying of the authorities, plus the mock interrogations staged for the
media, in which detainees and their interrogators share milkshakes --
all
this soils us as a nation. It's as if the government is ahistorical,
unaware of how communists and fascists also strained language and
ushered
the world into torture chambers made pretty for the occasion. We now
keep
some pretty bad company...
SEE ALSO:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: AID CAN HELP U.S. IMAGE
2 FORMER PRESIDENTS TO RAISE AID FOR ASIA
Robert Timberg, Baltimore Sun, 1/4/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.image04jan04,1,4774808.story
At the Council on American-Islamic Relations, spokesman Ibrahim Hooper
agreed that it was too early to determine if the American effort on
behalf
of Muslims in South Asia would pay a goodwill dividend, but he held out
hope that it might.
"If negative images of our troops in Iraq have helped cause problems,
images of our troops handing out relief supplies will help," he said.
-----
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO LECTURE SERIES ON ISLAM
GOOD CAUSES
San Antonio Express-News, 1/2/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/stories/MYSA010205.8P.goodcauses.5a304b6f
.html
Thursday - CAIR-San Antonio Library Lectures on Islam, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Memorial Branch Library, 3222 Culebra Road. The San Antonio office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations is presenting a series of
lectures at
area libraries to promote a better understanding of Muslims in
America...As
part of the "Islam in America" lecture series, each participating
library
will receive books, DVDs and other educational materials having to do
with
Islam and Muslims. Sarwat Husain, (210) 378-9528.
-----
ILLINOIS MUSLIM WORKER FILES BIAS SUIT
Employee allegedly called 'terrorist,' told he would be shot
(CHICAGO, IL, 1/4/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that a Muslim
worker of Pakistani origin in Illinois has filed a religious and
national
origin discrimination lawsuit against AFI Industries.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Illinois (Eastern Division), alleges that other employees of AFI
Industries
called the Muslim plaintiff "Terrorist #1," "Al-Qaida" and Osama bin
Laden's "cousin."
A supervisor allegedly told the plaintiff that the FBI and CIA were
looking
for him, that his home would be broken into and that he would be shot.
The
last comment was allegedly made while the supervisor made a gun shape
of
his hand and "fired" toward the plaintiff. The supervisor also
allegedly
asked the plaintiff if he was going to kill his co-workers.
Similar incidents of harassment continued despite what the lawsuit said
were the plaintiff's repeated objections to supervisors. In fact, the
suit
alleges that a company manager engaged in severe verbal abuse of the
plaintiff when he received his complaints.
On March 3, 2003, the worker was terminated. On May 28, 2003, the
Muslim
employee filed a charge of religion and national origin discrimination
with
the EEOC.
The lawsuit announced today seeks reinstatement of the Muslim employee,
back wages, as well as other compensatory and punitive damages.
"This case is particularly disturbing because supervisory personnel
were
allegedly involved in the discriminatory behavior," said CAIR-Chicago
Executive Director Yaser Tabbara.
"The plaintiff in this case suffered severe emotional distress as a
result
of the psychological abuse he suffered," said attorney Kamran Memon,
who is
representing the Muslim worker. "We hope this lawsuit helps to educate
American Muslims about their rights in the workplace."
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing: pubs@cair-net.org (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago, Yaser Tabbara, 312-212-1520 or 312-718-3725,
E-Mail:
director@cairchicago.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIM CHARGES BIAS LED TO FIRING
Matt O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 1/4/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0501040033jan04,1,2496936.story
A Muslim-American who formerly worked for a suburban manufacturer filed
a
federal lawsuit Monday alleging he was fired after he complained of
harassment by co-workers and supervisors after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks.
The suit by Syed Abbas, a native of Pakistan, said one co-worker at AFI
Industries Inc. repeatedly called him a terrorist while a supervisor
drew
laughter at the factory when he made a crude drawing of Abbas and
labeled
it a "wanted" poster.
In a telephone interview, Abbas, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives
in
Carol Stream, said he was so alarmed when one supervisor told him he
was
under government surveillance that he sold his house at a loss and
moved
his family in with relatives.
The same supervisor had warned Abbas that someone would break into
Abbas'
house and shoot him, the suit said.
"They took advantage of him because they knew they could play on his
fears," said Kamran Memon, one of Abbas' attorneys. "They picked a guy
who
they knew was vulnerable."
A company official was faxed a copy of the lawsuit but had no comment
Monday on the allegations. AFI Industries, based in Carol Stream, makes
screws and other fasteners.
The number of cases alleging workplace discrimination based on religion
has
increased significantly since the Sept. 11 attacks, according to the
federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission…
-----
MUSLIM IMAGE-BUILDER
SULEMAN DIN, Star-Ledger, 1/4/05
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1104852613304710
.xml
On Thursday, Sherine El-Abd received an e-mail from the
Majlis-Ash-Shura of
New Jersey, the state's council of mosques, appealing for aid for the
victims of the tsunami.
"I picked up the phone, made a few calls and forwarded the appeal" to
her
many contacts in the Muslim and Arab-American communities, she said.
Within 24 hours, the organization raised $250,000 at the five mosques
in
the organization.
El-Abd downplayed her role in the fund-raising efforts and credited
Yasser
El-Menshawy, head of the Shura, for making it all happen.
But El-Menshawy knows El-Abd is the best political insider the
Arab-American community has.
"I know she's very active in politics and I knew she would help
wherever
and whenever possible," said El-Menshawy.
El-Abd, an Edison resident, is a member of the state's Commission on
Civil
Rights, a governor-appointed advisory panel for the Attorney General's
office. The commission also reports to the governor and the
Legislature.
She worries about the image of Muslims in the country today. A recent
national poll by Cornell University shows that 44 percent of
respondents
believed some curtailment of civil liberties is necessary for American
Muslims in the interest of domestic safety.
"Islam is a hot-button issue to people who don't know what it is,"
El-Abd
said.
But, she says, the burden rests with Muslims and Arab-Americans to
clear
misconceptions, she said.
"They have to talk to people on an individual level, invite their
neighbors
over during Ramadan and to weddings, to see how we celebrate," she
said.
"Let them see us as we are, as mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers…"
SEE ALSO:
LOCAL MUSLIMS AND JEWS SEEK COMMON GROUND
Louisiana Weekly, 1/3/05
http://www.louisianaweekly.com/cgi-bin/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20051203h
On the weekend of January 14-16, members of Touro Synagogue and
Masjidur
Raheem (Mosque of the Merciful) will come together for a weekend of
joint
prayer, education, community service, fellowship and athletics entitled
"Weekend of Peace and Friendship." The Muslim and Jewish congregations
will
take the first steps towards earning a mutual trust and respect for
each
other, while putting aside their historically controversial views.
The weekend will begin with members of Touro attending a Friday
afternoon
worship at the Masjidur Raheem. Afterwards, members of the Mosque will
attend an evening service at Touro Synagogue followed by a panel
discussion
to promote the understanding of both religions.
Saturday afternoon, Jan. 15, the congregations will host a community
service event for inner-city families complete with games, food and a
clothing giveaway. The weekend events will come to an end on Sunday,
Jan.
16, with basketball games at the Jewish Community Center involving
youths
from both congregations.
"This event is aimed at having these two congregations share bonds of
friendship and explore the commonalities of our respective religions,"
said
Rabbi David Goldstein of Touro Synagogue. "I hope it will be the first
of
many and that from it there will develop a relationship that can become
a
model of what is possible."
"Our faithful congregation is excited and honored to be participating
in
what should turn out to be one of the most important events in the
Mosque's
history," said Imam Rafeeq H. Nu 'Man of Masjidur Raheem. "We look
forward
to opening our doors to the members of Touro and spending a meaning
weekend
of mutual understanding with them."
Touro Synagogue was founded in 1828 and is the oldest Jewish house of
worship in America beyond the original thirteen colonies. Located on
historic St. Charles Avenue, the Synagogue today is a vital and
progressive
center of Jewish life, and a growing and living community of Jewish
families.
Masjidur Raheem was founded under the leadership of Imam Rafeeq Nu'Man
in
1988 when several families purchased a blighted house and set out to
reclaim a neighborhood threatened by drugs and crime. The masjid, which
now
serves over 300 practitioners, has acquired adjoining properties,
started a
prison ministry, an on-the-street ministry, a Sunday Morning Breakfast
Program and an active Interfaith Program.
-----
BACKING GONZALES IS BACKING TORTURE
Robert Scheer, Los Angeles Times, 1/4/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-scheer4jan04,1,3906032.
column
Is there bipartisan congressional support for torture?
That is the central question the Senate Judiciary Committee faces
Thursday
as it begins hearings on the confirmation of White House Counsel
Alberto
Gonzales as the next attorney general of the United States. At stake is
whether Congress wants to conveniently absolve Gonzales of his clear
attempt to have the president subvert U.S. law in order to whitewash
barbaric practices performed by U.S. interrogators in the name of
national
security.
Gonzales ignored the objections of State Department and military
lawyers to
strongly endorse the determination of Justice Department lawyers that
neither the Geneva Convention nor corresponding U.S. laws on prisoner
protections should be applied in the "war on terror."
"In my judgment, this new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict
limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some
of
its provisions," Gonzales wrote in a legal memo to President Bush on
Jan.
25, 2002. Declaring the war-on-terror prisoners exempt from the Geneva
Convention, he argued, "substantially reduces the threat of domestic
criminal prosecution under the War Crimes Act."
Acting like a sleazy attorney advising a client on how not to be
convicted
of an ongoing crime, Gonzales was apparently not worried about
irrational
foreign courts or high-minded jurists in The Hague, but rather U.S.
prosecutors who might enforce federal laws that ban torture of foreign
prisoners of war. Indeed, Gonzales made the case for a legal end run
around
the 1996 War Crimes Act, which mandates criminal penalties, including
the
death sentence, for any U.S. military or other personnel who engage in
crimes of torture.
"It is difficult to predict the motives of [U.S.] prosecutors and
[U.S.]
independent counsels who may in the future decide to pursue unwarranted
charges based on Section 2441" of the act, Gonzales wrote. "Your
determination [that Geneva protections are not applicable] would create
a
reasonable basis in law that Section 2441 does not apply, which would
provide a solid defense to any future prosecution."
In light of what we have learned since about the rationalization and
use of
torture by U.S. interrogators over the last three years, it is
difficult to
ignore the possibility that Gonzales already had knowledge that such
violations had occurred and expected more.
In fact, Gonzales in his memo singles out language from the Geneva
Convention (and incorporated into U.S. law) that explicitly brands as a
war
crime "outrages against personal dignity" -- a perfect description of
the
pattern of mental, sexual and physical degradation of U.S. detainees
that
has been reported by prisoners, military whistle-blowers and even FBI
agents in recent months. Many of those rounded up in Muslim countries
by
U.S. military and intelligence personnel have reportedly been subjected
to
dog attacks, being chained in fetal positions in their own excrement or
placed in degrading sexual postures...
SEE ALSO:
IRAQ EXHOSTAGE SAYS TROOPS TORTURED HIM
United Press International, 1/4/05
The driver of two ex-French hostages is filing war-crimes charges
against
U.S. forces in Iraq.
Syrian driver Mohammed Al-Joundi filed charges of "torture and war
crimes"
against Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander of U.S. marines in Fallujah,
at a
Paris court Tuesday morning, Le Parisien reports.
Al-Joundi was also taken hostage by the Islamic Army in Iraq last
summer,
along with French reporters Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot.
U.S. soldiers found al-Joundi at a house in Fallujah this fall.
He claims American forces tortured him with electric shocks and staged
three mock executions before releasing him half naked, the newspaper
said…
-----
CO PROF SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT
A DANGEROUS ARGUMENT
Paul Campos, Rocky Mountain News, 1/4/05
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86
_3442925,00.html
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)
Daniel Pipes, the well-known neoconservative intellectual and director
of
the Middle East Forum, has just published an opinion piece in which he
implies that the wholesale relocation of American citizens of the
Muslim
faith to internment camps might be a good idea.
Pipes doesn't actually come right out and support internment camps for
American Muslims, but his article (published originally in The New York
Sun
and reprinted in various other papers) casts a nostalgic glance back at
the
internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II and hints that we
ought to consider similar steps in the context of the war on terrorism.
The immediate object of Pipes' affections is a new book by Michelle
Malkin,
In Defense of Internment, which applauds the roundup and imprisonment
of
more than 120,000 ethnic Japanese, most of them American citizens, as a
reasonable security measure in time of war.
Malkin's book is an odious exercise in revisionist history, with a
distinctly fascist tinge. She defends policies that have long been
considered completely indefensible, using arguments that are often
absurd
on their face.
For instance, Malkin claims the previously uncontroversial view that
the
internment of Japanese- Americans was driven by racism is actually a
product of left-wing distortions. Yet here is a typical quote from Gen.
John DeWitt, the main proponent and organizer of the internment: "The
Japanese race is an enemy race and while many second and third
generation
Japanese, born on United States soil, possessed of United States
citizenship have become Americanized, the racial strains are undiluted.
. .
. It therefore follows that along the Pacific Coast over 112,000
potential
enemies of Japanese extraction are at large today…"
Paul Campos is a professor of law at the University of Colorado. He can
be
reached at paul.campos@colorado.edu
-----
MOSQUE OPENS DOORS TO HINDUS
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal, 1/4/05
http://www.wsj.com/
PARANGIPETTAI, India -- For 45 minutes last week, N. Arunugan, a Hindu
fisherman, hung from the top of a cashew tree to escape the fury of the
tsunami waves that swamped his village. But on returning safely to
earth,
Mr. Arunugan found refuge in a mosque led by Mohamed Yunoos.
"These men are like brothers to me," says Mr. Arunugan. He is living
now in
a wedding hall that has been turned into a makeshift refugee camp at
Mr.
Yunoos's Islamic religious complex in this village in Tamil Nadu, the
worst-hit region in southern India. "They don't think about Muslim,
Hindu,
only that they helped me."
Mr. Yunoos and his Muslim welfare organization, the United Islamic
Jamaath,
offer one sign of hope born of the catastrophe that has devastated
South
and Southeast Asia. The region has been wracked by sectarian conflicts
in
recent years, including Hindu-Muslim rioting in the Indian state of
Gujarat
in 2002 that left thousands dead. That was also the year India and
majority-Muslim Pakistan flirted with a nuclear war in a frightening
escalation of their almost-60-year struggle for control of Kashmir.
Across much of India and Southeast Asia, people of various faiths live
peacefully together. But ethnic and religious strife also has a long
history in countries affected by the tsunami. Sri Lanka has been
seeking
respite from a decades-old civil war pitting an ethnic-Tamil Hindu
minority
against the predominately Buddhist population…
-----
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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 Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #444
CAIR SEEK ANSWERS ON FINGERPRINTING OF HAJJIS
'Hajji Hotline' created for returning pilgrims who face possible
harassment
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/5/05) - CAIR today called on the Bush
administration
to clarify whether American Muslims participating in this year's Hajj,
or
pilgrimage to Mecca, will be fingerprinted or singled out for special
security measures based on their participation in the annual religious
rite.
To assist returning pilgrims, CAIR also created a "Hajji Hotline" and a
downloadable incident report form for those who believe their
constitutional rights are being violated by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) officials. (Some 10,000 American Muslims go on Hajj
each
year.)
CAIR's actions follow reports that dozens of American Muslim citizens
were
singled out recently for security checks and fingerprinting based on
their
attendance at an Islamic conference in Canada. Several of the Muslim
detainees told CAIR they objected strenuously to being fingerprinted,
but
were informed by CBP representatives that "you have no rights" and that
they would be held until they agreed to the fingerprinting procedure.
An
agency spokesperson later admitted that the Muslim citizens were
fingerprinted because of their participation in the Canadian
conference.
CAIR called for an investigation of that incident, saying it was a
disturbing example of religious profiling that would have a chilling
effect
on the constitutional rights of American Muslims.
SEE: "Muslims Seek Probe on Being Fingerprinted"
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20041230/1022459.asp
Despite repeated requests for clarification from the Department of
Homeland
Security (DHS) and CBP, no clear response has been given as to whether
mere
participation in Islamic religious activities is now being viewed as
"probable cause" for increased security checks or forced fingerprinting
of
U.S. citizens. In a letter to the DHS civil rights office, CAIR Legal
Director Arsalan Iftikhar asked the following questions:
"1. Under what U.S. law(s) are border and customs agents given broad
authority or discretion to fingerprint and detain American citizens
with
the threat of arrest for noncompliance? 2. If fingerprinting and
detention
are refused by an American citizen, what are the legal repercussions of
such a refusal? 3. Does mere attendance at an Islamic conference
constitute
sufficient 'probable cause' of a criminal act to justify a detention
which
could be legally tantamount to an arrest?"
ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Any returning pilgrims who believe their constitutional rights have
been
violated should call CAIR's "Hajji Hotline" at 1-800-784-7526. During
business hours, the hotline number rolls over to CAIR's Washington,
D.C.,
switchboard. After hours during the Hajj, a recording will give cell
phone
numbers for CAIR civil rights staff and the latest information on the
legal
rights of U.S. citizens at border crossings.
2. Those going on Hajj should download an incident report form from
http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/hajji.pdf and to keep it handy for
the
return trip to the United States. CAIR's Civil Rights Department can
also
be reached by e-mailing civilrights@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 - 1/5/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAISE GOD EVEN IN ADVERSITY
* CINCINNATI MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- Aid Alone Unlikely to Repair Tattered Image (Reuters)
- MD: Interfaith Prayers Said For Victims (Wash Post)
* AZ COURT TO HEAR ANTI-MUSLIM LETTER CASE (AP)
* BUSH'S COUNSEL SOUGHT RULING ABOUT TORTURE (NY Times)
- Rewarding Mr. Gonzales (NY Times)
- Palliatives for Prisoners (Wash Post)
- Does The Right Remember Abu Ghraib? (Wash Post)
- Iraq Abuse "Went On Until July" (Reuters)
- U.S. Investigates Gitmo Abuse Allegations (Reuters)
* TX: COUNCIL APPROVES FIRST MOSQUE (Dallas News)
* NV: NEW TRIAL DENIED IN RENO MOSQUE BEATING (AP)
* IL: MUSLIM SAYS BIAS WAS BEHIND FIRING (Daily Herald)
* DEATH IN FALLUJAH RISING, DOCTORS SAY (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PRAISE GOD EVEN IN ADVERSITY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The first to be
summoned to
Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be those who praise God in
(both)
prosperity and adversity."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 730
-----
CINCINNATI MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(CINCINNATI, 1/4/05) Muslims in the Cincinnati area recently offered
prayers for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake and
tsunami
in Asia. Cincinnati's Muslim organizations have also begun to work on
the
relief effort and are collecting funds to send to the disaster areas.
The
organizations cooperating in this effort are the Islamic Association of
Cincinnati, the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati
Islamic Center, Muslim American Society, and the Muslim Student
Association.
Fundraising efforts will continue for a two-week-long Tsunami Relief
Fundraising Drive by the Muslim community. Donations may be sent to
Fifth
Third Bank, account #7021484477, Tsunami Victims Relief Fund
Culminating events are planned for Saturday, January 15, 2005, a
fundraising dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Islamic Center of Greater
Cincinnati in West Chester and an Open House on Sunday, January 16,
2005,
3-5 p.m. at the Islamic Association of Cincinnati in Clifton. The final
tally from the fundraising effort will be announced at that time.
What: Tsunami Relief Fundraising Drive
WHEN: January 4 to January 17, 2005
WHO: Cincinnati Area Mosques and Muslim organizations
CONTACT: Karen Dabdoub, CAIR-Ohio Cincinnati Office, 513-281-8200
ALSO SEE:
TSUNAMI AID ALONE UNLIKELY TO REPAIR TATTERED U.S. IMAGE
Carol Giacomo, Reuters, 1/5/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04453006.htm
WASHINGTON - The devastating Asian tsunami has given America a chance
to
begin repairing its tattered international reputation but will not by
itself overcome hostility toward U.S. policies in Iraq and the Middle
East.
Shifting gears from three years of post-Sept 11 combat operations in
Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. troops are delivering millions of dollars of
relief supplies in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia to survivors of
the
most lethal natural disaster in recent memory.
As the world's richest nation and only superpower, much is expected of
the
United States when calamity strikes and usually much is given.
President
George W. Bush, who was criticized for initially offering just $15
million,
has now pledged $350 million. Private groups are doing even more.
But America's image as a force for good has suffered profoundly --
especially in the Arab and Muslim worlds -- from its occupation of Iraq
and
its unwillingness to play a more balanced peacemaking role between
Israel
and the Palestinians.
Although some Muslims will benefit from the U.S. aid, "having just
worked
in Iraq and Afghanistan, I'm uncertain whether or not the U.S. can
overcome
the obstacles it faces in those places and the Middle East in general
by
demonstrating generosity," said Ray Salvatore Jennings, former head of
conflict management programs in Iraq for the United States Institute of
Peace…
"They definitely got off to slow start with the pledges of $15 million
and
then $35 million but I think they soon realized the perception was very
negative and more had to be done," said Ibrahim Hooper of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations.
"I think they realized this wasn't just a public relations exercise.
The
perception of our response to this world-class disaster could have a
real
impact on American policies around the world," he added…
---
INTERFAITH PRAYERS SAID FOR VICTIMS OF TSUNAMI
Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 1/5/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48988-2005Jan5.html
The faithful of many faiths gathered last night in Montgomery County to
speak words of peace and welcome in Arabic, to chant Buddhist prayers
and
read Old Testament Psalms. They spoke in many tongues, but all called
out
to God for the same purpose: relief for the victims of the deadly South
Asian tsunami.
Gathering at an interfaith prayer service at the Muslim Community
Center in
Colesville, worshipers who included representatives of the Hindu,
Hebrew,
Muslim and Christian traditions sat side by side to hear sacred texts
and
listen to words of unity and encouragement in the face of catastrophe.
The service drew people of various religions, including the Hindu,
Hebrew,
Muslim, and Christian faiths. Prayers were offered in several languages
for
victims of the devastating tsunami in South Asia.
"When tragedy strikes, it doesn't discriminate with certain kinds of
faith," said Faraz Zubairi, a director at the Muslim center, who
presided.
Spiritual leaders, male and female, reminded their audience that
although
prayer serves always to unite believers, this is especially true in
times
of tragedy and disaster.
Clad in robes of gold and orange, three Buddhist monks offered sonorous
chants, their voices sounding as one. A Ukrainian Orthodox priest
reminded
the crowd of more than 100 that unity should not wait for times of
trouble.
Speakers and listeners seemed to form a United Nations of costume and
ornament: robes, saris, burqas and crosses. They walked in tennis
shoes, or
with the aid of canes. Their faces were white and brown, light and
dark.
All seemed somber as they bowed their heads in prayer. The United
Nations
has estimated that the number of dead will exceed 150,000…
-----
ARIZONA SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON LAWSUIT OVER IRAQ LETTER
Paul Davenport, Associated Press, 1/5/05
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/010505citizen_suit.html
PHOENIX - The Arizona Supreme Court said Wednesday it will decide
whether a
newspaper can be sued for publishing a letter suggesting that American
soldiers in Iraq respond to attacks by killing Muslims at nearby
mosques.
The Supreme Court agreed without comment to hear the Tucson Citizen's
appeal of a judge's decision to hold a trial in a lawsuit accusing the
newspaper of distressing residents by printing the letter.
The Supreme Court ordered legal briefs filed within 30 days. No date
was
set for oral arguments.
Two Tucson men filed a class-action lawsuit against the Gannett Co.
newspaper in January 2004 over a letter printed Dec. 2, 2003, as deadly
attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq mounted.
The letter prompted some fearful Tucson Muslims to keep their children
home
from religious schools and resulted in protests from readers and a
published apology by the Citizen, which also sent staff members to meet
with members of a local mosque…
Judge Leslie Miller of Pima County Superior Court in Tucson on May 10
allowed the lawsuit's claim of intentional infliction of emotional
distress
to stand, setting the stage for pretrial fact-finding now put on hold
during the appeal to the Supreme Court.
"Clearly, reasonable minds could differ in determining whether the
publication of the letter rose to the level of extreme and outrageous
conduct," Miller wrote.
-----
BUSH'S COUNSEL SOUGHT RULING ABOUT TORTURE
David Johnston and Neil A. Lewis, New York Times, 1/5/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/05/politics/05gonzales.html
WASHINGTON - Alberto R. Gonzales, the White House counsel, intervened
directly with Justice Department lawyers in 2002 to obtain a legal
ruling
on the extent of the president's authority to permit extreme
interrogation
practices in the name of national security, current and former
administration officials said Tuesday.
Mr. Gonzales's role in seeking a legal opinion on the definition of
torture
and the legal limits on the force that could be used on terrorist
suspects
in captivity is expected to be a central issue in the Senate Judiciary
Committee confirmation hearings scheduled to begin on Thursday on Mr.
Gonzales's nomination to be attorney general.
The request by Mr. Gonzales produced the much-debated Justice
Department
memorandum of Aug. 1, 2002, which defined torture narrowly and said
that
Mr. Bush could circumvent domestic and international prohibitions
against
torture in the name of national security.
Until now, administration officials have been unwilling to provide
details
about the role Mr. Gonzales had in the production of the memorandum by
the
Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. Mr. Gonzales has spoken
of
the memorandum as a response to questions, without saying that most of
the
questions were his.
Current and former officials who talked about the memorandum have been
provided with firsthand accounts about how it was prepared. Some
discussed
it in an effort to clear up what they viewed as a murky record in
advance
of Mr. Gonzales's confirmation hearings. Others spoke of the matter
apparently believing that the Justice Department had unfairly taken the
blame for the memorandum.
ALSO SEE:
REWARDING MR. GONZALES
New York Times, 1/5/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/05/opinion/05wed1.html
Last week, the Bush administration put another spin on the twisted
legal
reasoning behind the brutalization of prisoners at military jails,
apparently in hopes of smoothing the promotion of Alberto Gonzales, the
White House counsel. Mr. Gonzales, who oversaw earlier memos condoning
what
amounts to torture and scoffed at the Geneva Conventions, is being
rewarded
with the job of attorney general.
But the document only underscored the poor choice Mr. Bush made when he
decided to elevate a man so closely identified with the scandal of Abu
Ghraib, the contempt for due process at Guantánamo Bay and the
seemingly
unending revelations of the abuse of Afghan and Iraqi prisoners by
American
soldiers. Like Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the other chief
architect
of these policies, Mr. Gonzales shamed the nation and endangered
American
soldiers who may be taken prisoner in the future by condoning the sort
of
atrocious acts the United States has always condemned.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will question Mr. Gonzales tomorrow,
even
though the White House has not released documents that are essential to
a
serious hearing. The committee has an obligation to demand these
documents,
and to compel Mr. Gonzales to account for administration policies,
before
giving him the top law-enforcement job.
After Sept. 11, 2001, with Americans intent on punishing those behind
the
terrorist attacks and preventing another calamity at home, the Bush
administration had its lawyers review the legal status of Taliban and
Al
Qaeda prisoners, with an eye to getting around the Geneva Conventions,
other international accords and United States law on the treatment of
prisoners.
Mr. Gonzales was the center of this effort. On Jan. 25, 2002, he sent
Mr.
Bush a letter assuring him that the war on terror "renders obsolete
Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners." That
August, Mr. Gonzales got a legal opinion from Jay Bybee, then the
assistant
attorney general, arguing that the president could suspend the Geneva
Conventions at will and that some forms of torture "may be justified."
Mr.
Rumsfeld's lawyers produced documents justifying the abuse of prisoners
sent from Afghanistan to Guantánamo Bay. Mr. Gonzales approved those
memos
or didn't object. We don't know which because the White House won't
release
the documents…
---
PALLIATIVES FOR PRISONERS
Washington Post, 1/5/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48628-2005Jan4.html
THOUGH IT has yet to acknowledge any error, the Bush administration
appears
to understand that its handling of foreign detainees has caused
enormous
damage to America's standing around the world, and even to relations
with
close allies. In the past week, two measures it has devised to
alleviate
the problem have become public. The Justice Department has repudiated a
2002 legal opinion that authorized the use of torture, and it has
issued a
brief that returns U.S. policy closer to international standards. The
Defense Department, in turn, has developed plans for new facilities and
procedures at the Guantanamo Bay prison that will allow long-term
detainees
to be held in more humane conditions. Both steps are welcome. However,
by
themselves they are not sufficient to end the systematic violations of
domestic and international human rights laws that the administration
has
committed since 2001.
The new torture opinion appeared just a week before tomorrow's
scheduled
opening of Senate hearings on President Bush's nomination of White
House
Counsel Alberto R. Gonzales to be attorney general. That's probably not
a
coincidence, since Mr. Gonzales was deeply involved in the legal review
that led to the drafting of the original memo. Significantly, the new
policy sets aside the earlier finding that Mr. Bush was empowered as
commander in chief to override U.S. laws and international treaties
prohibiting torture. It also revises what was an extremely narrow
definition of torture; the Justice Department now concedes that some
practices that cause pain short of death or organ failure could be
considered illegal. The new standard, however, is vague. So while the
extreme and embarrassing previous policy is disposed of, it's unclear
that
the new one requires any change in the actual treatment of prisoners.
The evolving plans for Guantanamo could provide better conditions for
those
detainees -- more than half the total prisoner population -- who are no
longer being interrogated but whom the administration is not prepared
to
release. Officials say they intend to expand the privileges of those
detainees in part by constructing a new, penitentiary-like facility
that
would allow for group exercise and other facilities normally provided
to
prisoners of war. Those prisoners would not be charged with crimes or
tried
before military tribunals, but -- thanks to last year's Supreme Court
ruling -- they could challenge their detentions in federal court and
will
receive an annual review of their status. The administration still
lacks a
mechanism for determining, in the likely absence of a battlefield
surrender
or peace treaty, when the war on terrorism will be over and when these
prisoners will be subject to general release…
---
DOES THE RIGHT REMEMBER ABU GHRAIB?
Anne Applebaum, Washington Post, 1/5/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48618-2005Jan4.html
During the past eight months there have been many news cycles, many
front-page stories, many events. There have been elections. There have
been
hurricanes and tidal waves. Nevertheless, in the grand scheme of
things,
eight months is not a very long time. In most of the world, something
that
happened eight months ago is considered "recent." In Washington,
however,
it seems that eight months ago is considered "ancient." How else to
explain
the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to the post of attorney general of
the
United States?
Or, more to the point: How else to explain the widespread assumption
that
Gonzales -- who commissioned the "torture memo" of August 2002,
following a
meeting in his office -- will be decisively confirmed? After all, eight
months ago, much of the country -- and much of the Republican Party --
was
gripped by horror and embarrassment after the publication of
photographs
from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Those photographs haven't gone away: As
I
write this, I need only click on my computer's Internet Explorer icon
and
there is Lynndie England, grinning and giving a thumbs-up behind a pile
of
naked men.
If the pictures haven't gone away, the value system that led to Abu
Ghraib
hasn't gone away either. Last month -- really recently -- lawsuits
filed by
American human rights groups forced the government to release thousands
of
pages of documents showing that the abuse of prisoners at Guantanamo
Naval
Base long preceded the Abu Ghraib photographs, and that abuse has
continued
since then too. U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have, according
to
the administration's own records and my colleagues' reporting, used
beatings, suffocation, sleep deprivation, electric shocks and dogs
during
interrogations. They probably still do.
Although many people bear some responsibility for these abuses, Alberto
Gonzales, along with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, is among those
who
bear the most responsibility. It was Gonzales who led the
administration's
internal discussion of what qualified as torture. It was Gonzales who
advised the president that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to
people
captured in Afghanistan. It was Gonzales who helped craft some of the
administration's worst domestic decisions, including the indefinite
detention, without access to lawyers, of U.S. citizens Jose Padilla and
Yaser Esam Hamdi…
---
IRAQ ABUSE "WENT ON UNTIL JULY"
Reuters, 1/5/04
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5447628
LOS ANGELES - Sexual and physical abuse of Iraqi prisoners continued at
least three months after the Abu Ghraib scandal was revealed, according
to
accounts by alleged victims published in the latest issue of Vanity
Fair
magazine.
Vanity Fair writer Donovan Webster, in a report on 60 hours of
interviews
he conducted with 10 former detainees including a 15-year-old boy,
quoted
several accounts of mistreatment that included Iraqi prisoners being
sexually assaulted by American soldiers or being hooded, beaten,
subjected
to electric shock and kept in cages or crates.
One man said he was hung naked from handcuffs in a frigid room while
soldiers threw buckets of ice water on him.
Webster added that several of the people he interviewed said their
mistreatment took place in July, three months after the Abu Ghraib
prisoner
abuse scandal broke in late April.
The article published on Tuesday said the former detainees interviewed
by
Webster are suing two American companies that provided translators and
interrogators to forces in Iraq and that their firsthand accounts
comprise
"hundreds, if not thousands, of separate Geneva Convention violations."
Vanity Fair said that the accounts of abuses were impossible to
independently verify. The magazine quoted a U.S. military spokesman for
detainee operations in Iraq as dismissing the assertions that prisoners
were held illegally, kept in wooden boxes, handcuffed and blindfolded
and
subjected to sexual threats, abuse and assault.
In one example cited in the article, a 15-year-old Iraqi identified
only as
N said he was pulled from a wooden crate he'd been forced to crouch
inside,
wearing handcuffs and blacked-out ski goggles, for 11 days and taken to
the
bathroom against his will where he was sexually assaulted.
He said he was again sexually assaulted two days later in the prison
north
of Baghdad but let go later in the day when a soldier apologized to him
for
being illegally detained and gave him $50 (27 pounds). N had been held
with
several members of his family who also said they were mistreated.
---
U.S. INVESTIGATES GUANTANAMO ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
Jane Sutton, Reuters, 1/5/05
MIAMI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. military's regional command in Miami
launched an investigation on Wednesday into FBI agents' allegations
that
interrogators tortured prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
The military's Southern Command, which has jurisdiction over the U.S.
base
in eastern Cuba, ordered two officers to investigate the abuse
allegations
contained in FBI e-mails made public last month.
The FBI e-mails described Guantanamo prisoners being shackled hand and
foot
in a fetal position on the floor for 18 to 24 hours, and left to
urinate
and defecate on themselves.
One FBI agent reported seeing a barely conscious prisoner who had torn
out
his hair after being left overnight in a sweltering room. Another told
of
an interrogation in which a prisoner was wrapped in an Israeli flag and
bombarded with loud music and strobe lights.
SouthCom officials said an Army general and a Navy captain would travel
to
Guantanamo this week to begin investigating the allegations…
-----
COUNCIL APPROVES FIRST MOSQUE
Islamic group to move from motel to converted house
Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 1/04/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/denton/stories/010505dndenmosque.58521.html
Cultivating a sense of community from rented space at a highway motel
has
been a challenge for Ali Khan.
His Islamic Association of Lewisville/Flower Mound has held prayer
services
weekly at the Super8 Motel for the last three years.
But that is about to change. Mr. Khan's nonprofit group recently won
approval from the Flower Mound Town Council to convert a house it owns
into
a 1,940-square-foot mosque called Masjid Al-Noor.
Mr. Khan's long-term goal is to build a full-fledged Islamic center on
19,000 square feet of land north of Flower Mound High School that the
association has owned for about four years.
The association first has to upgrade its existing building on Peters
Colony
Road so that prayer services can be held there and expanded to more
than
once a week. Work will include adding access for people with
disabilities,
parking, utilities, a water-retention pond, landscaping and a fire
alarm
system. It will cost about $155,000.
Once completed, the building would be the only mosque in southern
Denton
County, said Mr. Khan, one of the association's founders.
Phase two, to begin after the house is upgraded, will involve
constructing
a large Islamic center with a research library, office space, an
Islamic
school, a prayer facility and a community center.
"It would be a formal facility geared toward worship and taking care of
the
community," said Mr. Khan, one of the group's founders. "We're hoping
that
once phase one is completed, people will be excited and donate money to
the
project."
The various features could also be added in phases, as money from the
community becomes available, he said...
-----
NEW TRIAL DENIED IN RENO MOSQUE BEATING
Associated Press, 1/4/05
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2005/jan/04/010410358.html
RENO, Nev. - A judge has denied a new trial for one of two teenagers
convicted of beating a doctor outside a Reno mosque.
David Nolette's lawyer, Karla Butko, said the Dec. 28 ruling would be
appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court.
Nolette, who was 15 at the time, was sentenced to 40 years in prison
for
the robbery and beating of Dr. El Tag Mirghani and his friend, Mohammed
Sanad in March 2001.
Mirghani was beaten unconscious and suffered brain damage. He underwent
several surgeries and was forced to close his medical practice.
Nolette and Scott Cannady, then 17, were charged with attempted murder,
conspiracy and robbery and battery with a deadly weapon.
Nolette pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and guilty to the other
charges. A jury acquitted him on the single attempted murder count.
A jury convicted Cannady of battery and robbery, but deadlocked on the
attempted murder charge.
Butko argued Nolette's trial lawyer gave him bad legal advice and
should be
granted a new trial or given a reduced sentence.
But Washoe District Judge James Hardesty, who was assumed a seat on the
state's high court Monday, rejected those arguments and other claims.
-----
MAN SAYS DISCRIMINATION WAS BEHIND FIRING CAROL STREAM MAN FILES SUIT
CLAIMING
Christy Gutowski, Daily Herald, 1/5/04
http://www.dailyherald.com/mchenry/main_story.asp?intID=38357152
A Carol Stream man fired from a manufacturing company is accusing his
former employer of religious discrimination in retaliation for the
Sept. 11
terrorist attacks.
Syed Abbas filed a federal lawsuit this week alleging his dismissal on
March 3, 2003, was motivated by prejudice rather than job performance.
The 40-year-old man began working for AFI Industries in Carol Stream in
May
1994 shortly after arriving in the United States from Pakistan. Abbas
maintains he was a hard worker who often put in overtime.
The harassment began, he alleges, after Sept. 11, 2001, when a
co-worker
repeatedly called him a terrorist while his supervisor drew laughs at
the
factory by creating a drawing of Abbas labeled "wanted."
The supervisor even threatened that the CIA and FBI were watching him
and
warned that someone would break into his home and shoot him, the suit
alleges.
"I felt so alone," Abbas said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "I felt
scared ... and very stressed a lot."
An official with AFI Industries declined comment. The company makes
screws
and other fasteners.
Abbas, a father of four children, ages 12 to 8, said he came to the
United
States for a "better future." He made about $45,000 a year before his
dismissal. Things were fine at work, he said, but that changed after
Sept. 11.
A supervisor repeatedly told him he was dangerous and that no more
Pakistanis would be hired full time, the suit alleges. He also
maintains
his boss gave him more difficult assignments and reduced overtime
hours.
At that time, Abbas had a part-time job delivering pizzas. A supervisor
asked him if he delivered "anthrax pizza" and "poison pizza," the
lawsuit
alleges. A co-worker left him notes containing words such as
"terrorist"
and "Al Qaida…"
-----
IRAQ: DEATH IN FALLUJAH RISING, DOCTORS SAY
Reuters, 1/4/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/121b671d950efc3ac031b54b55118d85.htm
FALLUJAH - "It was really distressing picking up dead bodies from
destroyed
homes, especially children. It is the most depressing situation I have
ever
been in since the war started," Dr Rafa'ah al-Iyssaue, director of the
main
hospital in Fallujah city, some 60 km west of Baghdad, told IRIN.
According to al-Iyssaue, the hospital emergency team has recovered more
than 700 bodies from rubble where houses and shops once stood, adding
that
more than 550 were women and children. He said a very small number of
men
were found in these places and most were elderly.
Doctors at the hospital claim that many bodies had been found in a
mutilated condition, some without legs or arms. Two babies were found
at
their homes, who are believed to have died from malnutrition, according
to
a specialist at the hospital.
Al-Iyssaue added these numbers were only from nine neighbourhoods of
the
city and that 18 others had not yet been reached, as they were waiting
for
help from the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to make it easier for
them
to enter.
He explained that many of the dead had been already buried by civilians
from the Garma and Amirya districts of Fallujah after approval from
US-led
forces nearly three weeks ago, and those bodies had not been counted…
-----
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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
HAJJ PUBLICITY RESOURCE KIT
The following publicity materials may be modified and used by local
communities to publicize Hajj. When modifying the news releases,
include
references to local Hajj activities and contact information for local
spokespeople. Send to the newspaper "city editor," television station
"assignment editors" and radio station "news directors." Just call each
media outlet to get the contact information. Also send to the "daybook
editor" at the nearest Associated Press bureau.
CONTENTS:
* U.S. MUSLIMS LEAVE FOR PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
* HAJJ Q&A
* SAMPLE EID MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE MEDIA ADVISORY
* STEPS NECESSARY TO HOLD A MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE
* WELCOME TO OUR MOSQUE BROCHURE
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. MUSLIMS LEAVE FOR PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/6/2005) - Thousands of American Muslims will soon
take
part in religious observances associated with the annual Hajj, or
pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajj is one of the "five pillars" of the Islamic
faith. (The other pillars include a declaration of faith, daily
prayers,
offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan.)
Pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who have the
physical and financial ability to undertake the journey.
When the main portion of the pilgrimage is completed, Muslims worldwide
gather for communal prayers on the first day (January 21*) of Eid
ul-Adha
(eed-al-ODD-ha), the second of the two major Muslim holidays.
The obligatory and optional activities of Hajj include:
* Entrance into a state of self-control called ihram, during which
pilgrims
are forbidden to harm living creatures, even insects or plants, or
raise
the voice in anger. The state of ihram is signified (for men) by the
wearing of two pieces of unsewn white cloth. This clothing signifies
the
equality of all before God. No specific clothing is prescribed for
female
pilgrims.
* Circling of the Ka'aba (Tawaf), the stone building Muslims believe
was
originally built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Ka'aba is viewed
as
the first sanctuary on earth dedicated to the worship of the One God.
It is
a symbol of unity for Muslims because all prayers, wherever they are
performed, are oriented in the direction of the Ka'aba.
* The Sa'i, or "hastening" between two small hills near the Ka'aba, to
commemorate Hagar's search for water to offer her son Ishmael.
* The "Day of Arafah" on January 20.* Arafah is a mountain and its
surrounding empty plain near Mecca. On this day, the climax of the Hajj
season, pilgrims assemble for supplication to God.
* The stoning of three pillars representing Satan's temptation of
Abraham.
The stoning indicates the pilgrim's rejection of evil deeds.
* Cutting the hair to symbolize the completion of Hajj.
* Sacrifice of an animal to help the poor, and in remembrance of
Abraham's
willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command. The meat is
distributed to relatives and to the needy.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
(* Because the beginning of Islamic lunar months depends on the actual
sighting of the new moon, the start date for Hajj and Eid ul-Adha may
vary.)
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
---
HAJJ Q&A
Q: WHAT DOES THE QURAN SAY ABOUT HAJJ?
A: In the Quran, Islam's revealed text, God says: "Thus We settled
Abraham
at the site of the House (the Ka'aba) [saying]: 'Do not associate
anything
with Me, and purify My house for those who walk around it, and those
who
stand there (praying), and those who bow down on their knees in
worship.
Proclaim the pilgrimage among mankind: they will come to you on foot
and on
every lean (beast of burden); Let them come from every deep ravine, to
bear
witness to the advantages they have, and to mention God's name on
appointed
days..." Chapter 22, verses 26-28
Q: WHAT DO MUSLIMS BELIEVE THEY GAIN FROM HAJJ?
A: The main benefit of Hajj for many people is the sense of
purification,
repentance and spiritual renewal it instills. After his Hajj, Malcolm X
wrote in his autobiography: "...I have eaten from the same plate, drank
from the same glass, and slept in the same bed (or on the same rug) -
while
praying to the same God - with fellow Muslims whose eyes were bluest of
the
blue, whose hair was blondest of the blonde and whose skin was whitest
of
the white. And in the words and in the actions and in the deeds of the
white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among black
African
Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana...In the past I permitted myself to
be
used to make sweeping indictments of...the entire white race...Because
of
the spiritual enlightenment which I was blessed to receive as a result
of
my recent pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca, I no longer subscribe
to
the sweeping indictments of any one race. I am now striving to live the
life of a true Muslim."
Q: WHY DOES HAJJ BEGIN ON A DIFFERENT DAY EACH YEAR?
A: Because Dhul-Hijjah is a lunar month, it begins about eleven days
earlier each year.
Q: WHY DO MUSLIMS SACRIFICE A LAMB OR OTHER ANIMAL DURING THE FESTIVAL
OF
EID UL-ADHA?
A: The sacrifice commemorates the Prophet Abraham's readiness to
sacrifice
his son, identified in Islam as Ishmael, at God's request. This is not
a
blood offering. In the Quran God states: "Neither their meat nor their
blood ever reaches God, but heedfulness on your part does reach Him."
(Chapter 22, verse 37) The meat is distributed to relatives and to the
needy.
Q: IS HAJJ AN OBLIGATION ON ALL MUSLIMS?
A: Yes, but only for those who are physically and financially able to
make
the trip.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST VISUALLY STRIKING ASPECTS OF HAJJ?
A: All pilgrims must do tawaf, or circling the Ka'aba. This obligation
creates a stunning scene as thousands of people circle the building at
all
times of the day and night. Also, the standing at Arafah on the 9th day
of
the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah presents a scene in which several
million
people all dressed alike and with the same intention to worship God,
gather
on a barren plain.
Q: HOW SHOULD NON-MUSLIM FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS INTERACT WITH SOMEONE
WHO
IS GOING ON HAJJ OR CELEBRATING AT HOME?
A: Hajj is a high point in a Muslim's life. Questions are welcome and
congratulations are in order. Most communities welcome visitors at Eid
ul-Adha prayers. Just ask a Muslim friend to act as an escort and
guide.
---
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
LOCAL MUSLIMS TO HOLD MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE
Event to feature food, tours and exhibits for people of all faiths
WHAT: On January ___, the Muslim community in [name of local community]
will celebrate the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with
a
mosque open house. The open house is scheduled to coincide with the
Islamic
holiday of Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the sacrifice,"
which comes at the end of the pilgrimage. At the evening event, people
of
all faiths will be able to sample foods from around the Muslim world,
take
a guided tour of the mosque and browse through informational displays
of
books and other items explaining the basics of Islam.
Eid ul-Adha 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. During this holiday, Muslims exchange the greeting "Eid
Mubarak" or "blessed Eid."
(Each year, more than two million Muslims go on Hajj. There are
[number] of
Muslims in [local community], an estimated seven million in America and
some 1.2 billion worldwide.)
WHEN: January ___, [Time Period]
WHERE: [Address and Directions]
COST: Free of Charge
CONTACT: For information, call [local contact].
NOTE: Because this is a house of worship, reporters and photographers
of
both sexes should dress modestly. That means no shorts for men or short
skirts for women. Female reporters and photographers may be asked to
put a
scarf over their hair while in the actual prayer area. Photographers
are
advised not to step directly in front of worshipers and to ask
permission
for close-up shots.
---
STEPS NECESSARY TO HOLD A MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE
1. PREPARE the members of your local community by explaining the
necessity
of building a positive image of the mosque in the surrounding area. Let
them know that experience of other communities has shown that a
positive
neighborhood image offers many benefits. Ask for input concerning the
details of when and at what time the open house should be held. There
are
no hard and fast rules for such things.
2. INVITE local community leaders, clergy, law enforcement officials,
activists, and government officials. Remember to invite the mayor,
congressional representatives, the chief of police and members of the
city
council. These people should all receive written invitations. Follow up
with a personal phone call. Letters are not enough.
3. PUBLICIZE the event by sending a well-written news release (see
sample)
to the local media. You may also place paid advertisements in the local
newspaper. Send the news release to the religion calendar editor, the
city
editor and the feature editor at the newspaper. Send a release to the
assignment editor at the local television stations. Also send copies to
news directors at the local radio stations. Send announcements to local
churches.
4. INFORM your guests of mosque etiquette before they arrive (see
"Welcome
to Our Mosque" brochure). This will make them feel at ease and avoid
embarrassment. Be ready to answer questions about prayer, separation of
men
and women and other common issues.
5. CLEAN the mosque. The first impression is one that will last. Make
sure
bathrooms are spotless. Have a mosque clean up day prior to the open
house.
6. SET UP a reception area where guests can be received, told about
mosque
etiquette and served refreshments. Have greeters at the door to direct
arriving guests. Have knowledgeable people conduct tours of the
facility.
Do not leave guests alone to wander about the mosque. Give each guest a
name tag. Make sure sisters are available to make female guests feel
welcome.
7. SELECT literature to be given to the guests. Do not push materials
on
guests. Let them select what they wish to read.
8. POST signs at appropriate locations in the facility.
9. PRAY that your efforts will open the hearts of your guests.
-----
WELCOME TO OUR MOSQUE
We hope you enjoy your visit.
Q: WHAT IS A MOSQUE?
A: A mosque is a place of worship used by Muslims. The English word
"mosque" is derived from its Arabic equivalent, masjid, which means
"place
of prostration." It is in the mosque that Muslims perform their
prayers, a
part of which includes placing the forehead on the floor.
Q: HOW IS A MOSQUE USED?
A: Mosques play a vital role in the lives of Muslims in North America.
The
primary function of the mosque is to provide a place where Muslims may
perform Islam's obligatory five daily prayers as a congregation. A
mosque
also provides sufficient space in which to hold prayers on Fridays, the
Muslim day of communal prayer, and on the two Muslim holidays, called
Eids,
or "festivals."
Q: IS A MOSQUE A HOLY PLACE?
A: A mosque is a place that is specifically dedicated as a place of
prayer.
However, there is nothing sacred about the building or the place
itself.
There is no equivalent of an altar in a mosque. A Muslim may pray on
any
clean surface. Muslims often pray in public places.
Q: HOW BIG ARE MOSQUES?
A: In North America, mosques vary in size from tiny storefronts serving
a
handful of worshippers, to large Islamic centers that can accommodate
thousands.
Q: DO MOSQUES WELCOME VISITORS?
A: Mosques in North America welcome visitors. Tours can be arranged at
most
facilities. It is always best to call mosque administrators before
arrival.
They will want to make sure your visit is enjoyable.
Q: WHAT ARE THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF A MOSQUE?
A: The musalla, or prayer hall, in each mosque is oriented in the
direction of Mecca, toward which Muslims face during prayers. In North
America, Muslim worshippers face northeast. Prayer halls are open and
uncluttered to accommodate lines of worshippers who stand and bow in
unison. There are no pews or chairs. Members of the congregation sit on
the
floor.
Because Muslim men and women form separate lines when they stand in
prayers, some mosques will have a balcony reserved for the use of
women.
Other mosques will accommodate men and women in the same musalla, or
they
may have two separate areas for men and women.
Q: WHAT ELSE IS IN THE PRAYER AREA?
A: All mosques have some sort of mihrab, or niche, that indicates which
wall of the mosque faces Mecca. The mihrab is often decorated with
Arabic
calligraphy. Its curved shape helps reflect the voice of the imam, or
prayer leader, back toward the congregation. Many mosques also have a
minbar, or pulpit, to the right of the mihrab. During the Friday prayer
service, the imam delivers a sermon from the minbar.
Q: WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN IN THE PRAYER AREA?
A: Children will often be present during prayers, whether
participating,
watching or imitating the movements of their elders. Their presence
continues the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, who behaved tenderly
toward children. The Prophet sometimes carried one of his grandchildren
on
his shoulder while leading the prayer and was also known to shorten the
prayer if he heard a baby cry.
Q: WHAT MIGHT I HEAR DURING MY VISIT?
A: You might hear Muslims exchanging the Islamic greeting, the Arabic
phrase "as-salaam alaykum" ("peace be with you"). Muslims return this
greeting by saying, "wa alaykum as-salaam" ("and with you be peace").
You might also hear the call to prayer. The call, or adhan, contains
the
following phrases (in Arabic):
God is most great, God is most great.
God is most great, God is most great.
I bear witness that there is no god but God.
I bear witness that there is no god but God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is a messenger of God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is a messenger of God.
Hasten to prayer, Hasten to prayer.
Hasten to success, Hasten to success.
God is most great, God is most great.
There is no god but [the One] God.
All Muslim prayers begin with recitation of Al-Fatihah, the opening
chapter
of the Qur'an:
In the name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds.
The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
Ruler of the Day of Judgment.
Only You do we worship, Only You we ask for help.
Show us the straight path.
The path of those whom You have favored,
not that of those who earn Your anger, nor those who go astray.
Q: WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE BUILDING?
A: Many mosques have a minaret, the large tower used to issue the call
to
prayer five times each day. In North America, the minaret is largely
decorative. Facilities to perform wudu, or ablutions, can be found in
all
mosques. Muslims wash their hands, faces and feet before prayers as a
way
to purify and prepare themselves to stand before God. Wudu facilities
range
from wash basins to specially designed areas with built-in benches,
floor
drains and faucets.
Bookshelves are found in most mosques. They contain works of Islamic
philosophy, theology and law, as well as collections of the traditions
and
sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Copies of the Quran, Islam's revealed
text, are always available to worshippers.
Calligraphy is used to decorate nearly every mosque. Arabic quotations
from
the Quran invite contemplation of the revealed Word of God. Other
common
features found in the mosque are clocks or schedules displaying the
times
of the five daily prayers and large rugs or carpets covering the
musalla
floor. Many American mosques also have administrative offices.
Q: IS A MOSQUE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR PRAYER?
A: Though its main function is as a place of prayer, the mosque plays a
variety of roles, especially in North America. Many mosques are
associated
with Islamic schools and day care centers. Mosques also provide diverse
services such as Sunday schools, Arabic classes, Quranic instruction,
and
youth activities.
Marriages and funerals, potluck dinners during the fasting month of
Ramadan, and Eid prayers and carnivals are all to be found in North
American mosques. They are also sites for interfaith dialogues and
community activism.
Many mosques serve as recreational centers for the Muslim community and
may
have a gymnasium, game room and weight equipment, as well as a library
and
classrooms.
Q: DO MOSQUES HAVE SPECIAL RULES?
A: Men and women should always dress conservatively when visiting a
mosque,
covering their arms and legs. Examples of inappropriate clothing would
be
shorts for men and short skirts for women.
Shoes are always left at the entrance to the prayer area so as not to
soil
the rugs or carpets. Shelves are usually provided to hold shoes. Women
may
be asked to cover their hair when visiting a mosque. Many mosques have
scarves on hand for visitors to borrow, but it is better to bring a
head
covering in case none are available.
Visitors to mosques should behave as they would when visiting any
religious
institution, but they should feel free to ask questions about the
mosque,
its architecture, furnishings, and activities. Muslims are happy to
answer
questions about their religion.
-----
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 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 - 1/6/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: SHOW KINDNESS
- Hadith: Kindness Leads to Paradise
* CAIR-FL: MOSQUES TO TALLY FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
* CAIR-CA: THE TSUNAMI AND GOD'S ROLE IN IT (SF Chron)
- IL: Muslims Help Tsunami Victims (Daily Herald)
- CA: Islamic Leader Urges Tsunami Relief (CC Times)
* ARKANSAS MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
* GROUP FEARS PILGRIMS WILL BE SINGLED OUT (CNS News)
- Hajj: Spiritual Cleansing (Herald News)
* NY: SUBWAY WORKER TURBAN FLAP (NY Daily News)
- ME: Status of Women in Islam (Morning Star)
* ARMY DOCTORS IMPLICATED IN ABUSE (Wash Post)
- The Gonzales Record (Wash Post)
- Terror Suspect Alleges Torture (Wash Post)
- We Are All Torturers Now (NY Times)
- Don't Torture Yourself (NY Times)
* 'UNFAIR' TO BLAME EUROPEAN ANTI-SEMITISM ON MUSLIMS (RNS)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: SHOW KINDNESS
"Do not forget to show kindness to each other. Surely God observes your
actions."
The Holy Quran, 2:237
HADITH OF THE DAY: KINDNESS LEADS TO PARADISE
"Acts of kindness protect one from ruin wrought by evil...The first of
those who shall enter Paradise are the people who do acts of kindness."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 97B
-----
CAIR-FL: ISLAMIC CENTERS TO TALLY FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
(MIAMI, FL., 01/6/05) - On Monday, January 10, representatives of
several
South Florida Islamic centers will gather at a Miami mosque to tally
funds
collected for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia. The
total amount collected will be announced at the end of Monday's
meeting.
Local elected officials will also be present to recognize the
humanitarian
relief efforts of the South Florida Muslim community.
WHEN: Monday, January 10, 7 p.m.
WHERE: 4305 NW 183rd Street, Miami, FL. 33055
CONTACT: CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490,
954-298-8214,
E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org
Participating Islamic Centers include: Nurul Islam Masjid; Miami
Gardens
Mosque; Islamic Movement of Florida; Masjid Al - Ansar, Islamic Center
of
Boca Raton; Masjid Al-Fayza; Masjid Jama Al-Mumineen; Assadiq Islamic
Educational Foundation; Darul Uloom Institute; Masjid Al-Ihsan; Masjid
Mutaqeen; Masjid Shamsuddin; Muslim Community of West Palm Beach;
Islamic
Foundation of South Florida; Masjid Al-Iman; Masjid An-Noor; and
Islamic
Center of South Florida.
-----
CAIR-CA: THE TSUNAMI AND GOD'S ROLE IN IT
Joan Ryan, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/6/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/06/BAGF6ALB071.DTL
In the aftermath of the southern Asia tsunami that took more than
150,000
lives, people ask: "Why did this horror happen? Why did God allow it?"
I
hesitate to raise the questions at all, knowing the answers will raise
only
more questions. But an event of this scale - - biblical, some have said
--
has even nonreligious people grappling with the nature of God and the
purpose of suffering. I posed the questions to followers of different
faiths...
Baslim Elkarra of Sacramento, a Muslim with the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations, said a colleague at CAIR in Maryland lost 30 family members
in
the tsunami. Elkarra has reminded himself of a passage in the Quran in
which one line is repeated twice: "Verily with difficulty comes ease."
"Life is not supposed to be easy," he said. "How we respond is the test
of
our faith. Here in the West people ask, How could God do this? Over
there,
they turn to God even more, asking for his mercy…"
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC COUNCIL DINNER TO HELP TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Kathryn Grondin Daily Herald, 1/6/05
http://www.dailyherald.com/dupage/main_story.asp?intID=3835824
As millions of followers of the Islamic faith prepare to make their
once-in-a-lifetime journeys to Mecca, hundreds of suburban Muslims are
demonstrating one tenet the pilgrimage aims to strengthen: caring for
others.
The Lombard-based Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
is
holding a fund-raiser Saturday to benefit tsunami relief efforts in
Asia.
The dinner, jointly sponsored by Islamic Relief Worldwide, will be at
7:15
p.m. at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park.
It is timely that Muslims are being reminded to help the rest of
humanity
as they prepare to embark on their hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for
five to
seven days of rituals and prayer beginning Jan. 15, said Kareem Irfan,
chairman of the council.
"It goes back to the fundamentals of the faith," he said. "When you go
out
and see suffering, you are obligated to alleviate it."
The tsunami, triggered by a powerful earthquake, ravaged 3,000 miles of
Asian and African coastlines, killed nearly 150,000 and left millions
homeless.
Irfan and other suburban Muslims stressed they're not acting merely
because
one of the countries hardest hit, Indonesia, has a Muslim population of
more than 238 million.
"We're not the fundamentalists," said Hisham Hussain, a college student
from Barrington. "We're human. We're just like you. We're uniting just
like
the rest of the world. Everyone comes together."
Asma Khan, project coordinator for the council, noted the money being
forwarded to Islamic Relief Worldwide will be disbursed regardless of
victims' religion, nationality or race…
---
ISLAMIC CENTER'S FOUNDER URGES TSUNAMI RELIEF
Rowena Coetsee, Contra Costa Times, 1/6/05
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/contra_costa_county/cities_neighborhoods/antioch/10579007.htm
ANTIOCH - In the wake of last month's tsunami, Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry
decided to scrap the sermon he had planned.
Instead, he presented fellow believers with a simple, emphatic message:
Empty your pockets.
"I said that money must go to those people," said Chaudhry, founder of
Antioch's Islamic Center of East Bay.
And the approximately six dozen Muslims who had come for Friday prayers
responded by digging deep.
There and then they came up with $662, which Chaudhry has turned over
to
the American Red Cross.
During his talk that night, Chaudhry reminded his congregation that
just as
tragedy makes no distinction among those it affects, neither should
those
who would offer comfort.
"(Tragedies) destroy whosoever comes in their way," he said. "They
don't
know any religion, they don't discriminate between the rich and the
poor,
the children and adults, between races."
In the same way, Chaudhry said Muslims should think of the tsunami's
victims as human beings first and members of God's family…
-----
ARKANSAS MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
(LITTLE ROCK, AK, 1/6/05) - The Islamic Center of Little Rock in Little
Rock, Ark., announced today that it collected $3500 for tsunami
disaster
during last week's Friday prayers, or Jummah. The sermon on that day
focused on praying for the victims and survivors, and on the need to
donate
generously.
The funds will be distributed to:
1. ICNA RELIEF
2. Indian Muslim Relief Charities
3. The International Red Crescent & Red Cross
CONTACT: Dr. Saif Siddiqui, 501-565-4930
-----
GROUP FEARS MUSLIM PILGRIMS WILL BE SINGLED OUT
Susan Jones, CNSNews.com, 1/6/05
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200501%5CNAT20050106b.html
(CNSNews.com) - An Islamic advocacy group wants the Bush administration
to
clarify whether American Muslims participating in this year's Hajj, or
pilgrimage to Mecca, will be fingerprinted or singled out for special
security measures based on their participation in the annual religious
pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has set up a "Hajji Hotline"
and
a downloadable incident report form for Muslims who believe their
constitutional rights are being violated by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection officials, CAIR announced in a press release…
CAIR said it has repeatedly requested clarification from the Department
of
Homeland Security and the CBP, but "no clear response has been given as
to
whether mere participation in Islamic religious activities is now being
viewed as 'probable cause' for increased security checks or forced
fingerprinting of U.S. citizens…"
SEE ALSO:
SPIRITUAL CLEANSING
MAKEBA SCOTT HUNTER, HERALD NEWS, 1/6/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzNTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2MzYyMjEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
For the past five years, Khodr Elatab has been planning for the trip of
his
lifetime.
Since 2000, the North Haledon realtor has saved money, paid off all his
debt and asked forgiveness of those he may have wronged.
"I'm ready now," he said.
Next Tuesday, the 57-year-old husband and father-of-two will join more
than
two million Muslims from around the world in the annual pilgrimage to
Mecca, known as the Hajj.
The Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam, and all Muslims who
are
able are required to make the pilgrimage at least once in their life...
-----
'PATCHING' MTA TURBAN FLAP
Kevin Harrington, New York Daily News, 1/5/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/268504p-229957c.html
A Sikh subway motorman reluctantly put an MTA logo on his turban
yesterday
after transit officials told him he would otherwise be reassigned to
moving
trains in a yard.
"I feel violated," Kevin Harrington, 53, said yesterday morning. "I
feel
degraded. I feel they have no respect for my religion or the Sikh
community."
But Harrington, who had worn a turban to work in the subway for more
than
two decades without incident, said switching assignments would throw
his
schedule into chaos and make it impossible for him to tend his two
young
children after school.
Transit Authority spokesman Charles Seaton said the patch is part of
the
TA's effort to accommodate Harrington while enforcing a dress code that
requires workers in the public eye to wear TA hats or nothing at all on
their heads.
Female Muslim employees who wear head scarfs have been offered head
coverings, known as khimars, with the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority
logo embossed in the blue material, or logos to be pinned on personal
scarfs.
SEE ALSO:
STATUS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM
Noor Al Haqq, Magic City Morning Star, 1/6/05
http://magic-city-news.com/article_2694.shtml
The main question people seem to ask, is "How could you, an educated
American woman convert to Islam--a religion that oppresses women?" They
are
quick to try and equate the rights of women in Afghanistan with the
rights
of Muslim women everywhere. Basically, what I tell them, is that the
Qur'an
gives women more rights than the Bible does--in print. That was one of
the
things that first drew me to Islam. Unfortunately today, Islam is no
longer
the leader in women's rights. I had a choice--deny what I believe (i.e.
that There is only one God, and that Muhammed is a Prophet of God)...or
accept what I believe, but work to change the problems that exist
within
the Muslim community. I chose the latter…
-----
ARMY DOCTORS IMPLICATED IN ABUSE
Medical Workers Helped Tailor Interrogations of Detainees, Article Says
Joe Stephens, Washington Post, 1/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51032-2005Jan5.html
U.S. Army doctors violated the Geneva Conventions by helping
intelligence
officers carry out abusive interrogations at military detention
centers,
perhaps participating in torture, according to an article in today's
edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Medical personnel helped tailor interrogations to the physical and
mental
conditions of individual detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and the
U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to the article.
It
says that medical workers gave interrogators access to patient medical
files, and that psychiatrists and other physicians collaborated with
interrogators and guards who, in turn, deprived detainees of sleep,
restricted them to diets of bread and water and exposed them to extreme
heat and cold.
"Clearly, the medical personnel who helped to develop and execute
aggressive counter-resistance plans thereby breached the laws of war,"
says
the four-page article labeled "Perspective."
"The conclusion that doctors participated in torture is premature, but
there is probable cause for suspecting it…"
ALSO SEE:
THE GONZALES RECORD
Washington Post, 1/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51885-2005Jan5.html
THE SENATE JUDICIARY Committee begins confirmation hearings today for
Alberto R. Gonzales, President Bush's choice to head the Justice
Department. Mr. Gonzales is in some respects an attractive nominee: His
life story is compelling, his views on some issues are comparatively
moderate and his calm demeanor would be a reassuring change from that
of
his predecessor, John D. Ashcroft. Yet senators must scrutinize Mr.
Gonzales's record. The man who has served as White House counsel these
past
four years must not become attorney general without clarifying his role
in
decisions that helped lead to the prisoner abuse scandal and to
restrictions of civil liberties. More broadly, the Senate should ask
whether Mr. Gonzales is capable of giving Mr. Bush dispassionate legal
advice, rather than -- as he seems to have done so often in the past --
telling the president what he wants to hear.
The concerns about Mr. Gonzales begin with his having urged Mr. Bush to
deny that the Geneva Conventions apply in Afghanistan. The "new
paradigm"
of the war on terrorism, reads a January 2002 draft memorandum written
in
his name, "renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning
of
enemy prisoners." Mr. Gonzales's aggressive advice was directly counter
to
that of both the State Department and the military brass. And while Mr.
Bush eventually declared that the conventions did apply, he followed
Mr.
Gonzales's advice not to fully comply with them. Rather, he took the
unnecessary step of declaring all detainees "unlawful combatants," and
therefore beyond the conventions' protection, without complying with
the
process international law contemplates for that judgment. This move
proved
fateful when the headquarters of Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, citing
the
president's position on "unlawful combatants," approved such
interrogation
techniques in Iraq as hooding, forcing prisoners into "stress
positions"
and menacing detainees with dogs.
Mr. Gonzales commissioned the now-infamous torture memorandum from the
Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. The memo followed a
meeting
in his office regarding the interrogation of a key al Qaeda detainee,
in
which participants discussed such methods as "waterboarding," mock
burial
and slapping…
---
TERROR SUSPECT ALLEGES TORTURE
Detainee Says U.S. Sent Him to Egypt Before Guantanamo
Dana Priest and Dan Eggen, Washington Post, 1/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51726-2005Jan5.html
U.S. authorities in late 2001 forcibly transferred an Australian
citizen to
Egypt, where, he alleges, he was tortured for six months before being
flown
to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to court
papers made public yesterday in a petition seeking to halt U.S. plans
to
return him to Egypt.
Egyptian-born Mamdouh Habib, who was detained in Pakistan in October
2001
as a suspected al Qaeda trainer, alleges that while under Egyptian
detention he was hung by his arms from hooks, repeatedly shocked,
nearly
drowned and brutally beaten, and he contends that U.S. and
international
law prohibits sending him back.
Habib's case is only the second to describe a secret practice called
"rendition," under which the CIA has sent suspected terrorists to be
interrogated in countries where torture has been well documented. It is
unclear which U.S. agency transferred Habib to Egypt...
---
WE ARE ALL TORTURERS NOW
Mark Danner, New York Times, 1/6/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/06/opinion/06danner.html
AT least since Watergate, Americans have come to take for granted a
certain
story line of scandal, in which revelation is followed by
investigation,
adjudication and expiation. Together, Congress and the courts
investigate
high-level wrongdoing and place it in a carefully constructed
narrative, in
which crimes are charted, malfeasance is explicated and punishment is
apportioned as the final step in the journey back to order, justice and
propriety.
When Alberto Gonzales takes his seat before the Senate Judiciary
Committee
today for hearings to confirm whether he will become attorney general
of
the United States, Americans will bid farewell to that comforting story
line. The senators are likely to give full legitimacy to a path that
the
Bush administration set the country on more than three years ago, a
path
that has transformed the United States from a country that condemned
torture and forbade its use to one that practices torture routinely.
Through a process of redefinition largely overseen by Mr. Gonzales
himself,
a practice that was once a clear and abhorrent violation of the law has
become in effect the law of the land.
Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Americans began torturing prisoners,
and
they have never really stopped. However much these words have about
them
the ring of accusation, they must by now be accepted as fact. From Red
Cross reports, Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba's inquiry, James R.
Schlesinger's Pentagon-sanctioned commission and other government and
independent investigations, we have in our possession hundreds of
accounts
of "cruel, inhuman and degrading" treatment - to use a phrase of the
Red
Cross - "tantamount to torture…"
---
DON'T TORTURE YOURSELF (THAT'S HIS JOB)
Maureen Dowd, New York Times 1/6/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/06/opinion/06dowd.html
The Associated Press headline that came over the wire yesterday said it
all: "Gonzales Will Follow Non-Torture Policies."
You know how bad the situation is when the president's choice for
attorney
general has to formally pledge not to support torture anymore.
Alberto Gonzales may have been willing to legally justify something
that
was abhorrent to everything America stands for, but it's all relative.
Given that Mr. Gonzales is replacing the odious John Ashcroft,
Democrats
didn't seem inclined to try to derail the Hispanic nominee, even though
his
memo fostered the atmosphere that led to disgusting scandals in Abu
Ghraib
and Guantánamo.
Just to get things started on the right foot, though, Mr. Gonzales
planned
to go the extra mile and offer the quaint, obsolete Senate Democrats a
more
nuanced explanation of why he called the Geneva Conventions "quaint"
and
"obsolete."
Before he helped President Bush circumvent the accords and reserve the
right to do so "in this or future conflicts," you had to tune in to an
old
movie with Nazi generals or Vietcong guards if you wanted to see
someone
sneeringly shrug off the international treaty protecting prisoners from
abuse. ("You worthless running dog Chuck Norris! What do we care about
your
silly Geneva Conventions?")
How are you to believe Mr. Gonzales when he says he's through with
torture?
His mission is clearly to do whatever he thinks Mr. Bush wants…
-----
JEWISH, MUSLIM GROUPS REACT TO REPORT OF RISING ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE
Religion News Service, 1/5/05
http://www.religionnews.com/
A U.S. State Department report to Congress detailing a rising number of
incidents of anti-Semitism in Europe is being applauded by U.S. Jewish
groups as an important example of American leadership.
Muslim groups, however, are disappointed that the report correlated the
problem with Europe's rising Muslim population. The report also
identified
skinheads and other radical political fringe groups as responsible for
anti-Semitic acts.
The report, released Wednesday (Jan. 5), was mandated by the Global
Anti-Semitism Review Act and will be published annually. It chronicles
anti-Semitic incidents in eastern Europe, France and Germany, as well
as
places like Pakistan and Syria, where local media inflame anti-Semitic
sentiment…
A leading U.S. Muslim group took exception to the report's citing of
Muslim
anti-Semitism as a rising problem in Europe, distinct from traditional
anti-Semitic sentiment.
"I think there's a real problem overall in Europe with racism and
bigotry,
and I think it's unfair to put it at the feet of the Muslim community,"
said Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based civil liberties
organization.
Hooper cited French laws that ban Muslim girls from wearing traditional
headscarves and attacks on mosques as examples of a broader problem
with
bigotry…
-----
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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 - 1/7/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: A GOOD WORD
* CAIR-SV: 'CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM' INTERFAITH EVENT
- CAIR-SV: Muslims Help With Disaster Relief Telethon
- Positive Feedback on CAIR Educator's Guide
* NC: MUSLIMS JOIN RELIEF EFFORT (State)
- WI: Milwaukee Muslims Raise $60k for Tsunami Relief
- Saudi Telethon Raises $82 Million for Tsunami Victims (AP)
* CHAPLAIN ACCUSED OF SPYING TO LEAVE U.S. MILITARY (Reuters)
- Cat Stevens Still Barred From U.S. (AP)
* MR. GONZALES'S TESTIMONY (Washington Post)
- Mr. Gonzales Speaks (New York Times)
* NAME 'MUHAMMAD' IS GROWING POPULAR IN BRITAIN (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: A GOOD WORD
"Art thou not aware how God sets forth the parable of a good word? [It
is]
like a good tree, firmly rooted, [reaching out] with its branches
towards
the sky, yielding its fruit at all times by its Sustainer's leave. And
[thus it is that] God propounds parables unto men, in order that they
may
receive admonition."
The Holy Quran, 14:24-25
-----
CAIR-SV: 'CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM' INTERFAITH EVENT
(SACRAMENTO, CA 1/7/2005) - On Sunday, January 9, the local faith
communities of Davis and Woodland will gather to observe the second
annual
"Celebration of Abraham," a gathering of the three Abrahamic traditions
-
Jewish, Christian and Muslim - to learn more about each other.
The annual event, launched in September of 2003, is an attempt to build
bridges among the three faith communities and an effort to increase
understanding and awareness of the three monotheistic faith traditions.
The event is co-sponsored by Council on American Islamic Relations of
Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV).
WHAT: Celebration of Abraham
WHEN: January 9, 2005, 3-5 PM
WHERE: St. James Catholic Church, 200 West 14th Street (14th and B
Streets), Davis, California
CONTACT: For more information, contact Hamza EL-Nakhal, 530-756-9124
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-SV: MUSLIMS HELP WITH DISASTER RELIEF TELETHON
$1.1 million raised for American Red Cross Relief Efforts
(SACRAMENTO, CA 1/7/2005) On Tuesday January 4, KCRA Channel 3 held a
fundraising telethon from 5:00 AM to 11:30 PM, to help aid Asia Tsunami
victims. Muslim community was invited to help with the telethon and
more
than 35 Sacramento Valley Muslims volunteered to take phone pledges for
the
American Red Cross.
Over $1.1 Million were raised during the telethon. All funds went to
the
American Red Cross International Response Fund.
Millicent Ozdaglar, Special Projects Producer, KCRA News said "I am
truly
touched by the Muslim Community's response to our invitation to join
the
KCRA 3/Red Cross Tsunami Disaster Relief Telethon. I thought staffing
an 18
hour telethon in two days was going to be a challenge, but the Muslim
Community's dedication to humanity and community service made it a
simple
task. The volunteers showed both professional and personal integrity."
Maren Shawesh, CAIR-SV Secretary noted, "The Asia Tsunami was a tragedy
that moved people globally. The efforts of KCRA Channel 3, in
organizing
this humanitarian effort and the generosity of Northern California
communities are to be commended. The Muslim community is thankful to be
a
part of this effort."
CONTACT: Maren Shawesh, 916-441-6269
---
POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON CAIR EDUCATOR'S GUIDE
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Educator's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices." The booklet is available by e-mailing: pubs@cair-net.org
(Include name, address and phone number when requesting the booklet.)
Below is an excerpt from an e-mail received by CAIR:
"I am the principal of ----------------. Recently, one of my parents
shared
your guide for educators with me regarding Muslim students. I found the
literature to be quite helpful with a focus on providing information to
educators not on promoting the Muslim faith. I am working with this
parent
to order 60 more copies so that I can share it with my staff. So often,
people take time to write feedback that is not positive; however, I
wanted
to take just a moment to let you know that I found the literature
helpful.
I also learned a few things!"
-----
MIDLANDS MUSLIMS JOIN RELIEF EFFORT
CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS, The State, 1/7/05
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/10586442.htm
Members of the Muslim community in the Midlands are organizing
fund-raising
efforts for the nations hit hard by the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster.
Indonesia, the country with the largest death toll from the earthquake
and
tsunami, also has the largest population of Muslims in the world, with
more
than 170 million Indonesians who follow Islam.
Fund-raising efforts at area mosques and in the Muslim community are
focusing on getting relief to all the affected areas, not just
Indonesia,
organizers say.
"Any loss of a human life is a loss to everyone, and everybody feels
the
effect," said Mirza Baig, a member of the Islamic Center of Columbia,
also
known as Masjid Al-Muslimmin, on Gervais Street in Columbia. "Some
members
of our mosque originally come from Indonesia, so they really cause us
to
relate to the faces on the news, but everyone has been praying for the
souls of all the people who were lost."
Baig said special prayers were offered for tsunami victims at Friday
prayer
services last week, and funds were collected from members to send to
the
International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent, Islamic Relief
and
other relief organizations.
Baig said the next step will be for members of the Islamic Center to
develop ongoing fund-raising efforts for long-range relief in the
tsunami-ravaged countries...
SEE ALSO:
MILWAUKEE MUSLIMS RAISE $60K FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
MILWAUKEEANS MOVED TO GIVE FROM HEART
ANNYSA JOHNSON, Milwaukee Journal, 1/6/05
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jan05/290870.asp
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee has raised $60,000 in money and
pledges,
much of that at congregational prayers last Friday. The Archdiocese of
Milwaukee has received about $27,000, but more is expected through a
second
collection this weekend.
---
SAUDI TELETHON RAISES US$82 MILLION FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Associated Press, 1/7/05
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - A schoolboy donated his pocket money and
King
Fahd donated millions. When the gifts were added up Friday, the Saudis
had
raised US$82 million for the tsunami victims in a telethon staged by
the
government after accusations that the oil-rich kingdom was not doing
enough
for the south Asian disaster.
People filed into a Riyadh stadium and television studio to drop cash
and
even gold jewelry into glass boxes. State television broadcast the
12-hour
telethon live, switching between shots of donors at the boxes,
interviews
with prominent personalities, and scenes of the devastation and
suffering
left by the tsunami.
A woman in black robes walked into the stadium carrying her child. When
she
got to the boxes, she took off her gold bracelets and dropped them in.
A
boy in primary school, who refused to give his name, gave his daily
allowance of US$ 1.3…
-----
CHAPLAIN ACCUSED OF SPYING TO LEAVE U.S. MILITARY
Reuters, 1/7/05
WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Capt. James Yee, the Muslim Guantanamo
Bay
chaplain accused of espionage but later fully exonerated, will leave
the
U.S. Army on Friday when his honorable discharge takes effect, his
lawyer said.
"As a West Point graduate, he leaves the Army with great sadness. The
fact
that he was imprisoned for a prolonged period for no valid reason
remains
indefensible," Eugene Fidell, Yee's lawyer, said in a statement late on
Thursday.
Yee, who ministered to foreign terrorism suspects imprisoned at the
U.S.
naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was arrested September 2003 in
Florida
as he returned from the base. He spent 76 days in a Navy brig.
In March 2004, the Army dropped all criminal charges against Yee,
abandoning a case that once included accusations in court documents of
spying, mutiny, sedition, aiding the enemy and espionage…
SEE ALSO:
CAT STEVENS STILL BARRED FROM U.S.
Associated Press, 1/6/05
WASHINGTON - The singer formerly known as Cat Stevens is still barred
from
entering the United States because of terror intelligence that
identifies
him as a security threat.
"The intelligence is the same. The reasons we rejected him several
months
ago still exist in my mind," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said
Thursday of Yusuf Islam, the "Peace Train" singer who largely gave up
music
after converting to Islam in the late 1970s.
Yusuf Islam was removed from a London-to-Washington flight in September
because of suspected links to terrorists - a claim he has strongly
denied...
-----
MR. GONZALES'S TESTIMONY
Washington Post, 1/7/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54854-2005Jan6.html
ALBERTO R. GONZALES missed an important opportunity yesterday to
rectify
his position, and that of President Bush, on the imprisonment and
interrogation of foreign detainees. At the Senate Judiciary Committee's
hearing on his nomination to be attorney general, Mr. Gonzales
repeatedly
was offered the chance to repudiate a legal judgment that the president
is
empowered to order torture in violation of U.S. law and immunize
torturers
from punishment. He declined to do so. He was invited to reject a 2002
ruling made under his direction that the infliction of pain short of
serious physical injury, organ failure or death did not constitute
torture.
He answered: "I don't have a disagreement with the conclusions then
reached." Nor did he condemn torture techniques, such as simulated
drowning, that were discussed and approved during meetings in his
office.
"It is not my job," he said, to decide if they were proper. He was
prompted
to reflect on whether departing from the Geneva Conventions had been a
mistake, in light of the shocking human rights abuses that have since
been
reported in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Guantanamo Bay prison and that
continue even now. Mr. Gonzales demurred. The error, he answered, was
not
of administration policy but of "a failure of training and oversight."
The message Mr. Gonzales left with senators was unmistakable: As
attorney
general, he will seek no change in practices that have led to the
torture
and killing of scores of detainees and to the blackening of U.S. moral
authority around the world…
SEE ALSO:
MR. GONZALES SPEAKS
New York Times, 1/7/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/07/opinion/07fri1.html
Blaming a faulty memory, Mr. Gonzales would not provide anything close
to a
clear account of his role in the formulation of the policy on the
treatment
of prisoners. At one point, he said the 2002 memo was just the opinion
of
the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. Then he called it the
"binding interpretation" of anti-torture statutes and treaties. Later,
Mr.
Gonzales called it "an arguable interpretation of the law."
Even his vows of allegiance to the rule of law were rather peculiar. He
said that as White House counsel, he had represented "only the White
House," while as attorney general, he "would have a far broader
responsibility: to pursue justice for all the people of our great
nation,
to see that the laws are enforced in a fair and impartial manner for
all
Americans." We thought that was also the obligation of the president
and
his staff.
Mr. Gonzales is said to face a sure confirmation. But thanks to the
members
of the committee, including some Republicans, who met their duty to
question Mr. Gonzales aggressively, the hearing served to confirm that
Mr.
Bush had made the wrong choice when he rewarded Mr. Gonzales for his
loyalty. The nation deserves an attorney general who is not the public
face
for inhumane, illegal and clearly un-American policies.
-----
'MUHAMMAD' IS GROWING POPULAR IN BRITAIN
Reuters, 1/6/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/07/international/europe/07britain.html
Muhammad joined the perennial favorites Jack and Joshua in 2004 as one
of
the most popular names given to British boys, a sign of growing ethnic
diversity and a legacy of Muslim immigration decades ago.
The Office of National Statistics said Thursday that Muhammad, meaning
''one who is praiseworthy'' or ''exalted,'' had moved up two places, to
enter the top 20 for the first time.
''It is all about demographics,'' said Dr. Jamil Sherif, of the Muslim
Council of Britain, an umbrella group of 400 organizations. ''There are
now
more Muslims being born in Britain than previously. About 40 percent of
Muslims here are under 25; there are a lot of young families.''
Immigration
from Asia and Africa surged during the 1960's and 70's and Britain,
with
about 61 million people, is home to about 1.6 million Muslims…
-----
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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 - 1/9/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: FACE MISFORTUNE WITH FAITH
* ACTION ITEM: WATCH '24' TONIGHT ON FOX
- Muslim Group Decries Terror Depiction
- '24' Actress First Refused the Role (Newsday)
* TO MECCA, BY WAY OF MADISON AVE. (New York Times)
- Muslims See U.S. Support for Hajj (UPI)
- U.S. Muslims Seek Answers on Fingerprinting of Pilgrims
- NC Muslims Make Mecca Pilgrimage (RM Telegram)
- Hajj an Answer to Prayers (Kansas City Star)
* CAIR-FL: STUDENTS MIGHT GET MUSLIM HOLY DAY OFF (Tampa Trib)
* VA: MISSIONARIES EXPLOIT TSUNAMI SUFFERING (Agape Press)
- Christians Spread Supplies - and the Word (Phil. Inquirer)
- Islamic Response to Tsunami Suffering (Newsday)
- CO: Muslims Give But Wary of What They Fund (Denver Post)
- S. Calif. Muslim Council Holds Tsunami Fundraiser
* U.S. WATCHDOG GROUP HOUNDS MIDEAST SCHOLARS (Globe and Mail)
* PLEA DEAL SIGNALS TROUBLE WITH CASE AGAINST TRANSLATOR (Globe)
* PENTAGON MAY PUT ASSASSINATION TEAMS IN IRAQ (Newsweek)
* U.S. SAYS AIRSTRIKE ON IRAQ HOUSE KILLS 5 (AP)
- U.S. Troops Kill 5 After Roadside Bombing (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FACE MISFORTUNE WITH FAITH
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) departed from a group of
people, he would often say: "O God! Grant us enough fear (of
displeasing
Thee) that it may serve as a barrier between us and our sins…and grant
us
enough faith that it may help us to face the misfortunes of this world
easily."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 265
-----
ACTION ITEM: WATCH '24' TONIGHT ON FOX
http://www.fox.com/24/
Watch to program, and then send polite comments to: askfox@foxinc.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
MUSLIM GROUP DECRIES TERROR DEPICTION
Richard Huff, Edmonton Journal, 1/9/05
http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/index.html
The first new episode this season of Fox's 24 has yet to hit the screen
and
already the network has offended a Muslim group.
After viewing a portion of the first episode included on a DVD in
Entertainment Weekly, officials from the Council on American-Islamic
Relations expressed dismay at the depiction of a Muslim family.
"At first I was shocked," organization spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed told
the
New York Daily News. "In this particular case, they show an
American-Muslim
family and they portray them as terrorists..."
"What we will accomplish today will change the world," the father tells
the
son over breakfast. "We are fortunate that our family has been chosen
to do
this."
Ahmed said the scene "casts a cloud of suspicion over every
American-Muslim
family out there."
A Fox spokesman said the company had no comment.
Ahmed acknowledged the possibility that in the remaining half of the
first
episode -- which was not on the promotional DVD -- the storyline could
have
indicated this was not a typical family…
---
AN OFFER SHE FIRST REFUSED
Diane Werts, Newsday, 1/9/05
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny-fftv4105182jan09,0,3804584.story
Scroll down.
Shohreh Aghdashloo fled the Islamic revolution in her native Iran 25
years
ago. She spent a decade as a commentator on American Farsi-language
media
railing against the strict fundamentalism of her homeland…
So why is she now coming to the attention of most Americans in the
fourth
season of the Fox smash "24" by playing - you guessed it - a Middle
Eastern
terrorist?
"When I was offered the role, I didn't accept it. I refused it," she
says
by phone from the California home she shares with her husband, Iranian
exile playwright-actor Houshang Touzie ("Sweet Smell of Love"), and
their
teenage daughter, Tara. "I obviously had my own issues with playing a
terrorist. But the creators and the executive producers requested a
meeting
hoping to convince me. And yet I couldn't make up my mind..."
These people [writing '24'] are going to pay attention to her and how
they
write her character and her situation. I realized how important it is
to
show the whole world who these people are. I thought I have to come out
and
expose these people, sort of study them and what's going on, and why
they're doing it, and what is their cause and why do they feel their
cause
is so justified."
Her steely portrayal of a suburban Los Angeles mother at the heart of
what
seems to be a high-level terror operation is a stunning one. Her
character
goes so far as to hand a gun to her teenage son (played by Jonathan
Ahdout,
also her son in "House of Sand and Fog") so he can "take care of" an
American girlfriend who knows too much…
Perhaps that will come out as her character moves beyond the household
environment of this week's first four episodes (Sunday-Monday at 8
p.m.,
Fox/5) and into the larger arena of counterterrorist efforts by Kiefer
Sutherland's series hero, Jack Bauer…
-----
TO MECCA, BY WAY OF MADISON AVE.
JENNIFER BLEYER, New York Times, 1/9/04
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/nyregion/thecity/09hajj.html
At a time of year when many travel agents are busy selling Caribbean
getaways, Moustafa Ahmed is similarly occupied. His Madison Avenue
agency,
Dar El Salam Travel, was buzzing late into the night recently, as
clients
arrived to confirm their bookings on tours that ranged from $3,500 to
upward of $7,000.
But Dar El Salam is not your average travel agency. An enlarged
photograph
of Mecca shares wall space with a flurry of Post-it notes.
Gold-embossed
Korans lie beside the fax machines.
Dar El Salam sends people mainly to one location - Saudi Arabia, for
the
annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj. Able-bodied
Muslims
are expected to make such a journey at least once in their lives, and
this
year, three million pilgrims are expected to converge on Mecca on Jan.
20.
Mr. Ahmed, who is Egyptian, founded Dar El Salam in 1989, when he took
20
travelers on the hajj. The company's reputation spread by word of
mouth,
gradually establishing it as the city's biggest hajj tour operator. For
the
2005 hajj, 1,800 people booked trips through Dar El Salam, many of them
well-heeled Muslim professionals who live throughout the United States.
(About 10,000 Muslims living in America go on hajj each year, according
to
the Council on American-Islamic Relations.)
Mr. Ahmed stressed that the hajj is a test of spiritual purity,
including a
person's attitude toward the trip itself. "Sometimes you tell a person
his
flight is changed, and he will say, 'O.K., alhamdulillah,'" said Mr.
Ahmed,
using the Arabic phrase meaning "Praise God." "But some people say: 'I
must
have my room cleaned. I must have this and that.' At hajj, he may not
pass
the test…"
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS SEEK U.S. SUPPORT FOR HAJJ
United Press International, 1/8/05
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050108-012155-6087r.htm
Washington, DC, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A prominent U.S. Muslim advocacy group
has
urged the Bush administration not to single out Muslim pilgrims for
extra
security.
An estimated 10,000 American Muslims go to the holy Muslim city of
Mecca
every year for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which begins later this
month…
The appeal followed complaints by American Muslims that some of them
who
went to a recent religious congregation in Canada were fingerprinted
and
had to go through lengthy interrogations.
CAIR created a telephone hotline and a downloadable incident report
form
for those who believe their constitutional rights were violated by U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officials.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK ANSWERS ON FINGERPRINTING OF HAJJ PILGRIMS
http://cair.com/asp/article.asp?id=1379&page=NR
---
ROCKY MOUNT MUSLIMS MAKE MECCA PILGRIMAGE
FRED MARION, Rocky Mount Telegram, 1/8/05
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/featr/content/features/stories/2005/01/08/
20050108RMTHajj.html
---
HAJJ AN ANSWER TO PRAYERS
HELEN T. GRAY, Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/10591163.htm?1c
-----
STUDENTS MIGHT GET MUSLIM HOLY DAY OFF
COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR, Tampa Tribune, 1/8/05
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBV9INDP3E.html
TAMPA - Hillsborough County's Muslim students won't automatically get
their
holy days off next school year, but their families' requests might
prompt a
school district policy to make sure students aren't penalized for
taking
time off for their faiths.
School board members postponed a decision last month after members of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations' Tampa chapter requested a day
off
for all students on Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
Board members asked the calendar committee to research the matter. The
committee includes about two- dozen administrators, teachers, parents
and
students, who met Friday and decided to monitor attendance figures on
Eid
al-Fitr, which falls on Nov. 4 this year.
They will return their original calendar recommendation for 2005-06 to
the
board for Jan. 18 approval.
Joan Mulrennan Zaki, a parent who represented CAIR's concerns on the
committee, said a nonstudent day - when students don't come to school
but
some staff members do - coinciding with Eid al-Fitr could build bridges
in
the county…
-----
VA MISSIONARIES EXPLOIT TSUNAMI SUFFERING
MINISTRY JOINS TSUNAMI RESPONSE, BRINGING PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL AID
Chad Groening, Agape Press, 1/7/04
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/72005d.asp
(AgapePress) - A Virginia-based missions ministry has dispatched teams
to
several of the Asian countries devastated by the December 26th tsunami
and
is helping to fulfill disaster victims' needs even as it works to
fulfill
the Great Commission.
Advancing Native Missions (ANM), based in Charlottesville, was already
doing work in many of the countries hardest hit by the tsunami.
Therefore,
according to ministry representative Oliver Asher, it was easy to
dispatch
teams to the affected areas. "Right now, we have teams that are in
India,
helping out there, teams in Sri Lanka and teams in Indonesia," Asher
says.
"So we do have folks on the ground." ANM also has teams in the somewhat
less devastated areas, he adds, such as in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and
Thailand...
"When they're passing out a bottle of water, a blanket, a lanter, a
candle,
they're passing out gospel tracts with them," the ministry spokesman
says.
"So they are definitely taking this opportunity to be a witness of the
love
of Jesus Christ to the Hindus, to the Muslims, to whoever was affected,
certainly fulfilling the commandment to take the gospel to everybody."
SEE ALSO:
SOME CHRISTIAN GROUPS SPREAD SUPPLIES - AND THE WORD
Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/9/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/10598841.htm?1c
As Western humanitarian organizations unleash an armada of relief
supplies
and workers into Asia's crisis zone, some evangelical Christian groups
aim
to bring the Gospel to the victims, as well.
Religious groups promise to be a major presence in the massive relief
and
reconstruction effort. InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based
nongovernment organizations, reports that of its 55 member agencies
providing tsunami aid, 22 are faith-based.
Most of the religious players, including the Red Cross, the American
Jewish
World Service, and Lutheran World Relief, have rules against
proselytizing.
At the same time, though, evangelical groups active in Asia, including
the
Southern Baptists' International Mission Board, Gospel for Asia, and
the
Christian and Missionary Alliance, say the Bible always impels them to
create converts to the faith.
"This [disaster] is one of the greatest opportunities God has given us
to
share his love with people," said K.P. Yohannan, president of the
Texas-based Gospel for Asia. In an interview, Yohannan said his 14,500
"native missionaries" in India, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman Islands are
giving survivors Bibles and booklets about "how to find hope in this
time
through the word of God…"
---
ISLAMIC RESPONSE TO TSUNAMI SUFFERING
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-liserm09,0,4620006.story
"Nothing happens without the permission of God," said Imam Naeem M.
Baig,
secretary general of Islamic Circle of North America in Jamaica,
Queens.
While the Quran teaches that God punishes nations or people who don't
obey
or listen to the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad, Baig said he would
rather interpret the tsunami as God using a tragic event to test people
on
earth.
"I am having a difficult time associating punishment with these people.
These are the poorest of the poor trying to live day by day," he said.
Disasters have always challenged mankind to question the meaning of
their
existence, noted Faroque Khan, president of the Islamic Center of Long
Island in Westbury. For Muslims, he said, it serves as a reminder of
Islam's basic tenet: Life on earth is transitory.
"Muslims believe that victims of disasters like this are given
martyrdom
status." So when the day of accountability arrives, as Muslims believe
it
will, these victims "will be in good standing" in the eyes of Allah…
---
MUSLIMS CALLED TO GIVE BUT WARY OF WHAT THEY FUND
Eric Gorski, Denver Post, 1/9/05
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2643419,00.html
The tsunami disaster has generated a massive outpouring of money and
aid
from around the world. At the same time, the U.S. government's
increased
scrutiny of Muslim charities after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks
has made American Muslims more cautious about their checks and cash.
That
change has become apparent as Muslim donors and groups in Colorado and
nationwide respond to a tragedy that dealt the harshest blow to
Indonesia,
the world's most populous Muslim nation.
---
S. CALIF. MUSLIM COUNCIL HOLDS TSUNAMI FUNDRAISER
The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and Islamic Relief
will
hold a fundraiser dinner. $25. 5:30 p.m. Anaheim Hilton, 777 W.
Convention
Way. (949) 394-2171.
-----
U.S. WATCHDOG GROUP HOUNDS MIDDLE EAST SCHOLARS
SARAH RICHARDS, The Globe and Mail, 1/8/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Like any émigré to the United States, Tariq Ramadan was dependent on
the
stamp of somebody, somewhere, deep inside the Department of Homeland
Security. His life was governed by waiting for one letter to set things
in
motion - packed bags, plane ticket, new job teaching at the University
of
Notre Dame in Indiana.
But after waiting seven months in vain for a visa, Mr. Ramadan decided
to
throw in the towel. "You know, I have kids here," he said. "We are in
limbo, we don't know what will be our future, and I said, 'Okay, it's
not
going to work like that.' "
Mr. Ramadan was speaking from his apartment in Geneva in December. He
had
resigned his two Notre Dame positions, including one as the Henry R.
Luce
Professor of Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding at the Joan B. Kroc
Institute for International Peace Studies.
He never saw a student or even made it to the United States, because
his
visa was revoked days before he was to arrive in August. A second visa
application proved fruitless…
Mr. Ramadan's story is one of several struggles going on over how
American
students will study the Middle East. Over the past few years,
newspapers
have included headlines such as "Witch hunt at Columbia," or "FBI
charges
Florida professor with terrorist activities."
For some, these headlines herald government meddling with academic
freedom.
But for others, they signal new balance in a field they believe is
dominated by anti-American, anti-Israeli professors.
Daniel Pipes subscribes to the latter school of thought, and not
lightly.
He is the founder of Campus Watch, an organization that monitors and
critiques Middle East studies in North America…
But to academics such as Juan Cole, a professor of modern Middle
Eastern
and South Asian history at the University of Michigan, Mr. Pipes's
Campus
Watch would be better named Campus Witch Hunt. He has accused the
organization of encouraging spying on academics and publishing "skewed
and
largely false diatribes" against them.
"Academics deal with bias by open debate and rigorous scholarship, not
by
shutting people up," Prof. Cole commented by e-mail.
Depending on how you look at things, open debate is - or isn't - what's
happing at Columbia University in New York. There, a non-tenured
professor
who has been critical of Israel is being held up as another example of
what
is wrong with Middle Eastern studies.
With New York home to the country's largest Jewish population, the
controversy surrounding Professor Joseph Massad has received a great
deal
of media coverage. Congressman Anthony Weiner, a Democrat from New
York,
even asked that Prof. Massad be fired. The New York Civil Liberties
Union
asked Mr. Weiner and other non-academics to butt out of Columbia's
affairs.
The drama has led some to believe that there is indeed a need for the
International Studies in Education Act, which was passed by the House
but
died before it could be passed by the Senate last year.
The legislation would have reauthorized government funding for
international studies, but also established an advisory board to
monitor
those programs - Middle Eastern studies included. Two people on the
seven-member board would have represented federal agencies with
national
security responsibilities.
This idea was first proposed about a year ago by Stanley Kurtz, a
research
fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University.
But Amy Newhall, executive director of the Middle East Studies
Association,
is worried that the advisory board will end up policing academic
institutions. She is waiting for the legislation to be reintroduced in
Congress.
"If it's more of a board that's given these extraordinary powers - as
was
envisioned in this last version - then that will again be a problem,"
Prof.
Newhall said…
-----
PLEA DEAL SIGNALS TROUBLE WITH CASE AGAINST TRANSLATOR
By Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe, 1/8/05
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/01/08/plea_deal_si
gnals_trouble_with_case_against_translator/
A former Arabic translator at the federal prison camp at Guantanamo Bay
has
agreed to plead guilty Monday to taking classified material from the
base
and lying to investigators, under a deal with prosecutors that would
make
him a free man in a few months.
Ahmed Fathy Mehalba, 32, an Egyptian-born US citizen, will be sentenced
to
20 months in prison if US District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock accepts a
plea
agreement that federal prosecutors filed in US District Court in Boston
yesterday.
The resolution of Mehalba's case would mark the end of a series of
high-profile prosecutions of translators and military officers at
Guantanamo Bay that began with accusations of espionage and treason and
ended with far lesser charges or none at all.
Mehalba, a civilian translator, was one of four men arrested in summer
and
fall 2003 amid separate investigations into whether they had links to
Muslim militants or were leaking information about interrogations or
detainees at the camp, where the US government has detained hundreds on
suspicion of links to Al Qaeda or the ousted Taliban regime in
Afghanistan.
But no charges of spying or having terrorist ties remained against any
of
the four. In Mehalba's case, he will plead guilty to everything he was
ultimately charged with: having taken information off the base he
should
not have had and lying about it.
"He's not a terrorist, not a spy," said Boston lawyer Joseph Savage,
one of
Mehalba's attorneys. "We think the agreement we're proposing is the
right
result."
-----
PENTAGON MAY PUT SPECIAL-FORCES-LED ASSASSINATION OR KIDNAPPING TEAMS
IN
IRAQ
Michael Hirsh and John Barry, Newsweek, 1/8/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6802629/site/newsweek/
Now, NEWSWEEK has learned, the Pentagon is intensively debating an
option
that dates back to a still-secret strategy in the Reagan
administration's
battle against the leftist guerrilla insurgency in El Salvador in the
early
1980s. Then, faced with a losing war against Salvadoran rebels, the
U.S.
government funded or supported "nationalist" forces that allegedly
included
so-called death squads directed to hunt down and kill rebel leaders and
sympathizers. Eventually the insurgency was quelled, and many U.S.
conservatives consider the policy to have been a success-despite the
deaths
of innocent civilians and the subsequent Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages
scandal. (Among the current administration officials who dealt with
Central
America back then is John Negroponte, who is today the U.S. ambassador
to
Iraq. Under Reagan, he was ambassador to Honduras.)
Following that model, one Pentagon proposal would send Special Forces
teams
to advise, support and possibly train Iraqi squads, most likely
hand-picked
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Shiite militiamen, to target Sunni
insurgents and their sympathizers, even across the border into Syria,
according to military insiders familiar with the discussions. It
remains
unclear, however, whether this would be a policy of assassination or
so-called "snatch" operations, in which the targets are sent to secret
facilities for interrogation. The current thinking is that while U.S.
Special Forces would lead operations in, say, Syria, activities inside
Iraq
itself would be carried out by Iraqi paramilitaries, officials tell
NEWSWEEK…
-----
U.S. SAYS AIRSTRIKE ON IRAQ HOUSE KILLS 5
NICK WADHAMS, Associated Press, 1/8/05
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The United States military acknowledged dropping a
500-pound bomb on the wrong house outside the northern city of Mosul on
Saturday, killing five people. But the man who owned the house said the
bomb killed 14 people - including seven children…
Late Saturday, a U.S. military statement said an F-16 jet dropped a
500-pound GPS-guided bomb on a house that was meant to be searched
during
an operation to capture ``an anti-Iraqi force cell leader.''
"The house was not the intended target for the airstrike. The intended
target was another location nearby," the military said in a statement.
The homeowner, Ali Yousef, told Associated Press Television News that
the
airstrike happened at about 2:30 a.m., and American troops immediately
surrounded the area, blocking access for four hours. The brick house
was
reduced to a pile of rubble, according to an Associated Press
photographer
at the scene.
An Associated Press photographer said from the scene that 14 members of
the
same family - seven children, four women and three men - were killed,
and
six people were wounded, including another child.
SEE ALSO:
U.S. TROOPS KILL 5 AFTER ROADSIDE BOMBING
BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press, 1/9/09
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - American troops opened fire after their convoy was
struck by a roadside bomb at a checkpoint south of Baghdad, killing at
least two policemen and three civilians, police said Sunday, a day
after
the U.S. military acknowledged five people were killed when it bombed
the
wrong house during a search operation in northern Iraq...
-----
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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 - 1/10/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: TRIALS LEAD TO GOOD
* CAIR OFFERS DIVERSITY TRAINING TO SACRAMENTO POLICE
- CAIR-Chicago Co-Sponsors Eid Program for Needy
* NEW FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSLIM HOMEBUYERS (PRNewswire)
* U.S. REP. COBLE SAYS IRAQ PULLOUT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED (AP)
- Why Most Embeds Don't Tell All (Editor & Publisher)
* CANADIAN MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
* 100 MUSLIM GRAVE MARKERS VANDALIZED IN DANISH CAPITAL (AP)
- Gaza Family Loses 7 Boys to Israeli Fire (NY Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TRIALS LEAD TO GOOD
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If God wants to do good
for
somebody, He afflicts him with trials."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 548
-----
CAIR OFFERS DIVERSITY TRAINING TO SACRAMENTO POLICE
Graduates learn about Islamic beliefs, practices and culture
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 1/9/2005) - The Sacramento Valley office of the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) recently conducted diversity
training
for more than 40 police academy graduates.
CAIR-SV's training session, held at the California Highway Patrol
Academy
in West Sacramento, included a presentation designed to make the
graduates
aware of issues they might face when dealing with the diverse Muslim
community in Sacramento.
Topics addressed in the presentation included the basic tenets of the
Islamic faith, the diversity of the American Muslim community and ways
in
which area Muslims can promote better relations with law enforcement
authorities.
CAIR-SV also gave each graduate a booklet, called "A Law Enforcement
Official's Guide to the Muslim Community," which covers issues such as
religiously-sensitive techniques for body searches, proper etiquette
for
entering Muslim homes and outreach to the Muslim community. (The
booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
"Diversity training is important for our staff so that they can learn
about
other cultures and religions," said Corporal Dee Tyndale of the
Sacramento
Police Department. "Muslims form a big part of the Sacramento Community
and
the Police Department represents and works for all."
"We appreciate the opportunity to provide objective information to
those
who will protect our families and our community," said CAIR-SV
President
Rashid Ahmad.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-SV President Rashid Ahmad, 916-825-0027
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO CO-SPONSORS EID PROGRAM FOR NEEDY
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/10/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) has announced that is
co-sponsoring a project to donate 50,000 pounds of meat to those in
need
during the upcoming Eid-ul Adha holiday.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
http://chicagomuslims.com/sacrifice/
-----
DEVON BANK, FREDDIE MAC ANNOUNCE EXPANDED FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MUSLIM HOMEBUYERS
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-10
-2005/0002815043&EDATE=
CHICAGO, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Devon Bank today announced
it
would begin selling its Islamic home financing products to Freddie Mac,
effectively expanding opportunities for Muslims living in Illinois and
nine
other states to become homeowners while observing traditional Islamic
restrictions on paying interest on mortgages and other types of debt.
Based
in McLean, Va., Freddie Mac is one of the nation's largest investors in
mortgages and Islamic home financing products.
Devon Bank's Islamic housing finance model uses carefully tailored real
estate financing documents, in accordance with state and local law, and
functions similarly to a conventional Freddie Mac mortgage. They employ
the
Islamic "murabaha" trade model to avoid religiously objectionable
concepts
present in traditional loans…
Devon Bank's suite of Islamic financing products comply with both
Islamic
and U.S. law and include residential and commercial real estate
financing,
financing for business equipment and trade goods, stand-by letters of
credit and some construction financing. (Specific information is
available
at http://www.devonbank.com/Islamic/ …
Freddie Mac's agreement to invest in the mortgages underscores its
mission
to expand homeownership opportunities for all of America's households,
including the nation's estimated 2.5 million Muslim households…
Web site: http://www.freddiemac.com/
http://www.devonbank.com/Islamic
-----
U.S. REP. COBLE SAYS IRAQ PULLOUT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
Associated Press, 1/9/05
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/10604843.htm
GREENSBORO, N.C. - U.S. Rep. Howard Coble, a Greensboro Republican and
close ally of President Bush, says the United States should consider
pulling out of war-ravaged Iraq.
Coble is one of the first members of Congress to suggest a withdrawal
publicly.
The 10-term congressman said in an interview with the News & Record of
Greensboro that he's "fed up with picking up the newspaper and reading
that
we've lost another five or 10 of our young men and women in Iraq."
Support among Coble's 6th District constituents has also waned, his
office
said.
The dean of the state's congressional delegation said he arrived at his
position only after many months of searching in vain for evidence that
the
Bush administration had a post-invasion strategy to deal with the
transition to Iraqi self-government.
Coble, who has represented the 6th District since 1984, says he voted
to
give Bush sweeping war-making powers assuming the administration had a
post-invasion strategy.
"If there was, I wish someone would tell me what it is or show it to
me,"
he said. "I'd like to see it."
The congressman said he thought Bush was correct in attacking Iraq, and
that he and most of his constituents still believe it was the right
decision because "we've done a lot of good over there."
That includes capturing Saddam Hussein, "the international terrorist,
the
tyrant, the snake," he said.
But a troop withdrawal should be an option if the Iraqi government is
unable or unwilling to "shoulder more of the heavy lifting" for its own
security, Coble said…
ALSO SEE:
WHY MOST EMBEDS DON'T TELL ALL
Greg Mitchell, Editor and Publisher, 1/7/05
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?v
nu_content_id=1000748529
Has it really been two full years since the run-up to the Iraq war?
Time,
and a lot of hope, has flown. Who expected us to be bogged down there
two
years later? Certainly not the president, his Pentagon chief, nor, I
suspect, most editors and war correspondents.
Yet here we are, in January 2005, with dozens of embeds and other
reporters
heading back to Baghdad in another kind of run-up: this time to the
national (or at least regional) elections. On Wednesday, I wrote about
one
of the current embeds, Mike Francis of The Oregonian in Portland, who
is
shipping out today. But the question remains: What is the relationship
between excellent reporters like Francis and a full picture of what's
really going on in Iraq?
An article written by another embed this week quotes an unnamed Marine
lieutenant in Ramadi: "If anyone gets too close to us we fucking waste
them. It's kind of a shame, because it means we've killed a lot of
innocent
people." This came from a British reporter, traveling with American
forces,
writing for the respected magazine The Economist. Few American embeds
have
passed along a quote like that, and I wonder why.
In another passage, the Economist embed observes that bystanders to an
ambush are liable to be killed by Marines, who sometimes hide near the
body
of a dead insurgent and kill whoever comes to collect it. According to
that
same Marine lieutenant, commenting on the general situation in Iraq:
"It
gets to the point where you can't wait to see guys with guns, so you
start
shooting everybody. It gets to the point where you don't mind the bad
stuff
you do."
The embed (whose work, like most in the magazine, appears without a
byline)
points out that the Americans are superb fighting machines, but at
peacekeeping or policing "they are often inept." He mentions an
18-year-old
Texan in Mosul who, confronted by jeering school kids, shot canisters
of
buckshot at them, then explained: "It's not good, dude, it could be
fatal,
but you gotta do it."
Then there are the soldiers who seem to enjoy kicking down doors and
calling the Iraqi women they find "Bitch."
The question is: Do American soldiers only talk and act like this
around
foreign journalists, or are our embeds only telling half the story?...
-----
MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Larry Johnsrude, Edmonton Journal, 1/10/05
http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/index.html
EDMONTON - The devastating tsunami in south Asia has united people of
all
ethnic and religious backgrounds in a common humanitarian cause, a
fundraiser by Edmonton's Muslim community was told Sunday.
"The cruelest earthquake in 40 years has drawn the world closer for all
human beings," Edmonton MP David Kilgour said.
"Will we finally start to see ourselves as brothers and sisters? Will
we
begin to work to end world hunger and disease?"
He said the disaster has prompted a debate among theologians.
"Some ask how a loving God could permit this to happen," he said.
"Others
say God made his presence known by our humanitarian acts that followed
it."
The dinner, organized by the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities,
raised
about $50,000 for disaster relief. More than 600 people attended.
Edmonton organizations have raised more than $1 million for victims of
the
Dec. 26 disaster. Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky said the provincial
government is considering increasing its $5-million commitment. A
special
cabinet meeting set for today will review the amount and look at other
ways
to help, he said…
-----
SOME 100 MUSLIM GRAVE MARKERS VANDALIZED IN DANISH CAPITAL
Associated Press, 1/10/05
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Some 100 Muslim grave markers and tombs were
vandalized in the capital over the weekend, with several of them broken
into pieces, police said Monday.
The vandalism happened Saturday night, despite the fierce wind and
driving
rain that blanketed the city, police said, adding that tools were used
to
deface the markers. No arrests have been made.
The Muslim tombs stand in a corner of the 537,000 square-meter (5.7
million
square-foot) Vestre Kirkegaard cemetery in western Copenhagen. The
Christian cemetery also has a Jewish section…
SEE ALSO:
A FAMILY REELS AFTER LOSING 7 BOYS TO ISRAELI FIRE
Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 1/9/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/international/middleeast/09gaza.html
EIT LAHIYA, Gaza - The neighbors had heard that Muhammad Ghaben, 18,
had
died in the hospital during the night, but no one wanted to tell his
mother.
"How can we tell her?" asked Im Yehya Fadoos, walking along a muddy
path
between the poor houses and the strawberry fields of northern Gaza.
"She
was kissing him last night in the hospital. She's lost so much."
Three sons of Mariam Ghaben, 50, died Tuesday, all at once. They were
blown
apart by a single Israeli tank shell that was aimed at militants firing
mortars toward Israel. In all, seven boys from the extended Ghaben
family,
ages 11 to 17, died in the explosion.
Mrs. Fadoos did not tell Ms. Ghaben that Muhammad had died, and as it
turned out, he is still alive. But his legs and a hand were blown off
and
he lost an eye, and doctors say he is in critical condition, along with
three others of the six Palestinians wounded in the same explosion.
On Friday, Ms. Ghaben was already in shock, sitting with her
daughter-in-law, whose own son, Rajeh, 12, died in the explosion, and
another relative, Halima al-Kaseh, who lost her son, Jibril, 17, while
her
two other children, 12 and 15, are badly wounded.
-----
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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 - 1/11/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: PROCLAIM THE HAJJ
- HADITH: Hajj Removes Sins
- HADITH: No Need for Suffering in Hajj
* CAIR-LA: COALITION TO HOLD PRAYER FOR MUSLIM RIGHTS
- CAIR Creates Hotline for Hajj Returnees (RNS)
* STUDENT LEADER JOINS CAIR BOARD
* CAIR-FL: MOSQUES POOL TSUNAMI AID (Sun-Sentinel)
- CA: Islamic Giving (Press-Enterprise)
- OH: Mosque Raises Funds for Victims (Journal News)
- U.S. Muslims Aid Tsunami Survivors (Wash File)
- NY: Mosque Mourns Family Lost in Tsunami (Newsday)
* SOME GROUPS MIX MISSIONARY WORK WITH AID (Balt. Sun)
* BUSH FAILS TO RE-NOMINATE DANIEL PIPES (Forward)
- Pipes: 'I do support the internment of Japanese Americans'
- Prof Slams Daniel Pipes on Internment (Rocky Mtn News)
* YEE: A WITNESS COMES FORWARD (Seattle Times)
- Suspicion in the Ranks (Seattle Times)
- No Conspiracy in Case of Gitmo Translator (LA Times)
* FALLUJAH RESIDENTS ANGRY OVER DESTRUCTION (AP)
- Christian Group Opposes Iraq Death Squads
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PROCLAIM THE HAJJ
"And proclaim the Hajj to mankind. They will come to thee on foot and
(mounted) on every kind of camel lean on account of journeys through
deep
and distant mountain highways."
The Holy Quran, 22:27
HADITH OF THE DAY: HAJJ REMOVES SINS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Make the Hajj and the
Umrah
(lesser pilgrimage) follow each other closely, for they remove poverty
and
sins as a blacksmith's bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and
silver."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 795
HADITH OF THE DAY: NO NEED FOR SUFFERING IN HAJJ
A man once told the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "My sister
has
taken a vow to perform Hajj on foot." The Prophet replied: "God
receives no
good from the affliction your sister has imposed on herself, so let her
perform Hajj riding."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1458
-----
CAIR-LA: COALITION TO HOLD PRAYER FOR MUSLIM RIGHTS
RELIGIOUS LEADERS, HOLOCAUST & JAPANESE INTERNMENT SURVIVORS RESPOND TO
THE
VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF MUSLIMS
Religious Coalition Decries Selective Enforcement of the Law
WHAT: In response to the human cost of the recent pattern of unjust
arrests, detentions and harassment of Muslims, a broad coalition of
religious leaders and victims of civil liberties violations will visit
detained Muslims, present grocery baskets to families of detained
Muslims
and hold a prayer service for the civil rights of Muslims.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 12th, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: In front of the Statue of the Japanese Internment Camp Detainees
on
Terminal Island, 1/2 block before the gate to the Immigration Customs
Enforcement Detention Center at: 1299 Seaside Ave, San Pedro (Terminal
Island)
WHO:
* Rev. Peter Laarman, Progressive Christians Uniting
* Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr., Southern Christian Leadership Conference
* Stephen Rohde, Progressive Jewish Alliance
* Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic
Relations
* Shaikh Sadullah Khan, Director of Muslim Affairs, USC
* Salam Al Marayati, Executive Director, Muslim Public Affairs Council
* Families of detainees and Muslim individuals whose rights have been
violated
* Clergy who have visited detained Muslims
* Japanese Internment Camp survivors
* Children of Holocaust survivors
CONTACT: Thia Stephan (626) 683-9004; Alexia Salvatierra (213) 219-2449
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace is a three-year-old
Los
Angeles-based interfaith organization whose mission statement is:
Religious
Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence.
CONTACT CAIR-LA: Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM GROUP CREATES HOTLINE FOR FINGERPRINTED HAJJ RETURNEES
Religion News Service, 1/11/05
http://www.religionnews.com/
A Muslim advocacy group has created a 24-hour hotline for Muslims who
may
face fingerprinting or detention upon their return from the hajj, or
pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) set up the hotline
following reports that dozens of American Muslims were fingerprinted
after
attending an Islamic conference in Canada.
CAIR has called for an investigation of that incident, but said it has
not
yet received word from the Department of Homeland Security or U.S.
Customs
and Border Patrol about whether attending an Islamic event flags a
person
for fingerprinting…
CAIR legal director Arsalan Iftikhar has written to the Department of
Homeland Security asking for an accounting of the laws under which
Muslims
are being fingerprinted, as well as asking what the legal repercussions
are
if a Muslim refuses to be fingerprinted or detained.
The hotline will be available for Muslims to call upon their return if
they
feel their constitutional rights have been violated. In addition, CAIR
has
posted an incident report form on its Web site, and recommends that
Muslims
download it and keep it with them in case they need to fill it out.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
U.S. MUSLIMS SEEK ANSWERS ON FINGERPRINTING OF HAJJ PILGRIMS
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1379&theType=NR
-----
STUDENT LEADER JOINS CAIR BOARD
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/11/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), the nation's leading Islamic civil rights and advocacy group,
announced today that it has elected Hadia Mubarak to its board.
Mubarak is the current president of the Muslim Student Association -
National (MSA), the first female to serve in that post. She is
currently
pursuing her Master's degree in Contemporary Arab Studies with a
concentration in Women and Gender at Georgetown University's School of
Foreign Service.
Prior to becoming the President of MSA National, Mubarak was the chair
of
the Political Action Taskforce of MSA National during the 2003-2004
academic year and a full-time intern at the Brookings Institute's Saban
Center for Middle East Policy. She also served as a member of the
Brookings
Institute's organizing committee of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in
Doha,
Qatar.
"CAIR is delighted with the election of Hadia Mubarak to its Board,"
said
CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad. "We are confident that her perspective
and
contributions will enhance CAIR's ability to empower American Muslims,
defend civil liberties and promote an accurate portrayal of Islam."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
-----
MOSQUES POOL TSUNAMI AID DONATIONS
Noaki Schwartz, Sun-Sentinel, 1/11/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-dtsunami11jan11,0,2049150.s
tory
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has announced that South
Florida
mosques have raised more than $102,000 for tsunami victims in Asia.
Thirteen mosques from Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties
collected
the donations from many of the estimated 50,000 Muslims who live in
South
Florida. The money is being given to a number of agencies providing
tsunami
relief, including the American Red Cross, CARE Australia, Islamic
Circle of
North America and Islamic Relief Worldwide. On Monday evening, the
Council
of American-Islamic Relations of Florida, known as CAIR, gathered to
tally
the donations.
The Islamic centers began accepting donations three days after the Dec.
26
tsunami. CAIR asked all the mosques to designate Dec. 29 a tsunami
relief
day, offering special prayers for the victims.
Helping the afflicted is an important part of being a good Muslim, said
Altaf Ali, CAIR's executive director. He said Muslims are expected to
donate 2.5 percent of their wealth every year.
CONTACT: CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali, 954-272-0490,
954-298-8214,
E-Mail: altaf@cair-florida.org
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC GIVING
Press-Enterprise, 1/8/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/editorials/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_op_09
_ed_islamcharity2.a1a1c.html
Muslims are often criticized for not doing enough to promote peace and
goodwill in this era of terror. All the more reason to hail Inland and
Southern California Muslims for taking such an active role in the South
Asian tsunami relief effort.
Their efforts prove, again, that the bond of humanity transcends
religious
differences.
In mosques across the southland, Muslim clerics are urging
congregations to
give as much as they can to aid relief efforts in Indonesia, Sri Lanka
and
India - all of which have large Muslim populations. And 1,500 people of
all
faiths are expected to attend a fund-raiser sponsored by Islamic Relief
USA
in Anaheim tonight to help buy emergency supplies for the tsunami
victims.
Others are donating their expertise. Four Muslim doctors from Southern
California, including Rancho Cucamonga physician Rahmi Mowjood, left
for
Sri Lanka on Thursday to provide whatever medical assistance they can.
They're working on behalf of a Jewish charity called VeAhavta, which is
Hebrew for "You Shall Love..."
---
ISLAMIC CENTER RAISES FUNDS FOR DISASTER VICTIMS
Benjamin Poston, Journal News, 1/7/05
http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/01/07/HJN0108mosq
ue_s.html
WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP - Ahmad Maulana and his 16 cousins were driving
along
the coast near Hambantota, Sri Lanka, in a passenger van Dec. 26 when a
giant tsunami wave swept all to their death.
And in that instant, Ali Salahuddin lost 17 family members.
"The sea took all of them," Ali Salahuddin said, choking back tears.
"Seventeen people all gone. I just pray to Allah that they are in
paradise."
Ali Salahuddin, a Sri Lanka native, lives with his wife, Fatima
Salahuddin,
in West Chester Township, where he is resident caretaker at the Islamic
Center of Greater Cincinnati off Tylersville Road.
As part of a school vacation trip, the van was en route from the
capital of
Colombo to the southeast coast of Sri Lanka that was heaviest hit when
a
tsunami wave hit southeast Asia, killing an estimated 150,000.
Ali Salahuddin was among 350 Islamics in attendance Friday for a
traditional jumma service at the Islamic Center. The sermon, or khutba,
was
focused on death and preparation for dying.
Majed Dabdoub, Islamic Center tsunami relief committee chairman, said
the
message of the khutba was clear: Our time on this earth is fleeting.
"This life is temporary, we don't know when we are going to die, it
could
happen anywhere at any time," Dabdoub said. "We need to prepare for the
day
of judgement. It serves as a lesson for us to help the needy. Our
religion
tells that if you help someone who is in need, God will help you in the
hereafter."
Shakilia Ahmad, an Islamic Center trustee, said the center has joined
forces with other Muslim organizations in Cincinnati in a fund-raising
effort for tsunami victims. The Islamic Center raised roughly $80,000
for
victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and Dabdoub said he hopes to collect as
much for the tsunami relief…
---
AMERICAN MUSLIMS JOIN HANDS TO AID TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Afzal Khan, Washington File, 1/10/05
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=J
anuary&x=20050110191213cpataruk0.9371759&t=sa/sa-latest.html
Washington - Muslim communities across the United States have taken
action
to aid the survivors of the tsunami disaster in southern Asia.
On Friday, December 31, following the disaster on December 26, special
prayers for the tsunami dead were performed in hundreds of mosques
across
the United States. Cash donations for the survivors were collected.
American Muslim relief and charity organizations sent out appeals,
collecting donations in cash and supplies -- not only from Muslims, but
also from Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists eager to help. The
leading
American Muslim civil rights organization, Washington DC-based Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), monitored aid efforts on its
website, in
addition to sending out appeals of donations…
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
---
MOSQUE COMMUNITY MOURNS FAMILY LOST IN TSUNAMI
Carol Eisenberg, Newsday, 1/12/05
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/queens/nyc-mos0110,0,4373645.story
Husin Saleh sits in Masjid Al-Hikmah with a glazed and lost look, his
eyes
red from crying and lack of sleep.
"I just want to find my mom," says the 32-year-old limousine driver
from
Elmhurst, when asked what would console him. "I've been calling,
calling,
calling. But the phones don't work. The whole village was wiped out."
Convulsed by sobs, Saleh tells how two brothers and a sister, as well
as
his mother, lived in Meulaboh, a village in Aceh province leveled Dec.
26
by the waves that swallowed whole villages in Aceh province. No one has
heard or seen any of them since.
If there is a ground zero for grieving relatives of tsunami victims in
New
York City, then Masjid Al-Hikmah is it. Fifteen families from this
close-knit, Indonesian mosque in working-class Queens are grieving the
loss
of hundreds of family members, indeed, sometimes whole villages that
have
been virtually wiped out.
Many also describe a daily hell of trying to get word on mothers,
fathers,
brothers and sisters still listed as missing two weeks after the
disaster.
A few have gone home to canvas refugee camps and search for lost family
themselves.
"I have nothing left," says Ismet Salim, 31, speaking almost in a
monotone
about the loss of more than 40 family members in Banda Aceh, including
his
mother, father, brother, sister-in-law and their two children.
Salim says he had planned to go home at the end of the year to marry
and
run a store with his father. "Now," he says, shrugging, "It's all gone.
I
can't eat. I can't sleep. I can only pray."
It is some consolation that he doesn't pray alone. Five or six members
of
the mosque show up at his basement apartment several times a week with
food
and condolences. And now as he tells his story to a stranger, fellow
congregants hover close by…
-----
SOME ORGANIZATIONS MIX MISSIONARY WORK WITH AID
Janice D'Arcy, Baltimore Sun, 1/8/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.md.missionary08jan08,1,6
917267.story
Some evangelical groups are mixing Christian missionary work with
humanitarian aid in countries ravaged by the tsunamis and earthquake, a
provocative approach shunned by the majority of faith-based relief
organizations.
Spreading faith this way can antagonize the people they're trying to
help,
and there's evidence of concern among Muslims, Hindus and others. But
evangelical leaders say they define humanitarian aid as having a
spiritual
component.
Aid should "share the love of Christ," said the Rev. Franklin Graham,
son
of the Rev. Billy Graham and the outspoken leader of Samaritan's Purse,
which is shipping shelter materials and other emergency donations to
Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Of the victims and their families, he said
Wednesday in an interview, "I would hope that they would come to know
the
God I know."
The notion of sharing "the love of Christ" can take many forms:
adoptions
of orphaned children, religious pamphlets tucked into relief kits.
Sometimes it's establishing relationships in the hope of future
influence.
"They will not give up the goal of church planting," said Scott Moreau,
editor of Evangelical Missions Quarterly and a Wheaton College
professor.
Baltimore-based World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National
Association of Evangelicals, is focused on humanitarian aid while
looking
for opportunities to later encourage conversions in southern Asia…
On one message group for Southeast Asians this week, a Minnesota Hindu
proposed a protest of a benefit that would send proceeds to a Christian
group - even though the group, World Vision, does not proselytize.
That is precisely what relief workers fear most.
'Not good on both sides'
"It's not good on both sides," said Rizwan Mowlana, a Gaithersburg
Muslim
who said he lost 42 members of his family when the tsunami flooded Sri
Lanka.
Mowlana works with the Council on American-Islamic Relations and has
also
established his own nondenominational relief agency in the tsunami
aftermath. He calls the proselytizing groups "predatory," but he said
it
may be best to ignore them.
"It's not something we should talk about because people may get scared
and
stop donating."
-----
BUSH FAILS TO RE-NOMINATE DANIEL PIPES
BUSH FAILS TO RE-NOMINATE SCHOLAR OPPOSED BY MUSLIMS AND LIBERALS
Forward, 1/10/05
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=kessler20050110451
In an apparent victory for radical Muslims and the left-wing of the
American foreign policy establishment, President Bush has failed to
take
any action to re-nominate Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes to the board
of
the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Bush appointed Pipes, a conservative Middle East analyst and syndicated
columnist who has drawn the ire of some Muslims, to the publicly-funded
institution on August 23, 2003 after a Senate hearing on the matter
ended
without the presence of a quorum necessary for a confirmation vote. The
controversial recess appointment ended in early December with the
closing
of the previous Congress. The institute has removed Pipes's name from
the
list of board of directors posted on its Web site.
Pipes told the Forward that he has not asked to be re-nominated by the
president and had not queried the White House about its intentions.
"My time there is finished," he said of the institute.
The White House had nothing to add on the matter.
"When there's an announcement, we'll go ahead and make one," said
spokeswoman Maria Tamburri…
The nomination of Pipes, who has made a career out of identifying and
denouncing what he sees as radical Muslim penetration of American
institutions, was opposed by Senators Edward Kennedy, Tom Harkin and
Christopher Dodd, all Democrats; Arab and Muslim groups including the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the Arab American
Anti-Discrimination Committee, and Middle East analysts Judith Kipper
of
the Center for Strategic and International Studies and William Quandt
of
the University of Virginia. It was supported by many
conservative-leaning
newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and
The
New York Sun.
Several Jewish communal agencies, including the American Jewish
Committee
and the Zionist Organization of America supported Pipes...
Pipes did not have a peaceful tenure at the institute, which was
created by
Congress "to support the development, transmission, and use of
knowledge to
promote peace and curb violent international conflict," according to
USIP's
mission statement. Last March, he clashed with the organization,
lambasting
it in his column for hosting a conference with a group, the Center for
the
Study of Islam and Democracy, that Pipes charged employs personnel who
are
Muslim "radicals."
The institute's director of congressional and public affairs, Kay King,
responded to the criticism…
"The Institute was aware of and took seriously the accusations made
against
CSID and some of the speakers at the event," King wrote. "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…"
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES: 'I DO SUPPORT THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS'
"Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans in World War
II…"
From Daniel Pipes' website, 12/28/04
---
CO PROF SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT
A DANGEROUS ARGUMENT
Paul Campos, Rocky Mountain News, 1/4/05
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86
_3442925,00.html
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)
Daniel Pipes, the well-known neoconservative intellectual and director
of
the Middle East Forum, has just published an opinion piece in which he
implies that the wholesale relocation of American citizens of the
Muslim
faith to internment camps might be a good idea.
Pipes doesn't actually come right out and support internment camps for
American Muslims, but his article (published originally in The New York
Sun
and reprinted in various other papers) casts a nostalgic glance back at
the
internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II and hints that we
ought to consider similar steps in the context of the war on terrorism.
The immediate object of Pipes' affections is a new book by Michelle
Malkin,
In Defense of Internment, which applauds the roundup and imprisonment
of
more than 120,000 ethnic Japanese, most of them American citizens, as a
reasonable security measure in time of war.
Malkin's book is an odious exercise in revisionist history, with a
distinctly fascist tinge. She defends policies that have long been
considered completely indefensible, using arguments that are often
absurd
on their face.
For instance, Malkin claims the previously uncontroversial view that
the
internment of Japanese- Americans was driven by racism is actually a
product of left-wing distortions. Yet here is a typical quote from Gen.
John DeWitt, the main proponent and organizer of the internment: "The
Japanese race is an enemy race and while many second and third
generation
Japanese, born on United States soil, possessed of United States
citizenship have become Americanized, the racial strains are undiluted.
. .
. It therefore follows that along the Pacific Coast over 112,000
potential
enemies of Japanese extraction are at large today…"
Paul Campos is a professor of law at the University of Colorado. He can
be
reached at paul.campos@colorado.edu
-----
A WITNESS COMES FORWARD
Seattle Times, 1/10/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002147296_yeechapter4.htm
l
Capt. Jason Orlich marched into the counterintelligence office with one
of
his most trusted Arabic translators. They had news about Chaplain James
Yee.
The linguist, a Syrian-born Christian, claimed he had overheard Yee
speaking in Arabic to a detainee at the prison hospital, ridiculing the
camp's psychological-operations posters.
The posters depicted images such as an Afghanistan landscape at sunset.
A
Pashtu caption beneath it stated: "Find your way home / Truth will land
you
there." Another poster showed boys in a schoolroom, above the words:
"The
time is now for cooperation / Return and join the future of
Afghanistan."
The camp's counterintelligence office was run by Theo Polet, a
40-year-old
National Guard captain from Florida. He led a small team of agents
responsible for investigating subversive behavior at Guantánamo.
Polet already had received information about Yee from Orlich's
intelligence
section. Most of it was third-hand. But today was different.
This time, they had a witness.
Polet and Orlich saw the alleged incident as a clear attempt to
undermine
interrogations, or at least embolden an enemy combatant. Polet
considered
it a "watershed moment..."
ALSO SEE:
SUSPICION IN THE RANKS
Inside the spy investigation of Capt. James Yee
Ray Rivera, Seattle Times, 1/9/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002146253_yeechapter3.htm
l
---
TRANSLATOR PLEADS GUILTY TO TAKING DOCUMENTS
Elizabeth Meheren, Los Angeles Times, 1/11/05
http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-na-translate11jan11,1,464301
3.story
BOSTON - A former Arabic translator at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp
pleaded guilty Monday to taking classified material from the U.S. naval
base and lying to investigators.
Ahmed Fathy Mehalba's plea in U.S. district court here marked the end
of a
widely publicized investigation into a possible spy ring at the
American
military installation in Cuba, where more than 500 prisoners captured
in
the war on terrorism are being held.
No espionage conspiracy was uncovered, and federal prosecutors were
left to
bring significantly reduced charges or to drop the charges entirely
against
Mehalba and three others.
Mehalba, 32, pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment. Under a plea
agreement crafted by federal prosecutors and Mehalba's lawyers, the
Egyptian-born U.S. citizen is expected to be sentenced in March to 20
months in prison.
Counting time served since his arrest in September 2003, Mehalba should
be
freed shortly thereafter.
If convicted of the original spying charges, he could have faced up to
15
years in prison and a $1-million fine.
U.S. Atty. Michael J. Sullivan on Monday called the plea deal "a proper
and
fair result," explaining: "These charges were brought to redress
serious
breaches in security and Mr. Mehalba's failure when first interviewed
to
honestly acknowledge them."
But Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations - a civil rights and advocacy group in Washington - took a
broader view of the outcome.
"We are glad to see this whole, sad scenario come to a conclusion," he
said. "All of these cases were very troubling to the American Muslim
community, because they seemed to be based more on anti-Muslim hysteria
than they were on the actual facts..."
-----
FALLUJAH RESIDENTS ANGRY OVER DESTRUCTION
Abdul-Qadar Saadi, Associated Press, 1/10/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slu
g=Angry%20Fallujah
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - When Ahmed Hussein Nasser returned to Fallujah
weeks
after a devastating U.S.-led campaign to retake the city from
insurgents,
he could barely recognize the city where he had spent all 66 years of
his
life.
His anger against the Americans and Iraqi forces allied with them has
only
grown since his return - a worrisome sign for U.S. officials letting
people
back into Fallujah, a one-time insurgent stronghold where the
population
was generally believed to support the fighters.
``When I see Americans in Fallujah I feel as if I am seeing devils in
front
of me,'' he said.
On Dec. 23, the first people allowed into the city were residents of
the
western neighborhood of Andalus. The Iraqi government announced over
the
weekend that all the city's neighborhoods will be open for returnees
this
Friday. The government said so far some 60,000 people have returned to
the
city.
Few houses escaped damage from the intense American air raids late last
year and the insurgent bombings and shootings that followed. Work teams
have cleared rubble from the streets, but it is still tangled with
downed
power lines. Craters cut off access to side streets, and some buildings
have walls or ceilings missing if they weren't simply destroyed.
There were suggestions before people began to return that they would
have
no idea of the devastation the campaign wrought. Some Marines south of
the
city reported people told them they thought Fallujah was practically
unscathed.
Alaa Sabri Hardan, a 20-year-old agriculture student, said he lost his
most
valuable possessions - photo albums.
``I did not regret losing anything in my burnt house as much as I
regret
losing the 250 photographs of my childhood and my late parents,'' he
said.
American officials have characterized their November battle as a fight
to
liberate Fallujah and have said the people returning have generally
welcomed being free from the grip of the insurgents…
SEE ALSO:
CHRISTIAN GROUP OPPOSES IRAQ ASSASSINATION SQUADS
UUSC STOP CAMPAIGN STATEMENT ON 'SALVADORAN OPTION'
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=41501
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today
by
The UUSC Committee on the "Salvador Option" proposed by the Pentagon:
"The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), wishes to express
its
profound opposition to the "Salvador Option" now proposed by the
Pentagon
for utilization in Iraq. We remember with great clarity and pain the
horrors inflicted upon the people of Central America by the U.S.-backed
death squads throughout the 1980s. This shameful and deadly chapter of
our
history must never be repeated.
"If we are serious about freedom for Iraq, then we must, at all costs,
protect its citizenry from all acts of torture, terror and
assassination.
Democracy imposed by us at gunpoint is poorly disguised tyranny indeed.
On
moral grounds alone, we must categorically reject the use of
U.S.-sponsored
death squads. Torture and terror by proxy is still torture and
terror...
For information contact, Jennifer Harbury, 800-388-3920, 512-751-5852
(cellular), or at jharbury(At)hotmail.com. UUSC is an international
human
rights agency based in Cambridge, Mass., and directs the STOP (Stop
Torture
Permanently) Campaign.
-----
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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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/12/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: HAJJ BRINGS FORGIVENESS
* CAIR-CA PARTICIPATES IN 'CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM'
- ISLAM-OPED: Muslim Holiday Honors Abraham
* MUSLIMS TO MEET WITH FOX OVER DEPICTIONS IN '24' (CAIR)
- Probes of U.S. Muslims Turn Up Little Terror (NCR)
- 24: Letting Stereotypes Slip By (Harvard Crimson)
* MI: DEARBORN TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER QURAN REMARK (AP)
- MD: Muslim Students Seek Exam Changes (Wash Post)
* NOMINEE CRITICIZED OVER POST-9/11 POLICIES (Wash Post)
- The Torture Myth (Washington Post)
* STUDENT VISAS A CURE FOR US-ARAB TENSIONS (CS Monitor)
- White House Says Iraq Weapons Search Over (AP)
- UK: Police Ban Muslims from Carrying Flags (PA)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: HAJJ BRINGS FORGIVENESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When you meet someone
who
has performed the pilgrimage, greet him, shake hands with him and tell
him
to ask forgiveness for you before he enters his house, for he has been
forgiven."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 802
-----
CAIR-SV PARTICIPATES IN 'CELEBRATION OF ABRAHAM'
Members of Abrahamic faiths share perspective, build bridges
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 1/12/2005) The Sacramento Valley office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) recently co-sponsored a
"Celebration
of Abraham" interfaith event in Davis, Calif., that drew more than 500
members of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities.
The event included readings from scriptures of the various faith
traditions
and culminated with the attendees breaking bread in a symbolic gesture
of
friendship.
Dr. Hamza ElNakhal, a member of Celebration of Abraham Committee, said,
"Interfaith events are important in shedding misconceptions about other
and
help develop understanding among people."
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Secretary, Maren Shawesh 916-441-6269
SEE ALSO:
ISLAM-OPED: MUSLIM HOLIDAY HONORS ABRAHAM
[NOTE: Muslim communities are encouraged to submit the commentary below
for
publication in a local newspaper.]
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim
perspective on current political, social and religious issues.
ISLAM-OPED
commentaries are offered free-of-charge to one media outlet in each
market
area. Permission for publication will be granted on a
first-come-first-served basis. To SUBSCRIBE to ISLAM-OPED, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/islam-oped/
Please consider the following commentary for publication.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
NOTE: Eid ul-Adha is expected to begin January 21, depending on the
sighting of the new crescent moon.
MUSLIM HOLIDAY HONORS ABRAHAM
By Nihad Awad
Word Count: 610
When Muslims mark the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj,
later
this month, the central figure in their religious celebrations will be
the
Prophet Abraham, not the Prophet Muhammad as one might suppose.
That fact offers an excellent opportunity for Muslims, Christians and
Jews
to recognize their shared religious heritage and to promote a common
future
as people of faith.
Each year, Muslims in American and around the world conclude their Hajj
with a holiday called Eid ul-Adha (eed-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the
sacrifice." Eid ul-Adha signifies not only the end of the pilgrimage,
which
is expected to include some 10,000 American Muslims among 2-3 million
pilgrims, it also commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his
son
at God's command. (Muslims believe it was Ishmael that God asked to be
sacrificed.)
One of the central rites of Hajj, the largest and oldest annual
gatherings
on earth, is the stoning by the pilgrims of three pillars representing
Satan's temptation of Abraham and his rejection of that enticement. The
stoning indicates the pilgrim's similar rejection of evil deeds.
Other Hajj rites also focus on Abraham and his family. Pilgrims circle
the
Kaaba, the simple stone building Muslims believe was originally built
by
Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Kaaba is viewed as the first sanctuary
on
earth dedicated to the worship of the One God. It is a symbol of unity
for
Muslims because all prayers, wherever they are performed, are oriented
in
its direction.
Pilgrims also perform the Sa'i, or "hastening" between two small hills
near
the Kaaba, to commemorate Hagar's desperate search for water to offer
her
son Ishmael.
Muslims call Abraham the "friend" of God. The Quran, Islam's revealed
text,
states: "Who can be better in faith than one who submits his whole self
to
God, does good and follows the way of Abraham, the true in faith? For
God
did take Abraham for a friend." (4:125)
Another verse in the Quran portrays Abraham as the "father" of all
believers. "Strive in the way of God as you ought to strive with
sincerity
and discipline. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any
hardship in
the observance of your faith - the faith of your father Abraham."
(22:78)
Yet another verse confirms that Abraham is part of the brotherhood of
God's
prophets. "(O Muhammad), We have sent revelations to you just as We
sent to
Noah and the Prophets who came after him. We also sent revelations to
Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, his descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah,
Aaron,
and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms." (4:163)
Muslims also mention Abraham along with the Prophet Muhammad in their
daily
prayers.
It is sometimes easy to focus on the very real differences in faith and
religious practice. But we all need to make the effort to find out what
we
have in common and to communicate those shared beliefs.
People claiming to speak in the name of their faith sparked the recent
downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility. It is time for
the
majority of Muslims, Christians and Jews to stand up and say they will
not
let the fringe of any faith group dictate how they view and interact
with
each other.
As always, it is up to people of good will to avoid easy answers and
instead do the hard work of confronting the kind of ignorance that can
lead
to religious bigotry.
Through Hajj, Abraham has united Muslims from all over the world for
more
than 14 centuries. The real challenge is for all of Abraham's children
-
Muslims, Christians and Jews - to unite for the common good of
humanity.
Nihad Awad is executive director of the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil
rights
and advocacy group. He may be contacted at: nawad@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIMS TO MEET WITH FOX OVER DEPICTIONS IN '24'
[NOTE: Later today, representatives of CAIR-National, CAIR-LA, the
Muslim
Public Affairs Council, and the Southern California Muslim community
will
meet with Fox officials and the co-creator of "24."]
CONTACT: CAIR-National Spokesperson, Rabiah Ahmed, 202-439-1441;
CAIR-LA
Communications Director, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334,
CAIR-LA
Executive Director Hussam Ayloush, 714-776-1847
'24'S' LATEST PLOT TWIST PAINS SOME MUSLIMS
Dana Parsons, Los Angles Time, 1/12/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-parsons12jan12,1,301488.column
Premiering against the backdrop of post-Sept. 11 America, "24" has
always
been about figuring out terrorist plots, but this year it will test
viewers
in a different way.
The story line so far: A seemingly normal, upscale Muslim family is a
sleeper terrorist cell. We've learned that Mom and Dad are knee-deep in
a
plot that has resulted in a train derailment and the kidnapping of the
U.S.
defense secretary. And that they've actively involved their teenage
son.
Not to mention that in Monday's episode, they ordered him to shoot his
non-Muslim girlfriend because she stumbled onto information that could
prove dangerous to them.
"24" comes through again. Can't wait till next week.
Then again, I'm not the Muslim living next door. I'm a blue-eyed boy
from
Nebraska, immune to cultural stereotypes.
Thus, the test. In an era where Americans are fearful of attack from
Islamic fundamentalists, will a TV show depicting "normal" people as
terrorists deepen our paranoia? Will it lead to violence against
Muslims or
Middle Easterners?...
The easy answer is to say that of course, everyone realizes that. But
it's
not quite that simple, says Sabiha Khan, a spokeswoman for the local
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, headquartered in
Anaheim.
She's not a "24" fan but has seen this year's episodes and is worried.
Today, in fact, she and other CAIR officials will take their concerns
to
Fox in Los Angeles.
CAIR doesn't want to curtail Fox's creative license, Khan says.
However,
CAIR is concerned that the depiction "will contribute to an atmosphere
that
it's OK to harm and discriminate against Muslims. This could actually
hurt
real-life people."
CAIR doesn't expect Fox to dump the story line but might ask that it
consider ways to mitigate it in future episodes. "We're realistic,"
Khan
says. "We're not asking for something that can't be done."
It would be naive to dismiss Khan's concerns. At this point in American
history, it's an unfortunate fact of life that some people harbor
unfair
suspicions of Muslims in our midst.
So while I tout "24," how does my favorite show look like through
Khan's eyes?
"It was almost like a heart-sinking, crashing feeling down to the
floor,"
she says. "Just being attacked, seeing your religion attacked, which,
if it
is the essence of your being, is a very difficult thing to take. You
feel
mixed emotions - anger, disappointment, hurt."
The "24" terrorist family, she says, "is not a family I've ever known.
None
of the 9/11 hijackers had that kind of family…. It's not really based
on
any reality of what we [in America] are going through..."
SEE ALSO:
INVESTIGATIONS OF U.S. MUSLIMS TURN UP LITTLE TERROR
JOHN TIRMAN, National Catholic Reporter, 1/14/05
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2005a/011405/011405a.php
One of the mysteries surrounding the 9/11 attacks and the frequent
terrorist alerts ever since is the role played, if any, by American
Muslims
in supporting al-Qaeda operations. The U.S. government acts as if there
is
a support base of some kind. White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card
told a
CNN reporter during the Republican convention, "We know there are
al-Qaeda
cells" operating inside the country. During the early August scare
about
terrorists targeting financial institutions, newspaper reports often
alluded to, but did not identify or describe, a support network or
individuals living in the United States.
For the 5 million or so Muslims in the United States, a large majority
of
whom are U.S. citizens, such implications are troubling. Their
communities
across the country have been shaken by the post-9/11 antiterrorist
campaign: Law enforcement agents have interviewed nearly 200,000
Muslims
and others from predominantly Muslim countries; hundreds have been
deported
or detained for long periods; thousands were subject to a "special
registration," and now some hundreds have been indicted in widely
publicized "terrorist" prosecutions. Charities and other social
institutions have been shut down or disabled, and surveillance in these
communities is now a given. But the cardinal question of whether or not
domestic Muslim populations actually pose a security threat remains
unanswered, indeed, unarticulated, in public discourse and official
pronouncements…
The evidence thus far, however, indicates that Muslims living in
America
have not constituted a social base for al-Qaeda. It is striking, in
fact,
that so little illegality has been uncovered in a population so
thoroughly
investigated and watched. The prosecutions of alleged terrorist-related
activities, which should represent the most definitive picture of how
the
government views the internal threat, have established very little --
if
anything -- that could be described as evidence of al-Qaeda cells
operating
in the United States. Nothing else in the publicly known record of this
massive law enforcement and intelligence effort suggests that a
conspiracy
exists, a remarkably clean bill for these communities...
John Tirman is coauthor and editor of The Maze of Fear: Security and
Migration After 9/11 (The New Press), and is executive director of the
Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
---
LETTING STEREOTYPES SLIP BY
JADE JURDI and MAGDEY A. ABDALLAH, Harvard Crimson, 1/12/05
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=505315
This past week, the Undergraduate Council presented an advance
screening of
the first three episodes of Fox's popular television show, "24." In
doing
so, the council insensitively aired an offensive portrayal of Middle
Eastern Americans. Given the simplistic depiction of Middle Eastern
Americans in Fox's "24," the show was inconsistent with the values of
cultural awareness and diversity that the Undergraduate Council and the
University seek to promote...
-----
DEARBORN TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER REPORTED QURAN REMARK
Associated Press, 1/12/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw109929_20050112.htm
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- A middle school history teacher in a heavily
Arab
Detroit suburb has been suspended while officials investigate a report
he
told students that Bedouin Arabs used the Quran as toilet paper, a
newspaper said Wednesday.
A closed hearing on the teacher's status was held Tuesday, The Detroit
News
said. It said Superintendent John Artis was expected to decide the case
this week. The teacher was suspended with pay…
Parents complained to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
and
the Council on American-Islamic Relations...
CONTACT: CAIR-Michigan, 248-569-2203
SEE ALSO:
CONTACT: CAIR-MD/VA, 301-986-1900
MUSLIM STUDENTS SEEK EXAM CHANGES
Washington Post, 1/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64493-2005Jan10.html
Scroll down.
Several Muslim students protested Montgomery County's final exam
schedule
yesterday, saying it interferes with a religious holiday.
Zainab El Radi, a senior at Gaithersburg High School and a member of
its
Muslim Student Association, said that her anatomy and physiology exam
overlaps with the start of Eid ul-Adha, or the Festival of the
Sacrifice,
which begins in two weeks. She and two other Muslim students asked the
county school board at its regular meeting to reconsider the schedule.
Muslim students have an excused absence that day, the students said.
But
Samira Hussein, a Gaithersburg mother of four, said it is not enough.
"They
always fall behind one or two days," she said. "We're tired of making
up."
------
NOMINEE CRITICIZED OVER POST-9/11 POLICIES
John Mintz, Washington Post, 1/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A2102-2005Jan11
Michael Chertoff, President Bush's nominee to be secretary of homeland
security, is widely hailed for his intellectual heft and tireless work
habits as a federal prosecutor and judge. But he also faces criticism
as an
architect of some of the most controversial elements of the Bush
administration's domestic war on terrorism that followed the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks.
As an assistant attorney general in the months after the attacks,
Chertoff
helped oversee the detention of 762 foreign nationals for immigration
violations; none of them was charged with terrorism-related crimes. A
subsequent report by the Justice Department's inspector general
determined
that Justice's "no bond" policy for the detainees -- a tactic whose
legality was questioned at the time by immigration officials -- led to
lengthy delays in releasing them from prison, where some faced "a
pattern
of physical and verbal abuse..."
SEE ALSO:
THE TORTURE MYTH
Anne Applebaum, Washington Post, 1/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2302-2005Jan11.html
Just for a moment, let's pretend that there is no moral, legal or
constitutional problem with torture. Let's also imagine a clear-cut
case: a
terrorist who knows where bombs are about to explode in Iraq. To stop
him,
it seems that a wide range of Americans would be prepared to endorse
"cruel
and unusual" methods. In advance of confirmation hearings for Attorney
General-designate Alberto Gonzales last week, the Wall Street Journal
argued that such scenarios must be debated, since "what's at stake in
this
controversy is nothing less than the ability of U.S. forces to
interrogate
enemies who want to murder innocent civilians." Alan Dershowitz, the
liberal legal scholar, has argued in the past that interrogators in
such a
case should get a "torture warrant" from a judge. Both of these
arguments
rest on an assumption: that torture -- defined as physical pressure
during
interrogation -- can be used to extract useful information.
But does torture work? The question has been asked many times since
Sept.
11, 2001. I'm repeating it, however, because the Gonzales hearings
inspired
more articles about our lax methods ("Too Nice for Our Own Good" was
one
headline), because similar comments may follow this week's trial of
Spec.
Charles Graner, the alleged Abu Ghraib ringleader, and because I still
cannot find a positive answer. I've heard it said that the Syrians and
the
Egyptians "really know how to get these things done." I've heard the
Israelis mentioned, without proof. I've heard Algeria mentioned, too,
but
Darius Rejali, an academic who recently trolled through French
archives,
found no clear examples of how torture helped the French in Algeria --
and
they lost that war anyway. "Liberals," argued an article in the liberal
online magazine Slate a few months ago, "have a tendency to accept, all
too
eagerly, the argument that torture is ineffective." But it's also true
that
"realists," whether liberal or conservative, have a tendency to accept,
all
too eagerly, fictitious accounts of effective torture carried out by
someone else…
Given the overwhelmingly negative evidence, the really interesting
question
is not whether torture works but why so many people in our society want
to
believe that it works. At the moment, there is a myth in circulation, a
fable that goes something like this: Radical terrorists will take
advantage
of our fussy legality, so we may have to suspend it to beat them.
Radical
terrorists mock our namby-pamby prisons, so we must make them tougher.
Radical terrorists are nasty, so to defeat them we have to be nastier.
Perhaps it's reassuring to tell ourselves tales about the new forms of
"toughness" we need, or to talk about the special rules we will create
to
defeat this special enemy. Unfortunately, that toughness is
self-deceptive
and self-destructive. Ultimately it will be self-defeating as well.
-----
CURE FOR US-ARAB TENSIONS: MORE STUDENT VISAS
John Hughes, Christian Science Monitor, 1/12/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0112/p09s01-cojh.html
The overall number of such students is down 2.4 percent this year, with
graduate students down 6 percent. In part, there is a perception that
America is less hospitable than before 9/11, but there are horror
stories
of bureaucratic delays in processing visas, and even the granting of
reentry visas to students who have studied in the US for years.
American families are generous and kindly to international visitors and
hundreds of thousands of them return to their countries with positive
memories of American lifestyles, ideas, and principles. As Secretary of
State Colin Powell once said: "I can think of no more valuable asset to
our
country than the friendship of future world leaders who have been
educated
here." Half the Jordanian cabinet, for example, was educated in the
US...
In the past, a key part of US public diplomacy was the encouragement of
thousands of journalists, artists, budding politicians, teachers, and
opinion leaders to visit America for varying periods of time, to
observe it
and its people firsthand. Students, especially if they pursue graduate
studies, spend five or six or more years living in American communities
and
rarely return to their homelands unchanged by that experience...
o John Hughes, a former editor of the Monitor, is editor and chief
operating officer of the Deseret Morning News.
SEE ALSO:
WHITE HOUSE SAYS IRAQ WEAPONS SEARCH OVER
Associated Press, 1/12/05
WASHINGTON (AP) - The search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq
has
quietly concluded without any evidence of the banned weapons that
President
Bush cited as justification for going to war, the White House said
Wednesday.
The Iraq Survey Group, made up of some 1,200 military and intelligence
specialists and support staff, spent nearly two years searching
military
installations, factories and laboratories whose equipment and products
might be converted quickly to making weapons.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said there no longer is an
active search for weapons. ``There may be a couple, a few people, that
are
focused on that'' but that it has largely concluded, he said…
---
POLICE BAN MUSLIMS FROM CARRYING NATIONAL FLAGS
Nick Allen, Press Association, 1/12/05
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3991151
Police have banned Muslims from carrying national flags at a series of
celebrations later this month, it emerged today.
They claimed the waving of flags during the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations in
Southall, London would increase tensions and said those who persisted
may
be arrested for breaching the peace.
The move was criticised by the Muslim Council of Britain. Sadiq Khan,
chairman of the council's legal affairs committee, said: "This is the
first
time I can recall someone being prohibited from waving a national flag
in a
public place, other than a sports occasion, in the mainland UK.
"I can't see the legal justification for this. If it is the case that
the
police are concerned to prevent anti-social behaviour then the way to
do
that is to stop people firing fireworks after midnight or beeping their
horns late at night.
"I'm unclear how the carrying of national flags causes anti-social
behaviour and I think it's slightly odd. Whether you agree or disagree
with
the way people celebrate a festival they are not doing anything against
the
law…"
-----
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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 - 1/13/05
* HADITH/VERSE OF THE DAY: CARE FOR ORPHANS
* CAIR-NJ: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A TRAVELER
- CAIR: Tenn. Muslim Student Allowed to Wear Hijab
- ISLAM-OPED: Hajj Shows Similarities in Religions
* U.S. MUSLIMS MEET WITH STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS (CAIR)
* U.S. MISSIONARIES RELOCATE 300 INDONESIAN MUSLIM ORPHANS
- Calif. Muslims to Hold Tsunami Relief Fundraiser
- GA: Activists Red-Flag Hindu Charity (Atlanta Journal)
* POLL: MOST AMERICANS REJECT USE OF TORTURE (USA Today)
* FL: 400 MUSLIMS TO ATTEND LOCAL CONFERENCE (Miami Herald)
- UT: Orem Mosque Gathers Faithful (Daily Universe)
- NH: Judge Removes Roadblock to Mosque (Union Leader)
- CA: Mosque Member Seeks to Inform (CC Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CARE FOR ORPHANS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone strokes an
orphan's head, doing so only for God's sake, he will have blessings for
every hair over which his hand passes. And if anyone treats well an
orphan
girl or boy under his care, he and I shall be like these two in
Paradise,"
while putting two of his fingers together.
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1282
VERSE OF THE DAY: BE KIND TO ORPHANS
"Have you seen the one who denies the Day of Judgment? It is he who
drives
away the orphan with harshness and does not encourage the feeding of
the
poor."
The Holy Quran, 107:1-3
-----
CAIR-NJ: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A TRAVELER
CAIR'S New Jersey office (CAIR-NJ) will hold a "Know Your Rights as a
Traveler" workshop this Sunday at the Islamic Center of Passaic County.
LOCATION: Islamic Center Of Passaic County, 152 Derrom Avenue,
Paterson, NJ
DATE/TIME: Sunday, January 16, 7 p.m.
CONTACT: Council on American-Islamic Relations, New Jersey Chapter,
Tel:
973-785-3050, E-Mail: cair@cair-nj.org, or Mohamed Elfilali, ICPC at
(973)
278-7070
SEE ALSO:
TENN. MUSLIM STUDENT ALLOWED TO WEAR HIJAB
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/13/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today announced that a Muslim student at East Ridge High School
in
Chattanooga, Tenn., will now be allowed to wear her Islamic head scarf,
or
hijab, in school. The student had previously been told she could not
wear
her religiously-mandated head scarf because it was against the school
dress
code.
The school's decision to allow the head scarf came after intervention
by
CAIR's Civil Rights Department.
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Educator's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, is headquartered
in
Washington, D.C., and has 30 offices and chapters nationwide and in
Canada.
Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue,
protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions
that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman at 202-488-8787, ext.
6033
---
ISLAM-OPED: HAJJ ACTS ILLUSTRATE SIMILARITIES IN RELIGIONS
NIHAD AWAD, Sun News, 1/13/05
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/news/opinion/10632731.htm
[Nihad Awad is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.]
When Muslims mark the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or hajj,
later
this month, the central figure in their religious celebrations will be
the
Prophet Abraham, not the Prophet Muhammad as one might suppose.
That fact offers an excellent opportunity for Muslims, Christians and
Jews
to recognize their shared religious heritage and to promote a common
future
as people of faith...
It is sometimes easy to focus on the very real differences in faith and
religious practice. But we all need to make the effort to find out what
we
have in common and to communicate those shared beliefs.
People claiming to speak in the name of their faith sparked the recent
downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility. It is time for
the
majority of Muslims, Christians and Jews to stand up and say they will
not
let the fringe of any faith group dictate how they view and interact
with
each other.
Through hajj, Abraham has united Muslims for more than 14 centuries.
The
real challenge is for all of Abraham's children - Muslims, Christians
and
Jews - to unite for the common good of humanity.
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS MEET WITH STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS
CAIR offers proposal to challenge Islamophobia, anti-Americanism
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/13/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) and several other Muslim and Arab-American groups met yesterday
with
top State Department officials to discuss a number of issues related to
American foreign policy.
In that meeting, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad presented Assistant
Secretary Patricia de Stacy Harrison, Assistant Secretary Richard A.
Boucher and Ambassador William Joseph Burns with a proposal for
cooperative
efforts to challenge both Islamophobia and anti-Americanism.
The CAIR proposal includes such measures as producing a report on the
growing phenomenon of Islamophobia, conferences in this country and in
the
Muslim world to discuss both Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism and
domestic
and international "goodwill ambassadors" who can speak about both
topics.
CAIR's proposal stated in part: "By challenging anti-Muslim bigotry, we
can
help reduce anti-American attitudes in the Islamic world. And by having
American Muslims speak out in support of their nation's values, while
at
the same time maintaining essential credibility on issues of importance
to
Muslims worldwide, we undercut growing Islamophobic views in our
society…CAIR stands ready to offer whatever help we can in decreasing
worldwide tensions and promoting an accurate image of America in the
Islamic world."
Awad described yesterday's meeting as "open and forward-looking."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org
-----
U.S. MISSIONARIES RELOCATE 300 INDONESIAN MUSLIM ORPHANS
VA. MISSIONARIES TALK OF RAISING MUSLIM TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN CHRISTIAN
HOME
Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, 1/13/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5018-2005Jan12.html
A Virginia-based missionary group said this week that it has airlifted
300
"tsunami orphans" from the Muslim province of Banda Aceh to Jakarta,
the
Indonesian capital, where it plans to raise them in a Christian
children's
home.
The missionary group, WorldHelp, is one of dozens of Christian, Muslim
and
Jewish charities providing humanitarian relief to victims of the Dec.
26
earthquake and tsunami that devastated countries around the Indian
Ocean,
taking more than 150,000 lives...
"Normally, Banda Aceh is closed to foreigners and closed to the gospel.
But, because of this catastrophe, our partners there are earning the
right
to be heard and providing entrance for the gospel," WorldHelp said in
an
appeal for funds on its Web site this week.
The appeal said WorldHelp was working with native-born Christians in
Indonesia who want to "plant Christian principles as early as possible"
in
the 300 Muslim children, all younger than 12, who lost their parents in
the
tsunami.
"These children are homeless, destitute, traumatized, orphaned, with
nowhere to go, nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat. If we can place
them in
a Christian children's home, their faith in Christ could become the
foothold to reach the Aceh people," it said…
Brewer, a Baptist minister, was the first person to graduate from the
Rev.
Jerry Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., in 1971…
SEE ALSO:
CALIF. MUSLIMS TO HOLD TSUNAMI RELIEF FUNDRAISER
Event sponsored by area Mosques/Islamic centers will conclude two-week
long
fundraising drive.
(SACRAMENTO, CA 1/13/2005) - The 2-week long fundraising campaign by
the
local Islamic Centers will culminate on Friday January 14, 2005 with a
major fundraiser to aid the victims of the South Asian Tsunami. The
fundraiser is organized by the Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic
Organizations (COSVIO). The local community is urged to support this
humanitarian effort. Over $90,000 have already been raised for Tsunami
relief. Final figures will be reported at the conclusion of fundraising
campaign.
Telephone donations: During the hours of fundraiser, donations may also
be
made by telephone by calling (916) 802-9873
To encourage donations, the US Congress declared that any donations
given
toward the Tsunami relief effort by the end of January can be counted
as a
tax deduction for the 2004 tax year.
Please see the advertisement in the Metro section of The Sacramento
Bee,
January 13, 2005 edition.
WHAT: Muslim Community Fundraiser for Asia Tsunami Relief
WHEN: January 14, 2005 @ 6:00 PM
WHERE: La Sierra Community Center, 5325 Engle Rd., Carmichael, CA
For more information, contact your local Mosque or Farouk Fakira
President
of COSVIO at (916) 717-1006
---
ACTIVISTS RED-FLAG HINDU CHARITY
Hate-group watchdogs say parent company funneled donations to
fundamentalists.
BRIAN FEAGANS, The Atlanta Journal, 1/13/05
http://www.ajc.com/hp/content/metro/gwinnett/0105/13sewa.html
A largely dormant relief organization based in Duluth sprang to life
just
days after the South Asian tsunami disaster.
Using its contacts in the Indian-American community, Sewa International
USA
began soliciting donations in a dozen different states to finance
tsunami
aid. Teams of teenagers held phone-a-thons. Next month, the charity
plans
to hold a volleyball fund-raiser at Mercer University called the
"Tsunami
Cup." And Sewa International USA says that's just the beginning.
"We want to be big," said Srikanth Konda, a Duluth resident and the
nonprofit group's national organizer.
But the grand humanitarian aims and Konda's easy smile belie
accusations
dogging Sewa International, Sewa International USA's sister charity in
India.
Two hate-group watchdogs --- a U.S.-based network of activists called
the
Campaign to Stop Funding Hate and the British group Awaaz-South Asia
Watch
--- have warned donors to steer clear of any group affiliated with Sewa
International or its parent, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. They say the
groups
are part of an umbrella organization that has funneled relief donations
into the hands of Hindu fundamentalists following past natural
disasters in
India…
A February 2004 report by Awaaz-South Asia Watch alleged widespread
misuse
of funds collected by India-based Sewa International for victims of a
1999
cyclone and a 2001 earthquake.
The money actually helped fund Hindu nationalist schools with
anti-Muslim,
anti-Christian teachings, according to the report from Awaaz, a
coalition
of Indian academics and attorneys in Britain. Temples were rebuilt
while
mosques were left in ruins, Awaaz said. And the funds fomented
sectarian
hatreds that fed riots in Gujarat in 2002, Awaaz concluded. Nearly
2,000
people died, mostly Muslims, after a Muslim mob attacked a train full
of
Hindus in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Ra Ravishankar, a spokesman for the Campaign to Stop Funding Hate, said
Sewa International is one of several groups affiliated with the
Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh, which has supporters at all levels of government in
India. He said RSS fronts have a history of using natural disasters to
raise money…
-----
POLL: MOST OBJECT TO EXTREME INTERROGATION TACTICS
Toni Locy, USA TODAY, 1/13/05
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050113/a_interrogate13.art.htm
WASHINGTON - Americans strongly disapprove of harsh interrogation
tactics
the U.S. government has used to try to extract information about
possible
terrorist attacks from detainees held in Afghanistan, Iraq and Cuba, a
new
USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll says.
The poll, conducted Friday-Sunday, found that sizable majorities of
Americans disagree with tactics ranging from leaving prisoners naked
and
chained in uncomfortable positions for hours, to trying to make a
prisoner
think he was being drowned.
Most Americans surveyed also said they believe the abuse and sexual
humiliation of Iraqi detainees by U.S. Army reservists at Baghdad's Abu
Ghraib prison have damaged the USA's reputation as a protector of civil
liberties - and made it more likely that U.S. soldiers captured by
America's enemies will be tortured.
In part, the results reflect how interrogation methods exposed by the
Abu
Ghraib scandal have raised questions about the Bush administration's
efforts to get information about terrorist plots…
Americans' uneasiness with such tactics is clear: In USA TODAY's poll,
79%
said chaining naked prisoners in cold rooms was wrong; 85% were against
female interrogators touching male Muslim captives during religious
observances, and 48% opposed depriving captives of sleep...
-----
400 MUSLIMS TO ATTEND LOCAL CONFERENCE
BEA L. HINES, Miami Herald, 1/13/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/miam
i-dade/cities_neighborhoods/northcentral/10623513.htm
Some 400 Muslims from across the state will gather in Miami this
weekend
for the annual Florida Conference of Muslim Americans.
Masjid Al-Ansar, a mosque at 5245 NW Seventh Ave. in Liberty City, will
host the meeting, at which issues like youth and young adults, women,
leadership and economic projects will be discussed.
Delegates at the meetings try to follow the directions set by Wallace
D.
Muhammad, son of the late Elijah Muhammad, who founded the Nation of
Islam,
said Fred Nuriddin, the assistant imam or prayer leader at Masjid
Al-Ansar.
''His economic programs are to establish Muslim businesses, communities
and
educational institutions of higher learning in our own local areas,''
Nuriddin said. ''Whatever he is doing nationally, he wants us to do
locally.''
Muhammad, he said, encourages Muslims, for example, to set up their own
meat processing plants and to have their own grocery stores, because of
dietary restrictions imposed by Islam, and also to have economic
dignity.
''I am Muslim, but I am also an African American. And right now, other
people are providing those things for us. We have a responsibility to
lead
our own people to economic freedom,'' Nuriddin said…
SEE ALSO:
OREM MOSQUE GATHERS FAITHFUL
Eric McDonald, Daily Universe, 1/12/05
http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/53963
Imagine getting up for church at 6 in the morning every day before
attending a full of class. Pashar Sader does it without a single
complaint.
Sader is just one of approximately 50 practicing Muslims in Utah
County,
most of who are BYU students. Attending prayer meetings at a mosque in
Orem
may require sacrifice, but it is a very worthwhile sacrifice, they say.
The mosque functions like an LDS chapel where prayer meetings are
organized, but the major difference is there are five prayer meetings
each
day…
---
NH: JUDGE REMOVES ROADBLOCK TO MOSQUE
NANCY MEERSMAN, Union Leader, 1/12/05
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=bbj8o9aab.0.lhfxo9aab.k7h77xn6.160&p=http%3A%2F%2Fww
w.theunionleader.com%2Farticles_showfast.html%3Farticle%3D49508
MANCHESTER - A Hillsborough County Superior Court judge has removed a
legal
roadblock that stood in the way of construction of New Hampshire's
first
Islamic mosque, on Karatzas Avenue off Wellington Road.
The Islamic Society of Greater Manchester, which has been trying to
build a
mosque since 1999, obtained city permits in 2003 to build a
13,085-square-foot mosque on a site it owns on Bald Hill.
But abutters Milton and Sally Healy Argeriou, 300 Karatzas Ave.,
contested
the approval in court, claiming the mosque site did not meet setback
requirements...
---
MOSQUE MEMBER SEEKS TO INFORM
Danielle McNamara, Contra Costa Times, 1/13/05
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/cou
nties/contra_costa_county/cities_neighborhoods/antioch/10634227.htm
Baber Pasha is spreading the word.
Pasha, a member of the Dar-Us-Salam or House of Peace mosque in Bay
Point,
donated a dozen books to the local library to make more information
about
Islam available.
Pasha said he plans to visit other libraries in the county and donate a
similar collection to each branch. The mosque at 520 Pacific Ave. has a
fund for the donations.
Questions abound about jihad, segregation of the sexes and other
issues,
Pasha said. He hopes having accessible information about Islam will
help
clear up confusion.
"Sometimes people ask about things that are cultural and not religious.
I
try to clarify those things," he said. "My family and I get asked
questions
about Islam frequently.
Carolina Montufar, who supervises the Bay Point Library, said the books
are
a needed addition to the library's collection because the religion
section
is limited.
The books include one about the philosophy of the teachings of Islam,
selected verses of the Koran and selected sayings of the prophet
Mohammed.
Typically books about Islam must come through inter-library loan.
Interest
in books about Islam has risen in the past year, Montufar 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
-----
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS ENCOURAGED BY FOX '24' MEETING
Network asks affiliates nationwide to air CAIR PSA
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/14/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today said that it is encouraged by a recent meeting in Los
Angeles
with representatives of the Fox television network to discuss Muslim
concerns about the drama series "24." SEE: http://www.fox.com/24/
CAIR called for Wednesday's meeting to address the depiction of a
"Muslim"
family that is at the heart of a terror plot in the popular program.
The
Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group is concerned
that
the portrayal of the family as a terrorist "sleeper cell" may cast a
shadow
of suspicion over ordinary American Muslims and could increase
Islamophobic
stereotyping and bias.
At the meeting, which included representatives from CAIR's Southern
California office and from the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs
Council, Fox officials said they would distribute a CAIR public service
announcement (PSA) to network affiliates and ask that it be aired in
proximity to "24."
TO VIEW THE CAIR PSA, GO TO:
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
SEE ALSO: "US TV to Screen Pro-Muslim Spots"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4173647.stm
FOX also gave meeting participants assurances that the program will be
balanced in its portrayal of Muslims. Network representatives said that
they had already reviewed existing episodes and removed some aspects
that
could potentially be viewed as stereotypical.
"We thank Fox for the opportunity to address the Muslim community's
concerns and for the willingness of network officials to take those
concerns seriously in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation,"
said CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed. She added that CAIR
looks forward to working with Fox in the future.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim advocacy group, has 30 offices and
chapters
nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of
Islam,
encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims,
and
build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-National Spokesperson, Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or
202-439-1441; CAIR-LA Communications Director, Sabiha Khan,
714-776-1847 or
714-390-0334, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush, 714-776-1847
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/14/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: PIETY IS THE BEST HAJJ PROVISION
* CAIR-NJ: RESEARCH ASSOCIATE INTERNSHIP
* CNN SEGMENT ON AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARD MUSLIMS
* MI: TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER QURAN REMARK (CNN)
- TN: School Allows Muslim Headscarves (AP)
* CHRISTIAN GROUP DROPS INDONESIA ORPHANAGE PLAN (Reuters)
- TX: Muslims Raising Tsunami Funds (Dallas Morning News)
- Victim Says His Survival Is Gift of Allah (AP)
* MN: ISLAMIC CENTER SEEKS TO SOOTHE EXPANSION FEARS (Star Trib)
- FL: Concern About Plans for Mosque (News Gazette)
* CAIR-OH: PROMISED LAND, BY THE SQUARE FOOT (Columbus Disp)
* CONGRESS KILLED MEASURES TO BAN U.S. USE OF TORTURE (NYT)
- Iraq New Terror Breeding Ground (Wash Post)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PIETY IS THE BEST HAJJ PROVISION
"Whoever undertakes the Hajj must abstain from lewd speech, from all
wicked
conduct and from quarrelling. Whatever good you may do, God is aware of
it.
And take provisions (with you) for the journey, but (remember that)
piety
is the best of provisions."
The Holy Quran, 2:197
------
CAIR-NJ: RESEARCH ASSOCIATE INTERNSHIP
The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is
looking for an intern to be a part-time Research Associate. The intern
will
be responsible for conducting directed researches at CAIR-NJ for one
year.
Those interested should send a resume as an application to:
Internship@cair-nj.org
-----
NOTE TO WATCH: CNN SEGMENT AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARD MUSLIMS
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/paula.zahn.now/
On Friday, January 15, CNN's Paula Zahn Now will air a segment on
American
Muslims' responses to a Cornell University study indicating that 44
percent
of Americans were in favor of curbing their civil rights. The program
airs
at 8 p.m. EST.
-----
TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER REPORTED ANTI-ARAB REMARK
Associated Press, 1/12/05
http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/01/12/teacher.suspended.ap/
DEARBORN, Michigan -- A middle school teacher has been suspended with
pay
while officials investigate a report he told his students that Bedouin
Arabs used the Quran as toilet paper.
The teacher is on the faculty of Woodworth Middle School in Dearborn, a
Detroit suburb of 100,000. About 30,000 Dearborn residents are
Arab-American.
Bedouins are members of historically nomadic tribes and make up about
10
percent of the population of the Middle East. The Quran is the Muslim
holy
book.
Parents complained to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
and
the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
ALSO SEE:
TENN. SCHOOL ALLOWS MUSLIM HEADSCARVES
Bill Poovey, Associated Press, 1/15/04
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-muslim-headscarf-school,0,3688861.story
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A public high school changed its dress code to
allow
religious headscarves after a national civil rights group for Muslims
complained to the principal on behalf of a student.
A spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Emily
Smith, 18, a senior at Chattanooga's East Ridge High School, wore her
headscarf, or hijab, on campus for the first time Thursday.
Smith said that although friends and a few teachers offered
congratulations, "I wanted to keep it as low-key as possible."
Khadija Athman, civil rights manager for the Washington, D.C.-based
council, said the group sent the school principal a letter Jan. 6,
three
days after the student e-mailed the council asking about her rights...
-----
CHRISTIAN GROUP DROPS INDONESIA ORPHANAGE PLAN
Reuters, 1/13/05
WASHINGTON - An evangelical Christian charity has dropped plans to
settle
50 Muslim children orphaned by the Asian tsunami in a Christian-run
home
after the Indonesian government blocked the move, the group said on
Thursday.
Virginia-based World Help has raised $70,000 to place Muslim children
in a
Christian orphanage near Jakarta. But the group's president, the Rev.
Vernon Brewer said it suspended fund-raising on Wednesday after
Indonesia
said Muslim children could not be raised in a non-Muslim home.
"Once we realized that the government was not going to grant permission
yesterday we took that fund-raising appeal off of our Web site," Brewer
said in a telephone interview with Reuters.
The plan drew criticism from Muslim groups which said it would take
advantage of people in a position of need. Many religious charities
prohibit mixing relief efforts with proselytizing.
"This confirms some of our worst fears that certain missionary groups
would
exploit the tragedy and the earthquake to enter into these areas and
convert people through use of a disproportionate power relationship,"
said
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"How many incidents of this type are taking place that we don't hear
about?" Hooper said…
ALSO SEE:
AREA MUSLIMS RAISING TSUNAMI FUNDS
N. Texas mosques are also sending medicine, volunteers
Esther WU, Dallas Morning News, 1/13/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/011405dnmettsunamimosques.27bc6.html
When news of the catastrophic tsunamis reached North Texas, Arshad Syed
was
one of several members of the Dallas Central Mosque who initially
appealed
to the congregation to help.
"There is nothing we can do to take away their sorrows," said Mr. Syed,
a
trustee at the mosque. "The least we can do is to help with our
charitable
contributions and to pray for them."
That initial effort garnered $25,000 and led the Islamic Association of
North Texas, which oversees the Dallas mosque, to coordinate efforts
with
the major local mosques - including those in Irving, Plano, Arlington
and
Fort Worth.
The group has collected more than $177,000, and collections continue.
The
group is expected to have a news conference today to discuss how the
money
will be disbursed.
"And we are blessed to have many doctors within our community who are
also
collecting medicine for us. Also, some volunteers are flying to Sri
Lanka
in the next few days to help," Mr. Syed said.
Maria Casas-Seker, the mosque's administration specialist, is still
getting
inquiries daily.
"Most are those wanting to drop off clothing," she said.
"Unfortunately, we
are just concentrating on monetary donations now."
There are more than 150,000 Muslims in North Texas.
"It is only natural that we play a role in this effort," Mr. Syed said.
"Many Muslims were impacted, and that has touched many of us. But this
effort is more than a moral obligation. It is part of our religion to
help
those in need. We want to do as much as we can."
Donations may be sent to IANT, P.O. Box 83310, Richardson, Texas 75083.
Make checks payable to IANT, and write "AERF" or "EARTHQUAKE" in the
memo
section. Donations may also be made online at www.iant.com.
---
TSUNAMI VICTIM RESCUED AFTER 15 DAYS AT SEA SAYS HIS SURVIVAL IS GIFT
OF ALLAH
Vijay Joshi, Associated Press, 1/14/04
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/11/international1358EST0610.DTL
KLANG, Malaysia (AP) - Lying prone on the bobbing wooden plank, Ari
Afrizal
looked left and saw the fiery red sun dipping into the watery horizon.
Weakly, he turned his face the other way and saw a pearly white full
moon
rising in the east.
All around him, the sea looked like it was sprinkled with chopped
leaves of
gold, shimmering in the sun's glow. Ari had never seen a more wondrous
sight. ``It was beautiful, but it was sad,'' he said.
It was dusk on Dec. 26, and Ari had been adrift in the Indian Ocean for
about eight hours, plucked from a beach side construction site in the
Indonesian province of Aceh by the waves of a demonic tsunami and
hurled
into the unforgiving sea.
Ari survived that night. And for the next 14 days, the devout Muslim
lived
on coconuts and prayers until he was rescued Sunday by a container ship
heading from Oman to Malaysia. His ordeal, recounted in an exclusive
interview with The Associated Press, is the longest known of any
tsunami
survivor at sea…
Ari calls his survival a gift from Allah, the fruit of his devotion.
With very little to do for 15 days except to think about his family and
girlfriend Ayi Melia, Ari said he prayed.
"Allah I seek your forgiveness and I seek your help for myself and my
parents and Ayi," he would recite again and again in the Malay
language,
spoken in Malaysia and Indonesia. "Please give me life. Please give me
life…"
-----
ISLAMIC CENTER SEEKS TO SOOTHE EXPANSION FEARS
Kevin Duchschere, Star Tribune, 1/14/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5185950.html
As the Islamic Center of Minnesota prepares to expand its school this
spring, center officials said they will do their best to mend fences
with
Fridley neighbors who oppose the addition.
The center, a focal point of the Muslim community in the Twin Cities,
addressed some objections from city officials and neighbors by revising
its
building plans, said center vice president Anwar Abdel-Karim.
And before construction begins this spring, the center plans to offer a
90-minute class explaining the religion of Islam and Islamic culture.
"We are a good neighbor and would like a good relationship with all of
our
neighbors, and will do the best we can to get our relationship back to
where it was," Abdel-Karim said.
The Fridley City Council voted 3-2 last week to allow the center to
proceed
with the expansion, which will include 14 new classrooms this year and
a
gym, locker rooms, bookstore and library in five to 10 years.
The expansion would add up to 200 students to Al-Amal School, a
combined
grade school and high school that has an enrollment of about 350.
Many neighbors said the council should approve just one phase of the
project at a time, while others expressed concerns that the plans will
enlarge the school beyond its original scope and erode peace and quiet…
ALSO SEE:
INTERCESSION CITY RESIDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT PLANS FOR MOSQUE
Marvin G. Cortner, OSC News Gazette, 1/13/05
http://www.oscnewsgazette.com/index.php?option=news&task=viewarticle&sid=9914
Residents along U.S. 17-92 midway between Campbell City and
Intercession
City are worried that a proposed mosque would increase traffic and
reduce
property values in their neighborhood.
Baker Mohammad has applied for a conditional use for a 6-acre-site
owned by
the Albir Islamic Association Inc., on the south side of Old Tampa
Highway
north of U.S. 17-92 and west of Delores Road. The site is in the Cherub
Homes subdivision and the new mosque would serve as a new location for
an
existing Islamic congregation.
The Osceola County Commission had the issue on its agenda Jan. 3 but
the
request was returned to the Osceola County Planning Commission for
further
review Jan. 6.
According to letters sent by residents to the Osceola County Growth
Management Department, the most-often cited complaints are that the
mosque
would be inappropriate in a residential neighborhood, it would increase
traffic in the subdivision and overflow parking would end up on
residential
streets.
The height of the proposed mosque, according to residents' letters,
would
be at least 40 feet high - inappropriate for an area with predominantly
single-story structures. The size of the proposed mosque would be
15,000
square feet...
-----
FOR SALE: PROMISED LAND, BY THE SQUARE FOOT
Randy Ludlow, Columbus Dispatch, 1/14/05
http://www.dispatch.com/news/religion/faith-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/01/14/20050114-E1-02.html
DELAWARE, Ohio -- Mira Whitney and Yoni Hanegbi set up shop in the
William
Street United Methodist Church hoping to ''sell'' square-foot plots in
Jerusalem and the West Bank to Christians.
There were cookies and coffee, a gospel singer belting out Christian
classics, renditions of the American and Israeli national anthems and a
27-minute video about the Promised Land Project.
What was lacking were prospective purchasers. No one attended the
Monday-night session, save for a reporter and photographer.
Reclaiming the West Bank -- a square foot at a time -- is proving a
tough
sell for the pair of Israelis touring the Columbus area in search of
spiritual and financial support from non-Jews.
The Promised Land Project Inc., a nonprofit recently incorporated in
Hollywood, Fla., is ''selling'' square-foot plots in the
Israeli-occupied
West Bank and Jerusalem for $18 and $36, respectively.
The group asks purchasers of the plots to turn them over to a trust in
Israel that will compile land purchased from Palestinians to create
parks,
health clinics and other public places to serve Jews and Muslims alike.
Palestinians are willing to sell land along the ''green line'' dividing
the
West Bank from Israel but would confront potential retaliation if they
sold
to Jews, said Whitney, director of the Promised Land Project.
The answer: Ask Christians to ''buy'' the land to spare Palestinians
from
reprisals by terrorists…
Jad Humeidan, executive director of the Ohio Chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said would-be donors to the nonprofit
should
determine why Palestinians are willing to sell land in the West Bank.
''It's because (Israeli) settlers refuse to allow farmers to harvest
their
land and with the checkpoints, people can't care for their land. When
people say Palestinians are willing to sell their land, it's like
putting a
gun to people's head and saying, 'Give me your wallet.' It's another
form
of robbery, really,'' he said.
Humeidan said his family lost its 100-acre-plus olive plantation near
its
home in the West Bank in the early 1980s when the Israeli government
seized
the land to build a settlement of more than 400 homes...
-----
CONGRESS KILLED MEASURES TO BAN U.S. USE OF TORTURE
Douglas Jehl and David Johnston, New York Times, 1/14/05
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/13/news/ban.html
WASHINGTON At the urging of the White House, congressional leaders
scrapped
a legislative measure last month that would have imposed new
restrictions
on the use of extreme interrogation measures by U.S. intelligence
officers,
congressional officials say.
The defeat of the proposal affects one of the most shadowy arenas of
the
war on terrorism, involving the CIA's secret detention and
interrogation of
top terror leaders like Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the
September 2001 attacks, and about three dozen other senior members of
Al
Qaeda and its offshoots.
The Senate had approved the new restrictions, by a 96-2 vote, as part
of
the intelligence reform legislation. The restrictions would have
explicitly
extended to intelligence officers a prohibition against the use of
torture
or inhumane treatment, and it would have required the CIA as well as
the
Pentagon to report to Congress about the methods they were using.
But in intense, closed-door negotiations, according to congressional
officials, four senior lawmakers from the House and Senate deleted the
restrictions from the final bill after the White House expressed
opposition
to the measure. Two congressional negotiators said in interviews that
lawmakers had ultimately decided that the question of whether to extend
the
restrictions to intelligence officers was too complex to be included in
the
legislation.
In a letter to members of Congress, sent in October and made available
by
the White House on Wednesday, Condoleezza Rice, the national security
adviser, expressed opposition to the measure on the ground that it
"provides legal protections to foreign prisoners to which they are not
now
entitled under applicable law and policy."
Earlier, in objecting to a similar measure included in a Senate version
of
the defense authorization bill, the Pentagon sent a letter saying that
it
"strongly urges the Senate against passing new legislation concerning
detention and interrogation in the war on terrorism."
The Senate restrictions had not been contained in House versions of the
defense or intelligence bills. The congressional negotiators who
commented
on their talks were Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican, and
Representative Jane Harman of California, a Democrat…
ALSO SEE:
IRAQ NEW TERROR BREEDING GROUND
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 1/14/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A7460-2005Jan13
Iraq has replaced Afghanistan as the training ground for the next
generation of "professionalized" terrorists, according to a report
released
yesterday by the National Intelligence Council, the CIA director's
think tank.
Iraq provides terrorists with "a training ground, a recruitment ground,
the
opportunity for enhancing technical skills," said David B. Low, the
national intelligence officer for transnational threats. "There is
even,
under the best scenario, over time, the likelihood that some of the
jihadists who are not killed there will, in a sense, go home, wherever
home
is, and will therefore disperse to various other countries."
-----
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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 - 1/16/05
* CAIR-DFW: MUSLIMS SPEAK THEIR PEACE (Dallas Morning News)
- CAIR TV Spots Balance '24' Plotline (AP)
* CAIR-CHICAGO: MOSQUE BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE (Daily Southtown)
* CAIR: EXPLOITATION OF TSUNAMI AID HURTS AMERICA'S IMAGE
* VA: MOSQUE TO HOST BEGINNING HOMESCHOOLING SEMINAR
* IL: A PILGRIMAGE IN TRAGIC TIMES (Daily Herald)
- KY: Trip to Mecca is like Rebirth (Herald leader)
- IN: A Connection with God (Indy Star)
- MN: Journey of a Lifetime (Duluth News Tribune)
* WV: MUSLIMS TO SEEK TSUNAMI AID DURING EID (WV Gazette)
- Canadian Muslims Dig Deep For Victims (Free Press)
* FL: AL-ARIAN ATTORNEY SEEKS PARTIAL DISMISSAL (Tampa Trib)
* MUSLIM MAN SUES MILLER BREWING AFTER 9/11 REMARK (AP)
- MI: Teacher Transferred Over Quran Remark (AP)
* AMERICAN MUSLIMS GET A COOL RAP (AP)
* MUSLIMS TALK ABOUT THE PAST, FUTURE (St. Pete Times)
- WA: Muslim Columnist Added at Seattle Times
* U.S. CONDUCTING SECRET MISSIONS INSIDE IRAN-REPORT (Reuters)
-----
MUSLIMS SPEAK THEIR PEACE FOR LETTER WRITER
Dallas News, 11/15/04
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/all/stor
ies/011605dnmetblow.40d13.html
I really like this development of using Martin Luther King Jr. Day to
foster dialogue and understanding not just between blacks and whites
but
among groups of all kinds.
In that spirit, I offer a discussion today in one area of greatest
tension
Muslim extremism.
Recent columns on the subject prompted strong responses. After reading
one
of the most strident ones, I decided to ask three local residents for
their
thoughts.
Here's the original letter. The writer requested anonymity.
You still don't get it. The reason you see no Muslim outrage at their
terrorist acts is because they are not outraged. I wrote you earlier
that
there are two kinds of Muslims those who murder innocents and those
who
stand and cheer…
Saffia Meek, 36, grew up in Lewisville. As a student at the University
of
Nebraska, she converted to Islam and now heads the local office of
CAIR,
the Council on American-Islamic Relations:
Obviously this person has never met a Muslim in his life and probably
wouldn't open his mind to a conversation if he ever did.
Islam is a religion of peace. But in every religion there is a
difference
between what it teaches and how some individuals behave. Sadly, evil
acts
have been done in the name of virtually every religion. But that
doesn't
make the religion evil…
SEE ALSO:
FOX OFFERS PSA IN RESPONSE TO '24' CONTROVERSY
Associated Press, 1/14/05
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6827304/
NEW YORK - In response to the portrayal of Muslims on Fox's "24," the
network is offering its stations two public service announcements that
show
Muslims in a positive light.
The PSAs were produced by the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
with
whom Fox representatives met Wednesday. The 30- and 60-second spots
showcase a diverse group of individuals, who in turn share personal
descriptions and identify themselves as American Muslims...
The spots are being made available by Fox to both its owned and
affiliated
stations for airing throughout the broadcast day at the discretion of
each
station's management, said Fox spokesman Scott Grogin.
Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Washington-based CAIR, voiced hope
that
Fox stations would slot the PSAs adjacent to "24," now airing every
Monday,
to "offer competing images of American Muslims…"
Ahmed described the meeting with Fox as "constructive," while Grogin
called
it "the first step in the dialogue that has been opened between CAIR
and
'24.'"
-----
ORLAND PARK'S MOSQUE BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE
Dan Lovie, Daily Southtown, 1/16/05
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/south/165syt1.htm
Orland Park's controversial mosque is rising out of the dark mud of its
site along 104th Avenue.
More than three months after the developer broke ground, the foundation
has
been placed and steel bars are being installed for the walls of the
Orland
Park Prayer Center.
"It really does feel great," mosque backer and spokesman Malik Ali
said.
"It's awesome. The project is right on schedule and moving full speed
ahead."
Mosque officials still expect it to be open by the holy month of
Ramadan,
which begins in early October.
The mosque is likely to draw a congregation from the growing Muslim
community in Orland Park and surrounding towns. Many local Muslims will
welcome the convenience of no longer having to make the 20-minute drive
to
the mosque in Bridgeview for services, according to the Orland Park
mosque
organizers.
Muslims throughout the region and the nation have been watching the
development of the mosque, said Yaser Tabara, executive director of the
Council of American Islamic Relations -- Chicago.
He said Chicago-area Muslims intently followed the controversy that
swelled
around the mosque proposal, including anti-mosque petition drives and
hundreds of residents packing village board meetings to oppose the
mosque.
Tabara said seeing the mosque finally take shape is a gratifying
experience
for a religious community that has often felt under siege since the
Sept.
11, 2001, terrorist attacks...
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS SAY EXPLOITATION OF TSUNAMI AID HURTS AMERICA'S IMAGE
CAIR calls on president to repudiate Jerry Falwell's misuse of
suffering
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/16/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and
advocacy group today called on the Bush administration to repudiate
missionary groups that harm America's international image by seeking to
exploit suffering caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami in South
Asia.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) made that request
following revelations of a second attempt by U.S. missionaries to use
the
vulnerability of tsunami survivors as a vehicle for religious
conversion.
In a January 12 "Falwell Confidential" e-mail obtained by CAIR,
Virginia-based Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell makes a plea
for
donations to support relief work in "India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and
Indonesia." The e-mail states that "in this heavily Muslim part of the
world, millions have never even heard of Jesus Christ."
(NOTE: Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet of God. The Quran, Islam's
revealed text, states: "Behold! The angels said: 'O Mary! God giveth
thee
glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son
of
Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company
of)
those nearest to God.'" [3:45])
According to the e-mail, Liberty University's "Director of
International
Crusades" will head a team sent to the region to distribute relief
supplies. "In addition we will be presenting the Gospel to tens of
thousands of persons through distribution of Gospel tracts written in
the
native languages of the area…Our ultimate purpose for this first
mission is
to set the stage for many other missions trips to this Asian region by
hundreds of Liberty students in the months to come," said the e-mail.
(In 2002, Falwell sparked international controversy when he called the
Prophet Muhammad a "terrorist" on the CBS program "60 Minutes.")
"Just when our nation's image in the Islamic world was improving as a
result of the outpouring of American aid in the tsunami disaster area,
we
hear from those who would exploit the tragedy to advance their own
extremist agenda," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "It is
inappropriate and immoral for any religious group, whether Christian,
Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist, to use badly-needed humanitarian relief as
cover for conversion efforts."
Awad said the Bush administration and mainstream Christians need to
speak
out on this issue to maintain the credibility of American humanitarian
groups that do not misuse the access they are granted to vulnerable
populations.
Last week, the Washington Post reported that another Virginia
missionary
group had airlifted 300 Muslim orphans from the Indonesian province of
Aceh
to Jakarta, where it planned to raise them in a Christian children's
home.
"If we can place them in a Christian children's home, their faith in
Christ
could become the foothold to reach the Aceh people," said the group.
After
an international outcry, the same organization now says it never had
custody of the children.
SEE: "MISSIONARY GROUP BACKS OFF PLAN FOR TSUNAMI CHILDREN"
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6824143/
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
VA MOSQUE TO HOST BEGINNING HOMESCHOOLING SEMINAR
http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/hs-seminar.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Seminar@VaHomeschoolers.org
Find answers to your questions and the information you need to begin
homeschooling at Va Homeschoolers's Beginning Homeschooling Seminar.
Learn
about the legal avenues for homeschooling in Virginia, and get the full
scoop on filing papers, homeschooling methods, curriculum options,
common
mistakes, options for testing and assessments, homeschooling teens, and
more!
Presented by Va Homeschoolers/VaHomeschoolers, your fully inclusive,
all
volunteer, member directed state homeschool organization. Homeschooling
is
our only focus.
Topics include:
* Benefits of Homeschooling: academic, social and personal
* Virginia Law: overview of the state Home Instruction statute
* Methods: the variety of homeschool styles and how to tell which ones
might best suit your family
* How to Start: what papers to file, and when
* Support: where to find local and e-mail support and activities
* Resources: publications, Web sites and other helpful sources of
information
* Testing & Assessments: options and the pros and cons of each
* Q & A: to assure your questions are answered
WHEN
Saturday, January 29, 2005
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE
All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS Center), 46903 Sugarland Road,
Sterling, VA
COST
Members: $5 per person or parental couple
Non-Members:$25 per person or parental couple
SAVE! Join Va Homeschoolers/VaHomeschoolers for $15, and get the
seminar
for $5.
Registration fee includes seminar, refreshments, handouts, and forms;
all
you need to get started with homeschooling.
REGISTRATION
Online: Register now with a major credit card.
By Mail: Download the registration form and mail with your check or
money
order.
At the Door: Speed at-the-door registration when you download the form
in
the link above, print, and bring it to the seminar with your cash,
check,
or money order. At the door registration will available, but space is
limited, so pre-register for guaranteed admission.
DIRECTIONS to ADAMS Center:
ADAMS Center is located near the intersection of Dranesville and
Sugarland
off of Rt. 7. Map courtesy of ADAMS Center.
-----
A PILGRIMAGE IN TRAGIC TIMES
Stacey St. Clair, Daily Herald, 1/16/05
http://www.dailyherald.com/news_story.asp?intid=38368302
As they wait in the airport check-in line, the travelers flip through
their
guide books for last-minute instruction.
Except for Rana Irfan.
The Naperville woman stands next to her suitcase with a serene smile.
There's no anxiety, no fear of what lies ahead.
This is her third pilgrimage to Mecca, an often life-altering journey
known
as the hajj.
The suburban mother knows exactly what she'll find in the holy city.
And
she knows exactly what she'll ask for when she gets there.
"I will pray for peace and solidarity," she said. "I'll have a more
humanitarian cause."
Irfan will join 10,000 other Americans this week in Saudi Arabia for
the
hajj, Islam's annual pilgrimage. The journey, which all able-bodied
Muslims
who can afford it are expected to complete once in their lifetime,
takes
place this year amid escalating Middle East tensions and in the wake of
southeast Asia's deadly tsunamis…
ALSO SEE:
FOR MUSLIMS, TRIP TO MECCA IS LIKE REBIRTH
Karla Ward, Herald Leader, 1/15/05
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/living/religion/10642179.htm
---
A CONNECTION WITH GOD
John J. Shaughnessy, Indianapolis Star, 1/15/05
http://www.indystar.com/articles/5/209491-7125-047.html
---
JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME
Linda Hanson, Duluth News-Tribune, 1/15/05
http://a2gay.org.uk/portal/article.php/20050114185356331
-----
LOCAL MUSLIMS TO SEEK TSUNAMI AID DURING EID
West Virginia Gazette, 1/15/05
http://wvgazette.com/section/Faith%20&%20Community/2005011432
Local Muslim leaders will urge the faithful to donate generously to the
Tsunami Relief Fund when Muslims gather at 10 am. Friday at the Islamic
Center, corner of Kanawha Turnpike and Valley Drive in South
Charleston, to
celebrate the holiday of Eid ul-Adha.
Muslims across America will celebrate the holiday Eid ul-Adha
(pronounced
eed-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the sacrifice," with congregational
prayers...
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS DIG DEEP FOR VICTIMS
Melinda Dalton, London Free Press, 1/15/05
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/01/15/899286-sun.htm
l
London Muslims showed support for tsunami victims yesterday by making a
$51,500 donation to relief efforts. The money was raised by members of
five
Islamic organizations -- the Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre, the Al-Mehdi
Almuntathar Islamic Union, the London Muslim Mosque, the
Canadian-Bosnian
Islamic Centre and the Islamic Centre of Southwestern Ontario.
The money will be directed to International Development Relief
Foundation,
a Toronto-based organization...
-----
AL-ARIAN ATTORNEY SEEKS PARTIAL DISMISSAL
Elaine Silvestrini, Tampa Tribune, 1/15/05
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBHDXX5Z3E.html
TAMPA - An attorney for a former University of South Florida professor
accused federal prosecutors Friday of destroying evidence, including
proof
that Sami Al-Arian had contact with congressional staffers as part of
his
political advocacy.
Attorney William Moffitt on Friday urged U.S. Magistrate Thomas B.
McCoun
III to dismiss parts of the indictment on the grounds that evidence was
destroyed and that the indictment was delayed for years while
prosecutors
maintain the violent crimes were occurring.
Moffitt said either law enforcement acted irresponsibly by not stopping
the
activity, or prosecutors are exaggerating the nature of what
happened...
-----
MUSLIM MAN SUES MILLER BREWING AFTER 9/11 REMARK
Ryan Nakashima, Associated Press, 1/15/05
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/10647920.htm
MILWAUKEE - A Muslim former employee has sued Miller Brewing Co. for
wrongful dismissal after he complained of discrimination after the
Sept.
11, 2001, terrorist attacks, his lawyer said Friday.
Syed Alam, a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen, alleged in the suit his
supervisor at Miller confronted him after the attacks and asked him if
he
sympathized with the attackers…
ALSO SEE:
DEARBORN TEACHER TRANSFERRED OVER QURAN-BEDOUINS REMARK
Associated Press, 1/14/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw110059_20050114.htm
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- A middle school history teacher in a heavily
Arab
Detroit suburb has been transferred for telling students that Bedouin
Arabs
used the Quran as toilet paper.
The Woodworth Middle School teacher had been under paid suspension
since
last month as school officials investigated and considered how to
discipline him, said Dearborn schools Superintendent John Artis.
The teacher, whose name was not released, was transferred on Wednesday
after his suspension ended. The name of the school was also not
disclosed,
the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News said…
Parents complained to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
and
the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
-----
AMERICAN MUSLIMS GET A COOL RAP
Anna Johnson, Associated Press, 1/15/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/10642845.htm
When David Kelly -- aka ''Capital D'' -- raps, he doesn't follow the
mainstream mantra of women, cars and jewelry.
Instead, the Chicago rapper uses his rhymes to dish out praise for
Allah,
criticize the war in Iraq and blast corporate America.
Kelly is among a new group of Muslim rap artists gaining popularity
among
Muslim Americans looking for entertainment that reflects both their
mainstream tastes and religious beliefs...
-----
MUSLIMS TALK ABOUT THE PAST, FUTURE
Jean Johnson, St. Petersburg Times, 1/15/05
http://www.sptimes.com
SPRING HILL - Last week the Islamic community of Hernando County hosted
a
dinner seminar led by two guests of honor: Michael Wolfe, poet,
novelist,
and historical and travel writer, and Dr. Salah As-Sawy, secretary
general
of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America. As-Sawy presented a video
about the pilgrimage to Mecca, the hajj…
SEE ALSO:
5 NEW COLUMNISTS WILL SHARE INSIGHTS
Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times, 1/15/05
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=d073c4d55e1caddd&cat=a1327f7c4
068c2fd
Next Saturday marks the launch of Faith & Values, The Seattle Times'
revamped weekly page on faith, religion, spirituality and values.
The page will continue to feature a main religious-themed story most
weeks.
But other elements will be new or different, including the introduction
of
five new columnists...
Aziz Junejo
Junejo is the host of "Focus on Islam," a 30-minute weekly show on
cable
TCI's Public Access Channel. The show, which has run for 15 years,
recently
was picked up by Bridges TV, a television network aimed at American
Muslims
nationwide.
Junejo's family was one of the first Muslim families in Seattle. His
father
was born in India and moved to Pakistan in 1948; his mother, who grew
up in
Indiana, converted to Islam shortly before they married. They arrived
in
Seattle in 1962.
Junejo, a Sunni Muslim, sees the column as an opportunity "to give
people a
window into a Muslim American, someone who's grown up in his country."
He
hopes to give readers "a better perspective on how a Muslim thinks and
feels about the world around him or her."
Junejo, who also works at a local printing and publishing company,
graduated from the University of Washington. He has traveled
extensively
throughout the Muslim world, delivering humanitarian aid to Bosnia in
the
early 1990s, and traveling to the Middle East, India, Pakistan and
Malaysia.
He is married to Seema Junejo. They have three children and are
expecting a
fourth.
-----
U.S. CONDUCTING SECRET MISSIONS INSIDE IRAN-REPORT
Reuters, 1/16/05
WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The United States has been conducting
secret
reconnaissance missions inside Iran to help identify potential nuclear,
chemical and missile targets, The New Yorker magazine reported on
Sunday.
The article, by award-winning reporter Seymour Hersh, said the secret
missions have been going on at least since last summer with the goal of
identifying target information for three dozen or more suspected sites.
Hersh quotes one government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon
as
saying, "The civilians in the Pentagon want to go into Iran and destroy
as
much of the military infrastructure as possible."
One former high-level intelligence official told The New Yorker, "This
is a
war against terrorism, and Iraq is just one campaign. The Bush
administration is looking at this as a huge war zone. Next, we're going
to
have the Iranian campaign."
The White House said Iran is a concern and a threat that needs to be
taken
seriously. But it disputed the report by Hersh, who last year exposed
the
extent of prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
"We obviously have a concern about Iran. The whole world has a concern
about Iran," Dan Bartlett, a top aide to President George W. Bush, told
CNN's "Late Edition."
Of The New Yorker report, he said: "I think it's riddled with
inaccuracies,
and I don't believe that some of the conclusions he's drawing are based
on
fact."
Bartlett said the administration "will continue to work through the
diplomatic initiatives" to convince Iran -- which Bush once called part
of
an "axis of evil" -- not to pursue nuclear weapons.
"No president, at any juncture in history, has ever taken military
options
off the table," Bartlett added. "But what President Bush has shown is
that
he believes we can emphasize the diplomatic initiatives that are
underway
right now..."
-----
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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 - 1/17/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: PILGRIMS' PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED
* CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
* CAIR-SV: SACRAMENTO MUSLIMS HONOR MLK
- CAIR-MI: Transfer of Teacher Inadequate (AA News)
* HAJJ HEADACHE FOR RETURNING U.S. MUSLIMS? (Newsweek)
- CAIR Seeks Answers on Fingerprinting of Pilgrims
- CA: Customs Delay Imam Who Advised Bush (Oakland Trib)
- NY: American Muslims in 'Precarious Position' (Newsday)
* '24' MAKING NICE WITH MUSLIMS (E! Online)
- View CAIR's 'I am an American Muslim' PSA
* PROSELYTIZING DURING RELIEF EFFORTS DIVIDES (Denver Post)
- CAIR-CA: God and the Tsunami (Vallejo Times-Herald)
* IN AMERICA'S SECRET PRISON NETWORK (Salon.com)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: PILGRIMS' PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Pilgrims…are God's
guests.
Their prayers are answered and their supplications for forgiveness are
granted."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 5, Number 3
-----
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
(TOTOWA, NJ, 1/17/05) - The New Jersey office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called on law enforcement
authorities to do everything in their power to apprehend those
responsible
for the brutal murders of four members of an Arab-American family in
Jersey
City.
The bodies of Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their
two
children, Monica, 8, and Sylvia, 15, were found in their home on
Friday.
The victims, Coptic Christians from Egypt, died of multiple stab
wounds. No
suspect has been identified.
Investigators are focusing robbery as a possible motive because no
money or
jewels were found in the home. Relatives say they suspect a religious
argument on the Internet may have prompted the killings.
SEE: POLICE KEY ON ROBBERY AS MOTIVE IN SLAYINGS
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1105942512295720.xml
CAIR-NJ also offered condolences to the loved ones of the family and to
the
local Egyptian Coptic community.
"May God give comfort to the family and friends of the victims,"
CAIR-NJ
President Magdy Mahmoud. He added that the possible bias motive should
be
thoroughly investigated.
Mahmoud said CAIR-NJ has been working to build better relations between
the
Muslim and Coptic communities in that state.
CAIR's national office also called for a stepped-up probe into the
similarly-brutal murder of a pregnant Muslim teacher, Iman Muhanna
Mohammed, who was stabbed to death in her Louisiana home last December.
There was no sign of forced entry and no evidence of a robbery. The FBI
investigated that murder as a possible hate crime, but no motive has
been
established. The Washington-based group has been in touch with
investigators about that case.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 973-785-3050 or 908-209-7440
-----
CAIR-SV: SACRAMENTO MUSLIMS HONOR MLK
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 1/17/2005) - The Sacramento office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) co-sponsored the recent Martin
Luther
King Jr. Celebration in that city attended by some 1200 guests,
including
state, county and city officials and community leaders. Local Muslim
religious, community and youth leaders also helped organize the event.
Fahizah Alim, the award-winning writer for the Sacramento Bee
newspaper,
was presented with the Robert T. Matsui Community Service Award at the
MLK
celebration. The award is named after the late Congressman Robert T.
Matsui, a major force behind the annual event.
CONTACT: CAIR-SV President Rashid Ahmad, 916-825-0027
SEE ALSO:
TRANSFER OF TEACHER WHO INSULTED ISLAM IS INADEQUATE, LEADERS SAY
THEY'RE ASKING FOR TERMINATION
Danielle Smith, Arab American News
http://www.arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=1498
Dearborn -. Barry Talent, the Woodworth Middle School history teacher
who
last month reportedly told his students that ancient Bedouin tribes
used
pages of the Holy Qur'an as toilet paper, will be transferred out of
his
position into a smaller setting with better supervision, according to
Dearborn Schools Superintendent Dr. John Artis, who made the
announcement
on Wednesday, January 12th. Talent had been on paid suspension
following
the alleged incident. But many members of the Arab American and
American
Muslim communities are upset with this decision and believe a transfer
is
an insufficient response. It is believed this was not the first
incident of
its kind that Talent has been involved in.
"The teacher in question will not be returning to Woodworth Middle
School.
He will be reassigned," Dr. Artis told The Arab American News. When
asked
if that was passing the buck to another school, Dr. Artis replied, "We
are
not passing the buck. The decision will allow the teacher to be in a
smaller system and have new supervision." He went on to say, "As
superintendent I invoked my right to reassign the teacher. The steps I
have
taken are within the bounds of the contracts. We followed the policies
and
guidelines. These steps we have taken are clearly established steps
(that
must be taken) prior to the point of dismissal."
He added, "You are never satisfied in a situation like this. I wish it
never happened, but we have protected and supported the students and
teachers. We made a decision that was in the best interests of the
community and of Woodworth Middle School."
Arab American Political Action Committee President Abed Hammoud, said
"I am
aware of the contractual limitations (on) disciplinary action, yet I do
not
want this man teaching Arabic children or any children for that matter.
If
he remains teaching he will continue spreading hatred and racism. He
should
not be teaching in Dearborn or anywhere else."
Celena Khatib, Director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said, "We are pleased the Dearborn
school
system reacted promptly and listened to the parents and community
concerns.
CAIR Michigan is relieved that the teacher in question is out of
Woodworth,
yet concerned about his history of racist remarks and the fact he
remains
in the Dearborn public school system."
CONTACT: CAIR-Michigan, 248-569-2203
-----
MUSLIMS: HAJJ HEADACHE?
Daren Briscoe, Newsweek, 1/24/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6827279/site/newsweek/
Jan. 24 issue - Muslim advocates are concerned that thousands of
American
Muslims now in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual hajj pilgrimage may
be
subjected to what they consider unfair scrutiny upon return. Their
worry
stems from a December incident in which 40 American Muslims coming back
from an Islamic conference in Canada were held at the U.S. border. They
were asked to submit to fingerprinting because the U.S. Customs and
Border
Protection says it has information that terrorists may try to use such
events as cover for travel, transporting fraudulent documents or
fund-raising.
The CBP has "credible information that these conferences have [been]
and
will be used" for such activities, says spokeswoman Kristi Clemens.
(She
says the conference attendees coming home from Canada weren't detained,
but
were subjected to a "secondary screening.") There are no plans to have
additional CBP agents in place for the end of the pilgrimage, which
comes
Friday, but Clemens says large groups could be delayed. Says Ibrahim
Hooper
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations: "You can look at the hajj
as
the ultimate Islamic conference."
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
CAIR SEEKS ANSWERS ON FINGERPRINTING OF HAJJ PILGRIMS
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1379&theType=NR
---
CUSTOMS DELAY IMAM WHO ADVISED BUSH
Ian Hoffman, Oakland Tribune, 1/16/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/news/ci_2527182
Inside the Toronto SkyDome with more than 10,000 fellow Muslims, Shaykh
Hamza Yusuf presided over new conversions, translated an ancient poem
and
gave a scholarly talk on the Prophet Isa, Islam's analog to Jesus.
Then the bespectacled imam turned for home and his institute in Hayward
feeling uplifted.
But when Yusuf handed over his passport at the Toronto airport, two
U.S.
Customs agents led him to an interrogation room and detained him three
hours for questioning. It wasn't Yusuf's demeanor or appearance.
As the son of two American academics and a convert to Islam almost 30
years
ago, the most influential Islamic scholar in North America travels in a
business suit, no headdress or flowing robe. His adopted Muslim name
was
flagged on a Department of Homeland Security computer, and the two
agents
questioning him wouldn't say why.
Yusuf soon stopped answering their questions. It was, he told them, a
scene
worthy of Kafka. What about his right to attend a spiritual conference,
his
right to free speech and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure?
"The rules are different now," one agent said.
That December day, at least 38 other U.S. citizens who attended the
"Reviving the Islamic Spirit" conference were held up to six hours at
bridges crossing the U.S.-Canada border, according to Homeland Security
officials and civil rights activists.
The detainees, ranging from an infant to teenagers to men and women in
their 50s, were kept from about 11:30 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. They were
questioned, photographed and fingerprinted.
Agents asked a woman who said she was seven months pregnant to prove it
by
lifting her shirt. Some women cried as agents pressed their hands to
digital fingerprint scanners.
After three hours, one woman with children became agitated and
suggested
she was going to leave. "We're going to send a car after you to get
you,"
the officers said, according to officials at the Washington-based
Council
on American-Islamic Relations.
Here at the border, the Muslims were told, "you have no rights."
A few hours later, U.S. Customs officers at the airport detained a
University of Chicago academic and made jokes about Muslims.
But the men who detained Yusuf were "very polite and, I think, very
bored.
I think they literally were doing what the computer told them."
"You might as well answer our questions," one told him. "You're not
going
anywhere."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities say the stops
technically
were not detentions or arrests.
Officers had been instructed to watch for Americans coming from Islamic
conferences and confirm their identities beyond their passports, said
Kristi Clemens, a Customs and Border Protection assistant commissioner.
"We had ongoing, credible intelligence that conferences such as this
one in
Toronto had been used, are being used and will be used by terrorists to
transmit fraudulent documents, to fund-raise and also to mask the
travel of
terrorists," Clemens said. "Based on that information, we decided to
have
individuals verify they were who they said they were."
Yusuf's detention in Toronto - his third in two months - is a
remarkable
turn for a moderate Muslim who advised President Bush after the 9/11
attacks and whose steady condemnation of Islamic terrorism has earned
him,
in some Muslim circles, criticism as a U.S. propagandist and derision
as
"Bush's pet."
At the same time, Yusuf's experience reflects the frustratingly vague
intelligence that feeds the nation's domestic security agencies and
their
dilemma: how to turn non-specific information into action without
damaging
the civil liberties of individuals…
Some Muslim civil-rights advocates say Bay Area Muslims are fortunate.
The
San Francisco FBI office is trying to build trust with Muslims; unlike
elsewhere, its agents haven't shown up at Muslims' workplaces demanding
interviews and arousing employer suspicions…
Meanwhile, American Muslim activists are uncertain what the new
detentions
mean for the world's largest Islamic conference. This week, more than
10,000 American Muslims are expected back from Hajj, the annual
pilgrimage
to Mecca.
Customs officials declined to say whether Muslims will be detained,
photographed and fingerprinted on their return…
The pilgrimage is "the granddaddy of all Islamic conferences," said
Arsalan
Iftikahar, legal director for the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
"These are citizens. Imagine how we treat non-citizens. There has to
some
semblance of respect for their human and civil rights," he said. "Such
blanket treatment of a group of lawful and contributing American
citizens
really should give pause to all Americans who cherish their civil
liberties."
---
AMERICAN MUSLIMS IN 'PRECARIOUS POSITION'
CAROL EISENBERG, Newsday, 1/15/05
http://www.nwherald.com/StyleSection/308332753332736.php
NEW YORK - Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid tells the story of a young
black
Muslim asked what it's like living in post-Sept. 11 America.
"It's like being black," he quotes him. "Twice."
The line invariably gets laughs. But it produces a positive roar of
appreciation here in the oldest Orthodox Muslim congregation in Harlem,
in
a makeshift mosque reclaimed almost 25 years ago from a junkies'
shooting
gallery, and now called "The Great Pyramid" after the Egyptian-granite
pillars out front.
If there is an American iteration of Islam - and worshipers here insist
there is - the Mosque of the Islamic Brotherhood on the corner of 113th
Street and St. Nicholas Avenue is it. This thriving, mostly black
congregation is a place where Islam has no foreign accent, and where
notions of Islam vs. the West lose all buoyancy against a backdrop of
Boy
Scout meetings, breast cancer fund-raisers and programs to combat AIDS
and
homelessness…
-----
"24" MAKING NICE WITH MUSLIMS
Bridget Byrne, E! Online, 1/16/05
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,15718,00.html
Jack Bauer's going to have to call in the reinforcements to get through
this one.
Facing heat over how Muslims are depicted in its countdown thriller
series
24, Fox is working to mend fences before time's up.
The latest season of the Fox drama, which kicked off a week ago, stars
Kiefer Sutherland as special agent Bauer. His latest race against the
clock
to save the world from terrorism has angered America's Muslim community
by
its portrayal of a Muslim family as a sleeper cell at the heart of a
dastardly plot.
Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
told Broadcasting and Cable that the show is "taking everyday American
Muslim families and making them suspects...It's very dangerous and very
disturbing."
In response to the complaints, the network has agreed to a modest mea
culpa--offering a public service spot to its affiliates that depicts
the
American Muslim community in a positive light.
"We met with representatives of CAIR on Wednesday and found the meeting
productive and informative and we look forward to working with them in
the
future," Fox said in a brief statement.
On its Website, www.cair-net.org, CAIR thanked Fox for "the opportunity
to
address the Muslim community's concerns and for the willingness of
network
officials to take those concerns seriously in an atmosphere of mutual
respect and co-operation…"
CAIR rep Ahmed says the group wants to avoid stereotyping of Muslims,
which
could translate into ill-will and even civil rights abuses or hate
crimes.
Ahmed reports that, per surveys conducted by CAIR, most Americans
believe
it's okay to curb Muslim's civil rights during the war on terror.
The show's creative and executive production team attended the meeting
along with Fox network representatives. (Producers referred all calls
back
to Fox.)
CAIR, which is sponsoring the PSAs, has requested the 30- and 60-spots
be
broadcast before, during or after 24, which airs Mondays at 9 p.m.
ET/PT.
However, it will ultimately be up to local station managers to choose
if
and when to run the PSAs, which feature the line: "Muslims are part of
the
fabric of this great country and are working to build a better
America."
TO VIEW THE CAIR PSA, GO TO:
http://cair.com/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
-----
PROSELYTIZING DURING RELIEF EFFORTS DIVIDES
Eric Gorski, Denver Post, 1/17/05
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2657661,00.html
Some U.S. groups - including the relief arms of the Catholic,
Episcopal,
Lutheran and Methodist churches - follow a Red Cross code of conduct
against furthering a particular religious or political viewpoint.
Generally, these groups believe their works, rather than their words,
sufficiently show how faith moves them.
Many evangelical Christian groups, which put a stronger emphasis on
winning
new converts, believe relief can be packaged with religion as long as
immediate needs are addressed first. After all, they say, this is when
people are asking life's deepest questions.
That logic motivated Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family to
include
excerpts from a book written by Dobson, founder of the influential
media
ministry, in 300,000 survival packets bound for the region.
The convergence of these opposing philosophies could lead to conflict,
some
relief workers say. The agencies that shun evangelization say those
that
follow other rules risk undermining everyone's work with locals and
government officials…
While Focus on the Family is not a relief group, the ministry is
seeking to
raise $1 million for survival staple kits to be distributed by partner
agencies and churches, said Glenn Williams, vice president of
international
and cultural ministry. The goal is to meet immediate needs, not
evangelize,
Williams said.
Even so, excerpts from Dobson's "When God Doesn't Make Sense" will be
bundled with the food, water and medicine.
"You have a lot of people who have serious questions at the moment,
feeling
a tremendous sense of loss and asking, 'Where was God in this?"'
Williams said.
The very mission of the Colorado Springs-based International Bible
Society
is to publish and distribute Scripture. So when the tsunami struck, the
group prepared the distribution of 100,000 texts, including a book
translated into Thai, "When Your Whole World Changes."
"We believe the Bible or Scripture booklets present relevant answers to
problems people are facing," said Judy Billings, an IBS spokeswoman.
"With
the disaster, people are open to God's word. They're in a crisis."
Not all evangelical Christian groups share that view.
The child-sponsorship group Compassion International, also based in
Colorado Springs, is providing emergency relief in India and Indonesia.
Though the organization does not camouflage its Christian identity,
neither
will it be passing out religious literature, said David Dahlin, chief
operating officer and senior vice president.
"People could wonder whether you have ulterior motives, that it's not a
genuine compassionate response," Dahlin said. "Or they might feel as,
if
they are a strong adherent to a different faith, they might be
reluctant to
take aid. We don't want that..."
Kathryn Wolford, president of Lutheran World Relief, said organizations
that strongly push a religious message risk undermining all relief
groups'
standing abroad, especially when diverse faiths and cultures collide.
"It can create conflict and resistance because in that kind of
situation
people don't necessarily distinguish one (relief) group from another,"
she
said.
So far, few conflicts have come to light. A Virginia-based evangelical
Christian charity, WorldHelp, dropped plans last week to adopt Muslim
tsunami orphans into a Christian children's home after the Indonesian
government protested.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations characterized the incident as
confirmation that some evangelical groups hope to exploit the tragedy.
SEE ALSO:
GOD AND THE TSUNAMI TRAGEDY
Joan Ryan, Vallejo Times-Herald, 1/16/05
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/Stories/0,1413,296~31504~2657187,00.html
Hasem Bazian, a lecturer on Islam at UC Berkeley, quoted the prophet
Hadith
to me. "If God loves a servant, he sends tribulation upon him," echoing
the
story of Job from the Old Testament and similar parables from other
religions.
"In Islam, all those who die in a natural catastrophe die in a state of
martyrdom," Bazian said. They are not held accountable for their sins
in
life; they are given passage directly into paradise. For those left
behind,
he said, a tragedy of this scope is a reminder of God's power and our
own
mortality.
"It's a recognition of the need to walk lightly upon this Earth with a
sense of humility and respect for the divine," Bazian said. "And to be
thankful for the blessings you have."
Baslim Elkarra of Sacramento, a Muslim with the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations [CAIR], said a colleague at CAIR in Maryland lost 30 family
members in the tsunami. Elkarra has reminded himself of a passage in
the
Quran in which one line is repeated twice: "Verily with difficulty
comes ease."
"Life is not supposed to be easy," he said. "How we respond is the test
of
our faith. Here in the West people ask, 'How could God do this?' Over
there, they turn to God even more, asking for his mercy."
-----
IN AMERICA'S SECRET PRISON NETWORK
A German car salesman says that a year ago he was kidnapped in Europe,
beaten and flown to a U.S. jail in Afghanistan. Now his government is
collecting evidence to back up his story.
James Meek, Salon.com, 1/14/05
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/14/prisoner_story/
Jan. 14, 2005 | A man is walking alone along a mountain path in the
darkness. He is carrying a suitcase. He seems frightened, tired and
confused. He has long hair and a long beard, but they are untidy, as if
he
did not grow them voluntarily. He turns a bend and meets three men
carrying
Kalashnikovs.
The man shows them his passport. It indicates that he is a German
citizen,
born in Lebanon, called Khaled el-Masri. Using poor English, he tells
them
that he does not know where he is. They tell him that he is on the
Albanian
border, close to Serbia and Macedonia and that he is there illegally,
since
he doesn't have an Albanian stamp in his passport.
The story that el-Masri tells them by way of explanation, on this
evening
in late May 2004, is extraordinary: a story of how an unemployed German
car
salesman from the town of Ulm went on a New Year's holiday to
Macedonia,
was seized by Macedonian police at the border, held incommunicado for
weeks
without charge, then beaten, stripped, shackled and blindfolded and
flown
to a jail in Afghanistan, run by Afghans but controlled by Americans.
Five
months after first being seized, he says, still with no explanation or
charge, he was flown back to Europe and dumped in an unknown country
that
turned out to be Albania.
What really happened? With no way to prove his story, el-Masri's
account
remains in the balance, a terrifying snapshot of America's "war on
terror."
It is certain that he returned home to Ulm from Albania in May 2004,
and
that he was taken off a bus from Germany at the Macedonian border on
New
Year's Eve 2003. The only person who has offered a clear explanation
for
what happened in the five months in between is el-Masri himself. Yet
that
may change.
The German authorities are now taking his allegations very seriously.
They
are subjecting a sample from el-Masri's hair to radioisotope analysis,
which can reveal, down to a particular country, the source of a
person's
food and drink over a period of time. Discussions are also underway
about
bringing to Germany two men whom el-Masri has identified as being with
him
in the Afghan prison, and who were also subsequently released. The fact
that the German authorities do regard Ulm as an area of potentially
dangerous radical Islamic activity -- a number of premises were raided
and
alleged Islamic activists were arrested on Wednesday -- only emphasizes
the
concern that Germany has over the el-Masri case.
So far U.S. authorities have neither confirmed nor denied el-Masri's
story,
although German investigators first requested information about the
case in
autumn. The FBI office in the U.S. Embassy in Berlin did not return
calls
Thursday…
If true, the abduction would add to our understanding of a pattern of
U.S.
behavior frightening in its implications both for America and for the
rest
of the world. The former director of the CIA, George Tenet, told the
9/11
Commission last year that even before Sept. 11 the United States had
abducted more than 70 foreigners it considered terrorists -- a process
Washington has declared legal under the label "extraordinary
rendition…"
-----
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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
NEVADA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO THREATENING DC MUSLIM GROUP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/18/05) - A Nevada man has pleaded guilty to a
federal
civil rights violation resulting from threatening e-mail messages he
sent
to a prominent Washington-based Islamic advocacy group.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) received the e-mailed
threats in 2003 from an insurance broker in Reno, Nev. One e-mail
stated:
"We can deal with you easily especially because you are on our soil.
You
have taught us much about terrorism so get ready to be the receiver."
Another message said: "You are making a lot of people angry and you
idiots
are sitting ducks."
Under the plea agreement, the man will serve one year's probation and
must
perform 50 hours of community service for "interfering with federally
protected activities." (18 USC 245[b])
"Threats of physical violence, unlike legitimate public debate, must
never
be tolerated, and all such threatening messages will be turned over to
federal authorities for investigation," said CAIR Legal Affairs
Director
Arsalan Iftikhar. "We thank all those in the U.S. Attorney's office who
worked hard to prosecute this case." He offered special thanks to
Assistant
United States Attorney Paul Pugliese.
Iftikhar added that a number of other threats received by CAIR are
currently under investigation by the FBI. He said that even those who
use
fake e-mail addresses to make threats leave an electronic trail that
investigators can follow.
Recent polls have indicated that 1-in-4 Americans holds anti-Muslim
views
and that 44 percent of Americans would agree to curtail Muslim civil
liberties in some manner. Last year, CAIR announced a campaign designed
to
counter prejudice prompted by Islamophobic rhetoric in American
society.
SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/hatehurtsamerica/
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR Legal Affairs Director Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787 or
202-415-0799; 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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/18/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION
* HELP GET CAIR'S PSA ON LOCAL FOX STATIONS
* CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS SEEK RECOGNITION OF HOLIDAYS (SP Times)
- The New Role of Muslim Chaplains (CSM)
- VA: Imam to Open State Senate with Prayer
* NJ: MUSLIMS DENOUNCE KILLING OF CHRISTIAN FAMILY (AP)
- CAIR-NJ Offers Condolences to Coptic Community
- Rage Explodes at Egyptian Family's Funeral (NY Times)
* PA: MOVIE USED TO SHOW "DISTURBING TRUTH" (Pitt News)
* CANADA: MUSLIM KIDS KILLED IN ARSON FIRE (Calgary Herald)
* WHAT IS THE HAJJ? (BBC)
- India Train Fire 'Not Mob Attack' (BBC)
- Islam's Claim in Spain (LA Times)
- Neocons Turn Their Attention to Iran (FT)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION
"Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from
error.
Whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most
trustworthy
hand-hold that never breaks."
The Holy Quran, 2:256
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT #445
HELP GET CAIR'S PSA ON LOCAL FOX STATIONS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/18/05) - CAIR is calling on Muslims nationwide to
contact local Fox TV stations to ask that they air the CAIR "I am an
American Muslim" public service announcement (PSA).
In a letter sent to all stations last Saturday, Fox encouraged local
affiliates nationwide to place the PSA as close as possible to the
airing
of the popular "24" drama series.
This move came after CAIR met with Fox officials last week to address
the
depiction of a "Muslim" family that is at the heart of a terror plot in
the
program.
CAIR is concerned that the portrayal of the family as a terrorist
"sleeper
cell" may cast a shadow of suspicion over ordinary American Muslims and
suggested airing a positive PSA about Muslims to help balance the
negative
images of Muslims on the program.
The CAIR PSA, which is designed to challenge anti-Muslim bias, features
American Muslims of European, African-American, Hispanic, and Native
American heritage. Each person in the PSA states how they and their
families have served America and ends by saying, "I am an American
Muslim."
TO VIEW THE CAIR PSA, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?page=PSAJun2004
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Please call each of your local Fox television stations and ask to
speak
to the person who handles public service announcements and/or
programming.
That person is usually, but not always, the "Public Service Director."
2. Explain to that person why it is important to help reduce
anti-Muslim
bias in our society and how this PSA could assist in that goal.
3. Also contact Gail Berman, President of Entertainment of Fox
Broadcasting, to express appreciation for working with the Muslim
community
to challenge stereotyping.
Gail Berman
President of Entertainment
Fox Broadcasting Company
10201 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CAIR 900035
FAX: 210-969-0546
E-MAIL: jonathan.hogan@fox.com
COPY TO: askfox@foxinc.com, cair@cair-net.org
-----
MUSLIMS SEEK SCHOOL RECOGNITION OF HOLIDAYS
Jeffrey S. Solochek, St. Petersburg Times, 1/18/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/18/Hillsborough/Muslims_seek_school_r.shtml
TAMPA - Local Muslims are asking the Hillsborough School Board for a
little
understanding.
Every year, the school district gives all students days off for the
Jewish
holiday of Yom Kippur and the Christian holiday of Good Friday, said
Ahmed
Bedier, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations in Tampa.
Muslims would like the same consideration given to Eid Al-Fitr, a
holiday
marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Bedier said.
"That request is made in the interest of diversity and inclusiveness,"
he said.
CAIR members also want the board to consider putting Eid al-Fitr and
Eid
al-Adha, the celebration that ends the yearly Hajj to Mecca, on the
district's master calendar so teachers can plan assignments and
activities
around them.
And they are seeking to hold Muslim students blameless for being absent
on
those holidays, rather than lose exam exemptions or perfect attendance
recognition for observing their faith.
More than 30 people sent letters to board members in support of those
ideas
after the school board delayed adopting its 2005-06 and tentative
2006-07
calendars when the requests came up. The board will reconsider the
calendars today.
The Hillsborough Islamic community includes about 30,000 people, Bedier
said, though he did not know how many attend public schools…
ALSO SEE:
THE NEW ROLE OF MUSLIM CHAPLAINS
Teresa Méndez, Christian Science Monitor, 1/18/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0118/p14s02-legn.html
HARTFORD, CONN. - When Trinity College students return to their
snow-bitten
campus next week, for the first time they will discover a Muslim
chaplain
working there.
Sohaib Nazeer Sultan is one of only a handful of Muslim chaplains at
colleges and universities across the country.
But as the number of Muslim college students continues to grow - along
with
the desire to understand religious and cultural complexities at play in
a
post-9/11 world - more schools are hiring Muslim chaplains.
Mr. Sultan is a slight man with a soothing demeanor. In khaki pants, a
navy
tunic, and square, dark-rimmed glasses he could easily pass for a young
graduate student.
In many ways, he seems older and wiser than his 24 years. He has
already
written a book - "The Koran for Dummies" - published last year. He
speaks
of the need to create a culture not just of tolerance, but of
acceptance.
He sees his job as a Muslim chaplain as a divine calling.
Yet he's also down-to-earth, self-deprecating, and compassionate when
he
discusses the many obstacles - both spiritual and secular - that young
Muslims on their own for the first time are likely to encounter.
In 1999 Georgetown University hired Yahya Hendi - the first full-time
Muslim chaplain at an American university. Today, the Muslim Students
Association (MSA) estimates that 14 institutions of higher education
provide for a Muslim chaplain…
---
VA IMAM TO OPEN SENATE WITH PRAYER
An invitation has been extended to Imam Vernon M. Fareed to offer the
invocation for the Virginia Senate on Wednesday January 19, 2005. The
Senate session will convene promptly at 12:00 noon in the Senate
Chamber of
the Capitol building. Imam Fareed is the Resident Imam [Leader] of
"Masjid
(Mosque) William Salaam" in Norfolk, Va.
-----
MUSLIMS DENOUNCE KILLING OF CHRISTIAN FAMILY
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 1/18/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0118jan18,0,4137021.story
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- As religious tension continued to boil here
following
the murder of an Egyptian Christian family, Muslim groups denounced the
killings and prayed for the victims.
Prosecutors continued to investigate the possibility that Hossam
Armanious,
47, his 37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15,
and
Monica, 8, were slain by a Muslim angered over postings that Armanious,
a
Coptic Christian, wrote in an Internet chat room.
The bodies were found bound and gagged Friday, their throats and heads
stabbed repeatedly. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon.
But prosecutors stressed there is strong evidence that robbery might
have
been the motive for the killings.
"Money was not found at the scene," said First Assistant Hudson County
Prosecutor Gaetano Gregory. "Mr. Armanious' pockets had been turned out
and
his wallet was emptied. A pocketbook had been emptied. Drawers had been
rifled in the home."
He would not comment on the possibility of religious animosity as a
motive
in the slayings. Investigators have taken a computer from the
children's
bedroom.
"We continue to review several theories," Gregory said. "Our goal is to
identify the killers. We believe that when the killers are identified,
the
motive for this wanton and vile crime will be revealed.
"We continue to explore any theory that is supported by evidence
recovered
at the scene," he said. "Speculation as to motive will not advance our
inquiry."
The killings have created enormous tension between Coptic Christians,
mainly immigrants from Egypt, and Muslims in this city still reeling
from a
wave of anti-Muslim bias after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks...
Before, during and after Monday's funeral for the family, protesters
screamed anti-Islam slogans and carried signs comparing the murders to
Middle East terrorism. Mourners scuffled in the streets as emotions ran
high.
"No one who believes in God could have done this, no matter what
religion
they are," Ahmed Sheded, president of the Islamic Center of Jersey
City,
said of the slayings after attending the funeral.
The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee denounced the killings
as
"senseless and horrible…"
Likewise, the Council on American-Islamic Relations also condemned the
killings and offered condolences to the Coptic community. Religious
leaders
said Muslims were keeping the family in their prayers.
"May God give comfort to the family and friends of the victim," said
Magdy
Mahmoud, president of the group's New Jersey chapter. He said the
possible
bias angle should be thoroughly investigated.
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1397&theType=NR
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 973-785-3050 or 908-209-7440
---
RAGE EXPLODES AT EGYPTIAN FAMILY'S FUNERAL
Andrea Elliott, New York Times, 1/18/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/nyregion/18jersey.html
JERSEY CITY, Jan. 17 - The funeral for an Egyptian immigrant family
found
slain in their home here erupted into a scene of chaos and roiling
emotion
on Monday, with some mourners jumping on top of cars, shoving each
other
and threatening to beat a Muslim cleric who was escorted to safety by
the
police.
The source of the disruption at the Coptic Christian service appeared
to be
the presence of Muslims, who said they had come to pay their respects.
In the days since the victims, Hossam Armanious, 46; his wife, Amal
Garas,
36; and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8, were found stabbed
to
death in their home early on Friday, speculation that the slayings were
a
hate crime has led to loud recriminations by Christian Egyptians,
expressed
in news interviews and at a demonstration here on Sunday.
Muslims and Christians have a long and violent history in Egypt, where
Muslims are the majority, but relations between the groups had never
soured
locally, several Muslim and Coptic Christian leaders said. Although the
case brought new tension to the Egyptian community, the Jersey City
police
have refused to say whether they believe the slayings were the result
of
religious hatred…
Dozens of other Muslims, many of them community leaders, canceled plans
to
attend the funeral after seeing television reports about the mounting
friction, said Debbie Almontaser, a Muslim community activist in
Brooklyn.
The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
released
a statement Monday saying that the organization had called on law
enforcement authorities to do everything in their power to apprehend
those
responsible for the murders…
-----
MOVIE USED TO SHOW "EMERGING AND DISTURBING TRUTH"
MICHAEL MASTROIANNI, The Pitt News, 1/18/05
http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/18/41ec936fba370
Life imitates art.
At least, that's what members of the American Civil Liberties Union
fear.
Thursday night, members of the ACLU and the Islamic Center of
Pittsburgh
used fiction to illustrate what one called "an emerging and disturbing
truth."
The ACLU hosted a screening of the 1998 film "The Siege," starring
Denzel
Washington and Bruce Willis. The movie is set in New York City during a
string of terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists. The result is martial
law
and a "witch hunt" by armed forces for Arabs who might be involved in
planning other attacks.
After the film, Omar Shafer, an ACLU board member, spoke about the
consequences of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act.
Shafer
is also president of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, an organization
whose mission includes spreading "clear and accurate information about
Muslims." Nusrath Ainapore, outreach director of the Islamic Center,
spoke
briefly before Shafer.
"I saw 'The Siege' when I was at Pitt, and I did not believe anything
like
it was possible when I first saw the film," Ainapore said.
She quoted a survey conducted last month by the Boston Globe, which
reported that 44 percent of U.S. citizens believe Muslims should have
their
civil liberties curbed to protect the United States.
"Fortunately, a majority of Americans disagree," Ainapore said. Quoting
the
Quran, the holy text of Islam, she urged people to "be just, for this
is
the closest to being conscious to God."
-----
NEIGHBOURS SHOCKED ARSON KILLED TWO KIDS: CALGARY MUSLIMS ANXIOUS TO
SEE
CASE CRACKED
Sherri Zickefoose, Calgary Herald, 1/18/05
http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/index.html
A deliberately set fire that killed two children is mind-numbing, say
neighbours with kids of their own on Applewood Lane S.E.
"It's pretty scary. I've got two kids and it's amazing to see if it's
deliberate, or why someone would do it," said Tonya Oswald, who lives a
few
doors down from the townhouse destroyed in the Nov. 18 blaze.
Salima Barih jumped to safety from a second-floor window and her
husband,
Tahsin Al Mayahi, was working at the time of the fire.
Their children -- six-year-old Ali and four-year-old Saja -- perished
in
the blaze.
News that arson investigators have turned the case over to the homicide
unit Monday is making Oswald and other parents who live next door
uneasy,
she said.
Police are hoping word that the fire was set by outsiders will spread
quickly, and that others will help lead them to whoever is responsible.
"We're hoping members of the public know who these people are," said
Staff
Sgt. Barry Cochran of the homicide unit.
The Muslim community is anxious to see police resolve the matter, said
family friend Sattar Al Taee, who is also the president of the Iraqi
Islamic Cultural Society.
Police say the investigation is focusing on two men who knocked on the
family's front door asking for someone who didn't live there about 10
days
before the fire…
-----
WHAT IS THE HAJJ?
BBC, 1/18/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4180965.stm
The Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, which every adult Muslim must
undertake at least once in their life if they can afford it and are
physically able.
Every year about two million Muslims converge on Mecca - the holiest
place
in Islam - to take part in an event which combines piety and passion.
Many Muslims save for years in order to perform the pilgrimage. They
often
have to travel thousands of miles.
Then, once they arrive, they must brave vast crowds and the fierce heat
of
the desert as they perform the Hajj rituals.
Saudi custodians
For the host country, Saudi Arabia, the event has a special importance.
Saudi rulers are acutely conscious of their responsibility as
custodians of
the Muslim holy places…
The sheer number of pilgrims poses formidable problems. In recent years
hundreds have died as a result of demonstrations, fires, stampedes - or
just sunstroke and exhaustion.
The Saudi authorities have introduced a quota system to keep down the
numbers of pilgrims. They have also tried, and failed, to keep politics
out
of the Hajj…
SEE ALSO:
INDIA TRAIN FIRE 'NOT MOB ATTACK'
BBC, 1/15/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4180885.stm
An Indian train fire that killed 59 Hindus and provoked deadly
religious
riots in 2002 was started by accident, a government inquiry has said.
Evidence suggests the fire began inside the train, not that it was
fire-bombed, an investigating judge decided.
Most accounts from the time and since said a Muslim mob threw petrol
bombs
at the train, starting the blaze.
The incident set off days of rioting in Gujarat state in which at least
1,000 people, most of them Muslims, died.
The possibility of an inflammable liquid having been used is completely
ruled out…
---
ISLAM'S CLAIM ON SPAIN
Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 1/18/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-granada18jan18,0,4557979.story
GRANADA, Spain - Across a valley of fragrant cedars and orange trees,
worshipers at the pristine Great Mosque of Granada look out at the
Alhambra, the 700-year-old citadel and monument to the heyday of
Islamic glory.
Granada's Muslims chose the hilltop location precisely with the view,
and
its unmistakable symbolism, in mind.
It took them more than 20 years to build the mosque, the first erected
here
in half a millennium, after they conquered the objections of city
leaders
and agreed, ultimately, to keep the minaret shorter than the steeple on
the
Catholic Iglesia de San Nicolas next door.
Cloistered nuns on the other side of the mosque added a few feet to the
wall enclosing their convent, as if to say they wanted neither to be
seen
nor to see.
Many of Spain's Muslims long for an Islamic revival to reclaim their
legendary history, and inaugurating the Great Mosque last year was the
most
visible gesture. But horrific bombings by Muslim extremists that killed
nearly 200 people in Madrid on March 11 have forced Spain's Muslims and
non-Muslims to reassess their relationship, and turned historical
assumptions on their head.
"We are a people trying to return to our roots," said Anwar Gonzalez,
34, a
Granada native who converted to Islam 17 years ago. "But it's a bad
time to
be a Muslim."
Spain has a long, rich and complex history interwoven with the Muslim
and
Arab world, from its position as the center of Islamic Europe in the
last
millennium to today's confrontation with a vast influx of Muslim
immigrants.
For more than seven centuries of Moorish rule, "Al Andalus," or
Andalusia,
was governed by Muslim caliphs who oversaw a splendid flourishing of
art,
architecture and learning that ended when Granada fell to Christian
monarchs Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in 1492.
Muslims were expelled or exterminated in the Inquisition that followed,
but
the legacy of the Moors is seen throughout Andalusia, Spain's southern
tier, in its language, palaces like the Alhambra, and food…
---
NEOCONS TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO IRAN
Guy Dinmore, Financial Times, 1/18/05
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/90ab5f5a-68e4-11d9-9183-00000e2511c8.html
Having adopted legislation in the past aimed at Cuba and Iraq, similar
groups of Republicans and Democrats in Congress are currently setting
their
sights on promoting "regime change" in Iran.
As a result, new exiled Iranian opposition groups backed by some of
Washington's neoconservatives are springing up in the hope of seeing
large
doses of US funding.
One such group the Alliance for Democracy in Iran is taking shape,
strategically located in the heart of the capital's think-tank quarter.
Activists described it as an opposition umbrella group that would act
as a
"clearing house" for US taxpayers' money dedicated to advancing the
cause
of democracy.
"Our true purpose is to empower the Iranian people, to change the
regime to
become more democratic," explained Kamal Azari, its president,
stressing
that the group renounced violence. Its aim is a referendum on whether
to
restore the monarchy under the ousted Shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, who
lives
in Virginia.
Its board members are relatively obscure; some of them are monarchists.
Its
Oxford-educated chairman, Bahman Batmanghelidj, (known as "Batman"),
opened
a ski resort near Tehran before the 1979 Islamic revolution. A property
magnate in Virginia, he filed for personal bankruptcy protection in
1996.
The group has an Accountability Project to identify friends and foes in
the
US. Alix Boucher, spokeswoman, fires off letters to editors and
academic
institutions to denounce advocates of engagement with the Islamic
regime…
-----
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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
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
NJ MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS TO SHOW INTERFAITH SOLIDARITY
News conference designed to defuse religious tensions
(JERSEY CITY, NJ, 1/19/05) - On Wednesday, January 19, the New Jersey
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), along
with
other local Christian and Muslim groups,* will hold a noon news
conference
in Jersey City to issue a call for interfaith solidarity following the
brutal murder of an Egyptian Coptic Christian family.
WHAT: MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY NEWS CONFERENCE
WHEN: Wednesday, January 19, Noon
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson, 2 Exchange Place,
Jersey
City, New Jersey (SEE: http://jerseycity.hyatt.com/ )
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 973-785-3050 or 908-209-7440
(* Groups scheduled or invited to take part in the news conference
include:
CAIR-NJ, CAIR-New York, American Muslim Union, National Council of
Churches, United Methodist Church, North American Coptic Orthodox
Church,
Islamic Circle of North America, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee-NJ, and the Egyptian American Group.)
The bodies of Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their
two
children, Monica, 8, and Sylvia, 15, were found in their home last
Friday.
The victims died of multiple stab wounds. No suspect has been
identified.
Investigators are focusing robbery as a possible motive because no
money or
jewels were found in the home. Relatives say they suspect a religious
argument on the Internet may have prompted the killings. A funeral for
the
family on Monday included disturbing displays of religious hostility.
SEE: RAGE EXPLODES AT EGYPTIAN FAMILY'S FUNERAL
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/nyregion/18jersey.html
On Monday, CAIR-NJ offered condolences to the loved ones of the family
and
asked that the possible bias motive be thoroughly investigated.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/19/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: THIS WORLD AND THE HEREAFTER
* EID GREETINGS FROM CAIR
* CAIR-LA LAUNCHES EID RADIO ADS
- Eid: A Movable Feast Day (LA Times)
* IL: MUSLIMS USE EID TO HELP FEED NEEDY (Sun-Times)
* CAIR-FL SEEKS EQUAL TREATMENT FOR MUSLIM HOLIDAYS
- TN: School Board Members Against Allowing Hijab
* MI: MUSLIM CLEARED IN DEATH THAT COST HER 3 CHILDREN (AP)
* TX: MUSLIM CHARITY SUSPENDS ACTIVITY OVER GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
- NY: Muslims Call for Tsunami Aid (Journal News)
* MORE MUSLIMS USE ONLINE MATCH-MAKING (CSM)
- KY: Exhibit of Islamic Art and Lifestyle
- GA: Muslim Trio Finds Humor in Stereotypes (AJC)
* '24' CO-CREATOR SPEAKS ABOUT MUSLIM PROTESTS (AJC)
* NV: RENO MAN SENTENCED TO PROBATION FOR ISLAMIC THREATS (AP)
- Man Gets Probation for Threat (Gazette Journal)
* ISRAEL TO KILL IN U.S., ALLIED NATIONS (UPI)
- US Official Confirms Allawi Shot Six Dead (SMH)
- U.S. Court Dismisses Saudi Arabia from 9/11 Suits
* INCITEMENT WATCH: 'MOHAMMED LIED'
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: THIS WORLD AND THE HEREAFTER
"There are some who say: 'Our Lord! Give us abundance in this world.'
Such
people will not have any share in the hereafter. But there are others
who
say: 'Our Lord! Give us the good life, both in this world and in the
Hereafter and save us from the torment of the fire.' Such people shall
have
their due share in both worlds according to what they have earned."
The Holy Quran, 2:200-2002
-----
EID GREETINGS FROM THE CAIR
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wishes everyone a
blessed
Eid ul-Adha. On this holiday, CAIR joins some seven million American
Muslims in praying for peace and unity.
-----
SOUTHERN CALIF. MUSLIMS LAUNCH EID RADIO ADS
American Muslim community urged to support ads
(ANAHEIM, CA - 1/19/2005) - The Southern California office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today announced the launch of a
radio ad campaign designed to educate the public about Hajj and
Eid-ul-Adha.
The twenty-four 60-second spots will air on 980 AM KFWB from Thursday,
January 20 to Sunday, January 23 throughout the day.
These radio ads are a continuation of the Ramadan radio ads that were
aired
in October, 2004. They are just one part of CAIR's effort to educate
fellow
Americans about Islam and Muslims. Other campaigns include placing ads
in
newspapers, sending books and videotapes to libraries across the
country
and placing educational messages on billboards.
The CAIR Eid radio ads begin with the Muslim praises of God (Takbeerat)
and
continue with a message about different aspects of Eid.
Recent CAIR research has shown that as many as 1-in-4 Americans holds
anti-Muslim views. That same research indicates that anti-Muslim
prejudice
decreases when people have access to accurate information about Islam
and
relate to ordinary Muslims.
SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/pollresults.pdf
The following are the transcripts of the ads:
"Abraham"
On January 20, Muslims in America and around the world concluded the
annual
pilgrimage to Mecca, "the Hajj", with Islam's most important holiday
called
Eid ul-Adha or "festival of the sacrifice."
The central figure in this religious celebration is Prophet Abraham.
Muslims believe that Abraham built the first House of Worship to God,
known
as the Kaaba. The Hajj commemorates Abraham's prayers at the Kaaba.
The
Qur'an, Islam's holy book, states: "Who can be better in faith than one
who
submits his whole self to God, does good and follows the way of
Abraham,
the true in faith?"
This fact offers an excellent opportunity for all of Abraham's children
-
Muslims, Christians and Jews - to recognize and cherish their shared
religious heritage and to promote a harmonious future as people of
faith.
To learn more about Islam and the Muslim community, please visit
www.cair.com
---
"Malcolm X"
"There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world.
They
were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans.
But
we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of
unity
and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe
never
could exist between the white and non-white."
Those were the famous words of the late American civil rights leader
Malcolm X in his letter to America after returning from Hajj, or annual
pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajj is the largest and the oldest annual
spiritual
gathering on earth. Every Muslim aspires to perform Hajj once in his or
her
lifetime.
On January 20, Muslims in America and around the world concluded Hajj
with
a holiday called Eid ul-Adha or "festival of the sacrifice." The
greeting
for this holiday is "Eid Mubarak" which means "Blessed Holiday". The
Muslim
community wishes you and your family "Eid Mubarak!"
---
"Prayer"
This week, two million Muslims from America and around the world
concluded
the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj. Hajj is the largest and the
oldest
annual spiritual gathering on earth that every Muslim aspires to
perform
once in his or her lifetime.
Hajj is concluded with a holiday called Eid ul-Adha, or "festival of
the
sacrifice," which is celebrated by all Muslims around the world.
During
this holy season, Muslims offer their devotion to God and ask Him for
forgiveness of their past sins and guidance for the future.
In these difficult times of division, wars and natural disasters,
prayers
such as these are needed more than ever. Hajj is a time to pray for
God's
mercy and guidance, and for the ability to love and extend compassion
to
all peoples...
ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Support Eid-ul-Adha/Hajj Ads. Your support is necessary for this
important project. CAIR is asking the Muslim community to sponsor the
Eid-ul-Adha ads. Each ad will cost $250, on average, to broadcast.
CAIR-LA invites the Muslim community (individuals, businesses, and
Islamic
centers) to help sponsor the Ramadan ads. Please help continue
educating
the larger community about the truth about Islam. Send your support
today.
To donate contact CAIR-LA at 714-776-1847, or E-Mail: socal@cair.com
ALSO SEE:
A MOVABLE FEAST DAY
Festive Afghan dishes are among the foods prepared by Muslims worldwide
to
celebrate the Eid-al-Adha.
Charles Perry, Los Angeles Times, 1/19/05
http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-muslim19jan19,1,511780.story
Tomorrow night is the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday
corresponding to the final day of the Mecca pilgrimage. Non-Muslims are
probably more familiar with Eid al-Fitr, which ends the Ramadan fast,
but
Eid al-Adha - the Feast of the Sacrifice - is actually the more
important
celebration. It's also known as the Great Feast (Eid al-Kabir).
Over the three-day holiday, Muslims around the world gather with family
and
friends, sitting down to tables laden with special-occasion dishes,
turning
their thoughts to the pilgrims in Mecca, performing acts of charity and
welcoming visitors.
It's an important food holiday, but the celebratory menu varies widely,
with dishes particular to each region on the family tables - curries in
Bangladesh, pilafs in Iran, red-stewed lamb in China, whole roast lamb
in
Iraq. Since the Muslim calendar is lunar, Muslim holidays don't fall in
the
same season every year, so even in the same place, the menu may change
from
year to year.
With the success of its recent elections, Afghanistan is much in the
news
lately, so I talked to some Southland Afghans about their Eid al-Adha
culinary traditions.
There may not be many of them in this country, but Afghans are proud of
their cuisine, and surprisingly often they open restaurants. Relatives
of
newly elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai run restaurants on the East
Coast. It's an attractive cuisine, a little like Persian and a little
like
Indian, but with a number of pastas and a distinctive taste for
seasoning
meat with yogurt...
-----
MUSLIMS HERE USE EID FEAST TO HELP FEED AREA'S NEEDY
Rummana Hussain, Sun-Times, 1/19/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-meat19.html
Local mosques have teamed up with the Greater Chicago Food Depository
to
distribute nearly 16,000 pounds of ground beef donated by Muslims as
part
of their religious requirement to feed the hungry for the Eid-ul-Adha
holiday this week.
Chicago's estimated 400,000 Muslims usually pass out meat for family,
friends and other poor people of the Islamic faith.
But this is the first time for a collective effort to feed mostly
non-Muslims through the depository, which usually has a shortage of
protein-based donations.
"There are words in Quran that say if you see a person who denies God,
he's
a person who does not encourage people to feed the needy," said imam
Abdul
Malik Mujahid, who initiated the project. "It's a duty of faith…"
-----
CAIR-FL SEEKS EQUAL CONSIDERATION FOR MUSLIM HOLIDAYS
EQUAL CONSIDERATION
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2005/1/19/68481.html
Hillsborough County School Board members agreed to explore adding Ahmed
Bedir of CAIR was pleased the school board listened to a proposal for
Muslim holidays.
They told the school administration's calendar committee to take a
thorough
look at vacation days for the 2006-2007 school year, including an
examination of religious holidays for various faiths.
Ahmed Bedier, communications director for the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) in Tampa, said he hopes the door has opened to some
day
having a student day off timed with a Muslim holiday. He also believes
people of other faiths may also benefit.
"It is important, because at the end of the day these are children that
you're alienating,'' Bedier said."When they attend school and see
Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever other religious holiday being
recognized
and theirs is ignored, they feel like they don't count."
Several members of the Muslim community recently asked the board to
grant
the holidays off, and to also include the days on the school system's
master calendar so that teachers will not schedule assignments and
activities on those days.
Board members said effective immediately the district's calendar will
list
the Muslim holidays so that teachers and principals can take them into
account.
They vowed a renewed commitment to an existing policy that allows
students
to take time off for religious holidays, with proper notice, without
affecting exam exemptions and perfect attendance honors…
VIEW THE VIDEO:
BROADBAND:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/0501_baynews9_hillsschools_hi.wmv
DIAL-UP:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/0501_baynews9_hillsschools_lo.wmv
SEE ALSO:
RHONDA THURMAN SAYS ALLOWING ISLAMIC HEAD SCARF WAS WRONG DECISION
Chattanoogan Times, 1/18/05
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_61195.asp
County School Board member Rhonda Thurman said it was the wrong
decision to
allow a Muslim student at East Ridge High School to wear her Islamic
head
scarf, or hijab, in school.
Ms. Thurman said Board Chairman Chip Baker has agreed that the board
can
discuss the issue at its meeting on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Tyner
Academy.
Ms. Thurman said, "This was a policy decision that the school board
needed
to discuss. I am not happy with the decision made by the
administration.
"I think it opens up a Pandora's box for us. You may have Jewish
students
asking to wear yarmulkes and students from other religions making
requests.
"I think we should stick to the dress code."
The student had previously been told she could not wear her
religiously-mandated head scarf because it was against the school dress
code.
The school's decision to allow the head scarf came after intervention
by a
Muslim civil rights group based in Washington, D.C., and after school
officials conferred with legal counsel.
The girl said she converted to the Muslim faith about a year ago after
studying the Koran.
She said wearing the scarf keeps her mind of her religious faith and
following its tenets.
----
MICHIGAN JUDGE CLEARS MUSLIM WOMAN IN DEATH THAT COST HER THREE
CHILDREN
Detroit Free Press, 1/19/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw110282_20050119.htm
DEARBORN, Mich. - A Muslim immigrant from Lebanon has been cleared of
responsibility for her 2-year-old son's 1985 death, which led Michigan
authorities to give her three young children for adoption by an
evangelical
Christian couple.
The children, now ages 22, 21 and 18, have been trained to be Christian
missionaries, their birth father says.
Wayne County Circuit Judge Edward Thomas in Detroit on Tuesday ordered
that
the death certificate for Samier Amer be changed to say that his death
was
an accident, not a homicide. The ruling came after the county settled a
lawsuit brought by the parents.
The family says that Samier had a rare brittle bone disorder and died
after
falling in the bathtub and fracturing his skull.
"I think now God has spoken," said the mother, Rehab Amer. "I did not
kill
my son. My son cried from the grave for justice."
The state took the children into protective custody after the agency
accused Amer and her husband Ahmed of child abuse.
A jury found Rehab Amer not guilty of second-degree murder, but
Michigan's
welfare department refused to return the surviving children to their
parents.
In 1989, the couple lost parental rights to the children, who were
adopted
in 1990 by a Pentecostal Christian couple. The Amers say authorities
were
biased against them…
-----
MUSLIM CHARITY SUSPENDS ACTIVITY OVER GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
http://www.kinderusa.org/donorletter.htm
The following is an open letter to members of the community regarding
the
suspension KinderUSA's activities.
Dear Respected Donors,
Assalaamu alaikum (Peace be unto you),
In early 2002, KinderUSA was formed in response to dual challenges
posed by
the state of Muslim charities in America and the rapidly deteriorating
humanitarian picture in Palestine. Through the generosity of our
donors, we
have successfully raised and disbursed more than four million dollars
on
needy children and their families in slightly under three years of
existence.
At KinderUSA, our central concerns remain that your charitable
contributions are utilized in the manner intended and that those in
need
continue to receive the humanitarian assistance they deserve. Since our
inception, KinderUSA has been committed to transparency and due
diligence
on all levels.
As a standard business practice, we have conducted annual audits,
issued
annual reports, and had an independent expert evaluate our programs and
operations in Gaza in terms of effectiveness, transparency and
accountability. In accordance with rules governing non-profit
organizations, we have filed returns with appropriate state and federal
agencies, extending every effort to comply with all federal laws
regulating
the operation of charities, including the 2002 Treasury Department's
"Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for
US-Based
Charities." We have engaged directly with the Treasury Dept. on a
regular
basis to ensure that the interests of American Muslim donors are
respected
and that American Muslim charities receive fair treatment under the
law.
Despite all of our efforts, in recent weeks we have discovered that the
federal government has targeted KinderUSA for investigation. This has
taken
the form of unwarranted and obtrusive surveillance by the FBI,
wiretapping,
attempts to bribe and subvert our employees (which has caused them to
resign in fear), spreading of malicious disinformation about the
organization, and the possible invasion of our office space.
In the current environment, we cannot in good faith continue to solicit
donations when there are no safeguards in place to guarantee that the
federal government will not seize these funds and divert them from
their
intended, legitimate destination. We have approached the government
seeking
an explanation to help us understand the basis of this investigation
and
are currently awaiting a response.
Rest assured that your recent donations have made it to their intended
destination with the Ramadan project feeding needy children while
helping
farmers in cooperation with Agricultural Relief Committee; our ongoing
psychosocial support center for the severely traumatized implemented by
Terre des hommes; and distributing milk to needy pre-schoolers with
ANERA.
Our forthcoming newsletter will provide full details regarding our
activities during the last quarter.
We feel it is in the best interests of the beneficiaries, donors and
the
foundation to enter into a period of evaluation and review of our
options
during the calendar year of 2005. Once we conclude this period of
review,
we will inform you of any further developments. With the necessary
assurances from the US government, we will be able to continue our
important work, God-willing.
May God bless you for all of your efforts on behalf of those in
greatest need.
For the children,
The Board of Directors
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS CALL FOR TSUNAMI AID
Gary Stern, Journal News, 1/18/05
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/011805/b0118muslimprayers.html
MOUNT VERNON - Muslim leaders who gathered to pray last night for the
victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami sounded what may become a familiar
theme: Financial aid to South Asia will have to be continued for long
after
the disaster fades from headlines.
"It may take 20 or 30 years of relief efforts to get these communities
established," said Abdus-Salaam Musa, an official with INCA Relief, a
Muslim humanitarian group that has sent workers and supplies to several
of
the affected countries.
The American Muslim Women's Association, a Westchester-based group,
organized last night's hastily planned service at the Westchester
Muslim
Center to spur Muslims to reflect on the meaning of the tsunami - and
to
plant the seed that donations will be necessary for years.
"A catastrophe like this has to wake us up," said Dr. Mahjabeen Hassan
of
Pleasantville, chairwoman of the American Muslim Women's Association.
"Have
we changed our lives in any way since the tsunami happened or have we
gone
back to our old ways? It has shown us that life is so precious, so
short,
it can be gone in a blink of an eye."
Yasser El-Safadi, president of the Thornwood-based Upper Westchester
Muslim
Society, said that the tsunami should be a wake-up call to individuals
and
nations.
"If you are the same before and after, you have missed something
important," he said.
The tsunami is very much a Muslim tragedy, as the most devastated
nation is
Indonesia, home to more Muslims than any other nation. About 185
million of
the country's 220 million people are Muslim.
Indonesia lost more than 115,000 people. Overall, the tsunami killed
163,000 people in 11 countries.
Many regions of Indonesia are known to be very religious. Despite the
chaos
caused by the tsunami, an estimated 200,000 Indonesians are this week
making the hajj, the great Muslim pilgrimage through the holy cities of
Medina and Mecca.
Dr. Shafi Bezar, chairman of the Westchester Muslim Center, which has
raised $10,000 in donations so far, said that people of all faiths
should
find common ground in aiding survivors of the disaster.
"This is a human tragedy," he said…
-----
MORE MUSLIMS FIND ONLINE DATING A GOOD MATCH
Christine Armario, Christian Science Monitor, 1/19/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0119/p16s01-lifp.html
Setting aside the Muslim tradition of family-arranged marriages,
Abdullah
Yahya decided to choose a wife on his own. He went online and
discovered a
Muslim matchmaking service. Within months he met a woman from Dubai, in
the
United Arab Emirates, whom he planned to marry.
But in a clash of culture and technology, Mr. Yahya traveled from San
Francisco to Dubai, only to discover that the woman's parents did not
approve of him and wanted her to marry a cousin instead.
"It became a big mess," says Yahya, a computer programmer. "We just
couldn't go through with it. I flew back to America."
Still, the experience did not dishearten him. He began his own
matchmaking
service, muslimmatcher.com, and has helped more than 6,000 subscribers
find
other single Muslims to date, with the intention of marrying.
"It's hard to meet other Muslims, and personally, I'm not an advocate
of
going straight through the family thing," says Yahya. "I'd rather get
to
know the person first."
His website is one of several online Muslim matchmaking services that
have
sprung up in the United States and internationally in recent years.
They
are used by hundreds of thousands of Muslims worldwide, most of whom
live
away from families willing to arrange a marriage, or who prefer to find
a
spouse by themselves.
This is part of an ongoing shift in the way younger Muslims approach
marriage. Influenced by their non-Muslim peers, many are dating and
marrying outside their religion, without the consent of their parents.
But for those who want to marry another Muslim, the Internet can bridge
a
divide, allowing them to do things previously forbidden, such as
communicate privately before marriage…
ALSO SEE:
EXHIBIT OF ISLAMIC ART AND LIFESTYLE
Kentucky.com, 1/19/005
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/living/community/10657857.htm
The Berea Arts Council is featuring an exhibit of Islamic life and
prayer
titled May Peace and Love Come to All Who Pass by Here through Jan. 27
at
ArtSpace, 116 Main Street. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Lester Pross, retired
member
of the Berea College Art Department, will host a slide show on "Design
and
Context in Islamic Art" at ArtSpace, with a reception to follow. The
exhibit is a joint presentation of the Berea College International
Center
and the Berea Arts Council. The items on exhibit were gathered from
Berea
College students, faculty, staff, and the general community, including
part
of the extensive Middle Eastern art collection of Lester and Mary Lou
Pross. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Call
(859) 985-9317.
---
MUSLIM TRIO FINDS HUMOR IN STEREOTYPES
Sheila M. Poole, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 1/19/05
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/atlanta_world_14decb93449152a900f7.html
It's said that laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
For comedian Azhar Usman, a good chuckle can also bridge the gap
between
religions and cultures. It's a way to overcome stereotypes about
Muslims
and to take a humorous look at life before and after Sept. 11, 2001.
"Everywhere I go these days, the FBI follows me. In fact, they're
probably
here tonight, so let me go on record and clarify a few things. First of
all, I am not a member of al-Qaida, nor am I a member of the Taliban. I
just play one on TV."
Usman, who was born in Chicago and is of Indian ancestry, is part of
the
three-man comedy show "Allah Made Me Funny --- The Official Muslim
Comedy
Tour," which comes to Atlanta's private W.D. Mohammed High School on
Saturday and Sunday. It's a fund-raiser for the Mohammed Schools of
Atlanta.
The tour features comedians Usman, Azeem and Preacher Moss, executive
producer of the tour and a former writer for "The George Lopez Show"
and
Damon Wayans.
Moss, who worked with troubled youths before heading for Hollywood,
said
the idea for the show grew out of a need to address the isolation of
Muslims and to tackle such stereotypes as that Muslims can't be funny.
The trio pokes fun at Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and few subjects
are
hands-off. They even deal with the touchy subject of relations between
African-American Muslims and immigrant Muslims.
"I don't insult people, but I talk about issues," Moss said. "The
legacy
[being African-American and Muslim] allows me to talk about a lot of
things…"
-----
'24' CO-CREATOR SPEAKS ABOUT MUSLIM PROTESTS
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/19/05
www.ajc.com
At a "24" panel, co-creator Robert Cochran addressed protests from the
Muslim community about the Fox series' plotline featuring a
family-centered
Muslim terrorist cell in Los Angeles.
"We have a legitimate interest in telling stories that are grounded in
reality," he said. "Terrorist acts by extremist Muslim groups [are]
part of
the reality we face. . . . The vast, vast, overwhelming majority of
Muslim-Americans don't condone terrorism. . . and are law-abiding U.S.
citizens like everyone else."
Iranian-born actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, who plays the mother in the
terrorist family, said, "Although not all the Muslims are terrorists,
unfortunately most terrorists are Muslim." Nevertheless, she cautioned
against jumping to conclusions about the trajectory of the new season
of
"24," which is still young: "Things may not appear as they seem."
-----
RENO MAN SENTENCED TO PROBATION FOR ISLAMIC THREATS
Associated Press, 1/18/05
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2005/jan/18/011810358.html
RENO, Nev. - A Nevada insurance broker accused of sending threatening
e-mail to a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil rights group has been
sentenced to one year probation.
Dale T. Ehrgott of Reno was indicted by a federal grand jury last year
on
charges of threatening members of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in retaliation for terrorist attacks on Americans.
"You have taught us much about terrorism so get ready to be the
receiver,"
read one e-mail sent in 2003, according to case records.
After his indictment was made public, Ehrgott told The Associated Press
he
meant no harm.
"It wasn't a threat, just a nasty e-mail," Ehrgott told the AP at the
time.
Under an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Ehrgott pleaded
guilty
to a misdemeanor charge of interfering with federally protected
activities.
Besides probation, he also must perform 50 hours of community service
under
the sentence imposed Jan. 13 by U.S. Magistrate Robert McQuaid.
Arsalan Iftikhar, legal affairs director for the Islamic group, praised
prosecutors for the their handling of the case.
"Threats of physical violence, unlike legitimate public debate, must
never
be tolerated," he said.
Iftikhar added, "All such threatening messages will be turned over to
federal authorities for investigation."
ALSO SEE:
RENO MAN GETS PROBATION IN E-MAIL THREAT TO MUSLIM GROUP
Geralda Miller, Reno Gazette-Journal, 1/18/05
http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2005/01/18/90101.php
A Reno man accused of sending a threatening e-mail to the largest
Muslim
civil rights organization in the United States has been sentenced to a
year
of probation.
After negotiations with the U.S. attorney's office, Dale T. Ehrgott was
sentenced Thursday to one count of interference with a federally
protected
activity, a misdemeanor.
Ehrgott was indicted by a federal grand jury last year on two counts of
transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, said Natalie Collins,
spokeswoman for the office. The September trial resulted in a hung
jury.
"We accept your holy war. Looking forward to it very much," said the
e-mail
Ehrgott sent in October 2003 to the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
"We can deal with you easily, especially because you are on our soil.
You
have taught us much about terrorism so get ready to be the receiver."
Ehrgott also must perform 50 hours of community service and undergo
stringent monitoring by the federal probation system, Collins said.
Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR's national legal director, said he has sent the
Justice Department many examples of hate mail and this was the first
time
officials there have sought to prosecute a threat as a violation of
civil
rights laws…
-----
ISRAEL TO KILL IN U.S., ALLIED NATIONS
Richard Sale, UPI, 1/15/04
http://www.sierratimes.com/05/01/18/upi_israel.htm
Israel is embarking upon a more aggressive approach to the war on
terror
that will include staging targeted killings in the United States and
other
friendly countries, former Israeli intelligence officials told United
Press
International.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has forbidden the practice until
now,
these sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Israeli statements were confirmed by more than a half dozen former
and
currently serving U.S. foreign policy and intelligence officials in
interviews with United Press International.
But an official at the Israeli Embassy in Washington told UPI: "That is
rubbish. It is completely untrue. Israel and the United States have
such a
close and co-operative intelligence relationship, especially in the
field
of counter-terrorism, that the assertion is ludicrous."
With the appointment of Meir Dagan, the new director of Israel's Mossad
secret intelligence service, Sharon is preparing "a huge budget"
increase
for the spy agency as part of "a tougher stance in fighting global
jihad
(or holy war)," one Israeli official said.
Since Sharon became Israeli prime minister, Tel Aviv has mainly limited
its
practice of targeted killings to the West Bank and Gaza because "no one
wanted such operations on their territory," a former Israeli
intelligence
official said…
SEE ALSO:
US OFFICIAL CONFIRMS ALLAWI SHOT SIX DEAD
Sydney Morning Herald, 1/19/05
http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/18/1105810916006.html?oneclick=true
A former Jordanian government minister has told The New Yorker that an
American official confirmed to him that the Iraqi interim Prime
Minister,
Iyad Allawi, executed six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police
station
last year.
The claim is in an extensive profile of Dr Allawi written for this
week's
issue of the magazine by an American journalist, Jon Lee Anderson, the
author of The Fall of Baghdad and a regular Baghdad correspondent for
The
New Yorker.
Writing about his research in Jordan in December, Anderson says: "A
well-known former government minister told me that an American official
had
confirmed that the killings took place, saying to him, 'What a mess
we're
in - we got rid of one son of a bitch only to get another one'."
The New Yorker also revealed that Anderson was present during an
interview
conducted by the Herald's chief correspondent, Paul McGeough, in late
June,
with a man who said he witnessed the executions by Dr Allawi.
Dr Allawi denied the allegations when they were published in the Herald
last July.
Anderson writes: "The man ... described how Allawi had been taken to
seven
suspects, who were made to stand against a wall in a courtyard of the
police station, their faces covered. After being told of their alleged
crimes by a police official, Allawi had asked for a pistol, and then
shot
each prisoner in the head. [One of the men survived.] Afterward, the
witness said, Allawi had declared to those present, 'This is how we
must
deal with the terrorists.' The witness said he approved of Allawi's
act,
adding that, in any case, the terrorists were better off dead, for they
had
been tortured for days."
---
U.S. COURT DISMISSES SAUDI ARABIA FROM 9/11 SUITS
Reuters, 1/18/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7361202
NEW YORK - Saudi Arabia, its defense minister and its ambassador to
Britain
won a ruling in a U.S. court on Tuesday dismissing them as defendants
in
massive litigation growing out of the September 11th attacks on
America.
U.S. District Judge Richard Casey ruled in a lengthy written order that
Saudi Arabia, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Prince Turki
al-Faisal,
the country's ambassador to Britain, all have immunity from the
litigation.
The judge also dismissed a number of other parties as defendants
including
Arab Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, and Saudi American Bank.
The rulings stemmed from eight cases that were consolidated before the
Manhattan federal judge, who is considering pre-trial matters. The
complaints alleged that more than 200 defendants helped support and
fund
Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network.
The cases were filed on behalf of more than 3,000 plaintiffs including
representatives and family members of those killed in the Sept. 11,
2001
attacks as well as survivors and insurance carriers.
The plaintiffs alleged that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi
Royal
Family and people prominent in Saudi society made it possible for al
Qaeda
to grow into a "sophisticated global terrorist network."
The plaintiffs also charged that Saudi Arabia maintained and controlled
charities within al Qaeda's structure.
Saudi Arabia responded to the suits saying that it has worked with the
United States to share information in the fight against terrorism and
that
the U.S. State Department has not designated the Kingdom as a state
sponsor
of terrorism.
It also said that the 9/11 Commission in the United States had found no
evidence that Saudi Arabia supported those who attacked the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon.
In his ruling, the judge refused to immediately throw out allegations
against National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia's largest, which the
plaintiffs say bin Laden and al Qaeda used for their operations.
The bank, which is mainly state-owned, contends that it has immunity as
agent of the government, but the judge said further information was
needed
to determine its status.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: 'MOHAMMED LIED'
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary%5C17093.html
"Mohammed lied, and the trust and faith Muslims have in his revelations
is
a fraud. The faith Muslims have in Mohammed's immortality and paradise
is
faith in a hustler. This faith is not fair to these people who have had
false doctrine instilled into their culture for hundreds of years
through
domineering religious dogma."
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: karen.trout@roanoke.com
COPY TO: cair@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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/20/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: CELEBRATE ON EID DAYS
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: QURAN MENTIONED IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS
- Inaugural Becoming Forum on Religious Expression (PE)
* CAIR-CHICAGO LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE CENTER
- CAIR-MD/VA: Islamic Group Has New Office (Wash Post)
* NJ: SLAYINGS SPUR NEW WAVE OF ANTI-ISLAM BIAS (AP)
* CAIR-NJ/NY: MUSLIMS CONDEMN FAMILY'S MURDER (Record)
- Groups Call for Restraint and Calm (Star-Ledger)
- Pleas For Calm (Jersey Journal)
- Muslims Show Respect for Slain NJ Clan (Daily News)
* CAIR-CT: EQUAL TIME ON `24'? (Hartford Courant)
* CA: RHYTHM NATION OF ISLAM (East Bay Express)
* IL: PILGRIMAGE SPAWNS A BUSINESS NICHE (Chicago Tribune)
- Pilgrims Bring Cosmopolitan Air to Mecca (NYT)
* SURVEY: AMERICANS OPPOSE IRAN INVASION (UPI)
- Another Poll Finds War Support Eroding (E&P)
- Gonzales Excludes CIA From Rules on Prisoners (NYT)
- 'Why Did They Shoot? We Have No Weapons' (Independent)
* INCITEMENT WATCH: MUSLIMS SEEK 'CONTROL OF THE WORLD'
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: CELEBRATE ON EID DAYS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) approved of celebrations on
religious holidays such as Eid ul-Adha when he said: "(Islam) is
spacious
(and has room for relaxation), and I have been sent with an easy and
straightforward religion."
The Prophet also said: "The days of (Eid) are days of eating and
drinking
(non-alcoholic drinks) and of remembering God, the Exalted."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 153
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: QURAN MENTIONED IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS
"In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private
character -- on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of
conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the
governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families,
supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national
life
by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the
Koran,
and the varied faiths of our people."
Inaugural Address of President George W. Bush, 1/20/05
SEE ALSO:
INAUGURAL BECOMING FORUM ON RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION
BETTYE WELLS MILLER, Press-Enterprise, 1/20/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_inaug20.a14bc.html
Plans for the inauguration of President George W. Bush have encountered
unexpected controversy over religious expression.
But Inland residents and national experts say that religious expression
has
a place in presidential inaugurations…
Jesus Revered in Islam
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
in Washington, D.C., said Muslims generally would not object to
references
to Jesus during the inauguration.
"We happen to revere Jesus as a prophet of God," he said by phone. "Any
president has the right to pick whoever he feels is appropriate for
prayer
or an invocation, but we would also hope he wouldn't pick anyone who is
divisive. We would hope there would be an American Muslim represented
both
at the inauguration itself and at any interfaith events…"
-----
CAIR-CHICAGO LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE CENTER
Website Features Press Center, Community News & Announcements
(CHICAGO, IL, 1/20/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today launched its new online
center: http://www.cairchicago.org/
The new website will be a central repository of information about
Chicago
Muslims and issues of relevance to the local community.
The site will archive action alerts, press releases, press statements,
and
media advisories issued by CAIR Chicago, as well as Chicago Muslim
community news and announcements. It will also advertise important
community events and developments.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America's largest
Muslim
civil liberties group, has 30 offices and chapters nationwide and in
Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage
dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build
coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago's executive director, Yaser Tabbara,
312-718-3725,
312-212-1520, director@cairchicago.org; or director of communications,
Ahmed Rehab, 847-971-3963, communications@cairchicago.org
SEE ALSO:
ISLAMIC GROUP HAS NEW OFFICE
Branch in Herndon To Focus on Rights Cases
C. Woodrow Irvin, Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19888-2005Jan19.html
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a District-based civil
rights
group, has opened its first Northern Virginia office in Herndon, a
center
of the Muslim community in western Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
Many Muslims in Northern Virginia have reported hate crimes,
discrimination
and harassment, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks…
Although the council's mid-Atlantic chapter offices are in Bethesda,
more
than half of its cases originate in Northern Virginia, officials said,
prompting the need for a satellite office…
The Herndon office will be staffed by two full-time employees who,
Mowlana
said, will focus on casework and mediation related to discrimination
complaints. In addition, the office will serve as a training center for
teaching volunteers how to work with the media to project a positive
image
of Islam, council officials said.
-----
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ, 973-785-3050 or 908-209-7440
JERSEY CITY SLAYING SPURS NEW WAVE OF ANTI-ISLAM BIAS
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 1/20/05
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The dirty looks and shouted slurs started in 1993
after
Muslims living here helped plan the bombing of the World Trade Center.
They
intensified on Sept. 11, 2001, when Muslim hijackers brought down the
twin
towers just across the Hudson River.
Now a third wave of anti-Muslim sentiment is washing over New Jersey's
second-largest city, sparked this time by reports that the murders of
an
Egyptian Christian man, his wife and two young daughters might have
been
carried out by Muslims angered over postings the man made in an
Internet
chat room.
The strife is particularly distressing in light of efforts the area's
Muslim community made to reach out to other faiths and strengthen ties
after the 9/11 attacks. Imams visited churches and synagogues. Joint
prayer
breakfasts and open houses were held. Muslim merchants visited the
homes of
their Christian and Jewish counterparts, and strongly denounced the
terror
attacks.
"We've been working for three years on getting Christians together with
Muslims," said Mohamed Younes, president of the American Muslim Union.
"Now
much of that progress is gone. It is definitely going to be set back.
"I'm just sorry we weren't able to do more before this happened," he
said.
"If we had a stronger relationship, something like this would never
have
happened because then you'd have a window to talk to the other side…"
Although prosecutors have stressed that robbery remains a possible
motive
in the case, many in this city's sizable Egyptian population believe
the
killings were religiously motivated...
After the killings, Muslims tried anew to mend fences, but the results
were
mixed, at best. Several attended the family's funeral, but a New York
cleric had to be escorted from the church hall for his own protection
after
a heckler started shouting at him. Mourners engaged in several scuffles
before and after the funeral, including one in which about 35 people
pushed, shoved and traded punches in the street as others yelled
anti-Islam
slogans.
A few days later, Muslim leaders called a press conference designed as
an
interfaith rally to try to calm religious tensions, but Christian
groups
who were invited did not attend, citing a religious holiday of their
own. A
similar interfaith event planned for this Sunday, which had been in the
works for months, had to be postponed due to expected bad weather...
-----
MUSLIMS CONDEMN FAMILY'S MURDER
TOM TRONCONE, Record, 1/20/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NDIxMzQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
JERSEY CITY - A group of Muslim leaders on Wednesday condemned the
murder
of a Coptic Orthodox family and called for solidarity across religious
lines in the wake of the grisly slayings.
Leaders of more than a half-dozen Islamic organizations asked the
public
and media to refrain from speculating about whether religion may have
played a role in the murders of Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal
Garas,
37, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8 - who were found
bound
and stabbed to death in their city home last week.
"We condemn this horrible crime," said Ghazi Khankan, the executive
director of the Council on American Islamic Relations in New York.
"While
we understand the anger and frustration ... we ask that individuals of
both
the Muslim and Christian community to refrain from inflaming the
situation…"
SEE ALSO:
JERSEY CITY GROUPS CALL FOR RESTRAINT AND CALM
BRIAN DONOHUE, Star-Ledger, 1/20/05
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/firstglance/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1106189406134610.xml
---
PLEA FOR CALM
Bonnie Friedman, Jersey Journal, 1/20/05
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/110621605273120.xml
---
RESPECT FOR SLAIN N.J. CLAN
TAMER EL-GHOBASHY, NY DAILY NEWS, 1/20/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/story/273038p-233782c.html
MUSLIMS IN the Egyptian hometown of the Coptic Christian family found
slain
in Jersey City reportedly have canceled celebrations of a major holiday
today out of respect for the victims.
The gesture strikes a remarkable contrast to the animosity that has
surfaced locally after some Copts asserted that a Muslim must have
killed
the family over anti-Islamic statements the dad posted in an Internet
chat
room…
In Luxor, where the family lived before immigrating to Jersey City in
1997,
Muslim friends and neighbors are refraining from baking sweets, buying
gifts and other festivities common in observing Eid al-Adha, according
to
an Egyptian newspaper…
Al-Wafd, one of Egypt's largest independent dailies, also reported
yesterday that a memorial service for the Armanious family was heavily
attended by Muslims, who were welcomed by the slain family's relatives…
-----
CAIR-CT: EQUAL TIME ON `24'?
ROGER CATLIN, Hartford Courant, 1/20/05
http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/tv/hc-foxmuslim.artjan20,1,6140142.story
The Fox network is facing controversy again, this time for the
depiction of
a Muslim family as aiding terrorists in "24."
To address complaints about the family's portrayal, Fox agreed this
week to
offer free advertising to Islamic groups angered by the early episodes
of
the fourth season of the show.
In "24," a Muslim family is part of a terror group that kidnaps the
U.S.
Secretary of Defense. "What we will accomplish today will change the
world," the father tells the son over breakfast. "We are fortunate that
our
family has been chosen to do this."
The Council on American- Islamic Relations issued a statement that the
initial episodes "confirmed our concerns that the story was going in a
dangerous direction: casting a shadow of suspicion on ordinary American
Muslims."
The council met with Fox officials last week, and the network agreed to
make available to its affiliates two public-service announcements that
show
Muslims in a positive light. The spots end by stating "Muslims are part
of
the fabric of this country and are working to build a better America…"
The show's executive producer, Robert Cochran, this week called the
talks
with CAIR representatives "very cordial. It was very calm, very
productive.
Both sides listened. Both sides spoke, and I think both sides felt that
a
resolution - it is happening." Still, he said, "We have a legitimate
interest in telling stories that are grounded in reality, at least to a
considerable extent grounded in reality," and he called "terrorists
acts by
extremist Muslim groups "part of the reality we face.
"It's also true that the Muslim groups that have spoken up have a
legitimate interest in making it clear to the American people that the
vast, overwhelming majority of Muslim Americans don't condone
terrorism,
don't support terrorism, are loyal, law-abiding citizens like everybody
else," he said.
Badr Malik, executive director of New London-based CAIR Connecticut,
echoed
that sentiment.
"There are 10 million American Muslims right now," he says. "What it
proves
is most of American Muslims are peaceful people who are working and
raising
families. This show is not presenting the lives of real American
Muslims..."
CONTACT: CAIR-CT, CAIR - Connecticut, 860-995-6628 or 860-995-6628
-----
RHYTHM NATION OF ISLAM
Eric K. Arnold, East Bay Express, 1/9/05
http://music.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2005-01-19/music/close2thaedge.html
"I think that Islam itself is the unofficial religion of hip-hop,"
proclaims Adisa Banjoko, the San Jose-based writer, publicist, radio
show
host of One Mic on KNEW-AM, and student of Gracie-style Brazilian
jujitsu.
"So much hip-hop has come to be that has referenced Islam, that many of
the
people themselves don't even recognize it. Like, why is it that Biggie
Smalls was going on about From Mecca to Medina? He's not talking about
Saudi Arabia…"
-----
PILGRIMAGE SPAWNS A BUSINESS NICHE
Deborah Horan, Chicago Tribune, 1/20/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0501200262jan20,1,74763.story
Zubair and Aisha Khan wanted to make the spiritual pilgrimage to Mecca,
to
circle the black stone shrine in the glistening Saudi desert and become
"hajjis," a title bestowed on Muslims who make the sacred journey to
Islam's holiest city.
So the Chicago couple slapped down roughly $7,000 last year to Barakah
Hajj
& Umrah, an Oak Brook-based company that plans every detail of the
annual
religious rite, from the airfare to the air-conditioned tents that
house
pilgrims during one leg of the journey.
For that lump sum, the Khans got airline seats, stays in four-star
hotels
and tents, three meals a day, bus rides, religious seminars and help in
obtaining Hajj visas from the Saudi government.
"It was as if we were going on a trip," Zubair Khan, a 28-year-old
lawyer,
said of the package deal that organized the nuts and bolts of a
life-changing religious experience. "For me, the price was very
competitive."
The trek to Mecca, which every able-bodied Muslim is expected to do
once in
a lifetime if he or she can afford it, has typically been a group
affair.
For decades, a local official called a mutawwif, or helper, assigned to
the
group has facilitated a perilous journey that often exposed travelers
to
bandits and disease.
But as more and more American Muslims seek the experience, they are
quietly
helping to transform the sojourn into a multimillion-dollar industry,
fueled by a desire to commune with God without giving up modern
amenities.
As Islam and the wealth of the Muslim community in America grows, so
does
demand for Hajj tour services.
Dozens of companies now cater to an estimated 10,000 pilgrims from U.S.
cities who trek to Mecca annually during the Hajj, including roughly
600
from Chicago for this year's pilgrimage, which ends with the three-day
feast that began Thursday…
SEE ALSO:
ISLAMIC PILGRIMS BRING COSMOPOLITAN AIR TO UNLIKELY CITY
HASSAN M. FATTAH, New York Times, 1/20/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/international/middleeast/20mecca.html
The two-hour panel presentation on ''Mecca: The Cultural Capital of
Islam''
was pretty dry but things got rolling in the question and answer
session,
in a way that was quintessentially Meccan.
One by one, audience members, a surprising number of them women, came
to
the microphone and tossed out questions that few others would dare ask
publicly…
The session soon grew into a raucous series of debates about the
critical
issues facing Muslims -- disunity, extremism, leadership. And soon the
meeting's organizer, Abubaker Bagader, a sociology professor at King
Abdul
Aziz University, had to step in to admonish them -- not for being too
argumentative but for veering from the subject.
Rare in most of the Muslim world, the willingness to debate and raise
seemingly taboo questions is standard here in the birthplace of Islam
and
the site of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage beginning Wednesday that
attracts about 1.5 million Muslims from all corners of the world for
five
days of meditation, prayer and, often, vigorous debate.
In workshops and meeting rooms, at schools and mosques in the city, the
freewheeling discussion of theology, history and politics lives on. And
if
this intellectual melee was any indicator, the debate is quite
civilized --
no raised voices, no threats, no personal attacks.
In Mecca, Dr. Bagader said later, that is the way. ''This city is a
stage
where people from all over the world can come and find an audience to
listen to them,'' says Dr. Bagader, a Meccan native. ''There is an
acceptance of being different here...''
-----
SURVEY: AMERICANS OPPOSE IRAN INVASION
Anwar Iqbal, United Press International, 1/20/05
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050119-032203-2848r
WASHINGTON -- A major new national opinion survey of 1,608 American
voters
released this week shows that only 42 percent would support the U.S.
invasion of Iran to stop its nuclear program.
Nearly half -- 47 percent -- of U.S. voters would oppose such a move
and 11
percent are unsure.
The survey was conducted by the Washington-based Opinion Research
Corporation for the nonprofit and nonpartisan Results For America,
which is
a project of the Civil Society Institute.
The survey comes amid media reports that the United States was
contemplating military actions against Iran's nuclear sites…
SEE ALSO:
ANOTHER POLL, THIS ONE FOR 'LAT,' FINDS WAR SUPPORT ERODING
Editor & Publisher, 1/19/05
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000767889
NEW YORK Another major poll, this one from the Los Angeles Times, shows
support for America's Iraq adventure continuing to slip.
The poll, conducted Saturday through Monday, found that the percentage
of
Americans who believe the situation in Iraq was "worth going to war
over"
has sunk to a new low of 39%, down 5% since October.
The Times also reported that 37% of the public advocates withdrawing at
least some troops now, a position very few newspaper editorial pages
have
endorsed. Fifty-two percent want to wait and see what happens after the
Iraqi elections. Just 4% would like to send more troops, a position
supported by many newspapers, including The New York Times, along with
legislators such as Sen. John McCain.
In addition, 47% said they would like to see most of the troops out
within
a year...
---
GONZALES EXCLUDES CIA FROM RULES ON PRISONERS
Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, 1/20/05
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/19/news/abuse.html
WASHINGTON Officers of the Central Intelligence Agency and other
nonmilitary personnel fall outside the bounds of a 2002 directive
issued by
President George W. Bush that pledged the humane treatment of prisoners
in
U.S. custody, Alberto Gonzales, the White House counsel, said in a
document.
In written responses to questions posed by senators as part of their
consideration of his nomination to be attorney general, Gonzales also
said
a separate congressional ban on cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment
had
"a limited reach" and did not apply in all cases to "aliens overseas."
That position has clear implications for prisoners held in U.S. custody
at
Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in Iraq, legal analysts said…
---
'WHY DID THEY SHOOT? WE HAVE NO WEAPONS'
Chris Hondros, Independent, 1/20/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=602608
It was a routine foot patrol. As we made our way up a broad boulevard,
in
the distance I could see a car making its way toward us. As a defence
against potential car bombs, it is now standard practice for foot
patrols
to stop oncoming vehicles, particularly after dark.
"We have a car coming," someone called out, as we entered an
intersection.
We could see the car about 100 metres away. It kept coming; I could
hear
its engine now, a high whine that sounded more like acceleration than
slowing down. It was maybe 50 yards away now. "Stop that car!" someone
shouted out, seemingly simultaneously with someone firing what sounded
like
warning shots - a staccato measured burst.
The car continued coming. And then, perhaps less than a second later, a
cacophony of fire, shots rattling off in a chaotic overlapping din. The
car
entered the intersection on its momentum and still shots were
penetrating
it and slicing it. Finally the shooting stopped, the car drifted
listlessly, clearly no longer being steered, and came to a rest on a
kerb.
Soldiers began to approach it warily. The sound of children crying came
from the car. I walked up to the car and a teenaged girl with her head
covered emerged from the back, wailing and gesturing wildly. After her
came
a boy, tumbling on to the ground from the seat, already leaving a pool
of
blood.
"Civilians!" someone shouted, and soldiers ran up. More children - it
ended
up being six all told - started emerging, crying, their faces mottled
with
blood in long streaks. The troops carried them all off to a nearby
sidewalk…
From the pavement I could see into the bullet-mottled windshield more
clearly, the driver of the car, a man, was penetrated by so many
bullets
that his skull had collapsed, leaving his body grotesquely disfigured.
A
woman also lay dead in the front, still covered in her Muslim clothing
and
harder to see.
Meanwhile, the children continued to wail and scream, huddled against a
wall, sandwiched between soldiers either binding their wounds or trying
to
comfort them. The Army's translator later told me that this was a
Turkoman
family and that the teenaged girl kept shouting, "Why did they shoot
us? We
have no weapons! We were just going home!" After a delay in getting the
armoured vehicles lined up and ready, the convoy moved to the main Tal
Afar
hospital…
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: MUSLIMS SEEK 'CONTROL OF THE WORLD'
PROF SETS FORTH 'HOW ISLAM PLANS TO CHANGE THE WORLD'
Lauri Arnold, Baptist Press, 1/19/05
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19939
MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)--In the weeks and months that followed Sept.
11,
2001, churches across America reported a high increase in the number of
attendees -- and so did mosques across America.
"9/11 was a wakeup call. Suddenly people began to say, 'What is Islam?'
and
it was quite amazing after 9/11 that Muslims began saying, 'Come to the
mosque and find out what Islam is,'" said William Wagner, professor of
missions at Golden Gate Theological Seminary and author of "How Islam
Plans
to Change the World," a new book from Kregel Publications.
Wagner writes in his book that Islam has grown in America as a result
of a
detailed strategy that was already in place long before radical
Islamists
associated with Osama Bin Laden perpetrated the tragedies of Sept. 11.
"Islam is a world religion with a well-defined culture and a developed
strategy for taking control of the world," Wagner writes in the preface
of
the book.
One example Wagner noted was that those who went to the mosques
following
Sept. 11 were told that Islam "is a religion of peace, love and
forgiveness
and that there were few real terrorists in their faith," as Wagner put
it.
"They did such a convincing job that some converted and others became
vocal
supporters of tolerance for Islam in their communities..."
"In reading Khomeini's Islamic Government, one has a tendency to
compare it
to Adolph Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'," Wagner writes. "Both state clearly
their
grand ideas of world conquest, but people today do not take such
writings
seriously. The key difference between the two is that Hitler was an
atheist
while Khomeini claimed to be a man of God."
Wagner identifies three specific tools that are utilized today in order
to
keep the overall Islamic strategy in place and ultimately advance the
spread of the faith: jihad (holy war), da'wah (missions) and the
building
of mosques. Wagner said now he also identifies immigration as a fourth
tool
that is used, though it is not included in the book.
Wagner noted that it may seem strange to some people that the Muslim
faith
is growing, both in America and beyond in light of the faith's link
with
Sept. 11, but he said the faith is growing "because they know what they
are
doing."
"I think that we need to be aware that they really are a threat to us
and
that if we don't wake up, one of these days it is going to be too
late…"
-----
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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 - 1/21/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: PIETY REACHES GOD
* CAIR: EID RECALLS ABRAHAM'S SUBMISSION TO GOD
- CAIR-LA: Muslims Celebrate Christian, Judaism Ties
- IL: Muslims' Ritual Helps Feed the Needy (Chicago Trib)
* EVANGELIST'S TSUNAMI EFFORTS STIR US MUSLIM GROUP (Reuters)
- Christian Aid Shows Power of the Pulpit (AP)
* NJ: WHERE CALM IS NEEDED (Bergen Record)
- CAIR-NJ Offers Condolences to Coptic Community
* CAIR-HOUSTON: FORM PITS TEXAS CHRISTIANS AGAINST MUSLIMS (FOX)
- TX: Group Questions 'Spread of Islam in America' (CAIR)
- CT: Church Distributes Anti-Muslim Tracts (Rep-American)
- TN: Metro Worker Forwards Anti-Muslim E-Mail (Tennessean)
* MD: MUSLIMS SEEK INPUT INTO SCHOOL CALENDAR (Baltimore Sun)
- TN: Board Backs Allowing Girl to Wear Head Scarf
* FL: WHY 20 YEARS TO BUILD THE AL-ARIAN CASE? (Weekly Planet)
* IL: MUSLIM WOMEN CONFRONT MISCONCEPTIONS (Daily NW)
- CA: Head Scarf is Liberating (Los Angeles Times)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PIETY REACHES GOD
"For every nation We prescribed a way of sacrifice so that they may
pronounce the name of God over the animals that He has given them for
food.
But the object is one and the same: to remember that your God is one
God.
So submit yourselves to Him, and O Prophet (Muhammad), give good news
to
the humble, whose hearts tremble at the mention of God, who endure
adversity with patience, who establish prayer and spend in charity out
of
what we have given them…
"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God; it is your
piety that reaches Him. Thus, He has subjected these animals to you so
that
you may glorify God for giving you guidance, and O Prophet, give good
news
to those who do good to others."
The Holy Quran, 22:34-35, 37
NOTE: Each year on the holiday of Eid ul-Adha, Muslims sacrifice an
animal
in remembrance of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at
God's command. The meat is distributed to relatives and to the needy.
-----
HOLIDAY RECALLS PROPHET ABRAHAM'S SUBMISSION TO GOD
Nihad Awad, Columbus Dispatch, 1/21/05
http://www.dispatch.com/news/religion/faith-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/01/21/20050121-E2-01.html
[Nihad Awad is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil-rights and advocacy group.
He
may be reached at nawad@cair-net.org.]
When Muslims marked the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj,
yesterday, the central figure in their religious celebrations was the
Prophet Abraham, not the Prophet Muhammad as one might suppose.
That fact offers an excellent opportunity for Muslims, Christians and
Jews
to recognize their shared religious heritage and to promote a common
future
as people of faith.
Each year, Muslims in American and around the world conclude the Hajj
with
a holiday called Eid ul-Adha (eedal-ODD-ha), or ''Festival of the
Sacrifice." Eid ul-Adha not only signifies the end of the pilgrimage,
which
this year included an estimated 10,000 American Muslims among 2 million
to
3 million faithful, it also commemorates Abraham's willingness to
sacrifice
his son at God's command. (Muslims believe it was Ishmael that God
asked to
be sacrificed.)
One of the central rites of the Hajj, the largest and oldest annual
gathering on Earth, is the stoning by the pilgrims of three pillars
representing Satan's temptation of Abraham and his rejection of that
enticement. The stoning indicates the pilgrim's similar rejection of
evil
deeds...
Muslims call Abraham the ''friend" of God. The Quran, Islam's revealed
text, states: ''Who can be better in faith than one who submits his
whole
self to God, does good and follows the way of Abraham, the true in
faith?
For God did take Abraham for a friend" (4:125).
Another verse portrays Abraham as the ''father" of all believers.
''Strive
in the way of God as you ought to strive with sincerity and discipline.
He
has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in the observance
of
your faith - the faith of your father Abraham" (22:78).
Yet another verse confirms that Abraham is part of the brotherhood of
God's
prophets. ''(O Muhammad), we have sent revelations to you just as we
sent
to Noah and the prophets who came after him. We also sent revelations
to
Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, his descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah,
Aaron
and Solomon, and to David we gave the Psalms" (4:163)...
It is sometimes easy to focus on the very real differences in faith and
religious practice. But we all need to make the effort to find out what
we
have in common and to communicate those shared beliefs.
People claiming to speak in the name of their faith sparked the recent
downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility. It is time for
the
majority of Muslims, Christians and Jews to stand up and say they will
not
let the fringe of any faith group dictate how they view and interact
with
each other.
As always, it is up to people of good will to avoid easy answers and
instead do the hard work of confronting the kind of ignorance that can
lead
to religious bigotry.
Through the Hajj, Abraham has united Muslims from all over the world
for
more than 14 centuries. The real challenge is for all of Abraham's
children
- Muslims, Christians and Jews - to unite for the common good of
humanity.
SEE ALSO:
LOCAL MUSLIMS CELEBRATE CHRISTIAN, JUDAISM TIES
Marshall Allen, Star News, 1/20/05
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~2665585,00.html
SAN GABRIEL -- As local Muslims on Thursday celebrated the holiday
recognizing Islam's historic connection to Judaism and Christianity,
some
say they feel increasingly marginalized in the U.S. Others are using
the
event as an opportunity to educate Americans about Islam.
Eid ul-Adha, or "festival of the sacrifice," commemorates Abraham's
obedience to God's command to offer his son as a sacrifice. The holiday
is
the second most important on the Muslim calendar and arrives each year
as
Muslims conclude the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj...
As Muslims recognized their historic connection with Jews and
Christians,
some said recent events have made them feel less welcome in the U.S.
American Muslims have been thrust into the spotlight in recent years by
the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assaults on the U.S. and violent attacks in
other
countries. The attention has often led to implied connections to
Islamic
extremism that make moderately minded Muslims feel exposed.
Local Muslims cited polls that have increased their discomfort…
Sabiha Khan said she sees the poll numbers as an opportunity to educate
Americans about Islam. According to the polls, the majority of
Americans
support Muslims' civil rights and don't believe the negative
stereotypes of
Islam, she said. But in the same studies about 60 percent of
respondents
say they are not familiar with the religion.
"This shows people are willing to be convinced," she said. "People are
open
minded."
CAIR is using Eid ul-Adha to educate radio listeners through an ad
campaign
that started Thursday and will air through Sunday on 980 AM-KFWB.
The holiday "offers an excellent opportunity for all of Abraham's
children
-- Muslims, Christians and Jews -- to recognize and cherish their
shared
religious heritage and to promote a harmonious future as people of
faith,"
one of the ads says.
---
MUSLIMS' RITUAL HELPS PUT FOOD ON NEEDY TABLES
Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune, 1/21/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0501210304jan21,1,1939544.story
As millions of Muslim pilgrims complete the final rituals of hajj
Friday in
Saudi Arabia, Sulejman Dzananovic will enter a Minnesota
slaughterhouse,
raise a newly sharpened blade and perform 66 ceremonial sacrifices to
God…
This year local Muslims are taking the rite of sacrifice one step
further.
Through a campaign called "Sacrifice This Eid For Our Neighbors,"
Chicago-area families contributed more than $64,000 to buy cows to be
killed by Dzananovic. Processed as 4-pound packages of frozen ground
beef,
the entire yield from the slaughter will go to feed Chicago's hungry,
regardless of their faith…
-----
EVANGELIST'S TSUNAMI EFFORTS STIR US MUSLIM GROUP
Manuela Badawy, Reuters, 1/20/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7388094
NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A U.S. Muslim group on Thursday accused
evangelist Jerry Falwell of using money donated for tsunami relief to
convert people in South Asia to Christianity and called on the Bush
administration to denounce his actions.
In an e-mailed weekly newsletter called "Falwell Confidential," which
was
obtained by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the evangelist
said:
"Hundreds of thousands are in dire need of medical attention and
personal
counseling. And in this heavily Muslim part of the world, millions have
never even heard of Jesus Christ."
The newsletter, which is distributed by Jerry Falwell Ministries, said
donations would be used to distribute food and Gospel tracts in the
region.
A Muslim who received the e-mail passed it on to the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said.
According to a statement on www.falwell.com and Liberty University's
Web
site, the school is preparing a team to travel to India, Sri Lanka and
other countries in South Asia. Falwell founded Liberty University.
"Distribution of food and medical supplies, along with the
dissemination of
thousands of Gospel tracts in the language of the people will be the
primary tasks of the team," the Web sites said. "Mission trips to the
Asian
region by many (Liberty University) students will follow in the months,
and
perhaps years, to come."
But Dr. Eddie Pate, professor and leader of Liberty's tsunami aid
effort,
said he did not plan to take "any materials or pass anything out." He
said
the team is going to South Asia to work with local Christian groups
that
are distributing food and medicine, and helping small businesses
restart.
Falwell's office declined comment. The evangelist sparked controversy
in
2002 when he called Muslims' prophet Muhammad a "terrorist" during a
television interview.
"This is not the first time we hear about this kind of proselytism,"
Hooper
said. "This has a negative impact, first, on interfaith relations, and
second, on the trust and work of legitimate institutions working
there."
Hooper said missionaries acting as relief groups could hurt rather than
help these vulnerable societies.
"It would make work for legitimate institutions more difficult. It also
harms America's image, which is already pretty tarnished in the rest of
the
world…"
SEE ALSO:
FLOW OF CHRISTIAN AID SHOWS SHIFTING POWER OF THE PULPIT
BRIAN MURPHY, Associated Press, 1/21/05
DATELINE: LADONG, Indonesia - The Americans in matching T-shirts were
greeted as heroes when they arrived one afternoon with clean water and
medical care. But how the help got here was something the tsunami
survivors
could scarcely comprehend.
The forces of faith, fund-raising and globe-trotting volunteerism have
opened a stream of private Christian aid to one of the most religiously
conservative corners of Muslim Indonesia.
From the volunteers in a Ladong palm grove to aid provided by
Samaritan's
Purse, a group run by the son of evangelist Billy Graham, the
initiatives
show the power of church congregations to gather donations when tragedy
strikes.
It also highlights the rising aspirations among a new style of
Christian
relief leagues mostly linked to evangelists and activists in the United
States…
Some of the conservative Christian leaders who have outraged Muslims
also
have mounted aid campaigns to Indonesia.
Evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of veteran preacher Billy Graham,
called Islam "a very evil and wicked religion" following the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks. His Samaritan's Purse relief organization sent a 747
cargo
jet with medical and humanitarian supplies as part of a $10 million aid
effort. The younger Graham toured battered coastal towns in Sri Lanka
and
Indonesia this week.
A team from evangelist Jerry Falwell's Liberty University plans to
travel
to regions hit by the tsunami to bring supplies and "thousands of
Gospel
tracts in the language of the people," according to an announcement. In
2002, Falwell called the Prophet Mohammad a "terrorist" but later
apologized.
Smaller Christian groups linked to evangelical churches also have
joined
the flow of tsunami help.
"Just when our nation's image in the Islamic world was improving as a
result of the outpouring of American aid in the tsunami disaster area,
we
hear from those who would exploit the tragedy to advance their own
extremist agenda," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations in Washington…
-----
WHERE CALM IS NEEDED
THE RECORD, 1/21/05
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzOTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NDI2MTgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNA==
THE murder of a Jersey City couple and their two young daughters last
week
was horrifying. And the news that the Coptic Christian family might
have
been slain by Muslim fanatics is disturbing.
But it is also troubling that these reports have led some Coptic
Christian
leaders to make anti-Muslim statements and ill-informed
characterizations
about Islam.
We urge public officials in Jersey City and leaders of America's Coptic
Christians to denounce this hate speech against Muslims and to plead
with
people to remain calm no matter what is discovered to be the cause of
these
murders.
Police are considering the possibility that Hossam Armanious and his
wife
and children were killed because of heated exchanges he |had about
Islam in
an Internet chat room…
To be sure, there are tensions. But incidents of hate and violence are
the
exception, not the rule.
It's also important to remember that Islamic terrorists do not
represent
the religion or the views of most Muslims. The vast majority of the
world's
Muslims, like those of other religions, are peaceful people trying to
lead
normal lives.
New Jersey Muslim leaders emphasized that point in a press conference
this
week on the Armanious family killings. Islam condemns such violent acts
or,
as one Muslim leader put it: "To kill one innocent is to kill the whole
world."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1397&theType=NR
-----
FORM PITS TEXAS CHRISTIANS AGAINST MUSLIMS
Foxnews.com, 1/19/05
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144847,00.html
HOUSTON - An application form to join a parochial schools group that
was
sent to Texas Islamic schools has created misunderstanding and anger
between local Muslims and Christians.
The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (search), which
is
90 percent Christian, sent 10 questions to the Dar-ul-Arqam school
(search)
in Houston after the group applied to join the association.
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston (search), which runs
Dar-ul-Arqam
schools at three locations, wanted students to be able to compete with
other parochial schools in extracurricular events.
One question that upset Dar-ul-Arqam administrators focused on
perceived
intolerance: "The Koran clearly tells you not to mix with (and even
eliminate) the infidels. Christians and Jews fall into this category.
Why
do you wish to join an organization whose membership is basically in
total
disagreement with your religious beliefs?"
Iesa Galloway, Houston Executive Director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (search) said the questionnaire was "rooted
in
deep-seeded ignorance of the religion of Islam and the Muslim people…"
SEE ALSO:
TEXAS SCHOOL GROUP QUESTIONS 'SPREAD OF ISLAM IN AMERICA'
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1366&theType=NR
---
CHURCH DISTRIBUTES ANTI-MUSLIM TRACTS ON DOWNTOWN GREEN
Steve Gambini, Republican-American, 1/21/05
http://www.rep-am.com/story.php?id=15820
WATERBURY -- Members of a city mosque were troubled recently to
discover
that members of a small Christian church were on the downtown Green
distributing tracts ridiculing Islam.
"We don't want them to defame and distort the religion this way," said
Majeed Sharif, president of the United Muslim Mosque on Prospect
Street.
"If you don't know something, you should call somebody and ask rather
than
just going out and doing something like this."
The tract in question is titled "Allah Had No Son," a publication from
California-based Chick Publications.
Chick Publications markets dozens of titles to evangelical churches
that
cast Islam as a demonic creation of the Roman Catholic Church. The
churches
then typically distribute the small, comic-book formatted tracts as
part of
their evangelism.
The copies of the tract distributed on the Green appear to have been
downloaded from the Chick Publications Web site and photocopied, not
purchased from the publisher.
After a copy of the tract found its way to the mosque, Sharif called
the
Rev. Earle Sanford, president of the board of the Greater Waterbury
Interfaith Ministries.
"It's humiliating and debasing," Sanford said of the tract, which
portrays
Muslims haranguing a Christian about the Bible and then having the
tables
turned on them. The publication alleges that Allah is actually a
derivative
of a pagan "moon god."
Sharif said he was particularly disturbed by allegations in the
pamphlet
that Muslims believe the Bible is "corrupt."
"One thing you will never find is a Muslim who would print something
like
this about Jesus and Moses," Sharif said. "The prophets who are
mentioned
in Koran are mentioned as great and noble people and great prophets."
Initially the mosque and Interfaith Ministries had planned a press
conference to denounce distribution of the tracts by the Bride of
Christ
Church, which operates out of a shopping plaza on Thomaston Avenue.
However, Sanford said he was reluctant to follow through with that idea
for
fear of legitimizing the ideas in the pamphlet…
---
METRO WORKER FORWARDS ANTI-MUSLIM E-MAIL
BRAD SCHRADE, Tennessean, 1/21/05
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/05/01/64452043.shtml?Element_ID=64452043
This is a cautionary tale for anyone forwarding chain e-mails.
Remember,
that message eventually could be traced back to you.
That's what happened to a Metro employee who could face disciplinary
action
for forwarding an e-mail that makes derogatory comments about young
Muslim
men and their alleged ties to crimes and terrorist activities over the
past
thirty-plus years. The forwarding of the message violated a Metro
e-mail
policy that prohibits using city e-mail for sending offensive
information.
The message is a sarcastic multiple-choice test listing 12 historic
incidents, many of them attacks against Americans, including 9/11 and
the
taking of hostages in Iran and other attacks on U.S. citizens and
embassies
overseas.
In each case, there are throwaway answers blaming figures such as
Scooby
Doo and Bugs Bunny, with a letter D answer blaming Muslims.
The chain e-mail was received by Lori Lazo-Bell, an employee of the
city's
finance department, and she forwarded it to several people on Jan. 13
using
her Metro e-mail account.
By Monday, the e-mail had been passed on to a West Virginia man, who
sent
it to Mayor Bill Purcell's office and some Nashville news media.
The man was outraged by the contents, and Purcell asked for a review by
Metro Finance Director David Manning, who sent an apology to the man,
whose
e-mail was signed Jim Castleman.
Manning said the employee used ''poor judgment'' in forwarding ''such
an
inappropriate message…''
-----
MUSLIMS SEEK INPUT INTO SCHOOL CALENDAR
Hanah Cho, Baltimore Sun, 1/21/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.holiday21jan21,1,3804816.story
While her friends stress over their midterms today, Aisha Hasan won't
be
with them in school. Instead, the 15-year-old sophomore at River Hill
High
School in Clarksville will be at home observing a sacred Muslim holiday
that marks the end of pilgrimage to Mecca.
This year, the three-day Eid al-Adha celebration, which began
yesterday,
falls on midterm week for Howard County high school students such as
Aisha.
It is one example of Muslim students in the Baltimore area balancing
academic commitments and their faith.
"I was worried because I didn't want to choose between having to stay
and
take the exams or going to prayers and not knowing whether I could
retake
the test at a later date," said Aisha. "Friday is pretty important.
It's
our holy day. You go to religious prayers in the morning, and then you
celebrate with friends and family throughout the day. It's like
Christmas."
In Howard County, Muslim students can make up missed exams next week,
although confusion over the policy prompted worried parents to lobby
the
school board. Leaders of the Howard County Muslim Council, which
estimates
that 3,000 to 4,000 Muslim students attend Howard schools, are working
with
school officials to avoid such scheduling conflicts - and confusion -
in
the future.
In recent years, a growing number of Muslim parents and students have
been
lobbying Baltimore-area school districts to adjust school policies to
accommodate their religious practices, including the types of school
lunches served and the times and places students can pray.
At the forefront has been a push to close schools on the Islamic
faith's
most sacred observances, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates
the
end of Ramadan. Baltimore County Muslims have been spearheading calls
to
close school, attending every school board meeting for the past year…
SEE ALSO:
BOARD BACKS ADMINISTRATION ON ALLOWING GIRL TO WEAR HEAD SCARF
Chattanoogan, 1/20/05
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_61358.asp
County School board members on Thursday backed the administration on
allowing a female Muslim student at East Ridge High School to wear a
head
scarf.
Scott Bennett, an attorney for the board, said the East Ridge High
principal acted correctly in allowing the scarf.
Board member Rhonda Thurman had said she disagreed, saying the school
system should not waver from the dress code.
Attorney Bennett said there is not an overall county school dress code.
He
said individual schools and communities make that decision.
He also said there is "a tradition in Hamilton County" of allowing
individuals to express their religious beliefs…
Marty Puryear, another board member, said, "A lot more can be hidden in
a
school back pack than under a yarmulke."
Ms. Thurmond said she was still upset that the board had earlier not
allowed the sale of a brick that said "To the Glory of God."
She also complained that board members are not kept abreast of current
issues, saying she had learned about the East Ridge matter on the
national
news.
-----
WHY 20 YEARS TO BUILD THE AL-ARIAN CASE? MAYBE THE EVIDENCE WASN'T
THERE.
JOHN F. SUGG, Weekly Planet, 1/19/05
http://www.weeklyplanet.com/2005-01-19/news_feature.html
Sami Al-Arian must pose a very serious threat to the United States.
After
all, the government has spent tens of millions of your dollars over two
decades trying to trap the wily former University of South Florida
professor. And, shucks, the Tampa Tribune has been calling him a
terrorist
for a decade, so it must be true.
Well, maybe not.
The government has termed as irrelevant the government's own analysis
that
the group Al-Arian is accused of supporting has never targeted America.
And
despite lurid recounting of 14 terrorist actions in the Feb. 2003
indictment of Al-Arian, there is no proof offered - or even an
allegation
made - that the academic sponsored, funded, planned, participated in or
had
advance knowledge of the violent acts.
Strange doings, and as we'll see, the feds' case looks weaker at every
hearing prior to the scheduled April trial of Al-Arian and three
co-defendants…
-----
MUSLIM WOMEN CONFRONT MODERN MISCONCEPTIONS
Marcy Miranda, Daily Northwestern, 1/20/05
http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/20/41ef5d5606963
Most Americans have misconceptions about Muslim women because of
misleading
portrayals, in the media, said Ingrid Mattson Tuesday in an Islam
Awareness
Week speech.
About 85 people attended the event sponsored by the Muslim-cultural
Students Association, "Women in Islam: Embracing Modernity with Faith."
It
was the third event in a one-week series designed to spread awareness
about
Muslim culture at Northwestern.
"(Islam) is about faith and God and bringing people closer to God,"
Mattson
said.
Mattson, vice president of the Islamic Society of North America,
converted
to Islam in college. She said Muslim women face "many misunderstandings
and
many challenges."
Some of the challenges include barriers preventing Muslim women from
fully
developing their relationships with God, misunderstandings regarding
women's rights in Islam and negative portrayals of Muslim women in
comparison to other modern American women.
"(Difficulties result) because of the information being presented in an
incorrect fashion or because there is not enough information out
there,"
she said. "There is a misconception that Islam is a barrier for women
to
live in modern life and that misconception stems from people making a
broad
generalization from people they know..."
Mattson added that American standards of modernity may not apply to
Muslim
women.
"We create a standard of modernity precisely according to our own
current
lifestyle and exclude anyone who does not share that same standard,"
Mattson said.
She also spoke about ancient scholars who misinterpreted passages in
the
Quran.
"Muslim women throughout history have tried to prevent the use of Islam
from oppressing them," Mattson said. "It's not unique to Muslim women.
It's
a human struggle…"
SEE ALSO:
FOR HER, THE HEAD SCARF IS LIBERATING
Los Angeles Times, 1/21/05
Charles K. Sergis wrote that your Jan. 12 story about the hijab was a
"positive spin about the slavish Muslim dress code for women" (letter,
Jan.
17). I am a Muslim American woman who, at the age of 30, began wearing
the
head scarf, and I have to say one has to try it for oneself to know how
it
really feels.
It really does feel liberating, but narrow-minded people simply don't
understand something that they have no firsthand knowledge about. I
have
been raised since I was a child in England and then here in the U.S. by
thoroughly secularized parents. My mother and younger sister do not
wear
the head scarf, but I do and I very much regret not having worn it much
sooner in my life. Sadly, many people just don't want to believe us
Muslim
women if our opinions and experiences clash with their view.
Shereen Sabet
Huntington Beach
-----
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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 - 1/23/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
- Hadith: God is With You When You Remember Him
* 'NIGHTLINE' INVITES DC-Area MUSLIMS TO IRAQ TOWN HALL MTG
* CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: HUMILIATION AT BORDER CHECKS (Express-News)
- CAIR-Houston: A Texan's Pilgrimage (Houston Chron)
- CAIR-CA: Churches' Tsunami Efforts Raise Concerns (SacBee)
* NJ MURDER CASE: WHEN RUMOR SWAMPS FACT
* CHICAGO POLICE VIDEOS OFFER INSIGHTS INTO FAITHS (NY Times)
- Post-9/11 Arrests Dog Chertoff (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* TX: READER SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT (Star-Telegram)
- Pipes: 'I do support the internment of Japanese Americans'
* 'ISLAM FOR DUMMIES' AUTHOR DISPELS MISCONCEPTIONS (Balt Sun)
* PRESIDENT BUSH SENDS EID GREETINGS TO ISLAMIC WORLD
* CT: MUSLIM CHARITIES IN TOUGH SPOT (New Haven Register)
* CRITICS SAY SOME CHRISTIANS SPREAD AID AND GOSPEL (Chicago Trib)
- Mix of Quake Aid and Preaching Stirs Concern (NY Times)
- People of Aceh Do Not Blame or Reject God (Knight Ridder)
* IN ONE NIGHT, IRAQI TURNS FROM FRIEND TO FOE (Washington Post)
- Analysis: Iraqi Insurgency Growing Larger (Knight Ridder)
* TRINIDAD: MUSLIM LAWYER'S EID CLOTHES LAND HIM IN HOT WATER
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: REMEMBER GOD
"Remember Me, and I will remember you."
The Holy Quran, 2:152
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD IS WITH YOU WHEN YOU REMEMBER HIM
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "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 if he
draws nearer to Me a hand's span, I draw nearer to him an arm's length,
and
if he draws nearer to Me an arm's length, I draw nearer to him a fathom
length, and if he comes to me walking, I rush to him at (great) speed.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 99
-----
'NIGHTLINE' INVITES DC-AREA MUSLIMS TO IRAQ TOWN HALL MTG
On Thursday, January 27th, three days before Iraqis go to the polls,
ABC
News Nightline will broadcast a Town Hall Meeting examining the
questions
of "What Now?" and "Why Stay?" in reference to Iraq. This is a
follow-up to
a Nightline Town Meeting prior to the war's beginning 2 years ago, in
which
the question "Why Now?" was explored.
The town hall meeting will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church
across
the street from the White House. The discussion will be moderated by
Ted
Koppel. We will pretape the 90-minute broadcast at 8:00 pm, and we will
air
nationally on a special edition of Nightline later that evening. There
will
most likely be six panelists including Congressional leaders,
diplomats,
military, and people from the world of intelligence.
We are inviting people to come and participate (to be in the audience,
although there may be an opportunity to ask a question of the
panelists).
We have limited seating, so please if you plan to attend, you need to
speak
directly to myself or another Nightline producer. Doors open at 6 PM
and
close at 7:15 PM. We can be reached at the numbers below.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I am available at
Diana.A.Pierce@abc.com and at 202-222-7359 direct. I hope you are able
to
join us on the 27th.
Thanks so much,
Sincerely,
Dianna Pierce
Senior Live Segment Producer
ABC News/NIGHTLINE
202/222-7000 main
202/222-7359 direct
-----
MUSLIMS' JUBILATION TURNS INTO HUMILIATION AT BORDER CHECKS
Sarwat Husain, Express-News, 1/22/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA012205.1R.rel_column.2f11155e.html
[Sarwat Husain is chairwoman of the Council on American Islamic
Relations-San Antonio. She can be reached at sanantonio@cair-net.org.]
The hajj is supposed to be a time of exhilaration for the 10,000 U.S.
Muslims who make the pilgrimage to Mecca every year.
Muslims feel the closest to the Almighty as they leave all their
worldly
luxuries behind to go through hardships to prove to God there is
nothing
more important than pleasing him.
But this year these hajjis left the United States with fear and concern
over what they might have to go through to get back into their
homeland.
Muslims, many of them famous, have had a tough time entering or leaving
this country in the past year because of customs and airport
security...
Hajjis should not suffer for trying to fulfill the once-in-a-lifetime
requirement of the fifth pillar of Islam.
The war against terror cannot be fought successfully without partnering
with good people, who make up the majority of Islam. Why not make
alliances
with them and work as a team made without regard to race, religion,
color,
gender and status. Then our government could serve our country for the
sake
of our country.
SEE ALSO:
A TEXAN'S PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
IESA GALLOWAY, Houston Chronicle, 1/22/05
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/3004084
[Iesa Galloway is the executive director of Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) Houston. He may be contacted at:
iesa.galloway@cairhouston.org]
Should I go to Mecca to perform Hajj? Would I find both my place and my
place in my faith?
As an American Muslim, these weren't just idle questions. I understood
this
as I pondered a surprise invitation to go to Hajj - a pilgrimage that
is a
pillar of my faith.
Only two things stood in my way. First the issues of terrorism,
Islamophobia and the State Department warning that Americans should not
travel in the region.
Second, I wondered how I would be accepted. Yes, Muslims are supposed
to be
tied to one another in a bond stronger and nobler than other kinships.
This
bond is rooted in prayer and reflected through every aspect of Islamic
life. But how would other Muslims performing Hajj treat me, an
American?
Would I be accepted, with my biracial background - Anglo and Hispanic
American - as one of them, and one with them?
Would the bond that I enjoy here be felt among Muslims there,
regardless of
nationality, international conflicts and propaganda?
To find my answers, I was soon on my way - halfway around the world to
Mecca, the heart of nearly 1.9 billion believers of the one, and, as we
believe, only God, the God of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed.
The experience was all extremely surreal, as if I couldn't experience
it
enough. Everywhere I turned, there were people from far off lands.
Everyone
was unique, yet exactly the same. We were all wrapped in our two white
sheets, the rich and the poor, from all different races and
backgrounds,
performing the same acts of worship, with the same purpose, to build
our
relationship with God.
I experience a micro-version of this every time I go to the mosque, but
the
sheer magnitude of nearly 3 million people moving in harmony is
breathtaking…
Over the days, a pattern in the conversations quickly developed. It
started
with, "Where are you from?" - meaning, "What country?" My answer was
always
"Texas." Then again, "Where are you from?" - this time meaning, "What
is
your origin?"
My answer proudly this time, was again, "Texas…"
---
CHURCHES' TSUNAMI EFFORTS RAISE CONCERNS
Jennifer Garza, Sacramento Bee, 1/22/05
http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/12096136p-12966206c.html
But in recent weeks, there has been a growing concern that some groups
are
offering more than secular aid, and their primary intention is to share
their religious beliefs and seek converts among the victims, who are
mostly
Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist.
Most of the larger relief agencies, such as Catholic Relief Services
and
the Red Cross, have policies against proselytizing. But others,
particularly those who practice religions that emphasize conversion,
say it
is their duty to share their beliefs...
"I don't like the idea of anyone - Muslims or non-Muslims - taking
advantage of someone in difficult conditions," says Rashid Ahmad,
president
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Sacramento Valley. "They
should preach by their actions, not by their tongues..."
-----
WHEN RUMOR SWAMPS FACT
MIKE KELLY, North Jersey, 1/23/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNjMmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NDMzNTEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5
IN OUR great land, where freedom of religious expression is supposed to
be
an honorable pastime, something very sad took place last week. A group
of
Muslim-American clerics and community leaders felt the need to call a
press
conference in Jersey City to declare that members of their faith were
not
ruthless killers.
It was a pathetic moment. But it was necessary nonetheless after a week
of
continuing rumors that the brutal murders of four members of an
Egyptian-American family in Jersey City was the work of Muslim
extremists -
indeed, that the act was a ritualistic execution of Christian
"infidels" by
Islamic enforcers.
Police were quick to say that there was no credible evidence to back up
such rumors. But it did not matter. When you mix a real murder with
centuries-old fears of religious extremism rooted in the old ways of an
ancient Middle East homeland, strange things can happen on an American
street.
Consider the scene outside an Egyptian Coptic Church on Jersey City's
Bergen Avenue last Sunday. Two days earlier in a nearby home, police
discovered the bodies of church members Hossam Armanious, 47, his
37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and
Monica,
8. By Sunday night, hundreds of Egyptian-American Copts stood outside
the
church while members of the American Coptic Association announced that
the
murders were really an "execution" similar to those by anti-American
terrorists in Iraq...
None of the reports on Copts.com carried a single credible source for
its
information, not even a name of a police official. But it did not
matter.
At this point, the line between rumor and fact had blurred so much that
even the most casual observer could be forgiven for believing that that
the
mere rumor of a gang of Islamic killers on the loose had become gospel
truth. In fact, casual observers could be forgiven if they missed some
key
facts amid all the rumors.
Consider the autopsy results, released Tuesday. It turns out, for
example,
the Sylvia's cross tattoo on her wrist had not been touched. Wrist
tattoos
are common among Coptic Christians, so this was important news. So was
the
news that none of the cross tattoos on the other family members had
been
defaced by the killers.
As for throats being slit - well, that was not exactly true either. It
turns out that none of the victims' throats had been slit. Each member
of
the Armanious family had been stabbed in the neck, head and torso, but
their throats had not been slit in some sick ritualistic execution.
It may seem like a small point - the family, after all, had been
viciously
stabbed. But the throat-slitting rumor helped fuel the contention that
the
murders were the work of Muslims following some misguided
interpretation of
the Koran...
Against this backdrop came the mid-week press conference with Muslim
clerics and other Islamic-American community leaders seeking to put an
end
to rumors. The event was billed as an "interfaith solidarity" news
conference, but invited representatives of the Coptic community could
not
attend. They said the press conference took place during one of their
own
religious holidays.
And so a moment to dispel rumor was lost. "We need to build more
trust,"
said one of the Islamic leaders.
Well said. But for now, on this case, trust is still just a rumor.
-----
CHICAGO POLICE VIDEOS OFFER INSIGHTS INTO VARIOUS FAITHS
STEPHEN KINZER, New York Times, 1/23/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/national/23video.html
CHICAGO, Jan. 22 - Many men of the Sikh faith wear a small sword under
their clothing. Orthodox Jews often refuse to move illegally parked
cars on
Saturdays. Outsiders may photograph statues in Buddhist temples, but
not in
Hindu ones.
These are some of the insights in a series of videos the Chicago Police
Department uses to train its officers in dealing with non-Christians.
Community leaders say the videos have substantially improved relations
between various religious groups and police officers.
"This is not just a superficial thing," said Kareem M. Irfan, chairman
of
the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. "It has
changed
our community's relationship with the police to the extent that people
are
beginning to see the Chicago Police Department as an ally rather than
an
opposing force."
The five videos, each about 10 minutes, have been produced over the
last
two years as part of the department's desire to communicate more
effectively with religious groups after the Sept. 11 attacks. They
focus on
Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Hindus. Each contains scenes shot
inside homes and houses of worship, as well as interviews in which
religious and community leaders explain aspects of their faiths…
SEE ALSO:
POST-9/11 ARRESTS DOG CHERTOFF
Wendy Ruderman, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/23/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/10709286.htm
The man President Bush wants as homeland security chief is now in the
crosshairs of civil-rights advocates who say he eroded freedoms in
pursuit
of terrorists.
But, before 9/11, Michael Chertoff was a powerful ally in the battle
against racial profiling in the pursuit of drug traffickers.
"I think in evaluating Mike's record, you need to look not only at his
handling of the war on terrorism in 9/11, but also at the role he
played in
dealing with racial profiling in New Jersey - very different roles at
very
different times," said former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Mintz,
who
worked under Chertoff in the early 1990s.
The contrasts between Chertoff's pre- and post-9/11 personas illustrate
America's ongoing struggle to strike a balance between liberty and
security
in times of crisis.
If confirmed by the Senate as expected, Chertoff will lead the
Department
of Homeland Security, overseeing 22 federal agencies and 180,000
employees.
The 51-year-old North Jersey native is a judge on the U.S. Court of
Appeals
for the Third Circuit, based in Philadelphia.
On the day hijacked planes smashed into the World Trade Center and
Pentagon, Chertoff was in charge of the Justice Department's criminal
division.
After 9/11, Chertoff's tactics in ferreting out terrorists drew
criticism
from the very people who had applauded his crusade to expose racial
profiling on New Jersey's highways.
Some of that criticism came after Chertoff directed the arrests of 762
illegal immigrants, most of whom later turned out to have no ties to
terrorism.
"Are we being aggressive and hard-nosed? You bet," Chertoff told a U.S.
Senate committee on Nov. 28, 2001. "In the aftermath of Sept. 11, how
could
we not be?"
But Chertoff stressed that the antiterrorism tactics were valid under
the
Constitution and federal law.
Most of detainees were arrested on criminal and immigration charges,
many
of them relatively minor and some rarely enforced before 9/11. The vast
majority were from the Middle East.
The arrests grew out of investigative leads ranging from information
gleaned from searches of the hijackers' car to anonymous tips from
people
who were suspicious of the odd hours kept by their Arab and Muslim
neighbors.
In June 2003, Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine
released a
report criticizing federal authorities, saying they had made little
effort
to distinguish real terrorist suspects from harmless foreigners
inadvertently swept up in the dragnet. Though many were jailed for
months,
only one of the 762 detainees - Zacarias Moussaoui - was charged with a
terrorism crime, the report found.
Civil-rights advocates argue that the war on terror has become a kind
of
war on immigrants, not unlike the way the war on drugs morphed into a
war
on black and Latino motorists.
The legality of those 762 arrests is besides the point, said David
Harris,
a critic of racial profiling and a criminal law professor at University
of
Toledo in Ohio.
The question, Harris said, is whether the spirit or intent of the
nation's
laws is being violated…
-----
TX: READER SLAMS DANIEL PIPES ON INTERNMENT
INTERNMENT REVISITED
Fort-Worth Star-Telegram, 1/23/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/local2/10708382.htm
I read Daniel Pipes' Dec. 30 commentary supporting the internment of
people
who are threats to the American way of life, and I was especially taken
by
his effort to justify internment of Japanese-Americans during World War
II.
At first, I didn't think much of his idea. But then I read the letters
on
his commentary, particularly those by R.H. Gruy and Harold Moore, who
supported Pipes' proposal. (See Jan. 7 letters, "A debate on
internment.")
I then realized that my objection to the idea of interning threats to
America was based entirely on how Pipes proposed it, merely as an idea
for
discussion. Once I began to apply the idea to some real threats to
America,
it became clear how good it really is.
So in the interest of making the idea less theoretical and more
concrete,
let me provide a short, initial list of who should immediately be
interned
in order to protect the rest of us:
Daniel Pipes.
Gruy and Moore.
The editor who authorized publishing Pipes' commentary.
All of these people apparently support the arbitrary and indefinite
internment of people who are presumed to be threats to America, so I'm
sure
that we need only write to them and tell them where to report. It
should be
easy to administer, and America would be much safer without them on the
streets.
As I say, the idea becomes much more interesting once some real people
are
considered.
Richard BrewerFort Worth
A plaque in front of the Manzanar camp (California Registered
Historical
Landmark No. 850) reads as follows:
"In the early part of WWII, 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were
interned in relocation centers by Executive Order No. 9066, issued
February
19, 1942. Manzanar was the first of ten such concentration camps. It
was
bounded by barbed wire and guard towers, confining 10,000 persons, the
majority being American citizens. May the injustices and humiliation
suffered here as a result of hysteria, racism and economic exploitation
never emerge again."
Anyone who thinks that Daniel Pipes has a legitimate point of view
should
read firsthand accounts written by Japanese-Americans about their
experiences of internment in the United States. And given that Pipes is
talking about "registering" people based on religious affiliation,
Night by
Elie Wiesel is also a must-read.
Unless we safeguard the liberties of all our citizens, the Pledge of
Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence mean about as much as a
plastic flag bumper sticker.
Jaime MooreKeller
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES: 'I DO SUPPORT THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS'
"Yes, I do support the internment of Japanese Americans in World War
II…the
U.S. government made the correct and sensible decisions."
Daniel Pipes' web site, 12/28/04
-----
'ISLAM FOR DUMMIES' AUTHOR HOPES TO DISPEL, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS
Jonathan Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 1/23/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/arts/bal-as.clark23jan23,1,2644571.story
Professor Malcolm Clark taught world religion for 36 years before
retiring
from Indiana's Butler University in 2002. But his influence may be felt
most profoundly starting next month, when Army Lt. Gen. John R. Vines
takes
over as the United States' new ground commander in Iraq. Vines has
asked
his senior officers to read eight books on Islam before their tour
begins,
and Clark's Islam for Dummies (Wiley, 2003) is at the top of the list.
Though Clark's specialty is the Old Testament, his Islam classes were
so
successful that a former student recommended him to editors of the
Indiana-based book series best known for its bumblebee-colored covers -
and
for clarifying topics from dating to home repair.
Explaining a complex religion wasn't easy. "I had to bone up," Clark
admitted as he discussed his book's new prominence from his home in
Mammoth
Lakes, Calif. "I'd just retired, and here I was, working full-time, on
deadline, for six straight months. I learned a lot. As to whether my
book
is better than its rival, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Islam - I'd
better
withhold comment…"
-----
BUSH SENDS EID AL-ADHA GREETINGS TO ISLAMIC WORLD
Praises Muslim contribution to U.S. religious and cultural heritage
http://usinfo.state.gov/
President Bush sent greetings for Eid al-Adha to Muslims around the
world
and said the charity accompanying the holiday exemplifies a
compassionate
spirit that makes the world a better place.
In remarks released January 21, the president praised Muslim
contributions
to the religious and cultural heritage of the United States.
"Your values of family, service, and community enrich our society and
reflect the ideals on which our country was founded," he said.
Following is the text of President Bush's Eid al-Adha greetings:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, DC
January 21, 2005
I send greetings to Muslims around the world as you celebrate Eid
al-Adha.
Abraham's sacrifice and service to God teach us the importance of
devotion,
and God's mercy encourages us to share His blessings with others. The
kindness and charity practiced by Muslims during this holiday
strengthen
friendships, help those in need, and exemplify the compassionate spirit
that makes America and the world a better place.
As Americans of Muslim faith celebrate Eid al-Adha, our Nation is
reminded
of the contributions that Muslim Americans have made to our religious
and
cultural heritage. Your values of family, service, and community
enrich
our society and reflect the ideals on which our country was founded.
Laura joins me in sending our best wishes for a joyous celebration.
GEORGE W. BUSH
-----
MUSLIM CHARITIES IN TOUGH SPOT
Mark Zaretsky, New Haven Register, 1/23/05
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13805648&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517515&rfi=6
With 172,000 tsunami victims now believed to be dead in Indonesia, the
most
populous Muslim country in the world, and an estimated 617,000 people
believed homeless in the northern section of Indonesia's Sumatra island
alone, one might think that Muslim charities would be at the forefront
of
the relief effort.
Many American Muslims are in fact working hard to provide relief for
the
disaster, which has killed an estimated 240,000 people on two
continents.
But that effort has been hampered by leftover emotional and political
baggage from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, after which a number of Muslim
charities saw their assets frozen because of alleged ties to terrorism…
"Post-9/11, we feel a little bit like the deer in the headlights," said
Jimmy E. Jones, associate professor of world religions and African
studies
at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., and educational
coordinator at
the Masjid al-Islam mosque in New Haven...
"You have the guilt-by-association thing," said Jones, whose university
work includes research on Muslim-American identity.
Still, "when this thing happened, there was a visceral reaction by
Muslims," he said. "Prior to that, there was a visceral reaction to the
hurricanes in Florida - because it's part of our faith to be giving …
and
helping to make it right."
The freezing of funds post-9/11 "has been a problem," said Majeed
Sharif, a
Wolcott real estate agent who is president of the United Muslim Mosque
in
Waterbury. "A lot of the agencies are closed and funds are frozen. … A
lot
of Muslims are afraid to give money to the organizations they gave
funds to
in the past, or even organizations that are working now.
"It really is putting a strain on, shutting down these charities," he
said.
"A lot of children are in need.
"But still, we've found that Muslims are generous people," said Sharif,
who
in recent weeks took part in two fund-raising efforts.
One, organized by the Muslim Foundation of America on behalf of members
of
the Indonesian community in Queens, N.Y., raised about $13,500 for
tsunami
relief, Sharif said.
Sharif and other Connecticut Muslims, in a bit of interfaith
cooperation,
also helped raise $5,000 for tsunami relief in a joint effort with the
United Methodist Church of Woodbury, he said. The money went to an
organization called United Methodist Overseas Relief, said Sharif, who
also
has helped raised money to aid orphans in Africa.
"I didn't go with them because of any fear or anything," said Sharif, a
member of the Waterbury Interfaith Ministries, of the effort. "It's
just
that we've been working with them on other things."
Sharif pointed out that the list of charities recommended by former
Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush did not include any Muslim
charities, though it did include several affiliated with other faiths.
However, other Muslims have seen some signs of progress since the
latest
disaster unfolded…
-----
ANNUAL CONFERENCE TACKLES MUSLIM ISSUES
MAMIE WARD, Miami Herald, 1/23/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/miami-dade/cities_neighborhoods/northcentral/10706625.htm
A vision of small communities across the nation united in Islamic faith
and
leadership brought top Islamic leaders and other Muslim-Americans from
around the state to Miami for the ninth annual Florida Conference of
Muslim
Americans.
The three-day conference highlight was a gala dinner and awards
ceremony
Jan. 15 at Florida Memorial College.
''We want to build model communities,'' said Nasir Ahmad, the imam or
prayer leader of the Liberty City-based Masjid Al-Ansar, which hosted
the
Jan. 14-16 gathering. ''We feel there is a void in the collective
subconscious of African-American people that evolved during slavery.''
Building model communities and ending intolerance toward Muslim
Americans
were the focus of the dinner and awards ceremony. Proceeds from the
banquet
-- about $4,000 -- were donated to the Clara Muhammad Schools, run by
the
mosque.
Opening remarks from the keynote speaker, Ibrahim Pasha, associate imam
of
the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, echoed the ideal of model communities.
He
also said a lot of children need help.
Creating the model communities would mean changing people's attitudes
but
that is not something that is new to the delegates who attended the
conference.
As followers of Imam W. Deen Muhammad, son of the late controversial
leader
Elijah Muhammad, they and others belong to a national organization of
Muslim Americans that found its way through a mental shift in its
teachings
away from racial separatism to racial inclusion…
-----
CRITICS SAY SOME CHRISTIANS SPREAD AID AND GOSPEL
Kim Barker, Chicago Tribune, 1/22/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501220303jan22,1,4612744.story
AKKARAIPETTAI, India - The Christian evangelists came in the morning,
wearing fluorescent yellow T-shirts emblazoned with "Believers Church"
on
the back and "Gospel for Asia" on the front. They loaded up hundreds of
villagers, mostly Hindus, in vans and trucks and drove them 6 miles
away.
There, away from the eyes of village officials, each tsunami survivor
received relief supplies--a sleeping mat, a plate, a sari, a 55-pound
bag
of rice and, in the bottom of a white plastic bag proclaiming
"Believers
Church Tsunami Relief," a book containing biblical verses warning
against
the dangers of alcohol.
"What do I do?" asked Muthammal, 35, who uses one name like many in
southern India and wears the red bindi on her forehead showing she's
Hindu.
Like many here, she cannot read. "They are asking us to come all this
way.
It is so difficult."
Members of the Believers Church also have handed out Bibles to tsunami
survivors on the streets and in relief camps. They set up an orphanage
for
108 children, including many Hindus, and asked the children to recite
Christian prayers six times a day. The Protestant church did not
register
the orphanage with the government, authorities said. K.P. Yohannan, the
leader of Believers Church and Gospel for Asia, said the church had
tried
to get government permission.
Since the Dec. 26 tsunami killed more than 157,000 people and left
millions
homeless, relief groups have flooded into Asia, from Sri Lanka to
Thailand.
As in any crisis, many aid groups are religious, and they consider it
their
duty to minister to the needy. Most shun proselytizing and make little
reference to what they believe.
But in parts of Asia, some religious groups have sparked controversy.
They
are accused of spreading a message as they hand out rice and other
supplies. They are accused of exploiting tsunami victims…
SEE ALSO:
MIX OF QUAKE AID AND PREACHING STIRS CONCERN
DAVID ROHDE, New York Times, 1/22/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/22/international/worldspecial4/22preach.html
W.L.P. Wilson, 38, a disabled fisherman with a sixth-grade education,
said
he allowed the Americans to pray three times for the healing of his
paralyzed lower leg because he was desperate to provide for his wife
and
three children again. Mr. Wilson, a Buddhist, said that he believed
that
the Americans were trying to convert him to Christianity but that he
was in
''a helpless situation now'' and needed aid.
"They told me to always think about God and about Jesus and you will be
healed," he said. "Whenever I ask for help they always mention God, but
they do not give any money for treatment."
---
TSUNAMI SURVIVORS TURN TO RELIGION IN COPING
The people of Aceh do not blame or reject God; their belief is unshaken
amid the devastation left by the natural disasters.
BEN STOCKING, KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS, 1/23/05
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthtribune/news/nation/10713513.htm
The biblical devastation unleashed across northwestern Sumatra by the
Dec.
26 tsunami sent the people of Aceh province to a predictable place:
their
religion. As people have done through the centuries, the Acehnese are
turning to their faith as a tool to help them fathom the unfathomable
--
and to endure the unendurable.
"Throughout history, whenever there is a calamity of this magnitude,
people
turn to religion and God," said Amjad Mehboob, chief executive of the
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils. "They turn to the creator
for
help and for mercy."
The tsunami tragedy raises an age-old question and seeming
contradiction.
How can a beneficent God inflict something so horrible on so many
thousands
of people?
For the people of Aceh, almost all of whom are Muslim, there is no
contradiction. Allah is all-compassionate, and also all-knowing…
The tsunami tossed huge chunks of concrete; being submerged in it was
like
being in a washing machine full of bricks. The raging waters tossed
Yusrizal on top of a coconut palm, leaving him with a broken neck. Last
week, he lay in a Banda Aceh hospital bed. "I feel sad, but I accept my
fate," Yusrizal said. "I put myself in God's hands."
-----
IN ONE NIGHT, IRAQI TURNS FROM FRIEND TO FOE
Jackie Spinner, Washington Post, 1/23/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A29400-2005Jan22
By all accounts, Imaad, 32, was a typical, mild-mannered college
graduate
who spoke English well and had quietly supported the U.S. presence in
Iraq
-- until Jan. 5, the night the soldiers came.
His story about that night, told days later in his small living room,
is
the story of how the U.S. military made an enemy of one man during a
20-minute encounter…
On the night of Jan. 5, Imaad and his mother, Um Imaad -- both of whom
declined to give their full names for fear of retribution -- were
watching
a movie in the living room. As in most other parts of the capital for
the
past two months, their Adhimiya neighborhood has electricity about two
hours a day. So the generators outside were humming at about 9 that
night,
and the television was turned up so they could hear.
Imaad said they were startled by a loud banging at the door. He went
quickly to open it. When he did, Imaad said, there were about a dozen
U.S.
soldiers standing with their guns pointed at his head.
Imaad and his mother said the soldiers rushed in, ordering them to sit
together while they searched the house. "You look poor," Imaad recalled
one
of the soldiers saying. "Why?"
Imaad answered in English: "I have not been able to find a job,
although
I'm a graduate of the College of Arts." His heart was pounding, Imaad
said.
His mother, a chatty widow who adores her son, sat next to him,
shaking.
The soldiers went to search his bedroom. He heard laughing, and then
they
called for him, he said. Imaad went to his room and saw that the
soldiers
had found several magazines he kept hidden from his mother. They had
pictures of girls in swimsuits and erotic poses. Imaad said the
soldiers
spread the magazines on his bed and put his Koran in the middle.
"This is a good match," Imaad said one of the soldiers told him.
"It was a nightmare," he said. "I will never forget those bad soldiers
when
they put the Koran among the magazines..."
SEE ALSO:
ANALYSIS: IRAQI INSURGENCY GROWING LARGER, MORE EFFECTIVE
Tom Lasseter and Jonathan S. Landay, Knight Ridder, 1/21/05
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/10703534.htm
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The United States is steadily losing ground to the
Iraqi
insurgency, according to every key military yardstick.
A Knight Ridder analysis of U.S. government statistics shows that
through
all the major turning points that raised hopes of peace in Iraq,
including
the arrest of Saddam Hussein and the handover of sovereignty at the end
of
June, the insurgency, led mainly by Sunni Muslims, has become deadlier
and
more effective.
The analysis suggests that unless something dramatic changes - such as
a
newfound will by Iraqis to reject the insurgency or a large escalation
of
U.S. troop strength - the United States won't win the war. It's
axiomatic
among military thinkers that insurgencies are especially hard to defeat
because the insurgents' goal isn't to win in a conventional sense but
merely to survive until the will of the occupying power is sapped.
Recent
polls already suggest an erosion of support among Americans for the
war…
-----
LAWYER'S 'COURT CLOTHES' LAND HIM IN HOT WATER
Hayden Mills, Trinida Express, 1/22/05
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=56413880
Senior Counsel Israel Khan was yesterday forced to change his
Nehru-collar
suit when he stood before Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls.
He was before McNicolls in the Port of Spain Eighth Magistrates' Court
for
the inquest into the death of Morvant resident Galene Bonadie.
When the matter was called and Khan stood to address McNicolls, the
magistrate asked him: "Your attire is different today?"
Khan said he was wearing the Nehru-collar suit in recognition of a
celebrated Muslim festival yesterday.
When the Express spoke with Khan, a Muslim, he said he was referring to
Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice celebrated by the Muslim world
as a
commemoration of the Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to
sacrifice
his son for God.
Khan...attired in a jacket and tie on his way back to the Galene
Bonadie
Inquest yesterday after he was forced to change by Chief Magistrate
Sherman
McNicolls.
Khan said he had never worn the garb in court before and it was because
of
the occasion.
In court, Khan told McNicolls that he was denying him the right to wear
his
ethnic wear and initially he insisted on wearing it.
"I was not going to be difficult, but I insist on wearing it." Khan
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
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/24/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD'S HELP IS NEAR
- Hadith: Help Alleviate Suffering
* NY RADIO STATION SORRY FOR MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS
* CAIR-MD/VA: SNAGS HAMPER MISSION OF MERCY (Wash Post)
* CAIR: MUSLIMS OBJECT TO BORDER SCRUTINY (Chicago Trib)
- CAIR Creates 'Hajji Hotline' for Returning Pilgrims
* DEFINING THE FACE OF EVIL IN FOX'S '24' (NorthJersey.com)
- Muslims Encouraged by Fox '24' Meeting (CAIR)
* MN: EVENT AT U CELEBRATES ISLAMIC HOLIDAY (MN Daily)
- PA: College Muslims Celebrate Eid (Collegian)
- TX: Muslims Mark End of Hajj (Daily Texan)
- CA: Muslims to Educate with Awareness Week (Daily Bruin)
* TX: WHY'S AND HOW'S OF ISLAM (Star-Telegram)
- MD: Jews and Muslims in America
* U.S. CLAIMS CANADIAN'S SUIT A RISK TO SECURITY (Star)
* IN BATTERED FALLUJA, FEW IRAQIS THINK OF VOTING (Reuters)
- Ancient Iraqi Minaret is US Army Snipers' Nest (Reuters)
* ISRAEL SEIZES TRACTS OF LAND IN JERUSALEM (AP)
- Israel Resumes Building West Bank Barrier (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD'S HELP IS NEAR
"God's help is (always) near."
The Holy Quran, 2:214
HADITH OF THE DAY: HELP ALLEVIATE SUFFERING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who alleviates the
suffering of a brother…God will alleviate his (suffering on) the Day of
Resurrection."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1245
-----
NY RADIO STATION SORRY FOR MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(WASHINGTON D.C., 1/25/05) - A New York radio station has issued an
apology
for a song it aired that mocked victims of the recent tsunami in South
Asia.
That song, played on HOT 97 FM, included lyrics like: "And all at once,
You
could hear the screaming chinks, And no on was safe from the wave,
There
are Africans drowning, Little Chinamen swept away, You could hear God
laughing, 'Swim, you bi****es, swim.'"
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
contacted
the station on Friday after receiving a complaint about the song from a
concerned Muslim.
TO HEAR THE SONG, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/audio/usa_for_indonesia_lo.ram
Friday's apology by HOT 97 FM stated in part: "HOT 97 regrets the
airing of
material that made light of a serious and tragic event. We apologize to
our
listeners and anyone who was offended."
TO READ THE RADIO STATION'S APOLOGY, GO TO:
http://www.hot97.com/airstaff/morningshowTsunami.aspx
"There is nothing funny about the massive death and destruction we all
witnessed so recently in South Asia," said CAIR Communications Director
Ibrahim Hooper. "If this was an attempt at humor, it was poorly
conceived
and badly executed."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-MD/VA: SNAGS HAMPER MISSION OF MERCY
Gaithersburg Man Encounters Delays, Bureaucracy in Sri Lanka
Jacqueline L. Salmon, Washington Post, 1/24/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A31192-2005Jan23
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Rizwan Mowlana hadn't expected that doing his
part to
save a half-drowned country would involve finding four cows to be
sacrificed.
But here was the Gaithersburg man -- who had gathered more than $1
million
in cash and donated goods for his devastated homeland -- chasing
through
rural southern Sri Lanka in a rented Toyota Land Cruiser, in search of
the
local cattle broker.
"You think collecting money is hard?" he said. "Giving it away is even
more
difficult."
The challenge of rushing aid to a region so thoroughly laid to waste
has
been daunting even for the big international agencies that specialize
in
emergency relief. For a freelance operator such as Mowlana, who counted
on
his passion to trump his inexperience, coping with ponderous
bureaucracies
and corrupt officials has been downright exasperating.
So Mowlana had promised to achieve something quite simple: purchase
four
cows for local Muslim fishermen who were crushed by the tsunami, losing
homes, belongings and -- most of all -- their children.
About 150 were living in tents amid their smashed community along the
sea
in downtown Hambantota, cooking on one fly-covered hot plate. When
Mowlana
had stopped by, they had gathered around him in the hot sun, shouting.
They
were running out of food and water, they said. The government was doing
nothing to help.
But Mowlana didn't have much to offer. The 1,000 pounds of donated food
and
medical supplies that he'd brought was still stuck at the airport,
despite
the fact that he'd paid thousands of dollars in bribes. Other supplies
he'd
collected were still at sea.
So Mowlana had offered to purchase four cows they could sacrifice at a
festival to mark the end of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. The
fishermen could feed the meat to their families.
But after a half-hour ride to the cattle broker's house, Mowlana found
that
the man was away.
Mowlana slumped back in this seat, his normal buoyancy ebbing away.
"What a waste of time," he said grimly. He forced out a weak laugh.
Another
hard lesson had been learned.
The quest to do good had led Mowlana -- a 47-year-old Sri Lankan native
who
has lived in the United States with his wife, Naz, for the past two
decades
-- from Gaithersburg to a cow broker's home in Sri Lanka…
Mowlana, director of the Maryland and Virginia offices of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations, was jubilant. With all this aid, and more
to
come, Asia Relief could care for orphans, construct a hospital, rebuild
villages. He said he and his family would load supplies into a jeep in
Sri
Lanka and deliver it to the refugee camps…
-----
MUSLIMS IN U.S. RAISE AN OUTCRY
Frank James, Chicago Tribune, 1/24/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501240215jan24,1,6775438.story
WASHINGTON -- Software salesman Shadab Aziz of Houston was preparing
recently to catch the first flight on his long journey to Saudi Arabia
for
the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca expected at least once in a lifetime
of
all able Muslims. But his mind was partly on what could happen when he
returned to the United States.
A U.S. citizen, Aziz wondered if American border officials would make
him
provide his fingerprints before allowing him to re-enter the country.
That
had been the case weeks earlier for a group of Muslim-Americans
returning
from an Islamic conference in Toronto.
"My concern is that I be treated like any other citizen of this country
and
that I'm not discriminated unfairly against because of my religion,"
said
Aziz, 27. "If an Anglo-Saxon male or female who's coming back into the
country doesn't have to be fingerprinted, I see no reason why I have to
be
treated any differently."
U.S. citizens typically are not fingerprinted on their return from
abroad.
That usually is reserved for visiting foreigners as part of the
US-VISIT
program that went into full effect last year.
But when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, part of the
Homeland Security Department, demanded fingerprints from about three
dozen
Muslim-Americans returning from Toronto, photographing some as well, it
set
off alarm bells throughout the Muslim community. Officials said the
additional screening was intended to prevent terrorists from entering
the
country.
With an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 American Muslims having gone on the
hajj
this year, and with many returning this week, a lot of the pilgrims
fear
they will face the same treatment before being allowed to re-enter the
United States.
Muslim-Americans say it would be another case of their rights being
trampled on, more collateral damage in the war on terrorism.
Specifically,
many contend that their constitutional rights to free exercise of
religion
and assembly, due process and security from unreasonable searches and
seizures have been violated...
The council has written to the Homeland Security Department and the
Customs
and Border Protection agency, Iftikhar said, to ask what permitted
them--in
the case of the Muslims returning from Canada--to "detain and
fingerprint
American citizens with threats of arrest for non-compliance."
"Does mere attendance at an Islamic conference or religious acts of
worship
constitute probable cause for a criminal act that justifies this sort
of
attention?" he asked.
The federal government has yet to officially respond, Iftikhar said…
Muslims are skeptical about the government's position that it was the
event, not religion, that prompted the scrutiny.
"It's like saying we're only stopping people coming from the hajj, not
the
Muslims," said Omar Ahmad, a California software industry executive and
chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "But only
Muslims go
to hajj. Yes, that's profiling…"
SEE ALSO:
'HAJJI HOTLINE' CREATED FOR RETURNING PILGRIMS WHO FACE POSSIBLE
HARASSMENT
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=211&theType=AA
-----
DEFINING THE FACE OF EVIL
Virginia Rohan, NorthJersey.com, 1/23/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNzImZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NDMyMzAmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5
On the surface, Navi and Dina Araz appear to be an immigrant version of
Ozzie and Harriet.
They live in an impeccable suburban Los Angeles home with teenage son
Behrooz, who is clean-cut, remarkably obedient and so polite his
girlfriend's mother commends his parents on his upbringing.
But this dutiful boy just can't carry out one parental order: to kill
his
sweet non-Muslim girlfriend, who may have seen something she shouldn't
have. So, Behrooz's mother takes care of the girl - with a fatal dose
of
poison.
This Muslim family - the chilling terrorist sleeper cell on Fox's "24"
this
season - has drawn protests from the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.
Already fearful that Muslims are becoming Hollywood's favorite new Bad
Guys, CAIR believes that "24" takes things to a disturbing new level.
No longer are Muslim extremists portrayed as antisocial fanatics trying
to
keep a low profile in seedy highway motels. "Now, there's a new
stereotype
where the neighbor next door could be a terrorist. Your normal
everyday,
average-looking kid could be in a plot to kill everybody," says Sabiha
Khan, communications director for CAIR-Southern California, whose
representatives met with Fox representatives and "24" producers about
the
depiction. "I don't know any families like that. What I hear all the
time
in the mosques is the denouncing of terrorism. That's the reality we
live.
TV doesn't pick up on it."
Shohreh Aghdashloo, the Iranian actress who plays the ruthless Araz
matriarch, offered a different perspective to television critics
gathered
in Los Angeles last week.
"Although not all Muslims are terrorists, unfortunately, in today's
world,
most of the terrorists are Muslim," said Aghdashloo, who urged against
a
rush to judgment. "Wait for the series to finish and then jump to the
conclusion. ... Things may not appear as they seem."
The Araz clan has touched off a debate about television's portrayal of
Muslims that may ultimately result in a meaningful blueprint for future
characterizations. It will definitely lead to some changes on "24,"
according to executive producer Howard Gordon.
"We discussed reasonable steps, like weaving into the story so-called
good
Muslims, who are innocent of this, or themselves are victims of this,
or
even some who are assisting the good guys at CTU," Gordon says. Among
the
possibilities are Muslim analysts or agents, who will show up before
season's end.
Fox has also agreed to offer its affiliates CAIR-produced
public-service
ads that feature American Muslims from different ethnic backgrounds.
They
state how they and their families have served America and end by
saying, "I
am an American Muslim." "24" star Kiefer Sutherland is also recording a
PSA
with a message of tolerance, according to Gordon.
"We absolutely heard their grievances and don't disagree with them,"
Gordon
says. "By the same token we are a show about terrorism. We don't want
to
ignore the fact that most of the terrorists that we have been
confronting
have been Muslim ... but we don't want to stoke the flames of
xenophobia."
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS ENCOURAGED BY FOX '24' MEETING
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1395&theType=NR
-----
EVENT AT U CELEBRATES ISLAMIC HOLIDAY
Liala Helal, MN Daily, 1/24/05
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2005/01/24/62884
The University's Al-Madinah Cultural Center sponsored an event Saturday
celebrating the Islamic holiday Eid Al-Adha. The event, called Eid
Rageous,
educated others about the holiday and the different ways various
cultures
celebrate it.
Approximately 250 people attended the event, which featured a free
dinner
that included food from many Islamic countries…
ALSO SEE:
PENN STATE, STATE COLLEGE MUSLIMS CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF EID
Kristin Colella, Collegian, 1/24/05
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2005/01/01-24-05tdc/01-24-05dnews-07.asp
While January is often considered the end of the holiday season, for
Muslims it is the time of their most important celebration, which
commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for
God.
According to the Bible, God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son as a
test
of his devotion. When Abraham complied, God spared the son's life and
instead ordered Abraham to sacrifice a goat.
This weekend, Muslims celebrated the Festival of Eid over a three-day
period to honor Abraham's loyalty to God and celebrate the Islamic
values
of patience, resilience and fortitude in the face of God…
---
MUSLIMS MARK END OF HAJJ
Megan Headley, Daily Texan, 1/24/05
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2005/01/24/TopStories/Muslims.Mark.End.Of.Hajj-839377.shtml
Mohammad Albedaiwi, right, vice president of the North Austin Muslim
Community Center, prays during during Hajj, the celebration of the end
of
the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca.
Thousands of Austin's Muslims gathered Friday morning at the Crockett
Center in East Austin to celebrate the end of Hajj, the yearly
pilgrimage
to Mecca...
---
MUSLIMS HOPE TO EDUCATE WITH AWARENESS WEEK
Sara Taylor, DAILY BRUIN, 1/24/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31620
The terms "Islamic terrorist" and "Muslim extremist" are common in the
news
and public arena these days.
Not so often heard is the view of Islam that the Muslim Student
Association
will present to the UCLA campus this week.
During Islamic Awareness Week, which begins today and will last through
Friday, Muslim students will present their religion as a tolerant, just
one
and highlight the contribution Islam has made to society…
-----
WORKING THROUGH WHY'S AND HOW'S
J.R. Labbe, Star-Telegram, 1/23/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/10708359.htm
The New Testament expert was talking about redemption to the packed
fellowship hall at Fort Worth's First United Methodist Church.
I struggled to fit what he was saying into my Lutheran understanding of
Christian teachings on the subject.
Daryl Schmidt offered nary a word about the blood of Christ.
This came on the heels of the TCU religion professor's defining
Christianity as a creedal religion. That had Baptists cocking their
heads
in puzzlement.
I had gone to hear a discussion about how Christians can co-exist with
Islam, yet I wondered if the Muslims in the audience were experiencing
the
same disconnect with some of what the Islamic scholar said that I was
having with Schmidt. As a Christian, I really wanted to believe
everything
that Yushau Sodiq said about Islam.
The only picture that many non-Muslim Americans have of Islam is the
one
painted by pop culture, movies and Western media coverage of
extremists.
The faith tradition that Sodiq, a Sunni Muslim from Nigeria, explained
was
decidedly contrary to the violent, indiscriminate killer so often
portrayed
as the face of modern Islam.
"Extremists are found in every religion," said Sodiq, an associate
professor of religion at Texas Christian University. He went on to
outline
the commonalities between the two religions -- worship of one deity,
heaven
as the ultimate reward for following God's will, the idea that faith
should
be put to work for good on Earth…
ALSO SEE:
JEWS AND MUSLIMS IN AMERICA
WHAT: The Maryland Muslim Council & Muslim Community Center (MCC) will
host
a Muslim-Jewish Dialogue.
WHEN: Wednesday Jan, 26, 2005 from 7-9 P M at
WHERE: Jewish Community Center, 6125 Montrose Road Room 140 Rockville
MD,
(301-770-0881)
FOR INFORMATION, CALL: 1-866-866-9966
-----
U.S. CLAIMS ARAR SUIT A RISK TO NATIONAL SECURITY
Michelle Shephard, The Star, 1/22/05
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1106349012240&call_pageid=970599119419
The United States government is attempting to dismiss a lawsuit brought
by
Syrian-Canadian Maher Arar, claiming the litigation would jeopardize
national security.
Invoking the rarely used "state secrets privilege," U.S. Department of
Justice lawyers filed a motion with the New York eastern district court
this week, stating that the release of any information concerning the
U.S.'s involvement in Arar's deportation to Syria could jeopardize
"intelligence, foreign policy and national security interests of the
United
States."
Lawyers with New York's Centre for Constitutional Rights, who filed the
lawsuit on Arar's behalf a year ago, said the government is abusing
claims
of national security in order to avoid a review of its policies and
handling of terrorism suspects.
"They're asking the court to sanction their cover-up basically," lawyer
Maria LaHood said yesterday.
Arar was detained by immigration officials at New York's JFK airport on
Sept. 26, 2002, and subsequently held as a terrorism suspect in a
Brooklyn
jail, where he says he repeatedly asked to be sent back to Canada. On
Oct.
8 he was flown on a private jet to Syria, via Jordan. Arar says he was
tortured and held without charges for a year before returning to
Canada.
The Centre for Constitutional Rights launched Arar's lawsuit last
January
alleging that former attorney-general John Ashcroft, former homeland
security secretary Tom Ridge and other officials within President
George W.
Bush's administration knew Arar would be tortured when he was deported.
Arar alleges he was a victim of the government's controversial policy
of
"extraordinary rendition," where American authorities can circumvent
their
own restraints on interrogations by sending suspects to countries that
employ harsh tactics.
-----
IN BATTERED FALLUJA, FEW IRAQIS THINK OF VOTING
Michael Georgy, Reuters, 1/24/05
FALLUJA, Iraq - Election posters promise Falluja a brighter future. But
few
locals believe ballot boxes can help them rebuild after a U.S.
offensive,
and even those interested in voting have no idea who the candidates
are.
"Is this the democracy that the elections will bring?" asked Majid
Muhammad, pointing to buildings that were reduced to rubble when U.S.
and
Iraqi forces crushed rebels in their assault on Falluja in November.
"How can we vote after all this destruction? We have no faith in
politics.
I don't think anyone will vote in Falluja."
A U.S.-led assault in November was designed to root out insurgents and
encourage Iraq's most rebellious city to embrace the Jan. 30 polls.
Rebels bent on sabotaging the elections were driven from Falluja and
the
city has been secured by U.S. and Iraqi forces.
A solid turnout in Falluja would boost the credibility of the polls and
bolster the U.S.-backed interim government's assertions that democracy
will
defeat a raging insurgency.
But democracy is a hard sell in a mostly anti-American city where most
people are concentrating on rebuilding bombed-out and burned homes, not
party lists…
ALSO SEE:
ANCIENT IRAQI MINARET IS U.S. ARMY SNIPERS' NEST
Ibon Villelabeitia, Reuters, 1/24/05
SAMARRA, Iraq - Two U.S. army snipers sit on the top of an ancient
minaret
in the Iraqi city of Samarra, scanning for rebels who might try to
plant
bombs on a nearby road, and braving rain, sun and winds in long, lonely
shifts.
Crouched behind sandbags, the soldiers say guerrillas bent on
sabotaging
the Jan. 30 elections frequently shoot at them with small-arms fire,
mortars and rockets, sometimes hitting the 52-metre-tall minaret, built
over 1,000 years ago.
"We get shot at all the time," said Sgt. Steve Langelier, 25, from
Newport,
Rhode Island.
"We are very busy. Scanning the city takes all day. It only slows down
after the curfew," said Langelier, as he eyed the city below with the
scope
of his .50 caliber-rifle.
The snipers from the 1st Battalion 26th Infantry Regiment, work in
24-hour
two-man shifts, taking turns to eat and sleep.
They were posted on top of the distinctive spiral minaret -- the
highest
vantage point in this violent Sunni Muslim city -- after U.S. and Iraqi
forces overran Samarra in October and wrested it from the control of
insurgents.
Before that, the U.S. army says, the insurgents used the minaret, part
of a
sprawling 9th century mosque, to shoot at U.S. troops and to
orchestrate
mortar attacks against U.S. bases outside town.
They say the number of roadside bombs -- a constant danger for U.S.
vehicles patrolling this city of 200,000 -- has dropped dramatically
since
the snipers roosted in the minaret.
As the landmark elections approach, the strategic importance of the
minaret
has soared, with U.S. and Iraqi forces stepping up efforts to safeguard
the
vote, the first in Iraq since a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam
Hussein in
2003…
-----
ISRAEL SEIZES TRACTS OF LAND IN JERUSALEM
Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press, 1/23/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31140-2005Jan23.html
JERUSALEM - Israel has quietly seized large tracts of Jerusalem land
owned
by Palestinian residents of the West Bank after they were cut off from
their property by Israel's separation barrier, lawyers of the
landowners said.
The land was taken after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government
decided
several months ago to enforce a long-dormant law that allows Israel to
seize lands of Palestinians who fled or were driven out during the
1948-49
Mideast war that followed Israel's creation.
The new policy, first reported in the Israeli daily Haaretz, could
affect
hundreds of Palestinians who own property in Jerusalem and is sure to
raise
the stakes in the stormy battle over the city, which Israel and the
Palestinians both claim as their capital.
The landowners affected so far live in the West Bank towns of Bethlehem
and
Beit Jalla, just south of Jerusalem. Their land was taken in August,
after
Israel's West Bank separation barrier cut them off from their land in
the city.
According to documents from Israel's Finance and Justice ministries,
the
land was transferred to the Custodian of Absentee Property, a body
formed
by a 1950 law that allowed the seizure of property of Palestinians who
had
left Israel during the 1948 war.
Bethlehem resident Johnny Atik said Sunday that he lost eight acres of
olive groves within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries as a result of the
new
policy. The land is just 100 yards away from his home, on the other
side of
an electronic fence and patrol road that are part of the separation
barrier.
``The olives fall on the ground,'' he said. ``We see them, but we can't
get
to them...''
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL RESUMES BUILDING WEST BANK BARRIER
Allyn Fisher-Ilan, Reuters, 1/24/05
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=659757
JERUSALEM - Israel has resumed building one of the most controversial
parts
of its West Bank barrier, deep in occupied land, in a move Palestinians
say
clouds new President Mahmoud Abbas's efforts to revive peacemaking.
Israel's attorney-general approved construction of the 4-km (2.5 mile)
segment along a new route near the large Jewish settlement of Ariel
after
residents of the adjacent Palestinian village of Salfit petitioned a
court
against land expropriation.
"How we are going to convince our people and factions that we are
trying to
end Israeli occupation while Israel is imposing facts on the ground,"
Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said.
"This will have a deep and negative impact on our efforts to reach a
ceasefire…"
-----
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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 - 1/25/05
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD LOVES YOU
* CAIR-PHILLY KICKOFF TO FOCUS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES
- CAIR-OH: Muslims Meet with Law Enforcement Reps
- CAIR-Chicago: Law Professor to Speak at Event
- CAIR-San Antonio Lecture on Islam (Express-News)
* TN: ISLAM CLASS CANCELED AFTER LETTER FROM CHRISTIAN DEAN
- Islamic Center Offers 2 Sessions (Tennessean)
* TX: LATINOS CONVERT TO ISLAM (San Antonio Express News)
* NY: STATION STIRS FUROR BY MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS (Reuters)
- Radio Station Apologizes For Mocking Victims (CNSNews)
* ARE WE FEEDING XENOPHOBIA WITH FOX'S `24'? (Chicago Trib)
- CAIR-FL Comments on Fox '24' PSA
- CAIR-NJ: No Proof Hatred to Blame for Murders (AP)
- MN: FBI, Muslims Build Trust to Fight Terror (WCCO-TV)
* TORTURE IN IRAQ STILL ROUTINE, REPORT SAYS (Wash Post)
* MD: CAMP MUSLIM LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
- DC: American Muslims and the U.S.-Muslim Divide (USIP)
- CA: "American Muslims Counter Extremism"
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD LOVES YOU
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A person once went to
visit
his brother in another town, and God sent an Angel to wait for him on
his
way. The angel met the man and said to him: 'Where do you intend to
go?'
The man said: 'I intend to go to my brother in this town.' The angel
then
said: 'Have you done any favor for him (the repayment of which you
intend
to receive)?' The man replied: 'No, except that I love him for the sake
of
God, the Exalted and Glorious.' Thereupon the angel said: 'I am a
messenger
to you from God (to inform you) that God loves you as you love him (for
His
sake).'"
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1170
-----
CAIR-PHILLY KICKOFF TO FOCUS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES
(PHILADELPHIA, 01/25/04) - On Sunday, January 30, the newly established
Philadelphia office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-Philly) will hold a panel discussion on civil liberties and human
rights in the post-9/11 era. The discussion will also focus on
America's
response to prison abuse scandals in Guantanamo Bay and Iraq.
WHAT: "Civil Liberties and Human Rights in the Post-9/11 Era"
WHEN: Sunday, January 30, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Temple University, Student Activities Center, Room 217,
Philadelphia, PA
CONTACT: CAIR-Philly, 215-896-4872 or 267-808-4906, E-Mail:
cairphilly@yahoo.com
Speakers include Michael Ratner, with the Center for Constitutional
Rights,
Philadelphia-based human rights lawyer Susan Burke, Michigan civil
rights
attorney Shereef Akeel, and CAIR National Legal Affairs Director
Arsalan
Iftikhar.
Sponsoring organizations include: National Lawyers Guild (NLG) of
Temple
University School of Law, Muslim Students Association (MSA) at Temple
University and the Muslim Bar Association of Philadelphia.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
SEE ALSO:
OHIO MUSLIMS MEET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
(CLEVELAND, OH, 1/25/05) - Leaders of Northeast Ohio Muslim and
Arab-American communities met recently with federal law enforcement
officials from Michigan and Ohio to discuss ongoing civil liberties and
immigration concerns.
The meeting included officials from the Department of Justice, FBI and
Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) and the investigation unit of Immigration and
Customs
Enforcement (ICE).
At the meeting, Muslim leaders voiced strong opposition to the recent
fingerprinting of Muslim citizens at the Canadian border.
Muslim and Arab-American groups represented at the meeting included the
Islamic Society of Akron and Kent, Islamic Center of Cleveland, Beit
Hanina, First Cleveland Mosque, Uqbah Mosque Foundation, and the Ohio
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH).
CAIR-OH and local Muslim organizations also announced the formation of
a
Muslim community advisory group that will meet regularly with law
enforcement agencies to discuss issues of mutual concern, as well as to
be
prepared in the event of a crisis.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland, Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or
216-440-2247,
E-Mail: Julia@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916, E-Mail:
ahmad@cair-ohio.com
---
CAIR-CHICAGO: LAW PROFESSOR TO SPEAK AT EVENT
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 1/24/05
DePaul University College of Law Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni, the
director of DePaul's International Human Rights Law Institute, is
scheduled
to deliver the keynote address to a gathering of the Chicago chapter of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations on Feb. 26 at the Islamic
Foundation
of Villa Park, 300 W. Highridge Road.
A reception will at 6:30 p.m., and dinner at 7:30 p.m.
The Council describes itself as the U.S.' largest Muslim civil rights
and
advocacy group in America with 30 chapters and offices nationwide.
Tickets to the event cost $30. For more information or to make a
reservation, call (312) 212-1530 or visit the Web site at
www.cairchicago.org.
---
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO LIBRARY LECTURE ON ISLAM
San Antonio Express-News, 1/23/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/stories/MYSA010205.8P.goodcauses.5a304b6f.html
CAIR-San Antonio Library Lectures on Islam, 6:30-9:30 p.m. San Antonio
Central and Cody branch libraries. The San Antonio office of the
Council on
American-Islamic Relations is presenting a series of lectures at area
libraries to promote a better understanding of Muslims in America. Free
admission. As part of the "Islam in America" lecture series, each
participating library will receive books, DVDs and educational
materials on
Islam and Muslims. For more information, contact: Sarwat Husain, (210)
378-9528.
-----
VU TAKES IN CLASS ON ISLAM AFTER TSU CANCELS ITS ROOM
Holly Edwards, Tennessean, 1/25/05
http://www.tennessean.com/education/archives/05/01/64599695.shtml?Element_ID=64599695
One week before the scheduled start of a free course on Islam at
Tennessee
State University, members of the Islamic Center of Nashville have been
told
they won't be able to use a room at the campus, a mosque leader said
yesterday.
TSU officials could not immediately explain why the invitation was
reversed.
But the cancellation came one week after the dean of Tennessee Bible
College in Cookeville sent a letter to TSU President James Hefner
questioning the use of a government-funded university for a course on
religion.
''Are you not using government money to promote religion - a single
religion?'' Dean Kerry Duke wrote in his Jan. 14 letter, which was also
sent to The Tennessean. ''Would you allow me to lecture at TSU on
Christianity?...''
In an interview yesterday, Duke, the Bible college dean, said he
believed
that Islam promotes violence against non-Muslims. He scoffed at
assertions
that Islam is a peaceful religion and accused Muslims of watering down
the
true nature of their beliefs.
''I've been to the mosque several times and I'm well aware of the
teachings
of the Koran,'' Duke said. ''I disagree with their claims that their
religion does not promote violence, and I can show there are statements
in
the Koran that encourage violence to non-Muslims…''
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC CENTER OFFERS 2 SESSIONS
Tennessean, 1/25/05
http://www.tennessean.com/education/archives/05/01/64599708.shtml?Element_ID=64599708
A free course on Islam will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday and will be held
every
Sunday through May 8.
Because of the large number of people who have registered, two sessions
will be held at times to be announced after the first class, said Awadh
Binhazim, outreach director of the Islamic Center of Nashville, which
is
sponsoring the course.
The class will meet at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Room
G23 on
the first floor…
To register for the class, call Binhazim at 482-2838 or send an e-mail
to
hadhramut@hotmail.com. Further information is available on the Islamic
Center's Web site, www.muslimeen.org.
-----
CURIOSITY SPAWNED BY 9-11 LEADS SOME LATINOS TO CONVERT TO ISLAM
Hernán Rozemberg, Express-News, 1/25/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA012505.1A.latino.muslims.3f873650.html
Like most youngsters growing up around his West San Antonio
neighborhood,
Jesús Villarreal was raised Catholic. He went to church every Sunday,
took
Communion and attended catechism classes.
But he eventually strayed from the church, remaining in religious limbo
for
years until stumbling upon an unexpected answer - Islam.
Indeed, thousands of Latinos across the country - both U.S.-born and
immigrants - have been converting to Islam since the Sept. 11, 2001,
attacks sparked massive U.S. societal interest in the religion and its
billion followers worldwide.
No definitive research exists on the ethnic breakdown of the U.S.
Muslim
population, estimated by the Islamic Society of North America at 8
million
to 10 million people. Most surveys identify African Americans as the
largest group, but little is known about Latino conversion patterns.
"It's a small religious phenomenon," said Edwin Hernández, director of
the
Center for the Study of Latino Religion at the University of Notre
Dame.
"There's a lot we don't know. It's on our radar screen."
A 2001 study by the Council on American-Islamic Relations estimated 6
percent of 20,000 annual converts to Islam are Latinos. Studies
variously
list 25,000 to 75,000 Latino Muslims in the United States; most concur
there are roughly 40,000…
-----
N.Y. STATION STIRS FUROR WITH SONG MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Mark Egan, Reuters, 1/25/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33987-2005Jan24.html
NEW YORK -- A radio station here apologized Monday for repeatedly
airing a
joke song that ridiculed victims of the recent tsunami in South Asia
and
used racial slurs.
WQHT-FM, known as HOT 97, ran the segment on its "Miss Jones in the
Morning" show. The piece used racial slurs to describe people swept
away in
the disaster and made jokes about child slavery and people watching
their
mothers die.
"You can hear God laughing, 'Swim, you bitches, swim,' " was one line
in
the song.
The hip-hop and R&B station, known for its "shock jocks," apologized on
its
Web site, saying it "regrets the airing of material that made light of
a
serious and tragic event. We apologize to our listeners and anyone who
was
offended."
WQHT's program director and deejay Tarsha Nicole Jones, who uses the
on-air
name Miss Jones, apologized on the program and said the segment should
not
have been broadcast.
The piece drew wide criticism from New York's City Hall to the capitol
in
Albany, with many lawmakers calling on the Federal Communications
Commission to fine HOT 97.
"At a time when virtually the entire world has come together to help in
the
tsunami tragedy relief, employees of HOT 97 have come up with this
song,"
said New York State Assembly member Jimmy Meng, a Democrat from Queens.
"We
are disgusted and demand immediate action by the FCC."
An FCC spokesman had no immediate comment.
The piece was also denounced by the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations, which said it had received calls from
offended
Muslims. ..
ALSO SEE:
RADIO STATION APOLOGIZES FOR SONG MOCKING TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Susan Jones, CNSNews.com, 1/25/05
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200501%5CCUL20050125a.html
-----
AS FOX'S `24' IDENTIFIES TERRORISM WITH ISLAM, ARE WE FEEDING AMERICAN
XENOPHOBIA?
Deborah Hornblow, Hartford Courant, 1/24/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/hc-arabdemons.artjan24,1,5698554.story
Team America: World Police" started it.
Now the contagion has spread to "24."
Yes folks, the American entertainment industry has begun to shift into
combat mode. The enemy of our current wartime nightmare is popping up
on
screens big and wide. In last year's mad marionette political satire
"Team
America," creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker depicted evil in the form
of
Islamic extremists, puppets offensively rendered as literal "towel
heads.
"Now, on the Fox network's new season of its beat-the-clock crisis
jamboree
"24," America's evil du jour appears in the person of the jihadists
next
door. Inside a swell suburban home in America lurks a Turkish family
whose
hearts belong to an extreme form of Islamic fundamentalism. They may
share
your zip code, your paperboy, your cable line and your lawn-care
specialist. But behind closed doors, they are plotting to bring America
to
its knees.
"This year we deal with it," the show's co-creator Joel Surnow told
Frank
Rich of The New York Times. "This is what we fear - Islamic terrorism.
This
is what we are fighting.
"What strikes you about Surnow's comment is not so much its
relationship to
the truth, which cannot be argued, but its combat readiness.
Call it state-of-siege license.
In choosing to capitalize on Americans' fears of Islamic
fundamentalists,
the "24" creators have accomplished two things: One is to draw a
critical
outcry from interest groups, including the Council on American-Islamic
Relations. The other is to boldly lay claim to America's (and the rest
of
the world's, for that matter) not-so-proud history of demonizing
various
ethnic groups for the sake of our national amusement…
Each week, Americans are tuning in to see their biggest fears unfold in
carefully selected colors. As the spokesman for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations worries about a show that is "casting a
shadow
of suspicion on ordinary American Muslims," Americans of paler
complexion
don't seem to mind too much. If they do, they are not speaking up very
loud…
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL COMMENTS ON FOX '24' PSA
CAIR-FL Representative Ahmed Bedier appeared on Fox Tampa affiliate
WTVT to
discuss the recent decision by FOX to air CAIR PSA's to counter the
negative effects of the show '24.'
CLICK BELOW TO VIEW VIDEO:
HIGH SPEED/BROADBAND:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/050124_wtvt_bedier_on_24_hi.wmv
LOW SPEED/DIAL-UP:
http://www.cair-florida.org/video/050124_wtvt_bedier_on_24_lo.wmv
---
NO PROOF RELIGIOUS HATRED TO BLAME FOR FAMILY'S MURDER
Wayne Parry, Associated Press, 1/24/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-nj--familyslain0124jan24,0,2891831.story
NEWARK, N.J. -- Authorities investigating the stabbing deaths of an
Egyptian immigrant family said Monday they have not found any evidence
so
far indicating the four Jersey City residents were slain over a
religious
dispute.
The possibility of a religious grudge, which has strained relations
between
Muslims and Christians in the area, still is being investigated, said
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.
He added that the brutal slayings of Hossam Armanious, a 47-year-old
Coptic
Christian, his 37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters,
Sylvia,
15, and Monica, 8, do not appear to stem from a simple robbery.
"Certainly, based on the viciousness of the attacks, we think there's
more
than taking the money that was in the apartment," DeFazio said.
Shortly after the bound and gagged bodies were found Jan. 14, friends
of
the family circulated word that Armanious had angered Muslims with
Internet
postings in a religious chat room.
The claims led to widespread tension between Christians and Muslims in
Jersey City, which led to numerous scuffles at the family's funeral
earlier
this month. But authorities said nothing so far supports the theory.
"Is it possible? Yes," DeFazio said. "Do we have anything that gives us
reason to believe this is what it was, factually? No. Nothing indicates
that was the prime motivation for this. That we can clearly say."
Magdy Mahmoud, president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations'
New
Jersey chapter, was one of about a dozen Muslim leaders who called on
the
community last week to refrain from speculating on a motive in the
killings.
On Monday he said he was pleased to hear that no evidence of religious
bias
had been found.
"We expected this to be the case," Mahmoud said. "As we said last week,
all
religious groups should stand in solidarity, especially in times like
this
when fear and grief are being spread among the community…"
---
FBI, MUSLIMS BUILD TRUST TO FIGHT TERROR
WCCO-TV, 1/24/05
http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_024233924.html
(WCCO) Hassan Mohamud, like other native Somalis, learned hard lessons
about authority before he came to Minnesota.
"If you ask a question, you will be arrested," Mohamud recalled. "If
you
ask a question, you will be killed."
Mohamud is an "imam" -- a spiritual and political leader. He is also an
immigration attorney.
"This is a beautiful system," he said, "because (Somali-Americans)
don't
want to let any other person destroy the system. Because this is the
system
that helps us to be equal."
But that doesn't mean authorities aren't watching them here, too.
In the war on terror, part of the FBI's focus is to seek information
from
some of Minnesota's 140,000 Muslims. About half are from Somalia, where
al-Qaeda is known to have operated.
On a daily basis, federal agents are out doing interviews. But they
aren't
just asking questions -- they're taking them from the community as
well.
"They have the opportunity to work with us in preventing another
terrorist
attack," said Mark Post, acting supervisor of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation office in Minneapolis.
Under orders from Washington, Post's staff searched for and identified
the
most trusted leaders in the Muslim community: imams such as Hassan
Mohamud.
The government began listening to and responding to concerns. By
August,
they all sat together for the first time…
-----
TORTURE IN IRAQ STILL ROUTINE, REPORT SAYS
Doug Struck, Washington Post, 1/25/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33349-2005Jan24.html
BAGHDAD, Jan. 24 -- Twenty months after Saddam Hussein's government was
toppled and its torture chambers unlocked, Iraqis are again being
routinely
beaten, hung by their wrists and shocked with electrical wires,
according
to a report by a human rights organization.
Iraqi police, jailers and intelligence agents, many of them holding the
same jobs they had under Hussein, are "committing systematic torture
and
other abuses" of detainees, Human Rights Watch said in a report to be
released Tuesday.
Legal safeguards are being ignored, political opponents are targeted
for
arrest, and the government of interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi
"appears
to be actively taking part, or is at least complicit, in these grave
violations of fundamental human rights," the report concludes.
A spokesman for Allawi declined to comment, Monday and said "I will put
this report on the prime minister's desk tomorrow to see if he has any
reaction."
Ibrahim Jafari, an interim vice president, said in an interview that
security forces needed to be tougher to combat the campaign of violence
by
opponents of the election.
"I think the security people are not arresting enough and are releasing
them too quickly," Jafari said. "And many of the security people are
cooperating with the criminals. I think we have to put security as our
priority."
The Human Rights Watch report acknowledged that Iraq was "in the throes
of
a significant insurgency" in which 1,300 police officers and thousands
of
civilians were killed in the last four months of 2004. But it argued
that
"no government, not Saddam Hussein's, not the occupying powers and not
the
Iraqi Interim Government, can justify ill-treatment of persons in
custody
in the name of security."
The report was based on interviews with 90 current and former detainees
in
Iraq conducted between July and October last year, many of them
interviewed
when they were brought to court for initial proceedings. Of those, 72
said
they were "tortured or ill-treated," the report says. It recounts
numerous
individual cases of torture, and says the victims often had fresh scars
or
bruises.
"I was beaten with cables and suspended by my hands tied behind my
back,"
Dhia Fawzi Shaid, 30, a resident of Baghdad, told the human rights
investigators, according to the report. "I saw young men there lying on
the
floor while police [stepped] on their heads with boots. It was worse
than
Saddam's regime..."
-----
MD: CAMP MUSLIM LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
The Council of American Muslim Professionals (CAMP International) in
collaboration with MSA National, University of Maryland MSA & MWM, and
the
local Masjid Youth Committees would like to invite you to our 1st
Annual
Muslim Leadership Summit in College Park, Maryland all day Saturday,
February 5th and Sunday, February 6th, 2005 from 10am - 2:30pm.
The purpose of this Muslim Leadership Summit is two fold: one, to
creating
a partnership between CAMP International and high school based,
university
based, and other professionally based organizations in the US, Canada,
and
the UK; two, to offer Muslim leaders in the US, Canada, and the UK the
opportunity to learn from each other and experts in the field through a
weekend-long interactive leadership retreat.
To register for CAMP International's 1st Annual Muslim Leadership
Summit,
please RSVP via our evite at http://evite.com/camp_dc@yahoo.com/summit
AND
complete the registration form via CAMP's website at:
http://dc.CAMPnet.net/summit.html
Please note to attend this event, an RSVP is needed via evite AND a
completed registration form via CAMP's website.
CAMP International is a community of students, employees, employers,
entrepreneurs, skilled individuals, and interested community members.
We
come from all levels, backgrounds, and industries offering a central
environment to exchange information through professional networking
events,
community outreach efforts, and exciting interactive educational
opportunities to foster personal and professional growth for our
members to
be strong and successful collectively as Muslim Americans, Canadians, &
Europeans and leaders of tomorrow.
SEE ALSO:
THE ROLE OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS IN BRIDGING THE U.S.-MUSLIM DIVIDE
WHEN: Friday, January 28, 2005, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Beacon Hotel, Cabinet Room, 1615 Rhode Island Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Fawaz Gerges
Dr. Muqtedar Khan
Mr. Duncan MacInnes
Mr. Farid Senzai
Chair: Dr. Abdeslam Maghraoui, Associate Director of Research and
Studies
for the Muslim World, United States Institute of Peace.
This event is open to the public but RSVPs are REQUIRED. Please RSVP to
mwi@usip.org with your name and affiliation.
---
"AMERICAN MUSLIMS COUNTER EXTREMISM"
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA) - 1/25/05
- Symposium: The School of Religion and the School of Politics and
Economics at Claremont Graduate University and the Muslim Public
Affairs
Council will present a symposium on "American Muslims Counter
Extremism"
from noon to 1 p.m. at Albrecht Auditorium, Stauffer Hall, Claremont
Graduate University, corner of Tenth Street and Dartmouth Avenue,
Claremont. Speakers will include Salam Al-Marayati, executive director
and
cofounder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and Maher Hathout,
senior
adviser and cofounder of MPAC. The event is free and open to the
public.
Information: [909] 607-3673.
-----
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 - 1/26/05
* HADITH: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
* CALIF. MUSLIMS DEMAND RELEASE OF U.S. HOSTAGE IN IRAQ
* CAIR REP DISCUSSES TSUNAMI AID ON O'REILLY SHOW
- TX: Missionaries Should Put Aid First (Dallas News)
- WA: Faiths' Tenets Propel Aid Efforts (Seattle Times)
* CAIR-HOUSTON MARKS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
- CAIR-Houston: Workshop on Employment Discrimination
* MO: ISLAMOPHOBIC GRAFFITI SPRAYED ON HOME (Fox 4)
- Muslims: Making Enemies (Newsweek)
* GONZALES: THE WRONG ATTORNEY GENERAL (NY Times)
- A Degrading Policy (Wash Post)
- Treaty Doesn't Bar `Cruel, Inhuman' Tactics (KR)
* CA: LECTURE LOOKS AT JESUS AS ISLAM PROPHET (Daily Bruin)
- MN: How to Say Minnesota Nice In Arabic (Star Trib)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "You will not believe as
long as you do not love one another."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 19
-----
CALIF. MUSLIMS DEMAND RELEASE OF U.S. HOSTAGE IN IRAQ
Islamic civil rights group condemns targeting of civilians
(ANAHEIM, CA, 1/26/05) - The Southern California office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called for the immediate
release
of an American contractor who was kidnapped along with a Filipino
co-worker
in Iraq last November.
A videotape aired on Tuesday showed 56-year-old Roy Hallums with a gun
held
to his head and pleading for his life. His daughter and former wife
both
reside in Southern California.
In its statement, the Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said:
"We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Roy Hallums. We
also call for the release of every other hostage currently held in Iraq
and
urge all parties to the conflict to refrain from any actions that may
harm
civilians."
The Lancet, a respected British medical journal, recently estimated
that
civilian casualties resulting from the war in Iraq have topped 100,000.
SEE: "Mortality Before and After the 2003 Invasion of Iraq"
http://pdf.thelancet.com/pdfdownload?uid=llan.364.9448.primary_research.31264.1&x=x.pdf
CAIR recently launched an online petition drive, called "Not in the
Name of
Islam," designed to disassociate Islam from the violent acts of a few
Muslims.
SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=169&page=AA
The "Not in the Name of Islam" petition states:
"We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who
commit
acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only
destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the
faith
they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify
the
massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the
cause
of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group
or
individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to
allow
our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority
acting outside the teachings of both the Qur'an and the Prophet
Muhammad,
peace be upon him."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail:
socal@cair.com
-----
CAIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON THE O'REILLY SHOW
Fox News: The O'Reilly Factor, 1/25/05
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,135164,00.html
O'REILLY: Thanks for staying with us. I'm Bill O'Reilly.
In "The Factor" "Follow-Up" Segment tonight, a clash of religions in
the
tsunami relief zone.
On January 12, Jerry Falwell appealed for tsunami aid in an e-mail to
the
Moral Majority and Liberty Alliance Members.
The e-mail said in part, "We will be delivering 80 tons of rice plus
medical supplies. Relief efforts are being organized using hundreds of
local Christian workers. In addition, we will be presenting the gospel
to
tens of thousands of persons through distribution of gospel tracts
written
in the native languages of the area."
That has angered some Muslims.
Joining us now from Lynchburg, Virginia, is the Reverend Jerry Falwell.
And here in the studio, Nihad Awad, the executive director of the
Center
(sic) on American-Islamic Relations.
All right. So what's the beef here? You know that Reverend Falwell and
a
lot of evangelical Christians go out and try to convert people as part
of
their mission. What's the problem?
NIHAD AWAD, C.A.I.R. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Well, first of all, thank you
for
having me.
O'REILLY: My pleasure.
AWAD: …And our objection rises from the fact that Jerry Falwell and
others
are trying to prey on the victims, the victims who are suffering and
hurting. Those people who are suffering will have no choice but to
accept
what you offer them. If you offer them your religious belief before the
aid, that's taking advantage of people who are under -- you know, who
are
vulnerable...
ALSO SEE:
TEMPERING EVANGELISM: TSUNAMI MISSIONARIES SHOULD PUT AID FIRST
Dallas Morning News, 1/24/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/012505dnedievangelists.d7421.html
Zeal for converting non-Christians sets evangelical Christianity apart
from
other expressions of the Christian faith. You will find evangelicals
all
over the world, teaching, preaching and healing broken bodies and
broken
lives. They do much good.
Indonesia struggles to count tsunami dead
Editorial: Tsunami missionaries should put aid first
But sometimes they go too far. We are dismayed at the furor ignited by
members of Waco's Antioch Community Church, which sent a relief team
into
tsunami-stricken Sri Lanka. According to The New York Times, the Waco
evangelicals have outraged Sri Lankan Christians and non-Christians by
aggressively proselytizing among the country's Hindus, Muslims and
Buddhists. Some native pastors complain that the Texans are putting all
the
country's Christians in peril from militant Buddhist factions.
The Rev. Duleep Fernando, a Sri Lankan Methodist, told The Times that
the
Texans induced him to bring them into a refugee camp, pretending to be
merely a humanitarian group. "We have told them this is not right, but
now
we don't have any control over them," the sadder-but-wiser pastor says
now.
Aid to the poor and oppressed is a central tenet of Christianity, and
missionary efforts over the centuries have often mixed material aid
with
subtle or not-so-subtle invitations to convert. It is difficult to draw
a
bright line between what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
But deception - hiding one's evangelical aims - is wrong. And so is
imperiling the lives of Christians who can't hop a plane bound for D/FW
if
non-Christian militants turn violent.
Even absent that, the internal damage to a society can be profound.
"Soupers" in Ireland and "rice Christians" in Asia are some of the
epithets
that reflect the bitter resentment toward people who are perceived to
have
abandoned their historical faith in return for handouts from
proselytizing
sects.
That's why many Christian aid organizations today try to separate
humanitarian efforts from evangelism outreach. But the Waco church
explicitly rejects that strategy. One paralyzed Buddhist fisherman told
The
Times he believes the Waco team is trying to convert him, but that he
is
"in a helpless situation," and feels he has no choice but to submit to
their ministrations. How can Christians be proud of that?
---
FAITHS' TENETS PROPEL AID EFFORTS
Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times, 1/25/05
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/10737901.htm
SEATTLE _ Arun Sharma, a Boeing engineer from Everett, Wash., is
working
with fellow Hindus, collecting money and clothes for tsunami survivors.
Marlina Soerakoesoemah of Redmond, Wash., co-founder of a magazine for
Islamic women, works with other local Muslims and Indonesians, and the
larger community, to buy women's hygiene products to send to Indonesia.
And John Roberts of Bellevue, Wash., director of a regional Buddhist
organization, spends much of his time working with fellow Buddhists
here to
raise money to build 100 houses in Sri Lanka.
For all three, the decision to help stems both from their respective
faiths
and from their ties to countries hit hardest by the tsunami _
Indonesia,
with the world's largest Muslim population; Sri Lanka, primarily
Buddhist
with a sizable Hindu population; and India, primarily Hindu with a
sizable
Muslim population.
"The love of the land is still very much alive," said Sharma, who
emigrated
from India in 1991. "We all feel the pain."
While one need not ascribe to a certain faith to want to help _ as is
attested to by the multitudes who have given time, money and labor
these
past few weeks _ for these three, the tenets of their religions have
shaped
both the way they view what happened and what they're doing about it…
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON MARKS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
WHAT: CAIR-Houston along with the MAS-Freedom Foundation, League of
United
Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and others invites you to glimpse into
the
history of this struggle, and learn from the experience of our brothers
in
humanity, as we look into the civil rights struggles of our fellow
Americans to reflect and learn.
This event is entitled "Unity, Diversity and Wisdom" in honor of Black
History Month. We invite you to take a glimpse into the history of this
important struggle. This proactive educational endeavor will be geared
towards raising awareness and educating our community of the steps we
can
take to help make our country a better place.
WHEN: Feb. 5th, 2005 2 to 4:30pm
WHERE: Islamic Dawah Center, located at 202 Main Street.
WHO: Confirmed Key Note Speakers: Johnny Mata (President of
LULAC-Houston);
Mahdi Bray (Executive Director of MAS Freedom Foundation); and Marvin
Mohammed (Houston Masjid of Islam).
LUNCH: Available for RSVP's only. RSVP's must be made no later than
Feb.
2nd, 2005
This program is open and free to the public and members of the media
are
expected. For reservations email info@cairhouston.org subject
"Honorable
Past, Noble Future" or for more information please visit the
CAIR-Houston
web site www.cairhouston.org or call 713-838-CAIR (2247).
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-HOUSTON OFFERS WORKSHOP ON EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
WHAT: CAIR-Houston, in conjunction with the Equal Employment
Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-TX) will
host presentations on civil liberties and employment discrimination.
The EEOC will discuss how to avoid employment discrimination at the
workplace and how to react to it if it should occur. The ACLU-TX focus
on
knowing your rights, travel & airport security and FBI interviews.
WHEN: All events will be on Saturday Nights with various times,
WHERE: At local masajids in the Houston area.
For more information on events and timings, please contact CAIR-Houston
at
all 713-838-CAIR (2247).
-----
ISLAMOPHOBIC GRAFFITI SPRAYED ON HOME
MUSLIM LEADERS WORRY TV SHOW COULD LEAD TO VIOLENCE
Fox 4 News, 1/28/05
http://www.wdaftv.com/fullstory.asp?ID=7323
Kansas City, MO -- Someone spray-painted foul language on a northland
house
aimed at the Muslim owner. "It was just spray paint, but next time it
could
be something worse," said Mahnaz Shabbir, President of the Heartland
Muslim
Council. "There shouldn't be any reason for anyone to take out a
hateful
crime, even if it's just kids. They should be educated to know that
this is
wrong." On Monday's Fox drama "24", a Muslim mother poisoned her son's
non-Muslim girlfriend because she posed a threat to the terror cell's
plans. Shabbir says episodes like that perpetuate the stereotype that
all
Muslims are terrorists. "It doesn't help when we have a national show
that
continues to portray a stereotype towards us. That doesn't help us.
It's
like you take one step forward and this show takes us five steps
backwards." Shabbir says viewers should remember not everything they
see on
TV is reality. "What we want is for people to understand it's just a
television show. It's not about reality. It's a drama. It's fiction."
But
for one northland family, the hate has become a harsh reality.
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS: MAKING ENEMIES
Lorraine Ali and Ramin Setoodeh
Newsweek, 1/31/05
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6857230/site/newsweek/
Fox's hit series "24" kicks off its fourth season with a disturbing
story
line: a seemingly normal, suburban American Muslim family is actually a
sleeper terrorist cell bent on destroying Western society. The mother,
played by Oscar-nominated Shohreh Aghdashloo, is so evil she kills her
son's cute blond girlfriend to make sure she doesn't blow the family's
cover. The Council on American- Islamic Relations (CAIR) protested the
show
and eventually met with the network. Fox called the meeting
"educational
and informative," and released this statement: "We are providing CAIR's
PSAs [public-service announcements] to the affiliates. It is their
decision
whether or not to run them." In case you never see them, the 30- and
60-second spots include the line, "Muslims are part of the fabric of
this
great country."
Critics, like author Jack Shaheen who catalogs Arab and Muslim images
in
the U.S. media, worry that "24" represents a new trend, where even the
Muslim or Arab next door is a potential threat. Consider the WWE's
newest
bad guy, Muhammad Hassan, an Arab-American: he wears Arab garb in the
ring
and vows revenge for post-9/11 discrimination as the audience chants,
"U.S.A.!" Shaheen says, "To present a truly balanced image, why don't
Fox
and other networks create some Arab or Muslim characters who aren't
building bombs? Maybe they're just an everyday family, like the
Cosbys."
Actress Aghdashloo (who does not apologize for her role in "24") is
waiting
for that day. "As a Middle Eastern actress, I wish to God that there
would
be more roles--not just the terrorist or the battered woman. I'd love
to be
on 'Will & Grace'."
-----
THE WRONG ATTORNEY GENERAL
New York Times, 1/26/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/opinion/26wed1.html
Alberto Gonzales's nomination as attorney general goes before the
Senate at
a time when the Republican majority is eager to provide newly elected
President Bush with the cabinet of his choice, and the Democrats are
leery
of exposing their weakened status by taking fruitless stands against
the
inevitable. None of that is an excuse for giving Mr. Gonzales a pass.
The
attorney general does not merely head up the Justice Department. He is
responsible for ensuring that America is a nation in which justice
prevails. Mr. Gonzales's record makes him unqualified to take on this
role
or to represent the American justice system to the rest of the world.
The
Senate should reject his nomination.
The biggest strike against Mr. Gonzales is the now repudiated memo that
gave a disturbingly narrow definition of torture, limiting it to
physical
abuse that produced pain of the kind associated with organ failure or
death. Mr. Gonzales's attempts to distance himself from the memo have
been
unconvincing, especially since it turns out he was the one who
requested
that it be written. Earlier the same year, Mr. Gonzales himself sent
President Bush a letter telling him that the war on terror made the
Geneva
Conventions' strict limitations on the questioning of enemy prisoners
"obsolete."
These actions created the legal climate that made possible the horrific
mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners being held in Abu Ghraib prison. The
Bush
administration often talks about its desire to mend fences with the
rest of
the world, particularly the Muslim world. Making Mr. Gonzales the
nation's
chief law enforcement officer would set this effort back substantially.
Other parts of Mr. Gonzales's record are also troubling. As counsel to
George Bush when he was governor of Texas, Mr. Gonzales did a
shockingly
poor job of laying out the legal issues raised by the clemency
petitions
from prisoners on death row. And questions have been raised about Mr.
Gonzales's account of how he got his boss out of jury duty in 1996,
which
allowed Mr. Bush to avoid stating publicly that he had been convicted
of
drunken driving.
Senate Democrats, who are trying to define their role after the
setbacks of
the 2004 election, should stand on principle and hold out for a more
suitable attorney general. Republicans also have reason to oppose this
nomination. At the confirmation hearings, Senator Lindsey Graham,
Republican of South Carolina, warned that the administration's flawed
legal
policies and mistreatment of detainees had hurt the country's standing
and
"dramatically undermined" the war on terror. Given the stakes in that
war,
senators of both parties should want an attorney general who does not
come
with this nominee's substantial shortcomings.
ALSO SEE:
A DEGRADING POLICY
Washington Post, 1/26/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36718-2005Jan25.html
ALBERTO R. GONZALES was vague, unresponsive and misleading in his
testimony
to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Bush administration's
detention
of foreign prisoners. In his written answers to questions from the
committee, prepared in anticipation of today's vote on his nomination
as
attorney general, Mr. Gonzales was clearer -- disturbingly so, as it
turns
out. According to President Bush's closest legal adviser, this
administration continues to assert its right to indefinitely hold
foreigners in secret locations without any legal process; to deny them
access to the International Red Cross; to transport them to countries
where
torture is practiced; and to subject them to treatment that is "cruel,
inhumane or degrading," even though such abuse is banned by an
international treaty that the United States has ratified. In effect,
Mr.
Gonzales has confirmed that the Bush administration is violating human
rights as a matter of policy.
Mr. Gonzales stated at his hearing that he and Mr. Bush oppose "torture
and
abuse." But his written testimony to the committee makes clear that
"abuse"
is, in fact, permissible -- provided that it is practiced by the
Central
Intelligence Agency on foreigners held outside the United States. The
Convention Against Torture, which the United States ratified in 1994,
prohibits not only torture but "cruel, inhumane or degrading
treatment."
The Senate defined such treatment as abuse that would violate the
Fifth,
Eighth or 14th amendments to the Constitution -- a standard that the
Bush
administration formally accepted in 2003.
But Mr. Gonzales revealed that during his tenure as White House
counsel,
the administration twisted this straightforward standard to make it
possible for the CIA to subject detainees to such practices as sensory
deprivation, mock execution and simulated drowning. The constitutional
amendments, he told the committee, technically do not apply to
foreigners
held abroad; therefore, in the administration's view the torture treaty
does not bind intelligence interrogators operating on foreign soil.
"The
Department of Justice has concluded," he wrote, that "there is no legal
prohibition under the Convention Against Torture on cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment with respect to aliens overseas."
According to most legal experts, this is a gross distortion of the law.
The
Senate cited the constitutional amendments in ratifying the treaty
precisely to set a clear standard that could be applied to foreigners.
Nevertheless, Mr. Gonzales uses this false loophole to justify
practices
that contravene fundamental American standards. He was asked if there
were
any legal prohibition against U.S. personnel using simulated drowning
and
mock executions as well as sleep deprivation, dogs to inspire fear,
hooding, forced nudity, the forced injection of mood-altering drugs and
the
threat of sending a detainee to another country for torture, among
other
abuses. He answered: "Some might . . . be permissible in certain
circumstances."
This is not a theoretical matter. The CIA today is holding an
undetermined
number of prisoners, believed to be in the dozens, in secret facilities
in
foreign countries. It has provided no account of them or their
treatment to
any outside body, and it has allowed no visits by the Red Cross.
According
to numerous media reports, it has subjected the prisoners to many of
the
abuses Mr. Gonzales said "might be permissible." It has practiced such
mistreatment in Iraq, even though detainees there are covered by the
Geneva
Conventions; according to official investigations by the Pentagon, CIA
treatment of prisoners there and in Afghanistan contributed to the
adoption
of illegal methods by military interrogators…
---
TORTURE TREATY DOESN'T BAR `CRUEL, INHUMAN' TACTICS, GONZALES SAYS
Frank Davies, Knight Ridder, 1/26/05
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/10732654.htm
WASHINGTON - Alberto Gonzales has asserted to the Senate committee
weighing
his nomination to be attorney general that there's a legal rationale
for
harsh treatment of foreign prisoners by U.S. forces.
In more than 200 pages of written responses to members of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, who plan to vote Wednesday on his nomination,
Gonzales
told senators that laws and treaties prohibit torture by any U.S. agent
without exception.
But he said the Convention Against Torture treaty, as ratified by the
Senate, doesn't prohibit the use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading"
tactics
on non-U.S. citizens who are captured abroad, in Iraq or elsewhere.
Gonzales, White House counsel and a close Bush adviser, described
recent
reports of prisoner abuse as "shocking and deeply troubling." But he
refused to answer questions from senators about whether interrogation
tactics witnessed by FBI agents were unlawful.
He warned that any public discussion about interrogation tactics would
help
al-Qaida terrorists by giving them "a road map" of what to expect when
captured.
He also said the administration was conducting a comprehensive legal
review
of all practices and that the Justice Department, so far, had concluded
that the tactics were lawful.
The committee, with 10 Republican and eight Democrats, is expected to
send
Gonzales' nomination to the full Senate on Wednesday. He would replace
Attorney General John Ashcroft, who bade farewell to the department
Monday. ..
-----
LECTURE LOOKS AT JESUS AS ISLAM PROPHET
Heather Rabkin, Daily Bruin, 1/25/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31660
Hisham Mahmoud is a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA, and has studied in Egypt,
Mauritania, Spain, and speaks more than four languages. He came to UCLA
Tuesday evening not as a student, but as a lecturer of the program
called
Jesus: The Prophet of Islam, From the Miraculous Birth to His Final
Return.
His lecture occurred in conjunction with Islamic Awareness Week, which
is
organized by the Muslim Student Association.
"This is definitely one of our most interesting topics, because we live
in
a society that is a majority Christian and Jewish," said Adam Elsayed,
a
third-year political science transfer student and member of MSA who
helped
organize the week's events.
"Islam is not the foreign religion people think it is," he said.
The week has already sparked interest in religious groups, and
Tuesday's
event has been welcomed by members of the UCLA religious community.
"I think it's good that Muslim students are looking at these things and
examining their faith; it would be good for the Christians to examine
their
own faith. I think anything about deepening religious awareness is
good,"
said Ted Vierra, the interim director of the University Catholic
Center.
"Superficial understandings of religion by Muslims or Christians can
lead
to extremism."
Mahmoud brought textual evidence from both Christian and Islamic
documents
together to provide background information for his ideas.
He began by showing how connected these two religions are, though most
people might not realize it.
"Two-fifths of the world population, two billion people, share much
more
than what we had in mind. Two-fifths of the world accept Jesus' virgin
birth and his miracles," Mahmoud said.
"With so much in common, one would wonder why there is such a divide
between us," he said...
ALSO SEE:
HOW TO SAY MINNESOTA NICE IN ARABIC
Sarah McCann, Star Tribune, 1/25/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/142/5199976.html
Peace be upon you, or As-salaamn Alay-Kum in Arabic.
That's a good icebreaker and a friendly greeting for Muslims, Zafar
Siddiqui told a group of non-Muslims gathered at the Fridley Community
Center last week. Siddiqui is president of the Islamic Resource Group,
which holds classes to improve understanding of Muslims.
Luann Woeltge of Shoreview was one of about 30 people who attended the
free
class. "I have lots of students who are Muslim, and I don't know much
about
the culture," said Woeltge, a Mounds View school district social
worker. "I
want to learn more, especially about traditions and holidays, so that
we
can be more inclusive."
Others attended because they have Muslim neighbors or friends, live
near
Al-Amal School in Fridley or simply want to know more.
"These classes are very effective in educating people about their
Muslim
neighbors, in breaking down stereotypes, removing the fear of the
unknown
and building bridges of understanding," Siddiqui said. A group of
volunteers has made close to 1,000 similar presentations in Minnesota
in
the past three years.
The class begins with an overview of some basics. For example, Muslim
means
one who submits to God. The religion, Islam, worships one god, the same
god
Abraham worshipped. Muslims believe in angels, holy books, a day of
judgment and prophets including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the
last
prophet, Mohammed.
Siddiqui said some misunderstandings come from confusing culture with
Islam. For instance, Saudi Arabia doesn't allow women to drive cars,
but
that is the country's culture and has nothing to do with Islam.
"I see the commonalities between Islam and other Abrahamic religions
far
outweigh the differences," he said…
WHAT: The "Get to know your Muslim neighbor" class will be presented
again
in February. It focuses on Muslim culture, practices and beliefs.
WHEN: 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 8
WHERE: Fridley Community Center, 6085 7th St. NE.
COST: Free
CALL: 763-502-5100
-----
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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
MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE URGED TO REJECT EXTREMIST GROUP
Promoter of museum display says 'moderate' Muslims don't follow Quran
(ANAHEIM, CA, 1/26/05) - The Southern California office of the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called on the Simon
Wiesenthal
Center Museum of Tolerance (MOT) in Los Angeles to pull its sponsorship
from an event prompted by the efforts of a group known to advocate
extremist and Islamophobic views.
During the January 30th MOT event, an Israeli bus involved in a suicide
bombing and now owned by the Jerusalem Connection, formerly known as
Christians for Israel, will be displayed.
SEE: http://www.standwithus.com/flyers/bus19a.pdf
Jerusalem Connection President Dr. James M. Hutchens, is quoted today
in
the Los Angeles Jewish Journal as saying moderate Muslims "don't take
the
Quran seriously…because the Quran calls for the destruction of the
infidel."
[In fact, the Quran states: "It may well be that God will bring about
love
(and friendship) between you and those with whom you are now at
odds…God
does not forbid you to show kindness and deal justly with those who
neither
fight against your faith nor drive you out of your homes: for God loves
the
just." (60:7-8) It also states: "Those who follow the Jewish faith, and
the
Christians…all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous
deeds -
shall have their reward with their Lord. They will have nothing to fear
or
to regret. (2:62)]
SEE: BUS NO. 19 MAKING CONTROVERSIAL STOP
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=13569
Hutchens has in the past spoken out strongly against the Middle East
peace
process, the creation of a Palestinian state and Israeli withdrawal
from
the Occupied Territories. He has even suggested that there is no such
thing
as a "Palestinian people."
He wrote in one commentary: "In a word, the Palestinians do not qualify
for
the protections to be given to those under Israel's God-ordained
governance…those who promote a Palestinian state have placed themselves
in
alliance against God."
In a letter to Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Museum of Tolerance,
CAIR-LA
requested that the museum disassociate itself from such an intolerant
group.
CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush wrote:
"...[T]he bus tour will increase animosity and incite hatred against
the
American Muslim and Arab communities. Unfortunately, this often
translates
into hate crimes and hate incidents against innocent people.
"...Those intolerant views, widely rejected by even the most extremist
groups in Israel, serve to dehumanize and demonize all Palestinians and
all
Muslims...Such rhetoric poisons the atmosphere of cooperation and
reconciliation at a time when both parties, Israelis and Palestinians,
are
coming together to forge a better future.
"Given the troubling nature of the Jerusalem Connection, we call upon
the
Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance, as a center dedicated to
tolerance and peace, refrain from giving legitimacy and support to such
a
hate-filled group and withdraw its moral and monetary support to the
Jerusalem Connection and all its activities."
In December of last year, CAIR-LA called on the Simon Wiesenthal Center
to
repudiate Islamophobic comments blaming the faith of Islam for terror
made
by a speaker at a conference sponsored by the center's Canadian branch.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-LA, Sabiha Khan, 714-776-1847 or 714-390-0334, E-Mail:
socal@cair.com
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 1/27/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: ALL THINGS PRAISE GOD
* CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF ATTORNEY
* INCITEMENT WATCH: WHY ISLAM DOES NOT BELONG IN AMERICA
* SEX, MUSLIMS AND INTERROGATIONS (AP)
* WA: EEOC SUES COMPANY FOR ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS (SPI)
- NY: Hot 97 Suspends Crew over Tsunami 'Parody' (AP)
- UK Muslim Group Attacks TV Drama 24 (BBC)
* CA: ISLAM CONVERTS STAY THEIR PATHS (Daily Bruin)
* IN: ISLAMIC SCHOLARS SPEAKING AT UNIVERSITY FORUM (Post Trib)
- CA: Islamic Scholars Face Visa Issues (Daily Bruin)
- LA: Workshop Focuses on Muslim Culture (Times Picayune)
* ND: EID BRINGS MUSLIM COMMUNITY TOGETHER (Bismarck Trib)
- MD: Muslims Continue Lobbying Schools for Holidays Off
* FL: AL-ARIAN'S PRISON CONDITIONS DETERIORATE (TBCJP)
- NJ: Not Discounting Vendetta in Killings (JJ)
- Prostitute Used in Habib Torture (SMH)
* USAF PLAYING CAT AND MOUSE GAME OVER IRAN (UPI)
- Israel Refuses to Rule Out Attack on Iran (Independent)
* OCCUPATION TURNS IRAQIS AGAINST U.S. (Chic Trib)
- Anger Over Iraqi War Dead on Internet (Herald Sun)
- Kennedy Calls for U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq (Reuters)
------
VERSE OF THE DAY: ALL THINGS PRAISE GOD
"Do you not see that God is the one who is praised by all beings in the
heavens and on earth? Even the birds praise Him as they spread out
their
wings. Each (being) knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise."
The Holy Quran, 24:41
"(The) heavens, and the earth and all beings therein declare His glory.
There is not a (single) thing that does not celebrate His praise. And
yet
you do not understand how they declare His glory."
The Holy Quran, 17:44
-----
CAIR JOB OPENING: CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF ATTORNEY
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest
American Muslim civil liberties organization, is seeking a full-time
civil
rights staff attorney in Washington DC.
The ideal candidate is a licensed attorney who has background and
experience in the fields of civil rights, immigration, constitutional
and
employment law. Working knowledge of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(especially Title VII) and other constitutionally protected activities
is
required.
Qualifications: Law degree from an ABA accredited school required.
Licensed
to practice law (Virginia, Maryland and DC highly preferred). 1-2 years
experience in the area of civil rights/employment/immigration law
highly
recommended. Good interpersonal, communication skills and a team
player.
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
CONTACT: Resume and cover letter including salary history by February
18 to:
Arsalan Iftikhar
National Legal Director
CAIR
453 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington DC 20003
Fax (202) 488-0833
arsalan@cair-net.org
CAIR is an EOE employer. No phone calls please.
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: WHY ISLAM DOES NOT BELONG IN AMERICA
Worldnetdaily.com, 1/27/05
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42585
The concept of culture seems to have eluded the political left in
America.
By this I don't mean good music, art and cinema - although a quick
glance
at what passes for entertainment today certainly reinforces such a
judgment. I mean culture in the wider sense, for it is culture that
underlies and therefore determines the values and manner in which the
majority of people in a nation live their daily lives.
The culture of the Western world grew out of Christian values. Among
these
are the immense value and significance of each human life, as
demonstrated
by God's willingness to sacrifice his own son, Jesus, rather than
destroy
humanity because it had failed to meet His standards. Another is the
concept of human equality: Our differences shrink to insignificance
when
confronted with the glory, power, holiness and majesty of God. Thus
with
the widespread growth of Christianity, earthly kings suddenly found
themselves accountable to God for the governing decisions they made.
"Lex
Rex" turned the world on its head, and ultimately helped give birth to
America.
Today, there is another culture vying for America's attention. The
values
underlying this culture are watered from the deep springs of Islam. We
see
it expressed in "honor killings," forced religious conversions, women
held
as property and the slaughter of noncombatants to generate a day's
headlines...
-----
SEX, MUSLIMS AND INTERROGATIONS
Paisley Dodds, Associated Press, 1/27/04
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/27/national/main669845.shtml
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Female interrogators tried to break Muslim
detainees at the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay by touching them
sexually, wearing skimpy clothing such as a miniskirt and thong
underwear
and in one case smearing a Saudi man's face with fake menstrual blood,
according to an insider's written account…
"His female interrogator decided that she needed to turn up the heat,"
Saar
writes, saying she repeatedly asked the detainee who had sent him to
Arizona, telling him he could "cooperate" or "have no hope whatsoever
of
ever leaving this place or talking to a lawyer."'
The man closed his eyes and began to pray, Saar writes.
The female interrogator wanted to "break him," Saar adds, describing
how
she removed her uniform top to expose a tight-fitting T-shirt and began
taunting the detainee, touching her breasts, rubbing them against the
prisoner's back and commenting on his apparent erection.
The detainee looked up and spat in her face, the manuscript recounts.
The interrogator left the room to ask a Muslim linguist how she could
break
the prisoner's reliance on God. The linguist told her to tell the
detainee
that she was menstruating, touch him, then make sure to turn off the
water
in his cell so he couldn't wash...
"She then wiped the red ink on his face. He shouted at the top of his
lungs, spat at her and lunged forward" -- so fiercely that he broke
loose
from one ankle shackle.
"He began to cry like a baby," the draft says, noting the interrogator
left
saying, "Have a fun night in your cell without any water to clean
yourself..."
-----
OBERTO SAUSAGE SUED FOR RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/26/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/209457_oberto26.html
A federal agency has filed a lawsuit against Oberto Sausage Co. of
Seattle
accusing it of religious discrimination.
The suit, brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
alleges
that Oberto failed to accommodate the religious needs of six employees,
as
required by federal law, and then illegally fired them.
The employees involved, who are Somali and speak limited English,
worked on
an assembly line at Oberto, a maker of sausage and jerky. They are
devout
Muslims who do not eat or drink anything during the daylight hours of
the
holy month of Ramadan. This daily fast is broken at sunset, with a sip
of
water and short prayer.
The Muslim employees at Oberto expressed concern, through an
interpreter,
about needing to take a few minutes to break their daily Ramadan fast.
They
offered to take time for the break from their usual breaks earlier in
the
day, or to have the breaks deducted from their pay. The EEOC says
Oberto
rejected these suggestions.
The suit, filed Jan. 5 in U.S. District Court in Seattle, charges that
when
the employees proceeded to take the short breaks despite the employer's
position, they were fired…
ALSO SEE:
HOT 97 SUSPENDS MORNING CREW OVER TSUNAMI 'PARODY'
Larry McShane, Associated Press, 1/26/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-ny--tsunami-radiosusp0126jan26,0,153199.story
NEW YORK -- The host of a New York morning radio show and the rest of
her
on-air crew were suspended indefinitely Wednesday for airing a
tasteless
song parody that mocked victims of the catastrophic south Asia tsunami.
"What happened is morally and socially indefensible," said Rick
Cummings,
president of Emmis Radio, in announcing the disciplinary action. "All
involved, myself included, are ashamed and deeply sorry. I know the
members
of the morning team are contrite. They know their actions here are
inexcusable."
The song, a parody of the charity single "We Are the World," aired last
Friday on Emmis station WQHT-FM, known locally as Hot 97. The station
was
subsequently flooded with thousands of angry phone calls demanding the
firing of morning show host Tarsha Jones, known on air as Miss Jones.
The DJ offered an on-air apology, and the station initially announced
that
she and a half-dozen other members of the morning team would donate a
week's salary to tsunami relief. The station, in a statement posted on
its
Web site, said management later decided "stronger action was necessary
to
demonstrate the severity of the situation."
The song included references to "screaming chinks" and orphaned
children
"sold into child slavery." The chorus began, "So now you're screwed,
it's a
tsunami, you'd better run ... go find your mommy."
The decision to suspend the DJ and her crew was immediately hailed by
groups upset over the song.
"I think this is definitely a step in the right direction," said
Ibrahim
Hooper, spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations. "The egregious nature of this offense mandated something
beyond
a week's pay…"
---
MUSLIM GROUP ATTACKS TV DRAMA 24
BBC, 1/25/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4210299.stm
Kiefer Sutherland plays a counter-terrorism agent in the hit series
A British Muslim group has criticised the new series of US drama 24,
which
is about to be aired on Sky One, claiming it portrays Islam unfairly.
The Muslim Council of Britain has complained to broadcasting watchdog
Ofcom. It says the programme breaches editorial guidelines.
The group's members met with Sky executives on Tuesday after viewing
previews of the first five episodes.
The drama, now in its fourth series, begins on Sunday evening.
The new series portrays a Muslim family as a sleeper terrorist cell.
The Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement: "We are greatly
concerned by the unremittingly hostile and unbalanced portrayal of
Muslims
in this series of 24 based upon a preview of the first five episodes
that
we have seen."
"There is not a single positive Muslim character in the storyline to
date.
At a time when negative stereotypes of Muslims are on the increase we
feel
that Sky - as a major UK broadcaster - has a responsibility to
challenge
these insidious views, not help to reinforce them."
But Sky denied the programme breached broadcasting guidelines.
A spokesperson said: "During a useful meeting yesterday, Sky listened
to
the concerns raised by representatives of the council. Sky does not
believe
that the episodes that it has reviewed to date breach Ofcom's programme
code."
Fox TV, which shows the series in the US, is broadcasting public
service
announcements showing Muslims in a positive light after complaints
about
the series.
-----
ISLAM CONVERTS STAY THEIR PATHS DESPITE HARDSHIPS
Sara Taylor, Daily Bruin, 1/25/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31695
Thirty-five years ago, at age 12, Reymund Nur converted to Islam while
still living in his parents' Methodist household.
Five years ago, Boni Bee was a young Hindu woman seeking clarity and
purpose in her life.
Last spring, Leilani Downing was reading the Christian Bible and
looking
for meaning in Christianity, her birth religion.
Today, all three are Muslims and live their lives according to the laws
of
Islam.
A common stereotype is that of the Arab Muslim, when in reality Islam
draws
from many different ethnicities.
"The majority of people feel that all Muslims are Arab, but in reality
only
a small percent - 15 percent - are of Arab descent," said Faryah
Humkar, a
member of the UCLA Muslim Student Association.
The Muslim population, she added, includes people from many different
backgrounds and ethnicities…
-----
TWO ISLAMIC SCHOLARS SPEAKING AT VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY FORUM
Post-Tribune, 1/25/05
http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/01-27-05_z1_news_20.html
VALPARAISO - Young Muslims worldwide are being drawn to radical
movements
within the religion, leading some of them to violent actions.
Understanding this shift and outlining ways to change it will be the
focus
of a session tonight at Valparaiso University featuring two of the
world's
leading Islamic scholars.
"For a long time, no one was aware of fundamentalism in Islam," said
Nelly
Van Doorn-Harder, associate professor of theology at VU.
"But we know today that we need to understand why some young Muslims
feel
attracted to this radicalism and what can be done to change that
mindset."
She helped arrange the lecture that will feature A. Rashied Omar and
Johannes Jansen…
ALSO SEE:
ISLAMIC SCHOLARS FACE VISA ISSUES
Officials say troubles encountered by visiting professors not common at
UCLA
Jennifer Mishory, Daily Bruin, 1/25/05
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31662
Scholars traveling to UCLA from the Islamic world have faced few
problems
since Sept. 11, 2001. But others within the Islamic studies community
maintain that obtaining visas for Islamic scholars has become more
difficult in recent years.
Amy Newhall, executive director of the Middle East Studies Association,
a
national organization, recalls three scholars invited to the
association's
annual conference who were not able to obtain visas.
"One scholar from the West Bank (who) had been here many times before
...
was denied a visa," Newhall said.
The Iranian Studies Association is having similar troubles, Newhall
said.
"They had invited about 30 scholars from Iran, and only three of those
30
got visas."
In a recent case, a professor who was supposed to be teaching a class
on
Arab calligraphy has had his visa delayed for a month. The embassy had
him
come back every week. He showed up Tuesday only to find that his visa
had
not been stamped due to confusion regarding his last name, Newhall
said.
The scholars are not told why they are denied a visa, which can "cause
bad
will," she said.
While maintaining that "the free exchange of ideas has been
tremendously
affected," Newhall acknowledges the care with which the consulates must
treat each case.
"(Scholars) must meet the same requirements as any other visa
applicant,"
said Department of State spokesman Lou Fintor...
---
WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON MUSLIM CULTURE
Session designed to aid understanding
Rob Nelson, Times-Picayune, 1/27/05
http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1106810079144150.xml?nola
If a Muslim or Arab family is slow to respond to a note sent home by a
school or is running late for a teacher conference, school officials
should
not feel snubbed but should understand the cultural influences behind
that
behavior.
That's been the message delivered this week to about 250 Jefferson
Parish
public school teachers and administrators as part of a four-day
workshop
designed to help them work better with Muslim and Arab families in the
school system.
The seminar, which comes after an incident last year in which a teacher
was
accused of using religious slurs against a Muslim high school student,
focused not only on religious tenets but also on the geographical and
cultural aspects of Muslim life.
"I want them to be able to better understand their Arab and Muslim
students
and their families," said Audrey Sabbas, a nationally known speaker on
Middle Eastern culture who ran the workshop Wednesday for about 50
teachers
and principals.
Sabbas, who is married to an Arab man and converted to Islam decades
ago,
discussed a list of values that guide Muslim life, including
family-based
support systems, a need to build trust with those with whom they work
and a
strong respect for authorities, especially educators and doctors.
Those values can affect practical, everyday matters, Sabbas said.
Because Muslims like to build trust, verbal communication tends to get
better results than written documents, she said. Correspondence sent
home
by schools is the "least effective" way to communicate as opposed to a
phone call or visit, Sabbas said.
"They want to develop a sense of you before getting down to business,"
she
said.
-----
ISLAMIC HOLIDAY BRINGS MUSLIM COMMUNITY TOGETHER
Karen Herzog, Bismarck Tribune, 1/27/05
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2005/01/27/news/life/lif01.txt
The place of prayer is not what is important, it's the unity of the
community, said Dr. Narim Koleilat of Bismarck.
Though the Muslim community here is not yet big enough to have its own
worship space, about 40 men, women and children, taking a hour or so
out of
their day, gathered Friday in Bismarck's World War Memorial Building
gymnasium as Koleilat led prayers and lessons marking the festival
called
Eid al-Adha, one of two primary Muslim holidays during the year, the
other
being Ramadan. Regular Friday prayers are held in the chapel at St.
Alexius
Medical Center, he said.
Eid al-Adha, called the Feast of Sacrifice, is the culmination of the
time
of Hajj, when Muslims from all over the world make a pilgrimage to
Mecca.
The symbol of that gathering is equality, said Abdullah Ali, of Mandan,
who
with his family was among the first Muslim families in the community,
arriving almost 30 years ago from Kurdistan.
Pilgrims on Hajj, gathered together at the birthplace of Islam, all
wear
the same white garment. No one can tell who you are, rich or poor, man
or
woman, "all meet in the world as one family," Ali said.
The Muslims here also are from diverse ethnic and national groups,
Koleilat
said, from Jordan to Pakistan to Kurdistan to Kosovo to Palestine, and
are
establishing themselves as a community.
It's hard to put a number to the community, Ali said, because medical
professionals, who make up a good share of Muslims here, move in and
out.
But religious occasions will bring anywhere from 40, Ali said, to 60 or
70,
Koleilat said.
But the community has grown noticeably in the past five or six years,
Ali
said. When he and his family arrived, they were almost the only Muslim
people here.
This community has been welcoming for the most part, Koleilat said,
aside
from the occasional comment that women wearing the hijab -- scarf --
may
hear at the mall…
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS CONTINUE LOBBYING SCHOOLS FOR HOLIDAYS OFF
Jennifer Przydzial, 1/26/05
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=659&NewsID=606122&CategoryID=1840&show=localnews&om=1
For the last year, Baltimore County Muslims have been lobbying the
school
board to close schools on two important Islamic holidays.
"For the 40 years I have been here, I have been celebrating Christmas
with
my friends," said Sanaullah Kirmani at the Dec. 21 school board
meeting.
"I want my boys' friends to celebrate with us," said Kirmani, whose two
sons attend Towson High School.
On Jan. 21, Muslims celebrated Eid ul-Adha, which commemorates
Abraham's
willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac. The day is spent in prayer and
in
the evening Muslims celebrate with family and friends sharing a meal.
Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr, which occurs in late fall, are the two
most
important holidays for Muslims.
The Baltimore County Muslim Council wants those days designated as
holidays
on the school calendar, just as Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are.
Bash Pharoan, the council president, said that the current school
calendar
sends a message that only Christian and Jewish holidays are acceptable.
"If you give a holiday to an ethic group, you must give that right to
all
other groups," Pharoan told the board. "We ask you to treat us
equally…"
-----
DR. AL-ARIAN'S PRISON CONDITIONS DETERIORATE
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace, 1/26/05
The punitive prison conditions at Coleman Federal Penitentiary have
deteriorated drastically over the past month, since Dr. Sami Al-Arian's
return from a brief stay at the local Orient Road Jail in Tampa, where
he
was able to attend hearings, examine evidence, and have regular visits
and
telephone calls with attorneys and family.
As it is, the conditions at Coleman deny Dr. Al-Arian regular access to
attorneys, give him limited family visits, and almost no medical
attention,
as he is confined to a tiny cell for 23 hours a day.
Last week, however, Coleman officials announced a lockdown of the
prison
the second one in a month. During this period, usually caused by a
disturbance among inmates, the entire prison is shut down and closed
off to
visitors. In the Special Housing Unit where Dr. Al-Arian is confined
(and
is permanently in a quasi-lockdown state), the 23 hour solitary
confinement
is extended to 24 hours, denying him his one hour of recreation, and
forcing him to spend as long as ten days without leaving his cell.
Moreover, in the last 46 days, Dr. Al-Arian, who is a diabetic, has
only
had his condition checked two times. By contrast, when he is at Orient
Road
Jail, his health is checked twice per day. The lockdown also means that
laundry service is suspended and therefore inmates are not given a
change
of garments for the duration of this period.
Regular food service is also interrupted, and prisoners are
consequently
denied any fresh or cooked food. This presents an added hardship on Dr.
Al-Arian, since he is the only person denied access to the commissary,
where he can supplement his diet by purchasing food items not readily
available. The prison has never given any justification for these
excessively punitive measures, and the singling out of Dr. Al-Arian,
who as
it happens, is the sole detainee still awaiting his trial at the
facility. This treatment suggests that not only has he been denied any
presumption of innocence, but that he is somehow even more deserving of
punishment than anyone else at the prison...
CONTACT: tampabayjustice@yahoo.com
ALSO SEE:
NOT DISCOUNTING VENDETTA IN PROBE OF FAMILY'S KILLINGS
Michelangelo Conte, Jersey Journal, 1/26/05
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1106734287245610.xml
The possibility of a vendetta with roots in Egypt is among many
possible
motives in the slaying of a Coptic Christian family of four in their
Jersey
City home, officials said.
"Could it be a vendetta? Yes," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio
said
of the family, who moved to the United States from Luxor, Egypt, in
1997.
"Are we looking into that? Yes."
But DeFazio said city, county and federal investigators are looking
into a
number of possible motives for the Jan. 11 killing of Hossam Armanious,
47,
his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their two daughters, Sylvia Armanious,
16,
and Monica Armanious, 9.
They were bound, gagged, and had bled to death from multiple stab
wounds,
including wounds to their throats, before they were found two days
later,
DeFazio said.
Although the family was robbed of cash during the killings, jewelry was
not
taken and investigators say they do not know the primary motive for the
murders. The FBI and the federal office of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement are assisting in the investigation, DeFazio said.
"Based on what we found at the scene, we think there was more to it,"
he said.
Some family friends say they believe the deaths were related to a
threat
Hossam Armanious received after making an anti-Islam comment in an
Internet
chat room he administered on the PalTalk Web site.
But DeFazio said religious items in the victims' home were not
desecrated,
there was no mutilation of the bodies, and that no religious message
was
left at the scene.
"We have more work to do, including on the computer angle, the
financial
profile and history of the family, including any information on the
family
or associated people in Egypt. All of that is being done, but it's
taking
time."
Hossam Armanious worked as a banquet waiter at a Westin Hotel in
Princeton,
Amal Garas worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Kearny as a mail
handler,
Sylvia attended Dickinson High School and Monica went to School 6.
Yesterday, people continued to visit a shrine in front of the family's
Oakland Avenue home near St. Paul's Avenue, and an investigator again
visited the home, leaving with an armful of manila envelopes.
---
PROSTITUTE USED IN HABIB TORTURE: LAWYER
Tamara McLean, Sydney Morning Herald, 1/27/05
http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/26/1106415668003.html?oneclick=true
Mamdouh Habib was the victim of atrocities fit for a concentration
camp,
including being tied to the ground while a prostitute menstruated on
him,
his lawyer said yesterday.
Interrogators at the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay had also told the
Sydney man they had killed his family and superimposed animal heads on
photos of his wife and children, Steven Hopper said.
At an Australia Day forum in Sydney, Mr Hopper gave more details of
atrocities allegedly endured by his client while held at the US base in
Cuba.
The Federal Government said it was aware of similar allegations of
torture
made by former British detainees at Guantanamo Bay but it was the first
time the Government had heard the claims involving Mr Habib.
Mr Habib is due back in Sydney within a fortnight after the US said it
would release him without charge despite holding him for more than
three
years on suspicion he knew about the September 11 attacks and had
trained
with al-Qaeda.
Mr Hopper said yesterday: "The Americans used prostitutes as tools in
their
interrogations. They'd say to detainees 'If you co-operate with us,
we'll
let you at this woman for the night'. And if they wouldn't agree they'd
use
them in other ways."
He said detainees held at the base with Mr Habib reported that a
prostitute
was told to stand over him and menstruate on him.
"[We believe] one of the prostitutes stood over him naked while he was
strapped to the floor and menstruated on him," he said.
Mr Hopper said officials at the base also defaced photos of Mr Habib's
wife, Maha, and their four children.
"The Americans in their wisdom have taken the heads off the pictures,
enlarged them and superimposed them with the heads of animals and then
strung them up all over the walls of the interrogation room," he said…
-----
USAF PLAYING CAT AND MOUSE GAME OVER IRAN
Richard Sale, UPI, 1/26/05
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050126-045615-4690r
NEW YORK -- The U.S. Air Force is playing a dangerous game of cat and
mouse
with Iran's ayatollahs, flying American combat aircraft into Iranian
airspace in an attempt to lure Tehran into turning on air defense
radars,
thus allowing U.S. pilots to grid the system for use in future
targeting
data, administration officials said.
"We have to know which targets to attack and how to attack them," said
one,
speaking on condition of anonymity.
The flights, which have been going on for weeks, are being launched
from
sites in Afghanistan and Iraq and are part of Bush administration
attempts
collect badly needed intelligence on Iran's possible nuclear weapons
development sites, these sources said, speaking on condition of strict
anonymity.
"These Iranian air defense positions are not just being observed,
they're
being 'templated,'" an administration official said, explaining that
the
flights are part of a U.S. effort to develop "an electronic order of
battle
for Iran" in case of actual conflict.
In the event of an actual clash, Iran's air defense radars would be
targeted for destruction by air-fired U.S. anti-radiation or ARM
missiles,
he said.
A serving U.S. intelligence official added: "You need to know what
proportion of your initial air strikes are going to have to be devoted
to
air defense suppression."
A CentCom official told United Press International that in the event of
a
real military strikes, U.S. military forces would be using jamming,
deception, and physical attack of Iran's sensors and its Command,
Control
and Intelligence (C3 systems)….
ALSO SEE:
ISRAEL REFUSES TO RULE OUT ATTACK ON IRAN
Anne Penketh, Independent, 1/27/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=604945
Israel's Defence Minister refused to rule out a pre-empt-ive strike on
Iran
yesterday, claiming that Tehran was "close to a point of no return" on
its
suspected development of a nuclear weapon.
At a meeting with journalists in London, Shaul Mofaz did little to
dispel
the sense of unease caused by comments last week by the US
Vice-President,
Dick Cheney, who suggested Israel might "decide to act first" to end
Iran's
nuclear threat.
Mr Mofaz said: "I believe that none of the Western countries can live
with
Iran having a nuclear capability - not the US, not the European
countries
and nor other countries."
But he stressed that the "first step" should be through diplomatic
channels
to resolve the standoff with Iran, suspected by the US and Israel of
using
its civilian programme as a cover for weapons development.
"The way to stop Iran is by the leadership of the US, supported by
European
countries and taking this issue to the UN, and using the diplomatic
channel
with sanctions as a tool and a very deep inspection regime and full
transparency."
Asked what Israel would do if diplomatic channels failed, Mr Mofaz went
on:
"The US is a strong power that can stop any kind of nuclear programme,
especially in the hands of an extreme regime."
The Israeli minister left no doubt, however, he was sceptical about the
outcome of negotiations with the Iranian government, which he said had
been
"buying time" through talks with Britain, France and Germany.
He warned that Tehran was "less than a year" from enriching uranium,
which
he described as the "point of no return" towards making a nuclear
weapon.
He echoed comments by the Mossad intelligence agency, which said that
Iran
could have developed a nuclear bomb in three years, a statement
dismissed
by Iran as baseless. Mr Mofaz rejected Iranian assertions that it was
working on a peaceful civilian programme, saying that there was "no
goal by
the Iranian side for a civilian programme. Their goal is to achieve a
military programme".
Pressure on Iran has been increasing recently in the form of aggressive
statements from the Bush administration, branding the Tehran regime an
"outpost of tyranny". Mr Cheney said Iran's nuclear programme put it at
the
"top of the list" of global issues…
-----
REPORTER WATCHES OPTIMISM DRY UP AS OCCUPATION TURNS IRAQIS AGAINST
U.S.
Evan Osnos, Chicago Tribune, 1/26/05
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/world/10737882.htm
BAGHDAD, Iraq - (KRT) - Santa Claus lumbered into the chow-hall tent in
combat boots and a faux belly. He ho-ho-hoed through rows of plastic
tables, leaning to sniff trays of colorless Christmas turkey and doing
his
best to divert attention from the fact that he and thousands of other
young
men and women around him in the sterile desert of northern Kuwait would
soon be going to war.
But other than the setting, Christmas Day 2002 - three months before
the
U.S. invaded Iraq - was anything but bleak. The soldiers radiated
confidence. The Kuwaiti badlands were alive with energy, a growing
sliver
of America fed by adrenaline and optimism. They were there to wage war
in
the name of American-financed freedom. For all those I met on that
cold,
clear evening, the sacrifices so far seemed a small price to pay to be
part
of history.
My mind returns to that night whenever I stop to take stock of all that
has
happened in the last two years, all that has been won and lost. In
Baghdad
this winter, finishing my last month in Iraq for a while, I can't help
but
be most aware of the losses - how little of America's painful encounter
with Iraq has matched the expectations from that heady Christmas in the
desert, how little remains of the hope we had for that country and it
had
of us.
Memory is marked less by the public calendar - the day the Saddam
statue
fell, say, or the official return to sovereignty - than by a more
private
timeline, the moments of insight and elation and despair.
This is not a story about policy, about what went right and what went
wrong. This is a story about what it feels like to watch a nation and a
people in turmoil. It is written in moments no weightier than a wisp of
conversation or an expression on a face.
Days after Baghdad fell, I headed south from the capital, still clad in
grimy clothes from weeks embedded with the Marines. I squeezed into a
small
dented sedan with another reporter and an Iraqi translator and driver.
We
were looking for stories, but mostly just absorbing the images of a
city
pillaging itself. Boys waved gleefully at U.S. tanks and armored
vehicles,
while pushing carts overloaded with computers and copper wiring and
whatever else they could strip from unguarded buildings.
On the capital's dusty edge, we turned onto a narrow dirt road. I had
been
here a week earlier, I realized. I had bumped along in a Marine troop
carrier, winding among the charred hulks of Iraqi army vehicles still
smoldering from a brutal fight. The Marines swerved to avoid the body
of a
dead Iraqi in the road, but gave up swerving after the first one. A
week
later, the road was clear and quiet…
ALSO SEE:
ANGER OVER IRAQI WAR DEAD ON INTERNET
Mark Dunn, Herald Sun, 1/27/05
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12059792%255E663,00.html
THE US Defence Department has been asked to investigate a website being
used by American soldiers to post grisly pictures of Iraqi war dead.
The site, which has been operating for more than a year, describes
itself
as "an online archive of soldiers' photos".
Dozens of pictures of decapitated and limbless bodies are featured on
the
site with tasteless captions, purportedly sent in by soldiers.
Captions include "plastic surgery needed", "road kill" and "I said
dead".
Australian expat Iraqis, most of whom supported the overthrow of Saddam
Hussein, have been angered by the website and called on the US
government
to ensure it was taken down.
US President George Bush in 2003 demanded the Iraqi military not
release
photographs of US war prisoners for publication and the Pentagon has
banned
publication of pictures of coffins containing US war dead being
transported
back to America.
Australian Iraqi Forum president Dr Riadh al-Mahaidi said: "It is
abhorrent
to see gruesome pictures of dead bodies in Iraq posted on this
offending
website.
"It is no less cruel and sickening than web postings by terrorist
groups of
decapitated bodies of kidnapped victims."
---
KENNEDY CALLS FOR U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ
Vicki Allen, Reuters, 1/27/05
WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The United States should start to
withdraw
militarily and politically from Iraq and aim to pull out all troops as
early as possible next year, Sen. Edward Kennedy said on Thursday.
After Sunday's Iraqi elections, Kennedy said President George W. Bush
should state he intends to negotiate a timetable with the new Iraqi
government to draw down U.S. forces.
At least 12,000 U.S. troops should leave at once, Kennedy said, "to
send a
stronger signal about our intentions to ease the pervasive sense of
occupation."
The Massachusetts Democrat, who opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq,
became
the first senator to lay out a plan for Bush to start withdrawing
troops a
day after the Pentagon warned lawmakers that strikes by insurgents may
increase after Sunday's elections.
Besides ending its military presence, Kennedy said the United States
must
stop making political decisions in Iraq and turn over full authority to
the
United Nations to help Baghdad set up a new government.
He said an international meeting led by the United Nations and Iraq
should
be convened immediately in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East to
start
that process.
"We now have no choice but to make the best we can of the disaster we
have
created in Iraq," Kennedy in a speech to the Johns Hopkins School of
Advanced International Studies. "The current course is only making the
crisis worse…"
-----
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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 - 1/28/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR SOULS
- Hadith of the Day: Be Humble
* CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: INTERFAITH COMMUNITY FORUM
- CAIR-CAN: Storming the Harvard Bastion (G&M)
- CAIR-CA: Marghoob Quraishi (1931-2005)
* CO: PROF WHO DEFENDED MUSLIM AWARDED $1.54 MILLION (AP)
* SECRET HEARINGS AT GITMO PRISON CAMP (AP)
* ISLAM AND AMERICA, THREE YEARS AFTER 9/11 (Beliefnet)
- KS: Stereotypes of Arranged Marriages (Kansan)
- NY: Arab-American Bank Accounts Closed (Buffalo News)
* DANIEL PIPES' APPEARANCE SPARKS DEBATE (Dartmouth)
* TX: SLAUGHTER WAS RELIGIOUS CEREMONY (Amarillo Globe)
- IL: Muslims to Deliver Meat to Food Depository
- TX: Market Caters To Muslims during Holiday (Star-Tel)
* MI: SCHOOLS SEEK MORE ARAB, MUSLIM STUDENTS (Free Press)
* TN: THIS IS KURD COUNTRY (AJC)
* TX: IRAQI DEATHS IGNORED (Houston Chronicle)
- Veterans Paint Grim Picture of War's Toll (Sun-Times)
* ISLAM THE KEY TO SOOTHING TSUNAMI (Reuters)
- Cat Stevens Hosts Indonesia Fundraiser (BBC)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR SOULS
"Say (O Muhammad): 'O mankind! The truth has come to you from your
Lord.
Those who receive guidance do so for the good of their own souls. Those
who
stray do so to their own loss. For I am not a custodian over you.'"
The Holy Quran, 10:108
HADITH OF THE DAY: BE HUMBLE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God has revealed to me
that
you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another or boasts over
another."
Sunan 0f Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2294
-----
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO: INTERFAITH COMMUNITY FORUM
WHEN: Friday, February 18 from 7 to 10 pm (registration begins at 6 pm)
and
Saturday, February 10 from 9 am to 1 pm, and 2 to 5 pm (Registration
begins
at 8 am)
WHERE: Texas A & M University Corpus Christi
Classroom Instruction Building (CI)
WHAT: Texas A & M University Corpus Christi College of Arts and
Humanities
in conjunction with South Texas Alliance for Peace and Justice Corpus
Christi TIKKUN Community, Texans for Peace, and Texas Veterans for
Peace
will be hosting an interfaith community forum on issues of peace and
reconciliation in the Middle East. Keynote Address will be given Friday
by
Marc H. Ellis, Center for American and Jewish Studies, Baylor
University.
Featured speakers also include Sarwat Husain, Council on
American/Islamic
Relations and Carolyn Schneider, Texas Lutheran University.
For more information, email: peace@stpeace.org or visit
www.stpeace.org.
Tuition will be $10, students are free
-----
STORMING THE HARVARD BASTION
Sheema Khan, Globe and Mail, 1/28/05
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050128/COSHEEMA28/TPComment/TopStories
[Sheema Khan is the chair of Council on American-Islamic Relations-
Canada
(CAIR-CAN). E-Mail: canada@cair-net.org URL: www.caircan.ca]
The recent comments by Harvard president Lawrence Summers about
"innate"
gender differences in the mathematical sciences may have caused
outrage,
but they weren't all that surprising. Like golf, Harvard and the "hard"
sciences have been the bastion of men for quite some time. It is only
in
the past few decades that women have significantly entered into a zone
previously considered forbidden.
I entered Harvard graduate school in 1983 to pursue a PhD in chemical
physics. At the time, only a handful of female students formed the
incoming
class of about 25. The only female faculty member in chemistry was an
assistant professor. Rumour had it that one big-name prof in organic
chemistry refused to take any female graduate students. In my six years
there, his research group remained an exclusive men's club. He later
went
on to win a Nobel Prize.
One of my classmates was a whiz, entering Harvard at 20 and leaving
with a
PhD at 24. She was also an exceptional seamstress and baseball player.
I
wonder where she would fit into Dr. Summers's view of the world.
We never felt inferior -- or superior -- to our male counterparts. We
just
loved science. Somewhere along the line, we had been inspired to pursue
our
dreams, and given the opportunity to do so. And to use our God-given
inquisitiveness to explore the wonders of creation. The naysayers only
served to strengthen our resolve to seek knowledge...
In my case, the criticism also came from a few men of the Harvard
Islamic
Society. "A good Muslim woman," one male PhD candidate told me,
"shouldn't
study for a PhD." He also occasionally gave the Friday sermon. As the
only
woman in attendance for a number of years, I would hear, on one hand,
how
Islam honoured women and, on the other, how we were created inferior to
men.
At one point, I thought that, if my religion relegated me to
second-class
status as a human being by virtue of the way I was created, then I
wanted
no part of such an unjust view. Inherently, I knew God was just. After
much
soul-searching and reading, I came to realize that the chauvinistic
views
held by some Muslims were in direct conflict with the teachings of
Islam
and the example of the first generation of Muslims, considered as the
best…
---
CAIR-CA: MARGHOOB AHMAD QURAISHI (1931-2005)
(SANTA CLARA, CA, 1/28/05) - The Northern California office of the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations today offered condolences on the passing
of
well-known community activist and leader Marghoob Quraishi, who died on
Wednesday, January 26.
Marghoob Quraishi was born in India and moved to Pakistan soon after
the
partition of the subcontinent. After obtaining his undergraduate degree
from Pakistan, he came to California in 1960, via London and Montreal,
for
his graduate studies in business and finance at Stanford University. He
started his own firm in the area of business and financial consulting.
Mr. Quraishi's social activism dated back to his college days. His
prime
concern was social issues facing the Muslim world in general and the
American Muslim community in particular. Over the past 45 years, he was
involved in founding and organizing a host of American Muslim
institutions
throughout the US, especially in California. He was one of the founders
of
the Muslim Students Association, the United Muslims of America
organization
and the Muslim Student Network internship program in Washington, DC. In
addition, he founded the summer Muslim Youth Camp and the Islamic
School at
Stanford, both of which have been in operation for the last 40 years.
He
established and was the Executive Director of the Strategic Research
Foundation, a major Muslim think tank. He edited Muslim journals,
Al-Manar
and Geopolitic Reviews.
Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Quraishi was an exemplary and
self-effacing
pioneer of the American Muslim community. He is survived by his wife,
Renae
Iffat Quraishi, who has been an active equal partner, three daughters,
one
son, and three grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 29th, 2005 at Zuhr
time
at the Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara.
CAIR - Northern California (San Francisco Bay Area)
3000 Scott Blvd. Ste. 104
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Main Telephone: 408-986-9874
Fax Number: 408-986-9875
E-Mail: nocal@cair.com
Website: http://www.cair-california.org
-----
CU AGREES TO PAY FIRED PROFESSOR $1.54 MILLION
Associated Press, 1/28/05
http://www.casperstartribune.net/apdata/wire_detail.php?wire_num=193360
The University of Colorado has paid a psychiatrist $1.54 million to
settle
his claim that he was wrongly fired.
The settlement with Dr. Gordon Neligh includes a $300,000 he won from a
federal jury after filing a civil suit, along with back pay, missed
future
pay and other components.
The settlement was finalized last week.
Neligh filed the lawsuit after the CU Health Sciences Center in Denver
declined to renew his annual contract in 1998. He claimed it was
retaliation because he stood up for his administrative assistant, a
Muslim
woman, when she was harassed by her peers.
CU contended it was a work performance issue.
A jury awarded Neligh $600,000 in 2003, but U.S. District Judge Wiley
Daniel reduced the amount to $300,000, the maximum allowed by federal
law.
-----
GUANTANAMO HOLDS SECRET HEARINGS AT U.S. PRISON CAMP AS MORE
ALLEGATIONS OF
MISTREATMENT SURFACE
Associated Press, 1/28/05
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Secretive proceedings aimed at determining
whether terror suspects at the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay pose
a
threat or hold valuable intelligence are continuing without media
access,
prompting fresh criticism of the camp after an insider described how
female
interrogators used sexual innuendo to break Muslim prisoners.
With two more hearings scheduled for Friday, the Administrative Review
Boards started more than two months ago to decide whether detainees
still
pose a threat to the United States or have intelligence value. Those
that
don't meet either criteria could be freed.
The military has acknowledged holding 16 hearings - with six prisoners
refusing to attend - but no other information is being provided and
journalists have been barred.
``The policy is under review,'' said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Daryl Borgquist, a
Pentagon spokesman.
The secrecy has drawn fresh criticism from rights organizations who say
the
545 detainees from more than 40 countries at the U.S. outpost in Cuba
are
being put through a process that is neither just nor transparent. Many
of
the prisoners have been held for more than three years without charge,
access to attorneys or contact with the outside world.
Abuse allegations have also raised questions about the detention
mission,
the latest coming from a former Army linguist who detailed how the U.S.
military used women as part of tougher physical and psychological
interrogation tactics to get Muslim prisoners to talk.
In one case, a female interrogator rubbed up against a Muslim detainee
and
smeared his face with fake menstrual blood, trying to capitalize on
strict
interpretation of Islamic law that forbids physical contact with women
on
their periods, former Army Sgt. Erik R. Saar, 29, wrote in a draft
manuscript, portions of which were obtained by The Associated Press.
``The situation with the hearings and the torture reflects very badly
on
the image of the United States and only serves to further the
perception
among Muslims in the world that somehow America is targeting Islam and
targeting Muslims,'' said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
``When religious sensitivities are used to break down prisoners, all
people
of faith, whether they are Muslim or Christian or Jewish should be
concerned…''
-----
ISLAM AND AMERICA, THREE YEARS AFTER 9/11
Laura Sheahen, Beliefnet.com, 1/28/05
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/159/story_15999_1.html
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is the Imam of Masjid al-Farah in New York City
and
the founder of the American Sufi Muslim Association. A popular
interfaith
speaker, he teaches Islam and Sufism at the Center for Religious
Inquiry at
St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan and at the New York Seminary. He
spoke with Beliefnet recently about his book "What's Right with Islam:
A
New Vision for Muslims and the West."
The name of your book is "What's Right with Islam," and sections of it
address "What's Right with America." What is right with both?
What's right with Islam is what's right with America, in the sense that
the
fundamental ideals of Islam, the idea of what the right society should
be,
are very similar to what the American idea of what the ideal society
should
be, as expressed in our founding documents.
When Jesus was asked what are the greatest commandments, he said "love
God
with all your heart" and, co-equal to that, "love thy neighbor."
Islamic jurors basically expanded it. They said all the law--how God
wants
us to live--is to protect and further five fundamental human rights:
the
right to life, freedom of religion, family, property, and mental
wellbeing.
What I do in the book is map that to the American Declaration of
Independence.
It's interesting that you call America a sharia-compliant state.
It really means there's a religious commandment to build the right
society,
to have a sense of social justice and a social safety net, to have laws
that take care of human beings, that aren't prejudiced against people.
You say that, contrary to what some non-Muslim Americans believe about
Muslim countries, such societies can be religious and yet respect other
religions and not be dominated by one religion...
ALSO SEE:
KU STUDENTS DISPEL THE STEREOTYPES OF ARRANGED MARRIAGES
Samara Nazir, Kansan, 1/27/05
http://www.kansan.com/stories/2005/jan/27/jayplay_contact_marriage/
For Sheba Shaffie, a psychiatrist in Overland Park, the marriage
process
all happened so fast. Her soon-to-be husband Khalid was visiting
Pakistan
with the intention of finding a wife. His sister-in-law recommended
Shaffie, who was interning at the hospital where she worked. Khalid
visited
Shaffie at the hospital on Feb. 2, 1978, and 15 days later, once both
families had made the final arrangements, Shaffie and Khalid were
married.
In a predominately love-marriage society, the concept of an arranged
marriage may seem startling. But, a majority of people in several
Middle
Eastern, South and East Asian countries prefer the process. Women are
usually not forced into arranged marriages but agree to them for family
values and religious, cultural and even personal beliefs.
Shaffie defines arranged marriages as a process without courtship,
where an
agreement of marriage is made but not forced upon either side. Arranged
marriages hold both cultural and religious significance. Arranged
marriage
is the process preferred by the Pakistani community where Sheba grew up
in,
so she learned to understand and accept it.
In fact Shaffie even recommends arranged marriages. She says parents,
who
are making the decision, are the ones who know you the best and go
through
particular care in picking someone for you.
"When you go to buy a shirt, you look at it from every angle," Shaffie
says. "You try it on, show it to your friends and family and are always
willing to get an experts advice." Why not take the same care with
marriage?...
---
ARAB-AMERICANS CRYING FOUL OVER BANKS' RECENT CLOSURES OF SELECTED
BUSINESS
ACCOUNTS
Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News, 1/27/05
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050127/1065280.asp
Some Arab-American-owned groceries and other businesses that do a lot
of
cash business are being told by their banks to take their business
elsewhere.
Banks in Western New York and across the nation say they are reacting
to
tighter federal enforcement of laws aimed at tracking large cash
transactions.
But the business owners feel that the banks are discriminating against
them
solely because of their Middle Eastern names and ancestry during a time
of
heightened fear of terrorism.
"I've never been arrested. I've never done anything wrong, and they
make me
feel like I've done something wrong," said Abdulsalam Shuaibee, one of
three co-owners of the Golden Farm Market on Kensington Avenue in
Buffalo.
The store's accounts at M&T Bank were closed in November with just 10
days'
notice.
Shuaibee is a U.S. citizen who came to the United States from Yemen in
January 1990. "They make me feel like I'm not American," he said.
It's not happening only in Western New York. Similar cases have been
reported in New York City, Boston, and in Mississippi.
Banks say the issue isn't who owns the accounts, but how they're being
used
- especially how often there are large transactions and how much cash
is
going through them.
"The laws, regulations and their enforcement are all stricter in the
post-9/11 world," said M&T Bank Corp. spokesman C. Michael Zabel, who
acknowledged that some accounts have been closed. "Regulators have been
more rigorous not only in enforcing the reporting requirements but in
encouraging banks to cease relationships with customers whom the bank
identifies as engaging in repetitive, reportable suspicious
transactions."
The banks deny discriminating against Arab-American business owners…
-----
PIPES APPEARANCE SPARKS DEBATE
Jessica Peet, The Dartmouth, 1/27/05
http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005012701010
Daniel Pipes, a New York Sun columnist who once argued that
Muslim-Americans should be placed in internment camps, will bring his
contentious views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Dartmouth Hall
on
Thursday. Pipes' presence on campus is provoking strong feelings among
students and faculty on both sides of the issue.
Muslim students expressed concern about Pipes' speech, which is
sponsored
by Chabad, the Dartmouth Israel Public Awareness Committee, the Jewish
studies department and the Ufurazra Campus Fund. They said his views
are
not credible.
"He has such a bias that it's hard for me to call him an expert," said
Dale
Correa '06, president of Al-Nur.
Correa said she felt Pipes' work has promoted "Islamophobia." She cited
examples where Pipes allegedly referred to 10 to 15 percent of all
Muslims
as "potential killers."
A prize-winning columnist and a frequent guest on television broadcasts
including CNN's "Crossfire," Pipes has earned praise and drawn ire for
his
extensive work in Middle-Eastern studies. After receiving his doctorate
from Harvard University, Pipes has since devoted his career to studying
the
conflict in the Middle East.
"If Pipes's admonitions had been heeded, there might never have been a
9/11," Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby wrote in a June 2003 article.
Jewish students defended the choice to bring Pipes to campus and add to
the
debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict…
-----
SOME SAY SLAUGHTER WAS A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY
Greg Cunningham, Amarillo Globe-News, 1/28/05
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/012805/new_1132754.shtml
The controversy over two veterinarians slaughtering a lamb at a state
laboratory in Amarillo might come down to whether or not the slaughter
qualifies as a religious ceremony.
Some employees of the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
have
stepped forward to say they feel the slaughter, which was conducted
Jan. 21
at the lab by two staff veterinarians in preparation for the Muslim
holiday
Feast of the Sacrifice, was a religious ceremony.
Other sources say it had no religious component whatsoever.
Jessica Gillis, a histology technician at the lab, said that no matter
how
much lab officials try to portray the incident as innocuous, she
recognizes
a religious event when she sees it.
"A lot of people are very upset because this clearly had a religious
purpose," Gillis said. "If they are doing it as part of a religious
holiday, how could it not be religious?"
On the other hand, Dr. Lal Almas, assistant professor of agriculture
business and economics at West Texas A&M University, said preparing the
lamb for the feast is more akin to going to the grocery store prior to
Christmas dinner than any sort of religious event.
Almas, a practicing Muslim, pointed out that the true religious part of
the
holiday happens at 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the feast, when Muslims
gather to pray…
ALSO SEE:
CHICAGO MUSLIMS TO DELIVER 23,000 POUNDS OF MEAT TO FOOD DEPOSITORY
Eid Observance Inspired Collective Donation by Area Mosques,
Muslim Organizations
(CHICAGO) - On Tuesday, Feb. 1, local Muslim leaders will join
Greater Chicago Food Depository executives and staff from a
Muslim-run
food pantry as more than 23,000 pounds of high-quality ground beef are
delivered to Chicago's food bank for eventual distribution to soup
kitchens, food pantries and shelters in Cook County.
The collective donation effort by Chicago-area Muslims marked
the community's preparation and observance of the recent four-day
Eid-ul-Adha holiday -- the "Festival of Sacrifice" -- which encourages
faithful to feed the hungry of all faiths. The meat was processed in
accordance with Islamic law and will be available to all member
agencies of
the Food Depository.
Meat items are always in high-demand by the Food Depository, because
they
are perishable, higher priced items. Large quantity donations of meat
are
unusual, and this represents a significant donation of more than
122,600
individual servings.
PHOTOS & INTERVIEWS: Pictures or footage of a tractor-trailer pulling
up
to the Food Depository's receiving area and pallets of meat being
unloaded
by forklifts. Inside individual boxes, the five-pound beef portions
will
be labeled Donated by Chicago Muslims.
WHEN: Tuesday, February, Delivery is scheduled for 1 p.m.
WHERE: Greater Chicago Food Depository, 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place
(formerly 42nd Place), Chicago
For more information, visit http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org or call
Ruth Igoe, 773.843.2843 (Cell: 773.447.0697) or email: reigoe@gcfd.org
SEE ALSO:
MARKET CATERS TO MUSLIMS DURING RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY
Barry Shlachter, Star-Telegram, 1/30/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/
MANSFIELD--Hayes Farm takes on special importance to the region's
Muslim
community as a major source of livestock for Eid al-Adwa, the festival
of
sacrifice, during which sheep and goats are ritually slaughtered, with
the
meat shared among family, friends and the poor.
The market basically shuts down for the festival's three days to
specially
cater to the needs of observant Muslims.
An animal to be ritually slaughtered during any of the three days --
preferably the first day -- must be healthy, should be kept in clean
conditions and not be stressed, said Sikander Hashmi, an Islamic
seminary
graduate in Montreal.
In North America, the animal is usually sheep at least 6 months old,
goats
1 year old or older, and cows or bulls at least 2 years of age, said
Hashmi, founder and editor of www.eat-halal.com, a Web site that
explains
Islamic dietary laws and traditions. It should be gently laid down in
the
direction of Mecca with the neck over a drain for the blood to flow
into.
The killing must be swift, using a sharp knife to make it as painless
as
possible, Hashmi said.
The animal should not witness the slaughter of another, or even view
the
knife that will be used, he said. The prayer, "In the name of God, God
is
great," must be recited immediately before the slaughter to denote that
the
animal is being sacrificed to God.
A third of the meat should be given to the poor and the rest consumed
by
one's immediate family and given to other relatives and friends, Hashmi
said.
------
HIGHLAND PARK SCHOOLS SEEK MORE ARAB, MUSLIM STUDENTS
Cecil Angel, Detroit Free Press, 1/28/05
http://www.freep.com/news/education/recruit28e_20050128.htm
Highland Park school officials have begun a recruiting campaign to lure
Arab-American and Muslim students from Hamtramck and Detroit.
They have hired an Arab-American consultant who is helping to add
Arabic
language, history and culture classes to the curriculum for the 2005-06
school year.
They hired EPIC/MRA, the Lansing-based polling firm, to gauge
residents'
attitudes about diversity and Arab Americans. Seventy-one percent of
300
respondents said they favored the district's efforts to attract Arab
Americans to the city's schools.
"We are also trying to attract families to reside in Highland Park, not
just to send their children here," said Yahya Alkebsi, the consultant
for
the school district.
A new housing development of 153 ranch and colonial style homes named
North
Pointe Village may prove to be an enticement to get families to move to
the
district, Alkebsi said.
District officials say they know it's going to be a tough sell.
Highland
Park is virtually all black, overwhelmingly Christian and has one of
the
worst rates of crime and poverty in the state.
"It will not come overnight. It will need hard work. It will need
patience," Alkebsi said. It also will not come without some resistance.
The
Hamtramck and Detroit public school districts, which have seen charter
schools decimate their enrollments, are studying ways to retain
students.
Paul Stamatakis, superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools, said a
committee is researching the viability of offering classes in Arabic
and
Bengali.
"As your population changes, you need to meet the needs and
requirements
the population brings forth," Stamatakis said.
A spokesman for Detroit Public Schools said he was not concerned about
Highland Park's plans.
"We welcome the competition," Ken Coleman said. "It encourages us to
improve our delivery system. At the end of the day, it's about
improving
student achievement and performance..."
-----
NASHVILLE: THIS IS KURD COUNTRY
Drew Jubera, Atlanta Journal, 1/28/05
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/0105/28nashkurds.html
Nashville --- Six miles south of the Country Music Hall of Fame ---
home to
artifacts like Naomi Judd's wringer washing machine and the cornfield
from
TV's "Hee Haw" --- there's a strip mall that exhibits a newer, changing
Nashville.
Its tenants represent a world atlas of ethnic groups: an Indian and
Pakistani grocery, a Mexican butcher, a Nigerian restaurant, a Chinese
market.
Next door is practically a small Iraqi village: a
warehouse-turned-mosque
and two grocery stores, one run by an Iraqi Kurd, the other by an Iraqi
Arab. On Fridays, following afternoon prayers, as many as 600 people
mingle
within a tiny block.
"I moved here from Arizona to open a business because I knew there were
a
lot of Kurds," said Nick Aref, 27, who fled Kurdish northern Iraq eight
years ago and owns a bakery next to the mosque.
Indeed, "Music City" is better known in this part of town as "Little
Kurdistan," home to the nation's largest Kurdish population, estimated
at
about 7,000.
Much of the country expressed surprise when Nashville became one of
five
U.S. cities chosen to hold balloting for this weekend's Iraqi
elections.
(The others: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and Detroit, which has
the
nation's largest Iraqi Arab population.)…
-----
RESEARCHERS WHO RUSHED INTO PRINT A STUDY OF IRAQI CIVILIAN DEATHS NOW
WONDER WHY IT WAS IGNORED
Lila Guterman, Houston Chronicle, 1/27/05
http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?id=6g87s8d900q52bjppa5m3h7noo5ikert
When more than 200,000 people died in a tsunami caused by an Asian
earthquake in December, the immediate reaction in the United States was
an
outpouring of grief and philanthropy, prompted by extensive coverage in
the
news media.
Two months earlier, the reaction in the United States to news of
another
large-scale human tragedy was much quieter. In late October, a study
was
published in The Lancet, a prestigious British medical journal,
concluding
that about 100,000 civilians had been killed in Iraq since it was
invaded
by a United States-led coalition in March 2003. On the eve of a
contentious
presidential election -- fought in part over U.S. policy on Iraq --
many
American newspapers and television news programs ignored the study or
buried reports about it far from the top headlines.
The paper, written by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University,
Columbia
University, and Baghdad's Al-Mustansiriya University, was based on a
door-to-door survey in September of nearly 8,000 people in 33 randomly
selected locations in Iraq. It was dangerous work, and the team of
researchers was lucky to emerge from the survey unharmed.
The paper that they published carried some caveats. For instance, the
researchers admitted that many of the dead might have been combatants.
They
also acknowledged that the true number of deaths could fall anywhere
within
a range of 8,000 to 194,000, a function of the researchers' having
extrapolated their survey to a country of 25 million.
But the statistics do point to a number in the middle of that range.
And
the raw numbers upon which the researchers' extrapolation was based are
undeniable: Since the invasion, the No. 1 cause of death among
households
surveyed was violence. The risk of death due to violence had increased
58-fold since before the war. And more than half of the people who had
died
from violence and its aftermath since the invasion began were women and
children…
ALSO SEE:
RETURNING VETERANS PAINT GRIM PICTURE OF WAR'S TOLL
Cheryl L. Reed, Sun Times, 1/27/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-iraqvets27.html
Soldiers recently returned from Iraq gave an unfiltered and
unflattering
assessment of the war's human toll as they detailed their war
experiences
to a crowd of Oakton Community College students and faculty Wednesday
in
Des Plaines.
One officer lost more than 38 pounds in the Iraqi desert when his unit
ran
low on food and water. Another was sent to the front lines without body
armor. They witnessed soldiers blown to bits and mourned the loss of
others
who killed themselves when they returned home -- often excluded from
the
government's official body count.
And they've been frustrated with buddies who have had to wait months
for
medical services or for their claims to be decided by the Veterans
Affairs
Department.
'People are unaware'
"There's a tremendous human cost of this war, and America isn't
prepared
for it," said Paul Rieckhoff, a former Army infantry platoon leader
from
New York and founder of Operation Truth, a national soldier
organization
that is touring college campuses to present an alternative view of the
war.
Rieckhoff criticized the military for not releasing the entire number
of
those killed or injured in Iraq, a figure he said is far greater than
the
1,416 listed as killed and 10,622 listed as wounded by the Defense
Department.
"It takes guys like us to embarrass [Defense Secretary Donald] Rumsfeld
before things get changed," he said. "The military is being run into
the
ground, and the American people are unaware of what's really going on."
The group showed a documentary in which former soldiers from Iraq --
many
of them amputees -- were angry about how the government treated them
once
they returned, complaining they were met with a "nightmare of
paperwork" to
get medical and disability benefits…
-----
ISLAM THE KEY TO SOOTHING TSUNAMI DESPAIR IN ACEH
Tomi Soetjipto, Reuters, 1/28/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B318293.htm
KRUENG RAYA, Indonesia - Sitting cross-legged outside a makeshift camp
where he now lives, Ridwan Syamsuddin looks more like a jovial
story-teller
than a despairing Indonesian victim of last month's killer tsunami.
Wearing an oversized cowboy hat and a sarong, Syamsuddin animatedly and
eloquently quotes religious stories featured in the Koran -- from the
story
of Noah's Ark to Moses' Revelations. Half a dozen relatives sit on the
grass listening outside the camp in this town in the province of Aceh.
Syamsuddin, 57, a fisherman, tells his listeners that, like many
Acehnese,
he has sought solace in Islam and that religion will see them through
their
hardship. Syamsuddin lost his wife and three children to the monster
waves
on Dec. 26.
"We are the chosen people. We are special because Allah knows we are
strong. There is no need to be afraid," Syamsuddin tells his listeners.
Acehnese are among the most devout Muslims in Indonesia, the world's
most
populous Muslim nation. Indeed, Islam appears to be a glue helping to
hold
many communities together.
Asked later if he felt sad, Syamsuddin said: "Not any more. As a Muslim
we
have to accept this, it's fate."
Just hours after the waves crashed ashore, residents in the provincial
capital, Banda Aceh, recalled hearing the call to prayer from mosques
even
as corpses piled up inside such sanctuaries.
Before long, clerics in virtually every functioning mosque were using
loudspeakers to recite verses from the Koran related to calamities and
ways
to overcome difficulties.
Many residents now gather in the debris of their former homes to hold
Koran
recitals, remembering lost loved ones…
ALSO SEE:
CAT STEVENS HOSTS INDONESIA GIG
BBC, 1/28/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4215141.stm
Singer Yusef Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, is to host a concert
in
Indonesia for victims of the tsunami.
The concert in Jakarta on 31 January will feature a host of local
artists
coming together to raise money for the devastated province of Aceh.
The star has also written a charity single called Indian Ocean, with a
number of other recording artists.
While in Indonesia, folk singer Islam, 56, will open a regional office
of
his Small Kindness charity.
"Like everyone else, I was so shaken by the enormity of this human
tragedy,
and the song just came without effort," Islam said in the statement on
his
website.
"It is my contribution towards helping to rebuild the broken spirits of
the
victims of the disaster."
The Aceh province in Indonesia was devastated by the tsunami
The charity record, composed by Islam, also features musicians
including
Indian composer AR Rahman, A-Ha's Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer
Neil
Primrose.
They recorded the single in London and it is due for release in
February to
raise money for children orphaned by the disaster…
-----
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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 - 1/31/05
* VERSES OF THE DAY: PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
* CAIR-CA JOB OPENING: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR
- CAIR-OH: Islam is Compatible With Democracy
* NY: MUSLIMS TROUBLED BY BORDER TREATMENT (Buffalo News)
- CAIR: Muslims Fingerprinted at Canadian Border
* FACTS OUGHT TO DISPEL MISTRUST OF U.S. MUSLIMS (CS Monitor)
- NJ: Judge Character, Not Religion (Toledo Blade)
* DOUBTS ABOUT DHS NOMINEE'S POST-9/11 ROLE (Wash Post)
- DHS Nominee Gave Advice to CIA on Torture (NYT)
- Dowd: Gitmo Torture Chicks Gone Wild (NY Times)
* TX: MUSLIMS, JEWS WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD HABITAT HOUSE
* DISASTER AID FURTHERS FEARS OF PROSELYTIZING (CS Monitor)
- Israel to Raze Palestinian Homes for Wall (Reuters)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
"Say: 'O people of the Book! Let us come together on what is common
between
us and you: that we shall worship none but God; that we shall not
associate
any partners with Him; (and) that we shall not take from among
ourselves
any lords other than God.'"
The Holy Quran, 3:64
-----
CAIR-CA JOB OPENING: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR
The California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has
an
immediate job opening for its office in Anaheim for the position of
Government Relations Coordinator.
The government relations coordinator will be responsible for developing
and
coordinating non-partisan government relations activities for CAIR
Southern
California.
This shall include but not limited to: working with elected officials
on
issues important to the Muslim community, network with other
politically
active groups, setting up forums and town hall meetings, and promoting
political activism within the Muslim community.
The ideal candidate should have a college degree (Political Science or
Public Policy preferred), good computer skills and good interpersonal
and
communications skills with a track record of dealing with people. Must
be a
self-starter and demonstrate the ability to learn in a self-directed
manner. Experience of working with political or non-profit
organizations
and Muslim groups will be a plus.
Interested candidates should apply with a comprehensive resume stating
education, work history, references, along with copies of relevant
academic
certificates to:
CAIR Southern California
HR Department
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Suite F
Anaheim, CA 92801
Fax: 714-776-8340
E-Mail: socal@cair.com
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: ISLAM IS COMPATIBLE WITH DEMOCRACY
IRAQIS ARE WINNERS JUST BY VOTING
Enquirer, 1/30/05
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050130/EDIT03/501300308/1023/EDIT
A woman of faith Karen Dabdoub, director of the Cincinnati office of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, hopes today's elections will let
Americans know that Islam is compatible with democratic government.
"There seems to me to be a bias in American perceptions against any
members
of the new Iraqi government being influenced by their faith. I would
really
hope that since our military is saying we are over there to promote
democracy and freedom that we actually give the Iraqis the freedom to
choose the type of government that they want for themselves, even if
that
means that they choose members of Islamic parties."
-----
LOCAL MUSLIMS TROUBLED BY TREATMENT AT BORDER
Jay Tokasz, Buffalo News, 1/31/05
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050131/1062162.asp
Buffalo-area Muslims detained, interrogated and fingerprinted at the
U.S.-Canada border in December still do not know why they were held for
as
long as six hours.
About 40 Muslims, most of them American citizens with valid passports,
were
stopped at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and the Peace Bridge on Dec.
26
and 27 while returning from an Islamic conference in Toronto.
University at Buffalo freshman Hassan Shibly, 18, recalled being led by
three armed officers into a separate room for questioning and
fingerprinting.
In the room, he was told to stand face-first against the wall and
spread
his legs apart for a pat-down search.
"I was just forced to go along," Shibly said. "I refused, but they said
legally I had no choice. We weren't treated as American citizens. We
were
treated as suspects."
Border agents initially told Shibly that his vehicle was being stopped
as
part of a random check. But when he stepped inside the Border Patrol
offices, he noticed that the other people there were also Muslims who
had
been at the conference.
Shibly's mother, Dr. Sawsan Tabbaa, an orthodontist and UB instructor,
described the fingerprinting experience as humiliating.
"This was something I thought was only for criminals," said Tabbaa, who
also had her three other children - ages 14, 11 and 3 - with her at the
time.
Abeer Rizek, seven months' pregnant and suffering from the flu, was
crossing into the United States to visit her parents in Williamsville.
During a search, she said, border agents lifted her blouse to make
certain
that she was pregnant.
"They patted everyone down. The whole thing was embarrassing, the whole
ordeal," she said.
Dawn Stefaniak and her husband, Dr. Zulkharnain, were stopped at the
Peace
Bridge late the night of Dec. 26, fingerprinted and held for about 90
minutes.
The day before, they had returned to Buffalo from the Islamic
conference
without incident, she said.
"This is dangerous - singling out Muslims," said Dr. Othman Shibly,
husband
of Tabbaa…
SEE ALSO:
AMERICAN MUSLIMS FINGERPRINTED BY U.S. AT CANADIAN BORDER
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1371&theType=NR
-----
A FOCUS ON FACTS OUGHT TO DISPEL MISTRUST OF US MUSLIMS
John Tirman, Christian Science Monitor, 1/31/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0131/p09s02-coop.html
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. - One of the mysteries surrounding the 9/11 attacks
and
the frequent terrorist alerts ever since is the role played, if any, by
American Muslims in supporting Al Qaeda operations. The US government
acts
as if there is a support base of some kind. White House Chief of Staff
Andrew Card told a CNN reporter during the Republican convention, "We
know
there are Al Qaeda cells" operating inside the country. During the
early
August scare about terrorists targeting financial institutions,
newspaper
reports often alluded to, but did not identify or describe, a support
network or individuals living in the US.
The antiterror campaign has shaken the 5 million or so Muslims in the
US, a
large majority of whom are American citizens. Law enforcement agents
have
interviewed nearly 200,000 Muslims and others from predominantly
Islamic
countries; hundreds have been deported or detained for long periods;
thousands were subject to a "special registration," and now hundreds
have
been indicted in widely publicized "terrorist" prosecutions. Charities
and
other social institutions have been shut down or disabled, and
surveillance
in these communities is now a given.
But the cardinal question of whether domestic Muslim populations
actually
pose a security threat remains unanswered - indeed, unarticulated - in
public discourse and official pronouncements.
The question is neither impolite nor unimportant. We know that most
politically violent groups require a "social base" - knowing supporters
who
don't participate directly in militant operations. Such a base is
likely to
exist where such groups carry out attacks. Diasporas often support such
groups with money, communications, and political access. None of this
is
particularly new, but before 9/11 the violence was always somewhere
else -
Northern Ireland, Palestine, South Africa, and the like.
Now the nexus of threat is here, and the rules of the game are altered.
There is no territorial struggle, and the numbers of ethnic and
national
populations involved number two dozen or more. International migration
has
created enormous flows of people. Muslims, like many immigrants before
them, tend to gravitate toward one another into neighborhoods where
mosques, common language, social networks, and opportunities exist.
It is these communities in Brooklyn, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, and
elsewhere that have attracted law enforcement attention.
Are radical imams preaching violence against America? Are Koranic
schools
training future terrorists? Are charities really supporting Al Qaeda,
Hamas, or Chechen murderers? Most Americans would probably consider
these
as legitimate concerns in the wake of 9/11.
The evidence thus far, however, indicates that Muslims living in
America
haven't constituted a social base for Al Qaeda. It is striking, in
fact,
that so little illegality has been uncovered in a population so
thoroughly
investigated. Prosecutions of alleged terrorist-related activities,
which
should represent the most definitive picture of the internal threat,
have
established very little - if any - evidence of domestic Al Qaeda cells.
Nothing else in the public record of this massive law enforcement and
intelligence effort suggests that a conspiracy exists - a remarkably
clean
bill for these communities…
[John Tirman is executive director of the Center for International
Studies
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is coauthor and editor
of
the book 'The Maze of Fear: Security and Migration After 9/11.']
ALSO SEE:
NJ: JUDGE CHARACTER, NOT RELIGION
A JOB FOR JERSEY CITY
Toledo Blade, 1/31/05
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050131/OPINION02/501310327
Despite the best efforts of Muslim leaders, anti-Muslim sentiment is
sweeping Jersey City, N.J. for the third time, and it's going to take
more
than the involvement of Muslim and Christian leaders to quell the
discord.
The first outbreak came after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, when
Jersey City residents learned that some of the culprits had been living
among them. The next wave of hatred was, predictably, after 9/11. Now,
the
latest has been spurred by events closer to home. An Egyptian Christian
family of four was found brutally murdered in their home earlier this
month. No arrests have been made, but some have, unfortunately, blamed
the
deaths on Muslims.
Regardless of the background of the killer or killers, no city can
afford
to ignore such a situation, and Jersey City officials need to
aggressively
address the tension. The sheer savagery of the murders of Coptic
Christians
Hossam Armaniouis, 47, his wife, 37, and their daughters, 15 and 8, and
knowledge that he had argued with Muslims in an Internet chat room have
fueled speculation that Muslims were involved.
Officials say robbery is a possible motive. However, that didn't stop
scuffling at the funerals or prevent anti-Islam hecklers. As a result,
much
of the post 9/11 progress in repairing relations between Muslims,
Christians, and Jews in the area has been lost. That is too bad, and
leaders of the various parties and faiths need to unite and remind
Jersey
City that this is America, where we don't make such sweeping judgments.
Even if Muslims are eventually charged in the deaths, all of Islam
cannot
and must not be blamed. Remember, in our nation, a person is supposed
to be
judged by the content of his character, not his religion.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE:
CAIR-NJ OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COPTIC COMMUNITY
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1397&theType=NR
-----
AMID PRAISE, DOUBTS ABOUT NOMINEE'S POST-9/11 ROLE
Michael Powell and Michelle Garcia, Washington Post, 1/31/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49950-2005Jan30.html
On Nov. 28, 2001, then-Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff took
a
seat before a Senate committee and offered reassurance on two fronts:
The
Justice Department was unrelenting in pursuit of terrorists. And none
of
its tactics had trampled the Constitution or federal law.
Every detainee has been charged, Chertoff told the senators. Every
detainee
has a lawyer. No one is held incommunicado.
"Are we being aggressive and hard-nosed? You bet." Chertoff leaned into
the
microphone. "But let me emphasize that every step that we have taken
satisfies the Constitution and federal law as it existed both before
and
after September 11th."
It was classic Chertoff, eloquent and unyielding and intense, his body
coiled like a middleweight boxer's. He returned again and again to his
bottom line: The World Trade Center and a portion of the Pentagon were
in
ruins; two letters had arrived at the Senate laden with billions of
anthrax
microbes. Osama bin Laden had declared war on the United States -- what
would you have us do?
Few questioned Chertoff's urgency, but his critics contend that he was
not
candid with the senators, and was perhaps misleading about the nature
of
the tactics he pursued. The Justice Department ordered the detention of
more than 700 Arab and South Asian men for immigration violations,
holding
them without charges or access to lawyers for an average of three
months.
Many remained in prison much longer, according to a 2003 report by
Justice
Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine.
Some officials questioned the legality of the detentions, noting that
immigration rules entitle detainees to call a lawyer. But the Justice
Department ignored such warnings, according to the inspector general.
"Muslim men were rounded up and blocked from getting lawyers, and
essentially Chertoff's testimony to the Senate was a coverup," said
Michael
Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which has challenged
the
government's detention policies.
Chertoff, President Bush's nominee to be the next secretary of the
Department of Homeland Security, could bring coherence to a sprawling
new
agency still riven by turf battles, supporters and detractors agree.
The
51-year-old federal appellate judge has a laser-like intensity, ran the
Justice Department's criminal division during what many liken to
wartime,
and has worked for Democrats and Republicans during his career. Lawyers
who
have squared off against him praise his skills and ferocity…
ALSO SEE:
SECURITY NOMINEE GAVE ADVICE TO THE C.I.A. ON TORTURE LAWS
David Johnston, Neil A. Lewis and Douglas Jehl, New York Times, 1/29/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/29/politics/29home.html
WASHINGTON - Michael Chertoff, who has been picked by President Bush to
be
the homeland security secretary, advised the Central Intelligence
Agency on
the legality of coercive interrogation methods on terror suspects under
the
federal anti-torture statute, current and former administration
officials
said this week.
Depending on the circumstances, he told the intelligence agency, some
coercive methods could be legal, but he advised against others, the
officials said.
Mr. Chertoff's previously undisclosed involvement in evaluating how far
interrogators could go took place in 2002 and 2003 when he headed the
Justice Department's criminal division. The advice came in the form of
responses to agency inquiries asking whether C.I.A. employees risked
being
charged with crimes if particular interrogation techniques were used on
specific detainees.
Asked about the interaction between the C.I.A. and Mr. Chertoff, now a
federal appeals court judge, Erin Healy, a White House spokeswoman,
said,
"Judge Chertoff did not approve interrogation techniques as head of the
criminal division."
She added, "We're not aware that anyone in the criminal division was
involved in approving techniques because that responsibility would have
belonged in the Office of Legal Counsel," another Justice Department
unit.
One current and two former senior officials with firsthand knowledge of
the
interaction between the C.I.A. and the Justice Department said that
while
the criminal division did not explicitly approve any requests by the
agency, it did discuss what conditions could protect agency personnel
from
prosecution.
Mr. Chertoff's division was asked on several occasions by the
intelligence
agency on whether its officers risked prosecution by using particular
techniques. The officials said the C.I.A. wanted as much legal
protection
as it could obtain while the department sought to avoid giving
unconditional approval…
---
TORTURE CHICKS GONE WILD
Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 1/30/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/opinion/30dowd.html
By the time House Republicans were finished with him, Bill Clinton must
have thought of a thong as a torture device.
For the Bush administration, it actually is.
A former American Army sergeant who worked as an Arabic interpreter at
Gitmo has written a book pulling back the veil on the astounding ways
female interrogators used a toxic combination of sex and religion to
try to
break Muslim detainees at the U.S. prison camp in Cuba. It's not merely
disgusting. It's beyond belief.
The Bush administration never worries about anything. But these
missionaries and zealous protectors of values should be worried about
the
American soul. The president never mentions Osama, but he continues to
use
9/11 as an excuse for American policies that bend the rules and play to
our
worst instincts.
"I have really struggled with this because the detainees, their
families
and much of the world will think this is a religious war based on some
of
the techniques used, even though it is not the case," the former
sergeant,
Erik R. Saar, 29, told The Associated Press. The A.P. got a manuscript
of
his book, deemed classified pending a Pentagon review.
What good is it for President Bush to speak respectfully of Islam and
claim
Iraq is not a religious war if the Pentagon denigrates Islamic law -
allowing its female interrogators to try to make Muslim men talk in
late-night sessions featuring sexual touching, displays of fake
menstrual
blood, and parading in miniskirt, tight T-shirt, bra and thong
underwear?
It's like a bad porn movie, "The Geneva Monologues." All S and no M…
-----
MUSLIMS, JEWS WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD HABITAT HOUSE IN TYLER
KLTV, 1/29/05
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2873991
TYLER, Texas Anwar Khalifa and Neal Katz laugh and joke as close
friends do.
The Egyptian-born Muslim developer and the Virginia-born rabbi share
meals
at each other's Tyler homes.
They reflect on the similarities in Arabic and Hebrew -- and they
respectfully agree to disagree on politics.
Khalifa says he considers Katz "a friend, not the rabbi or a Jew," and
feels he can depend on him in his times of need.
The unlikely friendship has produced an unusual East Texas partnership.
Tyler's Muslim and Jewish communities are working together to build a
house
with the nonprofit, Christian housing charity Habitat for Humanity.
Tamiko Seward is a single mother who will live in the
eleven-hundred-square-foot house. She has a three-year-old son.
Both are Baptist.
The 26-year-old secretary says the Muslim and Jewish volunteer builders
get
along so well, it's impossible to tell who is from what religion.
For Khalifa and Katz, that's the point.
-----
DISASTER AID FURTHERS FEARS OF PROSELYTIZING
Jane Lampman, Christian Science Monitor, 1/31/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0131/p11s01-lire.html
For countries with thousands left homeless and bereft by the tsunami,
the
outpouring of help from around the world is a godsend. Yet in some
nations,
the growing presence of faith-based agencies dispensing the aid is
posing
another challenge - stirring tensions already simmering around
evangelism
and anti-Christian violence.
In Sri Lanka, for example, prior to the tsunami, two anti-conversion
bills
that would make "unethical conversions" illegal were introduced into
parliament. Reacting to a perceived increase in Christian
proselytizing,
the bill proposed by a militant Buddhist party would impose fines and
five
to seven years imprisonment for anyone who gives material aid to
someone of
another faith.
Omalpe Sobitha, a Buddhist monk member of parliament, charged aid
groups
with offering money, food, employment, or other inducements to convert
people to Christianity.
A week before the tsunami hit, a church in Sri Lanka was burned to the
ground - the latest in more than 160 violent attacks against churches
and
pastors in the past two years. In November 2003, the office of World
Vision, a global Christian aid agency active in Sri Lanka since 1977,
was
firebombed.
"World Vision was mentioned specifically in parliamentary debates on
the
legislation, though we don't seek to convert anyone," says Dean Owen,
its
director of communications. Like several major organizations with faith
connections, World Vision follows a Red Cross code of conduct that bans
proselytizing.
But since 2000, Evangelical Christians across the globe have mounted a
missionary effort targeting the "10/40 Window" - the Muslim, Hindu, and
Buddhist nations between 10 degrees and 40 degrees north latitude. East
Asians, such as Koreans, as well as Westerners are active in several
countries.
But now the tsunami has drawn a host of smaller Christian groups to the
region. They see the tragedy as an opportunity to present their
spiritual
message along with material aid.
There are reports in Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka of groups handing
out
Christian tracts purporting to explain the tragedy, seeking to move
Muslim
children into Christian orphanages, or urging those they provide with
goods
to attend prayer meetings…
SEE ALSO:
ISRAEL TO RAZE PALESTINIAN HOMES TO PROTECT FENCE
Cynthia Johnston, Reuters, 1/31/05
JERUSALEM - Israel, in a move certain to fuel Palestinian anger, plans
to
demolish dozens of Palestinian homes to carve out a buffer zone to
protect
a controversial barrier it is building around Jerusalem.
Israel wants to clear a 500-metre (yard) strip around a wire section of
its
West Bank barrier in an Arab village on Jerusalem's outskirts to
prevent
infiltrations by Palestinian militants, an Israeli police spokesman
said.
He said more buffer zones would be also needed elsewhere in Jerusalem
along
the barrier, which Israel says is necessary to keep suicide bombers out
of
the Jewish state. But he could not say how big they would be or if more
homes would have to go.
Palestinians said the plan was part of a series of unilateral Israeli
steps
in Arab East Jerusalem that were counterproductive to peace. The status
of
the holy city is among the most sensitive issues in the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
But Israel said security was the only issue. It also considers the
homes
illegal because they were built without permits that Palestinians say
are
nearly impossible to obtain.
"We need protection for the fence, and to make sure infiltration into
Jerusalem is difficult," police spokesman Gil Kleiman said. "We do plan
to
clear illegal buildings."
He said "tens of houses" would be destroyed…
-----
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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 - 2/1/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: PROPHETS BRING GOOD NEWS
* CAIR-CHICAGO EXTENDS LECTURE SERIES ON ISLAM
- CAIR-San Antonio Library Lectures on Islam
* CAIR-FL: COOPERATION IS CATALYST FOR PEACE
- CAIR-FL: South Florida Fundraising Dinner
* CAIR CIVIL RIGHTS: DE DUNKIN' DONUTS ALLOWS HIJAB
- CAIR: Hijab is 'Expression of Faith' (Newsweek)
* JUDGE RULES DETAINEE TRIBUNALS ILLEGAL (Wash Post)
- Torture Tactics Should Be Upsetting (Boston Globe)
- CAIR-DC: Videos Show Gitmo Prisoner Abuse (AP)
- Rights Wronged (Tucson Weekly)
* MI: ABRAHAMIC PROJECT STRESSES SHARED HERITAGE (Gazette)
- CAIR-CAN: Traditions of Mourning (The Star)
* CANADA: MUSLIM FEAST BOOSTS FOOD BANK (The Star)
* CA: THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMAN AT UCI (New University)
* MN: FEAR FUELS BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS (Pioneer Press)
- Headscarf Hate Mail Shocks Belgium (BBC)
- Canada: Council Calls for Probe of Hijab Settlement
- LA: Suit Filed Over Class Scarf Incident (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: PROPHETS BRING GOOD NEWS
"We send messengers only to give good news and to warn. So all who
believe
and live righteously shall have nothing to fear or to regret."
The Holy Quran, 6:48
-----
CAIR-CHICAGO EXTENDS LECTURE SERIES ON ISLAM
'Building Bridges to Islam' events co-hosted by Edlerhostel
(CHICAGO, IL, 2/1/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that, because
of
poplar demand, it is extending the "Building Bridges to Islam" lecture
series currently being offered in cooperation with Elderhostel, the
nation's largest educational and travel organization for older adults.
Each day-long event, held in a local mosque, includes lectures focusing
on
the Quran, Islamic law, Muslims in America, women's rights, and
misconceptions about Islam. Participants are also taken on a tour of
the
mosque, observe an Islamic prayer and sample foods from around the
Muslim
world.
WHAT: CAIR-Chicago/Elderhostel "Building Bridges to Islam" Lecture
Series
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Every Wednesday until March 9
WHERE: Islamic Cultural Center (ICC), 1810 N. Pfingsten Road,
Northbrook, IL
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Director of Communications Ahmed Rehab,
847-971-3963;
CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser Tabbara, 312-718-3725,
312-212-1520
"Our goal is to demystify Islam and to show the reality of the American
Muslim experience," said CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser Tabbara.
"Outreach to other faith communities is one way American Muslims can
help
build the bridges of understanding that foster better interfaith
relations."
Tabbara said the lecture series was extended from four weeks to eight
because of the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the first session.
Each week's program hosts up to 80 participants.
"This is the type of community-level initiative that America needs as
we
try to understand each other and the world around us," CAIR-Chicago
Communications Director Ahmed Rehab.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Director of Communications Ahmed Rehab,
847-971-3963,
communications@cairchicago.org; CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Yaser
Tabbara, 312-718-3725, 312-212-1520, director@cairchicago.org
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-SAN ANTONIO LIBRARY LECTURES ON ISLAM
WHAT: The San Antonio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
is hosting a library lecture on Islam to promote a better understanding
of
Muslims in America. This is the last of a series of lectures presented
by
the CAIR-San Antonio. As part of the "Islam in America" series, each
participating library will receive books, DVDs and educational
materials on
Islam and Muslims. Free admission.
WHEN: February 9, 2005 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Cody Branch Library, 11441 Vance Jackson.
For more information, call Sarwat Husain at (210) 378-9528.
-----
CAIR-FL: RELIGION: COOPERATION IS A CATALYST FOR PEACE
Parvez Ahmed, Times Union, 2/1/05
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012905/opl_17815218.shtml
[PARVEZ AHMED is board chair of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
Jacksonville.]
The world community has united to provide more than $7 billion in
emergency
relief for the epic tsunami disaster that devastated parts of Asia.
Billions more have been pledged in developmental aid.
The U.S. government has provided $350 million in emergency aid, and
American private sector aid is expected to top $700 million.
From students organizing car washes to mothers doing bake sales, all
of
these efforts point to the incredible generosity of ordinary Americans.
However, this outpouring of help has not stopped people from exploiting
the
disaster in appealing to the darker side of humanity.
Some misguided members of the faiths represented in the disaster region
even blamed the tsunami on the actions of perceived enemies or on the
wrath
of a vengeful God…
Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and knee-jerk anti-Americanism are
expressions
of misunderstanding and close-mindedness.
The cure lies in meaningful cooperation in furthering the common causes
of
peace and justice.
Glimpses of hope can be seen in media reports of the Church of Jesus
Christ
of Latter-day Saints collaborating with Islamic Relief Services to send
70
tons of relief supplies to Indonesia.
This sentiment of cooperation can be a catalyst for bringing a
polarized
world closer together.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: 5TH ANNUAL SOUTH FLORIDA FUNDRAISING BANQUET
WHAT: On Saturday, March 6, the Florida chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations will host its 5th Annual South Florida
Fundraising Banquet. Speakers at the banquet include Abdulla Idris Ali,
Former President of ISNA; Chip Pitts, Chair of Amnesty International;
Omar
Ahmad, Chairman of CAIR National; and James Yee, former military
chaplain.
WHERE: Bonaventure Hotel
WHEN: Saturday, March 6, 2005. Registration starts at 5 p.m. and dinner
starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets $40 ($50 after March 15 and $60 at the door). Limited space.
Last
banquet sold out.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW, DON'T DELAY!
http://www.cairfl.org/banquet
-----
CAIR CIVIL RIGHTS: DE DUNKIN' DONUTS ALLOWS HIJAB
(WASHINGTON, DC, 2/1/05) - Following intervention by the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim Dunkin' Donuts employee in
Delaware is now being allowed to wear her religiously-mandated head
scarf
to work. The employee recently accepted Islam and requested permission
to
wear the scarf. Her request was denied and she was allegedly threatened
with termination. CAIR's Civil Rights Department sent a letter to the
company explaining the legal requirement to provide reasonable
religious
accommodation in the workplace.
CAIR publishes a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious
Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents. The booklet is
available by e-mailing pubs@cair-net.org. (Include name, address and
phone
number when requesting the booklet.)
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman, 202-488-8787, ext.
6033
ALSO SEE:
CAIR-DC: A MUSLIM 'EXPRESSION OF FAITH'
Arsalan Iftikhar, Newsweek, 2/1/05
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6884659/site/newsweek/
[Arsalan Iftikhar is the National Legal Director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations is Washington, D.C.]
Your Dec. 20 article "rocking the Casbah" unfairly equates the
mainstream
Islamic religious practice of wearing modest attire with "slavery" and
"masochism." The article states, "the Islamic 'scarf' has become a
masochistic symbol of identity for many Muslim women and girls, even in
Europe and the United States, as if a slave holding up his chain could
point to it proudly and say, 'This is who I am'."
Millions of Muslim women in Europe and America choose to wear an
Islamic
headscarf as an expression of their faith. It is hardly "masochistic"
when
a Muslim woman chooses to be judged based on her character, instead of
on
often-objectified physical characteristics.
For Muslim women and men, modest attire is an important part of their
faith. When we see a Roman Catholic nun covered from head to toe in a
black
habit, we commend her on her faith in God.
Why does it automatically follow that when we see a Muslim woman
wearing a
headscarf, she is somehow oppressed?
-----
JUDGE RULES DETAINEE TRIBUNALS ILLEGAL
Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, 2/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51007-2005Jan31.html
A federal judge ruled yesterday that the Bush administration must allow
prisoners at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to contest
their
detention in U.S. courts, concluding that special military reviews
established by the Pentagon as an alternative are illegal.
U.S. District Judge Joyce Hens Green said that the approximately 550
men
held as "enemy combatants" are entitled to the advice of lawyers and to
confront the evidence against them in those proceedings. But, she
found,
the Defense Department has largely denied them these "most basic
fundamental rights" during the reviews conducted at Guantanamo Bay, in
the
name of protecting the United States from terrorism.
Green's ruling directly conflicts with one issued by another federal
court
judge in Washington two weeks ago. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon,
who
heard the case of a smaller group of detainees, wrote that their bid
for
freedom is supported by "no viable legal theory." Green went beyond the
question of whether detainees had rights and found the "combatant
status
review tribunals" illegal.
The conflict will now head to higher courts. Still, Green's decision
was a
legal victory for the detainees and for the civil liberties groups that
filed claims on their behalf last summer. It underscored the ongoing
legal
battle over how to implement a landmark Supreme Court ruling last
summer
that gave the detainees the right to contest U.S. accusations and
challenge
their indefinite detentions.
Green, who is overseeing more than 60 legal claims from detainees
challenging their imprisonment, said some captives may indeed be
Taliban or
al Qaeda fighters, as the U.S. military argues. But, she said, the
reviews
designed to determine that are so stacked against them that their
findings
cannot be trusted. Because of the imbalance, she said, she cannot
dismiss
the detainees' claims, as the government had asked.
"Although this nation unquestionably must take strong action under the
leadership of the commander in chief to protect itself against enormous
and
unprecedented threats, that necessity cannot negate the existence of
the
most basic fundamental rights for which the people of this country have
fought and died for well over two hundred years," Green wrote…
ALSO SEE:
TORTURE TACTICS SHOULD BE UPSETTING
Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe, 2/1/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_2547298
THE latest allegation of prisoner abuse by the U.S. military comes from
Erik Saar, a former Army sergeant and translator at the American naval
base
at Guantanamo. In a forthcoming book, Saar describes the use of female
sexuality as a tactic against Muslim detainees, for many of whom
modesty
between the sexes is a deeply ingrained religious requirement.
According to the Associated Press, Saar writes of one female
interrogator
who attempted to "break" a devout Saudi prisoner. She taunted the man
by
fondling herself, rubbing her breasts against his back and commenting
on
his erection. Then, she smeared red ink on her fingers and pretended it
was
menstrual blood.
"As she circled around him he could see that she was taking her hand
out of
her pants. When it became visible, the detainee saw what appeared to be
red
blood on her hand. ... She then wiped the red ink on his face. He
shouted
at the top of his lungs, spat at her, and lunged forward." Then he
began to
cry, prompting the interrogator to mock him: "Have a fun night in your
cell
without any water to clean yourself."
Writes Saar: "The concept was to make the detainee feel that ... he was
unclean and was unable to go before his God in prayer and gain
strength."
Are Americans OK with using religious humiliation as tools of war? How
about religious torture?
In Abu Ghraib, the cruelties inflicted on prisoners by Specialist
Charles
Graner and his little band of sadists weren't limited to the sexual.
Inmates said they were forced to swallow pork and liquor - forbidden to
Muslims - and to denounce Islam.
"They stripped me naked," said a detainee named Ameen Saeed Al-Sheik.
"They
asked me, 'Do you pray to Allah?' I said yes. They said, '(Expletive)
you.
And (expletive) him.' They ordered me to curse Islam and because they
started to hit my broken leg, I cursed my religion. They ordered me to
thank Jesus that I'm alive. And I did what they ordered me. This is
against
my belief."
Graner has since been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crimes,
and
four other Abu Ghraib soldiers have pleaded guilty. But the charges
keep
spilling forth…
---
CAIR-DC: VIDEOS SHOW GUANTANAMO PRISONER ABUSE
Associated Press, 2/1/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/10788831.htm
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Videotapes of riot squads subduing
troublesome
terror suspects at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay show the
guards
punching some detainees, tying one to a gurney for questioning and
forcing
a dozen to strip from the waist down, according to a secret report. One
squad was all-female, traumatizing some Muslim prisoners.
Investigators from U.S. Southern Command in Miami, which oversees the
camp
in Cuba, wrote the report that was obtained by The Associated Press
after
spending a little over a week in June reviewing 20 of some 500 hours of
videotapes involving ``Immediate Reaction Forces.''
The camp's layout prevented videotaping in all the cells where the
five-person teams - also known as ``Immediate Response Forces'' -
operated,
the report said...
``The obvious problem with our armed forces is their inability to
comply
with international law,'' said Arsalan T. Iftikhar, national legal
director
for the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
``Many of us thought that the Abu Ghraib scandal in Iraq was going to
shake
us into awakening but it seems like the things we keep learning about
Guantanamo indicate there was, in fact, systematic abuse.''
---
RIGHTS WRONGED
Norah Booth, Tucson Weekly, 2/1/05
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=oid%3A65046
During his 13 years with the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement
(ICE), Special Agent Greg Miller averaged one service award every two
years. Because of his undercover work, high-profile criminals and
persons
who posed a threat to the United States were thwarted and imprisoned.
Miller had his dream career, a substantial salary and was slated for
promotion.
Today, all of that is memory. He is without a steady job or pension and
says he is suffering from a stress-related illness. And all of this, he
says, is the result of whistle blowing on two of his superiors for
allegedly violating of the civil rights of a Muslim.
Miller's troubles began Sept. 10, 2002, almost one year to the day
after
Sept. 11. That's when a SWAT team invaded the Tucson home of a
Middle-Eastern man without, according to Miller, his agency considering
its
own Use of Force Policy.
The terrified man ended up face down in his driveway.
Miller claims that items seized in the raid were not listed in the
warrant.
Property--including a computer and engineering textbooks--were
confiscated
and to date have not been returned. The man was fingerprinted and
photographed without being charged with any crime. Furthermore, Miller
says, he witnessed the bruises the man received at the hands of
government
agents, and says that Customs justified its actions by labeling the man
a
terrorist…
-----
CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM PROJECT STRESSES SHARED HERITAGE AMONG JEWS,
CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS
Kalamazoo Gazette, 1/31/05
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1107188417278240.xml
The message was simple: People really are not so different, regardless
of
religion, race and culture.
A diverse cast of students in The Children of Abraham Project presented
a
dramatic performance of their differences, similarities and hopes
Sunday on
the campus of Western Michigan University.
Written by 16 teenagers from the Mosaic Youth Theater in Detroit, it
was a
drawing together of Christian, Muslim and Jewish perspectives toward a
single goal of living together peacefully. The central point of the
performance was that the Koran, Torah and Bible all recognize Abraham
as
the father of the followers of all three faith traditions.
"This is a reality that says that we are one, that we are not separated
by
fear, that we can be deeply related and we can be drawn together by
love,"
said Thomas Beech, president and CEO of the Fetzer Institute, which
helped
bring the performance to Kalamazoo.
Members of the cast presented their own experiences with discrimination
and
persecution.
"People have so many misconceptions about what it is to be Muslim," one
of
the performers said. "It's not always safe being me, but that won't
stop me
from being proud of who I am."
They also discussed how some of their own fears and prejudices fell
away
and were replaced by friendships after getting to know one another
through
The Children of Abraham Project.
"The eruption of violence is the work of Satan," said another
performer.
"Satan knows that if the children if Isaac and the children of Ishmael
unite, there will be nothing left for him. No prophet is greater than
the
other. The only battle is between brothers."
That there could be more than one truth was another key point in the
performance.
A panel of local religious leaders commented about the performance's
impact
on them afterward…
ALSO SEE:
THE TRADITIONS OF MOURNING
I. John Harvey, The Star, 2/1/05
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1107086464888&call_pageid=970599119419
No one likes going to funerals - least of all me.
As a reporter I've covered many funerals, some small and private while
others were standing-room only affairs piped to crowds huddled outside.
And
I've been to my share of services for family and friends.
Death is a fact of life. Everyone dies and we all mourn, but, because
I'm
socially inept, I always expect I'm going to say or do the wrong thing
-
even in my own culture, yet alone a multicultural city like Toronto.
The
chance of attending a funeral for a friend, neighbour or co-worker
outside
our own culture is good. And I'm at that stage of life where I'll soon
be
attending more funerals than weddings.
Time, I decide, to get some advice…
Like their South Asian compatriots, Muslims don't delay burial either.
"There's a ritual washing of the body, which is a community thing: men
wash
men, women, women," says Riad Saloojee, of the Council of American
Islamic
Religions. "Then it is wrapped in white cloth, placed in a simple
coffin.
Prayers are said over the body and at the mosque, then at burial. It's
very
quick."
In Muslim culture, death is held up as a constant reminder that
adherents
have a limited time to be "responsible, accountable human beings," he
says.
Non-Muslims are welcome to attend prayers at the burial or even mosque,
though simple modest dress is advised for both men and women. Long
skirts
and long sleeve blouses are suggested and while women don't have to
wear a
scarf, it wouldn't hurt.
There's no visitation, no flowers and generally no reception, through
with
44 ethnicities within the Muslim faith, there are lots of regional
variations, he says. Friends and colleagues visit the family at home
following the services, often bringing food.
"The one thing, though, is that while crying is okay, extreme displays,
wailing and tearing of hair is frowned on," Saloojee says, adding that
death is at God's will and animated protestations are seen as a
confrontation of that decision.
-----
MUSLIM FEAST BOOSTS FOOD BANK
Emily Mathieu, The Star, 2/1/05
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1107213016718&call_pageid=970599119419
Toronto's Muslim community has set the table for thousands of needy
families by donating over two tonnes of beef to the Daily Bread Food
Bank.
The gift was presented to the Toronto food bank yesterday in
celebration of
Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice.
"In our way we are contributing to the Canadian way of life," said Shah
Husain, the treasurer for DawaNet, a Toronto Muslim network that
arranged
to collect the funds for the meat on http://www.torontomuslims.com.
The four-day celebration of Eid al-Adha commemorates the prophet
Ibrahim's
willingness to sacrifice his own son as a proof of his devotion to God,
Husain said, explaining that because Ibrahim was willing to give his
son's
life, God allowed him to substitute a ram.
As a reminder of the importance of personal sacrifice, Muslim families
contribute toward the sacrifice of a ram, calf, sheep or goat, and
donate a
portion of the meat to the poor.
"Usually we were sending money to our home countries," said Husain. He
said
traditionally the millions of Muslims who take part in haj, an annual
pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, buy tickets to help pay for the
slaughter of animals for the needy.
"This year, we said we were going to do this for all communities," said
Husain. For $135, Toronto Muslims could purchase one-seventh of an
animal
to be donated to the food bank. Offers poured in from across Toronto,
along
with a few donations from Newfoundland and the United States, and 2,200
kilograms of beef were purchased.
"For many years, Muslims at the end of the haj have donated meat," said
Sue
Cox from the Daily Bread Food Bank, who called the gift "an enormously
generous gesture."
"Food banks are always kind of short of protein, so we are very happy
about
this," Cox said.
The donated beef is halal, slaughtered according to Islamic dietary
laws.
Three slaughterhouses in Guelph and Peterborough prepared the 2,200
individual one-kilogram packages of beef presented to the food bank.
Each
package is frozen and labelled "A gift from a Muslim Canadian."
-----
THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMAN AT UCI
Taraneh Arhamsadr, New University, 2/1/05
http://horus.vcsa.uci.edu/article.php?id=3230
Shaikley and her practicing Muslim friends wish to express that their
faith
does not make them much different from other busy college students.
The UC Irvine community has long been characterized by a high level of
diversity and an equally impressive degree of identification within
cultural and religious groups. As with a lot of college campuses, UCI
is a
place where people holding a wide spectrum of beliefs can come together
for
similar educational pursuits.
With active clubs such as the Muslim Student Union, there is also a
strong
Islamic identity on our campus. In the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedy,
daily
life has unfortunately become more challenging for Muslim Americans
everywhere, as many people wrongfully identified them with the
terrorists
who committed the horrific acts. But at that point, and up to today,
the
Muslim community endured, holding on to their beliefs despite rapid
shifts
in the public sentiment.
This brings us to some important questions: What is it like for our
generation of Muslim students, who have gone through life identifying
strongly with a faith that is often misunderstood?
How does our world at UCI embrace those students who are distinctively
Muslim-specifically, women who have chosen to wear a hijab? And so we
set
out to explore these questions.
Layla Shaikley, a second-year political science major, has made a
conscious
choice to make Islam a part of her life, and with thatce comes certain
responsibilities.
"My faith is more of a way of life rather than a once-a-week ritual,"
Shaikley said. "My faith delegates how I dress, how I eat, how I
interact
with others, how I spend my money and my personality. Also, as a result
of
my faith, I wear a hijab on my head that automatically makes me
different
through my appearance."
Muslim women wear the hijab and dress modestly because of an important
message within the Islamic faith: A woman's intellect is to be valued
over
her physical beauty. This fact contradicts the misconception that
Islamic
values are backward or oppressing to women.
"In my opinion, being a sex object is oppression," Shaikley said. "To
be
known for the size of my curves would be oppressing…"
-----
FEAR FUELS BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS
Harlan Cohen, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 2/1/05
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/10781239.htm
Dear Harlan: I'm a young Muslim American male going through rough times
since the Sept. 11 attacks. I'm very sensitive when it comes to my
religion. Almost every time a person finds out I'm a Muslim, the
person's
reactions toward me change. Many times, I have caught some of my
co-workers
saying bad stuff about Muslims and my religion. It bothers me to the
point
where I can't sleep at times. I know from the bottom of my heart that
the
Sept. 11 attacks had nothing to do with Islam and Muslims. Our religion
never supported terrorist activities, and that's what upsets me the
most --
knowing that people are misjudging us. How do I handle such situations?
My
life has changed until the day I die.
Dear Changed: I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. It's so unfair.
I think a big problem is that a lot of people in America are still
scared.
Images of peace-loving young Muslim Americans like you don't exactly
make
headlines -- it's mostly the extremist radicals committing heinous
crimes
in the name of religion (so they say). As a result, people get scared.
And
scared people either go on the attack or hide.
Your job, although you never asked for it, is to help stop the
ignorance by
educating those around you (your letter has already helped). When you
feel
someone is reacting based on religion, mention something. Share your
story
and explain that the vast majority of Muslims are gentle, peaceful,
loving
people. Should your words and actions fall upon deaf ears, at least you
can
sleep at night knowing you tried. Hope that those who know you will
help
educate others. In the meantime, surround yourself with friends and
family
who understand you. As far as work goes, when confronting hate or
bigotry
in the workplace, approach a supervisor. Express your concerns in
writing.
ALSO SEE:
HEADSCARF HATE MAIL SHOCKS BELGIUM
Alan Quartly, BBC News, 2/1/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4223307.stm
Naima Amzil is fully integrated in Belgian society
"You are a bad Belgian and you have signed your own death warrant."
That was the message to factory owner Rik Remmery when he opened his
mail
one morning just before Christmas.
For ex-policeman Rik it was only the start of an angry and chilling
tirade
of threatening post.
Further letters put a 250,000 euro ($326,000; £173,000) price on his
head
and a final package contained a bullet.
By now the letters were coming to his family home as well as his
factory.
"December," another letter read "will be a nightmare." The death
threats
against Rik were caused by one simple fact - he employed a Muslim woman
who
wore a headscarf to work.
Somebody, somewhere in the small town of Ledegem in West Flanders did
not
like that and was prepared to take extreme action unless Rik sacked
Naima
Amzil.
But Rik stood firm.
"She's worked here for eight years. I accepted her with a headscarf and
I
will not change my mind because of one sick person," he said.
Removing the scarf
Naima was horrified when she found out about the threats. She could not
believe someone would react to her simple white headscarf in such a
manner.
Originally from Morocco, she had done everything possible to integrate
into
Belgian society - speaking French and Dutch and carrying a Belgian
passport…
---
MUSLIM COUNCIL CALLS FOR INQUIRY INTO HIJAB SETTLEMENT
Jeff Heinrich, The Gazette, 2/15/05
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/index.html
Accusing it of having an "immoral laissez-faire attitude," the Muslim
Council of Montreal yesterday called for an inquiry into how the Quebec
Human Rights Commission handles complaints about the banning of the
hijab
in private schools.
The Muslims are upset that the rights watchdog in November allowed a
Montreal-area school to settle a complaint privately with the family of
a
student it had expelled for wearing the head scarf for Muslim females.
The council's ire was renewed Friday after Radio-Canada television
revealed
a confidential report that appeared to show the commission has known
for
some time where it stands on the hijab issue but has done nothing.
Drafted in September, the internal report suggested it would be a
"reasonable accommodation" under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for
private schools to allow some students to wear the hijab.
By seemingly ignoring its own report, the commission betrayed the trust
of
Muslim Quebecers who rely on it to protect their rights, council
chairperson Salam Elmenyawi said yesterday.
"This is not only an unacceptable abdication of (the commission's)
statutory responsibility, but also an immoral laissez-faire attitude
that
forces victims of racism and anti-Muslim discrimination to suffer
emotionally, psychologically, socially and financially," he said in a
statement…
---
SUIT FILED OVER SCARF-PULLING INCIDENT IN CLASS
Associated Press, 2/1/05
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050201/APN/502010721&cachetime=3&template=dateline
GRETNA, La. - A suburban New Orleans school system and a former high
school
teacher have been sued by a Muslim teenager who contends that the board
and
teacher failed to adequately resolve her claims that the teacher used
religious slurs against her and yanked off her religiously mandated
head
scarf last year.
Maryam Motar, who filed the suit Friday in state district court, is
seeking
unspecified damages from Wes Mix and the Jefferson Parish School Board.
She
complains about the handling of a November hearing to resolve her
complaints.
School board members defended their behavior during the hearing and
Mix's
attorney, Larry Samuel of the Jefferson Federation of Teachers, blasted
the
lawsuit as financially motivated.
"It's just what we thought," Samuel said. "This has been about money
all
along."
Last February, Motar accused Mix of pulling off her head scarf, or
hijab,
during a world history class at West Jefferson High School and saying,
"I
hope God punishes you. No, I'm sorry. I hope Allah punishes you."
Superintendent Diane Roussel recommended Mix's termination in July, but
the
board overruled that decision after a closed-door hearing. It opted to
suspend Mix without pay for several weeks and require him to attend
sensitivity training before returning to another school in the fall. He
was
also required to apologize to Motar.
Samuel said Mix apologized to Motar in a letter sent out last year. But
Motar's attorney, Henry Kinney, said she has not received any letter.
School board attorney Michael Fanning said that he was not surprised by
the
lawsuit.
The suit claims the board failed to take the matter seriously, with
only
five of nine members attending. Two members were joking or talking on a
cellular telephone during Motar's testimony, the suit claimed…
-----
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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 #446
THANK SENS. KENNEDY, FEINSTEIN FOR REJECTING TORTURE
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/2/05) - CAIR today called on American Muslims and
other people of conscience to thank Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen.
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for their principled stance against the use of
torture in U.S. detention centers around the world.
Kennedy raised the issue of torture during Senate debate yesterday on
the
nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales to be U.S. attorney general. He said:
"Torture is contrary to all that we stand for as Americans. It violates
our
basic values. It is alien to our military's longstanding rules and
traditions. We send our men and women in the Armed Services into battle
to
stop torture in other countries, not to participate in it themselves.
"These values did not change, or become less relevant, after 9/11.
Americans did not resolve to set aside our values, or the Constitution,
after those vicious attacks. We didn't decide as a nation to stoop to
the
level of the terrorists.
"To the contrary, Americans have been united in the belief that an
essential part of winning the war on terrorism and protecting the
country
for the future is safeguarding the ideals and values that America
stands
for here at home and around the world."
SEE: http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/05/1/2005201A51.html
In her prepared remarks for the Senate debate, Sen. Feinstein said: "If
there is a single issue that defines this confirmation process, it is
what
Judge Gonzales thinks about torture and brutal interrogation
practices…For
me, in addition to its clear legal and moral importance, the issue of
torture became the main way for assessing the next Attorney General…"
"We commend those courageous lawmakers who are taking a principled
stand
against torture and abuse of prisoners," said CAIR Executive Director
Nihad
Awad. "The nation and the world need to hear that our elected
representatives reject this vile practice." Awad said polls indicate
that
the vast majority of Americans are against the use of torture in any
circumstance.
SEE: MOST OBJECT TO EXTREME INTERROGATION TACTICS
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050113/a_interrogate13.art.htm
ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1. Please take a moment to thank Sens. Kenney and Feinstein for their
principled stance against torture.
Senator Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954
E-Mail: http://feinstein.senate.gov/email.html
Senator Edward M. Kennedy
United States Senate
315 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4543
Fax: (202) 224-2417
E-Mail: senator@kennedy.senate.gov
2. Other senators, including Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), are also
addressing the issue of torture during the ongoing debate. Contact
their
offices as well, particularly if they represent your state.
To e-mail Sen. Byrd, go to:
http://www.byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html
To obtain contact information for other senators, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=contactYourRep
Copy all correspondence to CAIR at: cair@cair-net.org
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST 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 - 2/2/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF RETURN
* CAIR 'ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM' CONFERENCE
- CAIR-Chicago Holds Annual Dinner
- CAIR-CAN Commentary Broadcast on CBC Radio
- Rep. Dingell (D-MI) Praises CAIR's Work
* FL: FEDS PUT AN END TO MOSQUE INQUIRY (Herald Tribune)
* PIPES: 'INTOLERANCE PERSONIFIED' (The Dartmouth)
* CO: MEDIA GROUP PULLS AD OF PALESTINIAN GIRL (Denver Post)
- NY: Tsunami Parody Sends Duo to Unemployment Line
* ARE AMERICAN MOSQUES PROMOTING HATE? (Altmuslim.com)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF RETURN
"Those who believe and do righteous deeds are destined for joy (in this
world) and a beautiful place of return (in the next)."
The Holy Quran, 13:29
-----
SAVE THIS DATE!
CAIR 'ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM' CONFERENCE MAY 13-15
On May 13-15, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will
host
its first annual conference, "Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes
and
Remedies," in Tysons Corner, Va. Please save this date in your personal
calendar. More information to follow.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO HOLDS ANNUAL EVENT DINNER
WHAT: On February 26, the Chicago chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will hold its annual event
dinner
with keynote speaker Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni.
WHERE: Islamic Foundation of Villa Park, 300 Highridge Rd.
WHEN: Saturday, February 26th, 2005
Tickets are $30. To RSVP, call CAIR-Chicago at 312-212-1520.
URL: http://www.cairchicago.org/
---
CAIR-CAN COMMENTARY BROADCAST NATIONALLY ON CBC RADIO
(OTTAWA, CANADA 02/01/2005) Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to
God),
CAIR-CAN chair Sheema Khan today appeared on CBC Radio's program
"Commentary, heard across Canada every morning. Her commentary,
reproduced
at the end of the alert, is entitled, "Prejudice & Fear OverUse Of
Islamic
Law In Family Disputes."
To listen to the commentary, please visit:
http://www.cbc.ca/insite/COMMENTARY/2005/2/1.html
-----
REP. DINGELL (D-MI) PRAISES CAIR'S WORK
Dear Friends,
As the new Congress gets underway and the President begins his second
term,
there are many issues that will affect the Islamic community and CAIR
will
continue to be a strong and effective advocate for Muslim Americans in
Lansing and in Washington, DC. CAIR and I have a long history of
cooperation and my office door is always open to my friends so that I
can
be of assistance to the causes that CAIR promotes.
In 2005, Congress will debate the reauthorization and expansion of the
PATRIOT Act. This law enforcement surveillance overhaul undermined
many of
our nation's civil liberties in one broad sweep. Many of the more
controversial and obtrusive measures in the act are set to
expire. However, President Bush and many Republican Member's of
Congress
pushing to have them indefinitely extended.
After consulting with my constituents, including friends at CAIR, I
voted
against the PATRIOT Act the first time and I have become increasingly
skeptical about the Act since. While portions of the Act were needed to
bring law enforcement into the twenty-first century, the disregard for
Constitutional protections, and the diminution of judicial oversight
are
all egregious violations of our rights and liberties as Americans.
In addition to the PATRIOT Act, another significant issue that you will
hear a lot about this year will be Social Security reform. While a
specific
plan has yet to be laid out by the White House, I expect that a plan
for
Social Security privatization and the reduction of benefits is on the
horizon. Even though President Bush talks about a Social Security
"crisis,"
his math is quite inexact. Social Security is sound and those who stand
to
benefit from Bush's reform are not those who actually draw on Social
Security, but instead the Wall Street bankers who would reap billions
from
the privatization of our most successful government program.
No update from Washington can be complete without mentioning the
ongoing
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Americans from all faiths have given
their
lives in the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am afraid
that
too many Americans have used these conflicts to validate their own
anti-Islamic prejudices. That is wrong. The First Amendment makes
America
a country where all are welcome to worship as they see fit. Let's pray
that
successful elections in Afghanistan and elections in Iraq will go a
long
way in providing a modicum of much needed stability in both those
nations.
The year 2005 likely will be a contentious one in Washington as we
assess
and debate our domestic and international challenges. You can be
assured
that my office door is always open to CAIR and I plan to work closely
with
my friends to ensure that your concerns are properly addressed. Please
feel
free to contact my office anytime by calling locally at (313) 278-2936.
You
can also always get updates on issues of importance on my website at
www.house.gov/dingell
-----
FEDS PUT AN END TO MOSQUE INQUIRY
Jeremy Wallace, Herald Tribune,
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050202/NEWS/502020358/1006/SPORTS
The federal Department of Justice is dropping its investigation into
whether Sarasota County discriminated against a group of Muslims by
limiting the height of a proposed mosque.
In a terse one-page letter, Justice Department officials simply said
the
seven-month-long inquiry is over.
"We will be taking no further action on the matter," said Justin
Dillon, an
attorney with the department, in the letter.
In July the agency began what it called a preliminary investigation
into a
county decision a year ago to limit the height of a proposed mosque on
Lockwood Ridge Road to 40 feet.
Of 14 other churches and synagogues that had gone before the county
commission over the previous two years, none had a similar restriction.
Commissioner Jon Thaxton said Tuesday that he was happy to hear the
Justice
Department was dropping the issue. He said the decision imposed on the
Islamic Society of Sarasota and Bradenton was purely about what fit the
neighborhood.
The Islamic Society has been meeting in a nondescript house on Lockwood
Ridge Road for the past 10 years. But with a growing congregation, the
group sought permission to build a 13,500-square-foot mosque based on
ancient Islamic traditions, including two 80-foot-high minarets and a
62-foot-high ornamental domed prayer hall.
After neighbors complained, the Islamic Society dropped the minarets
from
the plan during the commission hearings. But the society still wanted
the
62-foot-high main prayer building.
The commissioners approved the project, but with the caveat that no
portion
of it could be higher than 40 feet.
"We thought there was some sort of bias," said Ahmed Bedier, a
spokesman
for the Council on American Islamic Relations in Tampa.
Bedier's group, the largest Islamic civil liberties group in the
nation,
helped the Sarasota group assist the Justice Department in its
investigation.
Mosque supporters and Islamic-American groups have questioned the
county's
motives in restricting the height. They said they feared the county's
actions were prompted by stereotypes of Muslims since the 9/11
terrorist
attacks…
-----
PIPES: "INTOLERANCE PERSONIFIED"
The Dartmouth, 1/27/05
http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005012702010&sheadline=&sauthor=&stext=Daniel%20Pipes
We have a visitor today who once said, "Western European societies are
unprepared for the massive immigration of brown-skinned peoples cooking
strange foods and maintaining different standards of hygiene … All
immigrants bring exotic customs and attitudes, but Muslim customs are
more
troublesome than most."
I speak for all of Al-Nur, the Muslim student association on this
campus,
and for other concerned students when I say that it is troublesome that
Daniel Pipes, to whom the above quote is attributed, is visiting
Dartmouth.
He is the nation's leading Islamophobe and he is not welcome. He has
exploited the Japanese internment laws of the 1940s to justify his
views
advocating racial profiling and he promotes an extensive infringement
on
the civil rights of Arab-American and Muslim-American citizens. Today,
Pipes is slated to speak to the Dartmouth community, an event that was
only
recently publicized, it seems, because of the controversial character
of
the speaker's inflammatory views.
In an institution that prides itself on fostering dialogue on aspects
of
individual and social identity such as race and religion, it is
disturbing
that any college organization or academic department heeding to this
creed,
under the guise of promoting discussion, would invite someone who has
been
identified by many as a hatemonger. Pipes' bigoted views will
marginalize
and breed suspicion and distrust toward students, faculty, and
administrators who are Arab or Muslim; his visit will do little to
foster
dialogue.
In pursuing his crusade to focus security measures on Muslims, Pipes
resorts to defending rampantly racist author Michelle Malkin's views in
her
book "In Defense of Internment: The Case for Racial Profiling in World
War
II and the War on Terror." In support of Malkin, Pipes outlines her
arguments as she calmly compares concentration camps in Japan to
American
"relocation camps" for the Japanese and declares that the latter were
in
comparison to the former: "Spartan facilities that were for the most
part
administered humanely."
Pipes continues to delineate other baseless and humiliating comments
from
Malkin including a claim that the Commission on Wartime Relocation and
Internment of Civilians of 1981-83 was biased in its conclusions and
that
the Presidential apology and reparations awarded to former internees
resulted from faulty logic. Pipes chimes echoing Malkin's vitriolic
tune,
concluding that in wartime, "threat profiling" based on nationality,
ethnicity and religious affiliation is expedient and necessary. Pipes
has
also warned against the enfranchisement of American Muslims, as this
would
"present true dangers to American Jews."
He contends Islam should not be portrayed in a good light in our
schools
and in our media. With claims of possessing a mental "filter" with
which he
can detect all those who want to "create a Muslim state in America,"
Pipes
has also labeled 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims as "potential
killers."
Each of these claims is crudely based on anecdotal evidence. On the
issue
of Israel and Palestine, Pipes has said that "The Palestinians are a
miserable people … and they deserve to be…"
-----
CLARITY MEDIA GROUP PULLS AD OF PALESTINIAN GIRL
Tom McGhee, Denver Post, 2/2/05
http://news.ibn.net/newsframe.asp?url=http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2680307,00.html
Denver financier Philip Anschutz's Clarity Media Group has yanked an ad
promoting its Washington, D.C., and San Francisco newspapers amid
criticism
the advertisement demonized Palestinian children.
The advertisement in the Jan. 24 edition of the media trade publication
MediaWeek showed a girl playing a violin on one side and a Palestinian
girl
carrying an assault rifle on the other. Superimposed over the two
pictures
were the words "PTA to PLO."
The ad, which was meant to attract advertisers, went on to say: "No
local
newspaper has ever delivered news of this scope."
The Electronic Intifada, a not-for-profit website formed to provide
news
and information from a Palestinian perspective, asked its readers to
contact Examiner vice president of advertising Mark Wurzer and San
Francisco Examiner managing editor Jim Pimentel to request that they
pull
the ad.
"The implication is clear: the girl with the rifle is supposed to
represent
a Palestinian girl and embody what the PLO stands for," the group said
on
its website.
Clarity, located in Denver, pulled the ad on Thursday, said Ali
AbuNimah,
co-founder of Chicago-based Electronic Intifada.
San Francisco Examiner publisher Scott McKibben apologized for the ad.
"It has been brought to our attention that a recent advertisement
published
in MediaWeek promoting The Examiner has caused concern and offence
(sic) to
readers. On behalf of Clarity Media Group and The Examiner in
Washington
and San Francisco, we sincerely apologize," McKibben said…
ALSO SEE:
TSUNAMI PARODY SENDS HOT 97 DUO TO UNEMPLOYMENT LINE
Diversity Inc, 2/2/05
http://www.diversityinc.com/members/login.cfm?hpage=11852.cfm
Facing incessant rage from some of New York City's Asian-American
leaders,
Hot 97's parent company fired two of the staffers involved. But
morning-show leader Miss Jones will be back on the air…
-----
ARE AMERICAN MOSQUES PROMOTING HATE IDEOLOGY?
By Junaid M. Afeef, Altmuslim.com, 2/2/05
http://www.altmuslim.com/news_comments.php?id=1389_0_24_0_C
A new study entitled "Saudi Publications on Hate Ideology Fill American
Mosques" (download full .pdf version here) was recently released by the
conservative watchdog organization Freedom House. Whether the study is
accurate or not, it will certainly invite greater governmental scrutiny
on
the American-Muslim community.
The stated purpose of the study is to "probe in detail the content of
the
Wahhabi ideology that the Saudi government has worked to propagate
through
books and other publications within [U.S.] borders." Its conclusions
and
recommendations are of vital concern to the American Muslim community.
The
American-Muslim leadership in particular needs to analyze the study and
to
respond quickly and effectively.
If this study's conclusions are accurate, then the American-Muslim
community needs to undertake a monumental overhaul of its institutions
and
the management of its resources and infrastructure. On the other hand,
if
there are errors, inaccuracies, methodological problems or additional
relevant facts not considered in the study, then it behooves the
American-Muslim leadership to correct the record…
-----
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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 CALL FOR PENTAGON ACTION OVER GENERAL'S REMARKS
Commander of Marine division in Iraq says shooting people is 'fun'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/3/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today called on the Pentagon to discipline a top general who
earlier
this week said it is "fun to shoot some people."
At a public event in San Diego, Calif., Lt. Gen. James Mattis said:
"Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a
hoot…You
go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years
because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no
manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." The
audience applauded the general's remarks.
Mattis leads the 1st Marine Division in Iraq. He is based in Quantico,
Va.
SEE: TOP MARINE GENERAL'S BLUNT COMMENTS DRAW FIRE
http://www.nbc4.tv/politics/4155808/detail.html
(Video of the general's remarks is available at this site.)
"We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a
sporting
event," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "These disturbing
remarks
are indicative of an apparent indifference to the value of human life."
Awad urged that "appropriate disciplinary action" be taken against Gen.
Mattis.
In 2003, CAIR called for similar action against Lt. Gen. William G.
Boykin,
who told church audiences that he is in "the army of God" and claimed
Muslims worship an "idol." A Pentagon investigation of Boykin's remarks
concluded that he violated regulations by failing to make clear he was
not
speaking in an official capacity and did not obtain prior clearance for
the
remarks.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 2/3/05
* VERSE OF THE DAY: TEACH TRUTH
* ACTION ALERT: VOICE YOUR CONCERN OVER 'REAL ID ACT'
* MARINE GENERAL 'COUNSELED' FOR COMMENTS (AP)
* CAIR-HOUSTON: ROLE OF RELIGION IN HEALTH CARE
- CAIR-NY: Muslims to Hold Tsunami Memorial
- MA: Tsunami Response May Bridge Gap Between Faiths
- CAIR-DC: 24's Culture Clash (TV Guide)
- CAIR-DC: Pope Promotes Mideast Peace (AP/RNS)
- CAIR-MD/VA Attends Community Forum
* IL: MUSLIM ALLEGES BIAS BY CHICAGO EATERY (Chicago Trib)
- OK: Female Muslims at OU Endure Stereotypes (OU Daily)
* MD: MUSLIMS AVAILABLE TO LEAD COUNCIL PRAYERS (Gazette)
- MI: Panel Examines Muslim Perceptions of America
* TX: MUSLIM CHARITY SAYS IT IS UNFAIRLY TARGETED (DMN)
* CHERTOFF AND TORTURE (The Nation)
- Chertoff: No Remorse for Post-9/11 Round-Up (ACLU)
- U.S. Asks Saudis to Indict or Return Suspect (WP)
* MD: LT. GOVERNOR TO SPEAK AT MUSLIM FORUM
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: TEACH TRUTH
"By (the token of) time (through the ages). Verily mankind is in (a
state
of) loss, except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and (join
together) in the mutual teaching of truth and patience."
The Holy Quran, Chapter 103
-----
ACTION ALERT: VOICE YOUR CONCERN OVER 'REAL ID ACT'
New legislation designates PLO representatives as 'terrorists,' may
harm
asylum seekers
(WASHINGTON, DC - 2/3/05) - CAIR is urging all persons of conscience to
voice their concern over the recently-introduced REAL ID Act. House
Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) bill is
composed of provisions that were deemed too controversial and stripped
from
last year's intelligence reform bill.
The bill makes it harder for people fleeing persecution to gain asylum
in
the U.S. In some cases, it may create a situation where an asylum
seeker
needs documents from the very government they are fleeing to prove
their case.
The bill also states: "An alien who is an officer, official,
representative
or spokesman of the Palestine Liberation Organization is considered,
for
purposes of this Act, to be engaged in a terrorist activity." If
enacted,
this would terminate the current high hopes that the new situation in
the
Palestinian Territories can lead to a just peace.
Last year, House leadership promised Sensenbrenner that his provisions
would be attached to the first piece of "must pass" legislation, such
as
that providing aid for countries devastated by recent tsunami or
funding
military operations in Iraq, to come before Congress.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
Contact your elected officials and ask that they oppose the REAL ID
Act:
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=issuesAndLegislations
To read the bill's text, go to thomas.loc.gov and type "HR 418"
(without
the quotation marks) into the search field.
For more information, go to:
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/media/2005_alerts/asy_0126_sens.htm
-----
MARINE GENERAL COUNSELED FOR COMMENTS
JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press, 2/3/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4776428,00.html
WASHINGTON (AP) - A Marine general who has commanded troops in
Afghanistan
and Iraq told a forum, "It's fun to shoot some people." The commandant
of
the Marine Corps said Thursday he has counseled Lt. Gen. James Mattis
about
choosing his words more carefully…
Thursday, Gen. Mike Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a
statement saying, "Lt. Gen. Mattis often speaks with a great deal of
candor. I have counseled him concerning his remarks and he agrees he
should
have chosen his words more carefully…"
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
said he
would let Mattis address his comments himself. But, he said, "All of us
who
are leaders have a responsibility in our words and our actions to
provide
the right example all the time for those who look to us for
leadership..."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil liberties
group,
called on the Pentagon to discipline Mattis for the remarks.
"We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a
sporting
event," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad in a statement. "These
disturbing remarks are indicative of an apparent indifference to the
value
of human life…"
According to Mattis' biography, he commanded, as a lieutenant colonel,
an
assault battalion during the first war with Iraq. During the war in
Afghanistan, he commanded the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade; in the
second war in Iraq, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the
invasion and when the unit returned to Iraq for counterinsurgency
operations last year.
-----
CAIR-HOUSTON: ROLE OF RELIGION IN HEALTH CARE
(HOUSTON, TX, 2/3/05) - On February 1, a representative of the Houston
office of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) joined
with
Buddhist and Catholic speakers to discuss the role of religion in
health
care at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
CAIR-Houston
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