cair-net Digest of: get.1701_1800
Topics (messages 1701 through 1800):
CAIR-NET: Muslims, Jews See a Chance for Goodwill/Karen Hughes Gets an
Earful
1701 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Spreading the Koran/More Hispanic Women Converting to Islam
1702 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Islamic Women's Groups Proliferating/Woman Assaulted, Called
'Sand N**ger'
1703 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ask Congress to Send Torture Ban to President
1704 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Report Confirms Muslims Were Profiled/New Law Exempts Spies
from Privacy Act
1705 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Iraq War Dead Porn Site Leads to Obscenity Arrest
1706 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Urged to Help, Pray for Quake Victims
1707 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: AZ Muslim Assaulted by Teens Shouting Religious Slur
1708 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Mosques Call for Quake Aid/Elderly Man Assaulted Outside
AZ Mosque
1709 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslim Medical Volunteers Sought for Quake Relief / MD
Police Release Sketch of Mosque Vandalism Suspect
1710 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Iftar Held on Capitol Hill/CAIR Condemns New Orleans
Beating/Growing Role of Islam in Latino Culture
1711 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Pledge $20 Million in Quake Aid
1712 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Use Hands-On Approach to Quake Aid
1713 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Charities Re-Emerge for Quake Victims / Muslim
Hurricane Evacuees Urged to Convert / Synagogue Welcomes Muslim Speaker
1714 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims, Mormons Will Fly Aid to Quake Victims / Muslim
Athletes Balance Spirituality with Sports
1715 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: VA Prison Agrees to Facilitate Islamic Prayers / OH Muslims
Feed the Homeless / US Muslims Play Role in Worldwide Relief Efforts
1716 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 'God is Not a Terrorist' / OH Volunteers Sought to Pack Quake
Aid / NY Broker Claims Anti-Muslim Bias
1717 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CA Muslims to Feed the Homeless / OH Muslims Plan Quake
Fundraiser / Philly Police Ban Beards, Hijab
1718 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Troops Use Burned Afghan Bodies as Propaganda / CAIR
Calls for Policy, Training Review
1719 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Officer Files Bias Complaint / Muslim Program Upsets
Parents / Halal Food Option Grows
1720 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Anti-Islam 'Comic Books' Given to CA Students / IN Parent:
'I'm not prejudiced, but...' / Quake a Neglected Catastrophe
1721 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: After Arson, GA Mosque Rebuilds / OH Paper Responds to
Concerns About Cartoon / CA Muslim B-Ball Star Finds Peace
1722 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: MD Muslim Gets $16K for Post-9/11 Firing / CA Muslims,
Christians, Jews Share Prayer Space / Chicago's First Muslim Funeral Home
1723 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Announces Scholarship to Honor Rosa Parks / Plan Exempts
CIA from Abuse Ban
1724 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Director Attends State Department Iftar
1725 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Religious Holidays Banned After Muslims Ask for Eid /
Sample Eid News Release / CA Muslim Convert Dies in Iraq
1726 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Each U.S. Mosque Urged to Raise $1,000 for Ramadan Campaign
1727 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: American Muslims May Exceed U.S. Quake Relief Pledge / NY
Muslims to Host Officials at Iftar / CAIR-CT Wins Accommodation for
Fasting Students
1728 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CA Muslims to Call for Urgent Quake Aid / Reject Legalizing
CIA Torture / MI Muslims to Hold Ramadan Food Drive
1729 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: O'Reilly Says Muslim Holiday 'Absurd in a Judeo-Christian
Country' / IL College Pulls Photo Exhibit After Muslim Protest / CA
Latinos Embrace Islam
1730 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Asks U.S. Muslims to Collect Quake Aid on Eid
1731 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns New Delhi Bombings / Quake Aid Delayed /
Latinos Convert to Islam
1732 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Eager to Help Fight Terror / 'Law of the Jungle'
in Quake Zone
1733 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Register Online for CAIR's Dec. 3 Banquet in VA
1734 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NJ Muslims 'Profiled' for Praying at Giants Stadium
1735 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Boston Islamic Society Expands Libel Suit / FL Religious
Holiday Ban Draws Heat / Canadian Muslim Group Urged to Let Women Vote
1736 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Launches 'Pray for Understanding' Campaign After NJ
'Profiling' Incident
1737 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Seeks Applicants for Rosa Parks Scholarship / FL Council
Race Marred by Remarks on Ethnicity / CIA Holds Suspects in Secret
Prisons
1738 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Muslims Seek Reinstatement of Christian, Jewish School
Holidays
1739 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: How Many American Muslims? / CAIR-San Antonio Director
Shatters Stereotypes / School Holiday Ban Sparks Hateful Grandstanding
1740 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Quake Victims Remembered at Eid / New Orleans Muslims
Celebrate Post-Katrina Eid / Mistake to Cancel Religious Holidays
1741 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Torn Between Civil Liberties, Social Concerns / DHS
Urges Muslim Fliers to Register / FBI Patriot Act Plan Concerns
Lawmakers
1742 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Urges DHS Protection for Pakistanis in U.S. Impacted by
Quake / Cheney Fights Torture Ban
1743 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Calif. Synagogue that Hosted Islamophobe Urged to Invite
Muslim Speaker
1744 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls for 'Dialogue and Mutual Respect' in France /
Muslims Outraged at DHS Official's Comments
1745 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls for FBI Probe of Shooting Near PA Mosque
1746 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Condemns Jordan Bombings / NJ Muslim Councilman Attacked
in Fliers / More Profiling at Giants Stadium / TX Muslim School Prayer
Limits Alleged
1747 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: TX, VA Muslims Lose 16 Relatives in Jordan Blasts / CAIR
Offers Condolences for Filmmaker's Daughter
1748 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Celestica Fires, Suspends More Minnesota Muslims
1749 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Offers Condolences to Jordanian Ambassador / Networks
Urged to Honor Akkad by Airing His Films
1750 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: PA Bigots Don't Like to Vote in Mosque / NJ Muslim Becomes
Mayor / More Profiling at Giants Stadium?
1751 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Imams Help Fight Terror / FL Muslims Sponsor
Thanksgiving Baskets for Needy / NY Traffic Cops Ask Muslims About Citizenship
1752 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: DC Radio Host Who Smeared Islam Moves to Boston / Pipes Has
'Problem' with Voting at PA Mosque / U.S. Muslim Groups Cleared in
Senate Probe
1753 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: French Ambassador to Speak at DC Forum on Riots
1754 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NY Muslims to Discuss Concerns with FBI / CAIR-FL Rep
Profiled - In a Good Way / Quake Relief Compassion Fatigue?
1755 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Urge Congress to Reject Patriot Act Reauthorization
1756 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: PA Muslims to Address Mosque Voting Objections / A Muslim
Response to Prager's 'Five Questions'
1757 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Participates in Dialogue with European Muslims
1758 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Welcomes Ruling on CA School Lesson About Islam /
Terrorism is Islam's Enemy Too / AL Sunnis, Shias Work together
1759 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: C-SPAN2 to Air CAIR Forum on French Riots / CAIR Chairman:
Taking Back Islam / Incitement: Cal Thomas - Islam a Religion of Satan?
1760 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: French Ambassador Says 'Religion Played No Role' in Riots /
U.S. Muslim Scout Troops Increasing
1761 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Meadowlands Sets Aside Prayer Spaces at Stadium for Muslims
1762 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: When U.S. Bars Its Doors to Foreign Scholars / Diverse Faiths
Unite in Thanks
1763 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Catholics Share Mass With Muslims / Celestica and Muslim
Employees Unable to Reach a Compromise
1764 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: PA Mosque Helps Foster Understanding / CA Religious Community
Rallies for Quake Aid / Incitement Watch
1765 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls for Release of UK 'Bomb Al-Jazeera' Memo / Islamic
Credo Helps Ease Holiday Hunger
1766 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Registration Deadline Approaching for CAIR Dinner / Native
Deen to Perform
1767 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Rep to Appear on MSNBC / Krauthammer Says Quran
'Inspires Barbarism' / Profiling Will Not Make Us Safer / Torture,
American-Style
1768 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Oppose Surveillance Powers in Patriot Act / CAIR-FL Rep
Appointed to Diversity Council / FBI Asked to Probe Disappearance / Daniel
Pipes Smears Muhammad Ali
1769 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Last Day to Register for CAIR Dinner in DC / CAIR Calls for
Release of All Iraq Hostages / Pipes Appreciates 'Spirit' of Islam-Hater
1770 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Launches Patriot Act Blog
1771 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Love for Jesus Can Bring Christians, Muslims Together /
CAIR-CAN to Fight for Religious Freedom at McGill / Zero Tolerance for
Torture
1772 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 'Sleeper Cell' Awakens Fears in Muslim Viewers / CAIR-NY
Helps Train Gitmo Lawyers / Quran Sponsors Needed
1773 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: DC-Area Muslims to Call for Release of VA Man Held in Iraq
1774 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Calls for Release of Iraq Hostages / Almost 1,000 Attend
CAIR-DC Dinner / NJ Muslims Complain of DMV Hijab Removal
1775 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Director to Attend OIC Summit / A 'Christmas' Tree is a
Christmas Tree / CAIR-NJ Meets with FBI
1776 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Decision Expected Today in NC Quran Oath Controversy / IL
Mosque Defaced / CA Islam Test Sparks Complaint
1777 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Breaking News - No Convictions Against Al-Arian
1778 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Welcome Al-Arian Verdict / Jews, Muslims Fight for
'Christian' Christmas
1779 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Hajj Publicity Resource Kit
1780 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NC Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Quran Oaths / Congress Agrees
to Reauthorize Patriot Act / House Accepts McCain Torture Ban
1781 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: VA Muslims, Quakers to Hold Vigil for Iraq Hostages / 80K
Names on Terror Watch List / IL Muslim Faced 'Bigotry' at Work
1782 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: UT Muslim Scouting Part of National Trend / VA Muslims,
Quakers Pray for Safety of Hostages
1783 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Hosts Yemeni Judge Who Challenged Extremists / Selling
Liquor Creates Conflict for Muslims / Mary Holds a Special Place for
Muslims
1784 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Call Congress on Torture, Patriot Act, Immigration / Homeless
See Good in Islam / Muslim Family Says Break-In Was Hate Crime
1785 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Muslims to Offer Reward for Info on Double Homicide /
Commercializing Islam / Billboard's Arab Images Called Racist
1786 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FBI Grills Calif. Muslim High Schooler About 'PLO' Doodle
1787 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL School OKs Muslim Holiday / Israeli Consul Takes Jab at
Muslims / Steinem Swings at Hef, Hits Islam
1788 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: ACLU to Appeal NC Quran Oath Ruling / Bush Lets U.S. Spy on
Callers Without Courts / Groups Question FBI Interrogation of CA Muslim
Student
1789 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Applauds Senate Defeat of Patriot Act Extension
1790 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Post-9/11 Travel a Challenge for U.S. Muslims / Attacks Stall
Boston Mosque Project / Petition: Free Sami Al-Arian
1791 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR-CA Rep Offers 'Islam 101' at Synagogue / MN Guard Troops
Train at 'Fake Iraqi Village' in MS / Jewish Leaders Rethinking
Alliance with Evangelicals
1792 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Issues Travel Advisory for U.S. Muslims
1793 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FBI Asked to Help Find Missing CA Muslim Doctor / Stamps
Honor Muslim Festivals
1794 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ohio Muslims React to Explosion at Cincinnati Mosque
1795 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Australian Muslim Scholar Denied U.S. Entry / Reward Offered
for Info on OH Mosque Bombings / Bias Complaint Filed Against FL Subway
Restaurant / Car of Missing CA Muslim Found in Estuary
1796 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Files Freedom of Information Request on Wiretaps
1797 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bombed OH Mosque to Hold Prayer Vigil / FL Officer Probed in
Muslim Rights Complaint / CAIR-LA Completes Training for Police
1798 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Face Searches After Toronto Visit / Islamic
Scholar Denied Entry into U.S. / New Rules on When, Where TX Muslim
Students Can Pray / Prayer Vigil at Bombed OH Mosque
1799 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: DC Muslims React to Secret Radiation Monitoring
1800 by: CAIR
---------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/4/05
*
Hadith:
The Gates of Paradise are
Open
*
CAIR-Chicago:
Muslims to Mark
Ramadan with Homeless
-
Chicago
Muslims to Hold Interfaith Iftar
*
CAIR-FL:
Muslims, Jews See a
Chance for Goodwill (Tampa Trib)
-
MN:
Muslims, Jews
Sampling Each Others' Faiths (Star Trib)
-
MD:
UMBC
Jews, Muslims Join for Food Program (Jewish Times)
*
ISLAM-OPED:
Karen Hughes Gets an Earful,
But is Her Boss Listening?
-
Dean Commemorates the Start of
Ramadan
*
Ramadan Media
Round-Up:
-
NY:
Joy of Ramadan Heartens
Area's Muslims
-
CO:
Family Joins Muslims
to Mark Month of Ramadan
-
NJ:
Fasting has
Spiritual Meaning for Muslims
-
NY:
Ramadan A
Challenge For Muslim Teens
-
FL:
Young Muslims Feed Faith
During Ramadan
*
Firms Apologize For Ad
Offensive to Muslims (Stars and Stripes)
-
Military
Porn-for-Gore Scandal
Harms America's Image
*
MI:
Family Seeks
Answers in Deportation (Detroit News)
*
TN:
Islamic Students
Seek Resolution Against Terror (Jackson Sun)
*
WA:
A Look at
American Muslim History (Seattle PI)
-
CAIR-CA:
U.S.
Muslims Call for Renaissance in Islam
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE GATES OF PARADISE
ARE OPEN -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When Ramadan begins,
the gates of Paradise are opened."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 122
A man once asked the Prophet what deed would allow him to enter Paradise.
He replied: "Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to
it."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 107A
-----
CHICAGO
MUSLIMS TO MARK RAMADAN WITH HOMELESS-
TOP
Downtown Islamic Center to host daily open house meals
(CHICAGO, IL, 10/04/05) - The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that a prominent local
Chicago Mosque will mark the month of Ramadan with daily open house
meals, or iftars, for neighbors and the homeless.
WHAT: Ramadan Open House Meal
WHEN: Sunset (6:30 p.m.), October 4th-November 2nd.
WHERE: Downtown Islamic Center, 231 S State, Chicago, IL. 60604
"Ramadan is a time of giving and sharing," said Ahmed Rehab,
CAIR-Chicago Director of Communications. "It is not just food that
we wish to share, but ourselves as well. One of the many reasons why we
fast is to think of those who are deprived by partially sharing in their
deprivation. It is therefore befitting of this great season of charity
and human camaraderie that we welcome into God s house not only our
neighbors, but also those who don't have a home."
Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims
abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn
to sunset.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in Washington, D.C., and has 31 regional offices and chapters nationwide
and in Canada.
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, 312-212-1520, 847-971-3963;
communications@cairchicago.org;
Yaser Tabbara, 312-718-3725;
director@cairchicago.org
SEE ALSO:
CHICAGO
AREA MUSLIMS TO MARK RAMADAN WITH INTERFAITH DINNER -
TOP
Suburban mayors, chief of police, village trustees, and neighbors to join
in breaking of the fast
(Chicago, IL, 10/04/05) The Chicago office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced that the Muslim community in
Chicago's Southwestern Suburbs is marking the start of Ramadan by opening
its doors to neighbors, interfaith leaders, law enforcement and elected
officials. Mayors, village trustees, and chiefs of police from Burr
Ridge, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Willowbrook, Darien, and Westmont are
expected to attend the iftar meal (breaking of the fast) hosted by the
community s Muslim Educational & Cultural Center of America
(MECCA).
WHAT: Community Interfaith Ramadan Meal hosted by MECCA
WHEN: Wednesday, October 5, Reception, 4:30-5:30; Program 5:30-6:30;
Dinner 6:30
WHERE: Ashton Place, 341 75th St. Willowbrook, IL
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, 312-212-1520, 847-971-3963;
communications@cairchicago.org;
Yaser Tabbara, 312-718-3725;
director@cairchicago.org;
Hani Atassi, MECCA 630-661-6275
-----
MUSLIMS AND JEWS
SEE A CHANCE FOR GOODWILL -
TOP
Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune, 10/4/05
http://www.tampatrib.com/MGBY0J5NDEE.html
TAMPA - He's the spokesman for an Islamic organization; she's a
rabbinical chaplain at a hospital.
But Ahmed Bedier and Kate Fagan have something in common today: They're
both observing the holiest time on their respective faith calendars, with
Monday's sunset onset of the month of Ramadan and the Jewish High Holy
Days.
The last time this unusual religious confluence occurred was in the
1970s, when the observances fell at the same time for three consecutive
years beginning in 1973. Their timing is based on two different lunar
calendars: Muslims are marking the year 1426, while in the Jewish
calendar, which combines the sun and moon, it is year 5766.
"Something like this doesn't happen very often," said Fagan,
who works at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. "That's why
we're going to take full advantage of the timing of our two holidays as
an opportunity to build community and understanding."
Next week, Tampa Bay area Jews and Muslims will take an unprecedented
step toward changing attitudes between two faith groups with a violent
global history.
Fagan and Bedier were among those who recently formed Serving the One, a
local interfaith group aimed at bringing together people of diverse
faiths. Members seized upon the timing of these two sacred observations
for their first public event.
On Oct. 13, the group will sponsor a Breaking the Fast meal on the St.
Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida. For Jews, that day
will mark Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, when observers fast from
sunrise to sundown and pray to God for forgiveness for the promises they
have broken. Yom Kippur concludes the High Holy Days. For Muslims, who
also fast in the daylight hours during Ramadan, it will be the middle of
their holy month.
"This is a catalyst for us to come together," said Bedier,
spokesman for the Tampa chapter of the Council on American Islamic
Relations. "We're living in trying times. Instead of always focusing
on what makes us so different, we want to concentrate on how we're
alike." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MN: MUSLIMS,
JEWS SAMPLING EACH OTHERS' FAITHS -
TOP
Matt McKinney, Star Tribune, 10/4/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5649837.html
The sun dropped below the horizon Monday evening and a group of
Macalester students idled together in twilight, some to celebrate the
beginning of Ramadan, others to mark the opening of Rosh
Hashanah.
It doesn't usually start this way, with Muslims and Jews sharing their
traditions with one another, but this year's unusual timing of two major
holidays offered a new perspective on ancient beliefs, said the
students.
"It's great just to have some people who have faith," said
Mashal Saif, a senior at the St. Paul college. "It doesn't matter if
it's your faith. It's people you can be religious with."
The students' evening of joint prayer and observation came about because
of a rare convergence between the timing of the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan, which begins today in some parts of the world and Wednesday in
others, and the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, observed as a two-day
holiday that began Monday night.
The timing will happen only two or three times in most people's
lifetimes.
The rarity is because the Muslim holiday is scheduled according to the
lunar calendar and so migrates throughout the commonly used solar
calendar, falling about 13 days earlier each year. The Jewish holiday,
meanwhile, always comes at the end of the summer to coincide with harvest
time.
This year's coincidental timing of the two faiths' major holidays -- it
won't happen again for 33 years -- has religious leaders encouraging
their followers to use the occasion to build bridges.
The call met receptive minds in Saif, a Muslim and native of Pakistan,
and Gretchen Solomon, a leader of the Jewish student group.
Their plan was simple. Share an evening observation together after
sunset. Make some new friends, share a meal and see what comes of it.
(MORE)
---
UMBC JEWS,
MUSLIMS, JOIN FOR FOOD PROGRAM -
TOP
Andrew Scherr, Jewish Times, 9/23/05
http://www.jewishtimes.com/scripts/edition.pl?now=9/26/2005&stay=1&SubSectionID=48&ID=2666
For students like Rella Kaplowitz, Jerad Bates and Junaid Hassan, eating
on campus at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, was often a
hassle.
As two Orthodox Jews who observe kashrut and an observant Muslim who
maintains hallal dietary laws, the three found little to eat in campus
dining halls and cafes. Their meal choices were limited to cereals,
instant soups, chips, ice cream and a small selection of microwaveable
frozen meals.
But that all changed after the three students worked with university
administrators to open the "Kosher/Hallal Corner" this fall
semester. Located in UMBC's Commons, the central food court on the
university's Catonsville campus, the stand carries a rotating stock of
more than 40 types of frozen kosher meals, as well as ready-made items
that students can eat on the run between classes.
"The major thing is that there will be an increased variety,"
said Mr. Bates, a senior. He has been living on campus since his freshman
year and said that eating for him before this year was often "an
inconvenience."
"Now, you won't get bored of keeping kosher. It will actually be
something that may be enjoyable and very doable," he said. Although
the new stand offers kosher food, there is still no kosher meal plan at
UMBC. The stand is operated by Sodexho USA, the campus food
provider.
Other than Morgan State University, UMBC is the only major college in the
Baltimore metropolitan area without a kosher meal plan. Towson and
Hopkins universities have a kosher meal plan, as does Goucher
College.
"It's about promoting diversity and catering to the needs of the
student body," said UMBC Hillel director Rabbi Amos Levi, who said
the university's Jewish student population stands at around 1,000. When
he pushed the administration for a kosher meal plan in the past, he said
he "got nowhere."
-----
ISLAM-OPED: KAREN HUGHES GETS AN EARFUL, BUT IS
HER BOSS LISTENING? -
TOP
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.
CONTACT:
ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
Please consider the following commentary for publication.
-----
KAREN HUGHES GETS AN EARFUL, BUT IS HER BOSS LISTENING?
By Parvez Ahmed
WORD COUNT: 663
[Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D., is board chairman of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy group. He may be contacted at:
pahmed@cair-net.org. For a photo
of Parvez Ahmed, go to:
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=Board&person=Parvez
]
Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes is on a mission to change Muslim
hearts and minds. Since taking up her post in early September, she met
with American Muslim leaders in Chicago before embarking on a
"listening tour" of the Middle East.
Media reports from that tour indicate that she got an earful of both
complaints and advice. Some complaints, mostly about the war in Iraq
and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, were predictable. But who could
have predicted that Hughes would hear women in Saudi Arabia dismiss the
notion that they are in a perpetual state of oppression. One audience
member told Hughes, "The general image of the Arab women is that she
isn't happy. Well, we're all pretty happy."
Perhaps the most revealing moment of the tour came when Hughes met with
Turkish women. Once again, anger was directed at America's war of
choice in Iraq. A Kurdish human rights activist captured the concern of
Muslim women in the region. She said, "War makes the rights of women
completely erased, and poverty comes after war - and women pay the
price." Hughes' answer: "To preserve peace sometimes my country
believes war is necessary." One attendee shot back: "War is not
necessary for peace. We can never export democracy and freedom from one
country to another."
In Egypt she heard from a teacher at the American University in Cairo
who said, "U.S. policies unfortunately have been very negative in the
region because of Palestine...They have been blinded. It's a pity."
Another common complaint lodged against the Bush administration was its
treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Hughes was quick to point out
that the prisoners in Camp X-Ray have been visited by the International
Red Cross and they have retained their right to worship "using their
own Qurans."
This answer missed the point made by many Muslims, and echoed by major
international human rights organizations, that holding prisoners
incommunicado is itself illegal under international law.
Finally, the issue of growing Islamophobia and anti-Americanism also
got significant play during Hughes' Mideast tour. As in Chicago, so too
in Cairo, she heard calls for mounting a united front against extremism
in all its forms.
To her credit, Hughes comes across in meetings as a person genuinely
interested in hearing opposing views. She passionately defends her
boss, President Bush, without being dismissive of opinions that paint
the president's policies in less than sympathetic terms.
But her effectiveness as a goodwill ambassador for the United States
will now depend on her ability to walk into the Oval Office and explain
to the president that public relations efforts are doomed for fail if
they are not tied to policy changes that impact realities on the
ground. That was the message she heard from American Muslim leaders,
and from activists and ordinary Muslims from Riyadh to Ankara.
Amany Fikri writing in the Egypt's Al-Wafd said, "Her real task is in
Washington...withdrawing American troops from Iraq and rebuilding what
was destroyed...Play the role of an honest broker (in the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict)...Most importantly to end America's
support for non-democratic governments and regimes in the Arab region."
U.S. policy-makers are nowhere near addressing these core issues, and
consequently, we are nowhere near to improving our nation's image in
the Muslim world.
After meeting with the head of Al-Azhar, one of the most prestigious
Islamic religious institutions, Hughes made some poignant remarks in
concurrence with Sheikh Tantawi. She said, "All divine religions are
built on a spirit of love and it is important that all of us work
together to fight extremism." The challenge will be transform this
noble aspiration into a global reality.
For Karen Hughes to succeed in changing Muslim hearts and minds, she
must use her newfound knowledge to focus attention on the hearts and
minds of those who formulate American policies that impact ordinary
Muslims worldwide. As an Arabic editorial in Al-Khaleej newspaper
summarized: "She has to start her mission from Washington, not from
Cairo, Riyadh or any other Muslim capital."
SEE ALSO:
DEAN COMMEMORATES THE START OF RAMADAN -
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October 4, 2005
Contact: Amaya Smith, 202-863-8148
Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean
issued the following statement today to commemorate the start of
Ramadan:
"Today Muslims in America and around the world mark the first day of
Ramadan, a month of contemplation, self-sacrifice, and affirmation of
our commitment to our fellow man.
"The month of Ramadan marks the revelation of the first verses of the
Quran, which made the principles of peace and charity the foundation of
Islam. This time is honored by a month of prayer and fasting, reminding
us all to give thanks for our own blessings while renewing our
commitment to ending poverty and hunger.
"We must renew our commitment to protecting civil liberties and
expanding religious tolerance in our nation. And we should each take
this time to fight hunger and poverty in our own communities.
"On this first day of Ramadan, my family and I express our best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world."
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
www.democrats.org
-----
RAMADAN MEDIA ROUND-UP -
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NY: JOY OF RAMADAN HEARTENS AREA'S MUSLIMS -
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Christine Fennessy, Democrat & Chronicle, 10/4/05
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051004/NEWS01/510040331/1002/NEWS
Imagine if you could capture and bottle the excitement of a Christmas
season. Then, for a month, you opened it up and let it wash all over
you.
That's how Annie El-Amin feels about Ramadan, the holy month of Islam that begins today or tomorrow.
"Ramadan is like a 30-day Christmas," said El-Amin, who works as a
secretary at the Islamic Center of Rochester. "It's like waking up
every day charged and excited, with the spirit of giving, learning,
charity, patience and perseverance."
The first date of Ramadan coincides with moon sightings. "Some will
start celebrating (today), some will start after that," said Iman
Mohammed Shafiq of the Islamic Center of Rochester.
El-Amin planned to awaken this morning at 4:45 a.m. She said breakfast
would have been prepared last night. She and her husband would eat,
drink juice and read the Quran, the holy book of Islam. And then,
before the sun rose at 7:12 a.m., they would pray.
They will fast until the sun sets at 6:46 p.m. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
FAMILY JOINS MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE TO MARK MONTH OF RAMADAN -
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Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News, 10/4/05
http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/religion/article/0,1299,DRMN_61_4130042,00.html
Mohammad Noorzai remembers his early days in Denver, when he used to be
"Mr. Executive with a suit and tie" and wiring money to his scattered
and war-torn family from Afghanistan. He always maneuvered to get in
the line of a certain foreign exchange banker.
He noticed that she didn't seem to mind.
"She thought I was some rich Arab guy," he grins.
"No I didn't!" Anisa Noorzai protests, laughing.
They agree, however, that his courtly maneuvers morphed into a date for
breakfast - "still our favorite meal of the day" - and led to their
marriage of 18 years.
With their two kids, family businesses and now, long ties to Denver,
the Noorzai marriage is in one sense a story of the new face of Islam
in America. It also reflects an unusual religious journey - hers, from
a Lutheran childhood in Cañon City, and his, from a well-to-do Muslim
family in Afghanistan.
The journey took them both to Islam, and today, the Noorzais are
preparing together for Ramadan, Islam's worldwide month of fasting and
restraint that begins at sundown on the cusp of the new moon, which was
expected to rise Monday night.
Ramadan requires good deeds and forbids food, drink and sexual
relations during daylight hours as a way of purification and drawing
closer to God. (MORE)
---
NJ: FASTING HAS SPIRITUAL MEANING FOR MUSLIMS -
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Justin Vellucci, APP, 10/4/05
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051004/NEWS/510040402
For Balkees Pareen, fasting is more than a battle between restraint and hunger.
When the soft-spoken Keansburg teenager first fasted four years ago for
the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, set to begin today, she found herself
filled with empathy for those without the luxury of three meals a day.
She also sees the annual practice as a spiritual and cleansing one that enables her to focus more on her faith.
"It felt really peaceful," said Pareen, 16, who immigrated to the
United States from Pakistan about six years ago. "When you pray, you
feel so relaxed. Nothing really happens. It just gives you more peace
in life."
During the holiday, millions of American Muslims - thousands from
Monmouth and Ocean counties - will rise before dawn each morning to eat
breakfast, the last food they will enjoy until the sun sets again in
the evening. Their daylong fasting ritual, a tradition dating back to
the prophet Mohammed, is set to continue day in and day out through
Nov. 2, the last day this year of Ramadan.
But, for many Muslims, the benefits and meanings behind the fasting may be as varied as the tradition is long.
"It teaches you discipline and it tells you to (refrain) from food,
water, anything which is allowed during normal days and normal times,"
said Ziaulhaq Zia, chairman of the board of trustees at the Islamic
Center of Ocean County. "By doing that, it also gives you a strength -
a strength in your faith, a strength in yourself, self-confidence that
you can really control your will, control yourself."
The practice, which can be both physically and spiritually purifying,
also encourages Muslims to be generous and charitable, Zia said.
"Regardless of all of this . . . the reason we fast is because this is a command from God," he said. "That's the bottom line."
The experience of Ramadan, however, seems to harbor communal meanings as well as religious ones.
Though fasting is clearly an individual and personal experience, many
Muslims cast the holiday in collective terms - children being taught
about the foundations of Islam, family and friends gathering in large
numbers to break fast together after dusk.
It's that sense of warmth and community that permeates organizations
like the United Muslim Family Association, a group of roughly 100
families from Monmouth and Middlesex counties that meets at Matawan
Regional High School.
"Socializing is important for us (so) once a week, we get together,"
said Mohamed Ismail Ali, an Aberdeen resident, area teacher and the
group's president.
But they do more than that.
While mothers sit and talk in their native Urdu or Arabic, and dozens
of Muslims young and old line mats for the 1:30 p.m. call to prayer,
children from toddlers to teens sit in classrooms learning about their
faith, culture and heritage. (MORE)
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NY: RAMADAN A CHALLENGE FOR MUSLIM TEENS -
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Connie Nogas, Press & Sun-Bulletin, 10/45/05
http://www.pressconnects.com/today/news/stories/ne100405s194826.shtml
BINGHAMTON -- Sardar Khan is typical of many Binghamton High School
students. The junior likes to hang out with friends, participate in
Tech Club and other activities, and play sports after school. He's a
receiver and part of the kickoff squad for the Patriots football team.
But starting today, he can't pause for even a sip of water, no matter
how hot and sweaty he gets during football practice. Today is the start
of Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims, including Khan, who fast from
sunrise to sundown.
"It's a test of your individual self-discipline," said Khan, 15. "It
helps with the rest of your life. You get through the struggles of the
rest of your life easier because you go through the hardship of
fasting."
Khan and other Muslim students in the Southern Tier straddle two
worlds. On one hand, they live in the Muslim world of fasting, prayer
and reading the Quran. On the other, they live in the American teenage
world of school, friends and finding their place in the world. Students
of other non-Christian faiths such as Judaism can face similar
challenges.
"There's a desire to live their faith in a way that serves as a good
example to others," said James Carpenter, an assistant professor in the
School of Education and Human Development at Binghamton University.
"But students still want to be popular and have friends and fit into
the social world of school."
No one is sure exactly how many Muslim students attend public schools
in the Tier. Imam Kasim Kopuz, the spiritual leader of local Muslims,
estimated more than 100 Muslims attend public schools throughout the
Tier, with most attending Binghamton High School. Schools do not track
students by religion.
The Tier is becoming more diverse, and that's being reflected in the
schools, Carpenter said. Binghamton High School, for example, has
students from around the globe.
That diversity shows up on the football field, said Douglas Stento, the
team's coach and the district's safe and drug-free schools coordinator.
Binghamton's team includes players from Vietnam, Russia, Ukraine, Haiti
and Pakistan, where Khan was born.
The more diverse a school is, the more likely students will accept students from different countries, Stento said.
For example, Binghamton natives on the football team reach out to help
immigrants such as Khan understand the complexities of the game. Khan
had not played football before moving to Binghamton.
Both sides learn from each other, Stento said. Khan learns about an
American sports tradition. His teammates learn about Islam and how Khan
lives his faith. (MORE)
---
YOUNG MUSLIMS FEED FAITH DURING RAMADAN -
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James D. Davis, Sun-Sentinel, 10/4/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cramadanoct04,0,2677003.story
Hafiz Muhammad Khan is only 18, but, leading prayers in his dark blue
robes, he shows the calm confidence of believers many years older.
"All-lahhh hu-Akbaaaaar [God is Great]," his tenor voice intones during
recent evening prayer. The dozens of worshipers at the Pembroke Pines
mosque follow his lead, touching foreheads to the striped carpet, then
sitting up.
Throughout, Khan leads with quiet authority, having memorized the Quran
as a child. His knowledge and maturity have earned him a position of
authority at Darul Uloom Islamic Institute.
He gives a bashful smile in discussing his leadership later. But he
adds that in the United States, which often values pleasure over piety,
it takes determination to follow a spiritual path.
"It comes down to an individual decision," says Khan, who was raised in
Karachi, Pakistan. "But I think America is good for Islamic society.
You can do any kind of prayers you want."
As the nation's Muslims prepare today for Ramadan, young people like
Khan strive to balance dual identities as Americans and as Muslims.
They are aided by their mosques, and their parents. But not by Islamic
cultures, as their Arab, Pakistani and other elders were.
Starting when the first sliver of the new moon is sighted -- for some
mosques, last night; for others, probably tonight -- Ramadan is
recognized as the month when God dictated the Quran to Muhammad.
Muslims focus on that event by fasting, putting aside food and drink
until sundown.
Their young people have no problem sampling Western diversions: TV,
movies, iPods, cell phones, Web sites, Internet chats. But they stop at
things like alcohol and American society's fixation on sexuality.
And although it may seem rigorous to outsiders -- praying, fasting,
attending mosque services -- young Muslims say they look forward to
Ramadan. (MORE)
-----
FIRMS APOLOGIZE FOR AD THAT MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO MUSLIMS -
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Stars and Stripes, 10/4/05
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=31993
The manufacturers of the military's new tilt-rotor aircraft, the
Osprey, apologized Friday for advertisements deemed offensive to
Muslims that appeared in two magazines.
Boeing and Bell Helicopter apologized for the ad, which shows U.S.
special operations forces rappelling from an Osprey onto the roof of a
mosque.
The ad ran in the Armed Forces Journal a month ago, and in the National Journal last week.
"The CV-22 advertisement that appeared in the National Journal is
clearly offensive and did not proceed through the normal channels
within Boeing before production," Boeing said in a statement on its Web
site.
"We consider the ad offensive, regret its publication and apologize to
those who like us are dismayed with its contents," said Mary Foerster,
Vice President of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Communications.
"Unfortunately despite our best efforts to have the ad replaced, a
clerical error at the National Journal resulted in its publication this
week."
Mike Cox, a Bell vice president, told The Seattle Times that "the
[Bell] people who approved this didn't have authority to approve it."
The statements were released Friday in response to complaints from the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based Islamic
civil-liberties group. The building depicted in the ad has an Arabic
sign that translates as "Muhammad Mosque," according to the council.
Armed Forces Journal is a monthly magazine for officers and leaders in
the United States military community. Similarly, National Journal is
published for people who have a professional interest in politics,
policy and government.
SEE ALSO:
ANOTHER REASON TO HATE -
TOP
Omaha World-Herald, 10/3/05
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=608&u_sid=2033464
Even as the U.S. State Department evaluates a new report that argues
there is extensive hostility abroad to America and its policies and
actions, the situation worsens.
The report was compiled by a nine-member advisory committee, which
traveled in the Persian Gulf, Egypt and Great Britain to gather its
information. What it found was that, in the aftermath of the invasion
of Iraq, the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib and the controversy
over prisoners at Bagram and Guantanamo Bay, "America is less a beacon
of hope than a dangerous force to be countered" which "diminishes our
ability to champion freedom, democracy and individual dignity."
It's hard to be seen as a champion of individual dignity when repulsive
and graphic digital photos, allegedly taken by American soldiers in
Afghanistan and Iraq, are displayed on an Internet porn site. The
photos show dead bodies and body parts, burned, disembowled or
otherwise mutilated.
Floridian Chris Wilson, 27, says his site exists for men to post nude
photos of their wives and girlfriends, "amateur" pornography. He
asserted that 30,000 U.S. military people subscribe, and several
thousand have sent him pictures from overseas, not all of them violent
or bloody. The porn is free to those who send digital photos he can
post.
Pentagon officials have decried the gruesome photos. But, because
military personnel in the pictures can't be identified and when, where
and by whom they were taken is unknown, no criminal charges are
possible. If the people in the photos could be identified, military
leaders said they could face lesser charges, such as conduct unbecoming
an officer or enlisted person.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a U.S. anti-discrimination
group, said the images could inflame insurgents and leave the mistaken
impression that Americans are gloating over war casualties. (MORE)
-----
DEARBORN FAMILY SEEKS ANSWERS IN DEPORTATION -
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Family, Arab-American leaders are angry over how a man convicted in '87 drug case was treated.
Norman Sinclair, The Detroit News, 10/5/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0510/04/B01-336267.htm
Fatme Zahr of Dearborn and her son, Rasha, 10, tearfully bemoan the
fate of their husband and father, Mosbah Mahmoud Zahr, who was deported
to Lebanon after spending five months in U.S. custody.
When federal agents arrested businessman Mosbah Mahmoud Zahr at his
Dearborn home as he left for work early one morning in April, it was
the last time his four terrified American-born children saw their
father.
On Sept. 20, the family was shocked to learn that Zahr, 51, who has
lived in the area for 25 years, was deported to Lebanon the night
before after being in federal custody for five months. They also were
told he was in a hospital suffering from complications from a diabetic
condition.
Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Zahr because of a 1987
conviction on cocaine possession charges in state court. Even though
Zahr was legally deported, the way he was treated is drawing
consternation from his family and some community groups.
Arab-American leaders have denounced the way the owner of an Inkster
dry cleaning business was suddenly arrested, detained in faraway
lockups and whisked out of the country without the notification of his
family and without a change of clothes.
Zahr's lawyer, David Steingold, accuses the government of violating
Zahr's right to due process and of victimizing his family, now
destitute without his support. Steingold said for the five months
before he was deported, Zahr was locked up in Battle Creek and even
farther away in Sault Ste. Marie.
During that time, Steingold said he was prevented from filing a court
challenge because the government had refused since April to let him see
Zahr's file, or even the deportation warrant. The American Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee denounced what officials there called
inhumane and heavy-handed tactics.
"I am stunned by this case," said Imad Hamad, regional director of the
anti-discrimination group. He met last week with Rob Baker, the top
local official in charge of detention and deportations.
"Under the law they had the right to deport him, but the way the situation was handled was uncalled for," Imad said.
"It was totally unnecessary. It caused severe trauma to the kids and the family. I feel sorry for the kids and his wife."
Steingold said the government could have served his client with a
deportation warrant, giving him notice to wind up his business affairs,
prepare his family, and report for deportation.
"Mr. Zahr was never hiding. He was buying a home in his own name. He
paid his taxes," Steingold said. "He is married to a U.S. citizen, his
four children are Americans. His oldest daughter has Down's syndrome,
and he had to drive her to school every day and take her for medical
appointments."
Baker said Zahr had been ordered deported in 1991 after he served a
three-year prison sentence. He was given a $2,500 bond in 1992 while he
appealed the deportation. When his appeal was denied in 1996 he was an
illegal resident, Baker said.
-----
ISLAMIC STUDENTS SEEK RESOLUTION AGAINST TERRORISM -
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Wendy Isom, Jackson Sun, 10/4/05
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051004/NEWS01/510040304/1002
Concerned with interfaith relations in the aftermath of terrorist
attacks, Islamic students at the University of Tennessee Martin have
rallied for a Student Government Association resolution to denounce
terrorism.
The declaration drafted by Islamic students was unanimously approved by the school's SGA senate.
David Belote, interim vice chancellor for student affairs and an SGA
advisor at UTM, said Monday he was confident that the Islamic students
set an SGA precedent with their group declaration.
Emre Serbest, an Islamic student and UTM senator for the College of
Business and Public Affairs, made a rousing presentation on the
school's senate floor about the importance of passing the declaration.
"I was exceedingly impressed with Emre and how he presented the information," Belote said.
Serbest spoke to his peers Sept. 22 about interfaith tensions and
increased prejudice against Muslims since the rise of terrorist attacks
around the world.
These attacks, Serbest said, "have created a strong urge in good
Muslims to defend themselves and their peaceful faith against
accusations of violent crimes that they have not committed, and
provocative, radical extreme thoughts that they do not endorse."
A segment of the resolution statement reads: "We pray for the immediate
defeat of these evildoers who call themselves 'Islamic' and yet do
everything that Islam rejects and forbids." (MORE)
-----
A LOOK AT AMERICAN MUSLIM HISTORY -
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John Iwasaki, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/4/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/243300_ramadan04.html
A traveling exhibit on Muslim history in the United States, curated by
the descendant of a Georgia slave, looks back at mostly obscure lives
and little-known contributions of American followers of Islam since the
1700s.
But the archival photos and documents in the show, which opened Monday
in Seattle, have modern-day implications, curator Amir Muhammad said.
The Washington, D.C., resident created the exhibit especially "for
immigrant Muslims to understand American Muslim history," he said. "It
connects people. A lot of people don't know that Muslims were part of
the American fabric."
The exhibit is a photocopy of the actual one currently on display at
the Smithsonian's Anacostia Museum and Center for African American
History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
Ayesha Anderson saw the exhibit at a Muslim conference in Chicago in 2003 and had tried ever since to bring it to Seattle.
"I feel like a mother who's been in labor. This is my baby," said
Anderson, a Kent resident who was joined in the effort by Benjamin
Shabazz, imam of the Al Islam Center of Seattle.
The collection includes copies of letters, pages from diaries, notices
of runaway slaves and other documents that reveal the presence of
Muslims in American slavery, some of whom had been educated in Africa.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM AMERICANS CALL FOR RENAISSANCE IN ISLAM -
TOP
Michel W. Potts, New America Media, 10/3/05
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=4b9c92074d3ee0e6299dbf57da128d74
ANAHEIM, Calif. - After the greater Muslim community of Southern
California donated a reported $420,000 to the Council of
American-Islamic Relations during its tenth annual banquet, held Sept.
17 at the Anaheim Convention Center here, keynote speaker Prof. M.
Cherif Bassiouni presented them with a challenge and a proposal.
A Distinguished Research Professor at the DePaul University's College
of Law, Bassiouni noted in his speech how former attorney general John
Ashcroft had publicized the presence of sleeper cells in the country,
increasing fear among the American public and consequently fostering
more prejudice against Muslim Americans.
"When you look at these cases (in which Ashcroft claimed that home
grown terrorists across the country had been arrested), you will find
in all of these cases that charges were never proven," he pointed out
to the audience.
All Americans, irrespective of religion, "have a big challenge ahead of
us," he argued. "The challenge is to restore the rule of law to this
country...It is obvious that if you have a system where the rule of law
prevails, or where the rule of law can be bent, or where the rule of
law can be politicized, then you are going to find victims and, right
now, the victims are the Muslims."
Bassiouni proposed that Muslims in this country seriously consider
forming a national council of learned Muslims scholars. "What we really
need to do is to start a movement what I would call a renaissance of
Islam," he proclaimed.
Muslims who have lived in the United States for any length of time
"have done little to denounce the so-called Muslim regimes all over the
world, who have been nothing else but corrupt and inefficient, (and) we
have done little to denounce the type of backward-ism in the name of
Islam that have we seen by many persons whose knowledge of Islam is
limited," he added.
"And we have said and done very little to engage ourselves in the
renaissance of Islam in the Muslim world. Maybe now the time has come.
Maybe this is the challenge. Maybe this is the best thing that would
have happened to Muslims, to be kicked in the back after 9/11 and to
wake up."
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Bridge
Builder Award to David Stacy, a Christian who agreed to uproot his life
and live in a large Muslim community for 30 days in Dearborn, Mich., as
part of a Fox Channel documentary that attempted to portray what it is
like to be a Muslim in America. (MORE)
-----
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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:
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URL:
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-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/5/05
*
Hadith:
Bad Behavior Defeats the
Purpose of Fasting
*
CAIR:
Spreading the
Koran (Hartford Courant)
-
Ramadan:
Celebrate the
Quran
-
CAIR-CA:
Mosques Reach Out to
Non-Muslims
-
CAIR-CA:
A
Season to Put Spirituality First (SF Chron)
-
CAIR-Sacramento:
Faiths Share Holy
Month (Sac Bee)
*
FL:
More
Hispanic Women Converting to Islam (Miami Herald)
*
Book:
Muslim
Chaplain Recalls Guantanamo Abuses (AP)
*
FL:
Kids
Embrace Fasting with a Fervor (St. Pete Times)
-
TX:
Ramadan
Connects Islamic Faithful (Daily Texan)
-
OR:
Muslim,
Christian Cross Faith Divide (Oregonian)
-
President Bush Extends
Ramadan Greetings to Muslims
*
TN:
Muslim
Students Get Resolution Opposing Terror
*
FL:
Muslim Inmate Sues County
Jail (Orlando Sentinel)
*
17,000 Bosnian Serbs Linked to
Srebrenica Massacre (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: BAD BEHAVIOR DEFEATS
THE PURPOSE OF FASTING -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever does not
give up telling lies, (committing) evil deeds and speaking harshly to
others, God is not in need of his (fasting)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 83
VERSE OF THE DAY: FASTING TEACHES SELF-RESTRAINT
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you so that you may learn
self-restraint."
The Holy Quran, 2:183
-----
CAIR: SPREADING THE KORAN -
TOP
Group Offers Free Copies To Non-Muslims To Counter Negative
Publicity
FRANCES GRANDY TAYLOR, Hartford Courant, 10/5/05
http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-koran.artoct05,0,3657737.story
As the most sacred holiday in the Islamic calendar, the holy month of
Ramadan is marked by fasting during daylight hours and special evening
prayers in the mosque. Reading the Koran during Ramadan, which began
Tuesday night with the appearance of the new crescent moon, is an
essential part of the observance.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the largest Muslim
advocacy organizations in the United States, is sponsoring a campaign
called "Explore the Quran." The goal is to give the general
non-Muslim public a greater familiarity with Islam's holy book by
offering it free. The council has received more than 20,000 requests for
free Korans since the campaign began in mid-July.
"Explore the Quran" is CAIR's attempt to counter what the
organization regards as continuing negative publicity surrounding the
Koran, including the alleged desecration of the holy book at Guantanamo
Bay and Abu Ghraib prisons. Those who request a Koran receive a thick
hardcover book with English translation next to the Arabic on each
page.
"We felt the best way to respond was to give Americans the
opportunity to read the Koran for themselves," said Rabiah Ahmed, a
spokeswoman for CAIR. "The response has been overwhelmingly positive
and very heartwarming."
The requests have come from Christian ministers who want to learn more
about Islam, students, professor, atheists, prisons and police and
government officials in communities with a significant Muslim population.
. .
Muhammed Ali, president of the Islamic Information Center in Bristol,
called CAIR's campaign "a beautiful thing - to put the book in the
hands of people. ... It's our job as Muslims to spread the word as we
understand it. . ."
To obtain a copy of the Koran, call the Council of American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), request online at
www.cair-net.org/explorethequran/
or call 800-784-7526.
SEE ALSO:
RAMADAN: CELEBRATE THE QURAN -
TOP
Sohair Sultan, Trinity Tripod, 10/4/05
http://www.trinitytripod.com/media/paper520/news/2005/10/04/Features/Ramadan.Celebrate.The.Quran-1008843.shtml
Editor's Note: Sohaib Sultan is the Muslim Chaplain of Trinity College.
Additionally, the (S) that is written after the Prophet Mohammed is
mentioned signifies in Arabic, "salah'llahu alayhee wa salam," which in
English means 'peace be upon him.'
Every year Muslims from all over the world and from all ethnic and
economic backgrounds begin fasting from sunrise to sunset everyday
during a most blessed month in the Islamic tradition, known as Ramadan.
But, what makes Ramadan a blessed month? Why do Muslims fast during
this month? What are the spiritual benefits of fasting? All these
questions and more are addressed in this article that introduces you to
a month long spiritual journey that over 1.4 billion Muslims engage in
worldwide.
The Quran says, "It was the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was
revealed from on high as a guidance for humanity and a self-evident
proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern the
true from the false..." (2:185). So, the entire month of Ramadan is in
essence a celebration of the Quran's revelation, which is described as
a "Guide and Mercy for those who do good." (Quran 31:3). Ramadan
celebrates God's Mercy by which, Muslim believe, the Divine sent a
guiding light in the Quran that leads human soul towards the path of
good and virtue and protects the human soul from evil and vice. (MORE)
---
CAIR-CA: MOSQUES REACH OUT TO NON-MUSLIMS -
TOP
Various open houses intended to educate public, dispel stereotypes
Jonathan Jones, The Argus, 10/5/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_3088408
Ramadan is coming to a mosque near you. And you're invited.
Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, begins today. It is a
time for Muslims to abstain from food, drink and other "worldly
pleasures" from dawn until dusk.
But Ramadan also is a time for generosity and being a better father, mother, child and neighbor.
And this year, mosques throughout the Bay Area are hoping their
neighbors get to know them a little better. Next weekend, many mosques
are holding open houses for non-Muslims to celebrate the iftar, the
meal served during Ramadan at the end of each day after the sun sets to
break the fast.
Coordinated efforts by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and
local mosques, the open houses and iftar dinners are part of an effort
by Bay Area Muslims to educate others about their faith and dispel
stereotypes. . .
Safaa Ibrahim of CAIR said mosques traditionally hold open houses
during Ramadan. But this year, local Islamic leaders are making an
extra effort to reach out.
"It becomes, considering 9/11, really important to get to know the
community," she said. "It's no different than a church potluck or a
family potluck dinner . . .with a little zest of culture." (MORE)
---
CAIR-CA: A SEASON TO PUT SPIRITUALITY FIRST -
TOP
Fasting is part of holidays for Jews, Muslims and Christians
Cicero A. Estrella, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/5/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/05/BAG4AF2KF91.DTL
A rare convergence of holy days has Jewish, Muslim and Christian
congregations celebrating in different ways almost simultaneously --
and all with periods of fasting.
With the Jewish High Holy Days and the month-long Muslim celebration of
Ramadan beginning within days of each other this week, millions of
people around the world will forgo food and drink in a bid for
spiritual growth. In addition, Eastern Orthodox Christians will fast
starting Nov. 15 to celebrate Advent, the 40 days leading to Christmas.
. .
For Safa Ibrahim, who is no relation to Hakam, Ramadan provides the chance to reacquaint with family and friends.
"The rest of the year you're always so busy. It's rush, rush," said the
executive director of the Bay Area chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. "You take a step back during Ramadan and
rekindle relationships." (MORE)
---
CAIR-SACRAMENTO: FAITHS SHARE HOLY MONTH -
TOP
By Jocelyn Wiener, Sacramento Bee, 10/4/05
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/religion/story/13665454p-14508265c.html
Jewish people will pray and eat apples and honey. Muslim people will
pray and break their all-day fasts with dates. Some call it
coincidence; others say it's divine intervention.
Either way, it doesn't happen often.
Today is the first day of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. It is also
the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at least for some.
Because it begins when Muslims first see the new moon, Ramadan will
begin Wednesday in some parts of the world.
Because the two faiths follow different calendars, the sacred months
seldom coincide. The last time it occurred was more than three decades
ago.
For many local religious leaders, the moment seems ripe with
possibility to mend frayed ties between the two communities. Halfway
across the world, news reports describe daily losses of Palestinian and
Israeli lives. Local leaders say starting a dialogue this month may be
the antidote.
Dexter McNamara, executive director of the Interfaith Service Bureau in
Sacramento, said he thinks the parallel holidays may be a bit of
"divine whimsy."
"This can be a freak of the calendar, or it can be an opportunity to
learn about each other," he said. "It's really up to us to make that
decision."
Some local religious leaders said that in recent years they have begun
to reach out to each other's faiths in new ways. People need to
recognize the commonalities of the two religions, they said.
"Along the line, somehow, I don't know where the difference came from,"
said Hamza El-Nakhal, president of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations of the Sacramento Valley, "but we are all so similar."
El-Nakhal said that in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, he joined
Christian and Jewish leaders in the Woodland and Davis area in creating
an interfaith group - Children of Abraham. Sacramento has a similar
group. (MORE)
-----
MORE HISPANIC WOMEN CONVERTING TO ISLAM -
TOP
ALEXANDRA ALTER, Miami Herald, 10/5/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12820867.htm
Ask Melissa Matos why she converted to Islam, and you'll likely get an
answer that spans 13 centuries. She may refer to seventh century
Arabia, where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed received the Koran
from the angel Gabriel. Or she might describe Islam's golden age in
medieval Spain. Or she'll recall Sept. 11, 2001, when fear and
curiosity drove her to read about Islam on the Internet.
Matos, who comes from a family of Seventh-day Adventists from the
Dominican Republic, has answered the question countless times since
converting to Islam in April. She now covers her hair, prays five times
a day, and today will observe Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and
reflection, which began at sundown.
''Sometimes it does get a little difficult,'' said Matos, a 20-year-old
political science student at Florida International University who lives
with her parents in Miramar. ''I feel alienated from my family and my
old friends, but Islam is so beautiful, it's worth it. And with
Ramadan, I'm just doing it by myself, just me and God.''
Though Hispanic women make up a small fraction of the nation's 6
million Muslims, those converting to Islam are exerting influence
beyond their numbers, teaching Spanish-Arabic classes, forming
Hispanic-Muslim organizations and distributing the Koran in Spanish.
Matos, for one, plans to organize a lecture series this semester at FIU
on the religion's little-known history in Latin America, including two
lectures that will be in Spanish, she said.
Some have founded support networks. Piedad, a network of Muslim women
that seeks to educate Spanish-speaking communities about Islam, has
more than 344 members nationally. Other groups, like the Latino
American Dawah Organization, which was formed in 1997, promote the
legacy of Islam in Spain and Latin America.
''It's a movement that is growing, particularly in urban areas,'' said
Manuel Vasquez, a professor of religion at the University of Florida.
''It's part of the cross-fertilization that's occurring among immigrant
groups.''
There are some 40,000 Hispanic Muslims in the United States, according
to a spokesman for the Islamic Society of North America. The largest
populations live in New York, Texas, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami,
American Muslim organizations say. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM CHAPLAIN RECALLS GUANTANAMO DEAL -
TOP
BEN FOX, Associated Press, 10/4/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/12817254.htm
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Army Capt. James Yee had just arrived at the
U.S. prison for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay when he got his first
hint of trouble.
The man Yee would replace as Muslim chaplain showed him around the
high-security base on the eastern edge of Cuba, and gave him a warning.
"This is not a friendly environment for Muslims, and I don't just mean
for the prisoners," Yee recalled hearing from the outgoing chaplain.
"You need to watch your back."
The exchange, which Yee recounts in a new book on his experiences at Guantanamo, would prove to be prophetic.
The new chaplain soon grew increasingly disturbed by the treatment of
prisoners and what he perceived as military hostility to Muslim
personnel at the base. Yee's biggest shock came later, when he was
arrested on suspicion of espionage and held in solitary confinement for
76 days.
The case unraveled and authorities eventually dismissed the charges.
Yee received an honorable discharge from the service and now lives in
Washington state, but he was left with deep concerns about the
treatment of prisoners in the U.S. war on terror and anger over his own
treatment at the hands of military authorities.
"What happened to me was a gross miscarriage of justice," he said
Tuesday in a phone interview from New York, where he was promoting his
book, "For God and Country," which went on sale this week. "I don't
want what happened to me to ever happen to anyone else."
Since the dismissal of the criminal charges in March 2004, Yee, 37, has
appeared at events around the country to promote racial and religious
tolerance, but he has avoided discussing details about his experiences
in Guantanamo, his arrest and eventual exoneration. (MORE)
-----
FL: KIDS EMBRACE FASTING WITH A FERVOR -
TOP
Many of them are making the sacrifice even though Islamic law does not require them to do so until they reach puberty.
By SHERRI DAY, St. Petersburg Times, 10/5/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/05/Tampabay/Kids_embrace_fasting_.shtml
TAMPA - Nedaa Oriyanerass is 9. Her friend Rahma Elmohd is 11. They
talk on the phone about how to handle temptation. Maybe by shopping.
Maybe by playing Pictionary.
Last fall, only four days into the month of Ramadan, Nedaa broke her
fast early. It was just too hard to go all day without food and water.
But this year she has her friend Rahma as a mentor.
Islamic law does not require such young ones to sacrifice for Ramadan.
But like many Muslim children around the world, Nedaa longs to observe
the religion's customs and traditions.
"I want to make our god, Allah, proud," she said, her eyes brightening.
The two girls plan to fast from sunrise to sunset for all of Ramadan, which began Tuesday.
Nedaa has one day under her belt. Twenty-nine more to go.
"I'm fasting right now, and it feels good," Nedaa said late Tuesday.
"It wasn't hard. Right now, I'm playing, and I don't feel like I'm
fasting. It's fun." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
TX: RAMADAN CONNECTS ISLAMIC FAITHFUL -
TOP
Muslims use holy month to focus on self-discipline
Alan J. Williams, Daily Texan, 10/5/05
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/media/paper410/news/2005/10/05/Focus/Ramadan.Connects.Islamic.Faithful-1009663.shtml
Nearly 50 men, young and old, stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a wooden
house on Nueces Street. In concert, they dropped to their knees, and
touched their heads against the soft green carpet in prayer.
Students join together at the Neuces Masjid to share in iftar, the meal
after evening prayers during Ramadan that breaks their day-long fast.
Facing east toward Mecca, the men knelt and bowed their heads repeatedly in the evening prayer, known as Maghrib.
"I love Ramadan. There is definitely a strong feeling of brotherhood,"
said Imran Vohra, a UT biomedical engineering senior. (MORE)
---
OR: MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN CROSS FAITH DIVIDE -
TOP
A minister and head of an Islamic trust urge the faithful to break bread during Ramadan
NANCY HAUGHT, Oregonian, 10/5/05
http://www.oregonlive.com/living/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/living/1128510299298040.xml&coll=7
If you pay federal income tax and you have at least one friend that you
like despite your differences, you may be two steps closer to
understanding Ramadan.
The Muslim month of fasting, which begins today in Oregon and Southwest
Washington, is a lot like April 15, says Wajdi Said, executive director
of the Muslim Educational Trust.
"Everyone knows that's the day on which you give the government what
you owe," he says. "Ramadan is the time in which you give God what you
owe."
And what does a Muslim owe God?
"Much more than fasting," Said says. "Ramadan is not just a month to
re-evaluate yourself, to hold yourself accountable, to make a roadmap
to felicity, to piety, to self-consciousness. It is a time to be
mindful of the people around you; and here (in the Northwest) the
people around you are not all Muslims."
Which brings us to the part about friends, and the lessons of one
particular friendship, between Said and the Rev. Hector Lopez, who is
Central Pacific conference minister of the United Church of Christ.
The two men, both leaders in their own religions, say their friendship
began four years ago, before -- actually two days before -- the
terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
On Sept. 9, 2001, Said and Gail Ramjan visited Ainsworth United Church of Christ to talk about Islam.
The congregation listened attentively, but Lopez heard his heart
speaking. He and Said began a friendship that grew under the fire of
9/11 and the hope and hostility that has come and gone in
Muslim-Christian relations since that fateful day.
"Wajdi is like a brother to me," Lopez says. (MORE)
---
BUSH EXTENDS RAMADAN GREETINGS TO MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD -
TOP
President praises Muslims' contributions to America at outset of holy month
http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/Archive/2005/Oct/04-892369.html
President Bush sent greetings to Muslims in the United States and
throughout the world October 4 as they begin the observance of the holy
month of Ramadan. He praised Muslims' commitment to spiritual growth
and charity during this season and welcomed the contributions that
Muslims have made to American society.
"Throughout our history, America has been blessed by the contributions
of people of many different faiths. Our Muslim citizens have helped
make our Nation a stronger and more hopeful place through their faith,
generosity, and compassion," he said in a press statement.
Following is the text of the statement:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
October 4, 2005
RAMADAN
Laura and I send warm greetings to Muslims in the United States and
throughout the world as they begin the observance of Ramadan.
The month of Ramadan, which commemorates the revelation of the Qur'an
to the prophet Muhammed, is the holiest month of the Muslim year. It is
a special time of reflection, fasting, and charity. It is also a time
of spiritual growth and prayer and an occasion to remember the less
fortunate by sharing God's gifts with those in need.
Throughout our history, America has been blessed by the contributions
of people of many different faiths. Our Muslim citizens have helped
make our Nation a stronger and more hopeful place through their faith,
generosity, and compassion.
May this be a blessed Ramadan for Muslims in the United States and around the world. Ramadan mubarak.
GEORGE W. BUSH
-----
TN: ISLAMIC STUDENTS AT UTM GET RESOLUTION OPPOSING TERRORISM -
TOP
http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3935392
JACKSON, Tenn. A resolution denouncing terrorism approved by the
University of Tennessee at Martin Student Government Association was
drafted by Islamic students.
After an impassioned speech by Emre Serbest, an Islamic student and
member of the S-G-A Senate, the chamber unanimously approved the
declaration.
Serbest said the rise in terrorist attacks worldwide created the need for Muslims to defend themselves and their faith.
Part of the resolution reads: "We pray for the immediate defeat of
these evildoers who call themselves 'Islamic' and yet do everything
that Islam rejects and forbids."
-----
FL: MUSLIM INMATE SUES SEMINOLE COUNTY JAIL -
TOP
Gary Taylor, Orlando Sentinel, 10/5/05
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/orl-jailsuit0505oct05,0,7409336.story
An inmate has filed a federal lawsuit against the Seminole County Jail,
claiming his rights are being violated because as a Muslim he is not
allowed to practice his Islamic religion.
In his suit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Orlando, Ernesto J.
Holmes also points out that Jewish inmates in the county jail suffer
similar violations of their rights.
The suit was filed as followers of both religions begin observance of the most holy days of the year.
For Muslims, the holy month of Ramadan began Tuesday. For 30 days, they refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.
The 10-day Jewish High Holy Days began at sunset Monday with Rosh
Hashana and will end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most
solemn day of the Jewish year.
Holmes complains in his suit that he is not provided the Muslim Juma
prayer service on Fridays, does not receive Islamic materials or a
prayer rug and is not provided with a daily menu to assure that he does
not consume pork products, a violation of the Islamic faith. (MORE)
-----
BOSNIAN SERB PANEL LINKS 17,000 TO ROLES IN SREBRENICA MASSACRE -
TOP
ASSOCIATED PRESS, 10/5/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/05/international/europe/05bosnia.html
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Oct. 4 (AP) - A Bosnian Serb
commission said Tuesday that it had identified more than 17,000 people
who had taken part directly and indirectly in the Srebrenica massacre
in 1995, the worst slaughter of civilians in Europe since World War II.
The commission, which has been compiling the report since 2003, said
the names would not be released publicly. Instead, they will be turned
over to the state prosecutor's office for review and possible charges.
The panel said it had submitted the report to the office of the top
international official in Bosnia, Paddy Ashdown, who requested it as
part of efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the massacre
of up to 8,000 Muslim men and boys toward the end of Bosnia's civil war.
The panel said 19,473 members of various Bosnian Serb armed forces and
civilians had taken part in the massacre, and of those, 17,074 had been
identified by name. About 24,000 Bosnian Serb troops converged on
Srebrenica, a United Nations-designated haven for Bosnian Muslims
seeking refuge from the Serbs. (MORE)
-----
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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 - 10/6/05
*
Hadith:
Fasting is a
Shield
*
CAIR-San Antonio
Hosts Ramadan
Media Breakfast
-
CAIR-IL:
Homeless
Invited to Iftar (Sun-Times)
*
VA:
Pakistani-American
Confronts Military Recruiters
*
NY:
Islamic
Women's Groups Proliferating (Newsday)
-
Brochure:
Women Friendly
Mosques
-
Women and Islam:
the
Real Deal
*
MA:
Governor's
Speech Reinforces Fear of Muslims (Globe)
*
IA:
Middle Eastern Woman
Assaulted, Called 'Sand N**ger'
-
CT:
Muslim Veggies Pass
Inspection
*
CAIR:
Boeing,
Textron Apologize for an Ad (WSJ)
-
Boeing
Apologizes for 'Offensive' Ad (Post-Disp)
*
DC:
House Democratic
Leader's Statement on Ramadan
-
Rep. McCollum:
Celebrating the Holy
Month of Ramadan
-
Support H.R. 465 -
House 'Ramadan'
Resolution
*
PA:
Swarthmore
Gets $1 Million for Islamic Studies (AP)
-
MN:
College
Adding Arabic to Language Camp (AP)
*
Pentagon Analyst
Guilty in
Israeli Spy Case (Wash Post)
*
Documentary:
Three
Faiths, One God
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY:
FASTING IS A SHIELD -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his followers: "God
said: 'Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, for
that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it.' The fast is a shield.
If one is fasting, he should not use foul language, raise his voice (in
anger), or behave foolishly. If someone reviles him or fights with him he
should say, 'I am fasting' (instead of responding in kind).
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 107A
-----
CAIR-SAN
ANTONIO HOSTS RAMADAN MEDIA BREAKFAST
-
TOP
A MONTH OF RAMADAN
San Antonio Current, 10/6/05
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15334329&BRD=2318&PAG=461&dept_id=482778&rfi=6
"Without communication and connections we are hurting
ourselves," said Surwat Husain at a recent media breakfast sponsored
by the Council of American-Islamic Relations to launch Ramadan.
Ramadan, the month-long Muslim observance, began on Tuesday, October 4.
Over the next 30 days, practicing Muslims will fast from sunrise to
sunset, and focus on learning about their faith, performing good works,
and teaching others about Ramadan and Islam.
Husain, the president of CAIR's San Antonio chapter, outlined common
misperceptions about Islam. "When we are accused of trying to
convert America, it's not true," said Husain, an immigrant from
Pakistan who has lived in the U.S. for 30 years. "The problem is we
believe a lot in what we hear and we don't look for the
truth."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO:
MUSLIMS INVITE THE HOMELESS TO JOIN IN RAMADAN SUNSET MEAL -
TOP
RUMMANA HUSSAIN, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/5/05
http://www.suntimes.com
The Downtown Islamic Center is inviting the homeless to join Chicago area
Muslims when they break their fast at sunset every day during the holy
month of Ramadan.
The mosque, 231 S. State, has always encouraged its neighbors to eat
"iftar" -- or the meal breaking the fast at Ramadan. But it's
the first time the "open houses" are targeting those without
shelter.
"Since the very beginning, the Islamic tradition has worked to
cultivate in Muslims a compassionate outlook toward serving the poor and
the needy. . . . The Quran is replete with verses that urge the faithful
to reach out to the destitute," said Ahmed Rehab, spokesman for the
Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago.
"One of the many blessings of the fasting ritual is understanding
firsthand what it is like to suffer deprivation from the basic sensual
pleasures of life. This in turn makes Muslims genuinely appreciate the
predicament of those who are less fortunate than they."
The world's 1.2 billion Muslims are supposed to abstain from eating and
drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.
In the United States, Ramadan began Tuesday evening, but today is the
first day most Muslim Americans will begin fasting.
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, 312 212-1520, 847 971-3963;
communications@cairchicago.org;
Yaser Tabbara, 312 718-3725;
director@cairchicago.org
-----
ISSUES OF WAR
AND FREE SPEECH ROIL GMU CAMPUS -
TOP
Echoes of the '60s Follow Arrest of Pakistani American Student Protesting
Near Military Recruiters
Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post, 10/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/05/AR2005100502106.html
More than 100 George Mason University students and faculty members
gathered on campus yesterday for a teach-in, six days after an
undergraduate was arrested in a confrontation with military recruiters
there.
Tariq Khan, 27, said he was standing near the recruiters' table in the
multipurpose Johnson Center at lunchtime last Thursday, holding fliers
and wearing signs, including one on his chest that read "Recruiters
Lie, Don't Be Deceived." One of the recruiters, plus another man who
said he was a Marine, began yelling at him, he said, adding that the
Marine ripped off his sign. Khan said that after a campus police officer
asked for identification, which he didn't have with him, he was arrested,
taken to the Fairfax County police department and charged with
trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Khan, a Pakistani American who grew up in Sterling and served four years
in the U.S. Air Force, said the recruiters, and later the campus police,
made disparaging comments to him about Middle Easterners.
(MORE)
-----
ISLAMIC WOMEN'S GROUPS
PROLIFERATING -
TOP
MARY VOBORIL, Newsday, 10/6/05
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-rama1006,0,5975337.story
Daisy Khan isn't surprised to find that Islamic women began organizing in
the days after 9/11, even in such far-flung states as South Dakota and
Minnesota.
But she is surprised that, given the ever-more-public concerns they share
as Muslim women, "we haven't all come together before now. Because
I'm finding that much of what I am thinking, others are thinking the same
thing."
A major coming together of Muslim women in the United States, however,
may take place sometime in 2006 at an ambitious, first-of-its-kind
conference that Khan, executive director of the American Society for
Muslim Advancement, has just begun to organize. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
WOMEN FRIENDLY
MOSQUES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS -
TOP
To download a PDF copy of the brochure's text, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/pdf/intro.pdf
http://www.cair-net.org/pdf/text.pdf
---
WOMEN AND ISLAM: THE REAL
DEAL -
TOP
By Kourosh Safavi, Daily Aztec, 10/6/05
http://www.thedailyaztec.com/media/paper741/news/2005/10/06/Opinion/Women.And.Islam.The.Real.Deal-1011356.shtml
In this day and age, it's saddening to witness people basing knowledge on
stereotypes while nobody takes the time to seek the truth for
themselves.
Unfortunately, since 9/11, stereotyping, mainly in regard to the issue of
terrorism, has targeted Islam. But with the latest developments of the
new Iraqi constitution, the public is now scrutinizing women's rights in
Islam.
As a Muslim, I have no problem with people criticizing the way Muslim
women are treated in the so-called "Islamic States." There's no
doubt some of the laws in these countries are oppressive toward women and
it's completely understandable for people to think women have fewer
rights in these countries. The problem lies in the fact that - out of
their ignorance - the majority of people equate these laws with the
teachings of Islam.
To view a religion fairly, one must judge it solely on its founder's
teachings and the way it was implemented during the founder's time. It's
evident throughout history that when teachings are changed and people
begin to follow what others say, the original beliefs become corrupt.
This misguidance is then mistaken for truth. (MORE)
-----
GOVERNOR'S SPEECH
REINFORCES FEARS -
TOP
Missy Ryan, Boston Globe, 10/6/05
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/10/06/distressing_words_for_muslims/
Mahmud Jafri, a Shi'ite Muslim who was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and
arrived in the United States 31 years ago, is adamant when he says he
wants to be viewed as an American.
''We are Americans who happen to be Muslims," said Jafri, who is
president of an Oriental rug company and active in Republican politics in
Dover.
Jafri and fellow trustees of the Islamic Masumeen Center of New England
in Hopkinton, one of the region's few Shi'ite mosques, were among the
Boston-area Muslims who were alarmed by Governor Mitt Romney's recent
call for heightened surveillance of certain Muslims to ensure national
security.
''We should not be identified by our faith [or] by the acts of a minute
minority who [do] not represent mainstream Islam in any way, form, or
shape," Jafri said. ''I don't think America is about
that."
Romney's suggestion that surveillance of certain mosques should be
increased, made in a Sept. 14 speech on homeland security to the
conservative Heritage Foundation, prompted a backlash from local Islamic
associations, civil liberties groups, and religious organizations.
(MORE)
-----
RIGHTS CRIME ALLEGED -
TOP
Mark Bosworth, Daily Iowan, 10/5/05
http://www.dailyiowan.com/media/paper599/news/2005/10/05/Metro/Rights.Crime.Alleged-1009492.shtml
Authorities say a Coralville man spewed an ethnic epithet at a woman of
Middle Eastern descent before punching her in the face at an Iowa City
bar over the weekend.
Troy Anderson, 24, faces the charge of assault causing bodily injury in
violation of civil rights - more commonly known as a hate crime - as a
result of the alleged Oct. 1 attack.
The unidentified female complainant was leaving the patio area of the
Deadwood Tavern, 6 S. Dubuque St., around 9:30 p.m. when Anderson, 2310
12th St., allegedly started to address her with slurs, said Iowa City
police Lt. Jim Steffen.
Then, authorities say, Anderson allegedly called the woman a "sand
nigger" and punched her in her left eye, knocking her to the ground.
The woman sustained a variety of injuries, including a chipped tooth, red
eye, and a cut nose, police said. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
DATASHAK PASSES INSPECTION -
TOP
By JOSH MROZINSKI, Middletown Press, 10/05/2005
http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15332384&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6
EAST HADDAM -- Mojibur Rahman smiled on Tuesday as he described a visit
by a U.S. Department of Agriculture investigator.
For the past two weeks Rahman, who emigrated from Bangladesh in 2001, has
been concerned that something was wrong with the vegetables he was
growing at Darul Uloom Shadybrook on Town Street.
Rahman, like the other members of the community and even Internet
bloggers, could not understand why the federal government would be
interested in a nutritious vegetable grown in India and
Bangladesh.
As FBI agents seized a computer and documents from the farm on Sept. 23,
USDA investigators from Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services
seized datashak seeds and the plant that is also known as
Amaranth.
Authorities also took a small amount of squash and okra.
But the veil of mystery and uncertainty lifted on Tuesday when USDA agent
James Finn said that tests showed the farm's datashak was safe to eat and
did not have any diseases.
Finn could not be reached for comment.
"He said your vegetable is good," said Rahman, who speaks
broken English.
Finn also told Rahman that he should call USDA authorities before he
grows the datashak. Documents provided to Rahman explain why authorities
pounced on the farm.
According to the USDA Emergency Action Notification paper, the datashak
was imported from Bangladesh but a permit for its shipment was not
issued, meaning that federal and Bangladeshi authorities did not inspect
the packages of seeds.
If a permit for a foreign plant is not acquired then authorities can
seize the plant or delay it from entering the United States, according
USDA regulations. (MORE)
-----
BOEING, TEXTRON
APOLOGIZE FOR AN AD -
TOP
Jonathan Karp, Wall Street Journal, 10/6/05
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
WHAT DESCENDS "from the heavens" and "unleashes
hell?"
Boeing and Textron intended the answer to be their revolutionary
tilt-rotor aircraft, the V-22 Osprey, which is designed to drop troops
into battle zones. Instead, it was an ad for the aircraft that struck
like a bolt from the blue.
Appearing in an issue of National Journal two weeks ago, the ad kicked up
a cultural dust storm by depicting an assault on a mosque under an
apocalyptic headline that used the heaven-and-hell theme.
After a complaint last week from the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, a Washington advocacy group, Boeing, Textron's Bell Helicopter
unit and the magazine each quickly apologized. The defense companies said
that the ad was "offensive" and hadn't been properly vetted,
while the magazine said that a clerical error resulted in the ad's
publication despite efforts to pull it. . .
Boeing and Textron's Osprey ad was timed to coincide with the Pentagon's
decision in late September to approve full production for the aircraft.
What appeared in the National Journal was meant to be an early version of
an ad designed to show the Osprey's ability to whisk troops to the heart
of a battle, Textron's Bell unit says. The photograph of the street
scene, featuring a building with Mohammed's Mosque inscribed in Arabic,
was taken at a movie set in Texas. A separate photo of soldiers
rappelling off a wall was doctored to look as if they were descending
from the new plane.
For reasons that haven't fully been explained, the ad ended up being sent
to various publications without being checked. "The normal approval
process just fell apart," Bell spokesman Bob Leder says.
A Boeing employee approved the ad without putting it through the usual
vetting process, Boeing says. As soon as Boeing's corporate office
learned about it, Boeing asked Bell's ad agency to destroy the prints and
replace the ad, Ms. Foerster says. Bell scrambled and managed to pull it
from a number of publications, though it slipped into the National
Journal and, without causing a stir, several weeks earlier in the
narrowly distributed "Armed Forces Journal."
SEE ALSO:
BOEING
APOLOGIZES FOR "OFFENSIVE" AD -
TOP
Philip Dine, POST-DISPATCH, 10/5/05
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/nation/story/A7B4C8F5022FCEC3862570910076D2DA?OpenDocument
Boeing Co. is apologizing for an ad that ran under its name in recent
weeks in three magazines.
The ad for the CV-22 or Osprey, a product of Boeing and Bell Helicopter,
shows members of the armed forces descending by rope from a plane onto a
mosque surrounded by smoke and fire.
The top of the full-page ad reads, "It descends from the heavens.
Ironically it unleashes hell."
The bottom of the ad says: "Before you hear it, you see it. By the
time you see it, it's too late. The CV-22 delivers Special Forces to
insertion points never thought possible. It flies faster. It flies
farther. It flies quieter. Consider it a gift from above."
Because of human error, the ad never went through the proper Boeing or
Bell approval processes and wasn't cleared for publication, both
companies said.
"It was clearly offensive," Boeing spokesman Paul Guse in St.
Louis said Wednesday. "It's indefensible."
Sources at the companies said that an advertising firm on the Osprey
account produced the ad and an employee in a joint position for Boeing
and Bell approved it, despite not being authorized by the two contractors
to approve advertising. (MORE)
-----
PELOSI STATEMENT ON RAMADAN -
TOP
http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=1210
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the
following statement in recognition of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan,
which begins today:
"As Muslims around the world recognize the holy month of Ramadan, we
take this opportunity to celebrate the contributions of millions of
Muslim Americans. They enrich our country while deepening America's
respect for Muslims here at home and around the world. As they observe
this sacred month, they honor Islam's teachings of self-discipline,
compassion and commitment to family.
"As we celebrate Ramadan, we are reminded that we are a country of
many faiths, and as such, we must continue to work to promote religious
tolerance; our diversity as a nation is one of our greatest
strengths."
SEE ALSO:
CELEBRATING THE HOLY
MONTH OF RAMADAN -
TOP
http://www.mccollum.house.gov
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the
following statement to celebrate the commencement of the holy month of
Ramadan from October 5th through November 3rd.
"I wish all Muslim families a very special and peaceful Ramadan. At
the start of this month of spiritual reflection and renewal, I hope
Minnesotans of all faiths have the opportunity to learn about Ramadan
from our Muslim friends and neighbors. Minnesota's Muslim community is
strong, vibrant and growing. It is an honor and privilege to celebrate
the month of Ramadan in Minnesota communities."
Congresswoman McCollum is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 465, a
resolution recognizing the commencement of Ramadan and commending Muslims
in the United States and throughout the world for their faith. The text
of the resolution is below.
SUPPORT H.R.
465 - HOUSE 'RAMADAN' RESOLUTION -
TOP
http://capwiz.com/cair/callalert/index.tt?alertid=8054916&type=CO
-----
SWARTHMORE
GETS $1 MILLION FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES PROGRAM
-
TOP
Associated Press, 10/5/05
http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-31/1128541442275790.xml&storylist=
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Swarthmore College has received a $1 million donation
to boost its Islamic studies program, school officials announced
Wednesday.
Bruce Jay Gould, a retired Philadelphia cardiologist who graduated from
Swarthmore in 1954, said in a statement that he earmarked the gift for
Islamic studies because understanding Muslim civilization is vital to
living in today's world.
The funds will establish the Bruce Jay Gould Endowment for Islamic
Studies, which will serve as the cornerstone of an eventual $5 million
endowment for the program. The endowment will support courses and other
activities related to Islam in such departments as religion, political
science, history and sociology/anthropology. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CONCORDIA
COLLEGE ADDING ARABIC TO LANGUAGE CAMP
-
TOP
Associated Press, 10/6/05
MOORHEAD, Minn. - Concordia College is adding Arabic to the list of
languages the school offers at its renowned language and cultural
programs in northern Minnesota.
Arabic will be taught starting in July at the Concordia Language Villages
program, officials said. The addition of Al-Waha, The Oasis, was expected
to be announced Thursday in Washington, D.C.
Executive Director Christine Schulze said she hopes the two, two-week
Arabic sessions next summer will draw about 150 students. The new village
will be on leased property near Vergas and will teach U.S. students ages
8 to 18.
Several of the Moorhead school's villages are built on the shores of
Turtle River Lake near Bemidji. Others are leased in several northern
Minnesota locations, as well as one in Savannah, Ga. Another may be
started in New Hampshire, Schulze said.
The Arabic immersion courses will include colloquial phrases in several
dialects and will also include study of the Muslim faith and current
events.
-----
DEFENSE
ANALYST GUILTY IN ISRAELI ESPIONAGE CASE -
TOP
Jerry Markon, Washington Post, 10/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/05/AR2005100501608_pf.html
A Defense Department analyst pleaded guilty yesterday to passing
government secrets to two employees of a pro-Israel lobbying group and
revealed for the first time that he also gave classified information
directly to an Israeli government official in Washington.
Lawrence A. Franklin told a judge in U.S. District Court in Alexandria
that he met at least eight times with Naor Gilon, who was the political
officer at the Israeli Embassy before being recalled last
summer.
The guilty plea and Franklin's account appeared to cast doubt on
long-standing denials by Israeli officials that they engage in any
intelligence activities in the United States. The possibility of
continued Israeli spying in Washington has been a sensitive subject
between the two governments since Jonathan J. Pollard, a U.S. Navy
intelligence analyst, admitted to spying for Israel in 1987 and was
sentenced to life in prison.
-----
THREE
FAITHS, ONE GOD: JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM
-
TOP
Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam (APT Exchange;
release: Oct. 1, 2005) thoughtfully examines the religious beliefs and
practices shared by Jews, Christians and Muslims to illustrate how many
individuals in the Abrahamic faith communities are dealing with
historical conflicts, yet remain dedicated to facilitating understanding
and respect.
Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam -- offered in two
versions: a two-hour program or two one-hour specials -- is produced by
Auteur Productions Ltd., presented by Connecticut Public Television
(CPTV) and distributed nationally by American Public Television
(APT).
For more information on the documentary, contact Lee Newton, CPTV, (860)
275-7285 or email
lnewton@cptv.org.
Also, visit
www.cptv.org or
www.3faiths1God.com
-----
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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:
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-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #472
ASK CONGRESS TO SEND TORTURE BAN TO
PRESIDENT
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/06/05) - CAIR today urged American Muslims and
other people of conscience to call their elected representatives and ask
that a ban on torture by U.S. military personnel be sent to President
Bush for his signature.
The Senate voted 90-9 on Wednesday to back an amendment to a $440 billion
defense appropriation bill that would prohibit the use of "cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" against anyone in U.S.
government custody anywhere in the world. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), a
former prisoner of war in North Vietnam, sponsored the
amendment.
SEE: "Senate Adds Ban on Torture to Bill"
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002542695_torture06.html
A similar House bill does not have the anti-torture language. The two
versions will now go to a joint House-Senate committee that will work to
reconcile the differences.
"The McCain anti-torture amendment will help to correct the negative
perception of our nation created by abuse scandals in Iraq, Afghanistan
and Guantanamo Bay," said CAIR Government Affairs Director Corey
Saylor.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell wrote a letter to Sen. McCain in
support of the anti-torture amendment. Powell wrote:
"Our troops need to hear from the Congress, which has an obligation
to speak to such matters under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
I also believe the world will note that America is making a clear
statement with respect to the expected future behavior of our soldiers.
Such a reaction will help deal with the terrible public diplomacy crisis
created by Abu Ghraib." Twenty-eight other senior retired military
officers expressed their support for McCain's amendment.
SEE: "Letter from General Colin Powell to Sen. McCain"
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/politics/12825913.htm
Earlier this year, CAIR and other groups called for an independent 9/11
commission-style investigation into the use of torture by American
military personnel.
SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/antitorture/
ACTON REQUESTED:
Contact your elected representatives and ask them to ensure that the
McCain anti-torture amendment remains part of the final Defense
Appropriation bill that Congress will send to President Bush.
To contact your elected representatives,
GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=8088021
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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:
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-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/7/05
*
Hadith:
Mercy, Forgiveness and
Freedom from Hell
*
CAIR-FL:
Schools Move to End
Holidays (Tampa Tribune)
- FL:
Schools May Drop Religious
Holidays (SP Times)
*
CAIR-OH:
Helping Muslim
Kids Be Proud (Plain Dealer)
-
CAIR-OH:
Muslims Explain
Meaning of Fast (Plain Dealer)
*
NJ:
Report
Confirms Muslims Were Profiled (Star-Ledger)
-
NJ Muslims Feel Vindicated by
Report (AP)
-
Profiling No Tool in Thwarting
Terror (SF Chron)
*
New Law Will Exempt Spies from Privacy Act
(UPI)
*
Bush Speech:
Doing the
9/11 Time Warp Again (NY Times)
-
Sounding Old Themes on Iraq
(NY Times)
-
Transcript:
Bush Discusses War on Terrorism (Wash Post)
*
McCain Anti-Torture Amendment:
End the Abuse (Wash Post)
-
No Room for Torture (Boston Globe)
-
Fighting for an Ideal (LA Times)
-
Action:
Ask Congress to Send Torture Ban to President
*
Book:
Muslim Chaplain Cites Anti-Islam Zeal (Miami Herald)
-
James Yee,
In His Own Words (Miami Herald)
*
MO:
Potluck Unites Jews, Muslims (Columbia Missourian)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: MERCY, FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM FROM HELL -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(The month of
Ramadan's) beginning is mercy, its middle is forgiveness and its end is
freedom from Hell."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 614
The Prophet also said: "There are two pleasures (waiting) for the
fasting person, one (comes at) the time of breaking his fast, and the
other (comes) when he meets his Lord."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadith 584
-----
CAIR-FL: SCHOOLS MOVE TO END HOLIDAYS -
TOP
Marilyn Brown, Tampa Tribune, 9/7/05
http://tampatrib.com/News/MGBSMUQHGEE.html
TAMPA - Rather than recognize some religious holidays and not others,
Hillsborough schools may drop all of them except the winter break at
Christmas.
A proposed calendar for 2006-07 eliminates the October day off for
students coinciding with Yom Kippur and the April days off on Good
Friday and Easter Monday.
Instead, students would get three secular holidays -- Feb. 19 for
President's Day, March 16 as the Friday before spring break and April
27, the midpoint between spring break and the end of school.
"This is a fair calendar," said Ken Otero, the district's chief of
staff designee. "No one can say this favors one religious group over
another."
The group that sparked the change is not pleased.
"It was not our intention to cause anyone to lose their religious
holidays," Ahmed Bedier, Florida spokesman for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said Wednesday. "This is something we don't
want."
Bedier and others from the Muslim community made an impassioned plea to
the Hillsborough School Board in December for recognition of their holy
days. They asked for a nonstudent day on Nov. 4 of this year for
students to observe Eid al-Fitr, a holy day marking the end of Ramadan,
and that another holy day in January, Eid al-Adha, be noted on
teachers' calendars.
About 30,000 Muslim families live in Hillsborough County, Bedier said,
although he doesn't know how many of their children attend public
schools.
District officials contend that no religious holiday is recognized, but
some student days out of school have been coordinated with Christian
and Jewish holidays.
This school year, for example, the district's spring break coincides
with Good Friday and Easter Monday. Yom Kippur on Oct. 13 was labeled a
"nonstudent, nonteacher day."
SEE ALSO:
SCHOOLS MAY DROP RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS -
TOP
Melanie Ave, St Petersburg Times, 10/7/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/07/Hillsborough/Schools_may_drop_reli.shtml
TAMPA - There may be no day off next school year for the Jewish holiday
of Yom Kippur. Also on the chopping block are vacation days for the
Christian faith's Good Friday and the Monday after Easter.
After considering a request to recognize a Muslim school holiday, the
Hillsborough County School Board next week will discuss ending student
days off on all religious holidays, whether they be Christian, Jewish
or Muslim.
The only religious holiday not affected will be Christmas, which occurs during the school district's winter break.
"From my initial look, it's a good way to respect diversity of all faiths," said board chairwoman Candy Olson.
There are numerous religions and even more holidays, said board member
Jennifer Faliero. She asks how a school district can observe some and
not others.
"It's in the best interest of schools not to coincide days off with too many holidays," Faliero said.
While educators said their proposed 2006-07 calendar will treat all
faiths the same, some local Muslims fear a backlash from people angry
about their holidays being converted to school days.
Parent Joan Zaki, who lobbied board members for greater acceptance of
Islamic holidays, said it was not her intent to have everyone's
holidays taken away.
"Muslims don't need any more negative attention than we're getting,"
said Zaki, the only Muslim and dissenting member of the district's
calendar committee. "We were just trying to get equal treatment."
Zaki and Ahmed Bedier, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
asked the board about a year ago to include a Muslim holiday in the
calendar. (MORE)
-----
CAIR-OH: HELPING ISLAMIC KIDS BE PROUD OF IDENTITY -
TOP
Tom Feran, Plain Dealer, 10/7/05
http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1128678162307920.xml&coll=2
The way it started out, the way it was originally written, the child in
the story only had to deal with a basic fear shared by kids everywhere.
That maybe, because he wasn't exactly like them, he wouldn't be liked
or accepted by his peers.
But events took a hand, and the story subtly changed in a way its author could not have foreseen.
Instead of just worrying about being accepted by his grade school
classmates, the boy in her story has to face the real fear that
something bad might happen to him because of who he is, an American
Muslim.
His fictional story is told in a book called "My Name Is Bilal," newly
published by Boyds Mills Press. Its author, Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, is an
Ohio pediatrician and former Westlake resident who wrote it out of
necessity -- first for her own three children, but now for a much wider
audience.
"I had taken some time off from my practice when I had my kids," she
told me, "and I was trying to look for books that would reflect Islamic
themes or Muslim-American characters. . ."
Bilal, the boy in her story, hides his religion and calls himself Bill
to be accepted by classmates. But he struggles with his deception until
a teacher gives him a book about Bilal ibn Rabah -- a beloved figure in
Islamic history who withstood religious persecution to make the first
Islamic call to prayer.
Mobin-Uddin, 38, submitted her manuscript five months before the
terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists on Sept. 11, 2001. Resulting
fears and stereotypes gave more importance and urgency to the book's
message of understanding and tolerance, and only the need to illustrate
it as a children's book delayed publication.
"Kids have different challenges now," Mobin-Uddin said. "We had people just not knowing what Islam was."
She got used to answering questions while attending Marion Catholic
High School, where her parents felt that people who respected God would
respect her and her own faith.
She earned undergraduate and medical-school degrees at Ohio State
University and did her internship and residency in Cleveland, at
Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, while her husband, Cleveland
native John Kashubeck, was getting his training at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
They now live in the Columbus suburb of Dublin.
She has a second children's book in the works, does community work and speaking engagements through her Web site,
www.asmamobinuddin.com, and serves as vice president of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
MUSLIMS TO EXPLAIN MEANING OF THEIR FAST DURING RAMADAN -
TOP
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/7/05
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1128677560307920.xml&coll=2
Local Muslims began fasting from dawn to dusk Wednesday when a new
crescent moon signaled the start of Ramadan, Islam's holiest month.
The faithful are trying to be especially pious this month and to
refrain from food, drink, smoking and sex - all the sensual pleasures -
during daylight.
They are also trying to explain to the wider community who they are and what they believe.
This Saturday, for example, the Muslim Student Association at Case
Western Reserve University will join non-Muslim students for a
Fast-a-thon, a single day of fasting and fund raising for area food
banks.
It's one way to share the Muslim belief that fasting fosters self-restraint and compassion for the hungry, student leaders say.
Many of the interfaith events inspired by Ramadan center on the nightly
iftar, or the breaking of the fast. You're welcome there, and with the
kids:
On Oct. 15, the Cleveland office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations will hold its second annual Sharing Ramadan Community Dinner
in the student center of the Metro Campus of Cuyahoga Community
College. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. Call 216-830-2247. (MORE)
-----
REPORT BACKS CHARGES THAT N.J. MUSLIMS WERE PROFILED -
TOP
Rick Hepp, Star-Ledger, 10/7/05
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-3/112866313196640.xml&coll=1
A confidential federal review has concluded that the state's
counterterrorism agents filed 140 intelligence reports into a
crime-fighting database with no grounds for suspicion other than the
suspects' Muslim faith.
The report, issued this week, backs State Police contentions that the
computer entries made by New Jersey's Office of Counter-Terrorism
amounted to improper profiling of suspects. Because of this concern,
State Police had barred counterterrorism agents from making entries
into the database and on Monday removed 14 troopers who had been
assigned to that office.
"The submissions, as presented, neither described any specific
terrorist or other criminal activity nor contained the necessary
factual information on which a determination of reasonable suspicion
could have been determined," according to the U.S. Department of
Justice-approved report, a copy of which was obtained by The
Star-Ledger. The report added that the State Police apparently "acted
responsibly in removing the 140 submissions" from their database.
The findings will be used by Attorney General Peter Harvey in a report
he is expected to issue by Oct. 17 on standards for identifying
potential terrorists. Harvey and State Police Superintendent Rick
Fuentes believe the federal review affirms their decision to distance
the State Police from Counter-Terrorism, according to top law
enforcement officials.
The State Police move to reassign the troopers drew an angry response
from acting Gov. Richard Codey, who said he was tired of a "turf
battle" being waged between the state's top terror-fighting units.
Codey on Tuesday issued an executive order removing Harvey's authority
over the day-to-day operations of the Office of Counter-Terrorism.
Nearing the end of a series of federally mandated reforms to rid the
State Police of racial profiling practices, the attorney general and
State Police feared the computer entries could make it appear they
condoned profiling. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS FEEL VINDICATED BY REPORT FINDING PROFILING BY NJ ANTI-TERROR COPS -
TOP
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press, 10/7/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--muslims-profiling1007oct07,0,2242180.story
DATELINE: NEWARK, N.J. - Muslims say a federal report supporting
charges that New Jersey counterterrorism officials were compiling
reports on Muslims solely because of their religion confirms what they
have been claiming for years.
"This shouldn't surprise anyone," said Yaser El-Menshawy, chairman of
the Majlis Ash-Shura of New Jersey, the state's council of mosques.
"Although it's wrong and it's bad law enforcement, Muslims understand
that we have fewer rights than anyone else right now. I'm sure people
in law enforcement realize that and know they can get away with things
with Muslims that they can't with any other group." (MORE)
---
RACIAL PROFILING NO TOOL IN THWARTING TERRORISM -
TOP
Mike German, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/7/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/10/07/EDGPFF3EB81.DTL
Ever since Islamic extremists attacked the London mass-transit system
this summer, calls have increasingly gone out for adding racial
profiling to the U.S. arsenal of counterterrorism security measures.
Proponents of racial profiling ridicule the New York Police
Department's decision to conduct random bag searches in the subway as a
politically correct waste of time, because Girl Scouts and grannies get
subjected to searches while "everyone knows" that the terrorists who
are trying to kill us are Muslim men. They suggest targeting Muslim men
for extra scrutiny would be a more productive use of our
counterterrorism resources.
But a quick look at population statistics shows that racial profiling
will likely be just as unproductive as random searches. The tragic
shooting of a Brazilian electrician who was mistaken for an Arab
terrorist by British undercover policemen demonstrates the difficulty
of identifying race by merely looking at someone. But even if police
here in the United States could be trained to properly identify Arab
Americans on sight, only about 1 in 4 would actually turn out to be
Muslim. The vast majority -- 63 percent, according to a 2002 Zogby
poll, are Christian. So much for the clash of civilizations.
If you wanted to stop Muslims here in America you'd have better luck
targeting South Asians (such as Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshi and
Afghans), who make up the largest percentage (33 percent) of the
American Muslim population, according to statistics compiled by the
U.S. Department of State. Southeast Asians make up an additional 1.3
percent. Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer suggested that by
profiling Muslims, we can exempt all East Asians from suspicion, but I
have a feeling most police officers would have as much trouble
distinguishing East Asians from South Asians as they do Arabs from
Brazilians. (MORE)
-----
NEW LAW WILL EXEMPT SPIES FROM PRIVACY ACT -
TOP
SHAUN WATERMAN, United Press International, 10/6/05
An intelligence bill currently before the Senate would authorize a
four-year experiment, during which intelligence and other federal
agencies would be exempted from some Privacy Act provisions and able to
freely share information about Americans -- if it is relevant to a
foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism or anti-proliferation activity.
Privacy and civil liberties advocates immediately condemned the
legislation. "This punches yet another enormous hole through the
Privacy Act," ACLU Legislative Council Tim Sparapani told United Press
International.
Others were more sanguine. Angeline Chen, who teaches national security
law at George Mason University, said she felt the authors of the
provision were "Trying to strike a balance" between privacy and the
need to share information identified by several inquiries into the
failure to interdict the Sept. 11 plot.
The bill, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 was
voted out by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week and
is currently pending in the Senate.
The committee report accompanying the bill notes that the "Information
Sharing Working Group," made up of representatives from U.S.
intelligence and law enforcement agencies and from the Departments of
Defense and Homeland Security, had recommended the changes last year.
The report notes that "Certain provisions of the Privacy Act could
prevent the sharing of intelligence information within the executive
branch," adding that under current law, information about a U.S. person
held by one government agency cannot be shared with another agency
without the person's permission.
That restriction is part of a raft of provisions in the 1974 act, which
governs every aspect of the way U.S. agencies gather, store and use
personal data about Americans.
Though there are 12 exceptions to the restriction on data sharing,
including for information used "to support a civil or criminal law
enforcement activity under certain proscribed conditions," the report
says there is no such exemption for intelligence.
Section 307 of the new intelligence bill creates one, exempting all 15
U.S. intelligence agencies -- and the departments and offices that
house them -- from this requirement. Under the provision, intelligence
agencies can also ask for records from non-intelligence agencies -- and
be entitled to get them -- if the information relates to terrorism.
If in doubt about whether information is covered, agency heads can
consult either the attorney general or the director of national
intelligence.
No court order or other judicial instrument is required, but, to get
records from a non-intelligence agency, the director of the agency that
wants the records must put the request in writing. (MORE)
-----
PRESIDENT BUSH'S MAJOR SPEECH: DOING THE 9/11 TIME WARP AGAIN -
TOP
New York Times, 10/7/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/07/opinion/07fri1.html
Yesterday, the same day New Yorkers were warned there was a "specific
threat" of a bombing on their subways, President Bush delivered what
the White House promoted as a major address on terrorism. It seemed, on
the surface, like a perfect topic for the moment. But his talk was not
about the nation's current challenges. He delivered a reprise of his
Sept. 11 rhetoric that suggested an avoidance of today's reality that
seemed downright frightening.
The period right after 9/11, for all its pain, was the high point of
the Bush presidency. Four years ago, we hung on every word when Mr.
Bush denounced Al Qaeda and made the emotional - but, as it turned out,
empty - vow to track down Osama bin Laden. Yesterday, it seemed as if
the president was still trying to live in 2001. It was eerie to hear
him urge Americans to take terrorism seriously. There wasn't any reason
to worry about that even before subway riders were being told about the
threat of a terrorist attack on their commute home.
He seemed to be reading from a very old and familiar script as he
revealed that terrorists recruit "disillusioned young men and women,"
some of whom build weapons based on information available on the
Internet. He shared his conviction that "it is cowardice that seeks to
kill children and the elderly with car bombs." He said his team was
"reforming our intelligence agency" and reorganizing government for "a
broad and coordinated homeland defense." (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
PRESIDENT BUSH'S MAJOR SPEECH: SOUNDING OLD THEMES ON IRAQ -
TOP
New York Times, 10/7/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/07/opinion/07fri2.html
We've lost track of the number of times President Bush has told
Americans to ignore their own eyes and ears and pretend everything is
going just fine in Iraq. Yesterday, when Mr. Bush added a ringing
endorsement of his own policy to his speech on terrorism, it was that
same old formula: the wrong questions, the wrong answers and no new
direction. (MORE)
---
TRANSCRIPT: BUSH DISCUSSES WAR ON TERRORISM -
TOP
Washington Post, 10/6/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/administration/bushtext_100605.html
President Bush, speaking at the National Endowment for Democracy
Thursday, said that the United States and its allies have disrupted 10
al Qaeda plots since Sept. 11, 2001, including three plots to attack
inside the United States. Here is a transcript of Bush's remarks.
-----
END THE ABUSE -
TOP
Washington Post, 10/7/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/06/AR2005100601580.html
THE SENATE has taken a major step toward stopping the most damaging and
shameful American conduct during the war on terrorism. An amendment to
the defense appropriations bill offered by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
and approved Wednesday night by the resounding vote of 90 to 9 would
end four years of uncertainty about the rules for the military's
treatment of detainees. It would also close the loophole that
administration lawyers improperly opened for the CIA in an anti-torture
treaty the United States ratified a decade ago, by prohibiting "cruel,
inhuman and degrading" treatment for all prisoners held in U.S. custody.
If upheld by the House, Mr. McCain's amendment would curtail, at last,
the policy of abuse adopted by the Bush administration for detainees in
the war on terrorism. It would mandate an end to the hundreds of cases
of torture and inhumane treatment, many of them qualifying as war
crimes, that have been documented by the International Red Cross and
the Army itself at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in Afghanistan and Iraq,
and elsewhere. Improper practices approved by Defense Secretary Donald
H. Rumsfeld for the Guantanamo Bay prison and subsequently exported to
Iraq, such as stripping prisoners naked and threatening them with dogs,
would be out of bounds. Such conduct is not permitted by the U.S. Army
Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation, which conforms with the
Geneva Conventions and which, under the McCain amendment, would set the
standard. Also out of bounds would be the even harsher methods approved
by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and used by the CIA on
detainees it is holding in secret locations abroad, such as simulated
drowning and mock execution. With the endorsement of a long list of
senior retired military officers, including Colin L. Powell, former
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Senate has sent a clear
message that such practices are a dangerous departure from decades of
past practice and an unacceptable violation of American values. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
NO ROOM FOR TORTURE -
TOP
Boston Globe, 10/7/05
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2005/10/07/no_room_for_torture/
FOR 18 months, Congress and the world have known that something has
been terribly wrong at Guantanamo and in the detention centers in Iraq
and Afghanistan, where US troops have tortured and killed detainees in
violation of US and international law. Finally, the Senate has acted,
by an impressive 90-9 vote, to end the confusion over the rules of
military interrogation. Instead of threatening to veto the measure, as
his staff has done, President Bush should embrace it as evidence that
the military will correct abuses and hold itself to a high standard.
(MORE)
---
FIGHTING FOR AN IDEAL -
TOP
Los Angeles Times, 10/7/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-bush07oct07,0,1128228.story
The McCain amendment - also supported by another military veteran, Sen.
Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) - would recommit the U.S. to adherence to the
Geneva Convention's treatment of detainees. The administration's claims
that "unlawful combatants" are not entitled to Geneva Convention
protections are specious both legally and morally.
The photos from Abu Ghraib and the tales of mistreatment of detainees
at Guantanamo Bay, in Iraq and Afghanistan have badly stained the U.S.
image. The contention of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) that those we
brand terrorists are not entitled to treatment accorded prisoners of
war drags this country down to the lowest level of those we fight.
(MORE)
---
ACTION: ASK CONGRESS TO SEND TORTURE BAN TO PRESIDENT -
TOP
http://capwiz.com/cair/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=8088021
-----
CHAPLAIN CITES ANTI-ISLAM ZEAL -
TOP
Carol Ronseberg, Miami Herald, 10/7/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12839676.htm
As a Muslim chaplain, Army Capt. James Yee made sure terrorism suspects
at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, got pork-free halal meals and rugs for
five-times-a-day prayer and wrote rules for soldiers to treat Islam's
holy book, the Koran, with dignity.
But, while the U.S. captain was held on suspicion of espionage, the
military took away his Koran, refused him a prayer rug at a Navy brig
-- and even for a few days fed him routine military rations featuring
Islam's forbidden bacon and ham.
Nine months after Yee, 37, took an honorable discharge from the
military, the West Point graduate lays out what he sees as painful
ironies in his 240-page memoir, For God and Country: Faith and
Patriotism, which went on sale Thursday.
In the book, Yee describes how he went from educating Guantánamo guards
about the Islamic indignity of strip searches to enduring them himself
-- in a yearlong odyssey of suspicion that, he says, was fueled by
anti-Muslim zeal among fellow troops at the Pentagon's premier prison
in southeast Cuba. (MORE)
ALSO SEE:
JAMES YEE, IN HIS OWN WORDS, FROM HIS NEW BOOK, FOR GOD AND COUNTRY -
TOP
Miami Herald, 10/7/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/religion/12837035.htm
James Yee, in his own words, from his new book, For God and Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire:
On his role as Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo:
"My experience had taught me how little cultural understanding of Islam
most military leaders had . . . I saw myself helping bridge that divide
and in the process helping the detention operation be more successful."
'I became concerned that the role of the Muslim chaplain existed solely
so that the camp command could publicly claim to be adhering to the
Geneva Conventions and respecting Islam, not because of a genuine
desire to respect the prisoners' right to practice their faith."
On guard-captive tensions over Islam:
"A guard had dropped a detainee's Qur'an during a cell search, and the
prisoners were beginning to riot. You could always sense a riot
brewing, like a storm in summer, even from far beyond the bounds of
Camp Delta. . . . The noise was deafening and spread from cell to cell
and block to block."
"I had been warned to expect a certain level of animosity, but I never
thought that U.S. soldiers would systematically use Islam as a weapon
against prisoners and that it would be accepted by the command. I was
incredulous."
On distrust of Muslim members of the U.S. military there:
"The troopers who were the most paranoid and hostile toward me were
those who most vigorously believed that all the detainees were al-Qaeda
and many had planned the September 11 attacks."
"I was sure that I was being imprisoned in large part because I had
fought so hard to ensure the detainees at Guantanamo were given the
things they needed to practice their religion, yet here I was being
denied those things myself."
-----
POTLUCK ATTEMPTS TO UNITE JEWS, MUSLIMS -
TOP
John Parks, Columbia Missourian, 10/7/05
http://columbiamissourian.com/news/story.php?ID=16427
More than 50 Muslims and Jews gathered in MU's Gwynn Hall on Thursday
night to break their fasts for the day and share their beliefs with one
another.
The potluck dinner, sponsored by Boone Tikkun, was held on the second
day of Ramadan, a month-long period of fasting and reflection for
Muslims, and on Gedalya, a minor Jewish fast day that follows Rosh
Hashana.
"It is incumbent on all of these faiths to build bridges in the
community," said Abdullahi Ibrahim, who attends the Islamic Center of
Central Missouri.
The point of the evening was to bring together Jews and Muslims in a
social setting where they could learn about and from one another, said
Amy Damashek, a member of Boone Tikkun, which takes its name from a
Hebrew word meaning "to heal, repair or transform the world."
"I think it would be great if there was more trust and solidarity among
Jews and Muslims," Damashek said. "I hate to say we're enemies, and I
would like to see them as allies."
Many of the attendees took time to discuss their beliefs and gain a deeper understanding of one another.
"We come to share some stories of our fasting and some stories of our
faiths," said Emin Kopili, secretary at the Islamic Center of Central
Missouri. "We can learn from each other. It is an enriching
environment."
Many questions were specific to religion, but discussions at the dinner also touched on political issues.
"If Americans speak out, and if Jews and Muslims speak out about what
they think, they could have a large impact on what the U.S. is doing in
the Middle East," Damashek said.
"It is not far-fetched to say small meetings can contribute over there," said Kapili, referring to tensions in the Middle East.
Last year, Boone Tikkun and the Muslim Students Organization sponsored
a discussion about the possibilities for peace in the Middle East,
moderated by one Jewish professor and one Muslim professor. The groups
also cosponsored an event that brought an Israeli woman and a
Palestinian woman to MU, where they spoke about the personal cost of
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
-----
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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:
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URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/8/05
*
Hadith:
Fasting is More Than
Avoiding Food and Drink
*
ISLAM-OPED:
Mideast Tour Leads Hughes Back
to Oval Office
-
CAIR-OH:
Muslims Explain Faith to
Others (Col Disp)
*
LA:
Local Islamic
Centers Aid Hurricane Evacuees (Advocate)
*
FL:
Iraq War Dead Porn Site Leads
to Obscenity Arrest (Orlando Sent)
-
CAIR Calls for Pentagon
Probe
*
Pentagon Seeks U.S.
Informants on Insurgencies (Reuters)
*
Former Marine Claims Platoon
Committed Atrocities in Iraq (AP)
-
Talk Show Host Backs
Torture (Media Matters)
-
Action:
Ask Congress to Send Torture Ban to
President
*
Powerful Quake Rocks
Pakistan, Afghanistan, India
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FASTING IS MORE THAN
AVOIDING FOOD AND DRINK -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Fasting is not (just
abstaining) from eating and drinking, but also from vain speech and foul
language."
"Perhaps a fasting person will gain nothing from his fast save
hunger, and perhaps the one who stands to pray at night will gain nothing
from his standing except sleeplessness."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 132A
The Prophet also said: "Actions are judged (by God) according to the
intention behind them, and everyone is (rewarded for) what he
intended."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 113C
-----
ISLAM-OPED: HUGHES' MIDDLE EAST TOUR LEADS HER
BACK TO OVAL OFFICE -
TOP
PARVEZ AHMED, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/8/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/otherviews/cst-edt-ref08b.html
Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes has been on a mission to change
Muslim hearts and minds. Since taking up her post in early September, she
met with American Muslim leaders in Chicago before embarking on a
"listening tour" of the Middle East. . .
To her credit, Hughes comes across in meetings as a person genuinely
interested in hearing opposing views. She passionately defends her boss,
President Bush, without being dismissive of opinions that paint the
president's policies in less than sympathetic terms.
But her effectiveness as a goodwill ambassador for the United States will
now depend on her ability to walk into the Oval Office and explain to the
president that public relations efforts are doomed if they are not tied
to policy changes that impact realities on the ground. That was the
message she heard from American Muslim leaders, and from activists and
ordinary Muslims from Riyadh to Ankara. . .
For Hughes to succeed in changing Muslim hearts and minds, she must use
her newfound knowledge to focus attention on the hearts and minds of
those who formulate American policies that impact ordinary Muslims
worldwide. As an Arabic editorial in Al-Khaleej newspaper summarized:
"She has to start her mission from Washington, not from Cairo,
Riyadh or any other Muslim capital."
Parvez Ahmed,
pahmed@cair-net.org, is board
chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's
largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: AT RAMADAN, MUSLIMS EXPLAIN
FAITH TO OTHERS -
TOP
Felix Hoover, COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 10/7/05
http://www.dispatch.com/news/religion/faith-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/10/07/20051007-C1-02.html
Local Muslims and future leaders of Ohio's farm and food industries broke
the ice at a Downtown mosque last week before breaking bread together at
a restaurant in Clintonville.
Members of Ohio Leadership Education and Development, an 18-month program
offered by the Ohio State University Extension, visited the Islamic
Center on E. Broad Street as part of their introduction to different
faiths.
"Our intent is to interact and to bring diversity to our
leaders," said Alice Black, program director. "It's important
that they're exposed to different cultures."
Whether initiated by Muslims or others, such interfaith discussions are
on the rise, especially at Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam. Under the
Islamic calendar, which operates on the lunar year, Ramadan falls about
11 days earlier each year in relation to the solar calendar.
This year, the holy month began at sundown on Tuesday, ushering in a
period of abstinence from food, water and pleasures from dawn to sunset.
In the evening, Muslims break the fast and engage in special prayers in
addition to the normal ones.
When the leadership program's 29-person caravan arrived, worshippers at
the mosques had just finished the Asr prayer, the third of five daily
prayers that are mandatory for Muslims.
The visitors went to one of the classrooms for an overview of Islam by
Abdonasser Abdouni, acting vice president of the Islamic Foundation of
Central Ohio.
The leadership group, most of whose members are Christians, had visited
Congregation Tifereth Israel, just a few buildings west of the Islamic
Center, and had been briefed on Judaism before heading to the
mosque.
"It was very interesting to discover there were more similarities to
the three religions than I realized," said Carol Haramis, a member
of the leadership group from Peninsula, about 130 miles northeast of
Columbus in Summit County.
Jennifer Nimer, civil-rights director for the Ohio chapter of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations, and Dalia Mohammad, office manager, helped
Abdouni field questions, as did Amna El-Tayeb, a Muslim in the leadership
program. . .
CAIR-Ohio's annual community iftar, which will be held at the Ohio Union
on N. High Street, has experienced geometric growth in its six
years.
"We started with 20; now we're expecting 500-600," said Ahmad
Al-Akhras, president of the council.
The idea is to establish more intimate ties and to counter messages that
stereotype Muslims as terrorists, he said.
"Our biggest enemy is ignorance," Al-Akhras said. "We need
the larger community to feel they have Muslim brothers and sisters living
among them."
Personal relationships enable intercultural education and help promote
the notion that the face of America is not just Judeo-Christian, but
Judeo-Christian-Islamic, he said. . .
Locally, CAIR is encouraging non-Muslims to take advantage of the Explore
the Quran campaign, which permits those outside the faith to receive a
free copy of Islam's holy text. Requests can be made via
www.cair-net.org/explorethequran/
"Learn for yourself; we are not pushing anything on you,"
Al-Akhras said.
-----
LOCAL ISLAMIC
CENTERS AID HURRICANE EVACUEES -
TOP
CHUCK HUSTMYRE, Advocate, 10/8/05
http://2theadvocate.com/stories/100805/rel_rel003.shtml
After riding out the brutal winds of Hurricane Katrina at her home in New
Orleans, Rita Jenkins thought she and her family had weathered the worst
the storm had to offer.
Then came the flood.
"That water just shot in and filled the streets," Jenkins
recalled. "It was time for us to go."
Jenkins and 17 members of her family piled into three cars and headed for
higher ground. They intended to go to a little town -- Jenkins said she
can't remember which one -- just past Lafayette, but they took the wrong
exit off the interstate and ended up in Baton Rouge at the Islamic
Complex on East Washington Street. There they sought directions, but
found refuge instead.
Like their Christian and Jewish counterparts throughout Baton Rouge and
the surrounding area, the Islamic Complex and the nearby Islamic Center
of Baton Rouge mobilized to help those forced to flee the New Orleans
area. Soon the effort drew outside support, becoming an example of
interfaith cooperation.
Jenkins and her family were among nearly 100 New Orleans evacuees the
Islamic Complex took in after Hurricane Katrina.
According to Mahmoud Jehad, an imam at the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge
on West Chimes Street, the first night after the hurricane struck, 150
evacuees crowded into the center seeking shelter. Within a few days, that
number had risen to more than 500, he said.
Many of those who found help at the Islamic Center and at the Islamic
Complex were not Muslim.
Jehad said the faith of the evacuees was not important, only that they
were in need. "It's a major tenet of Islam, kindness to fellow
humans," he said. "We seek to help everybody."
Imam Fahmee Sabree, of the Islamic Complex on East Washington Street,
said the vast majority of people who sought refuge at the complex were
Christian. (MORE)
-----
WAR-DEAD WEB SITE LEADS TO POLK OBSCENITY
ARREST -
TOP
Anthony Colarossi, Orlando Sentinel, 10/8/05
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/technology/orl-obscene08_105oct08,0,4482964.story
Polk County officials arrested a Lakeland man on obscenity charges Friday
after investigating his graphic Web site, which has gained international
attention for allowing U.S. soldiers to post pictures of war dead on the
Internet.
The charges against Christopher Michael Wilson, a former police officer,
are likely to reignite the debate about obscene material in the Internet
age. It also raises questions about whether the federal government played
a part in motivating the prosecution.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said late Friday that the 300
obscenity-related charges against Wilson all involve sexual content on
his Web site -- and not graphic war-scene images posted by
soldiers.
"It is the most horrific, vile, perverted sexual conduct," Judd
said. "It is as vile, as perverted, as non-normal sexual conduct,
which rises to the level of obscenity, as we've ever
investigated."
Late last week, U.S. Army officials said they could not confirm whether
photographs on Wilson's Web site, presumably showing Iraqi and Afghan war
dead, were actually posted by U.S. soldiers.
An Islamic civil-rights group was disappointed that the Army did not
pursue criminal charges. Last week, Ibrahim Hooper, a Council on
American-Islamic Relations spokesman, said: "For this to be treated
in a manner that suggests the Army does not take this seriously is only
going to further harm our nation's image and interests around the world,
particularly in the Muslim world."
Wilson, 27, was letting soldiers access normally paid portions of his
site in exchange for graphic war-scene shots or proof that they were
fighting in the Middle East, for instance. Late Friday, Wilson's site,
which the Orlando Sentinel will not name, still had grisly images of war
dead.
Judd said none of the 20 films and 80 photos that brought about the
charges involves pictures of war dead. But Judd confirmed that his
detectives did speak with officials with the U.S. Army Criminal
Investigation Division before arresting Wilson on Friday. (MORE)
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
CAIR CALLS FOR PENTAGON
PROBE, SAYS PRACTICE MAY VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL LAW -
TOP
http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1792&theType=NR
-----
PENTAGON SEEKS U.S.
INFORMANTS ON INSURGENCIES -
TOP
David Morgan, Reuters, 10/7/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07276617.htm
WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Pentagon officials said on Friday they
could fight insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan more effectively if
Congress would allow intelligence operatives to hide their identities
from potential informants in the U.S. Muslim population.
Civil liberties advocates say the Pentagon is simply using troubles
abroad to reacquire domestic espionage powers that Congress revoked in
the wake of Vietnam-era abuses.
They warn that any change in the law would erode privacy protections,
especially for Muslim American citizens and resident aliens with personal
ties to countries at the forefront of the U.S. war on terrorism.
Four years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Defense Department is
seeking congressional approval for a change in a 1974 privacy law that
would allow its intelligence operatives to approach citizens and resident
aliens inside the United States without revealing their government
credentials.
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has backed the Pentagon's
request in its fiscal 2006 intelligence spending authorization bill,
which could be taken up by the full Senate later this month. . .
The proposed change drew a cool reception from an organization that
represents an estimated 7 million American Muslims.
"This has a back-alley, dead-of-night feel to it that I don't think
would be received well by the Muslim community," said Ibrahim
Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations.
Lisa Graves of the American Civil Liberties Union scoffed at a defense
official's assertion that the proposed change would not allow for carte
blanche Pentagon spying inside the United States.
"That's some spin," Graves said. "The change would allow
them to gather information on Americans surreptitiously. If it walks like
a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck."
-----
FORMER MARINE IN IRAQ CLAIMS IN BOOK
THAT HE AND HIS PLATOON COMMITTED ATROCITIES -
TOP
JOELLE DIDERICH, Associated Press, 10/7/05
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051007/ap_on_re_eu/france_iraq
PARIS (AP) - A former U.S. Marine in Iraq alleges that his battalion
committed atrocities against Iraqi civilians during the U.S.-led invasion
in 2003, including shooting unarmed protesters.
Jimmy Massey, a staff sergeant who was in the Marines for 12 years and
served three months in Iraq before being honorably discharged with
post-traumatic stress syndrome, details the allegations in his book
``Kill! Kill! Kill!'', written with the French journalist Natasha
Saulnier and published in France.
A Pentagon spokeswoman said Massey's complaints had already been
investigated and found to be unsubstantiated.
Massey said he was in charge of a platoon in the 3rd Batallion of
Regimental Combat Team 7, responsible for setting up checkpoints and
providing armed cover against terrorists and insurgents.
He alleges that over a period of a month and a half in 2003, his platoon
killed more than 30 civilians in Iraq. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
BECK TO PURPORTED TORTURER:
"I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE" -
TOP
http://mediamatters.org/items/200510070011
After devoting a portion of the October 6 broadcast of his nationally
syndicated radio show to discussing pending legislation that would
prohibit "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment"
of detainees held by the U.S. government, Glenn Beck interviewed a caller
who claimed to have worked as an "intelligence officer" and to
have "extracted intelligence" from U.S.-held prisoners by
torturing them. The caller said his preferred methods of torture included
burning the retinas of prisoners' eyes with high-powered halogen lamps
and blowing out prisoners' eardrums with high-pressure water and air. He
also claimed to have known "a contractor that did drilling on live
teeth." After hearing the caller describe these torture techniques,
Beck responded, "I've got to tell you, I appreciate your
service." During the interview, Beck asked the caller if he ever had
trouble sleeping at night. When the caller answered, "No," Beck
responded, "Good for you." He later added, "[W]hen all is
said and done, I'm glad people like you are on our side."
The caller identified himself only as "Mitch," a name he later
admitted was false. (MORE)
---
ACTION: ASK CONGRESS TO SEND TORTURE BAN TO
PRESIDENT -
TOP
http://capwiz.com/cair/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=8088021
-----
POWERFUL QUAKE ROCKS
PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, INDIA -
TOP
CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, Associated Press, 10/8/05
DATELINE: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake
reduced villages to rubble in Pakistan and India on Saturday, killing
hundreds of people. Pakistan's army described the damage as widespread
and said it included villages buried in quake-induced
landslides.
Pakistan's Geo television quoted Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, the Pakistani
army's chief spokesman, as saying 1,000 people were feared dead.
Pakistani army officials who flew over quake-hit areas reported seeing
hundreds of flattened homes in villages north of the capital
Islamabad.
"The damage and casualties could be massive and it is a national
tragedy," Sultan told The Associated Press. "The is the worst
earthquake in recent times."
The U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site the quake hit at 8:50
a.m. local time and had a magnitude of 7.6. It was centered about 60
miles northeast of Islamabad in the forested mountains of Pakistani
Kashmir.
Damage was extensive in Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan territory divided
between India and Pakistan. Officials in the Indian-controlled portion
reported 157 killed, including 14 soldiers who perished in a landslide.
At least 600 were injured.
Air force and army soldiers helped civilian authorities rescue people
trapped under buildings. Telephone lines were down. Bridges had developed
cracks, but traffic was passing over them.
At least 100 people died in Mansehra district in Pakistan's North West
Frontier Province, and 70 percent of mud-brick homes in quake-hit areas
collapsed, said Asif Iqbal, the provincial information minister. Casualty
tolls from other districts were being compiled.
In eastern Afghanistan, an 11-year-old girl was crushed to death when a
wall in her home collapsed, said police official Gafar Khan.
The quake brought down a 10-story apartment building in Islamabad and
dozens of people were feared trapped in the rubble. Rescuers pulled out
at least 20 injured people. Some residents were Westerners, a building
employee said. (MORE)
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #473
U.S. MUSLIMS URGED TO HELP, PRAY FOR S. ASIA QUAKE
VICTIMS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/9/05) - CAIR today called on American Muslims
and other people of conscience to help the victims of yesterday's massive
earthquake in South Asia.
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group asked those
wishing to offer earthquake relief to visit the web site of a Muslim task
force set up to help alleviate the suffering caused by Hurricane
Katrina.
Relief organizations associated with the
Muslim Hurricane Relief Task
Force (
www.mhrtf.net ) are
offering aid to areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India devastated by
the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that left at least 30,000 people
dead.
The Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA) has also
established the "
APPNA Earthquake Relief Fund 2005."
Checks may be sent to: APPNA Earthquake Relief Fund 2005, 6414 S.
Cass Avenue, Westmont, IL, 60559 TEL: 630-968-8585, E-Mail:
appna@appna.org (APPNA is seeking
physician volunteers to help in the earthquake areas.)
CAIR urged Americans of all faiths to pray for those killed, injured or
left homeless by the earthquake.
"Just as Americans came together to help the victims of recent Gulf
Coast hurricanes, we must do whatever we can to help those suffering from
natural disasters in other parts of the world," said CAIR
Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Go to
www.mhrtf.net or
www.appna.org to find Muslim relief
groups offering aid to quake victims.
2. Contribute in any way you can. Monetary contributions are best, but
you can also donate supplies or volunteer your time.
3. Pray for the victims.
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
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:
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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 - 10/9/05
*
Hadith:
God Rewards Service to
Others
*
AZ:
Muslim Assaulted by Teens Shouting
Religious Slur
*
UT:
'Explore the Quran'
Offers
Muslim Holy Book -
Free
*
Chaplain Yee's Test of
Faith (Washington Post)
*
AL:
Muslim
Athletes Adapt During Ramadan Fast
*
Muslims are Right at Home
in the U.S. (SF Chronicle)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD REWARDS SERVICE TO
OTHERS -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A man felt very
thirsty while he was traveling. He came across a well, went down into the
well, quenched his thirst and came out. He then saw a dog panting and
licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, 'This dog is
suffering from thirst just as I did.' So, he went down the well again,
filled his shoe with water and (gave it to the dog). God thanked him for
that (good) deed and forgave him (his sins)." The people then asked
the Prophet: "Is there a reward for us in serving animals?" He
replied: "Yes, there is a reward for serving any (living
beings)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 646
-----
PHOENIX MUSLIM ASSAULTED BY TEENS
SHOUTING RELIGIOUS SLUR -
TOP
Islamic civil rights group seeks FBI hate crime
investigation
(PHOENIX, AZ, 10/9/05) - The Arizona office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) today called on local and national
law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for an
attack on a Phoenix Muslim by teenagers who allegedly shouted a religious
slur.
(
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: The victim will be available to media outlets
at CAIR-AZ's Phoenix office later today.
CONTACT CAIR-AZ
Communications Director Nure Elatari, 602-312-2223, or CAIR-AZ Civil
Rights Director Salam Safi, 480-600-0008, for more information.)
CAIR-AZ says the attack on an elderly Muslim of Somali heritage wearing
Islamic attire took place late Thursday after he left Ramadan
"taraweeh" prayers that are held each night during the
month-long fast.
According to the victim, the attackers shouted "f**king Muslim"
just prior to the assault. They were later apprehended and reportedly
given citations for misdemeanor assault. The victim was taken to a nearby
hospital for treatment of a broken arm.
"Given the circumstances of the attack, a possible bias motive
should be considered and investigated thoroughly," said CAIR-AZ
Communications Director Nure Elatari. "People of all faiths should
feel secure when visiting a house of worship." She urged the FBI to
add its resources to those of local authorities investigating the
incident.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
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-AZ Communications Director Nure Elatari,
602-312-2223; CAIR-AZ Civil Rights Director Salam Safi, 480-600-0008;
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
-----
'EXPLORE THE QURAN' OFFERS MUSLIM HOLY
BOOK - FREE -
TOP
Deseret Morning News, 10/9/05
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,615156203,00.html
As the most sacred holiday in the Islamic calendar, the holy month of
Ramadan is marked by fasting during daylight hours and special evening
prayers in the mosque. Reading the Quran during Ramadan, which began
Tuesday night with the appearance of the new crescent moon, is an
essential part of the observance.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the largest Muslim
advocacy organizations in the United States, is sponsoring a campaign
called "Explore the Quran." The goal is to give the general
non-Muslim public a greater familiarity with Islam's holy book by
offering it free. The council has received more than 20,000 requests for
free Quran since the campaign began in mid-July.
"Explore the Quran" is CAIR's attempt to counter what the
organization regards as continuing negative publicity surrounding the
Quran, including the alleged desecration of the holy book at Guantanamo
Bay and Abu Ghraib prisons. Those who request a Quran receive a thick
hardcover book with English translation next to the Arabic on each
page.
"We felt the best way to respond was to give Americans the
opportunity to read the Quran for themselves," said Rabiah Ahmed, a
spokeswoman for CAIR. "The response has been overwhelmingly positive
and very heartwarming. . ."
To obtain a copy of the Quran, call the Council of American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), request online at
www.cair-net.org/explorethequran/ or call (800) 784-7526.
(MORE)
-----
A CHAPLAIN'S TEST OF FAITH -
TOP
As the Army's Case Against Muslim James Yee Collapsed, His Own World Was
Crumbling, Too
Ray Rivera, Washington Post, 10/9/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/08/AR2005100801314_pf.html
His wife held the gun in one hand and two bullets in the other.
With the release of the book last week, the former Muslim Army chaplain
and West Point graduate breaks his long silence on the government's case
against him and how it drove his family to within a trigger's pull of
tragedy.
Yee was arrested Sept. 10, 2003, on allegations of spying and aiding the
enemy while assigned to minister to Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba. The news made international headlines, and soon word spread that he
was the leader of a terrorist spy ring.
The military eventually dropped all charges. . .
An Unfriendly Atmosphere
On his arrival at Guantanamo, the outgoing Muslim chaplain left him with
a warning: "This is not a friendly environment for Muslims, and I
don't just mean for the prisoners."
Yee says he soon came to believe that Islam was used as a weapon against
the detainees who practiced it. Guards, he writes, would frequently
gather around the cell blocks and mock the prisoners during daily
worship. Korans were often ripped and the bindings broken during cell
searches.
As detainees confided in him, he heard more stories of insults to his
religion taking place in the interrogation rooms. One detainee complained
that some of the prisoners were forced to sit in the center of a Satanic
circle drawn on the floor, outlined by lit candles. They were ordered to
bow down as interrogators shouted, "Satan is your God, not Allah!
Repeat after me!"
Yee said he initially found the complaints hard to believe. "But
many detainees corroborated these stories, and translators" with the
intelligence section "often confirmed them." (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM
ATHLETES ADAPT TO ON-FIELD CHRISTIAN CULTURE -
TOP
MIKE PERRIN, Birmingham News, 10/9/05
http://www.al.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/sports/1128849862213560.xml&coll=2
Haneef Haqq has clearly fit in with his Jacksonville State University
football teammates, despite the differences between his Islamic faith and
the Christian customs practiced on the team.
The players elected the linebacker from Huntsville as team captain this
season.
Haqq (pronounced hock) is acutely aware that as a Muslim, he is in the
minority in Alabama and on the football team.
"My beliefs are Islamic, but I haven't had any problems fitting in
or being comfortable in my surroundings," he said. "It's been
pretty easy.
"There's always curiosity. I help them understand what it is we
believe, what it is we do. The religion is so misunderstood because of
some extreme issues in some other countries."
Religious differences sometimes do pose issues for Muslim
athletes.
Haqq is coping with the physical rigors of football during the holy month
of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during daylight hours for the entire month,
which began this year on Wednesday.
"I've had games when I was fasting where I felt like I was just
dead," Haqq said. "Then, I've had some games where I felt my
body was an efficient machine, burning what it needed.
"I may lose a few pounds, but all together I don't think it affects
my performance too much."
Haqq said his coaches are sensitive to his ritual. "They are very
supportive of me and what I believe in," he said. "They
accommodate me in any way they can."
Haqq's brother Hamid played football for the University of Alabama and
lived with another Muslim player, Saleem Rasheed, who now plays in the
NFL. "Their coaches used to bring them food just before the sun came
up and they ate then," Haneef Haqq said. "It's something a lot
of Muslim athletes face. It's not too difficult to do."
(MORE)
-----
ARABS, MUSLIMS ARE RIGHT
AT HOME IN THE U.S. -
TOP
Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/9/05
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/09/ING5FF355J1.DTL
As undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, Karen Hughes is trying
her best to convince the Muslim world that the United States is
misperceived. The other day, she addressed Egyptian students at American
University in Cairo. Hughes, who helped get George W. Bush elected to the
presidency, told the collegians that "the heart of the American
dream" is "You can work hard, you can get an education, and you
have an opportunity to improve yourselves."
But her generalities bypassed the best argument: that the United States
is home to an increasingly significant -- and politically powerful --
Arab and Muslim community.
An estimated 6 million Muslims and 3.5 million Arabs live in the United
States. (There is overlap between these two groups -- not all Arabs are
Muslims, and fewer than 20 percent of Muslims are Arab). The numbers
suggest a rich American story:
Arabs and Muslims are an integral part of the United States, having
immigrated here since its founding. Christopher Columbus stepped off the
Santa Maria with an Arabic-speaking interpreter, Luis de Torres.
Generations have been born and raised in the United States, and, like
Jews and Italians and Irish, have adopted American values: hard work,
freedom of speech, freedom of religion. Arabs and Muslims believe in
democracy, and millions of them would die to defend it. (MORE)
-----
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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 - 10/10/05
*
Hadith:
When Afflicted
with Calamity
*
CAIR-AZ:
Elderly Man Assaulted Outside Mosque (KPHO-TV)
*
CAIR-FL:
Disasters Give Ramadan Charity a Focus (Times-Union)
*
U.S. Mosques Call for South Asian Quake Aid (AP)
-
HOW TO HELP
-
MD: Muslim Charities Answer Call After Quake (Balt Sun)
-
US Mosques Offer Prayers, Help for Quake Victims (VOA)
-
U.S. Muslims Donate Aid for Asian Quake (AP)
-
NY: Islamic Center Makes Appeal for Quake Victims
-
NY:
Rochester Pakistanis Frantic for Families
-
Pakistani-Americans Make Quake Relief Effort (Daily Times)
-
CA: Muslims, Pakistanis Move to Aid Victims (Daily News)
-
CA: Inland Muslims, Hindus Help Out (Press Enterprise)
-
MI: Pakistani Americans in Detroit Help Quake Victims (AP)
-
NY: Pakistani Immigrants Mobilize to Assist Victims (NYT)
-
NY: Relatives Struggle with Loss (Newsday)
*
CA: Mosque Renovations Finished in Time for Ramadan
-
AK:
Alaska Muslims Mark Ramadan (KTUU)
-
CA: Muslim Students Hold 'Fast-a-Thon'
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: WHEN AFFLICTED WITH CALAMITY -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Those who say, when
afflicted with calamity, 'To God we belong and to Him we return,' (will
receive) blessings and mercy from God, and they are the ones who
receive guidance."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 19
The Prophet also said: "When death overtakes the people (in a disaster) and you are one among them, show steadfastness."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 14
-----
CAIR-AZ: ELDERLY MAN ASSAULTED OUTSIDE A MOSQUE -
TOP
KPHO-TV, 10/9/05
http://www.kpho.com/Global/story.asp?S=3957310
(CBS 5 News)--An elderly man was assaulted by a group of teenagers
after leaving a mosque. The council on American Islamic relations is
calling on authorities to investigate the attack as a hate crime.
This is the holy month of Ramadan and some are afraid to attend the
mosque. It was in the parking lot near 32nd and McDowell where an
elderly man was attacked and berated by religious slurs.
The victim had his arm broken, threw a translator he tells us he was
leaving the mosque after prayer. He was wearing traditional Muslim
clothing when he was attacked by four teenagers.
The council on American Islamic relations says the teens were cited for
misdemeanor assault. They're calling for this to be investigated as a
hate crime.
They went on to say it was not just a bunch of teenagers who decided to
take some aggression out. It was targeted to a specific person of a
specific religion.
CBS 5 News is told the teens also threw beer bottles at others near the mosque.
CONTACT CAIR-AZ Communications Director Nure Elatari, 602-312-2223, or CAIR-AZ Civil Rights Director Salam Safi, 480-600-0008
-----
CAIR-FL: DISASTERS GIVE RAMADAN CHARITY A FOCUS -
TOP
JEFF BRUMLEY, The Times-Union, 10/10/05
http://
www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/101005/met_19989462.shtml
Parvez Ahmed, a Jacksonville resident and chairman of the
Washington-based Council on American Islamic Relations. . .said such
outpourings of sympathy and charity fit well with the purpose of
Ramadan, which is to remind Muslims to obey God and help their
neighbors.
"The prophet Muhammad said you serve God by serving his creation, and
there is no better time to serve creation than when people are in great
need," Ahmed said. (MORE)
-----
MOSQUES CALL FOR AID FOR VICTIMS OF SOUTH ASIAN QUAKE -
TOP
ALEX VEIGA, Associated Press, 10/9/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/12861019.htm
LOS ANGELES - Worshippers who gathered for daily Ramadan services at
mosques around the United States were urged to lend prayer and donate
money to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck South Asia.
One aid group, Burbank, California-based Islamic Relief USA, managed to
raise about $130,000 ([euro]107,000) from mosques around the country
since the magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck early Saturday, said Mohamed
Abulmagd, general manager of the group's U.S. office.
"We are asking for about $2 million from communities here in the United
States," Abulmagd said. "It's Ramadan and people go to the mosque every
night for prayer, so a lot of mosques are calling the community to
respond and these (donations) are sent directly to us."
The group has issued a worldwide appeal to the Islamic community to
raise $10 million ([euro] 8.23 million) for victims of the temblor,
which rocked parts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. So far,
authorities say more than 20,000 people were killed.
Many Pakistanis in the United States have had trouble reaching anyone
in the rural areas of Pakistan where most of the damage appears to have
occurred and can only wait for word about loved ones, Abulmagd said.
"We don't know anyone who has a confirmed loss," Abulmagd said,
referring to his Southern California-based staff. "But we're sure there
will be because this toll is very high."
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations on Sunday also urged people to help relief groups.
"Just as Americans came together to help the victims of recent Gulf
Coast hurricanes, we must do whatever we can to help those suffering
from natural disasters in other parts of the world," Ibrahim Hooper,
the group's spokesman, said in a statement. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
HOW TO HELP -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=293&theType=AA
Relief organizations associated with the Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force (
www.mhrtf.net)
are offering aid to areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India devastated
by the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that left at least 30,000 people dead.
The Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA) has
also established the "APPNA Earthquake Relief Fund 2005." Checks may be
sent to: APPNA Earthquake Relief Fund 2005, 6414 S. Cass Avenue,
Westmont, IL, 60559 TEL: 630-968-8585, E-Mail:
appna@appna.org (APPNA is seeking physician volunteers to help in the earthquake areas.)
---
CHARITIES ANSWER CALL AFTER QUAKE IN PAKISTAN -
TOP
GREG BARRETT, Baltimore Sun, 10/10/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.md.charity10oct10,1,6026126.story
Faiz Rehman was writing at his computer at 3 a.m. Saturday when a
message popped up. Pakistan had been devastated by a magnitude-7.6
earthquake, the worst on record ever to hit his home nation.
By daybreak, Islamic and Pakistani-American organizations in the
Maryland region were planning a conference call to discuss relief
efforts. By yesterday afternoon, the groups - including several from
the Baltimore area - had raised $118,000.
Rehman, president of the National Council of Pakistani Americans, said he thought they would have raised more.
"But we had only known about the earthquake for a few hours," said
Rehman, of Washington. "I am positive that within the next few days we
will come up with more money, much more."
The earthquake in northern Pakistan is believed to have killed 20,000 to 30,000 people.
Participating in the conference call and fundraising were Baltimore's
new Islamic Community Center, the Islamic Society of Baltimore, the
Maryland Muslim Council, and the Baltimore County Muslim Council, along
with national groups such as the Chicago-based Association of Pakistani
Physicians of North America.
Donations came in pledges as small as $10 and as large $10,000, said
Dr. Abdul Rashid Piracha, president-elect of the physicians
association. The fund will be managed by the group, which plans to send
doctors to devastated areas and to buy food, medicine and blankets.
(MORE)
---
US MOSQUES, CHURCHES OFFER PRAYERS, HELP FOR QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Mike O'Sullivan, Voice of America, 10/10/05
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-10-10-voa2.cfm
Indian and Pakistani communities around the United States have joined
the relief effort for victims of the massive earthquake north of
Islamabad. Islamic and Christian organizations are offering prayers and
collecting funds for the victims.
In the Los Angeles suburb of Artesia, known as Little India, people
with relatives in the stricken region are closely monitoring news
reports on television.
In South Los Angeles, worshippers attending daily services for Ramadan,
a time of prayer and fasting, also turned their thoughts to the
earthquake victims.
Many with relatives in the region have been unable to contact them. But
immigrant Javed Iqbal reached his father in Pakistan, and was relieved
to learn he is safe.
"He's about 76-years-old, and he said he has never seen something like this before," Mr. Iqbal says.
The Los Angeles-based organization, Islamic Relief, has launched a $10
million appeal for emergency assistance, and allocated $ 4 million for
immediate relief work. Spokeswoman Clareen Menzes says the organization
has centers operating in the stricken region.
"And they house about 100 full-time employees. So, we were already
there, and we're on the scene doing a needs assessment," MS. Menzes
says.
Spokesmen say Islamic Relief's healthcare center in the Neelum Valley
in Kashmir has treated more than two-thousand victims of the earthquake.
The Washington-based Council on American Islamic Relations urged American Muslims Sunday to contribute to the relief effort.
---
U.S. MUSLIMS DONATE AID FOR ASIAN QUAKE -
TOP
REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press, 10/10/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/10/AR2005101000162.html
TRENTON, N.J. -- Kosar Kazmi planned to journey to Pakistan after
getting devastating news from a brother _ many of their relatives had
been killed in the earthquake.
Kazmi said his mother, a brother, the brother's wife and two kids, and
an aunt and her two sons all were killed when the tremor hit.
"I'm trying to help my family that's still there," said Kazmi, 32, of
New Milford, who was to fly on Sunday. "Most of them are injured.
They're on the ground outside."
As relatives in the United States mourned victims of the deadly South
Asian earthquake, worshippers on Sunday prayed and donated tens of
thousands of dollars for relief efforts.
Aid group Islamic Relief USA raised about $130,000 from those attending
Ramadan services after the earthquake struck Saturday. The
7.6-magnitude quake near the Pakistan-India border killed at least
20,000 people and the death toll was expected to rise.
"Ramadan is the month of mercy and encourages Muslims to give to the
poor," said Mohamed Abulmagd, general manager of the group's U.S.
office in Burbank. "Now, with this crisis, I expect they will give more
for this cause."
The group put out a call to the Muslim community for $10 million
worldwide, he said. It hopes to raise about $2 million from communities
in the United States. Earthquake victims need tents, blankets and
medical supplies, Abulmagd said. (MORE)
---
ISLAMIC CENTER MAKES APPEAL FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
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WROC-TV, 10/9/05
http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=20305&r=l
Local Muslims are praying for the victims of the South Asia earthquake. The death toll could surpass 20,000.
A Rochester man with family in Kasmire, the hardest hit area, talked
about the disaster at the Islamic Center Sunday night, where members
gathered for Ramadan evening prayers. Sareer Fazili was able to locate
relatives, but he says living conditions are deplorable.
"Some towns only have mosques and schools standing. Homes have been
destroyed. So people have been living in the elements," Fazili said,
adding that the weather is fall-like in the region. (MORE)
---
PAKISTANIS HERE FRANTIC FOR FAMILIES -
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Fernando Diaz, Democrat and Chronicle, 10/10/05
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051010/NEWS01/510100325/1002/NEWS
(October 10, 2005) - Leaders of the Islamic Center of Rochester and the
Pakistani community were reeling Sunday, a day after an earthquake in
Pakistan claimed more than 20,000 lives.
Salahuddin Malik, chairman of the council of trustees at the Islamic
Center, first witnessed the devastation on satellite television after
beginning his fast for Ramadan at 5 a.m. Saturday.
He saw a 10-story building in Islamabad fall to the ground. "It was absolutely gone," he said.
The next thing the Kashmir native did was call his brother, who lives there, to find out that he was safe and unharmed.
Aided by satellite television and limited telephone contact with
relatives near the area, many local Pakistanis have been trying to
reach family members in the Northwest Frontier Province, where the
quake was centered.
One local family that Malik spoke with lost three relatives.
"It has been a terrible experience," said Muhammad Shafiq, director of
the Islamic Center, who added that he's afraid the death toll will
continue to climb.
The largest segment of the local Islamic community is from Pakistan,
and "I think they are facing trouble to see exactly what happened in
the small villages; most of the homes are made of mud and straw,"
Shafiq said. (MORE)
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PAKISTANI-AMERICANS MAKING AN EFFORT AT QUAKE RELIEF -
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Daily Times, 10/10/05
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_10-10-2005_pg7_36
WASHINGTON: The Pakistani-American community is mounting a spirited
effort to raise funds to help the government back home in dealing with
the unprecedented human emergency created by the massive earthquake,
which devastated Kashmir and parts of Pakistan.
Several organisations, including the Association of Pakistani
Physicians of North America (APPNA) and the Association of Pakistani
Professionals (AOPP), are making efforts to raise funds. The Pakistan
embassy, the Pakistani consulate and the UN mission in New York have
set up special emergency help lines and are appealing to the community
to make generous donations. Arrangements have been put in place to
grant immediate visas to journalists and others who wish to proceed to
Pakistan to inspect the devastation caused by the earthquake, measured
at 7.6 on the Richter Scale.
The Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on
American Muslims and other "people of conscience" to help the victims
of the tragedy in South Asia. The Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force is
offering aid to areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India devastated by
the earthquake, which left at least 30,000 people dead. "Just as
Americans came together to help the victims of the recent Gulf Coast
hurricanes, we must do whatever we can to help those suffering from
natural disasters in other parts of the world," said CAIR
Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. (MORE)
-----
LOCAL MUSLIMS, PAKISTANIS MOVE FAST TO AID VICTIMS -
TOP
Alex Dobuzinskis, Daily News, 10/10/05
http://www2.dailynews.com/news/ci_3101988
Shocked by the devastation of a massive earthquake along the
Pakistan-India border, Pakistani-Americans and other Southern
California Muslims fasting for Ramadan moved quickly Sunday to raise
more than $350,000 for the stricken region.
In the Burbank offices of Islamic Relief USA, workers gave up their
weekend to come into the office and take donations. By Sunday afternoon
the group had collected more than $350,000 over the Internet and from
mosques.
"We are very sad for the people," said Mohamed Abul-Magd, general
manager of the charity. "We pray for the people who are dead and the
victims there, but at the same time we work hard to help them as much
as we can." (MORE)
---
INLAND MUSLIMS, HINDUS HELP OUT -
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BETTYE WELLS MILLER, Press-Enteprise, 10/10/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_iequake10.8ef52e7.html
Hours after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake wiped out villages along the
India-Pakistan border, Inland Muslims, Hindus and others with family in
the region began raising thousands of dollars to help survivors of
Saturday's quake.
Muslims gathered for Ramadan prayers at the Islamic Center of Riverside
on Saturday donated about $20,000 for relief after learning that one
member lost five members of his family in the quake, said Mustafa Kuko,
director of the center.
Kuko said the center will continue to raise money through the end of
Ramadan, the holiest month of Islam. He said the center has not decided
whether to forward the money to Islamic Relief, an international
organization with an office in Burbank, or to relief agencies in
Pakistan.
The Pakistan Society of Southern California, based in Redlands, will
use a previously scheduled event planned for the end of Ramadan as a
fund-raiser for earthquake relief, said Dr. Mohammad Aslam, the group's
president. (MORE)
---
PAKISTANI AMERICANS IN METRO DETROIT WORK TO HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Associated Press, 10/10/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw122439_20051010.htm
DETROIT (AP) -- After many busy signals and an unanswered telephone
call, Ihtesham Shahid finally heard from his sister via e-mail.
"We are fine after the earthquake," she wrote from Islamabad, Pakistan.
Shahid, of Canton Township, is among the Pakistani Americans living in
Metro Detroit who spent the weekend trying to get in touch with family
and friends in Pakistan following a Saturday earthquake in South Asia
that killed at least 20,000 people.
Many prayed for loved ones, watched news coverage and worked to send help to those in their homeland.
Michigan is home to a growing Pakistani community, with 54,631 Asian
Indians, up from 23,845 a decade earlier, according to U.S. Census
Bureau. (MORE)
---
PAKISTANI IMMIGRANTS RECEIVE SCANT INFORMATION BUT MOBILIZE TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF QUAKE -
TOP
MICHELLE O'DONNELL, New York Times, 10/10/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/10/nyregion/10family.html
For 18 hours after a powerful earthquake hit Pakistan early Saturday,
Mohammad Javed Iqbal, a livery cabdriver in New York City, tried in
vain to telephone his relatives.
But phone lines into their town of about 30,000 in the North-West
Frontier Province were jammed or not working for hours, he said.
Finally, he reached his son Bahadur Khan, 25, who, weeping, told him
how two cousins, Aurang Zad Khan, 70, and Aujaman Ara, 35, were unable
to flee their crumbling home when the quake struck.
"The wall collapsed on them and they died," Mr. Iqbal, 66, said
yesterday in the section of Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn known as
Little Pakistan.
His eyes brimmed with sadness and fury above his flowing white beard as
he described how their bodies were pulled from the rubble. "Now the
women and children are under the sky, they are living outside."
Across the New York metropolitan region, where an estimated 120,000
people of Pakistani descent live, many echoed Mr. Iqbal's experience in
struggling to learn the fate of family and friends caught in the
earthquake. It has not been easy. (MORE)
---
ANXIOUS NY RELATIVES STRUGGLE WITH LOSS, CONCERN FOR FAMILIES -
TOP
CHRISTINE ARMARIO, Newsday, 10/10/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lipaki104463655oct10,0,7589594.story
Isma Chaudhry's family in Islamabad fetched kitchen knives and forks to
help dig for buried survivors in a collapsed apartment building next
door after Saturday's quake in Pakistan.
Asma Ejaz and Javed Igbal's relatives began trying to comprehend the
loss of loved ones: a student killed when a landslide hit her bus; a
banker about to leave for work, crushed by his house.
And Safdar Chadda's family, living in a house made of mud and stone in
the capital of Kashmir - reportedly the worst hit region of the 7.6
magnitude quake - had still not been heard from since the disaster.
"My heart is sinking," Chadda said yesterday, after several attempts to reach his relatives by phone.
New York residents with ties to Pakistan clung to any bit of
information about the fate of relatives yesterday, watching television,
making phone calls, and gathering at mosques to pray and brainstorm how
they could help from so far away.
"I know those streets," Chaudhry, of Manhasset, said outside the
Islamic Center of Long Island. "I have shopped in those areas. Any one
of my relatives could be over there. I wish we could do something."
(MORE)
-----
MOSQUE RENOVATIONS FINISHED IN TIME FOR RAMADAN -
TOP
By Marshall Allen, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, 10/10/05
http://www2.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3102679
SAN GABRIEL -- Islamic architecture and modern technology are renewing
pride and religious identity at a local mosque, where a yearlong
renovation project was completed in time for the holy month of Ramadan.
For 25 years, Masjid Gibrael, which is named for the angel Gabriel,
looked like a nondescript storefront in the 1300 block of Las Tunas
Drive.
But in the past year, it has been transformed. It has nearly doubled in
size and now a wood-and-plaster minaret, about 2 feet in circumference,
towers 20 feet above the building topped with a small copper dome.
The mosque's front wall features arched window facades and a scalloped
top that is trimmed with lights. The sunlight glistens off a copper
dome, 6 feet high and 12 feet around, that sits atop the building.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM HOLY MONTH UNDER WAY -
TOP
Natasha Rasheed, KTUU, 10/9/05
http://www.ktuu.com/cms/templates/master.asp?articleid=265&zoneid=1
Anchorage, Alaska - The massive earthquake hit just days after the holy
month of Ramadan started. Sunday marks day six of that holy month for
Muslims, in which they fast from sun up to sun down. It's a rare
glimpse into a group of people from all over the world, united by
religion.
The call to prayer is not in Egypt, Afghanistan or anywhere in the Middle East, but here in Anchorage.
"It's really important to bring this small community together," said Omar Sharif (right), imam of the Anchorage Mosque.
The handful of families crowd into this small mosque to break a fast
that has lasted since the early morning hours. Muslims fast from sun up
to sun down, a practice that goes on for 30 consecutive days.
"We do a lot of donations in Ramadan as well because we can feel how
you feel when you really starve so we can donate to people who don't
have enough food in some countries. We can really feel how they feel so
we can donate more to them," said Mya Win (right), who moved to
Anchorage from Burma.
According to Muslims, it's a way to strengthen your faith in God. The
people at the mosque are from all walks of life. Some are recent
converts, others exchange students. They come from all countries,
including Burma, Pakistan, Egypt and Africa, all united under the
religion of Islam.
"Especially in Alaska, we are a very small community in here so it's
very, very important to stay together, to pray as well as doing other
community stuff," said Win. (MORE)
---
MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION INVITES NON-MUSLIMS TO JOIN IN FAST-A-THON -
TOP
Maria Kornalian, Daily Aztec, 10/10/05
http://www.thedailyaztec.com/media/paper741/news/2005/10/10/City/Students.Can.Get.A.Feel.For.Events.Celebrating.Ramadan-1014704.shtml
She wakes up to eat before the sun comes up, often times it's yogurt,
and she drinks lots of water and goes back to bed before waking up
again for school. She doesn't eat again until around 6:30 p.m.
Flodia Ndoci, international studies junior at UCSD, is a practicing
Muslim student and October is Ramadan, the Muslim month for fasting.
Ramadan began on Tuesday and lasts until Nov. 2.
Ndoci said she believes Ramadan serves a great purpose in the Islamic faith.
"What you're doing when you're fasting (is) you're giving up something
that you do every day," 20-year-old Ndoci said. "The whole point of it
is that you're giving up something that's normal, so after you're done,
you can give up something that's harder."
The practice requires that for one month nothing is to be placed in
one's mouth while the sun is up. Ndoci said one's body gets used to the
fasting routine.
"It's really all in your head," she said. "It's not that hard (and) you get used it."
It's optional to wake up in the morning before the sun is up, Ndoci said, and it's recommended to do so.
"For health reasons, if you wake up before the sun goes up, it helps you throughout the day," she said.
The Muslim Student Association is inviting non-Muslims to fast for one
day at a fast-a-thon they're holding on Oct. 17 at Casa Real in Aztec
Center. This is the biggest event MSA will be holding during October
for Ramadan. (MORE)
-----
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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
- 10/11/05
*
Verse:
With Every
Hardship Comes Relief
*
MD:
Police Release Sketch of
Suspect in Mosque Vandalism (WP)
*
CAIR-OH:
450
Attend 'Sharing Ramadan' Iftar Dinner
*
CAIR-Cleveland
to Host
Ramadan Interfaith Banquet
-
CAIR-Cincinnati:
Muslims Feed Needy
During Ramadan
*
CAIR-Philly:
Area Groups
Kick in With Range of Aid
-
CAIR-FL: Doctor
Feels Quake Suffering from Afar
*
APPNA:
Muslim
Health Care Volunteers Sought for Quake Relief
-
IMANA:
Muslim Medical Assoc. Establishes Quake Relief Fund
-
ICNA Relief Allocates $500K for Quake Aid
-
Islamic Relief Responds to Quake with $10M Appeal
-
UMAA Establishes Disaster Relief Fund
-
American Muslims Raise Funds for Asia Quake Victims
-
PA:
Muslims Rally to Aid Earthquake Victims
-
NY Muslims Aid Pakistani Earthquake Victims
-
MI Muslims Mobilize Quake Aid (Free Press)
-
PA Muslims Reach Out To Earthquake Victims (KDKA)
-
CA:
Hidaya Foundation Organizes Quake Relief (CBS)
-
WI: Madison Muslim Community Coordinating Local Help
-
NJ: Muslim Groups Ask for More Quake Aid (AP Press)
-
IL:
Valley Muslims Collect Aid for Quake Victims
-
FL:
Local Muslims Collect Funds for Quake Relief (FL Today)
*
CAIR: FL Website 'Swapped War Photos for Porn' (Telegraph)
-
Boeing/Bell Mosque Attack Ad: Unleashing Hell (New Rep)
*
PA:
Ramadan Helps Converts Feel Less Like Outsiders (Post-Gaz)
*
MA: Muslims Invite Public to Ramadan Meal (Republican)
-
TX:
Baylor Students Get Glimpse of Ramadan (Waco Trib)
-
CAIR: Hold a 'Sharing Ramadan' Iftar
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: WITH EVERY HARDSHIP COMES RELIEF -
TOP
"Behold, with every hardship comes relief. Verily, with every hardship
comes relief! Therefore, when you are freed (from distress), remain
steadfast, and strive to please your Lord."
The Holy Quran, 94:8
-----
MUSLIM CENTER VANDALISM -
TOP
Washington Post, 10/11/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/10/AR2005101001467.html
Montgomery County police released a computer-generated sketch yesterday
of a man sought in connection with vandalism at a Muslim center in
Silver Spring.
Police say a Star of David was painted Sept. 22 next to the sign of the
Muslim Community Center in the 15200 block of New Hampshire Avenue. A
line was also spray-painted across the word "Muslim."
The vandal is believed to be a white man about 40 years old, about 5
feet 5 inches tall, with blue eyes and a heavy build. Police said he
was wearing a wig with dreadlocks when he vandalized the mosque. He
fled in a yellow 1994 or 1995 Isuzu Trooper with a Maryland tag. A
female was in the passenger seat.
-----
450 ATTEND CAIR-OHIO 'SHARING RAMADAN' IFTAR DINNER -
TOP
(COLUMBUS, OH, 10/11/05) - The Columbus office of CAIR-OH hosted its
7th Annual "Sharing Ramadan" Iftar Dinner on Sunday, October 9, at Ohio
State University.
Among the 450 attendees were several elected officials, including the
mayor of the city of Columbus, the city attorney and Franklin County
commissioners. Several of the officials presented proclamations
congratulating the Muslim community and recognizing the month of
Ramadan.
I-CAIR Awards were presented to local community members for their
lifelong service to the community. In addition, CAIR presented a Bridge
Builder award to Dave Stacey, a man from West Virginia who participated
in the television show "30 Days" and lived as a Muslim for a month. His
experience caused him to shed many of his stereotypes about the Muslim
community.
"Ramadan is a month of spirituality, mercy, and kindness," said
CAIR-Ohio Civil Rights Director, Jennifer Nimer. "We were happy to be
able to share some of the traditions of Ramadan with our neighbors from
different faiths."
CONTACT: Dalia Mohammad, e-mail:
office@cair-ohio.com; Jennifer Nimer, e-mail:
jennifer@cair-ohio.com; Ahmad Al-Akhras, e-mail: ahmad@cair-ohio.com
-----
CAIR-CLEVELAND TO HOST RAMADAN INTERFAITH BANQUET -
TOP
(CLEVELAND, OH, 10/11/2004) - On Saturday, October 15, the Cleveland
office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO) will
host its 2nd Annual Ramadan Iftar Banquet. Participants will include
members of the local interfaith community. ("Iftar" is the meal eaten
after sunset each day during the Islamic fast of Ramadan.)
WHEN: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2005
TIME: Registration 5:30-6:30; Program begins 6:30 PM
WHERE: Cuyahoga Community College, Student Center Cafeteria, 2900 Community College Ave. Cleveland Ohio
CONTACT: CAIR-OHIO, Cleveland office, Julia A. Shearson, Director,
216-440-2247 or 216-830-2247; E-Mail:
Julia@cair-ohio.com
"The month of Ramadan is a time of charity, humility and spiritual
renewal," said Isam Zaiem, Chairman of the Cleveland office of
CAIR-OHIO. "This event is a wonderful chance for people of all faiths
to get to know their Muslim neighbors."
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: MUSLIMS FEED NEEDY DURING RAMADAN -
TOP
(CINCINNATI, 10/11/05) - On Sunday, October 9, the Cincinnati office of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio (CAIR-Ohio) and Malik
Islamic Center marked the Muslim fast of Ramadan by providing hot meals
to more than 400 residents of that city's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.
Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims
abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn
to sunset. It began earlier this month with the sighting of the new
crescent moon.
"Caring for the less fortunate in our community is an important and
rewarding experience, one emphasized in the Islamic faith," said
CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub. Dabdoub quoted Islam's Prophet
Muhammad who said Ramadan "is the month of sharing with others." He
also said: "A man has sinned if he neglects to feed those in need."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in Washington, D.C., and has 31 regional offices and chapters
nationwide and in Canada.
CONTACT: Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-Mail:
karen@cair-ohio.com; Brent Meyer, 513-276-1600, E-Mail:
meyer_brent@hotmail.com
-----
CAIR-PHILLY: AREA GROUPS KICK IN WITH RANGE OF AID -
TOP
Donations, prayers and visits to the affected area to volunteer are part of the local effort.
Mike Benner, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/11/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/12870933.htm
Groups in the Philadelphia area, like many around the world, are
rushing to organize relief efforts to Pakistan, urging people to donate
money, time and prayers for those whose lives have been devastated by
Saturday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake.
CAIR-Philly, the local branch of the Council on Islamic-American
Relations, is urging American Muslims and other individuals of
conscience, via e-mail and other publicity efforts, to contribute
through local organizations. Groups such as the Foundation for Islamic
Education in Villanova and the Muslim Society of Delaware Valley in the
city's Kensington section will take donations during community iftaars,
nightly meals that celebrate the breaking of fasts during Ramadan.
Adeeba Al-Zaman, director of communications for CAIR-Philly, said the
Villanova mosque collected several thousand dollars Sunday night.
Mohammad Aziz, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Valley Forge
Mosque, called donors' generosity "heartbreaking." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: DOCTOR FEELS PAIN FROM AFAR -
TOP
Pakistanis in S. Florida mourn losses
Alva James-Johnson, Sun-Sentinel, 10/11/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cpakistan11oct11,0,2803479.story
Dr. Sultan Sultan's voice cracked and his eyes welled with tears Monday
as he counted the family members that he lost in the earthquake in
Pakistan. But it was the death of his medical school friend that broke
his heart.
Dr. Khan Pervez remained in Pakistan to care for the poor while other
doctors were building better lives in America, Sultan said. Pervez died
with his wife and three children, casualties in one of the worst
disasters in the country's history.
"I feel guilty and wish I could be there to help," said Sultan, 50, an
internist with a private practice in Margate. "But my brother said
there's nothing I could do if I come, just send the money to help the
people."
Sultan told his story during a prayer service and news conference at a
mosque in Miami Gardens where a group of Muslim Americans launched a
fund-raising effort to benefit earthquake victims in Pakistan.
Participating organizations included the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, the Islamic Circle of North America and the Association of
Pakistani Physicians of North America.
"This is the month of Ramadan, and Muslims have to give a percentage of
their assets to charity," said Altaf Ali of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. "This is a time when every Muslim will have
an opportunity to give." (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM HEALTH CARE VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR QUAKE RELIEF -
TOP
The Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA), (
www.appna.org
) along with other Muslim medical associations, is seeking health care
professionals interested in going to Pakistan to provide assistance to
victims of the recent earthquake.
Please forward the following information as soon as possible to:
fc2020@columbia.edu, copy to:
appna@sbcglobal.net
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
ZIP:
Office Phone:
Office Fax:
Home Phone:
Home Fax:
E-Mail:
Primary Specialty:
Secondary Specialty:
Notice Required:
Length of Potential Stay:
Able to bring, arrange or carry medicines and other medical supplies:
Knowledge of and/or preference for any of the affected areas:
SEE ALSO:
IMANA ESTABLISHES SOUTH ASIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND -
TOP
http://www.imana.org/
The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) is working
with the Pakistani Islamic Medical Association and APPNA to provide
medicine, tents, blankets and other medical supplies for local doctors.
Shiraz Malik
Executive Director
Islamic Medical Association of North America
101 W. 22nd Street, Suite 106, Lombard, IL 60148
Phone: 630.932-0000 ~ Fax: 630.932-0005
E-mail:
shiraz.malik@imana.org ~ Website:
www.imana.org
---
ICNA RELIEF ALLOCATES $500K FOR QUAKE AID -
TOP
The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA RELIEF/HELPING HANDS) has now
allocated $500,000 to respond to the emergency in Pakistan.
CONTACT: Irfan Khurshid, 718-658-7028; Farhan, 732-713-7465
Fazal Rahman, Tel. 905-257-9997
www.reliefonline.org
---
ISLAMIC RELIEF RESPONDS TO QUAKE WITH $10 MILLION APPEAL -
TOP
http://www.irw.org/asiaquake/
Islamic Relief has launched a worldwide $10 million appeal for
emergency disaster relief for earthquake victims. Of this, $4 million
has already been allocated for immediate relief projects.
ISLAMIC RELIEF USA
1919 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91506
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6098
Burbank, CA 91510
Toll Free: 1 (888) 479-4968
Tel: 1 (818) 238-9520
Fax: 1 (818) 238-9521
E-Mail:
info@irw.org
Media Contacts:
Arif Shaikh
Media and Public Relations Manager
Islamic Relief
E-Mail:
arif@irw.org
(310) 351-3931 mobile
---
UMAA ESTABLISHES DISASTER RELIEF FUND -
TOP
The Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA) has established the
Pakistan Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. UMAA is a tax-exempt
organization (tax-exempt number: 11-367-9225). The tax-deductible
donations can be by check made out to: UMAA Pakistan Earthquake Relief
Fund, P.O. Box 414, Burtonsville, MD 20866.
CONTACT: Dr. Parvez Shah
Chief Coordinator
UMAA Office Phone: 410-584-7254
Cell: 646-932-8622
---
AMERICAN MUSLIMS RAISE FUNDS FOR ASIA QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Turkish Weekly, 10/10/05
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=20599
Islamic charities in the United States have issued urgent appeals for
donations to help victims of the devastating earthquake that battered
South Asia, boasting prompt response.
"We've raised 100,000 dollars online in less than 24 hours," Arif
Shaikh, a spokesman for the international charity Islamic Relief US
branch, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The Islamic Relief, which has launched a 10 million dollar appeal,
operates a health clinic in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir that has
treated some 2,000 people.
Between 30,000 and 40,000 people were killed in an earthquake measuring
7.6 on the Richter scale that centered on an area north of Islamabad,
wiping entire towns off the map in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and
burying victims in tombs of mud and rubble, according to Pakistani and
international officials.
Pakistan called it the worst disaster in its history as the casualty toll continued to rise.
Shaikh said non-governmental organizations in the United States had
asked the charity to deliver donations of medicine and medical supplies
to affected areas.
Islamic Relief has three full-time offices in Islamabad, Neelum Valley,
and Muzaffarabad, near areas hardest hit by the disaster.
"Our staff is on the ground conducting a needs-assessment," Shaikh said.
Islamic Relief has worked in Pakistan since 1992 on emergency relief, development and disaster preparedness projects.
Its work is heavily focused on the areas that have been badly affected
by the new disaster, including Muzaffarabad and Bagh where Islamic
Relief has several projects.
More Donations
The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) said on its Web site it was
donating 250,000 dollars to the relief effort and had sent the head of
its relief operations to Pakistan.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
main Islamic civil rights and advocacy group, called on American
Muslims and other people of conscience to help the quake victims.
"Just as Americans came together to help the victims of recent Gulf
Coast hurricanes, we must do whatever we can to help those suffering
from natural disasters in other parts of the world," CAIRO spokesman
Ibrahim Hooper said in a press release posted on the group's Web site.
He said those wishing to help should direct contributions to the Muslim
Hurricane Relief Task Force (MHRTF), a group formed by US Islamic
charities after Hurricane Katrina struck the southern US coast in
August. (MORE)
---
DELAWARE MUSLIMS RALLY TO AID EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051011/NEWS/510110340/-1/NEWS01
HOW TO HELP
Contact The Islamic Society of Delaware at 733-0373.
The following nearby Pennsylvania groups also are collecting funds,
according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Philadelphia
office. Checks should be designated "earthquake aid," and all donations
are tax-deductible.
o The American Muslim Society of the Tristate Area and The Foundation
for Islamic Education, both at 1860 Montgomery Ave., Villanova, PA
19085.
o Islamic Society of Greater Valley Forge, 958 Valley Forge Road, Devon, PA 19333.
o Muslim Society of Delaware Valley, 2209 N. Front St., Philadelphia, PA 19133.
---
LOWER HUDSON VALLEY MUSLIMS AID PAKISTANI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
MERYL HYMAN HARRIS AND SUZAN CLARKE, JOURNAL NEWS, 10/11/05
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051011/NEWS02/510110348/1020/NEWS04
Houssain Din is leaving for Pakistan tomorrow after learning that 26 of
his family members in Prim Koot were among the estimated 21,000 people
who perished during the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck the
country Saturday.
"My wife's family is more affected. Their family, their brother, three
children, their sister with the six children, their cousins, brothers,
they're all dead," Din, who worships at the Masjid Darul Ehsan mosque
in Suffern, said yesterday.
Malika Niazi, who runs an Islamic school in Cortlandt with her husband,
heard from her father in Rawalpindi that his home and others there and
in Islamabad were spared for the most part, though many people they
know were not.
"The loss is great in the villages, where the houses are not made very
strong," she said. "A lot of the poor people are suffering."
How to donate:
Donations for the earthquake victims may be sent to the following organizations
o Upper Westchester Muslim Society, 401 Clairmont Ave., Thornwood, NY 10594.
o Westchester Muslim Center, 22 Brookfield Road, Mount Vernon, NY
10552. Checks can be made out to EDHI, a Pakistani charitable
foundation.
o The American Red Cross accepts contributions to its International
Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013, or visit
www.redcross.org.
o The Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force at
www.mhrtf.net and the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America, at
www.appna.org, are coordinating relief efforts.
---
MICHIGAN MOBILIZES QUAKE AID -
TOP
NIRAJ WARIKOO, Detroit Free Press, 10/11/05
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/qfamilies11e_20051011.htm
Though the quake erupted half a world away, its effects rippled across
a state that has seen a 128% increase in its Indian and Pakistani
populations from 1990 to 2000. There are now almost 59,000 Michigan
residents with roots in those two countries.
In Southfield, the Pakistan Association of America is working on
creating a Web site and toll-free phone number that people can call to
donate money for relief, said association president Naveed Ashraf.
"There's a new horror story every time you call" Pakistan, Ashraf said Monday. "Pakistan has never needed help as it does now."
To that end, Ashraf planned to meet late Monday evening with other
Pakistani Americans to discuss how to mobilize the community. In
Canton, Muslims at a mosque with large numbers of Indians and
Pakistanis are planning to hold a fund-raiser today; they're hoping to
sponsor at least 140 families with $250 each for tents and food, said
Canton attorney Haaris Ahmad.
And across Michigan, doctors with the Association of Pakistani
Physicians of North America are working on sending medical relief teams
to their homeland, said Ranna Akbar, a Saginaw physician with the
Chicago-based group. As of Monday, the association already had raised
$150,000, said Rashid Piracha, a doctor from West Virginia who is
president-elect of the group.
Local groups that are helping
Here is information on some of the groups trying to help victims of the earthquake.
The Pakistan Association of America, based in Southfield, is accepting donations. Visit
www.paamich.org
for more information. Or mail cash donations to Pakistan Association of
America, Pakistan Relief Fund, 20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 170,
Southfield 48076.
The Islamic Association of Greater Detroit is holding a fund-raiser
Oct. 23. The mosque is at 879 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills.
Admission is $50 per family. Contact your local mosque for more
information on fund-raisers.
More ways to help
The Pakistan Red Crescent and Indian Red Cross are working on search
and rescue efforts. Call 800-435-7669 to donate money. Contributions to
the International Response Fund may be sent to local American Red Cross
chapters or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O.
Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. People wanting to donate can also
visit
www.redcross.org.
Life for Relief and Development is seeking money, tents, blankets, plastic sheets and nonperishable foods. Go to
www.lifeusa.org or call 800-827-3543.
The government of Pakistan is accepting donations at its embassy in
Washington, D.C. Make checks payable to the President's Relief Fund and
send them to the Embassy of Pakistan, 3517 International Court NW,
Washington, DC 20008.
The Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America is also helping in relief efforts. Visit
www.appna.org for more information, or mail checks to APPNA, 6414 S. Cass Ave., Westmont, IL 60559.
---
LOCAL PEOPLE HOPING TO REACH OUT TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
KDKA, 10/10/05
http://kdka.com/local/local_story_283205242.html
Pittsburgh (KDKA) Local people with friends and family in the earthquake zone have been calling home.
The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh is kicking off a series of fundraisers for the relief effort. (MORE)
---
LOCAL MUSLIM GROUP ORGANIZES PAKISTAN QUAKE RELIEF -
TOP
Ann Notarangelo, CBS-5, 101/10/05
http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_283201526.html
(CBS 5) Donations have been coming in steadily to the Hidaya
Foundation. They've asked for warm clothing, blankets and shoes since
winter is coming to Pakistan.
People have been extremely generous. What's a little more difficult to
come by in some parts of South Asia, however, is information.
Many who are sending donations to Pakistan have family still living
there. For the most part, cell phones seem to be working in Islamabad
and people here are able to get updates.
Fremont resident Nashaba Rahman got word her immediate family is OK but
some in-laws are missing and presumed dead. Her sister has described
utter devastation. "(She said) it's too hard to see sometimes," said
Rahman. "Kids are coming out in pieces, little bodies lined up in their
school uniforms, it's very depressing."
Information is scarce - or non-existent from the small towns in the
northern part of Pakistan. The president of the Hidaya Foundation,
which spearheads charitable projects in Pakistan, India and other
countries, says people are resigned they may have to wait a week or
more to learn the fate of their loved ones. Roads must be reopenend, so
people can get into the devastated areas and report back who survived
and who did not. (MORE)
---
MADISON MUSLIM COMMUNITY COORDINATING LOCAL HELP -
TOP
Many Family Members Affected By Pakistani Earthquake
http://www.channel3000.com/news/5082495/detail.html
MADISON, Wis. -- Local families with loved ones in Pakistan and India
are pitching in to help any way they can after the devastating
earthquake.
The tears, devastation and heartache reach across thousands of miles to Madisonian Mohammed Hashim.
His family lives in Southern Pakistan.
Luckily they are OK.
But his army brother Cpl. Tariq was sent to the front line.
"He's probably coordinating all the efforts," said Hashim. "Probably
doing some excavations, probably him and his people will be picking up
bodies." (MORE)
---
MUSLIM GROUPS ASK FOR MORE QUAKE DONATIONS -
TOP
MICHELLE SAHN, Asbury Park Press, 10/11/05
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051011/NEWS/510110319
Local Muslims are being asked to donate much more than usual during
this year's observance of Ramadan, in order to help the victims of the
earthquake that struck South Asia on Saturday.
"This is special," said Ziaulhaq Zia, chairman of the Islamic Center of
Ocean County. "This is such a big tragedy, so we're asking people to do
much more, as much as they can." (MORE)
---
VALLEY MUSLIMS COLLECT AID FOR QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Steve Lord, BEACON News, 10/11/05
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/top/2_1_AU11_QUAKE_S1.htm
AURORA - Fortunately for Shahed Siddiqui, the waiting was not long.
Within a day of news of the devastating, 7.8-magnitude, earthquake that
hit northern Pakistan on Saturday, he found out that his relatives who
might have been in the quake were uninjured.
"My mother called me, and we heard they were OK, by the grace of God," said Siddiqui, a 25-year resident of Aurora.
That's because he and most of his family come from the southern part of
Pakistan, near Karachi, where the quake had little effect. But in the
northern part of the country, the quake claimed more than 20,000 lives,
perhaps half of those in the Kashmir region of the country, not too far
from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. (MORE)
---
LOCAL MUSLIMS COLLECT FUNDS FOR QUAKE RELIEF -
TOP
J.D. GALLOP, FLORIDA TODAY
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051010/BREAKINGNEWS/51010013
Like they did for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami,
local Muslims - including Pakistanis - have begun collecting relief
funds at the Melbourne mosque as the death toll continues to mount from
last week's deadly quake that leveled villages in Pakistan and struck
portions of India.
"They are in our prayers," said Dr. Syed Murshid, a 41-year-old native
of Pakistan and an optical electronics professor at Florida Tech in
Melbourne. "We are gathering some local funds at the local mosque. Last
week during the Friday service we collected about between $1,000 to
$1,500." (MORE)
How to help:
Those interested in donating to the earthquake relief fund can call the
Islamic Society of Brevard Mosque at (321) 984-4129 to leave a message.
-----
WEBSITE 'SWAPPED WAR PHOTOS FOR PORN' -
TOP
Catherine Elsworth, Telegraph, 10/11/05
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/11/website11.xml
The operator of a website which allegedly allowed American soldiers to
post gruesome photos of Iraqi war casualties for access to pornography
has been arrested on obscenity charges.
Christopher Wilson faces more than 300 charges relating to the distribution of obscene material.
The charges are not connected to the grisly war pictures which appeared on the site, only its sexual context.
A military investigation of the site was launched after complaints from
groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which wrote
to Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary.
Several of the photos showed men wearing what appeared to be US
uniforms, standing over charred corpses and mutilated bodies. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
BOEING/BELL MOSQUE ATTACK AD: UNLEASHING HELL -
TOP
The New Republic, 10/11/05
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20051017&s=notebook101705twp
It descends from the heavens. Ironically it unleashes hell." So read
the ad depicting Special Forces troops rappelling from one of the
military's new tilt-rotor CV-22 Ospreys onto the roof of a domed
building labeled, in Arabic, mohammed mosque. Indeed, the ironies here
are plentiful. After the ad was published in the National Journal,
sparking outrage from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Osprey
manufacturers Boeing and Bell Helicopters issued an apology. But the ad
had already run last month in the Armed Forces Journal and Air Force
Magazine--and apparently no one thought to apologize to that particular
readership. As for descending from the heavens, the Osprey family of
military planes has an unfortunate history of doing so unintentionally:
Over the course of their 15-year development, Ospreys have crashed four
times, killing 30 servicemen. Finally, in a spectacular case of poor
timing, the ad's debut in the National Journal coincided with the
kickoff of public diplomacy czar Karen Hughes's "listening tour" of the
Middle East, which was designed in part to help dispel the impression
that Americans are at war with Islam (an impression that hasn't been
helped by stories about American troops attacking mosques in Falluja
and elsewhere). "By the time you see it, it's too late," the Osprey ad
copy also read. The same could be said of U.S. efforts to rehabilitate
its image in the Muslim world.
-----
FOR MUSLIM CONVERTS, RAMADAN OFFERS A CHANCE TO GATHER WITH OTHERS OF ISLAMIC FAITH -
TOP
Jacqueline Shoyeb, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10/10/05
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05283/585675.stm
As the sun's final rays faded into a purple glow last Wednesday night,
the corner of Bigelow Boulevard and Parkman Avenue came alive as men
and women wearing colorful head scarves poured into the Oakland mosque.
They traded Arabic greetings of peace and praise to God as they entered the brick building for prayer.
Chantal Blake of Friendship stood in a circle with other young women in
head scarves wearing loose robes that hid their shape or casual jeans.
It's Ramadan, the Muslim holy month spent in fasting and worship. Mrs.
Blake and others gathered at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh mosque to
wait for the sun to dip below the horizon, signaling the time to break
their daylong fast from food and drink, and then pray.
But unlike most of the Muslims there, the 22-year-old New York City
native was not born into the faith. She's a convert, and this is her
third Ramadan.
Among the estimated billion Muslims worldwide celebrating the second
week of Ramadan are a growing number of converts like Mrs. Blake, or,
as most prefer to be called, reverts because they feel they are
reverting back to the faith they lost after being born into a
non-Muslim family or society.
In the United States, an estimated 20,000 people convert to Islam each
year, according to a 2001 study on mosques by the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. Locally, the number has been growing
quickly in the greater Pittsburgh area, which has an estimated 8,000 to
10,000 Muslims, said Yusuf Ali, president of the Islamic Council of
Greater Pittsburgh. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIMS INVITE PUBLIC TO MEAL -
TOP
ANGELA CARBONE, Republican, 10/11/05
http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1129016408213190.xml&coll=1
WEST SPRINGFIELD - During Ramadan, the local Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts again is reaching out to the community.
The Islamic Society is inviting people to share the breaking of the
fast with them, called the "Iftar," at sunset every Saturday in Ramadan
at the Islamic Center, 377 Amostown Road.
A special interfaith Iftar Party, is scheduled for Oct. 20.
More than 1 billion Muslims around the world observe the holy month of
Ramadan, which began Oct. 5, by fasting from dawn to sunset, and
gathering for prayers and a light meal with family and friends in the
evening. It is a time of contemplation and worship.
Muslims believe that during this ninth month of the Islamic calendar
year the Koran was sent down to earth to the prophet Muhammad.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the largest Muslim
advocacy organizations in the United States, in September announced an
initiative, "Sharing Ramadan," in which it is helping local Muslim
communities organize "Iftars" for their areas. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
BAYLOR STUDENTS GET GLIMPSE OF RAMADAN -
TOP
Terri Jo Ryan, Tribune-Herald, 10/11/05
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/10/11/20051011wacramadan.html
A rich, throaty rumble rose from the two dozen men seated on the carpet
at the Islamic Center of Waco. While they reaffirmed their allegiance
to God and the teachings of his prophet, Muhammed, in a chant more than
14 centuries old, they had company at the area's original mosque.
Baylor associate professor Chris Van Gorder's world religions class was sitting in on the Jummah, the weekly prayer meeting.
Ramadan started Oct. 4, so a lesson on Islam's holiest month - a time
of sacrifice, charity and introspection - was in order, Van Gorder said.
More than 30 students, many visiting a mosque for the first time,
listened to Firasath Riyaz, a Baylor University student seeking his
masters degree in computer science, who provided the guest sermon.
Drawing parallels between the faith systems of the "people of the book"
(Jews and Christians) and Muslims, who follow the Quran, Riyaz
discussed the health benefits as well as spiritual bonuses of the
month-long fast associated with Ramadan.
Quoting almost as much from the New Testament as he did from his own
holy book - which many Muslims read cover-to-cover this month - Riyaz
said that the discipline offered by the Quran helps Muslims maintain
God-centered lives.
Students also met Abdul Haleem, 75, a Pakistani visitor to the Waco
mosque, who led some of the group prayers as a guest imam. He memorized
the Quran at age 10, said mosque president Al Siddiq, and can recite it
on request.
Siddiq said that his congregation is not only interested in hosting
students who want to learn more about Islam, but in inviting the
"neighbors" to dinner.
It is traditional during Ramadan for Muslims to abstain from food,
drink and other sensual pleasures from the break of dawn to sunset. The
special period ends Nov. 3.
They traditionally break their fast in the evening with dates,
following the custom of the prophet Muhammad, and then a post-sunset
meal, known as iftar, with family and friends.
The Islamic Center of Waco and the Islamic Center of Hewitt are making
a special effort this month to help Americans of all faiths meet their
Muslims neighbors by taking part in a Ramadan "iftar," or fast-breaking
meal after sunset.
Nationwide, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national
Muslim advocacy organization, conducts an annual "Sharing Ramadan"
outreach effort designed to combat religious and cultural prejudice in
American society.
According to the Washington-based civil rights and advocacy group,
anti-Muslim bias decreases when people have access to accurate
information about Islam and are able to connect on a personal level
with ordinary Muslims. (MORE)
---
HOLD A 'SHARING RAMADAN' IFTAR -
TOP
For a step-by-step guide to hosting a "Sharing Ramadan" Iftar, go to:
www.cair.com/sharingramadan05.pdf
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
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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 - 10/12/05
*
Hadith:
Help Alleviate the
Suffering of Others
*
Help CAIR Raise $1 Million
During Ramadan
*
CAIR:
Ramadan
Iftar Held on Capitol Hill
-
CAIR Condemns Beating by New
Orleans Police
*
CAIR-FL Describes
Muslim Response to Asia Quake
-
CAIR-OH:
Muslim
Community Prays for Quake Victims
-
CAIR-Chicago:
Ramadan and
the White Sox
*
ACTION:
Ask President, Congress to Boost Quake
Aid
-
GA:
Muslims Respond with Aid,
Hugs (Atlanta Journal)
-
CA:
Inland Muslims Boost Relief
Effort (PE)
-
Hawaii Muslims Organize Aid for Quake
Victims
-
VA:
Muslims Help Quake
Victims (Times Mirror)
-
NY:
Victims in Ramadan
Prayers (Newsday)
*
Charities Report Low Donations
for Quake Victims (Wash Post)
*
NY:
Growing
Role of Islam in Latino Culture
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: HELP ALLEVIATE THE
SUFFERING OF OTHERS -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who alleviates
the suffering of a brother (in this) world, God will alleviate his
(suffering on) the Day of Resurrection."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1245
-----
HELP CAIR RAISE $1 MILLION
DURING RAMADAN -
TOP
http://www.cair.com/ramadan2005/
-----
RAMADAN IFTAR HELD ON
CAPITOL HILL -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/12/05) - Almost 100 congressional staffers,
American Muslim community leaders and diplomats from Islamic-majority
nations turned out last night for the third annual Ramadan
"iftar," or fast-breaking meal, on Capitol Hill.
The iftar, held in the Rayburn House Office Building, was co-sponsored by
11 House members and coordinated by the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America's largest Muslim civil
liberties group. It featured the breaking of the fast, the Islamic sunset
prayer (maghrib) and remarks by CAIR officials and representatives of
House members.
Following introductory remarks by CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah
Ahmed, the council's Government Affairs Director Corey Saylor thanked the
attendees and said the annual iftar offers an excellent opportunity for
Muslim leaders and congressional staffers to network on issues of mutual
concern.
"This annual tradition is designed to foster greater understanding
of Islam and the Muslim community on Capitol Hill," said CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad, who spoke at last night's event. "It
is also intended to show appreciation for congressional staffers who have
been working closely with American Muslims."
CAIR has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is
to enhance the 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 Government Affairs Director Corey Saylor,
202-646-6039 or 571-278-4658, E-Mail:
csaylor@cair-net.org; 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
SEE ALSO:
CAIR CONDEMNS BEATING BY NEW ORLEANS
POLICE -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/12/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and advocacy group today condemned the beating of a 64-year-old retired
school teacher who was repeatedly punched by New Orleans police on
Saturday.
In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) said:
"The brutality exhibited by police officers in their mistreatment of
Robert Davis cannot be justified and should be condemned by all those who
seek justice in our society."
Davis, who is African-American, said he was out to buy cigarettes in the
French Quarter when he was beaten by three white officers and then
arrested. Police alleged that Davis was intoxicated, a charge he denied.
The incident was caught on videotape and has sparked a nationwide
outcry.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
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: 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-FL DESCRIBES MUSLIM
RESPONSE TO ASIA QUAKE -
TOP
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-pakistan-video,0,3631031.wmvfile
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH:
MUSLIM COMMUNITY DEALS WITH UNCERTAINTY, PRAYS FOR ITS HOMELAND -
TOP
Sherri Williams, Columbus Dispatch, 10/11/05
http://www.dispatch.com/national-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/10/11/20051011-A1-02.html
The tragedy has been more than a news story in Columbus' Muslim
community, said Ahmad Al-Akhras, president of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations' Ohio chapter.
"It was mentioned in the mosque (Sunday)," he said.
"This is the time of Ramadan, when people gather in the evening for
prayer. People were praying for the victims and their
families."
For Altaf Wani, 54, television images of crumbled buildings and crushed
homes were the only connection he had to his wife, Gulzar, 53, who also
was in Kashmir visiting her family, and to Manzoor, his
brother.
"We did not know what to think. There were all kinds of fears coming
into our minds," Wani said, including their two children, Baraq, 24,
and Najum, 18. "We were very anxious. We did not know what was going
on."
Wani talked to his wife nearly 10 hours after he learned of the
earthquake. Mrs. Wani, a senior research associate in radiology at Ohio
State, was not injured.
"Finally, we were relieved," said Wani, a radiology professor
at the university. "But we are still very sad. A lot of our brethren
have perished, and there is extreme misery."
Mrs. Wani is expected back at the family's Northwest Side home next
month.
The Pakistani community is turning its pain into action and mobilizing
fundraising efforts for their devastated homeland.
Dr. Shahid Sheikh, associate professor of pediatrics at Ohio State, is
the president of the local chapter of the Association of Physicians of
Pakistani Descent in North America.
The group already had raised $3,500.
Because Pakistan lacks the infrastructure, equipment and resources to
deal with such a disaster, relief will be critical to victims, said Dr.
Asma Mobin-Uddin, vice president of the Ohio chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
"People were trying to lift cement with their bare hands," said
Mobin-Uddin, who has family in Pakistan and visited the country in
March.
"You know there were people under the cement buildings after the
earthquake. Help could be there if they had machinery to get out people
who otherwise may have been unable to make it."
---
CAIR-CHICAGO:
JEWISH SOX FANS FACE A RARE DILEMMA -
TOP
DAVE NEWBART, Chicago Sun Times, 10/12/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-nws-soxyom12.html
It was almost a game-day decision for Sox fan Jonathan Greenspahn. He
struggled until late Tuesday to decide whether to attend tonight's
American League Championship Series game, which falls on Yom Kippur, the
holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar.
In the end, the season ticket holder, a managing partner in Le Lan
restaurant, sold his tickets, opting to skip the game.
Jewish rabbis -- from reform to orthodox -- said Tuesday it's not allowed
under Jewish law to attend the game -- or even to watch it on TV. .
.
Meanwhile, Muslims, who are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, have
less to worry about. Muslims are required to pray five times a day, plus
an additional sixth "communal'' prayer, said Ahmed Rehab, spokesman
for the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
However, that sixth prayer -- which takes place at 8 p.m. at most mosques
in the area -- is not mandatory.
"There is nothing that suggests that we can't watch the game,''
Rehab said. He knows a group of five Muslims who plan to watch it, and
then pray together afterward. (MORE)
-----
ACTION: ASK PRESIDENT, CONGRESS TO BOOST AID FOR
QUAKE ZONE -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/12/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today urged American Muslims and other people of conscience to
call their elected representatives, including President Bush, to ask that
the U.S. government provide more aid for areas traumatized by the South
Asia earthquake.
The 7.6 magnitude earthquake devastated the region and may have claimed
40,000 lives. According to the United Nations, up to 2 million people
have been made homeless by the earthquake. Thousands of refugees are
living in flimsy shelters as temperatures are dropping.
The United States has provided eight military helicopters and made an
initial contribution of $50 million.
ACTON REQUESTED:
Follow the link below and send messages to your elected officials asking
them to make more aid available to victims of the earthquake.
GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=8108511
CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Corey Saylor, 202-488-8787 or
571-278-4658, E-Mail:
csaylor@cair-net.org
SEE ALSO:
GA: COMMUNITY RESPONDS WITH
DONATIONS, HUGS -
TOP
BRIAN FEAGANS, Atlanta Journal, 10/12/05
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/gwinnett/1005/12quake.html
Natives of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan are helping pay for flights
back home. They are holding relief fund-raisers at county mosques,
temples and restaurants this week. And they are giving grieving relatives
such as Awan something he can't get from his own family right now:
hugs.
Fazal "Fazi" Khan, project director of the Norcross-based A
Grain of Hope Foundation, embraced Awan before the two even spoke outside
his apartment Tuesday. Khan, a Norcross print shop owner who has lived in
metro Atlanta for nearly 20 years, spent Tuesday trying to drum up
donations and visiting families who had lost loved ones. A Grain of Hope
raised about $20,000 by Tuesday and was collecting winter clothes,
sleeping bags and medical supplies that will be flown into Pakistan, Khan
said.
The tragedy came during the holy month of Ramadan, when many Muslims
believe they should be most generous. Khan had feared collections would
be slow in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But he found otherwise.
"Thanks to God, people are generous," Khan said. "They
donated before and they are donating again." (MORE)
---
CA: INLAND MUSLIMS BOOST RELIEF EFFORT -
TOP
BETTYE WELLS MILLER, Press-Enterprise, 10/11/05
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_relief12.13169e40.html
Inland Muslims will continue raising money for Pakistan earthquake
victims during prayer services on Friday as Islamic relief groups in the
United States coordinate the delivery of aid to staff and partner
agencies in the Himalayan region.
American Muslims, many with family in South Asia, will play an important
role in fund-raising for victims of Saturday's catastrophic earthquake,
Inland residents and others said.
"Many people have lost family," said Shakeel Syed, executive
director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California. "Many
have family there who are helping others who have been displaced. And the
majority (of Muslims) here are fairly resourceful."
The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, an organization of
mosques and Islamic centers, has asked members to focus Friday sermons on
the role everyone can play in alleviating suffering and to give
generously to earthquake-relief efforts.
The council also will sponsor a fundraising dinner on Nov. 13 and will
send a delegation of Southern California Muslims to Pakistan later this
week to determine what help is needed now and long-term.
The quake struck four days after the start of Ramadan, the holiest month
of the Islamic calendar.
Ramadan is a month of daylight fasting and prayer. It also is a time in
which Muslims are called to be especially mindful of the needs of others,
Syed said by phone, and a time in which acts of charity are believed to
elicit greater reward.
Most mosques began raising money immediately, Inland Muslims
said.
Many are still raising money for victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes as
well and sent money to relief groups helping tsunami survivors in South
Asia.
Southern California Muslims have raised more than $5 million for
hurricane victims so far, Syed said.
"It is overwhelming," Kalim Farooki, chairman of the Islamic
Society of Corona-Norco board of trustees, said of the relief need for
victims of tsunamis, hurricanes and now the earthquake along the
India-Pakistan border. "Life is a test. We should never see this
calamity as punishment. It is an opportunity for people with means to
help people who are suffering."
The center has raised several thousand dollars for earthquake victims so
far, Farooki said by phone.
In Temecula, Muslims sent food and clothing to the Gulf Coast for
Hurricane Katrina victims and now are raising money for Pakistanis who
lost everything in the quake, said Mahmoud Harmoush, director of the
Islamic Center of Temecula Valley.
Representatives of the Michigan-based LIFE for Relief and Development and
Islamic Relief in Burbank will be at the mosque this weekend to accept
donations, Harmoush said by phone.
The two groups are among four recommended by the Shura Council. The
others are Islamic Circle of North America Relief of Jamaica, N.Y., and
Human Assistance and Development International of Culver City.
(MORE)
---
HAWAII MUSLIMS ORGANIZE FUNDRAISING FOR
QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Hawaii Channel, 10/11/05
http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/5085674/detail.html
HONOLULU -- Muslims in Hawaii have launched a fundraising drive for the
victims of the South Asia earthquake that left more than 30,000 people
dead.
KITV accepted an invitation to be present at a special gathering of the
Muslim Association of Hawaii at the Muslim mosque in Manoa.
Muslims gathered in Manoa to pray in the sacred month of Ramadan. It is
the month of forgiveness, the month to draw closer to Allah. Muslims fast
from sunrise to sunset. They prayed at the mosque before breaking their
fast. On Monday night, they prayed for the earthquake victims.
Khan is from Pakistan. He has family there and knows the stricken area
well. He is one of perhaps 300 Pakistanis in Hawaii among about 1,500
Muslims.
For Khan the pictures of the damage are especially meaningful.
"Communications is very difficult over there. Transportation is not
good over there. So, they require immediate help," Khan said.
"It is most important to help them. To immediately help
them."
It is not the first fundraising effort by the Muslim Association of
Hawaii. They recently raised $65,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
(MORE)
---
VA: MUSLIMS HELP QUAKE
VICTIMS -
TOP
Loudon Times Mirror, 10/11/05
http://www.timescommunity.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=15369651&BRD=2553&PAG=461&dept_id=506037&rfi=6
During a break between Ramadan holy month prayers Sunday night at the All
Dulles Area Muslim Society Center, worshipers dug deep to help their
brethren devastated by the weekend earthquake in Pakistan and India. More
than 95 percent of Pakistanis are Muslims.
"Prayers were made for the victims," said spokesman Shirin
Elkoshairi. "It was wrapped in the same prayer that everyone was
doing.
---
NY: VICTIMS IN RAMADAN
PRAYERS -
TOP
ZACHARY R. DOWDY JR, Newsday, 10/12/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-liquak124465763oct12,0,1743106.story
Ramadan at the Islamic Center of Long Island always draws hundreds to its
post-fast feasts. Its solemn prayers and community events are a mainstay
for area Muslims as they observe Islam's holiest month in the spirit of
goodwill.
Last night's prayers, with nearly 400 attending the Westbury mosque, had
an added dimension. There were calls for mercy and charity on behalf of
thousands killed and injured by the earthquake that struck Pakistan and
Kashmir last weekend.
Orderly rows of worshippers, young and old, faced Mecca in prayer,
bending and then kneeling in unison.
The tragedy, which has taken between 20,000 and 40,000 lives and
destroyed entire villages, has been exacerbated by torrential rain and
near-freezing night climes.
Islamic Center members said last night they plan fundraising events and a
trip to the devastated area to deliver needed supplies. (MORE)
-----
CHARITIES REPORT LOW DONATIONS FOR
QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Jacqueline L. Salmon, Washington Post, 10/12/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/11/AR2005101101884.html
The massive earthquake that killed an estimated 30,000 people in South
Asia has kindled an outpouring of cash from Muslim communities here and
elsewhere but has elicited a far more feeble response from many other
donors, aid groups say.
After donating about $1.3 billion to help the victims of the devastating
Southeast Asia tsunami and then contributing $1.7 billion to support
relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, many donors appear to be running
out of steam.
"Each time, the response is not as brisk as it was the previous time
around," said Akhter Mohammed, chief executive of Interaction, a
Washington-based group that represents 165 international relief agencies,
many of which are assisting in relief efforts for earthquake victims. .
.
Agencies and charity researchers say "donor fatigue" might be
part of the problem. The third major disaster within a year simply is not
registering with Americans as strongly as did the previous two. .
.
By contrast, the South Asia earthquake is generating a passionate
response among Pakistani and Muslim communities because such a large area
affected was in Pakistan.
At Ramadan prayer services Monday night, worshipers at the All Dulles
Muslim Area Society in Sterling donated $40,000 in cash and checks to
Islamic Relief, a California relief group. Another collection will take
place during Friday services at the mosque.
Close to 40 percent of its members have roots in Pakistan, India and
Kashmir, said Parvez Khan, operations manager for the mosque.
"It hits home for everyone," he said.
-----
RELIGION, CULTURE MIX
AT ITFAR DINNER -
TOP
After Ramadan Dinner, Students Discuss Growing Role of Islam in Latino
Culture
Lauren Melnick, Columbia Spectator, 10/12/05
http://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/12/434ccd7e69d50
Students came together to break their Ramadan fast over an iftar dinner
and stayed for halal tex-mex in Lerner.
The mix of the two unlikely meals represented the blend of cultures at
Tuesday night's "Latinos in Islam: Rediscovering our Roots."
The event was organized to educate attendees about the role that Islam
has played in Latino culture and the growing Latino Muslim
population.
The program, which was scheduled to coincide with both Ramadan and Latino
Heritage Month, was organized at the suggestion of Hernan Guadalupe,
director and founder of the Latino Muslim Outreach Program and a recent
Muslim convert.
"We believe [Latino Muslim culture] to be an interesting topic which
hasn't really been discussed over the years," said Guadalupe.
"My goal is to have people really enjoy the information and walk out
knowing something new about Islam and about being Latino."
Originally from Ecuador and a native Spanish speaker, Guadalupe said he
was raised in a strong Catholic household. It was not until his junior
year of college in 2001 that he converted to Islam. In March 2005, he
co-founded the LMOP, a New Jersey-based grassroots organization that aims
to introduce more Latinos to Islam and clarify misconceptions and
stereotypes about Islam.
Guadalupe attributed the appeal of Islam to "the clarity,
simplicity, and satisfaction of this way of life," and said some
Latinos converted because they "were not satisfied with the religion
or way of life bestowed upon them by their culture."
(MORE)
-----
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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
AMERICAN MUSLIMS PLEDGE $20 MILLION IN AID FOR
QUAKE VICTIMS
Leaders to Hold News Conference Calling for Formation of Presidential
Ad-Hoc Committee
(WASHINGTON, DC - 10/12/05) -- On Thursday, October 13, more than
a dozen major American Muslim groups will hold a press conference to
announce their pledge to raise $20 million to provide relief to the
victims of the devastating earthquake in South Asia.
The leaders will also call on President Bush to form an ad-hoc committee
comprised of U.S. governmental and American Muslim non-governmental
relief agencies to offer coordinated relief to earthquake
victims.
They will also announce that the Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force,
which originally formed in response to Hurricane Katrina, would become a
permanent coalition. Members of the re-named
American Muslim Task
Force for Disaster Relief (AMTFDR) have already dispatched teams to
conduct needs assessments and provide direct assistance to earthquake
survivors throughout the region.
WHAT: News Conference Announcing $20M Pledge for Quake Victims
& Calling on President to Form Ad-Hoc Committee
WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Lisagor Room, National Press Building, Washington,
DC
Official reports indicate that at least 40,000 people have been killed in
the devastating earthquake that shook Pakistan, Kashmir, India and
Afghanistan. U.N. officials report that at least 3.5 million people are
now homeless and vulnerable to infections and disease.
Member relief organizations include (in alphabetical order): Hidaya
Foundation, Indian Muslim Relief Committee, Islamic Relief Worldwide,
ICNA Relief, KindHearts, Life for Relief and Development, and the Zakat
Foundation. Other professional foundations -- including the Association
of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA) and the Islamic Medical
Association of North America (IMANA) -- are organizing American Muslim
physicians to travel to the region and offer medical
assistance.
"A coordinated program between all Muslim organizations in North
America will help improve the quality of service to provide immediate
assistance to the affected people in the region," ISNA President
Muhammad Nur Abdullah said.
Other task force members include: Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance in North
America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs
Council (MPAC), and Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), Freedom and
Justice Foundation, and National Council of Pakistani Americans
(NCPA).
Additional groups who agree to the taskforces guidelines will be added as
the relief efforts develop. The Taskforce guidelines for collection and
distribution of funds will focus on financial transparency and
accountability as set forth in relevant government regulations and
standards.
CONTACT:
Edina Lekovic, 213-383-3443 or 310-560-4898,
communications@mpac.org
Mohamed Elsanousi, 317-839-1803,
melsanousi@isna.net
Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726,
ihooper@cair-net.org
Arif Shaikh, 310-315-3931,
arif@irw.org
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
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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 - 10/13/05
*
Verse:
Righteousness
Defined
*
Help CAIR Raise $1
Million During Ramadan
*
NY:
U.S.
Muslims Use Hands-On Approach to Quake Aid (NYT)
-
U.S. Muslims
Mark Ramadan with Charity (Wash File)
-
US
Indians, Pakistanis Reach Out Together (DNA)
-
OH:
Islamic
Center Sets Earthquake Fund
-
CA:
Far Away
Disaster Stirs South Bay Compassion
-
MI:
Muslims to
Raise Money for Earthquake Aid
-
MA:
Muslims Join Relief Efforts During Ramadan
*
IL: Muslim Citizenship Pushed During Ramadan (Chicago Trib)
*
CO:
Jews, Muslims Explore Common Threads (Denver Post)
*
IN: Muslim Teacher Says Faith Cost Him His Job
-
CO: Albertsons Manager Accused of Insulting Muslims
*
Fisk: Iraq has Descended into Anarchy (Independent)
-
Iraqi Civil War Seems Inevitable (Knight Ridder)
-
Detainee Forced to Bark Like Dog Sues for Freedom
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: RIGHTEOUSNESS DEFINED -
TOP
"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces toward East or West;
but it is righteousness to believe in God, and the Last Day, and the
angels, and revelation, and (God's) messengers; to spend of your
substance out of love for Him for your relatives, for orphans, for the
needy, for the wayfarer, for those who seek assistance, and for the
freeing of human beings from bondage; to be steadfast in prayer and
practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts that you have made;
and to be firm and patient in distress, in adversity, and throughout
all times of peril. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing."
The Holy Quran, 2:177
-----
HELP CAIR RAISE $1 MILLION DURING RAMADAN -
TOP
http://www.cair.com/ramadan2005/
-----
FROM A STATEN ISLAND MOSQUE, QUAKE AID THAT'S MADE TO ORDER -
TOP
ANDREA ELLIOTT, New York Times, 10/13/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/13/nyregion/13relief.html
A pair of trucks rumbled along the broken roads of Kashmir on Tuesday,
carrying yet another load of food, clothes and makeshift tents into the
earthquake zone. But unlike so many of the anonymous donors thousands
of miles away, the source of this aid, a mosque, was boldly advertised
on the trucks' red-lettered banners: "Masjid Al-Noor, Staten Island,
New York."
"We had great difficulty spelling Staten Island on the phone," said
Suhail Muzaffar, 53, a stately former professor and Pakistani immigrant
who is chairman of the mosque's board of trustees, and runs a thriving
export company on Staten Island.
Mr. Muzaffar's point was not pride but control. He wrote up a shopping
list based on cellphone calls from victims trapped in the mountains to
relatives who worship at his mosque. He rented the trucks and ordered
the banners himself, through connections in his family's Pakistani
hometown, Rawalpindi. And he enlisted a Pakistani charity he knew to
carry the order through.
Only in this way, he said, could he and other members of his mosque
feel sure that their $12,000 in hard-earned donations would reach the
people they were trying to help.
Relief experts say the mosque's control of its beneficence illustrates
a new trend in global charity: many donors are no longer content to
write checks and hope for the best. Fears of inept government
bureaucracies, official corruption, and charities that engage in fraud
have led to an increasingly hands-on approach by donors, from the lone
cabdriver to the boards of many foundations. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
AMERICAN MUSLIMS OBSERVE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN -
TOP
Daylong Fasting, Donating to Charity Mark Observance
Afzal Khan, Washington File, 10/12/05
http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/products/washfile.html
(Scroll down to "Latest News.")
Washington -- Millions of American Muslims began observing the holy
month of Ramadan on October 5 after the new crescent moon was sighted
the evening before. Many of them are fasting from dawn to dusk and
attending special evening prayers to read chapters from the Quran.
President Bush on October 4 sent greetings to Muslims in the United
States and throughout the world as they began their observance of
Ramadan. He praised American Muslims for their commitment to spiritual
growth and charity during the holy month and welcomed the contributions
they have made to American society. (See related article.)
During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims also
meditate on how to become more virtuous persons as well as caring
citizens who help those who are poor and needy.
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said this year's Ramadan has become
a month of charity and giving more than ever before because of natural
disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the massive earthquake in
Pakistan and parts of India and Afghanistan.
"The benefits of Ramadan are being better understood because those who
are fasting can appreciate the suffering of the victims of these
natural disasters, many of whom are hungry and without shelter," Hooper
said. (MORE)
---
US INDIANS, PAKISTANIS REACH OUT TOGETHER TO QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Uttara Choudhury, DNA, 10/12/05
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=5404
NEW YORK: Indians and Pakistanis living in the US needed no coaxing to
come together to raise medicines, blankets and cash donations for
relief work in the aftermath of Saturday's massive earthquake. Syed
Asif Alam, chief of the Association of Pakistani Physicians (AOPP),
said that the Indian and Pakistani communities in the US had raised
thousands of dollars and were hoping to reach a target of one million.
"We have the same concerns for missing family members and friends at
home. We are pooling our resources to raise cash for people back home,"
said Alam. "It is a time for unity. The quake has left so many kids
without a family, so many families without a home. We need to do our
bit to rebuild," he said. Mosques throughout the US have been making
collections at prayers as well as setting up counselling services for
workers out here who are making frantic phone calls to trace their
families and cope with loss.
Jackson Heights has one of the United State's largest Indian and
Pakistani populations and the council believes more than 5,000 of its
residents' family may have affected. Collection buckets for donations
have been placed in all the main council buildings.
"My colleagues and I have collected cash, medicines and blankets. We
will distribute the relief supplies in Kashmir and Pakistan's North
West Frontier Province," said Arvind Joshi, a naturalised American
engineer who was born in Mumbai.
The Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on
American Muslims to help the quake victims. "Just as Americans came
together to help the victims of the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes, we
must do whatever we can to help those suffering in South Asia," said
Ibrahim Hooper , spokesman for CAIR. (MORE)
---
WEST CHESTER ISLAMIC CENTER SETS EARTHQUAKE FUND -
TOP
Peggy McCracken, Journal News, 10/12/05
http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/news/stories/2005/10/12/hjn1013islam_s.html
HAMILTON - The death toll from Pakistan's worst earthquake is stirring
the hearts and purse strings of people worldwide. Locally, the Islamic
Center of Greater Cincinnati in West Chester Township has established
an earthquake relief fund.
Contributions will be funneled to the Association of Pakistani
Physicians of North America, based in Chicago. Dr. Rashid M. Khan, a
member of the local mosque and the APPNA, said the agency will
effectively distribute donations.
"They have a very long record in charitable work," said Khan. "They
have people working on the ground there. By not going through the
government there is no red tape. Our goal is to reach real people,
reduce the overhead, get the money and food directly to the people.
"This will get the money to the people as fast as possible, at least 90 cents on the dollar," he said.
Khan - who lost 19 extended family members, as well as former medical
school classmates, in the disaster - is hoping the community will be
generous. The APPNA plans to send financing to the area Friday.
Donations will continue to be collected through the Muslim holy period
of Ramadan, said Shikila Ahmad of the Islamic center, located at 8092
Plantation Drive. No collection goal has been set. . .
Donations are tax deductible. They will be collected at Friday Prayers
and throughout the month of Ramadan at various mosque functions.
Donations may also be given to the "Islamic Center Pakistan Earthquake
Fund" at any Fifth Third Bank location.
---
A FAR AWAY DISASTER STIRS SOUTH BAY TO COMPASSION -
TOP
Andrea Sudano, Daily Breeze, 10/13/05
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/1777996.html
Torrance resident Shahid Khan feels helpless.
A good friend in Pakistan was killed when his home collapsed after
Saturday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake. Khan's mother-in-law now sleeps in
a tent outside her damaged home.
His countrymen are cold and hungry, but Khan is fighting the instinct
to go home. Instead, he has joined the ranks of South Bay residents
lending support -- monetary and spiritual -- to earthquake victims
halfway around the world.
"I am kind of holding out here," Khan said. "I can't be much of a
practical use there. Maybe if I can be here and work in the community
and get some people to send them money ..."
The 49-year-old father of two plans to donate money to the Islamic
Center of South Bay in Lomita, where he comes to worship, pray and
break his daily fast during Ramadan, which began last week.
His affected family and friends have a special place in his prayers,
especially during this time of the year, traditionally reserved by
Muslims for reflection, contemplation and renewal. (MORE)
---
LOCAL MUSLIMS TO RAISE MONEY FOR EARTHQUAKE AID -
TOP
Chad Swiatecki, Flint Journal, 10/12/05
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-32/1129132246171470.xml&coll=5
GENESEE COUNTY - The Flint Islamic Center will collect donations at its
Saturday service for relief efforts in areas of Pakistan recovering
from last weekend's earthquake that killed more than 30,000 people.
Center director Abdelmajid Jondy said about 15 percent of the center's
membership is from Pakistan, but most are from areas far from the bulk
of the earthquake's damage. (MORE)
---
AREA MUSLIMS JOIN RELIEF EFFORTS DURING RAMADAN -
TOP
Margaret Smith, Littleton Independent, 10/13/05
http://www2.townonline.com/littleton/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=344005
As news reports tell of increasing death tolls after an earthquake in
Pakistan and India, area Muslims are giving donations and remembering
victims in their prayers.
Collection drives at mosques in the region and throughout the world are
coinciding with the observance of Ramadan, when Muslims are asked to
help those in need.
"During the holy month of Ramadan, we get a good crowd every night,
especially on the weekends," said Farook Taufiq, a board secretary for
the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell mosque in Chelmsford. "It's
during the month of Ramadan that we are supposed to be more generous,
so we set aside money for that purpose."
Taufiq said a collection drive for earthquake victims - many of whom
are Muslims - started during the Ramadan evening prayer session Monday
and is expected to continue for the next two weeks. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM CITIZENSHIP PUSHED -
TOP
Initiative focuses on area immigrants during holy month
Gerry Doyle, Chicago Tribune, 10/13/03
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0510130183oct13,1,5579806.story
As Muslim immigrants throughout the state gather to celebrate the holy
month of Ramadan, a network of faith-based and social-service groups
hopes they will consider a pressing secular issue: citizenship.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights plans to
address worshipers during services, distributing information and
encouraging them to become citizens. Organizers say that speaking out
during such an important time in the Muslim calendar will prevent those
who need help from slipping through the cracks.
"This initiative is not specifically a faith-based one," said Hatem
Abudayyah of the Arab-American Action Network, a coalition member.
"Ramadan allows us to reach Muslims more easily."
There are about 1.6 million immigrants in Illinois, said Diego
Bonesatti, field director of the New Americans Initiative, which is
overseen by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
Several hundred thousand are Muslim immigrants or their children, he
said.
Bolstered by $3 million in state funds, the coalition, formed in
February, wants to connect with the nearly 350,000 immigrants who are
eligible for residency and help them navigate the system.
The bureaucracy surrounding citizenship can take months to penetrate,
and some immigrants are bilked by scam artists, coalition members said.
Those complexities and setbacks can put off many who might otherwise
become citizens, they said.
"For decades, the state has been a Mecca of opportunity," said Sheikh
Kifah Mustapha of the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview. "By being a U.S.
citizen, we fulfill our civic duties. ... Different cultures and ethnic
backgrounds will add to the community."
The coalition is working with several area Muslim groups on the
project. Non-Muslim religious groups, including the Catholic Church,
are contributing to the overall effort as well, said Karla Avila of the
New Americans Initiative. Other immigrant communities such as Mexicans
and Africans in Chicago are involved, she said, adding that the program
is the first of its kind in the United States.
Coalition officials expect to get data at the end of this week on the
number of people who have started the process of becoming citizens as a
result of the outreach effort.
Citizenship is crucial, coalition officials say, in becoming part of
the United States' social fabric. "It brings a sense of permanence,"
said Mehrdad Azemun of the coalition. "And for a lot of people in the
Muslim community, it means they cannot be deported." (MORE)
-----
JEWISH, MUSLIM CONGREGATIONS EXPLORING COMMON THREADS -
TOP
Eric Gorski, Denver Post, 10/13/05
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3110123
Boulder - For a service celebrating the second day of the Jewish New
Year, it was an unusual choice of music: a Sufi Muslim chant with
lyrics in Hebrew and Arabic:
"Allah Hu Allah la illah ha il Allah Elohim Echad Elohim Gadol"
Roughly translated, Jews and Muslims could agree on this one critical point: There is one God, and he is great.
This scene last week at Boulder's Pardes Levavot, a Jewish Renewal
congregation, recognized an unusual convergence: For the first time in
33 years, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish High Holy
Days have collided on the calendar. A Philadelphia rabbi, Arthur
Waskow, is promoting it as "God's October Surprise," an opportunity to
find peace and reconciliation. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM TEACHER SAYS HIS FAITH, ETHNICITY COST HIM HIS JOB -
TOP
Maureen Hayden, Courier & Press, 10/13/05
http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/news/article/0,1626,ECP_734_4154027,00.html
An assistant professor at the University of Evansville is suing the
school, contending he was denied tenure because he is a practicing
Muslim of Middle Eastern descent.
The university, in turn, is denying the allegations, saying it is the
instructor's lack of teaching skills, not his religion or ethnic
origin, that caused the school not to renew his contract. Al Zeiny, an
assistant professor of civil engineering, filed the lawsuit late last
week in U.S. District Court in Evansville. Zeiny, who has a Ph.D. in
civil engineering from the University of California-Irvine, filed the
lawsuit after he was told he would be given a "terminal contract" and
not be invited to return to the university to teach for another year.
Zeiny has been teaching at UE since August of 2002. In the lawsuit, his
attorney, Andrew Dutkanych III, contends Zeiny was denied tenure and
was subject to derogatory remarks because of Zeiny's religion and
ethnicity. Zeiny, who is a naturalized American citizen of Egyptian
descent, alleges unnamed persons at the university made "searching
inquiries" about his opinion of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, and
alleges the chairman of his department made questionable comments about
the "non-American" and "non-Christian" sounding names of his children.
SEE ALSO:
EMPLOYEE ACCUSES ALBERTSONS MANAGER OF INSULTING MUSLIMS -
TOP
KIRSTEN ORSINI-MEINHARD, Coloradoan, 10/12/05
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051012/BUSINESS/510120332/1046
Fort Collins resident Fahim Saleem was on the verge of tears when he asked his dad to pick him up from work last Thursday.
The 19-year-old's father, Nawab Saleem, immediately offered to take his son to the doctor.
But it wasn't a physical illness that worried Fahim Saleem.
The Front Range Community College student claims a manager at
Albertsons, 1636 N. College Ave., where he works in the fuel center,
had insulted his religion. He has since quit his job because of it.
The incident has left Fahim Saleem and his family shaken. Nawab Saleem
is planning to gather other members of the Muslim community to picket
the store later this week if he does not receive an apology from the
company.
He also plans to e-mail the chief executive officer of Albertsons,
Lawrence Johnston, to ask for an apology and is considering filing a
complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
Nawab Saleem already has spoken to another manager at the Albertsons on
North College Avenue about the incident, but he said the manager acted
hostile and would not listen to him.
"I will do everything I can to bring this to the attention of people,"
said Nawab Saleem, who owns a small business close to Albertsons on
North College.
"This is a wonderful country, and this should not be happening in this country."
Managers at Albertsons directed all questions to the company's corporate headquarters.
In an e-mail statement, Director of Public Affairs Danielle Killpack
said: "Albertsons respects the religious beliefs and practices of all
associates and customers. We take allegations such as this very
seriously, and we are currently looking into this matter. We will
address it appropriately after we are fully informed and have received
all of the facts."
The company would not comment further and did not release the names of the managers involved.
The incident centered around Ramadan, the holiest month of the year in
the Islamic calendar, which is marked with prayer and fasting between
sunrise and sunset.
Nawab Saleem left a message for his son's manager at Albertsons to ask
if it would be possible to give Fahim Saleem fewer night shifts during
the holiday, because he would be weak after fasting all day.
The manager did not respond to the message, but instead, began speaking
badly about the Muslim faith when she saw Fahim Saleem the next day, he
claims.
Later that day, when Fahim Saleem and his father returned to the store
at the request of another manager to speak about the incident, Nawab
Saleem claims the manager became angry at the two for pursuing the
issue and asked Fahim Saleem to return to work. (MORE)
-----
IRAQ HAS DESCENDED INTO ANARCHY, SAYS FISK -
TOP
Nigel Morris, Independent, 10/13/05
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article319160.ece
Most of Iraq is in a state of anarchy, with insurgents controlling
parts of Baghdad just half a mile from the so-called Green Zone, an
Independent debate was told last night.
Robert Fisk, Middle East correspondent for The Independent, whose new
book The Great War for Civilisation: the Conquest of the Middle East
has just been published by 4th Estate, painted a picture of deepening
chaos and misery in Iraq more than two years after Saddam Hussein was
toppled.
He said that the "constant, intensive involvement" in the Middle East
by the West was a recurring pattern over centuries and was the reason
why "so many Muslims in the Middle East hate us". He added: "We can
close doors on history. They can't."
Fisk doubted the sincerity of Western leaders' commitment to bringing
democracy to Iraq and said a lasting settlement in the country was
impossible while foreign troops remained. "In the Middle East, they
would like some of our democracy, they would like a couple of boxes off
the supermarket shelves of human rights as well. But I think they would
also like freedom from us."
Recalling the sight of an immense US convoy rolling into the country's
capital, he said: "A superpower has a visceral need to project military
power. We can go to Baghdad, so we will go to Baghdad."
He told the debate in London: "The Americans must leave Iraq and they
will leave Iraq, but they can't leave Iraq and that is the equation
that turns sand to blood. At some point, they will have to talk to the
insurgents.
"But I don't know how, because those people who might be negotiators
the United Nations, the Red Cross their headquarters have been blown
up. The reality now in Iraq is the project is finished. Most of Iraq,
except Kurdistan, is in a state of anarchy."
He said that the portrayal of Iraq by Western leaders of efforts to
introduce democracy, including Saturday's national vote on the
country's proposed constitution was "unreal" to most of its citizens.
In Baghdad, children and women were kept at home to prevent them from
being kidnapped for money or sold into slavery. They faced a desperate
struggle to find the money to keep generators running to provide
themselves with electricity. "They aren't sitting in their front rooms
discussing the referendum on the constitution."
With insurgents half a mile from Baghdad's Green Zone, Fisk said the
danger to reporters from a brutal insurgency that did not respect
journalists was increasing. "Every time I go to Baghdad it's worse,
every time I ask myself how we can keep going. Because the real
question is is the story worth the risk?"
He attacked television reporters for flinching from depicting the
everyday bloodshed on the streets of Iraq. "You can go and see Saving
Private Ryan or Kingdom of Heaven people have their heads cut off.
When it comes to real heads being cut off, you can't. I think
television connives with governments at war." He added: "Newspapers can
tell you as closely as they can what these horrors are like."
Asked if the "anger and passion" he felt over the events he witnessed
had affected his objectivity, he said: "When you are at the scene of a
massacre, you are entitled to feel immense anger and I do."
He rejected suggestions that graphic pictures of the dead in newspapers
took away their dignity. He said: "My view is the people who are dead
would want us to record what happened to them."
Most of Iraq is in a state of anarchy, with insurgents controlling
parts of Baghdad just half a mile from the so-called Green Zone, an
Independent debate was told last night.
Robert Fisk, Middle East correspondent for The Independent, whose new
book The Great War for Civilisation: the Conquest of the Middle East
has just been published by 4th Estate, painted a picture of deepening
chaos and misery in Iraq more than two years after Saddam Hussein was
toppled.
He said that the "constant, intensive involvement" in the Middle East
by the West was a recurring pattern over centuries and was the reason
why "so many Muslims in the Middle East hate us". He added: "We can
close doors on history. They can't." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
THE U.S. SAYS THIS IS THE FUTURE OF IRAQ'S ARMY. IF SO, CIVIL WAR SEEMS INEVITABLE -
TOP
TOM LASSETER, KNIGHT RIDDER, 10/13/05
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/world/12887753.htm
Swadi Ghilan's two sons were dropping their sister off at high school
earlier this year when a carload of Sunni Muslim insurgents pulled up
and emptied their AK-47s into their bodies. In broad daylight his
children were torn to pieces, their blood splashed against the
windshield as they screamed and died.
Ghilan is a major in the Iraqi army and a Shiite Muslim, the sect that
makes up some 60 percent of Iraq's population. Now, more than ever, the
grieving father says he wants to hunt down and kill not only Sunni
guerrilla fighters but also Sunnis who give those fighters shelter and
support. By that, he means killing most Sunnis in Iraq.
"There are two Iraqs; it's something that we can no longer deny,"
Ghilan said. "The army should execute the Sunnis in their neighborhoods
so that all of them can see what happens, so that all of them learn
their lesson."
The Bush administration's exit strategy for Iraq rests on two pillars:
an inclusive, democratic political process that includes all major
ethnic groups and a well-trained Iraqi national army. But a week spent
eating, sleeping and going on patrol with a crack unit of the Iraqi
army - the 4,500-member 1st Brigade of the 6th Iraqi Division -
suggests that the strategy is in serious trouble. Instead of rising
above the ethnic tension that's tearing their nation apart, the mostly
Shiite troops are preparing for, if not already fighting, a civil war
against the minority Sunni population.
Ghilan's army unit is responsible for security in western Baghdad,
where many Sunnis live. But the soldiers are overwhelmingly Shiite,
and, like Ghilan, they're seeking revenge against the Sunnis who
oppressed them during Saddam Hussein's rule. (MORE)
---
DETAINEE WHO WAS FORCED TO BARK LIKE A DOG SUES FOR HIS FREEDOM -
TOP
CAROL ROSENBERG, Knight Ridder, 10/12/05
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/12885673.htm
MIAMI - (KRT) - A New York law group has filed suit seeking release of
Guantanamo captive Mohammed al-Qahtani - the Saudi man who was
subjected to some of the most intensive, Pentagon-approved
interrogation tactics as a suspected 20th hijacker in the Sept. 11,
2001, terrorist attacks.
Al-Qahtani's case focused attention on the prison in June when Time
magazine published excerpts from a military log of his Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, interrogation - showing that U.S. troops told him to bark like a
dog and left him to urinate on himself.
In the log, U.S. interrogators describe how they ratcheted up
techniques on their captive during 50 days starting in November 2002 to
extract a confession - by using sleep deprivation, leaving him strapped
to an intravenous drip without bathroom breaks and having him strip
naked.
Attorney Gita Gutierrez at the New York Center for Constitutional
Rights said this week that she filed al-Qahtani's habeas corpus
petition in U.S. District Court in Washington once his father, in Saudi
Arabia, empowered the firm to act on his son's behalf.
No lawyer has met the captive yet, although Gutierrez said she hoped to
travel to the Navy base in Cuba in coming weeks to see him. (MORE)
-----
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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:
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-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS
- 10/14/05
*
Verse:
God Grants
Manifold Increase
*
Help CAIR Raise $1
Million During Ramadan
*
CAIR-FL:
Synagogue Welcomes
Muslim Speaker (SP Times)
-
MD: Jews,
Muslims, Gather for Joint Holidays
*
CAIR-TX
Offers Students
'Islam 101'
*
Editorial:
Islam is
Not the Enemy (SF Chronicle)
*
Muslim
Charities Re-Emerge for Quake Victims (NYT)
-
IL:
Muslim Groups Collect Online for Quake Relief
-
U.S. Muslims Mobilize Widely and Quickly
-
American Muslims Pledge $20M for Quake Victims
-
MD:
Islamic Center Aids Quake Relief Effort
-
WA:
Local Pakistanis' Hearts, Dollars Go to Victims
-
VA: Local Muslims Pray for Those in Quake Zone
-
OH: Muslims Here Raise Money for Kashmir
-
CA:
South Asian, Muslim Agencies favored (SJMN)
*
LA: Muslim Hurricane Evacuees Urged to Convert (Baptist Press)
-
KS: Muslim View of Jesus: a Prophet Respected, Revered
*
VA/NC:
Muslim Beauty Queen Glad to Honor Her Faith
*
VA: ADAMS Center Holds Interfaith Iftar (Connection)
-
NH:
Muslims Observe Ramadan (VOA)
*
Muslims No longer Strangers in Ireland (Chicago Sun-Times)
-
Muslims Celebrate 50 Years in Korea
*
Vatican Pledges to Work with Muslims (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD GRANTS MANIFOLD INCREASE -
TOP
"The Parable of those who spend their possessions for the sake of God
is that of a grain of corn out of which grow seven ears, in every ear a
hundred grains: for God grants manifold increase to whom He wills; and
God is infinite, all-knowing.
The Holy Quran, 2:261
"You can never attain righteousness unless you give (freely) that which you love; and whatever you spend, God knows it well."
The Holy Quran, 3:92
"Believe in God and His messenger and spend in charity out of that of
which He has made you trustees, for those of you who believe and spend
in charity shall be richly rewarded."
The Holy Quran, 57:7
-----
HELP CAIR RAISE $1 MILLION DURING RAMADAN -
TOP
http://www.cair.com/ramadan2005/
-----
CAIR-FL: SYNAGOGUE WELCOMES MUSLIM SPEAKER -
TOP
The director of a local Islamic group stresses the similarities of both religions during their observance of holy days.
Shannon Tan. Petersburg Times, 10/14/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/14/Northpinellas/Synagogue_welcomes_Mu.shtml
CLEARWATER - Thursday was Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day, and it also happened to be one of the blessed days of Ramadan.
Ahmed Bedier, director of the Central Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, was invited to speak at Congregation Beth
Shalom. Rabbi David Weizman suggested that he speak on the afterlife,
but Bedier had a different idea.
"We're all starving," Bedier noted, as both Jews and Muslims were fasting Thursday.
Religion can divide people or bring them together, Bedier said. He
chose to unite the group Thursday by discussing the similarities
between Judaism and Islam.
"We don't have to talk about whether to resolve the Middle East conflict today," he joked.
Bedier pointed out that both religions share a true belief in God.
Muslims and Jews believe in prophets and messengers. They fast. They
give alms. They pray.
He told a story about how the prophet Mohammed was told by God to pray
50 times a day. Then Mohammed met Moses, who pointed out that Jews pray
only three times a day. After some negotiating, God agreed to let
Muslims pray just five times a day.
Fascinated, the group of more than 35 people peppered Bedier with questions.
Why the name Ramadan? Are there religious differences between the
Shiites and the Sunnis? Are all Muslims Arab? When you say praise
Allah, is Allah God? What are your prayers like? (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MD: JEWS, MUSLIMS, GATHER FOR JOINT HOLIDAYS -
TOP
Andrew Scherr, Jewish Times, 10/14/05
http://www.jewishtimes.com/News/5104.stm
Last Monday night, Oct. 10, Jewish and Muslim students at Johns Hopkins
University learned they have a lot in common. For instance, the two
groups have coinciding holidays, Yom Kippur and Ramadan, both of which
involve fasting. In addition, they seem to share a mutual desire to
learn about each other, as well as a penchant for kosher Chinese food.
At the height of the midterm season, 165 students broke away from their
textbooks to attend the second annual High Holy Day/Ramadan Banquet.
Co-sponsored by the Jewish and Muslim student associations at Hopkins,
the event took place in the midst of the Jewish High Holidays and the
holy Muslim month of Ramadan. (MORE)
-----
CAIR-TX: AWARENESS WEEKS STARTS WITH 101 -
TOP
Marla Last, NT Daily, 10/11/05
http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/11/434b54693158e
The Muslim Holiday of Ramadan opened NT's third annual Islam Awareness
Week. Students have several opportunities to become more aware of
Islam, beginning with the "Islam 101" seminar Monday in Terrill Hall.
"The seminar should clear up misconceptions and answer questions for
Islamic awareness," said Muslim Student Organization President Rabeya
Baehri, Denton senior. Baehri also spent part of her life in Bangladesh.
Eric Meek, vice president of the Council of American Islamic Relations
in the Metroplex, lead the seminar by informing the audience about the
basics of Islamic beliefs and way of life. Meek now goes by the Muslim
name Khalil, after he converted from Christianity to Islam in 1989. He
is part of the Council of American Islamic Relations as well as
president of his mosque in Lewisville.
The Council of American Islamic Relations did a nation wide survey to
find out America's attitude toward Islam and found out that the more
people know about the religion and rituals, they more they respect it,
according to Khalil.
In the seminar, he explained the monotheistic belief of Islam following the idea "No God but the God."
"Islam is defined as a peaceful or willful submission to the will of God," Khalil said.
The belief of the prophet Muhammud was discussed in the lecture and the
studies of the Qur'an. As part of their religious culture, Muslims pray
five times a day.
"While I am on campus, I go to the One O'Clock Loung to pray," said
Muslim Student Association Vice-President Ayman Taleb, Richardson
junior.
According to Khalil, Muslims believe that by asking for God's
forgiveness, they will be forgiven on judgment day. Muslims see
judgment day as a base for whether or not someone believes in the
oneness of God and that they are found accountable for doing so.
Khalil believes he was born Muslim, but didn't realize it until his
college graduation. He attended NT with hopes of becoming a Baptist
minister, but came in contact with a Muslim roommate and found interest
in comparing their religions. With all the interpretations he found and
by studying, Khalil soon realized that a religious awakening was bound
to change him. (MORE)
-----
EDITORIAL: ISLAM IS NOT THE ENEMY -
TOP
The San Francisco Chronicle, 10/14/05
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/10/14/EDGKVF7QQ41.DTL
MOST AMERICANS must realize by now that President Bush will claim
almost anything to justify the constantly escalating tragedy of his
Iraq policy. So atop his long refusal to drop the implied linkage of
Saddam Hussein to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Bush's
vision of an attempt to create a "radical Islamic empire that spans
from Spain to Indonesia" is not surprising.
The president shared his scary thought in a speech last week to the
National Endowment for Democracy in Washington. He thus sought to
inject the fear of total jihadist victory across the Muslim world into
the argument for keeping major U.S. military forces fighting and dying
in the unpopular mess his 2003 invasion of Iraq has created.
This Bush approach to shoring up fast-eroding public support for the
war has at least a couple of problems. It undercuts the moderate
Muslims who must form the basis of any realistic hope for spreading
democracy in their parts of the world. The frightful terms with which
Bush warns of rampant Islamism recall the "yellow peril" that once
obsessed U.S. opponents of immigration from Asia, and the tales of
Mohammedan conquest that fueled the Crusades. Bush's simplistic
focusing of American distrust on the very peoples he seeks to enlist
for democratic reform -- making them part of the supposed future
"empire" -- is no way to win friends in that part of the world. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM CHARITIES RE-EMERGE FOR QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Stephanie Strom, New York Times, 10/14/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/14/international/asia/14charity.html
All across America, Muslim charities, many of which have shunned the
spotlight since 9/11 lest they attract unwanted law enforcement
attention, are now stepping up their efforts to raise money for the
victims of the earthquake that crumbled the northernmost corner of
Pakistan.
In many cases, they have been more successful than their mainstream
charitable counterparts, many of which have said that donors are not
responding to their appeals for contributions for Pakistan.
Islamic Relief, one of the largest Muslim charities in the United
States, had raised almost $1 million online alone through Wednesday, or
about 10 times the amount raised by Save the Children. Other
organizations reported similar success.
"Donors are responding really well," said Arif Shaikh, a spokesman for
Islamic Relief. "A lot of mosques have been collecting money on our
behalf, and our phones have been ringing off the hooks with people
wanting to make contributions."
Mohammed Alomari, deputy director of programs at Life for Relief and
Development, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization founded by Iraqi
Americans after the 1991 Persian Gulf war, said donations from
individuals and other non-Islamic organizations have been "pretty good,
considering all the other emergencies we've had this year."
After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the F.B.I. cracked down
on several Muslim charities in the United States, contending that they
served as financial conduits for terrorist operations. The Justice
Department froze the assets of several Muslim organizations, and at
least two prominent Muslim donors who contributed to those
organizations were arrested.
Those actions caused great bitterness and wariness about giving among
Muslims, whose leaders often note that the government has not publicly
provided evidence for its suspicions.
Most of the donations Life for Relief and Development has received for
Pakistan so far have come in the form of goods like tents, blankets and
medical supplies, which is one way for donors to ensure their
contributions do not end up underwriting bombs or buying guns.
"Donors may have those kinds of concern in other instances, but I don't
think that's the case in this instance," Mr. Alomari said. "Given how
many people have been asked to give for other disasters this year - the
tsunami, the famine in Mali and Niger, Hurricane Katrina and Rita - it
may just be easier right now to donate items."
Several factors beyond religious solidarity are helping to propel the
donations from the Muslim community, officials of the charities say.
For one, the earthquake struck during the holy month of Ramadan, one of
the two biggest giving periods on the Muslim calendar and a traditional
time for thinking of the poor.
Beyond that, many of the Muslim nonprofit groups here have established
operations in Pakistan and thus are logical candidates for charity.
Islamic Relief, for instance, has more than 100 staff members in
Pakistan, and Life operates programs there ranging from water
purification to rebuilding schools. Both organizations worked in
Southeast Asia after the tsunami and in the Gulf Coast area after
Katrina.
The enormousness of the disaster in Pakistan, too, has overcome the
fears of Muslim donors that their contributions might be considered
financing for terrorist organizations by the American government.
"I think the sheer scale of the suffering we're seeing is prompting
people to put aside whatever caution they might have had since 9/11 and
dig deep to do whatever they can," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for
the Council on American-Islamic Relations. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
IL: GROUPS COLLECT ONLINE FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF -
TOP
Duaa Eldeib, Algonquin Countryside, 10/13/05
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/al/10-13-05-713731.html
Less than a week after a devastating earthquake hit South Asia, the
death toll soars to 42,000. Villages in northern Pakistan, India,
Kashmir and Afghanistan were leveled, leaving millions homeless. With
hailstorms hindering the relief effort, victims hang onto their lives
with what little hope they have left. They turn to the generosity of
others in hopes of survival.
Several organizations in the area, including the following, have
mobilized to offer help to the region. Many have arranged to collect
donations through their Web sites as the fastest, most efficient way to
help.
Islamic Relief Worldwide has launched a $10 million appeal for the
victims of the earthquake. Of this, $4 million has already been
allocated. In partnership with AmeriCares, Islamic Relief is sending a
shipment of United-Nations-World-Health-Organization-approved emergency
medical kits. The shipment was scheduled to leave Tuesday from
AmeriCares' warehouse in Amsterdam. To donate online, please go to
www.irw.org.
Islamic Relief Worldwide will be the key organization collecting
donations at the Council of American Muslim Professionals' dinner 6
p.m. Oct. 23. The South Asia Earthquake Relief Dinner will be held at
Indian Garden in Chicago. The cost is $21. Please R.S.V.P. at
www.campnet.net.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago is making
nightly appeals for donations. In addition to raising money for
survivors, the council is also working on providing crucial help for
the tens of thousands who are buried under the rubble, that includes
arranging for search and rescue teams with K-9 dogs, as well as heavy
equipment and carrying helicopters.
Kareem Irfan, past chairman of local Council of Islamic Organizations
and member of the national board, said "Because there is a strong
Pakistani population in the suburbs, everyone I have talked to has been
impacted in some way. It's important that as Americans we pull together
and response across the country." To donate online, go to
www.ciogc.org. Mail donations to 330 E. Roosevelt Road, Suite G5, Lombard IL 60148 or call (630) 629-7490 or visit
www.ciogc.org.
The Chicago office of the Council of Islamic-American Relations is
calling not only for donations to charities that will help the victims
of the earthquake, but also grassroots efforts by individuals to ensure
help goes where it's needed.
Act! Act! Act! is an effort asking Chicago area residents to e-mail and
call their state and federal representatives, asking for helicopters
and K-9 rescue teams to be sent to Pakistan to search for survivors in
hard-to-reach, or demolished areas.
"Donations only help those who've been excavated," said Ahmed Rehab,
the council's Chicago spokesman. "That's why we're pursuing this, so we
can still save more lives."
Rehab said he is also contacting imams at local mosques in efforts to
make Friday a day of prayer and donation day for victims of the
earthquake. (MORE)
---
U.S. MUSLIMS MOBILIZE WIDELY AND QUICKLY FOR QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Muslims Weekly, News Report, Jehangir Khattak, Oct 13, 2005
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=60bc212de62c9badabf595ebfeaa049d
NEW YORK -- Saddened and moved by the shocking horrors of the massive
earthquake that wiped out completely or partially several cities,
towns, villages and hamlets in northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, the
Pakistani and Muslim community across North America has swung into
action by launching major fundraising campaigns.
Major American Muslim organizations have announced to cut big checks to
provide relief to the millions of their brethren in the foothills of
Himalayas. Important Islamic groups have pledged to raise well over $12
million in the coming days and weeks. The total tally of fundraising is
expected to rise substantially as figures from many parts of the
country and the funds raised at local levels are yet to come. (MORE)
---
MUSLIM AMERICANS PLEDGE $20 MILLION FOR SOUTH ASIAN QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Major Muslim-American groups create cooperative aid coalition
Christine A. Terada, Washington File, 10/13/05
http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/products/washfile.html
(Scroll down to headline.)
Washington -- Leaders from member organizations of the American Muslim
Taskforce for Disaster Relief (AMTFDR) gathered at a press conference
October 13 in Washington to announce their pledge to raise $20 million
in aid for victims of the South Asian earthquake.
The 7.6-magnitude earthquake swept across central Afghanistan to
western Bangladesh on October 8, killing more than 30,000 people,
injuring more than 45,000, and leaving approximately 3.5 million
homeless. Its epicenter was in Muzaffarabad, the capital of
Pakistan-administered Kashmir. (See related article.)
President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have pledged $50
million in disaster assistance, helicopters, and fixed wing aircraft to
help the victims of the disaster. Secretary Rice detoured her trip to
Central Asia October 12 to visit Pakistani leaders and American troops
who are providing transport to the injured in the area affected by the
earthquake. (See related article.)
Ahmed Younis, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, called the
AMTFDR pledge effort a "cooperative attempt by the American Muslim
community to provide relief in the most efficient and most abundant
manner possible for the brothers and sisters of humanity that have
suffered as the result of the significant earthquake in South Asia."
A second leader who also spoke at the press conference, Sayyid Syeed,
who is the secretary-general of the Islamic Society of North America,
reminded journalists that the earthquake struck during the Islamic holy
month of Ramadan. "Muslims are in the mood of giving" and will be
especially motivated to respond to relief efforts during Ramadan, he
said.
Syeed said the tragedy has created an excellent opportunity to improve
the American image in the Muslim world. The AMTFDR, he said, is "most
qualified to establish bridges between the Muslim world and America."
Younis shared these sentiments, saying how the pledge "really
underscores the importance of the charitable organizations of the
American Muslim community."
Another AMTFDR member organization, Islamic Relief USA, is also a
member of the U.N. Economic and Social Council and has operated
development projects in Pakistan since 1992. With three offices near
the earthquake-affected areas, in Islamabad, Neelum Valley, and
Muzaffarabad, Islamic Relief announced in a statement released at the
press conference that their emergency response team was able to reach
the affected area within one hour after the earthquake hit. The release
also noted that their organization immediately allocated $4 million to
Pakistan following the disaster.
Mohamed Aboulmagd, a representative of the organization, told those at
the press conference that the AMTFDR task force is a "good step" toward
improving cooperation among American Muslims.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations' government relations
director, Corey Saylor, agreed with Aboulmagd on the need to mobilize
and cooperate. He said that although providing relief is not the
purpose of his organization, "our faith compels us to help out in
humanitarian events." (MORE)
---
MD: ISLAMIC CENTER AIDS EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORT -
TOP
Fund created to help victims in Pakistan
Monique Lewis, Daily Times, 10/14/05
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051014/NEWS01/510140301/1002
SALISBURY -- Ahmad Hassan, a police inspector in Muzaffarabad, Azad
Kashmir, was lucky to be 200 miles away on vacation with in-laws, said
his cousin, Dawood Ahmad of Salisbury, on Thursday.
Hassan was fortunate not to be counted among the thousands of victims
who were killed or are suffering the aftermath of Saturday's 7.2
magnitude earthquake in Pakistan's Himalayan region.
Hassan was shaken and in tears because so many children are without parents, Ahmad said.
"His police station and everything is gone," he said. "It's going to be
a long recovery. It is not a one-day, two-day or three-day job."
Ahmad is a member of the Islamic Center of Salisbury that set up a fund
Wednesday to aid the victims devastated by the earthquake. (MORE)
---
WA: LOCAL PAKISTANIS' HEARTS, PRAYERS, DOLLARS GO TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Janet I. Tu and Tan Vinh, Seattle Times, 10/14/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002559947_quakeaid14m.html
Before picking up his daughter from preschool yesterday at the Islamic
School of Seattle, Elias Ibrahim adds a blanket to a mound of donated
supplies for victims of the Pakistan earthquake. Donated items included
a wheelchair, sleeping bags and tents.
Since Ramadan began early last week, Iqbal Abbasi has gone often to
Idriss Mosque in the Northgate area for the special prayers that are
said during this holiest of Islamic months.
In the past few days, even more prayers are being said: for victims and
survivors of the devastating Pakistan earthquake. And with the prayers
and worries have come efforts to relieve the suffering.
At the center of the mosque's fund raising is Abbasi, 56, of Everett,
who grew up in a village that's been demolished and who still has loved
ones in the area.
"The main thing is to heal people through spiritual prayer or
thoughts," said Abbasi, a director of the Islamic Center of Washington,
which operates Idriss Mosque. "At the same time, what we need to do is
to take care of the surviving families."
Since Saturday's earthquake, local Pakistanis and Muslims -
individually and in groups - have taken action, sending money, setting
up bank accounts for donations, organizing fund-raising dinners,
soliciting corporate and personal donations and arranging airlifts of
medicine and other supplies. Starting today and continuing this
weekend, many mosques in the area are expected to intensify efforts to
gather donations. (MORE)
---
VA: LOCAL MUSLIMS PRAY FOR THOSE IN QUAKE ZONE -
TOP
During holy month, they're reaching out to the people of Asia
OSITA IROEGBU, TIMES-DISPATCH, 10/14/05
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128767533100
Listen: Imam (Spiritual Leader) Shaheed Coovadia recites the opening prayer for Ramadan, followed by an English translation
Pakistani-born Kausar Khan is trying to come to grips with what has happened to her family and her country.
At least one in her extended family is dead in the massive earthquake
that struck her homeland. She fears for the lives of others.
After a prayer session at a local mosque Wednesday night, Khan headed
home with her husband, Majid Khan. The timing of the quake, she said,
deepens its impact on many of her faith.
Muslims are in the second week of the month of Ramadan, when members of
the religion worldwide concentrate on their faith through prayer and
fasting. This year, many keep in mind the devastation that has left
tens of thousands in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan dead and countless
others homeless.
"It's a mixed emotion," Kausar Khan said Wednesday. Resting her cheek
in her palm, she stared into the night with her wide, brown eyes. "This
kind of thing tells us that the ultimate power takes care of things,
and we are nothing."
In the middle of the taraweeh, or nightly prayer in observance of
Ramadan, an extra supplication is given most nights for the victims and
survivors of the earthquake. (MORE)
---
OH: MUSLIMS HERE RAISE MONEY FOR KASHMIR -
TOP
Robert Smith, Plain Dealer, 10/14/05
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1129282980204761.xml&coll=2
The local Muslim community is rallying to try to help victims of
Saturday's earthquake in South Asia by raising money and awareness.
The main event is planned for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, when a
community of mosques will host an earthquake fund-raiser at the Islamic
Society of Akron and Kent, 152 E. Steels Corners Road, near Blossom
Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. The program will include an iftar
dinner, the traditional fast-breaking at the end of a Ramadan day.
Organizers hope people of all faiths attend. Proceeds will go toward
relief efforts in and around the Himalayan region of Kashmir.
"The whole atmosphere is very gloomy there," said Dr. Marina Magrey, a
Cleveland doctor whose family lives in Indian-controlled Kashmir and is
active in relief efforts. "People are scared. Hospitals are filled with
injured people with nowhere to go." (MORE)
---
CA: SOUTH ASIAN, MUSLIM AGENCIES FAVORED -
TOP
Katherine Corcoran, Mercury News, 10/14/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/the_valley/12900027.htm
With American generosity being tapped for a third unfathomable disaster
in less than a year, traditional organizations such as the Red Cross
are seeing a drop in donations, but Muslim and South Asian charities
are seeing an outpouring of help.
The Red Cross of Santa Clara Valley couldn't provide exact numbers, but
spokeswoman Cynthia Shaw said donations to help victims of the 7.6
earthquake in Kashmir are far behind the $500,000 collected locally in
the first five days after Hurricane Katrina.
Only one person has called about holding a fundraiser for the Saturday
earthquake, which is believed to have killed 25,000 people and
displaced millions, compared with dozens of calls for Katrina
fundraisers almost immediately after the Aug. 29 hurricane hit the U.S.
Gulf Coast.
"Normally things pick up by this time, and they haven't," Shaw said.
"Donor fatigue is something we're very concerned about. We've even seen
it with Katrina. Already people are getting Katrina'd out and getting
on with their lives."
But the news is much better for the local Hidaya Foundation and
Southern California-based Islamic Relief, both of which are reporting a
dramatic response.
"The whole community has been very supportive," said Nabil Sheikh,
office manager at the Hidaya Foundation, a Santa Clara-based non-profit
supporting educational and social welfare projects in Pakistan, India
and Bangladesh. "People of all walks of life are there, giving their
own clothing and their own blankets." (MORE)
-----
LA: VOLUNTEER'S QUERY TO MUSLIM FAMILY YIELDS POSITIVE RESPONSE -
TOP
Tammi Ledbetter, Baptist Press, 10/13/05
http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=21846
KENNER, La. (BP)--Charmaine Fenstermacher had just three Gospel tracts
left to share with families lined up to receive food from Southern
Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers in Kenner, La.
"As a car pulled up, we'd say, 'Hi, how are you? Do you want some
lunch?'" Fenstermacher, of Southlake, Texas, recounted. When asked,
"How are you doing?" some of the displaced Louisianans told how
Hurricane Katrina had left them destitute and hungry.
"I had three tracts left and I was using them sparingly," Fenstermacher
said, as many of the evacuees had already heard the Gospel at some
point in the post-Katrina disaster relief efforts. "Some of them wanted
to talk and it was so nice to hear what they had to say," though many
of their stories began running together as they told of coping with the
disaster.
When a black sedan rolled to the front of the line, Fenstermacher
recognized the family to be of Middle Eastern descent. "The mother was
wearing a beautiful, silk gown with gold threads. It was covering her
arms as she reached out for food. She told me they had lost everything
in the hurricane."
Fenstermacher, a 53-year-old homemaker, is still amazed at the encounter God gave to her.
"I reached in and handed them lunch and we talked a little since there
was a long line ahead of me. It surprised me the things I asked because
I'm not normally so bold. 'Do you know Jesus?'" she asked the man, his
wife and their teenage son, uncertain of the response she would get.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
KS: MUSLIM VIEW OF JESUS: A PROPHET RESPECTED, REVERED -
TOP
Mario Sequeira, Johnson County Sun, 10/13/05
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15373436&BRD=1459&PAG=461&dept_id=506062&rfi=6
Saldana grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and majored in poetry and
literature at Middlebury College, Vt. In 1999, she won a Thomas Watson
Fellowship to pursue a project that combined two very dear interests -
poetry and Christianity - and traveled through Egypt, Syria, Jordan and
Turkey.
It was during a stay in Bethlehem that her interest in Islam was
aroused. She asked a Muslim guard how a Muslim could protect the
birthplace of Jesus.
"He is our prophet too," the man replied.
She traveled in regions where Muslims and Christians had been living
together for hundreds of years, where churches had been converted into
mosques, where the Muslim call to prayer went out even as church bells
pealed.
"It occurred to me that I knew nothing about Islam and that I really
couldn't understand Christianity completely without confronting Islam,"
Saldana recounted to the Harvard University's Harvard Gazette. . .
Saldana said she realized that at that grass-roots level, not only was
there no Muslim-Christian conflict but a hospitable reception toward
Christians.
So what were Muslims to make of a Christian evangelical calling for the
assassination of the head of a country, someone asked at the Village
Church session.
Muslims idealized Christianity and, because of their deep love of
Jesus, they believe real Christianity is the Christianity given by
Jesus, Saldana replied.
"(They believe) anything (done) in the name of Christianity that is evil must be misinterpreting Christianity," she said. . .
Christians tend to have a stereotyped view of Muslims, she said. "I've
been to Damascus and seen the minaret of Jesus on a mosque. People
might forget that. We tend to remember the awful extreme things easier
than the simple things.
"I don't think many people know the respect Muslims have for Jesus." (MORE)
-----
VA/NC: BEAUTY QUEEN GLAD TO HONOR HER FAITH -
TOP
Pamela J. Podger, Roanoke Times, 10/14/05
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/36214
Excited and jittery, Anisah Rasheed of Roanoke pondered a fashion
dilemma that few beauty queens have faced before: Matching her
coronation gown with her hajib, a headscarf worn by Muslim women.
Rasheed, 20, was crowned Miss A&T for 2005-06 on Thursday night in
a sparkling fishtail gown -- with a tiara glittering over her golden
hajib -- during homecoming ceremonies at North Carolina A&T State
University.
University officials say Rasheed is the first Muslim selected as campus
queen by the 11,000-student school. She'll be featured, along with
others from black colleges and universities, in an upcoming issue of
Ebony magazine.
Rasheed was elected at a forum in April, competing against eight women
in the categories of talent, formalwear, speech and debate. She said no
one has made an issue of her faith or covering her body with
traditional garb.
"Once you learn to accept yourself, it washes away everyone's opinions
about you and lets you do what you will in life," she said. "I'm glad
I'm a role model for Muslims, but it is for everyone who faces
challenges. It is about being confident." (MORE)
-----
VA: SHARING THEIR FAITH AT ADAMS CENTER -
TOP
ADAMS Center mosque members and members of churches from other faiths share their beliefs and learn about Ramadan.
Erika N. Cotton, The Connection, 10/13/05
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=57228&paper=66&cat=104
For millions of Muslims around the world, Oct. 3 signified the start of Ramadan, the holiest month of the year for them.
During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking anything from
dawn until sunset every day for 30 days. They begin their fast with a
meal called suhoor in the early morning and end with iftar in the
evenings.
"It's a purification of your heart and body and mind and it gives you
satisfaction. When we fast we thank [the] Almighty and think of those
who don't have anything to eat," said All Dulles Area Muslim Society
(ADAMS) Center mosque member Munawar Ashraf of Herndon at an Interfaith
and Hispanic Heritage Ramadan Iftar Saturday. "The Quran tells us [to
think about] all humanity, all people, . . . like your brothers and
sisters."
FARHANAHZ ELLIS, ADAMS Center Interfaith chairperson, said the ADAMS
Center holds the Interfaith Iftar, to give Muslims and non-Muslims an
opportunity to share their beliefs and gain a greater understanding of
each other so that they can unite to help the greater community.
For her, it's a special time of the year.
"It's a time to get empathy and understand how other people go through
life," Ellis said. "Someone once told me that even when you fast for
Ramadan, it's easier. You know when you start and when you end. There
are millions of people who are in Ramadan permanently because they
don't have the means." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
NH: NEW HAMPSHIRE'S MUSLIMS OBSERVE RAMADAN -
TOP
Faiza Elmasry, Voice of America, 10/13/05
http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2005-10-13-voa24.cfm
There are large, well-established Muslim American communities across
the country& in California, New York, Michigan and here in
Washington DC. They have their own well funded Islamic Centers and
mosques where members can gather and worship together. They also have
easy access to a variety of ethnic markets and grocery stores.
In cities like Manchester, New Hampshire, home to just a few dozen
Muslim families, Muslims find their own ways to celebrate not only
their religious traditions, but their cultural diversity as well. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIMS NO LONGER STRANGERS IN IRELAND -
TOP
Cathleen Falsani, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/14/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/falsani/cst-nws-fals14.html
One of the first things we noticed as we drove through the gates of the
Islamic center complex was a sign advertising its restaurant, the Olive
Tree. All are welcome, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the sign
beckoned. And they deliver, too.
When I placed a call to the Islamic center -- one of two official
mosques in Dublin and one of about 10 in the north and south of Ireland
(including a Muslim meeting house in rural County Cavan not far from my
grandmother's home) -- I wasn't sure what to expect. Even in Chicago,
my calls sometimes receive a mixed reception.
It's understandable. American Muslims, too often, are put in the
position to defend themselves and their faith against the violent
actions of a few scoundrels who claim their murderous actions are done
in the name of Islam. More often than not, reporters call only when
something's wrong. So I was surprised -- stunned, really -- when I rang
the Dublin mosque late one afternoon, introduced myself as an American
religion writer and asked if I could come the next morning to speak to
someone about what life is like for the Muslim community in Ireland.
Without a moment's hesitation, the friendly man on the other end of the
phone said, in typical Irish form (although he said it with a heavy
Malaysian accent), "You're more than welcome." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS IN KOREA -
TOP
The Chosun Ilbo, 10/14/05
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200510/200510140006.html
It was half a century ago that two Muslims, Imam Zubercoch and Abdul
Rahman, fought for peace in the Korean War as part of the UN forces and
in the process introduced Islam's holy book, the Koran, to Korea. On
Friday, the country celebrated the golden anniversary of their mission.
Sponsored by the Korea-Middle East Association, prominent figures in
Korea's Islamic community along with foreign dignitaries and Korean
lawmakers gathered to commemorate the anniversary.
Muslims came together to say evening prayers before breaking their fast
during the holy month Ramadan with the "iftar" meal. Though such
observances seem alien to many, Islam is said to be the fastest growing
religion on earth and followed by one-fifth of the world population.
Korea now has some 100,000 Muslims, more than 30 percent of whom are
Koreans. That Islamic fundamentalists were behind major terrorist acts
worldwide has meant that many ordinary Muslims face discrimination. But
religious leaders insist Islam is a peaceful faith.
"It's a shame that many Koreans associate Islam with terrorism. Those
terrorists have nothing to do with our religion. It's wrong to say they
are Islamic fundamentalists, they are just from anti-American or
anti-Israeli groups. Islam's ideologies are peace, equality and
brotherhood," one said. (MORE)
-----
VATICAN PLEDGES TO WORK WITH MUSLIMS -
TOP
Associated Press, 10/14/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/12901796.htm
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican sent a message to Muslims on Friday for the
end of Ramadan, pledging to keep up momentum for closer relations begun
by the late Pope John Paul II and to work for "greater justice and
enduring peace."
The traditional message, signed by the head of the office for
interreligious relations, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, said "it was
faith in God and confidence in humanity that impelled the late pope to
engage in dialogue. . ."
"Let us, as Christians and Muslims, show that we can live together in
true fraternity, striving always to do the will of Merciful God who
created humanity to be one family," the message 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 - 10/16/05
*
Hadith:
Honey and the Quran
*
CAIR-Philly Offers 'Understanding Islam'
Course
-
CAIR-FL:
Muslims, Jews Hold
Fast-Breaking Banquet
*
UT:
Muslims, Mormons Will Fly
Aid to Quake Victims
-
MI:
Islamic Center Collects
Funds for Quake Victims
-
NY:
Personal Ties Feed Local
Pakistani Relief Effort
-
HI:
Muslims Gather in Prayer for
Devastated Region
-
WA:
Muslims Respond
with Prayers and Donations
-
OH:
Pakistan Group to Host
Event for Quake Victims
-
Guidance to
Promote
& Protect Charitable Giving
*
PA:
Muslim
Athletes Balance Spirituality with Sports
-
49ers Muslim Middle
Linebacker
-
VA/MD:
Guiding Muslim Youth
During Ramadan's Fast (RNS)
-
CA:
Getting a Small Start on
Islam's Fasting Ritual
*
FL:
Muslim Restaurant
Owners Have Ramadan Challenge
-
NJ:
Businesses Cater to
South Asian Traditions
*
MN:
Female Muslim Comic Shatters
Stereotypes (Star Trib)
*
Yee:
Muslim Army Chaplain
Recalls 'Devastating' Ordeal (AP)
*
Our Diplomats' Arabic
Handicap (Washington Post)
-
Al-Azhar Boycotts US Over Visa
Denial
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: HONEY AND THE QURAN -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Make use of the two
remedies, honey and the Quran."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1196
VERSE OF THE DAY: HEALING FOR MANKIND
"And (consider how) thy Lord has inspired the bee: 'Prepare for
thyself dwellings in mountains and in trees, and in what (beekeepers) may
build (for thee by way of hives); and then feed on all manner of fruit,
and follow humbly the paths ordained for thee by thy Lord.' (And lo!)
there issues from within their bodies a fluid of many hues, wherein there
is healing for mankind. In all this, there is a message indeed for people
who think!"
The Holy Quran, 16:68-69
SEE ALSO:
WHAT IS APITHERAPY?
http://www.apitherapy.com/
-----
CAIR-PHILLY OFFERS 'UNDERSTANDING ISLAM' COURSE
-
TOP
Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/15/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/12907418.htm
Islam Course
"Understanding Islam & Muslims through History &
Jurisprudence." Foundation for Islamic Education, 1860 Montgomery
Ave, Villanova; 215-592-0509. 7-9 p.m. Mons & Weds, & 10:30
a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sats. Registration required.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: MUSLIMS,
JEWS HOLD FAST-BREAKING BANQUET -
TOP
CAIR Central Florida Director Ahmed Bedier appeared on NBC's Tampa
affiliate WFLA to discuss an interfaith community fast-breaking event
that brought Tampa Bay Muslims and Jews together to celebrate the
confluence of their holy months of Ramadan and Tishri.
CAIR-FL co-sponsored the event, which was hosted and organized by
'Serving the One.' Serving the One is a diverse interfaith group made up
of committed individuals dedicated to building bridges of understanding.
Ahmed Bedier is a founding member of Serving the One.
WATCH THE VIDEO NEWS CLIP:
Broadband (High-speed)
http://www.cairfl.org/video/051014_wfla_sto_iftar_hi.wmv
Dial-up (low speed)
http://www.cairfl.org/video/051014_wfla_sto_iftar_lo.wmv
---
CAIR-CA: NON-MUSLIMS INVITED
TO JOIN CELEBRATIONS MARKING RAMADAN -
TOP
Cicero A. Estrella, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/15/05
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/15/BAGOEF8UP81.DTL
As part of their commemoration of Islam's holiest month, Bay Area mosques
are inviting non-Muslims to learn more about Islam during five Ramadan
dinner celebrations this weekend.
Organizers hope the outreach will help break down stereotypes about their
faith.
"We're inviting people into our centers so they can see how we
worship and talk to us," said Dian Alyan, outreach director for the
Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara. "That's the best way to
understand what Islam stands for."
Alyan said the participating mosques -- which also includes the Islamic
Society of San Francisco, Belmont's Yaseen Foundation, Fremont's Islamic
Society of East Bay and San Jose's South Bay Islamic Association -- had
held similar open houses in recent years.
The collaboration, which is meant to reach a larger number of people,
will provide five locations around the Bay Area from which to choose. The
Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is
co-sponsoring the Santa Clara event. (MORE)
-----
UT: MUSLIMS, MORMONS WILL FLY AID TO
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (October 16, 2005) - International relief and
development organization Islamic Relief, in conjunction with the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is sending a cargo plane filled
with emergency relief supplies to assist the victims of the South Asia
earthquake. The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) is
also assisting in the effort.
The cargo plane will leave Salt Lake City International Airport at 4:00pm
on Monday, October 17, and arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, at 9:00pm on
Tuesday, October 18.
WHAT: Press Conference to announce airlift that will carry emergency aid
to earthquake victims in Pakistan.
WHEN: Monday, October 17, 2005, 4:00pm
WHERE: Airort cargo area, Salt Lake City International Airport
WHY: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be providing
the contents of the shipment from its welfare and humanitarian
storehouses, IMANA will be helping cover a part of the transportation
costs, and Islamic Relief will be distributing the aid items through its
staff in the affected areas in Pakistan.
The contents of this shipment includes: tents, medical disposable
modules, shovels, hygiene kits, first aid modules, warm jackets,
blankets, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, Atmit powdered milk, and
dialysis machines.
Media Contact:
Arif Shaikh
Media and Public Relations Manager
Islamic Relief
arif@irw.org
(310) 351-3931 mobile
SEE ALSO:
MI: ISLAMIC CENTER COLLECTS
FUNDS FOR QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Kalamazoo Gazette, 10/15/05
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-15/112937167912510.xml&coll=7
Although Pakistani authorities have ended rescue operations looking for
survivors of the Oct. 8 earthquake in the Kashmir region, survivors will
need food, shelter and warm clothing for many months.
To that end, the Kalamazoo Islamic Center is collecting donations to be
used for relief efforts. The goal is to raise $50,000.
More than $31,000 was pledged as of Friday, said Gulnar Husain, a
spokeswoman for the effort.
---
NY: PERSONAL TIES FEED LOCAL PAKISTANI
RELIEF EFFORT -
TOP
CAROL EISENBERG, Newsday, 10/15/05
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/politics/nyc-pak1015,0,2689587.story
From the old Pakistani enclaves of Brooklyn to the spanking new mosques
of Bay Shore, Muslims gathered Friday to mourn, to pray and to collect
money.
"Everyone is very, very shaken up," said Dr. Hafizur Rehman, a
pediatrician from Bay Shore whose family comes from the
earthquake-devastated region near Islamabad. "Nearly everyone here
has family or friends who perished in the quake. Nearly everyone is
participating in the relief effort."
Rehman, like a half dozen local doctors, has signed on with medical teams
going to Kashmir to tend the injured through the Islamic Medical
Association of North America. Other groups are collecting medical
supplies, while virtually every mosque in New York is collecting money,
blankets and clothing.
But many fear that their efforts will not be enough to stave off
thousands of additional deaths among homeless survivors.
"The size of this disaster is beyond comprehension," Pakistani
Consul General Haroon Shaukat said Friday at a news conference with local
Pakistani leaders to underscore the scope of the disaster.
Describing the millions now living out in the open in plunging nighttime
temperatures, Shaukat said: "I plead with people to give generously.
There are millions of people out in the open. We need blankets, tents,
clothing, furnaces."
Mohammad Razvi, executive director of the Council of People's
Organization, a Pakistani group, thanked people for their generosity, but
urged them to give more. "Millions will not solve this," he
said. "We need billions." (MORE)
---
HI: ISLE MUSLIMS GATHER IN PRAYER FOR
SUPPORT OF DEVASTATED REGION -
TOP
Mary Adamski, Star Bulletin, 10/16/05
http://starbulletin.com/2005/10/16/news/story06.html
The Friday prayer service at the Manoa mosque focused on the 2.5 million
people left homeless by the Oct. 8 earthquake in northern Pakistan. For
many local residents, the prayer is personal.
"I called immediately. Our families are fine," said A. Karim
Khan of Pearl City. One of about 300 island Muslims with Pakistani roots,
Khan was relieved to determine that his brothers and sisters and his
wife's parents are safe. "Old buildings from the 18th and 19th
century went down," said Khan, a Leeward Community College history
professor, who is from Peshawar.
"Natural disaster knows no boundaries," said Lt. Col. Bader
Uzzaman of the Pakistan army, who joined more than 200 local Muslims at
the weekly service.
"There has to be collective response. That's the challenge the world
is facing in the recent events, the tsunami in Asia, the hurricanes in
North America. Human beings are the same and their needs are the same
wherever disaster strikes." Uzzaman is here to attend a course at
the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, where representatives of
several nations address regional and global security issues from
terrorism to natural disaster.
"The military has been involved in a big way" in rescue and
relief efforts in the "difficult to access" mountainous region
of Kashmir, said Uzzaman. "We're grateful for the help" as
other countries have responded. He is watching television coverage from
his homeland. His family is safe in Lahore.
As people left the service, they put currency in the hands of Hakim
Ouansafi. He said non-Muslims as well as members have contributed to the
relief fund of the Muslim Association of Hawaii. The goal is to match the
$65,000 collected at the mosque for Hurricane Katrina victims in
Mississippi and Louisiana. The money will go to agencies with U.S.
government backing, he said. Information is found on the Islamic Center
Web site:
www.iio.org. (MORE)
---
WA: MUSLIMS RESPOND WITH
PRAYERS AND DONATIONS -
TOP
Krista J. Kapralos, Herald, 10/15/05
http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/10/15/100loc_quake001.cfm
---
OH: PAKISTAN GROUP TO HOST EVENT
FOR VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE -
TOP
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1129369011179171.xml&coll=2
The Pakistan American League of Northeast Ohio is hosting a
fund-raiser for earthquake victims Monday night at the Islamic Center of
Cleveland, 6055 West 130th St., Parma.
The 6:30 p.m. program will include a Ramadan iftar dinner, the
traditional breaking of the daily fast. People of all faiths are welcome.
Donations will go toward relief efforts in Pakistan, where tens of
thousands were killed, injured and left homeless by an Oct. 8
earthquake.
For more information, call Zia Khan at 330-562-9650.
---
GUIDANCE TO PROMOTE &
PROTECT CHARITABLE GIVING -
TOP
http://www.muslimadvocates.org/news_more.php?id=12_0_3_0_M
Earthquake & Hurricane Relief Efforts: Guidance to Promote &
Protect Charitable Giving
Download a copy of this Guidance here.
Following the tsunami in Southeast Asia, the hurricanes that hit the Gulf
Coast and now, the earthquake in South Asia, Muslim Americans have opened
their hearts and wallets and supported these vital relief and
reconstruction efforts. It is important to donate, and we encourage
Muslim Americans to donate generously to help the victims of these
natural disasters.
But it also important that Muslim Americans take steps to select
reputable relief and charitable organizations in order to ensure that
donations go where they are intended. Our efforts must always be mindful
of the post-September 11th laws intended to stop the flow of funds for
improper purposes.
To address these concerns, Muslim Advocates issues this
guidance:
Tax Exempt Charitable Contributions: If an individual donor seeks to
claim a charitable contribution on the donor's tax returns, the donation
must be made to a U.S.-registered charity that has been granted 501(c)(3)
tax exempt status. (To determine if the organization is a U.S.-registered
tax exempt charity, ask the organization, or go to
www.guidestar.org, an online
database of IRS-recognized charities.) (MORE)
-----
MUSLIM ATHLETES
BALANCING SPIRITUALITY WITH SPORTS -
TOP
During Ramadan, they must fast regardless of demands on the body.
Romy Varghese, Morning Call, 10/16/05
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5fastingoct16,0,4354210.story
Zohayr Jaffer caught passes, faked out teammates and was repeatedly
crushed to the turf at the Parkland High School football
practice.
After 20 minutes, the 16-year-old junior varsity player, his jersey
streaked with dirt, was sweating. And when the coach called for a water
break, he trotted over with the other players to one of the three water
stations.
But instead of joining the boys who clustered around the orange coolers
and gulped water from each refill, one after the other, Jaffer wiped his
face with the end of his shirt. As the boys flipped their paper cups into
a large bin, Jaffer pulled on his helmet and headed back to the
field.
Jaffer is fasting during Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the lunar
calendar of Islam. Fasting is considered one of the five pillars of
Islam, and during Ramadan, this means no food or water during daylight
hours. It does not matter that Jaffer is in the throes of a football
season that demands strenuous activity six days a week.
Balancing the requirements of their faith and their teams is a situation
faced by many young American Muslims who observe Ramadan. In an area with
a Muslim population in the thousands, and about three hundred children
taking weekend Islamic lessons, several coaches have grown increasingly
aware of some of their players' spiritual duties And it's something the
coaches would like to know more about.
For Jaffer, known as "Zeus" to his teammates, the hardest part
is not drinking. But he said he only considers the weight of his
obligation once he breaks his fast at sundown with his family.
"You feel the fulfillment," he said, "and you feel really
good to eat and relax."
Challenges for athletes
Ramadan, which started Oct. 5 this year, is a time for Muslims to feel
closer to God through prayer and self-restraint. Barring some exceptions,
fasting is obligatory for Muslims who reach adolescence. Often, younger
children join everyone else in their household since "it's a
beautiful atmosphere" similar to Christmas, said Fatima El-Turky,
who teaches youth religion classes at the Islamic Center of the Lehigh
Valley in Whitehall Township. Generally, family members wake up before
dawn to eat a small meal, called suhoor, and pray; after sunset, they
break the fast with a meal called iftar, which often consists of several
dishes, drinks and desserts. . .
Mohamed Turki, a Muslim and a doctor at St. Luke's Hospital and Health
Network, said athletes who fast during Ramadan and engage in activity
before they break their fast run a high risk of dehydration and problems
associated with it, such as muscle cramping. He said he would advise them
to "not play as intensely" and to consider their individual
cases - a kicker, for instance, wouldn't be affected as much as a player
who's in constant action.
Unfounded fears?
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington, D.C., advocacy group
Council on American Islamic Relations, said fears of dire consequences
from fasting are unfounded.
Muslims in areas that are more humid, hot and with longer daylight hours
have fasted for the past 1,400 years, Hooper said.
The group encourages parents to discuss Ramadan with teachers to
demystify the observance. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
49ERS MUSLIM MIDDLE LINEBACKER -
TOP
Star-Telegram, 10/16/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/football/12917815.htm
The 49ers have lost leading tackler Jeff Ulbrich for the season after he
opted for surgery on a torn left biceps. Middle linebacker Saleem Rasheed
will replace Ulbrich in the starting lineup. Rasheed, a devout Muslim, is
in the midst of Ramadan, the month-long holiday that includes fasting
during daylight hours. Rasheed's hydration during Ramadan always has been
a hot-button topic, especially on game days, since he was acquired as a
third-round draft pick in 2002.
---
VA/MD: GUIDING MUSLIM YOUTH
DURING RAMADAN'S FAST -
TOP
Andrea Useem, Religion News Service, 10/15/05
http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1129375919108860.xml&coll=2
Christmas has Santa Claus and costumed pageants; Easter has pastel
baskets and chocolate bunnies. Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting that
began last week, has yet to acquire such a sugary, child-pleasing
veneer.
During the holy month, many Muslim kids across the country exhibit a
self-discipline not often associated with children as they aspire to
abstain from food and drink, just as their parents and older siblings
do.
While this desire to please God is admirable, Muslim leaders say that
young people are not small adults and shouldn't be treated as such. Aware
of this, Muslim youth leaders across the country are working especially
hard this Ramadan to meet the special needs of young children and
teenagers. (MORE)
---
CA: GETTING A SMALL START ON
ISLAM'S FASTING RITUAL -
TOP
Muslims aren't obliged to abstain from daytime eating during Ramadan
until puberty. But some youngsters hunger to ease into the
tradition.
Patricia Ward Biederman, Los Angeles Times, 10/15/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beliefs15oct15,1,926742.story
Nine-year-old Danya Maryam Aleem sat among her classmates at New Horizon
School-Los Angeles a few days after the start of the holy month of
Ramadan. The third- and fourth-graders had just finished praying, and now
they began their lesson in Islamic studies with school Principal Shahida
Alikhan.
Like 8-year-old classmate Kevin Karidjan, Danya was one of a handful of
youngsters who proudly wore stickers on their blue school shirts. Bearing
a photo of the holy city of Mecca, the stickers read: "I am
fasting."
During Ramadan, adult Muslims around the world abstain from food, drink
and other sensual pleasures from sunup to sundown. But according to
Islamic law, no Muslim need fast until he or she reaches puberty.
Children are not required to fast, nor are the terminally ill, pregnant
women or those traveling long distances.
But Muslim educators such as Alikhan and others believe that Ramadan, the
month in which God revealed the Koran to the prophet Muhammad, is an
ideal time to give children their first experience of fasting, one of the
five pillars of Islam. (The other four are believing in one God; praying
five times a day; giving alms each year; and making a pilgrimage to
Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least once in a lifetime.) (MORE)
-----
FL: MUSLIM RESTAURANT OWNERS
HAVE EXTRA CHALLENGE DURING RAMADAN -
TOP
Cary McMullen, Ledger, 10/15/05
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051015/NEWS/510150441/1021
Even before you step inside Zohra's restaurant, piquant smells greet you.
The special items on today's menu include cream of carrot soup and
chicken crepes.
Lunch guests haven't arrived yet, and Zohra's owner, Sarah Bajwa, shows a
visitor around as the kitchen staff prepares the food. Normally, Bajwa
would sample the dishes, but for the next three weeks she will merely
observe as customers in the bright dining areas eat and walk away
satisfied.
Bajwa and her husband, Hafeez Bajwa, are observant Muslims, and during
the holy month of Ramadan, they strictly follow the requirement to fast
from sunrise to sunset. That means as they run their restaurants, Zohra's
in Lakeland and Lavender n Lace Tea Room in Lake Alfred, they are
surrounded all during the day with food they cannot taste.
According to the prescriptions of the Quran, the Islamic scriptures,
adult Muslims are not even to drink liquids and are to refrain from
smoking and sexual relations during the daylight hours. The only
exceptions are for the elderly, the infirm or those with conditions that
make fasting unwise, such as pregnant women.
Ramadan began on Oct. 4 and concludes with the sighting of the next new
moon, probably Nov. 3. In addition to fasting, Muslims use the month to
engage in deeper spiritual practices, such as prayer and giving to
charity. A festive holiday, the Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of
Ramadan.
Muslims say the daytime fast during Ramadan is not easy but is manageable
and that it has important spiritual benefits, such as increasing
discipline and gratitude. For Muslims who own restaurants, like the
Bajwas, the temptations and the discipline needed to resist them can be
even greater.
"You come to work and you are smelling this food, and you want a cup
of tea," laughs Sarah Bajwa. "In the morning it's not so bad,
but by midday you feel a little weak."
Things are a little easier for Saqib Khan, a Lakeland physician who also
owns Cafe Roti, an Indian-cuisine restaurant next door to his clinic near
Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Khan regularly walks over to the
restaurant during the day, but the lunchtime buffet of tandoori chicken
and basmati rice steaming in the chafing dishes isn't as much of a
challenge to resist as other forbidden practices such as gossiping, he
says.
---
NJ: WITH GROWING SOUTH ASIAN
POPULATION, BUSINESSES ARE CATERING TO DIFFERENT TRADITIONS -
TOP
NAVID IQBAL, DAILY RECORD, 10/16/05
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051016/NEWS01/510160346/1005
PARSIPPANY -- Two days before her wedding, Ami Desai of Denville was
getting henna tattoos on her hands at Zari Boutique on Route 46.
Her wedding to Naufel Tajudeen of South Brunswick was to take place on
Saturday at the Birchwood Manor in Hanover. One of the events in the
couple's four-day wedding celebration was catered by The Moghul
Restaurant of Morristown.
Desai and Tajudeen are some of the many South Asians who are getting
married or getting ready for their weddings by using the growing number
of businesses in Morris County that cater to South Asians, or Desis, the
colloquial term that means "from the homeland" of the Indian
subcontinent.
Even when compared to increasingly elaborate American ceremonies, Desi
weddings tend to be grand events where even relatives of relatives are
invited, said Saaima Saiyed, who is the publisher of a South Asian
fashion and wedding magazine called Shaadi Style.
"I think if someone were to imagine or describe a 'typical Desi
wedding' they would say it was a wedding consisting of a week's worth of
events and catering to 500, if not 1,000-plus people," Saiyed
said.
-----
MN: FUNNY WOMAN, SERIOUS ACTIVISM HUMOR,
POLITICS ARE BOTH PART OF ACTIVIST'S LIFE -
TOP
Doug Grow, Star Tribune, 10/14/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5670262.html
Reality keeps messing with my deeply held stereotypes.
Stereotype: Muslim women in traditional garb are not exactly rib-tickling
funny.
Reality: Farheen Hakeem is a stand-up comic who wears a hijab (head
scarf) and modest garb.
"You don't wear a bikini with a hijab," said Hakeem of her
attire.
Hakeem, who has been doing comedy for six years, was the Green Party's
candidate for mayor of Minneapolis in last month's primary election. She
finished third, behind Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin and
Mayor R.T. Rybak, but got a surprising 14 percent of the vote and a ton
of comic material.
"I'm not the sort who thinks all white people look alike,"
Hakeem said, "but I have to say that R.T. and McLaughlin do look
pretty similar. If you gave R.T. a bad haircut and caught McLaughlin
stepping out of a yoga class, I don't think you could tell them
apart."
Hakeem, 29, laughs at how both Rybak and McLaughlin have tried to get her
endorsement since the primary. She's having no part of it. "Why
would I endorse anyone who can't pronounce my name?" she asked.
(MORE)
-----
MUSLIM ARMY CHAPLAIN RECALLS
'DEVASTATING AND FRIGHTENING' ORDEAL -
TOP
MELANTHIA MITCHELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS, 1/16/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Muslim_Chaplain.html
SEATTLE -- As a Muslim chaplain, Army Capt. James Yee thought he would
have a positive influence at the U.S. prison for terror suspects at
Guantanamo Bay.
Instead, he became a suspect, himself.
Once a soldier praised for his services, Yee was arrested on suspicion of
espionage and held in solitary confinement for 76 days. He was later
cleared in the investigation, but says his case should be a warning to
others.
"My faith in Islam and my patriotism, my willingness to advocate for
American values, diversity and religious freedom was under fire,"
Yee told The Associated Press in a recent phone interview from New York,
where he was promoting his book, "For God and Country."
(MORE)
-----
OUR DIPLOMATS' ARABIC HANDICAP -
TOP
Jennifer Bremer, Washington Post, 10/16/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/15/AR2005101500104.html
Karen Hughes, the new head of public diplomacy for the Bush
administration, came back from the Middle East last month chastened by
the communications chasm looming between the region's public and
ourselves. She had seen firsthand that there are few quick fixes in the
Middle East. But we do have one simple option that could move us a big
step forward: teaching our diplomats to speak Arabic.
At a time when the U.S. government has an urgent need both to understand
what's being said in the Arab world and to express our own views clearly,
surely every U.S. embassy in the Mideast is staffed with at least several
American diplomats who speak Arabic, right? Well, no. Four years after
9/11, we're still a very long way from achieving this fundamental goal,
as the State Department's internal performance reviews and interviews
with human resource and language training staff make clear. Policy is not
the problem: State Department planning documents call for increased
Arabic language capabilities in the Foreign Service. The problem is that
the way we're going about meeting this goal guarantees failure.
Not ready for prime time: Level 3 designates moderate fluency in a
language, but you couldn't ask a diplomat who speaks Arabic at that level
to appear before a camera on al-Jazeera TV and speak articulately about
U.S. policy in the Middle East, the author says. (Thirteen/wnet New
York)
To understand why requires a safari into the bureaucratic undergrowth, so
grab your machete. The Foreign Service classifies language ability into
five levels, with "1" being the lowest (able to handle only the
very simplest social situations) and "5" the highest (a level
rarely assigned to anyone but a native speaker).
From a public diplomacy standpoint, the key distinction is between a
"3" and a "4." We have a fairly good supply of 3's in
Arabic, almost 200 as of August 2004 (the latest State Department data
available). A level 3 can handle one-on-one situations, or something like
a ministry meeting in a subject area they know well. But a level 3
speaker would flounder in a complex situation. If you put a 3 in a public
meeting where many excited people are speaking on top of one another, for
example, or in a coffee shop conversation with college students arguing
about religion and the state, he or she would be lost. Double the
difficulty if the diplomat has been trained only in Modern Standard
Arabic, a formal dialect very different from the colloquial dialects that
people actually speak (see sidebar). But these are precisely the kinds of
situations that our Middle East diplomats must be equipped to
handle.
Speaking, moreover, is generally harder than listening. No responsible
person would ask a 3 to speak before an unfriendly crowd at the local
university (or at the embassy gates), much less put a 3 in front of a
television camera and expect a clear, engaging and cogent discussion of
U.S. Middle East policy in Arabic. For that you need a 4, and preferably
a 4+ or a 5. So how many of these 4 and 5 level speakers do we have in
Arabic? As of August 2004 -- 27. At the highest levels (4+ and 5), we
have a grand total of eight individuals worldwide. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
AL-AZHAR BOYCOTTS US OVER VISA DENIAL -
TOP
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-10/15/article06.shtml
CAIRO, October 15, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the
highest seat of religious learning in the Sunni world, has decided to
shun American officials and freeze cooperation with all US institutions
after Washington denied one of its senior officials an entry
visa.
"Grand Imam Sheikh Mohammad Sayyed Tantawi decided to ban US
officials from entering the headquarter of Al Azhar Sheikhdom in Cairo
suspended cooperation with official American institutions,"
well-placed sources told IslamOnline.net on Saturday, October
15.
"He also decided not to send Al-Azhar scholars to the US in the
future even if Washington granted them entry," they added.
After weeks of procrastination, the US Embassy in Cairo refused to give
Sheikh Abdul Hamid Al-Atrash, the head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, an
entry visa, giving no reasons.
Sheikh Tantawi had nominated the prominent scholar to give lectures and
sermons at a number of American Islamic centers during the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan. (MORE)
-----
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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 - 10/17/05
*
Verse:
God Responds to the
Distressed Soul
*
Save This Date:
Dec. 3 CAIR Annual
Dinner in VA
-
Donate the Cost of a
Ramadan Meal to CAIR
*
CAIR:
VA
Prison Agrees to Facilitate Islamic Prayers
-
CAIR
Correctional Institution's Guide to Islam
*
CAIR Rep Discusses Iraq on C-SPAN's 'Washington Journal'
*
CAIR-CA:
Muslims Invite Neighbors to Share Ramadan (SJMN)
-
CAIR-OH Feeds the Homeless
*
US Muslims Play Role in Worldwide Relief Efforts (KUNA)
-
CA:
Relief Effort Gains Momentum (Stanford Daily)
*
CA:
Graffiti on Sikh Property May Have Targeted Muslims
*
IL:
Muslims Encouraged to Become U.S. Citizens (Defender)
*
AL:
Center Hopes Others Explore Islam (Huntsville Times)
-
CT:
'Taste of Ramadan' Reflects Islamic Faith
-
CA:
Reporter Experiences Ramadan Fast (La Voz)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD RESPONDS TO THE DISTRESSED SOUL -
TOP
"Who is it that responds to the distressed (soul) when it calls out to
Him, and who removes the ill (that caused the distress), and has made
(mankind) inherit the earth? Could there be any divine power other than
God? How seldom do you keep this in mind!"
The Holy Quran, 27:62
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD HEARS THE OPPRESSED
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Three people will not
have their supplications rejected (by God): a fasting person until he
breaks his fast, a just ruler and an oppressed person."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 132
-----
SAVE THIS DATE: DEC. 3 CAIR ANNUAL DINNER IN VA -
TOP
On December 3, 2005, CAIR will hold its 11th annual banquet at the
Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Va. For more information please
e-mail:
events@cair.com
SEE ALSO:
DONATE THE COST OF A RAMADAN MEAL TO CAIR -
TOP
Help CAIR reach its goal of raising $1 million during the month of
Ramadan by donating the cost of one missed meal for yourself or your
family. To Donate, and to learn why you should donate, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
-----
CAIR: PRISON AGREES TO FACILITATE PRAYER -
TOP
Accommodations include finding a chaplain to monitor the Muslims' services.
Laurence Hammack, Roanoke Times, 10/17/05
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-36620
Officials at Wallens Ridge State Prison have taken steps to accommodate
Muslim inmates who complained about not being allowed to pray at the
maximum security prison.
Some inmates also claimed they received death threats from a guard who
had recently returned from military service in Iraq with a hatred for
Muslims.
Both issues were discussed during a recent meeting between prison
officials and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, according to
Noman Bajwa, civil rights coordinator for the group.
Bajwa said he was assured that prison officials would look for a
volunteer chaplain to monitor Friday services for Muslims. That would
allow the gatherings to be held in the prison gymnasium, as they are
for inmates of other religions. Prison officials also agreed to provide
small towels for Muslims to use as prayer rugs, which previously had
not been allowed outside their cells.
As for the guard accused of threatening inmates, Bajwa said he was told
that the state Department of Corrections had taken disciplinary action.
Prison spokesman Larry Traylor said he could not comment on personnel
matters.
After the council expressed concerns about the treatment of Muslim
inmates at the Wise County prison earlier this year, Department of
Corrections Inspector General June Kimbriel and Wallens Ridge Warden
David Robinson met with Bajwa in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7.
"I'm pleased that they did make the effort to come," Bajwa said.
"Obviously it's a long trip from Big Stone Gap to Washington. But for
now we have to wait until they fulfill the commitments that were made
to us during that meeting."
Traylor described the meeting as "cordial and productive." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR: A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION'S GUIDE TO ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICES -
TOP
In response to the growing number of inmates discovering and embracing
Islam as a form of rehabilitation, this pamphlet is designed to help
correctional institution's and officer's (who may also be Muslim).
Prayers, diet, incense, and head-cover's are a few of the issues
discussed. 24 pages, 9" x 4", soft-cover. Discount for correctional
personnel or inmates. Price is $3.00 + $1.42 shipping and handling.
To Order, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6
-----
CAIR REP DISCUSSES IRAQ ON C-SPAN'S 'WASHINGTON JOURNAL' -
TOP
CAIR Research Director Dr. Mohamed Nimer appeared Sunday morning on C-SPAN's 'Washington Journal.' To view the segment, go to:
http://c-span.org/ Click on "Washington Journal" and then on "Washington Journal Entire Program (10/16/2005)." Dr. Nimer's segment begins at 2:05.
-----
CAIR-CA: MUSLIMS INVITE NEIGHBORS TO RAMADAN -
TOP
Howard Mintz, Mercury News, 10/17/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/the_valley/12922848.htm
As the sun set Sunday evening, Bay Area Muslims were both celebrating
Ramadan and making sure they were working hard to educate their
neighbors about their culture and religion.
In Santa Clara, hundreds gathered at the Muslim Community Association
mosque for dinner, prayers and an ongoing attempt to erase
misconceptions about Islam. For Khaled Ejaz, the growth of the event is
essential for his community.
``Breaking the prejudice after 9/11 is very important for us,'' said
Ejaz, who had a table of Korans in different languages, from French to
Burmese, set out for review.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations sponsored similar events over
the weekend at five Bay Area mosques, including a dinner Sunday at the
South Bay Islamic Association in San Jose and a similar gathering in
San Francisco. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-COLUMBUS FEEDS THE HOMELESS -
TOP
(COLUMBUS, OH, 10/17/05) - On Sunday, October 16, the Columbus office
of CAIR-Ohio marked the Muslim fast of Ramadan by providing hot meals
to some 180 residents of the YWCA Family Center, a newly-built shelter
for homeless families.
More than 20 volunteers from the local Muslim community participated in
the event. Due to the overwhelming interest among Muslims to serve the
community at all times of the year, not just during Ramadan, CAIR-Ohio
has decided to serve at the shelter on a monthly basis.
"Helping those less fortunate in the community is emphasized in Islam,"
said CAIR-Ohio Civil Rights Director Jennifer Nimer. Nimer quoted
Islam's Prophet Muhammad who said: "He who eats his fill while his
neighbor goes without food is not a believer." He also said, "A person
has sinned if he neglects to feed those in need."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered
in Washington, D.C., and has 31 regional offices and chapters
nationwide and in Canada. The Ohio Chapter of CAIR has 3 offices -
Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
CONTACT: Jennifer Nimer, 614-451-3232, E-Mail
jennifer@cair-ohio.com; Dalia Muhammad, 614-451-3232,
office@cair-ohio.com
-----
US MUSLIMS PLAY ROLE IN RAMADAN CHARITY, WORLDWIDE RELIEF EFFORTS -
TOP
Aya Batrawy, Kuwait News Agency, 10/17/05
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=779544
WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (KUNA) -- As news of the devastating earthquake in
Pakistan began to trickle in through the media, Muslims across the
United States were digging deep into their wallets to raise money for
the victims, many of whom were Muslim.
American Muslims have already contributed millions of dollars for
victims of the earthquake and as donations of money, food, medical
supplies and other needed goods continue to be made from individuals
and mosques around the country, the long-term contribution from this
minority group is expected to climb beyond the initial USD 50-million
aid package offered by the US government. Despite chaos and confusion
on the ground following the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that rocked
Pakistan-administered Kashmir last week killing at least 38,000 people,
relief operations by Muslims in the United States have been quick,
organized and steadfast.
"Donations have been really good," said Dr. Pirachi Abdul Rashid, the
incoming president of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North
America (APPNA), a group comprised of Pakistani Muslim doctors in the
United States hoping to collect over a million dollars for the relief
effort.
In the first 48 hours after news of the earthquake broke, APPNA alone
had raised over USD 200,000 and sent USD 70,000 dollars worth of
medical supplies to the hardest hit areas, according to Dr. Pirachi who
is traveling to Pakistan with a team of American Muslim doctors to
provide medical assistance for the thousands injured.
Non-Muslim aid organizations complained that donations for this latest
disaster were lower than expected, blaming the low charity in the
United States on "donor fatigue" following relief efforts in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami last year.
On the other hand, US-based Muslim groups and mosques across the
country are experiencing a surge in donations this month, partly
because it is the duty of Muslims to give zakat (alm) during the
current holy month of Ramadan. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CA: EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORT GAINS MOMENTUM -
TOP
Anne Ritchie, Stanford Daily, 10/17/05
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=18151&repository=0001_article
Members of the student group Pakistanis at Stanford (PAS) launched a
formal relief effort Wednesday night to benefit the victims of the Oct.
8 earthquake in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The 7.6 quake killed an
estimated 38,000 people, leaving at least 62,000 others injured.
The relief effort, which can be accessed at the PAS Web site -
http://pas.stanford.edu - has already generated over $4,000 in donations, according to PAS member and relief organizer Uzair Nasim, a junior.
"Nearly $1,400 has been donated online, $1,000 was collected from
various dorms the very night we launched our effort, $1,000 was donated
by members of the Islamic Society and the rest was given by people to
our members over the last few days," he said.
Sohail Razzaq, a freshman PAS member and relief organizer from Karachi,
Pakistan, commented on the University community's reaction to the
fundraiser.
"The response from the student body and faculty has been thoroughly encouraging," he said. (MORE)
-----
CA: RACIST GRAFFITI DISCOVERED ON SIKH PROPERTY IN LODI -
TOP
Layla Bohm, News-Sentinel, 10/15/05
http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2005/10/15/news/3_graffiti_051015.txt
The crudely painted black, red and green swastikas and letters came as
a shock this week to Lodi Sikhs who regularly gather at their property
on the corner of West Lane and Armstrong Road.
For David Hill, chair of Lodi's Breakthrough Project, the graffiti can't be tolerated.
That's just garbage," he said in a raised voice Friday as he looked at
a damaged tractor trailer. "It's intimidation, which is just what
(vandals) want."
Who painted the swastikas and letters that stand for "white power" is
not known. The vandalism appeared this week on the Sikh property,
including the trailer, a fence and a closed fruit stand that is visible
to a steady stream of traffic moving between Lodi and Stockton. . .
Hill has been active in the Breakthrough Project since 1998, when the
group formed after a cross was burned at Tokay High School. He hasn't
seen many other acts of graffiti recently, but he keeps an eye on the
area near S-Mart Foods, 610 W. Kettleman Lane.
He suspects the graffiti at the Sikh site may have actually targeted
the Muslim community, which has been in the national spotlight since
June, when five Lodi men were arrested during a terror investigation in
the city. (MORE)
-----
IL: MUSLIMS ENCOURAGED TO BECOME U.S. CITIZENS -
TOP
Maria Hegstad, Chicago Defender, 10/17/05
http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=2606
Nourelsuda Sublaban, who immigrated from Jordan to the United States
four years ago with her children, enjoys the benefits of U.S.
citizenship.
"Citizenship is very important because [now] I have Medicare . . . I [can] go to doctor, I [can] go to hospital," she said.
It also means she can get back into the country if she travels abroad.
Muslim and Arab community leaders touted these and other benefits
available to American citizens during a news conference last week and
urged Muslim immigrants to seek the protections that citizenship
provides.
"Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, our Muslim brothers and sisters
have been under [suspicion,]," said Karla Avila, program director for
the New Americans Initiative. Citizenship is "the only way they can
protect their civil rights."
-----
AL: CENTER HOPES OTHERS EXPLORE ISLAM -
TOP
SHELBY G. SPIRES, Huntsville Times, 10/16/05
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1129473901230410.xml&coll=1
Auayoob Karimi hopes Huntsville families who want to learn about Islam
will come to the Alabama Islamic Education Center of Alzahra.
The 5-year-old center, which just opened in a new location at 8200 S.
Memorial Parkway, was established to show people what Islam means in
terms of spirituality and culture. The center held an open house on
Saturday.
"We are open to anybody who wants to learn, no matter their age or
background," said Karimi, who is a native of Bahrain and has been
studying automotive engineering at the University of Alabama in
Huntsville.
Karimi wants the center to become a focal point and an outreach tool
for Islam in North Alabama and especially the almost 400 Islamic
families in Huntsville. "People can come here to support each other,"
he said. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CT: 'TASTE OF RAMADAN' REFLECTS ISLAMIC FAITH -
TOP
SARA CAPOZZI, Herald, 10/17/05
http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15399755&BRD=1641&PAG=461&dept_id=10110&rfi=6
NEWINGTON -- Hundreds gathered at Newington High School for the "Taste of Ramadan" celebration Saturday evening.
In its seventh year, the event was sponsored by The Islamic Association
of Greater Hartford, the Muhammad Islamic Center of Hartford and the
Muslims Coalition of Connecticut.
The free event opened with speeches by Muslim community leaders and
included videos on Islamic culture, activities and crafts for children,
displays of books and other items, prayer and food from around the
world.
---
RAMADAN: A STUDENT'S JOURNEY WITH THE ISLAMIC FAITH -
TOP
Kharman Aidun, La Voz, 10/17/05
http://www.lavozdeanza.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/17/4352965c07ee8
The first day I wore the hijab to work, one of my managers looked at me
in shock and asked if I was really going to wear it. When I asked if
that would be a problem, he shook his head and told me he wasn't
allowed to have a problem with it.
I had decided that when Ramadan came I was going to live like a Muslim
for one week, and in order to do this effectively, I packed some
clothing and moved in with my friend Hala Hyatt and her family. (MORE)
-----
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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
- 10/18/05
*
Verse: The
Greatest Losers
*
ISLAM-OPED: God is
Not a Terrorist
*
CAIR-OH, APPNA-OH
Seek
Volunteers to Pack Quake Aid
-
TX:
Muslims Reach Out to Quake Victims (Star-Telegram)
-
MO: St. Louis Muslims Offer Quake Aid
-
CAIR-FL: Fast Brings Students Together for Fundraising
*
CAIR-SFBA: Bay Area Mosques Share Ramadan
-
CAIR-LA Co-Sponsors James Yee Speaking Tour
-
CAIR-FL Rep Comments on Iraqi Constitution
-
'Kudos' to CAIR-FL for Synagogue Talk
*
NY Real Estate Broker Claims Anti-Muslim Bias (NY Post)
-
Anti-Muslim Politician Cost Me 1M - Broker (Daily News)
*
MD: Teaching Teachers About Islamic Faith (Balt Sun)
*
MI: Dinner Program Examines 'Women in Islam'
-
NC:
Jews, Muslims Gather to Heal (News & Observer)
-
OH: Mosque is Muslim Melting Pot (Plain Dealer)
-
FL: Muslim Cross-Country Runner Adjusts to Fast
*
Iraqis Say Civilians Killed in U.S. Raids (Wash Post)
-
Sharon Grabs More W. Bank Land than Returned in Gaza
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: THE GREATEST LOSERS -
TOP
"Say (O Muhammad): 'Shall we tell you who are the greatest losers in
whatever they may do? (It is) those whose efforts have been wasted in
(the pursuit of no more than) this world's life, while they thought
they were acquiring good by their works?"
The Holy Quran, 18:103-104
"By (the token of) time (through the ages). Surely 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 in
adversity."
The Holy Quran, Chapter 103
-----
ISLAM-OPED: GOD IS NOT A TERRORIST -
TOP
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.
CONTACT:
ihooper@cair-net.org
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
Please consider the following commentary for publication.
---
GOD IS NOT A TERRORIST
Unearthing Our Common Humanity
By Ahmed Rehab
WORD COUNT: 567
[Ahmed Rehab is communications director for the Chicago office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest
Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. He may be reached at:
communications@cairchicago.org ]
Religious extremists waste no time declaring natural disasters to be
God's punishment. The divine motivations they cite are different, but
they invariably reflect personal religious or political agendas.
On different occasions, these extremists of different faiths said
Hurricane Katrina was America's punishment for pressuring Israel to
leave Gaza, for the invasion of Iraq or for domestic "immorality."
Such zealots invoke God's name to reinforce their own demands, without
that God is not their personal lobbyist. A just God, and Muslims know
one of God's 99 Names is "The Just," does not punish thousands of
innocent human beings for the acts, good, bad or indifferent, of a few.
God is not a terrorist.
Any person of faith will strive to reconcile the death and destruction
caused by natural disasters like Katrina, or the recent earthquake that
devastated parts of South Asia, with God's justice and love for
humanity.
Islam, like other faiths, provides answers based on hope and inspiration, not anger and vengeance.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, describes God's ultimate justice on
Judgment Day, when everyone will be shown their past deeds. "Then,
whoever has done an atom's weight of good shall see it, and whoever has
done an atom's weight of evil shall (also) see it there." (99:6-8)
Few watching the riveting television images of Americans being pulled
from rooftops in New Orleans, or Pakistanis sifting through the rubble
of a devastated village, could help but think of our common humanity
and the petty nature of our differences.
How is a Pakistani mother's agony over her lost child different from
that of a Katrina survivor suffering the same terrible loss? The two
women may dress differently, but their faces show the same grief. One
speaks Urdu and the other English, but they weep in the same language.
These two natural disasters broke through more than just levees and
layers of earth; they ripped through layers of politics and culture
that distort our perception of each other.
Wonders can happen when we focus on our similarities, not our differences.
Muslims worldwide raised more than a billion dollars for victims of
Hurricane Katrina. In the Middle East, there was an outpouring of
sympathy and prayers for those who had been killed, injured or
displaced on the Gulf Coast.
Across the United States, churches and other houses of worship joined
with mosques to raise funds and rush aid to the earthquake zone. In
both parts of the world, people who viewed each other with suspicion
were moved to reciprocate prayers and generosity, demonstrating that
the so-called "clash of civilizations" is not inevitable or necessary.
Such is the hidden blessing in the horror that is a natural disaster.
Sometimes, it takes the earth literally shaking under our feet to
remind us of our common humanity. Let us all work to make sure there is
a long-lasting positive response to recent suffering.
As God states in the Quran: "Whenever affliction touches a man, he
prays to Us&But as soon as We relieve his affliction he walks away
as if he had never prayed&" (10:12)
We must never walk away from one another's humanity and should always
heed the advice of the Prophet Muhammad, who reprimanded a follower who
said: "O God! Bestow Your Mercy on me and Muhammad only, and do not
bestow it on anyone else." The Prophet told him: "You have limited a
very vast thing (God's Mercy)."
-----
CAIR-OHIO, APPNA-OHIO SEEKS VOLUNTEERS TO PACK QUAKE AID -
TOP
(COLUMBUS, OH, 10/18/05) - CAIR-Ohio and APPNA-Ohio (Association of
Pakistani Physicians of North America) need volunteers in Cleveland to
help pack medical supplies for delivery to the victims of the recent
earthquake in Pakistan. The supplies will be sent to physician teams
going to Pakistan and partnering with local hospitals to bring
expertise and medical relief directly to those in need.
Volunteers may be from a medical or nonmedical background. Medical
personnel will direct the packing, using lists of needed supplies
prepared by APPNA. Nonmedical volunteers will pack the supplies, close
and label boxes and load the boxes into a van for transport.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 19, 2005, from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
WHERE: The Medwish warehouse is located at the Cleveland Clinic Parker
Building, 17325 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44112. Directions and
more information about the warehouse can be found at
www.medwish-international.org.
Transportation options: The Islamic Society of Greater Columbus will be
sending a van and have seats available. They will meet at 1 p.m. on
Wednesday, October 19 at the Omar Ibn El Khattab Masjid, located at 580
Riverview Drive, Columbus, OH. The ISGC van plans to return to Columbus
by midnight, insha'allah. Please call 614-397-3693 as soon as possible
to reserve a seat in the van.
Volunteers may also drive on their own using the directions on the
website, but please let a coordinator below know you plan to come.
Other notes: Volunteers who are fasting should consider bringing a packed iftar.
For more information, or to RSVP to volunteer, please contact: Dr. Asma
Mobin-Uddin at 614-560-0272 or call CAIR-Ohio at 614-451-3232.
SEE ALSO:
TX: MUSLIM GROUPS REACHING OUT TO QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
ELLENA F. MORRISON, Star-Telegram, 10/18/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/12931568.htm
Buildings that were under construction when Rehana Kausar left Kashmir
as a child no longer stand, reduced to rubble by the recent south Asian
earthquake.
"These were landmark places," said Kausar, an anesthesiologist with
Harris Methodist Fort Worth hospital and president of the Islamic
Medical Association of North America. "The day I heard they were all
gone, it really affected me."
Kausar left Sunday for the region to offer medical care as part of a
relief team assembled by the medical association, the Irving-based
Islamic charity Baitulmaal and other Islamic groups. The team is part
of an outpouring of support from area Muslims for Kashmir, a remote
region that straddles northern Pakistan and India. The two countries
have fought over Kashmir for decades.
"I can't even imagine what I am going to see," Kausar said Friday.
"There are still going to be bodies. I don't know how I am going to
feel about it."
About 10 medical professionals from across the United States will go to
the region for about two weeks at a time. The first group will arrive
this week in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. (MORE)
---
ST. LOUIS MUSLIMS OFFER QUAKE AID -
TOP
The Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, in conjunction with the
Association of Pakistani Physicians (APP) and Human Development
Foundation (HDF), recently raised more than $185,000 for earthquake
relief.
Keiser Permenente of California is sending a 15 physcian group, and a
group of 24 physicians from APP and HDF has already reached Islamabad
and were deployed in earthquake stricken areas.
CONTACT: Naseem Shekhani, M.D., 314-255-7409
---
FL: FAST BRINGS STUDENTS TOGETHER FOR FUNDRAISING -
TOP
THERESA BRADLEY, Miami Herald, 10/18/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12928710.htm
Just before the sun rose Monday, Amy Cohen chomped on some gummy worms, knowing it would be her last meal for 14 hours.
"You're restraining yourself for a good cause," she told herself as the sun grew strong.
Cohen, 21, a senior at the University of Miami, joined some 400 other
non-Muslim students in refusing food for a day as part of
"Fast-a-Thon," a fund- and awareness-raising Ramadan event.
The UM "Fast-a-Thon" raised $4,000, which will go to help victims of
Hurricane Katrina and last week's South Asian earthquake. It was one of
hundreds of similar events taking place on college campuses during
this, the holiest month of Islam. . .
Devastating natural disasters -- tsunami, hurricane and earthquake
alike -- have this year given an immediate reminder to be mindful of
the many who are suffering, said Altaf Ali, executive director of the
Council on Islamic-American Relations in Florida. (MORE)
-----
CAIR-SFBA: BAY AREA MOSQUES SHARE RAMADAN -
TOP
(BAY AREA, CA, 10/18/05) The San Francisco Bay Area office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) and five bay area
mosques opened their doors this past weekend in the spirit of sharing
Ramadan.
CAIR-SFBA co-hosted a Ramadan dinner at the Muslim Community
Association (MCA) and sponsored similar events at the South Bay Islamic
Association (SBIA), Islamic Society of East Bay (ISEB), Islamic Society
of San Francisco (ISSF), and Yaseen Foundation Muslim Community
Association (YFMCA).
Amina Ansari, CAIR-SFBA Program Manager, who helped coordinate the
planning efforts for the five mosques, said the Muslim community has
always reached out to area residents and public officials by hosting
open houses to teach the spirit of Ramadan. She added that this was the
first time that the bay area Muslim community has opened their doors in
unison.
While hundreds gathered in each mosque, the Muslim Community
Association of Santa Clara (MCA) attracted the highest attendance of
almost 400, including public officials, interfaith leaders, educators,
community residents and American-Muslims. Santa Clara Mayor Patricia
Mahan, attended the event along with the office of State Sen. Elaine
Alquist, D-San Jose, who presented a resolution to CAIR-SFBA, the MCA,
and the bay area Muslim community to commemorate Ramadan.
Students from San Jose's Miller Middle School attended the event as an
opportunity to build on their curriculum covering the origins of Islam
and other religions.
CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Outreach Coordinator, Sameena Usman, and 408-986-9874, E-mail:
sameena@cair.com
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-LA CO-SPONSORS JAMES YEE SPEAKING TOUR -
TOP
http://www.ncrr-la.org/news/yee.html
CAIR-FL REP COMMENTS ON IRAQI CONSTITUTION -
TOP
CAIR Central Florida Director Ahmed Bedier appeared on NBC's Tampa
affiliate WFLA to discuss the referendum vote on the Iraqi Constitution.
WATCH THE VIDEO NEWS CLIP:
Broadband (High-speed)
http://www.cairfl.org/video/051015_wfla_iraq_const_hi.WMV
Dial-up (low speed)
http://www.cairfl.org/video/051015_wfla_iraq_const_lo.WMV\
---
CAIR-FL: TO BUILD A LASTING PEACE -
TOP
St. Petersburg Times, 10/18/05
http://sptimes.com/2005/10/18/Opinion/Judicial_system_s_rac.shtml
(Scroll down.)
Re: Synagogue welcomes Muslim speaker, Oct. 14.
Kudos and hats off to Ahmed Bedier, from the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, and Rabbi David Weizman, from the
Congregation Beth Shalom, for bringing two diverse groups together
through respect and understanding. Such events will build a lasting
peace better than all the militaries in the world.
I only wish I had been in attendance. Maybe these two gentlemen would
consider hosting an event or series of forums for the general public?
Jack Hanel, Indian Rocks Beach
-----
CITY REAL-ESTATE BROKER CLAIMS ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS -
TOP
CYNTHIA R. FAGEN, New York Post, 10/18/05
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/55650.htm
October 18, 2005 -- A real-estate broker claims she was dumped from a
million-dollar deal with the Education Department because City
Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz refused to work with a Muslim, according to
court papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Granite Realty Associates broker Ishan Amatullah said she learned
through a department worker that her services would no longer be
required in negotiating a $1.5 million lease.
SEE ALSO:
NY: ANTI-MUSLIM POL COST ME 1M - BROKER -
TOP
Helen Peterson, NY Daily News, 10/18/05
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/356802p-304118c.html
A Manhattan real estate broker is claiming in court papers that City
Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz scuttled her deal for an upper East Side
high school lease because she didn't want a Muslim involved.
A spokeswoman for Moskowitz (D-Manhattan) promptly denied the accusations of Ihsan Amatullah.
Amatullah is suing Alexancer Karten, owner of 403 East 76th St. Corp.,
and two agents who eventually brokered the deal for Eleanor Roosevelt
High School.
Amatullah said she identified the E. 76th St. site in 2000 and worked
out a deal with Karten to lease the property to the Board of Ed for
$1.5 million a year.
But on April 1, 2001, she claims, she was told the Board of Education
couldn't afford the deal, according to papers filed in Manhattan
Supreme Court.
Two months later, however, Amatullah said she learned real estate
brokers Julien Studley and Peter Berman were close to making the deal.
(MORE)
-----
MD: TEACHING TEACHERS ABOUT ISLAMIC FAITH -
TOP
MATTHEW HAY BROWN, Baltimore Sun, 10/18/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.iftar18oct18,1,6022603.story
The call to prayer echoed through the packed room. While River Hill
High School senior Khalid Shourbaji sang in Arabic, Sayeed Hassan
translated.
"Allahu akbar," repeated Hassan, president of the Dar al-Taqwa mosque,
for the public school administrators at his table. "God is the
greatest. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa'llah. I bear witness that there is
no god but God."
The sun had fallen over Columbia, and members of the local Muslim
community were settling down to iftar, the meal that breaks the
daylight fast during the month of Ramadan.
On this evening last week, they invited teachers and administrators of
the Howard County public schools system to join them. More than 100
educators packed the room at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, where
children who are their students during the day explained to them the
tenets of Islam and the meaning of Ramadan.
"It's one part of a broader effort to let the community know that the
vast, vast majority of Muslims are just like them: law-abiding citizens
who want to contribute to the community," said Rita Sallam, a member of
the Howard County Muslim Council.
"The terrorists that you see on television do not represent Islam. The people in this room are Islam," she said.
Muslims across the country are using Ramadan, the month in which they
believe that God began to reveal the Quran to the prophet Muhammad, as
an opportunity to reach out to the broader community.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, the
nation's largest Muslim civil-liberties group, co-sponsored an iftar on
Capitol Hill last week for congressional staffers. The Maryland Muslim
Council and the Baltimore Jewish Council are planning a holiday dinner
Thursday in honor of both Ramadan and Sukkot, the Jewish Feast of
Tabernacles. (MORE)
-----
MI: FREE DINNER PROGRAM EXAMINES "WOMEN IN ISLAM" -
TOP
http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2005/10/029.html
KALAMAZOO--The Muslim Students Association at Western Michigan
University presents "From Eve to Aisha: Women in Islam, A Historic
Perspective," a free dinner program with guest speaker Aminah Assilmi
at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in the East Ballroom of the Bernhard
Center.
Assilmi is an award-winning broadcast journalist and an American
convert to Islam. She is the director of the International Union of
Muslim Women and lives in Arkansas.
The dinner program, which features Middle Eastern cuisine and cultural
exhibits, is free of charge and open to the public, but seating is
limited and reservations are required by Wednesday, Oct. 19. For more
information about the program or to make reservations, visit the WMU
Muslim Students Association on the Web at
www.msa-wmu.org.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. There are
approximately seven million Muslims living in United States, and there
is a growing Muslim population at Western Michigan University and in
Kalamazoo. The Muslim Students Association at WMU sponsors two major
events each year designed to help bridge the gap between Muslims and
the non-Muslims and to foster greater mutual understanding.
SEE ALSO:
NC: JEWS, MUSLIMS GATHER TO HEAL -
TOP
THOMASI MCDONALD, News & Observer, 10/18/05
http://newsobserver.com/news/story/2818700p-9266404c.html
Ten years ago, Khalilah Sabra could not imagine herself participating in interfaith activities with Jews.
"Although I am not Palestinian, the occupation was like a sore that
would not heal," said Sabra, a Muslim woman living in Raleigh.
In a classic leap of faith, Sabra organized such a gathering Sunday
when about 50 Muslims and Jews participated in a discussion of the two
faiths as part of this month's Ramadan and Rosh Hashana. (MORE)
---
OH: MOSQUE IS MUSLIM MELTING POT -
TOP
Robert L. Smith, Plain Dealer, 10/18/05
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1129627918325450.xml&coll=2
Stepping into a mosque fashioned from a house on Cleveland's West Side,
Ali Omar slips off his shoes and greets Vasil Lamidze with the familiar
Arabic salutation, "As-salaam alaykum" - peace be with you.
The tall man smiles and replies, "Wa alaykum as-salaam" - and peace to you as well.
After that, conversation gets complicated.
For a Somali Bantu like Omar to talk with Lamidze, a Turk from Russia,
an Afghan-American boy of 12 is brought forward. He translates the
Bantu's halting English into Persian for his uncle, Hafizullah
Solemonshah, who speaks Russian to the Turks.
The conversation then reverses, flowing from Russian to Persian to
English, with side discussions in Pashto. Questions wait long minutes
for answers, but there is no other way.
At a fledgling multiethnic mosque in Cleveland's Detroit-Shoreway
neighborhood, members share only their faith. That, and a dream. (MORE)
---
FL: RAMADAN RUNNER -
TOP
ANDREW MIKULA, News-Journal, 10/18/05
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/03NewsEAST02101805.htm
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Like all athletes, Ibrahim Isa knows he needs nutrition to compete.
And that presents challenges for the star cross-country runner for New Smyrna Beach High School.
Isa, 17, is a Muslim, and every year during the three-week period of
Ramadan his religion requires him to fast each day from sunup to
sundown.
Food and water can only be consumed in the early morning and late
evening hours. Most 5-kilometer cross country meets are held during the
daylight hours, when Isa's stomach must remain empty.
Even without the athletic challenge, adjusting to the Ramadan fast is never easy, he says.
"It's somewhat psychological, like you feel your stomach start to
tighten up," Isa says of the first week of the Ramadan fast. "Your
body's not used to going without food and gets weak for the first six
or seven days," Isa says. "After that you get used to it."
Still, Isa isn't complaining. He finds fasting during Ramadan to be a
relaxing and joyful experience. And he loves competing. He's a leader
of his squad and considered one of the best runners in the area. (MORE)
-----
IRAQIS SAY CIVILIANS KILLED IN U.S. RAIDS -
TOP
Ellen Knickmeyer, Washington Post, 10/18/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101700808.html
BAGHDAD, Oct. 17 -- A U.S. fighter jet bombed a crowd gathered around a
burned Humvee on the edge of a provincial capital in western Iraq,
killing 25 people, including 18 children, hospital officials and family
members said Monday. The military said the Sunday raid targeted
insurgents planting a bomb for new attacks.
In all, residents and hospital workers said, 39 civilians and at least
13 armed insurgents were killed in a day of U.S. airstrikes in Ramadi,
the capital of Anbar province, a Sunni Arab region with a heavy
insurgent presence.
The U.S. military said it killed a total of 70 insurgents in Sunday's
airstrikes and, in a statement, said it knew of no civilian deaths.
At Ramadi hospital, distraught and grieving families fought over body
parts severed by the airstrikes, staking rival claims to what they
believed to be pieces of their loved ones.
In Albu Fahad, a community on the east edge of Ramadi, family members
gathered Monday in a black funeral tent. A black banner listed the
names of the 18 children and seven adults allegedly killed by the F-15
strike. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
ISRAEL REDRAWS THE ROADMAP, BUILDING QUIETLY AND QUICKLY -
TOP
Settler population grows as Sharon grabs more West Bank land than he returned in Gaza
Chris McGreal, The Guardian, 10/18/05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,16518,1594808,00.html
At the northern edge of Jerusalem, on the main road to the Palestinian
city of Ramallah, three towering concrete walls are converging around a
rapidly built maze of cages, turnstiles and bomb-proof rooms.
When construction at Qalandiya is completed in the coming weeks, the
remaining gaps in the 8m (26ft)-high walls will close and those still
permitted to travel between the two cities will be channelled through a
warren of identity and security checks reminiscent of an international
frontier.
The Israeli military built the crossing without fanfare over recent
months, along with other similar posts along the length of the vast new
"security barrier" that is enveloping Jerusalem, while the world's
attention was focussed on the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon's
removal of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip.
But these de facto border posts are just one element in a web of
construction evidently intended to redraw Israel's borders deep inside
the Palestinian territories and secure all of Jerusalem as Israel's
capital, and to do it fast so as to put the whole issue beyond
negotiation. As foreign leaders, including Tony Blair, praised Mr
Sharon for his "courage" in pulling out of Gaza last month, Israel was
accelerating construction of the West Bank barrier, expropriating more
land in the West Bank than it was surrendering in Gaza, and building
thousands of new homes in Jewish settlements.
"It's a trade off: the Gaza Strip for the settlement blocks; the Gaza
Strip for Palestinian land; the Gaza Strip for unilaterally imposing
borders," said Dror Etkes, director of the Israeli organisation
Settlement Watch. "They don't know how long they've got. That's why
they're building like maniacs." (MORE)
-----
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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 - 10/19/05
*
Hadith:
Teach
Goodness
*
DC:
Volunteers
Needed for CAIR's Annual Dinner
*
CAIR-Cleveland:
400
Attend 'Sharing Ramadan' Iftar
-
CAIR-OH:
Muslims Plan Fundraiser for Quake Relief
*
CAIR-CA to Hold Capitol Ramadan Reception
-
CAIR-CA: Bay Area Muslims to Feed the Homeless
*
CAIR-FL: Forum Discusses Muslims in SW Fla. (Herald Trib)
-
CAIR-FL: Forum Discusses Islam (Bradenton Herald)
*
OH: Islamic Center's Quake Aid Coincides with Ramadan
-
WI: Muslim Association Urges Earthquake Aid
*
PA: Philly Police Ban Muslim Beards, Hijab (Bloomberg)
-
Female Firefighters Can Take the Heat in Iran (CSM)
*
TN: Ramadan Fast-a-Thon at VU Bridges Cultures
-
MN: Muslim School Teaches Pluralism (Pioneer Press)
*
VA: Doctor Believes N.Va. Muslim Was Tortured (Wash Post)
-
Gitmo Hunger Strikers Fed Via Tubes (Miami Herald)
-
UN Official: US Troops 'Starve Iraqi Citizens' (BBC)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: TEACH GOODNESS -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God and His angels, the
dwellers of the heavens and of the earth, even an ant in its hole and
fish (in the depths of the sea), invoke blessings on (a scholar) who
teaches people goodness."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 70
-----
DC: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL DINNER -
TOP
Volunteers are needed for CAIR's annual banquet, to be held Saturday,
December 3, 2005, in Virginia. Please contact CAIR's events department
at 202-488-8787, ext. 6050 or e-mail:
events@cair-net.org
-----
400 ATTEND CAIR-CLEVELAND 'SHARING RAMADAN' IFTAR -
TOP
(CLEVELAND, OH, 10/19/2005) Some 400 people attended CAIR-Cleveland's
2nd annual "Sharing Ramadan" Iftar Dinner on Saturday, October 15, at
Cuyahoga Community College.
Among the attendees were a number of civic and religious leaders,
including the director of homeland security for the Cleveland police
department; the interfaith director of the Catholic Diocese, as well as
elected officials from around the county. Proclamations were presented
by the offices of US Senator George Voinovich and Governor Bob Taft.
Congressman Dennis Kucinich's office presented a proclamation on
Ramadan to be entered in the Congressional record.
"The month of Ramadan is a time of great thanks for God's mercy," said
Isam Zaiem, chair of the Cleveland office of CAIR-OHIO. "It's also a
chance to explain more about Islam and Muslims in order to promote
understanding and goodwill."
CONTACT: CAIR-OHIO, CAIR-Cleveland Director Julia A. Shearson, 216-440-2247 or 216-830-2247; E-Mail:
cleveland@cair-ohio.com; Isam Zaiem, 216-337-7928, E-Mail:
isamz@sbcglobal.net
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: MUSLIMS PLAN FUNDRAISER FOR QUAKE RELIEF -
TOP
(CLEVELAND, OH, 10/19/05) On Sunday, October 23, Muslim organizations
throughout Northeast Ohio will co-host a fundraising dinner at the
Islamic Society of Akron and Kent for victims of the October 8
earthquake that struck South Asia.
WHAT: Ramadan Fundraising Dinner for Earthquake Relief
WHEN: Sunday, October 23; Fundraising program begins at 4:30; Dinner to follow.
WHERE: Islamic Society of Akron & Kent, 152 E. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223
Participating organizations: Islamic Society of Akron & Kent
(ISAK); Islamic Center of Cleveland; Uqbah Mosque Foundation; Islamic
Society of Northeast Ohio; Masjid Al-Madina; Masjid al-Islam; First
Cleveland Mosque; Muslim Association of Cleveland East (MACE); Islamic
Society of Mansfield; Islamic Society of Youngstown; Unity Center
(Brecksville); Muslim Student Associations of Case Western Reserve,
Akron, Kent State and Cleveland State universities; and the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO).
For further information, contact Dr. Ghulam Mir 330-713-2226 (pager),
ghulamnmir@yahoo.com; Dr. Shameem Ahmed 330-848-7992; Julia A. Shearson 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247,
cleveland@cair-ohio.com
-----
CAIR-CA TO HOLD CAPITOL RAMADAN RECEPTION -
TOP
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 10/19/2005) - On Wednesday, October 19, the Sacramento
Valley office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV)
and several State Assembly members and senators will hold the 2nd
Annual Capitol Ramadan Reception at the State Capitol.
WHAT: 2nd Annual Capitol Ramadan Reception
WHERE: Basement Rotunda (Cafeteria), State Capitol, Sacramento
WHEN: Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 6 p.m.
Invited guests include senators, assembly members and Legislative staff, as well as Muslim and community leaders.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, is headquartered
in Washington, D.C., and 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.
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra, 916-441-6269, e-mail:
sacval@cair.com
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CA: BAY AREA MUSLIMS TO FEED THE HOMELESS -
TOP
(SAN JOSE, CA, 10/19/05) - Muslims from around the Greater San
Francisco Bay Area will take part in the 2nd Annual Humanitarian Day
for the Homeless on Saturday, October 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
at the Salvation Army building located at 405 North 4th Street in
downtown San Jose.
Muslim organizations will provide hot meals, water, t-shirts, and
hygiene packages to San Jose's homeless community. Last year, the
coalition served more than 800 homeless in San Jose. This year, the
organizers hope to reach out to over a thousand homeless in a similar
undertaking.
The coalition selected the holy month of Ramadan as a global observance
that transcends race and gender in a spirit of love, equality and
respect for each other and all of humanity. This year is unique in that
the holy days of the three Abrahamic Faiths coincide this October; Rosh
Hashanah for Jews, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi for Christians;
and Ramadan for Muslims.
"Ramadan is a time of increased compassion and caring for others. Our
goal is to give the homeless community hope and relief to ease their
struggle," said Habibe Husain, founder of the Rahima Charitable
Foundation, the main organizer of this Humanitarian Day.
WHEN: Saturday, October 22nd, 2005, from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
WHERE: Salvation Army, 405 N. 4th St. (just north of Julian Ave.), San Jose
Event Sponsor: Rahima Charitable Foundation
Event Co-Sponsors: American Muslim Voice(AMV), Blossom Valley Muslim
Community Center (BVMCC), Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-SFBA), Granada Islamic School (GIS), Hidaya Foundation, Islamic
Center of Fremont (ICF), Indian Muslim Relief & Charities (IMRC),
Islamic Networks Group (ING), Islamic School of Stanford, Islamic
Society of East Bay(ISEB), Muslim Community Association (MCA), Northern
American Islamic Shelter for the Abused (NISA), South Bay Islamic
Association (SBIA), Semah, United Muslims of America (UMA), WIS, Yaseen
Foundation & Zaytuna Institute.
CONTACT:
Habibe Husain: Rahima Charitable Foundation (Hours: 12:00 to 4:00 PM), Work: 408-845-0050, E-mail:
mail@rahima.org
Samina Faheem Sundas: AMV, Cell: 650-387-1994, E-mail:
samina_faheem@yahoo.com
Sameena Usman, CAIR-SFBA, Work: 408-986-9874, Cell: 408-394-9892, E-mail:
sameena@cair.com
-----
CAIR-FL: FORUM DISCUSSES ISLAM, MUSLIMS IN SOUTHWEST FLA. -
TOP
JULIA GLICK, Herald Tribune, 10/19/05
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051019/NEWS/510190641/1006/SPORTS
BRADENTON -- With the war in Iraq growing bloodier and terrorists
attacking in Europe and Asia, the growing population of Muslim
residents here worry they will be stereotyped as terrorists.
Anonymous callers have threatened the Islamic Society of Sarasota and
Bradenton. Passers-by often stare or comment at women in head scarves.
Many residents fear reporting anti-Muslim incidents, which have
multiplied throughout the state in the past year, said Ahmed Bedier,
director of the Central Florida Council on American Islamic Relations.
He spoke about people's misconceptions of Islam on Tuesday at a forum
sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Manatee County. About 30
people attended the discussion, held at a local church.
"All religions can be abused and were at one point in history," he
said. "When Osama bin Laden comes on TV or Zarqawi in Iraq says things
about the religion, they are misusing Islam." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: FORUM DISCUSSES ISLAM -
TOP
Violence in religion, Quran among topics approached
CARL MARIO NUDI, Bradenton Herald, 10/19/05
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/12937324.htm
BRADENTON - Because a suicide bomber is a Muslim does not mean Islam is
a religion of violence. That was the message Ahmed Bedier, director of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations, delivered Tuesday at the
League of Women Voters of Manatee County's monthly Hot Topic luncheon.
"You're always reading something negative about Islam," Bedier said.
He said that when we read about or see someone doing something wrong on
television, the person is never identified as a Christian or Jew.
Bedier said the negative attitude toward Islam stems from
misconceptions and stereotypes Muslims have had to deal with for years.
(MORE)
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OH: ISLAMIC CENTER'S EARTHQUAKE AID COINCIDES WITH RAMADAN -
TOP
Ken-Yon Hardy, Middletown Journal, 10/19/05
http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/news/stories/2005/10/18/mj1019MUSLIM.html
WEST CHESTER TWP. - An opportunity to help those ravished by a recent
earthquake in Pakistan sparked a local religious group to help.
The Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati Earthquake Relief Committee,
in collaboration with Matthew 25: Ministries, in Cincinnati, shipped
more than 40,000 blankets and a large amount of tents and medical
supplies on Tuesday to help earthquake victims.
"This is an obligation," said Shakila Ahmed, spokeswoman for the
Islamic Center Earthquake Committee, which began collecting items for
victims a week ago.
"We live in a blessed country," she said. "We are blessed with having
our life, our health and our ability to feed our children and there are
many people that were devastated by the earthquake across the globe who
are not going to survive the winter."
The contributions were transported to the Association of Pakistani
Physicians of North America, based in Chicago, which will later send
the supplies to Pakistan.
"The minimum we can do is do what we can in terms of our part," Ahmed
said. "I feel that we are blessed to be able to do this and if we don't
do this, then shame on us."
More than 400 pounds of food also were donated on Tuesday, according to
Ahmed. The Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati plans to give the food
to an area pantry.
"We've also been doing local food drives that will help Reach Out
Lakota, one of our local neighbors," said Samar Kaukab, a member of the
Earthquake Relief Committee. "We're trying to concentrate our efforts
of helping our neighbors both home and afar."
The help from the Islamic Center coincides with the efforts celebrating
the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim
calender and is when Muslims concentrate on their faith by fasting and
spending less time on the concerns of their everyday lives, according
to Ahmed. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
WI: MUSLIM ASSOCIATION URGES EARTHQUAKE AID -
TOP
John Potratz, Badger herald, 10/19/05
http://badgerherald.com/news/2005/10/19/muslim_association_u.php
University of Wisconsin students and members of the Muslim Students'
Association congregated in the Humanities building Tuesday to raise aid
and awareness for victims of the catastrophic earthquake that struck
near Pakistan's capitol, Islamabad, less than two weeks ago.
While many efforts have been initiated to help those affected by the
quake, so far total relief for the area has been minimal in comparison
to funds raised for Hurricane Katrina and Southeast Asia tsunami
victims.
-----
PA: PHILADELPHIA TELLS MUSLIM POLICE TO TRIM BEARDS OR LOSE JOBS -
TOP
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aXs4a8QzhAsE&refer=us
Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Philadelphia police officer Kenneth Wallace, a
nine-year veteran of the force, is serving his second month-long
suspension for refusing to shave.
Wallace, a 31-year-old Muslim, has asked for an arbitration hearing to
challenge the department's 1/4-inch limit on the length of beards.
Muslim city workers sued Philadelphia, the fifth-largest U.S. city,
beginning in February to challenge grooming and dress codes they claim
violate their rights to religious expression.
``The Philadelphia community has a very large and visible Islamic
core," said Craig Thorpe, a lawyer for one of the plaintiffs. ``It's
kind of an anomaly that the police department and the fire department
seem to be out of step."
Muslims account for about 2 percent of Philadelphia's 1.5 million
population, almost equal to the 2.4 percent, or 7 million, for the
entire U.S. The city's Muslim population is the 18th largest in the
nation.
Muslim emergency workers have challenged grooming policies in cities
including New York, Washington, D.C., and Detroit, saying the Koran and
other religious teachings require the wearing of untrimmed beards or
head coverings. . .
Women on the Philadelphia force are still barred from wearing the scarf
known as khimar or hijab, which many Muslims believe is mandated by
Allah to show their modesty. Kimberlie Webb, the 43-year-old
Philadelphia police officer represented by Thorpe, is suing for the
right to wear the khimar.
Webb became a Sunni Muslim two years after joining the Philadelphia
force in 1995, according to her federal lawsuit. The department denied
her requests to wear the khimar, made in 1998 and again in 2003, and
threatened Webb with disciplinary action unless she removed the
covering at work, the suit said. . .
Department officials said the scarf posed a safety risk because it
could be grabbed by a suspect. Newspapers and Muslim Web sites reported
on Webb's complaints through 2003. The Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission ruled in her favor that November and urged the department to
relax its rules. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS FIND THEY CAN TAKE THE HEAT IN IRAN -
TOP
Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 10/19/05
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1019/p01s03-wome.html
Firefighters here in Iran, men and women alike, say men have not
hesitated to help in gender-sensitive situations. "Of course we still
do it," says Ali Aghayari, a mustachioed 25-year veteran of the
department. "It can be a matter of life and death."
But the women think their presence inspires others to take on jobs
usually reserved for men. "100 percent," says Zahra Haji, who has been
with the Karaj force since the women's unit was created three years ago.
The women are part of a department that includes 11 stations and 375
firefighters. Divided into three shifts, they work 24 hours on, 48
hours off.
While they respond to every alarm alongside the men, these women also
describe rescues in which their gender helped get the job done - such
as the time a large woman had fallen into an narrow underground septic
tank, up to her neck in sewage, and needed rescue with a harness and
ropes.
"I've seen them in action and they are good, they are strong -
sometimes they are better than the men," says Mr. Aghayari. When they
are in protective gear, fighting alongside the men, he says he can
barely tell the difference. (MORE)
-----
TN: FAST-A-THON AT VU BRIDGES CULTURES -
TOP
For Ramadan, non-Muslims join in the abstinence
JEANNINE F. HUNTER, Tennessean, 10/19/05
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051019/NEWS06/510190428/1023/NEWS
More than 220 Vanderbilt University students went hungry for a day so that others do not have to.
For the third year in a row, non-Muslim students at Vanderbilt joined
their Muslim classmates by fasting for 12 hours as part of Fast-a-Thon.
Participating students pledged to abstain from food and drink from
sunrise to sunset to raise money from sponsors for a charity.
The event, sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, occurs during
the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain from
eating or drinking anything, including water, from sunrise to sunset.
This year Ramadan started on Oct. 4. In addition to food and drink,
Muslims abstain from other earthly pleasures during the fast, including
sex. Muslims also increase their philanthropy during this month.
Vanderbilt University is among more than 100 colleges and universities
nationwide participating in the fourth annual awareness program. Muslim
students at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville established the event
to encourage collegians to strive to eliminate hunger and homelessness
in their communities.
"This is a time when non-Muslims understand why we fast and what our
values are," said Dina Ghoneim, 23, a medical student from Rochester,
N.Y. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MN: AL-AMAL SCHOOL TEACHES LESSON OF PLURALISM - T
OP
CRAIG WESTOVER, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 10/19/05
I was reminded of the Pilgrims. Like the Pilgrims of 1620, the pilgrims
with whom I shared the traditional dates and juice of Ramadan also came
to this country seeking religious freedom, a freedom sometimes stifled
in their native countries.
The occasion was a fundraiser for Al-Amal School. A private school in
Fridley, Al-Amal is an accredited, full-time Islamic school serving 370
students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Its mission is preparing
Muslim children for American society while preserving their Islamic
heritage.
Here is the first irony. While public education preaches
multiculturalism, public school policies and the environments they
foster are antithetical to the diversity they preach. Reaction to a
lack of discipline and moral values in government schools, intolerance
for the overt observance of Islamic practices and a lack of academic
rigor are major reasons why Al-Amal was founded 11 years ago, why it is
thriving and expanding, and why it provides a model for a genuine
"public education" system for students of all faiths and economic
levels.
More irony. Although touted as indicative of Minnesota's diversity, the
Muslim community has more in common with conservative Christians than
with the secularized environment fostered by government schools.
Muslims share conservative concerns about public education -- the
exclusion of religion, the teaching of evolution, abortion politics,
sex education and general lack of academic emphasis.
"Al-Amal serves two purposes," Principal Salah Ayari said. "Parents
choose to send their children here to shield them from influences that
are not in keeping with Islamic moral code, but they also want an
education for their children that is academically rigorous. Our goal is
producing individuals who can go out into American society and make
positive contributions without compromising Islamic faith." (MORE)
-----
VA: DOCTOR BELIEVES N.VA. MAN WAS TORTURED -
TOP
Jerry Markon, Washington Post, 10/19/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/18/AR2005101801466.html
An American student charged in an al Qaeda plot to kill President Bush
said his Saudi captors whipped him on the back, punched him in the
stomach and kicked him, according to a doctor who examined the student
and testified yesterday before the judge who must decide if the student
was tortured.
Ahmed Omar Abu Ali also said he was shackled with his arms above his
head for more than seven hours after initially refusing to cooperate
with FBI agents who traveled to Saudi Arabia to interrogate him in
2003, according to the doctor, Allen Keller. Keller, who is program
director of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture in New
York, examined Abu Ali in April at the request of his attorneys.
"He told me it was excruciatingly painful," Keller testified at a
hearing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. He said he believes the
alleged mistreatment constituted torture and cited as evidence scars
consistent with whipping that he said he observed on Abu Ali's back.
The testimony means that a judge will have to evaluate the opinions of
clashing experts on a key issue in the high-profile case. Attorneys for
Abu Ali, 24, of Falls Church say that he was tortured in Saudi custody
and that statements that form the crux of the government's case should
be thrown out because they were obtained under duress.
The hearing, which started last week and runs through tomorrow, is to
determine whether Abu Ali's statements to Saudi interrogators will be
admitted into evidence. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
GUANTANAMO HUNGER STRIKERS FED VIA TUBES -
TOP
CAROL ROSENBERG, Miami Herald, 10/19/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/12937264.htm
A Washington, D.C., lawyer brought a treat last month for a Kuwaiti
captive held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- an $11 extra-cheese vegetarian
pizza from a takeout place on the Navy base. But Mohammed Daihani, 39,
a father of six, "refused to eat."
'He said that 'The American justice system is like this pizza box,' "
says attorney Thomas Wilner in a federal-court affidavit, quoting his
client. ' 'It looks very good on the outside, but is empty on the
inside. It is nothing but air.' "
Since summer, detainees at the prison for terrorism suspects have been
engaging in a rolling hunger strike whose details are mostly being made
public by their attorneys.
Believed to be the longest such protest, it reached its height Sept.
11, according to Army Lt. Col. Jeremy Martin, when 131 of the 505 or so
prisoners shunned meals. On Tuesday, the military reported that 24
prisoners were refusing food, of whom 22 were "receiving enteral
nutrition," or having nutrition pumped directly into their stomachs.
Martin said by e-mail that no detainee has died at Guantanamo, where,
he said, hunger strikers are not restrained during feedings via a tube
tethered through a prisoner's nose and into his stomach.
Hunger strikers get "excellent medical care in a prudent and
compassionate manner," Martin said, and are showering, exercising and
walking around.
Wilner visited some of his clients last week and reported two were
still being force-fed a formula through the nose. "They look basically
like skeletons, like people you see starving in the Sudan." (MORE)
---
US TROOPS 'STARVE IRAQI CITIZENS' -
TOP
BBC, 10/15/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4344136.stm
A senior United Nations official has accused US-led coalition troops of
depriving Iraqi civilians of food and water in breach of humanitarian
law.
Human rights investigator Jean Ziegler said they had driven people out
of insurgent strongholds that were about to be attacked by cutting
supplies.
Mr Ziegler, a Swiss-born sociologist, said such tactics were in breach of international law.
A US military spokesman in Baghdad denied the allegations.
"A drama is taking place in total silence in Iraq, where the
coalition's occupying forces are using hunger and deprivation of water
as a weapon of war against the civilian population," Mr Ziegler told a
press conference in Geneva.
He said coalition forces were using "starvation of civilians as a method of warfare."
"This is a flagrant violation of international law," he added. (MORE)
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
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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
U.S. TROOPS USE BURNED AFGHAN BODIES AS
PROPAGANDA
CAIR calls for 'top-to-bottom' Pentagon policy, training
review
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/20/2005) - A prominent national Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group today called on the Pentagon to conduct a
"top-to-bottom" review of policies and training related to
personnel in Muslim countries.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) made that request
following allegations by an Australian television network that U.S.
soldiers burned bodies of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan and then used
the bodies for propaganda purposes.
Australia's SBS television network aired a "Dateline" segment
on Wednesday showing U.S. soldiers burning the corpses of two Taliban
fighters laid out facing Mecca, the focal point of prayer in Islam.
According to the network, the bodies were burned for hygienic reasons,
but a psychological operations unit used the burning to broadcast
taunting messages to other Taliban fighters with loudspeakers.
Military officials called the report "repugnant" and said a
probe has been launched "into alleged misconduct by U.S. service
members, including the burning of dead enemy combatant bodies under
inappropriate circumstances." Afghan authorities demanded punishment
for those responsible and Islamic leaders in that country warned of
anti-American demonstrations.
Under the Geneva Conventions governing the treatment of enemy remains in
wartime, soldiers must ensure that the "dead are honorably interred,
if possible according to the rites of the religion to which they
belonged." Islamic beliefs forbid cremation.
SEE: LA Times -
"U.S. Looks Into Videotaped Desecration of
Taliban Corpses"
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan20oct20,0,4862635.story
AP -
"U.S., Afghans Probe Alleged Desecration"
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1232744
Reuters -
"Australian TV Shows Footage of Taliban
Burning"
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=274022+19-Oct-2005+RTRS
SBS -
"Psych War in Afghanistan"
http://news.sbs.com.au/dateline/index.php?page=archive&daysum=2005-10-19
"Given the growing number of such incidents involving American
military personnel worldwide, it is imperative that the Pentagon launch a
top-to-bottom review of policies and training to help prevent the war on
terror from being perceived as a war on Islam," said
CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad.
He quoted a saying (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad, who said: "Do
not abuse the dead, for they have reached the result of what they have
done." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Islam forbids the mutilation of bodies.
According to Islamic tradition, a body is to be buried as quickly as
possible, after having been washed and wrapped in clean cloth.
Awad said reports of abuses of Muslim prisoners and disregard for Islamic
sensitivities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanomo Bay's Camp X-Ray are
harming America's image and serving as recruiting tools for terror
groups.
He also warned against the "coarsening" of soldiers' attitudes
toward ordinary Muslims, both overseas and in this country. Awad cited
the label "Hajji" used as a pejorative by U.S. troops in Iraq
and the recent "porn-for-gore" scandal in which U.S. military
personnel used photographs of Iraqi corpses as "currency" to
gain access to Internet pornography.
SEE:
"U.S. Troops Use Photos of Iraqi Corpses to Access
Porn"
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1792&theType=NR
For the latest on that scandal, see:
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/051018glaser/
"Those who serve overseas will eventually return home and interact with
fellow Americans who are Muslims," said Awad. "Military authorities
should address the issue of Islamophobic attitudes in the ranks before
the problem gets out of hand." He said CAIR has already received at
least one report of an assault on an American Muslim family in
Pennsylvania by a person claiming to be a "Marine."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
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 or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/20/05
*
Hadith:
Hatred Destroys
Faith
*
CAIR-IL:
Muslim
Officer in WI Files Bias Complaint
*
IN: Muslim Program
Upsets Parents (NWI Times)
-
NY: Stony Brook
Exams Scheduled on Muslim Holiday
*
CAIR-MD: Queries Rise
on Tunnel Tipster (Balt Sun)
*
CAIR-FL:
Halal
Food Option Grows With Muslim Community
-
NJ: Jail Ends
Kosher and Halal Meals (Herald News)
-
TN: Vanderbilt
Ads Muslim Dining Option
-
FL: Halal Markets Serve
Muslim Needs (Orlando Sent)
*
CAIR-FL:
Muslims,
Jews, Christians Observe Holy Days Together
-
OH:
Muslims Invite Christians and Jews to Iftar
-
CAIR-CA:
Muslims Opens Doors at Interfaith Event
*
Action: Order Eid Stamps Today
*
MI: Islamic Groups Rally for Quake Victims (Detroit News)
-
IL: Muslim Community Rallies to Help Quake Victims
-
Quake Relief Brings U.S. Muslim Women Together
-
How You Can Help
*
Update: Military Porn-for-Gore Scandal
*
North Dakota Is Home to First U.S. Mosque (VOA)
-
DC: Muslim Students Take Part in Photo Exhibit
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: HATRED DESTROYS FAITH -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(The people of
Paradise) will have neither differences nor hatred amongst themselves;
their hearts will be as (one)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 468
The Prophet also said: "The disease of the peoples before you, namely
envy and hatred, has crept to you, and it is the unhappy thing. I do
not say that it shaves off the hair, but it shaves off faith."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1304
-----
CAIR-CHICAGO: ARAB-AMERICAN POLICE OFFICER FILES COMPLAINTS OF RACIAL HARASSMENT -
TOP
He says he faced slurs after the Sept. 11 attacks
BOB PURVIS, Milwaukee Journal, 10/20/05
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/oct05/364372.asp
Milwaukee's first Arab-American police officer, arrested and later
released in August after he was accused of saying he wanted to shoot up
the district where he worked, has filed complaints saying he faced
harassment following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Ayman Khatib, a Palestinian native who gained U.S. citizenship in 1997
and joined the police force in 2002, made the allegations in complaints
filed with Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Equal Rights
Division and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Khatib
claimed in the complaints that he was subjected to racial slurs and
harassment from fellow officers and supervisors and was denied
promotions for which he was qualified.
Many of the slurs are not attributed to specific officers, but he
accuses his field training officer of using slurs when referring to
Khatib. The complaints also say a patrol officer referred to Khatib and
his Indian-American patrol partner as the "Convenience Corner Store
Squad."
The complaints also allege:
Khatib was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by his
psychiatrist July 29. In a report he submitted the next day about the
exacerbation of a tailbone injury, he made mention of harassment, but
the department failed to look into it. A report he submitted a week
later was similarly ignored.
On Aug. 26, when Khatib met with a city employee to request duty
disability retirement, he told the employee about the harassment.
The city employee claimed Khatib said, "Sometimes I feel like shooting
up District 7." Khatib denies in the complaints that he made that
statement.
Khatib was arrested that night at his apartment complex by a police
tactical squad, according to the complaints. He was booked into the
County Jail and released after posting $150 bail, jail records say.
Deputy District Attorney Jon Reddin chose not to charge Khatib because
the words he was accused of using weren't deemed a "true threat" and
were protected under the First Amendment. . .
Khatib's attorney and the Chicago chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations planned a news conference about the
complaints today.
CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago, Yaser Tabbara, 312-718-3725 or 312-212-1520,
E-mail: director@cairchicago.org; Ahmed Rehab, 847-971-3963 or
312-212-1520, E-Mail: communications@cairchicago.org
-----
MUSLIM PROGRAM UPSETS PARENTS -
TOP
School board to address Porter Lakes issue tonight
ELIZABETH HOLMES, Northwest Indiana Times, 10/20/05
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2005/10/20/news/porter_county/22dab5b9b4a016ed862570a000095404.txt
A presentation about Muslim culture last month to students at Porter
Lakes Elementary School upset parents and sparked an argument about the
role of religion in public schools.
On Sept. 30, a second-grade class and the entire third grade listened
to a cultural presentation by the family of some Muslim students who
are new to the school. In addition to talking about Muslim traditions,
the children were read the book "Ramadan" by Carol Gnojewski.
"The presentation was intended to share information, hopefully to
answer some of the questions children had," Porter Township School
Corp. Superintendent Nick Brown said.
The presentation involved a lot of religious content because religion
is heavily intertwined with the Muslim culture, Brown said.
The religious aspect of the assembly angered parents, who say that
religion has no role in the public school setting. Several parents
intend to discuss the issue at tonight's School Board meeting.
Brown said the assembly was never meant to offend anyone. The school
teaches its students about a variety of cultures with the hope of
widening their world views, he said.
"We have Chanukah presentations, we do Christmas," Brown said. "It falls just within enlightening people."
Porter Lakes Principal Doris Osan brought the presentation to Brown beforehand for approval, which he granted.
"In hindsight, I would still approve a presentation for the students," Brown said. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
NY: EXAMS SCHEDULED ON MUSLIM HOLIDAY -
TOP
Radeyah Hack, Stony Brook Statesman, 10/20/05
http://sbstatesman.org/news/2005/10/20/exams_scheduled_on_muslim_holiday
Muslim students at Stony Brook are disgruntled over midterm exams being
scheduled on the Islamic holiday, Eid-ul-Fitr, which celebrates the end
of the month of Ramadan. Stony Brook has a long tradition of
facilitating students on religious holidays by avoiding scheduling
exams on these days. However, this year, a number of exams were
inadvertently scheduled on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, placing Muslim
students in a situation where they have to choose between going home to
celebrate with their families, or staying to sit for their exams. (MORE)
-----
QUERIES RISE ON TUNNEL TIPSTER -
TOP
FBI can't confirm account; Associates say Egyptian lied
Matthew Dolan, Baltimore Sun, 10/20/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/custom/attack/bal-te.md.threat20oct20,1,5162638.story
Law enforcement officials and members of the local Egyptian community
are raising new questions about an informant who prompted Maryland
officials to close two Baltimore harbor tunnels and a major interstate,
fearing a suspected terrorist attack.
A day after the tunnel closures, the FBI has been unable to corroborate
the account of the informant - an Egyptian who once lived in the
Baltimore area and is now being held in the Netherlands on immigration
violations.
No criminal charges have been filed in the alleged plot to blow up one
of Baltimore's harbor tunnels, the FBI confirmed yesterday.
"I think there is doubt, because nothing happened and nothing else has
been developed to corroborate the account," said a federal law
enforcement official familiar with the investigation.
The informant's motives remain murky. But in interviews yesterday,
associates of the four men detained in the case said they believe they
know the identity of the informant and that he had lied because his
friends failed to get him back into the United States. . .
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Affairs issued a
statement yesterday saying said that reasonable precautions should be
taken when there is a confirmed threat. But Shama Farooq, director of
civil rights for the group, urged authorities to use restraint.
"We are concerned when members of a group that is already heavily
profiled are targeted once again for an investigation or arrest that is
based on uncorroborated information from an informant abroad," he said.
(MORE)
-----
HALAL: 'PERMITTED' FOOD OPTIONS GROW ALONG WITH OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY -
TOP
ALEXANDRA ALTER, Miami Herald, 10/20/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/12939127.htm
Early on Friday mornings during Ramadan, Mustafa Nassar, a Miami Lakes
carpet salesman, drives to a slaughterhouse on Okeechobee Road to buy
10 lambs and a cow. One at a time, he draws a knife swiftly across
their throats in a single motion, reciting words that make the kill
lawful in Islam: Bismallah, Allau-akhbar. ``In the name of God, God is
great."
Nassar, who learned the ritual as a boy in the Arab quarter of
Jerusalem, makes sure the blood drains completely from each carcass
before it's dressed and the meat cut and packaged. Then he delivers it
to Masjid Shamsuddin, a tiny storefront mosque in North Miami Beach,
where Una Mohammed-Khan sees that it's distributed to needy Muslim
families.
"We're encouraging them this way to eat halal," said Mohammed-Khan, a Trinidadian-born nurse who lives in Miramar.
Halal, the Muslim equivalent of kosher, follows the teachings of the
Prophet Mohammed: Animals must be killed in God's name with a sharp
knife as painlessly as possible, and all the blood must be drained.
Pork, carrion and alcohol are forbidden.
Ten years ago, access to halal meat was so limited in South Florida
that hand slaughter or vegetarian meals were among the few ways Muslims
here could remain faithful to Islam's dietary laws -- a vital
consideration during the holy month of Ramadan, when daily fasts are
broken with evening feasts.
"It was a huge problem," said Altaf Ali, the South Florida director for
the Council for American Islamic Relations. ``You would find a lot of
Muslims eating kosher because the resources were so limited." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
NJ: JAIL ENDS KOSHER AND HALAL MEALS -
TOP
By KAREN KELLER, HERALD NEWS, 10/19/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzNTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY3OTQ2MTUmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
The Passaic County Jail has stopped serving halal and kosher meals to
inmates, breaching federal immigration detention regulations.
An internal jail memo dated Monday stated, "As of 10/17/05 there will
be no more kosher meals. The religious diet tray will be a vegetarian
diet tray." Four inmates, all federal immigration detainees, said the
memo was passed out to them.
The change in food service at the jail comes during Ramadan, Muslim's
holy month, and also as the jail is being audited by the Department of
Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General on complaints by
immigration detainees of poor conditions and abuse.
The audit, which began in July, had halted when Passaic County Sheriff
Jerry Speziale ejected federal investigators from the county jail,
accusing them of arrogance and incompetence. The auditors were allowed
back in last week, and are continuing their investigation this week,
said Bill Maer, spokesman for the Sheriff's Department.
"We are back inside Passaic and working," inspector general spokeswoman Tamara Falkner confirmed.
The food memo prompted a hunger strike of about 20 inmates, the
immigration detainees said in interviews Tuesday. The jail had been
serving halal meals for only the past four months, the detainees said.
For up to two years before that, the jail served no halal meals, said
Peter Ali, a Muslim detainee from British Guyana.
Muslims are the biggest group of federal immigration detainees at the jail that request special meals, said Maer.
Maer confirmed that the jail had recently been ordering prepackaged
kosher and halal meals on a trial basis, but had stopped because it was
deemed too expensive.
Maer played down the memo, saying it was a "kitchen memo" that was not drafted by the Sheriff's Department.
The Passaic County Jail, like all federal immigration detention
centers, is required to provide food that is prepared according to
religious customs, said Tim Counts, a spokesman for federal Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, which falls under the Department of Homeland
Security. (MORE)
---
TN: VANDERBILT ADS MUSLIM DINING OPTION -
TOP
Lisa Guo, Vanderbilt Hustler, 10/20/05
http://www.vanderbilthustler.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/20/435704e05a386
Vanderbilt Dining added one more meal option for Muslim students last
Monday: halal tandoori chicken stir-fry, available at Chef James in
Rand Hall. The first option available was a halal gyro on Wednesday
night at Chef James. Halal meat, a term that means lawful in Arabic,
indicates meat that is permissible under Islamic dietary restrictions.
The impetus for halal meat in Rand began when two students, juniors
Shams Quayyum and Taha Jan, approached Frank Gladu, Director of Dining
Services, with the idea.
"The idea started freshman year, when we thought, we're paying money
for the meal plan, so we should be able to eat the food," Quayyum said.
(MORE)
---
FL: MARKETS SERVE MUSLIM NEEDS -
TOP
Sonia Chopra, Orlando Sentinel, 10/20/05
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-orhalal2005oct20,0,3719660.story
Mateen Qadri has lived and worked all over the world, but no matter
where he travels, one of the first things he does is to look for a
grocery store that sells halal meat.
When he moved to Orlando six years ago, Qadri was pleased to discover
that he lived a short distance from Adam Halal Meats & Grocery in
east Orange County.
"The store is invaluable, a big help. Without it, we couldn't eat. We
get everything from there -- beef, chicken, lamb, goat," said Qadri,
50, who owns Magic Fabricators, a workshop that specializes in
ornamental steel and beam work.
"It's a one-stop shopping deal for us. We buy dairy and bakery items, pita bread, rice and spices."
Qadri and his family -- wife Sufura, 45, and three daughters Maliha,
17, Subuhu, 15, and Noor, 10, -- have always eaten halal meat -- the
Muslim equivalent of kosher. (MORE)
-----
MUSLIMS, JEWS, CHRISTIANS OBSERVE HOLY DAYS TOGETHER -
TOP
Confluence of holy days encourages interfaith gatherings
Afzal Khan, Washington File, 10/19/05
http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/products/washfile.html
(Scroll down to headline.)
Washington - The rare confluence of Muslim, Jewish and Christian holy
holidays during October and November this year is encouraging
interfaith gatherings across the United States.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan that began on October 3-4 and ends
November 3-4 has overlapped with the Jewish holy month of Tishri that
began October 3. Jews observe Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Such a confluence has not happened
for more than 30 years. The dates of Ramadan, which follows the lunar
calendar, shift each year because of disparities between the solar and
lunar calendars.
Also, Eastern Orthodox Christians begin fasting on November 15 to observe the Advent, the 40 days leading to Christmas.
American Muslims and Jews are taking advantage of this coincidence of
their holy months to arrange interfaith gatherings across the United
States.
Muslim and Jewish students at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota,
got together to share a traditional evening meal and pray when Ramadan
began in some parts of the world on the evening of October 3,
coinciding with Rosh Hashanah. They plan to continue such meetings.
At the University of Missouri in Columbia, the Jewish students'
organization Boone Tikkun and the Muslim Students Organization shared a
potluck dinner on October 6. It was the second day of Ramadan for
Muslims and also Gedalya, a minor Jewish fast day that follows Rosh
Hashanah. The point of the evening was to bring together Jews and
Muslims in a social setting where they could learn more about their
religions from one another.
On October 13, the day of Yom Kippur, the University of South Florida,
St. Petersburg, hosted an evening vegetarian meal sponsored by Serving
the One, an interfaith community group. The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) chapter in Tampa, Florida, and a woman rabbinical
chaplain of a local hospital helped form Serving the One. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
OH: AREA ISLAMIC SOCIETY INVITES COMMUNITY TO IFTAR DINNER -
TOP
Mary Kay Quinn, Beacon Journal, 10/20/05
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/community/12949819.htm
CUYAHOGA FALLS - At sunset Wednesday, Muslims at a special Iftar dinner
broke their fast and celebrated friendships with people of many faiths.
About 100 people met at the Islamic Community Center of East Steels
Corners Road for the Iftar -- the evening meal held during the sacred
month of Ramadan. During the ninth lunar month on the Muslim calendar,
the faithful abstain from food and drink during daylight.
The Rev. Joseph Hilinski, director of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese's
Interfaith Commission, said the dinner promotes understanding of a
religion that to many people seems foreboding.
``For people that don't have any awareness of the culture, this is an
entree, this is very human, this is a very normal kind of thing; you
end your day of fasting and celebrate by inviting friends,'' Hilinski
said.
Rabbi David Lipper of Temple Israel said the dinner is one important way that local religious leaders stay in touch.
``This (Islamic) community has become more open and other communities
have become more aware and respectful of each other,'' Lipper said.
The Islamic Society of Akron and Kent will again invite the community
for an Iftar dinner on Sunday. Funds raised will benefit the earthquake
victims in Pakistan and Kashmir. (MORE)
---
CA: MUSLIM COMMUNITY OPENS DOORS -
TOP
Nicole Neroulias, San Mateo County Times, 10/20/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/faith/ci_3134289
LIKE A FLOCK of tropical birds, the bowed heads glittered red, purple,
turquoise and gold. Only upon closer inspection did the scarves reveal
the wearers' Muslim devotion - or the outsiders' respect for the
Ramadan observance.
The Jewish and Christian visitors to the Muslim Community Association
of the Peninsula's Yaseen Foundation open house Saturday let their head
coverings slip while intently following the speakers and prayers at the
Belmont event.
Ramadan, the holy Islamic month that requires followers to fast from
dawn to dusk, began Oct. 5 and will end with the sighting of the new
moon in November. The Yaseen Foundation's open house was one of five
sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, inviting
interfaith groups and community members into Bay Area mosques last
weekend.
"Interfaith is important these days, especially for Muslims, because
the news isn't always so good about Muslims," said Mounzer Arslan,
Yaseen Foundation vice president, known as "Monty" among non-Muslims.
"It gives a wrong name to all of us."
About 50 people attended the Belmont open house, including supportive
clergy from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, San Bruno's Church of the
Nazarene and San Mateo's Temple Beth El. A handful of visitors,
including San Mateo retired dentist Jack Prost, came to satisfy their
curiosity about Islam.
"We just finished celebrating Yom Kippur and we had a notice in our
synagogue that this was going on all over the Bay Area," Prost said,
eyeing the paper plates of plump dates awaiting the sunset break-fast
portion of the event.
Role of women
The event opened and closed with two of the five daily Muslim prayers.
As the fascinated guests watched, men lined up in front and women in
back, both facing east towards Mecca throughout the devotions.
Between speakers, the audience applauded 9-year-old Sarah Nofal's
rousing song about the Prophet Mohammed's revelation, set to the tune
of "Oh Susannah." Too young for the veil, the Belmont girl stood out in
a bright red coat with a leopard-pattern trim.
The role of women in Islam came up several times during the
question-and-answer session, with the speakers defending their
religion's emphasis on modesty - a view that is supposed to apply to
both sexes, explained Imam Zaid Shakir, of Berkeley.
"If you see a Muslim man with tight jeans on, you should tell him, 'Go back to your religious teacher,'" he told the audience.
Samina Sundas, chair of the Newark-based American Muslim Voice, offered
that she had been raised in Pakistan "like a princess," and agreed with
Shakir that Westerners overlook positive examples of women's rights in
the Muslim world - including female presidents elected in Bangladesh,
Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey - in favor of stereotypes. (MORE)
-----
ACTION: ORDER EID STAMPS TODAY -
TOP
Stamps marking the Islamic Eid holidays are available from the United States Postal Service. To order Eid stamps, go to:
http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=2689760
Stamps, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by toll-free phone order at 1-800-STAMP-24.
-----
MI: ISLAMIC GROUPS RALLY FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Delores Patterson, Detroit News, 10/20/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/oakland/0510/20/B03-354900.htm
ROCHESTER HILLS -- In the aftermath of natural disasters facing
communities around the world, the Islamic Association of Greater
Detroit in Rochester Hills is stepping up to help.
The association teamed up last weekend with Muslim groups across Metro
Detroit to collect goods for Pakistan earthquake survivors. The
one-day, 24-hour relief event produced an outpouring of donations, said
Asad Malik of the Islamic Association, who organized the efforts.
SEE ALSO:
NW SIDE MUSLIM COMMUNITY RALLIES TO HELP VICTIMS OF KASHMIR QUAKE -
TOP
ALAN SCHMIDT, Times Review, 10/20/05
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/eb/10-20-05-717530.html
The impact of the earthquake in Pakistan's Kashmir region earlier this
month was felt by the Northwest Side's Islamic community as fundraising
efforts for the victims got under way.
Worshipers leaving the mosque at the Muslim Community Center, 4380 N.
Elston Ave., paused to drop donations into a large collection box in
the center's lobby.
Dr. Habib Abbasi straightened the sign on the box, and then talked for
a moment about how people have responded to the Oct. 8 quake, which had
a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale. As of Monday, the death toll
in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir was estimated at about 40,000. About
65,000 were reported injured, and 2.5 million were left homeless.
Ever since Abbasi, who lives in Skokie, heard news of the quake, he's
been calling family and friends in Pakistan and keeping up on relief
efforts. He has immediate family members living there, but they live in
the southern Pakistan, near Karachi.
Abbasi hosts a weekly radio program that airs Sundays. He said he
received telephone calls from people trying to ship supplies to the
affected area. After a series of calls, a planeload of goods was sent
from Chicago via Pakistan International Airlines. Residents who had
family members in the affected areas were receiving free airfare. (MORE)
---
QUAKE RELIEF BRINGS U.S. MUSLIM WOMEN TOGETHER -
TOP
Allison Stevens, Women's eNews, 10/20/05
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2496/context/archive
During Ramadan, Muslim women in the U.S. have been mustering aid for
people hurt by the earthquake in Pakistan. Some say the experience will
bring a diverse community closer together.
---
HOW YOU CAN HELP -
TOP
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/cg/10-20-05-716927.html
-----
CAN A FLORIDA SHERIFF POLICE OBSCENITY ON THE INTERNET? -
TOP
Mark Glaser, Online Journalism Review, 10/18/05
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/051018glaser/
Investigation stalls in military, media
As for the gory photos on NTFU and other websites, the military said it
could not confirm the authenticity of the photos -- or that U.S.
soldiers had posted them. Army spokesman Paul Boyce told me there
wasn't enough evidence to pursue felony charges.
"If we get specific information, we will certainly look into that as
well," said Boyce. "But at this point, we are pursuing it instead from
a more prudent standpoint by reminding soldiers of our policies dealing
with the use of the Internet, weblogs, digital photos, personal e-mail,
etc."
I asked Boyce whether he had followed up on my previous report for OJR,
which included an e-mail from someone named David Burke, who said he
was a soldier in Iraq and has posted on NTFU under the screen name
"diescreaming." Boyce took note of the information and told me the Army
would check into it.
But critics of NTFU's gory photos and the possible involvement of
soldiers were doubtful that the Pentagon was putting much effort into
the internal investigation. Ibrahim Hooper is the spokesman for the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, which helped bring the
gore-for-porn story to wider attention by sending an open letter to
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Hooper told me he was disappointed
with the Army's investigation.
"[The Pentagon] decided to end whatever efforts they had because they
said they hadn't found any evidence that military personnel were
involved -- even though if you went to the site, somebody sent me one
of the images where the person's name and unit were clearly indicated
in the photograph," Hooper said. "All we can do is bring these things
to the attention of the Pentagon; we can't force them to do it. If they
want to drop it at that point without having really gone into it, then
that's their choice. We stated at the time that we thought it was
premature. There couldn't possibly have been a full investigation in
the time that was allotted and it was sending a negative message."
Meanwhile, rank-and-file soldiers, Bush administration supporters and
military bloggers have been largely silent on the issue, perhaps
preferring not to fuel any possible scandal. Liberal blogger John
Aravosis, conversely, has been stoking the flames by running photos
taken from NTFU, with soldiers visible and gory parts censored. When
the military said it couldn't make felony convictions, Aravosis was
livid. (MORE)
-----
NORTH DAKOTA IS HOME TO FIRST U.S. MOSQUE -
TOP
Susan Logue, Voice of America, 10/20/05
http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2005-10-20-voa14.cfm
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States, and there
are more than 1,200 mosques around the country, with at least one in
every state. The vast majority are in major metropolitan areas,
especially in New York and California, but America's first mosque was
built in one of the least populous states - North Dakota.
SEE ALSO:
DC: MUSLIM STUDENTS TAKE PART IN PHOTO EXHIBIT -
TOP
Our Children, Our World
Photography Exhibition
"Our Children, Our World," is a photography exhibition featuring more
than 70 images taken by children from Accra, Ghana; Pinar del Rio,
Cuba; and Washington, D.C. and Gary, Indiana, USA., using traditional
and digital cameras. Children from Sister Clara Muhammad School are
representing Washington, D.C. in this pan-African exhibit. The
exhibition is the result of workshops Port of Harlem magazine
photographer Nestor Hernandez conducted in each of the cities.
The exhibit takes place at:
Children's National Medical Center
The Gallery First Floor
111 Michigan Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. USA
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 20, 2005 (5:30 p.m.)
After leaving Washington, the "Our Children, Our World," exhibit
continues in Gary, IN Saturday, July 8, 2006 through Saturday, October
28, 2006, as part of the city's centennial celebration. For more
information, visit
www.portofharlem.net/pohevents.html
-----
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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 - 10/21/05
*
Verse:
God is Forgiving,
Merciful
-
Hadith:
God Accepts Prayers of Those
Who Show Mercy
*
CAIR-SV
Hosts Iftar at
California State Capitol
-
CAIR-LA President
Receives Award
*
IN:
Parents
Debate Muslim Presentation (NW Indiana Times)
-
Parent:
"I'm not
prejudiced, but. . ."
-
CA:
Anti-Islam
'Comic Books' Given to HS Students
*
Afghanistan:
U.S. Fears
Fallout Over Abuse of Bodies (LA Times)
-
CAIR Rep
Discusses Body-Burning Controversy on NPR
-
US Tries to Limit Damage from Body Burning (Reuters)
-
View the Video (CNN)
*
CAIR-FL:
Earthquake a Neglected Catastrophe (SP Times)
*
TX:
Group Aims to Empower, Support Muslim Women (DMN)
-
MA:
Building Stereotypes, and Breaking Them Down
*
CA:
Jews, Christians, Muslims Meet at Mosque
-
MI:
Mosque Expansion Near Detroit was Overdue (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD IS FORGIVING, MERCIFUL -
TOP
"When those who believe in Our revelations come to you (Muhammad), say:
'Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed for Himself the law of grace
and mercy. If anyone among you commits evil out of ignorance, and
thereafter repents and mends his ways, you will find God Forgiving,
Merciful.'"
The Holy Quran, 6:54
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD ACCEPTS PRAYERS OF THOSE WHO SHOW MERCY -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: 'God, the Glorious,
said: 'I accept the prayer of one. . .who spends the day remembering
Me; and who is merciful to the poor, the wayfarer and the widows; and
who is merciful to one who is suffering from an infliction. He has a
light like the light of the sun. I protect him by My Glory and the
angels guard over him. I give him light in darkness and sobriety in the
presence of ignorance.''
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 89
-----
CAIR-SV HOSTS IFTAR AT CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL -
TOP
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 10/21/2005) - On Wednesday, October 19, the Sacramento
Valley chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV)
and several state assembly members and senators held the 2nd Annual
Capitol Ramadan Iftar (fast-breaking) at the California State Capitol.
The iftar, held in the Rotunda Cafeteria, was co-hosted by 10 state
senators and assembly members and coordinated by CAIR-SV. It featured
the breaking of the fast, the Islamic sunset prayer (maghrib) and
remarks by CAIR officials, interfaith leaders, Assemblyman Dave Jones,
and representatives of the legislature. Assemblyman Jones and Saeed
Ali, Chief of Staff for Senator Richard Alarcon presented CAIR-SV with
Legislature Resolution commemorating Ramadan and contributions of the
Muslim community to this nation.
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director, Basim Elkarra, 916-441-6269, e-mail:
sacval@cair.com
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-LA PRESIDENT RECEIVES AWARD -
TOP
(PASADENA, CA, OCTOBER 20, 2005) - State Senator Jack Scott, Assembly
Majority Leader Dario Frommer and Assembly member Carol Liu presented
Tahra Goraya with the Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year Award as
part of their sixth annual Women In Business Award Luncheon on October
19 at the Pasadena Hilton. Goraya also serves as the president of the
Southern California Chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-LA).
Ms. Goraya, a Pakistani-American Muslim and Day One executive director
for nearly five years, was one of twenty-five distinguished women in
private enterprise, science and technology, arts and entertainment to
receive the distinction for her contributions to the community.
"The CAIR-California team congratulates Tahra on her well-deserved
award for her work to improve the lives of youth in our community,"
said Fouad Khatib, Chairman of CAIR-California.
Day One is a seventeen year-old community-based nonprofit organization
whose mission is to provide an organizational structure by which
Pasadena and Altadena will reduce the problems associated with alcohol,
tobacco, and other drug use. Day One convenes, develops, coordinates,
and provides prevention services.
CONTACT: CAIR-LA: Sabiha Khan, (714) 776-1847 or (714) 390-0334
---
CAIR-OHIO WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR -
TOP
(COLUMBUS, OH, 10/21/05) - The Ohio office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) is pleased to announce that
Adnan Mirza has been hired to fill the position of director for its
Columbus office.
Adnan was awarded a National Merit Scholarship to Eastern Michigan
University where he earned a political science degree. While there, he
was a member of the Comparative Political Internship at the Canadian
House of Commons. After completing his education, Adnan was the Senior
Islamic Banker at University Bank in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio President, Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916, E-mail
ahmad@cair-ohio.com; CAIR-Ohio Director, Adnan Mirza, 614-451-3232,
E-mail
director@cair-ohio.com
-----
IN: PARENTS DEBATE MUSLIM PRESENTATION AT PORTER LAKES ELEMENTARY -
TOP
Mother: Talk was intended to inform students, not push the religion
ELIZABETH HOLMES, Northwest Indiana News, 10/21/05
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2005/10/21/news/porter_county/04301b99485383a1862570a100217a51.txt
PORTER TOWNSHIP | The debate over a Muslim presentation at Porter Lakes
Elementary School spilled over from the School Board meeting into the
hallway Thursday evening, bringing parents from both sides together to
hash out the issue.
Susan Miller approached Ayesha Syed, the mother of two new Muslim
students at Porter Lakes, and tried to explain her reasoning for
adamantly and outwardly opposing a presentation Syed gave to the
students about the Muslim culture.
As each parent's sons played together around them, oblivious of the
extent or the heat of the discussion, Miller insisted to Syed, "This is
not about you."
However, in a way, it was. On Sept. 30, Syed and her Muslim friend,
Ameenah Abdullah, came to the school to talk to a second-grade class
and the entire third grade about the Muslim culture.
The presentation, for students who are the same ages as Syed's
children, was intended to answer questions about the Muslim culture.
The women talked about religion because it is heavily intertwined with
the Muslim culture, and that upset many in the Porter Lakes community.
The issue of allowing such a presentation was not on the board agenda.
However, the public participation portion of the meeting allowed
parents a chance to sound off to the board for future consideration.
The majority of speakers vehemently opposed religion in the public
school setting. Michelle Colvin said her son had questions for her
about Allah that caught her off guard. She said she should have been
notified of the presentation in advance.
Miller touched on another hot issue surrounding the Muslim family --
the creation of a prayer room at the school for the Muslim children,
which school officials will not confirm -- and demanded fair treatment
for all faiths.
"If they're going to cater to one religion, they better cater to all of
'em," she said and asked for an altar to be added for her Catholic son.
Miller's speech, the first of more than a dozen,
garnered an applause and an "amen" from the standing-room-only crowd.
In an interview before the meeting, she said,
"I'm not prejudiced, but I do have a concern when it comes to Muslim people." (MORE) -
TOP
SEE ALSO:
CA: BAPTIST 'COMIC BOOKS' DISTRIBUTED -
TOP
Religious books given to high school students warn of dangers of Islam, homosexuality
Aaron Swarts, Oakland Tribune, 10/21/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_3138271
TRACY - Another church has been vying for the attention of students in the Tracy Unified School District.
On Wednesday afternoon in front of West High School, members of the
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Tracy handed out "comic books" to
students leaving school.
The small publication warned of the dangers of Islam, homosexuality and
the teaching of evolution, while hailing the importance of traditional
Baptist Christian values. . .
School board member Gerry Machado said he's not concerned by the
handing-out of comic books, noting that the event was an example of
"free speech and the general mood of the country."
"I don't agree with all of the things the church advocates, but I do
agree with some of it," he said. "And I support their freedom of
speech."
Machado added that he "would like to see more tolerance in the world, but that hasn't happened for thousands of years."
Trustee Bill Swenson also said he didn't have a problem with the
demonstration, as long as it didn't cost the district or city money
that could have been used elsewhere. (MORE)
-----
U.S. FEARS FALLOUT OVER REPORTED ABUSE OF BODIES -
TOP
Diplomats try to shield America's image after a video appears to show
troops in Afghanistan setting fire to corpses of slain Taliban fighters.
Richard A. Serrano and John Hendren, Los Angeles Times, 10/21/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-desecrate21oct21,1,3766918.story
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration moved swiftly Thursday to curb
international outrage over a report that U.S. troops in Afghanistan
desecrated the bodies of Taliban fighters, setting them ablaze to taunt
militants.
U.S. embassies around the world have been given "instructions to
engage" their host governments to head off anger provoked by a
videotape showing Americans torching the remains of two militants, and
Assistant Secretary of State Karen P. Hughes will address the issue
during a trip to Muslim areas of South Asia, a State Department
official said.
"What we see in this tape is not at all reflective of the values of the
military or of the United States," department spokesman Sean McCormack
said.
The diplomatic reaction accompanied a series of harsh denunciations by
the Pentagon, which has ordered the Army Criminal Investigation Command
to launch an inquiry into the soldiers' actions. Based on the
videotape, the troops appear to be part of a unit that specializes in
psychological warfare.
"The incident, if true, is repugnant, and we look forward to getting to
the bottom of it," said Maj. Matthew McLaughlin, a spokesman for the
U.S. Central Command in Florida, which oversees military activities in
Afghanistan. He said the Army probe would include the incident itself
and any connection it may have to psychological operations.
The unusual U.S. response comes in the midst of an administration
campaign to counter negative perceptions of Americans among Muslims.
The latest incident in Afghanistan could rekindle outrage over the
abuse of prisoners in Iraq and allegations that U.S. troops desecrated
copies of the Koran belonging to detainees at the Guantanamo Bay lockup
in Cuba.
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, said the video would harm America's image abroad and serve
as "recruiting tools for terror groups." Without a thorough review, he
warned, the U.S.-declared war on terrorism would be viewed even more
strongly in the Muslim world as a "war on Islam."
Awad quoted a hadith, or saying of the prophet Muhammad: "Do not abuse
the dead, for they have reached the result of what they have done."
Awad said bodies must be buried quickly, after they first are washed
and wrapped in a clean cloth - none of which apparently took place in
the incident. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR REP DISCUSSES BODY-BURNING CONTROVERSY ON NPR -
TOP
ARMY EXAMINES ALLEGED ABUSE OF TALIBAN FIGHTERS
Corey Flintoff, NPR, 10/20/05
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4967495
All Things Considered, October 20, 2005 · The U.S. military in
Afghanistan is investigating claims that U.S. soldiers desecrated the
bodies of two dead Taliban fighters and mocked Islamic customs in an
effort to taunt insurgents. U.S. officials worry the reports could
provoke a backlash against Americans in Muslim countries. . .
Ibrahim Hooper is the communications director for CAIR, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. He says the actions of the psyops team were
a deliberate effort to inflame Muslim sensibilities.
Mr. IBRAHIM HOOPER (Communications Director, Council on
American-Islamic Relations): Muslims, when you bury the dead, you
position them--the bodies facing Mecca. And also, cremation is
prohibited by Islamic tradition. So to have American military personnel
mocking these religious traditions and sensitivities sends a very
negative message to Muslims in Afghanistan and throughout the world.
FLINTOFF: Stephen Dupont told an Australian interviewer that he didn't
believe the men who set fire to the bodies knew they were violating
Muslim traditions, but the psyops soldiers did.
Mr. DUPONT: I think that the psychological operations unit that did the
broadcast of the incident with the Taliban, including some other
broadcasts--I think they're quite well aware of it. These are older
guys. I mean, that's their job. They're psyops, you know; they use this
as a weapon.
FLINTOFF: Major Matt McLaughlin, a spokesman for the Army Central Command, says the Army has launched a criminal investigation.
Major MATT McLAUGHLIN (Spokesman, Army Central Command): These are
extremely serious allegations. That's absolutely unacceptable behavior.
But let us be very clear: It is the policy of the US military to treat
all human remains with absolute respect and dignity, consistent with
the Geneva Convention. Anything else is absolutely unacceptable.
FLINTOFF: A US military official familiar with the issue said the
investigation was ordered by the highest levels of the US command in
Afghanistan, and said the video was regarded as `horrific.'
Ibrahim Hooper says the Council on American-Islamic Relations is
concerned that the incident is one of many that represent a coarsening
of attitudes among US military people who are fighting in Afghanistan
and Iraq. He says his group fears that some returning soldiers may
bring those prejudices home with them.
Mr. HOOPER: We're concerned that you're going to eventually have a lot
of American military personnel coming back from these areas with very
negative attitudes about Islam and Muslims. And what will happen when
these people are interacting with the millions of fellow citizens who
are Muslims? (MORE)
---
US TRIES TO LIMIT DAMAGE FROM TALIBAN BODY BURNING -
TOP
Sue Pleming, Reuters, 10/20/05
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20555808.htm
WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday tried to
limit damage from television images appearing to show U.S. soldiers
burning the corpses of two Taliban fighters in Afghanistan and using
the incident for propaganda.
U.S. embassies around the world were told to explain that what people
saw in the tape shown on an Australian television report did not
reflect the actions of most of the U.S. military or of U.S. values
overall, the State Department said.
"I saw the news reports and the video myself. These are very difficult
images to see," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, but he
insisted they should be seen as isolated incidents.
Muslim-American groups feared the incident could worsen anti-American
sentiments in Muslim countries where many people perceive the United
States as being culturally insensitive. . .
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based civil
rights group, urged the Pentagon to conduct a review of policies and
training related to personnel in Muslim countries.
"Given the growing number of such incidents involving American military
personnel worldwide, it is imperative that the Pentagon launch a
top-to-bottom review of policies and training to help prevent the war
on terror from being perceived as a war on Islam," CAIR Executive
Director Nihad Awad said in a statement.
Awad said reports of abuses of Muslim prisoners and disregard for
Islamic sensitivities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, were
harming the image of the United States and serving as recruiting tools
for terrorist groups.
---
VIEW THE VIDEO -
TOP
http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/world/2005/10/20/mcintyre.burned.bodies.ap
Alternative:
1) Go to:
http://www.cnn.com/
2) At "WATCH FREE VIDEO" section, click on "Browse/Search."
3) Enter the search term "Taliban" in "Search Video."
4) Click on "U.S. troops accused of corpse abuse."
-----
CAIR-FL: A NEGLECTED CATASTROPHE -
TOP
Fundraising to help victims of south Asia's massive earthquake doesn't compare to the amounts raised for other recent disasters.
SHANNON TAN, St. Petersburg Times, 10/21/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/21/Tampabay/A_Neglected_catastrop.shtml
The earthquake flattened Shabnam Khan's childhood village and killed a dozen relatives.
Her sister's mother-in-law died in her bed when the Oct. 8 earthquake
struck Pakistan and India. Her husband, who was out of bed because he
couldn't sleep, lived.
"People in my father's village are living under the sky," said Khan,
38, a native of Pakistan who lives in Valrico. "They don't have
anything."
Khan has raised about $8,000 to send to the remote village near
Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan's portion of Kashmir. Groups in
Tampa Bay also are collecting donations for victims of the disaster,
which killed more than 79,000 people and left another 3.3-million
homeless.
But while the World Health Organization said the catastrophe was bigger
in scale than last year's tsunami, fundraising groups worry about
running into donor fatigue.
Tsunami. Hurricanes. Mudslides. More hurricanes.
"It's really taken the wind out of the donors' sails, so to speak,"
said Zephyrhills resident Sam Abrahani, 54, who is involved in
fundraising for the nonprofit Human Development Foundation.
It doesn't help that some donors may be reluctant to give out of
wariness over where their contributions might end up. After the Sept.
11 attacks, the U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of several
Muslim charities, alleging that the money was funding terrorist
activities.
"People are afraid to support Islamic charities," said Daniel
Borochoff, president of the Chicago-based American Institute of
Philanthropy.
Borochoff said he is concerned that fewer donations to earthquake
victims may send an unwanted signal to the rest of the world. Aid
efforts after last year's tsunami helped build goodwill in
predominantly Muslim areas in Asia, and the earthquake presents a
similar opportunity, he said.
"It's making us look awful in the Islamic world," Borochoff said. "People may think Americans are only generous with ourselves."
The American Red Cross has raised $1.7-million for the earthquake,
compared with $1.2-billion for Hurricane Katrina and $535-million for
the tsunami.
Ahmed Bedier, Central Florida director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said Muslim groups have asked for a list of
acceptable organizations to channel donations, but the federal
government has not provided that information. (MORE)
-----
TX: GROUP AIMS TO EMPOWER, SUPPORT MUSLIM WOMEN -
TOP
300 N. Texans team up to dispel stereotypes, provide social services
JAKE BATSELL, Dallas Morning News, 10/21/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-numuslim_21met.ART.West.Edition2.1dec23c8.html
Subservient? Silent? Not at all, these Muslim-American women say.
Many Muslim women in the Dallas-Fort Worth area say that in the four
years since 9-11, they have kept to themselves as they struggled with
such outside stereotypes and internal questions about their identities
as Muslims and as Americans.
But about 300 North Texas women - at least half from Collin County -
are launching a group aimed at raising their public profile: the Texas
Muslim Women's Foundation.
"We are citizens in this country, and we are welcome in this country,"
said Dr. Hind Jarrah of McKinney, the foundation's president. "Our
mission is to empower, promote and support Muslim women."
The group, which formed in August, is among dozens of cultural
organizations scheduled to appear at Saturday's Plano International
Festival at Haggard Park.
Dr. Jarrah, who holds a doctorate in pharmacology from UT Southwestern
Medical Center and also helped start the Arabic Heritage Society in
Dallas, said the foundation would work to serve the needs of local
Muslim women and to dispel prevailing assumptions about them.
"The major stereotype is that Islam does not honor women, that Islam
subjugates women and that women are oppressed by their husbands," she
said. "Islam honors women. Islam, from the very beginning, allowed
women to work, allowed women to trade."
In the highly charged aftermath of 9-11, many Muslim-American women
"went back behind doors," said Nasima Chowdhury, a Plano elementary
special-education instructor and foundation board member.
"They were afraid to come out," she said. "We're trying to change that."
Ms. Chowdhury, originally from Bangladesh, came to Plano more than 20
years ago at age 17 and later attended Collin County Community College.
A married mother of three, she describes herself as "just your regular,
typical American mom."
Despite having lived in Plano for virtually all her adult life, Ms.
Chowdhury felt the sting of prejudice soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks. She said a neighbor in Plano's High Point area showed up at
her door and asked, "How could you do this?"
She said the incident helped her realize that she needed to assert her
identity as a Muslim, as an American and as an "active, responsible
member of society." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
BUILDING STEREOTYPES, AND TRYING TO BREAK THEM DOWN -
TOP
HEBAH M. ISMAIL, Harvard Crimson, 10/20/05
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=509230
One of the hardest things about being a minority is dealing with the
pervasive stereotypes to which others subscribe. I have had to deal
with this my whole life as a Muslim American. In order to combat these
stereotypes, I have always striven to engage in dialogue with others
and educate them about my values and beliefs. Many Muslims I know also
strive for this, both on and off campus. This is hard in and of itself.
Sometimes, a person's preconceived notions about you cannot be
corrected. But when stereotypes are actively promoted, it is almost
impossible to properly inform others. In our society, people are
bombarded on all sides with voices against Islam-such as the ad in the
Salient-and hear few on its behalf. This makes it more likely that
people will believe the stereotypes and see their Muslim friends as the
exceptions to the rule instead of the rule. (MORE)
-----
JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS MEET AT MOSQUE -
TOP
Gregory Elder, Redlands Daily Facts, 10/20/05
http://www2.redlandsdailyfacts.com/living/ci_3135760
I am sitting on a carpeted floor in my socks, parked between an
evangelical pastor and a Roman Catholic bishop. Around us, dozens of
men are on their knees praying, facing north-northeast, prostrating
themselves before God.
A chant rises and falls and the devotion is clear. It is the hour of
prayer, and I am once again in a mosque, for the first time since the
Sept. 11 attacks.
It was a historic moment, as I very much doubt that a such a collection
of pastors, clergy and bishops have been assembled in a mosque in the
Inland Empire in any recent memory.
Along with a series of religious leaders, academics and journalists, I
was invited last Saturday to a celebration of the Ramadan festival at
the mosque in Riverside. We met late on Saturday while the annual
Ramadan fast was still in place.
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM WORSHIPPERS SAY MOSQUE EXPANSION NEAR DETROIT WAS OVERDUE -
TOP
Associated Press, 10/21/05
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw122917_20051021.htm
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Growing up in Lebanon, Rayan Dughayli came
across a mosque on nearly every corner. But when he moved to the United
States at 13, it was harder to find one.
Five years later, the Dearborn resident said he eagerly awaited the
construction of the new Islamic Center of America -- the newest
addition among the places of worship along Altar Road.
"Every time I'd pass by," Dughayli said, "I'd look and imagine myself in the mosque."
His wait ended in May, when the new $14 million center opened.
During a break from classes at a nearby community college, he was among
the handful of men recently attending afternoon prayers at the mosque,
the centerpiece of a 70,000-square-foot facility. Also worshipping were
dozens of young people from the center's adjacent grade school.
Ali Kawsan, a 20-year-old Dearborn resident, said having a mosque of
this stature was overdue in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb that's home to
one of the nation's largest concentrations of people with roots in the
Middle East, many of whom are Muslim.
"It's kind of rejuvenated the faith in this community. People say they
can't believe something like this could exist in America," said Kawsan,
a University of Michigan engineering student who also works as a
salesman. "It's a blessing for us to be in a place like this. When I
look around I say, . . . "God is good."'
While the mosque draws up to 900 worshippers each Friday, 4,000 to
5,000 come on holidays, said Eide A. Alawan, who volunteers as the
center's interfaith and outreach liaison.
Besides the mosque, the facility has offices, bathrooms with pre-prayer
washing areas and three banquet halls that can seat more than 1,000
people. The halls are used for funerals, lectures and other events.
They also have been host to thousands of Muslims attending nightly
lectures during the holy month of Ramadan, which started a couple of
weeks ago.
The Islamic Center is one of a growing number of mosques in this country.
The American Muslim population began growing dramatically after 1965,
when President Lyndon Johnson abolished an immigration quota system
that had disproportionately benefited Europeans.
Growth in mosques quickly followed; from 962 in 1994 to 1,209 in 2000,
according to a study by Ihsan Bagby, a professor of Islamic studies at
the University of Kentucky and lead author of the 2001 report "The
Mosque in America: A National Portrait" for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. (MORE)
-----
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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 - 10/23/05
*
Hadith:
Laylat Al-Qadr (Night of
Power)
-
Verse:
Laylat Al-Qadr is the Night of
Peace
*
CAIR-CT:
Pakistani-American Community
Helping Quake Victims
-
CAIR-OH: Supporters Hold
Rally Opposing Deportation
-
CAIR-San Diego Seeks Executive
Director
-
CAIR-Philly:
Historical Islam
Course
-
CAIR-OH:
Children's Book Came Out of
Mother's Concern
-
CAIR-DC:
Ex-Chaplain Sees
Anti-Muslim Feeling
-
CAIR 10th Anniversary Report
Now Online
*
GA:
After Arson, Islamic Center
of Savannah Rebuilds
-
Arson Attack on Swedish
Mosque
*
Ohio Newspaper Responds
to Muslim Concerns About
Cartoon
*
CA:
Muslim B-Ball
Star Finds Peace Through Religion, Charity
-
IN:
Ramadan
Fast is Challenge for Student-Athletes
*
CA:
Muslim,
Christian, Jewish Teens Meet
-
NY:
An Olive Branch Gets Extended,
Embraced (Newsday)
-
GA:
Muslims Try to Banish
Myths (Atlanta Journal)
*
Bahraini Detainee at Gitmo Claims
Sexual Abuse (Arab News)
-
CAIR Anti-Torture Campaign
*
UK Poll:
Huge Majority of
Iraqis Want Coalition to Go
-
Iraq:
Killing of
Contractors Suppressed (Telegraph)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: LAYLAT AL-QADR (NIGHT OF POWER) -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Search for the Night
of Power (Laylat Al-Qadr) in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days
of Ramadan."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 234
A wife of the Prophet asked him what prayers she should say on Laylat
Al-Qadr. The Prophet told her to say: "O God, Thou art forgiving and
lovest forgiveness, so forgive me."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 641
VERSE OF THE DAY: LAYLAT AL-QADR IS THE NIGHT OF
PEACE -
TOP
"We have revealed this (Quran) in the Night of Power. And what will
make you understand what the Night of Power is! The Night of Qadr is
better than one thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) come
down with every decree, by the leave of their Lord. That night is the
night of peace, till the break of dawn."
The Holy Quran, Chapter 97 (Al-Qadr)
"We revealed this (Quran) in a blessed night (Laylat Al-Qadr); for
We wanted to forewarn mankind. In that night every matter is decided
wisely."
The Holy Quran, 44:3-4
NOTE: Laylat al-Qadr ("Night of Power" or "Night of
Destiny") marks the anniversary of the night on which the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) first began receiving revelations from God
through the angel Gabriel. Muslims believe Laylat al-Qadr is one of the
last odd-numbered nights of Ramadan. Some Muslims spend the last ten days
of Ramadan in a local mosque. This practice is called
"I'tikaf."
-----
CAIR-CT: PAKISTANI-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY WORKING TO HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
KARIN CROMPTON, The Day, 10/22/05
http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=1c504677-69a7-47f5-8035-d2ec4adffa64
They are huddled in mountaintops, stringing together tents from bedsheets
and the splintered lumber from their shattered homes. Thousands of
victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake in Pakistan are waiting, battling
disease and starvation as another harsh winter approaches.
In America, the Pakistani-American community watches on satellite
channels like PTV Prime - or Pakistani TV - the Internet, and Pakistani
newspapers.
This disaster is their 9/11.
"Everybody," said Badr Malik of Old Lyme, "has a
connection."
Malik is the executive director of the state branch of the Islamic civil
rights organization CAIR, the Council for American-Islamic Relations.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: SUPPORTERS HOLD
RALLY OPPOSING DEPORTATION -
TOP
No charges ever filed, but ex-Kent man is still in jail; `I thought truth
would prevail,' wife says
Rick Armon, Beacon Journal, 10/23/05
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/community/12976530.htm
CUYAHOGA FALLS - Her eyes welled with tears.
Michele Swensen doesn't know what's next for her family. Or whether
there's any fight left in her husband.
"I thought it would end differently," she said, shaking her
head. ``I thought truth would prevail, but not in this day and
age."
This weekend marks the third anniversary of her husband Ashraf
al-Jailani's arrest by federal authorities. He remains behind bars at a
federal detention center in York, Pa., although no formal charges have
been filed against him.
Friends and supporters held a rally Saturday afternoon at the Islamic
Community Center on East Steels Corners Road to show their support for
him and to denounce the government for trying to deport him. Swensen and
the couple's three children, Amina, Layla and Sami, were among the 30 or
so people who attended.
The government "really can destroy people," said Julia
Shearson, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations'
Cleveland office.
Al-Jailani, 41, of Kent, was arrested in October 2002 on suspicion that
he was a member of al-Qaeda and wanted to blow up Akron's GOJO
Industries, his employer at the time. The government apparently no longer
considers him a terrorist, but a 1998 conviction for domestic violence
has threatened his ability to stay in the country.
A U.S. immigration court ruled last week that he cannot seek asylum in
the United States, and he could be deported to his native Yemen on Nov.
17 unless he files an appeal.
Swensen said al-Jailani's absence has been especially hard on the
children. Amina and Laya will miss a father-daughter dance at their
elementary school next week, she said.
"He did nothing wrong and they just want to keep him in jail,"
said 9-year-old Amina, the oldest of the children.
"I don't want him to go to Yemen but I think the options are kind of
limited," Swensen said after the rally. ``Ultimately, the decision
is up to him."
Asked whether she would go to Yemen with her husband, Swensen said she
hasn't made that decision.
She hasn't spoken with al-Jailani since the court ruling. His Akron
attorney Farhad Sethna said he and al-Jailani are still trying to figure
out what to do next.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not return a call seeking
comment.
At the rally, Don Bryant, president of the Greater Cleveland Immigrant
Support Network, nearly broke down as he read a one-page letter written
by al-Jailani before the recent court ruling.
"I must say it is difficult to fathom such abuse and denial of
fundamental due process in a great country like the United States of
America," he wrote. "I quite understand the mentality that was
derived after 9/11, but I must again reiterate my only dilemma is being a
Muslim Arab." (MORE)
---
CAIR-SAN DIEGO SEEKS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR -
TOP
CAIR-San Diego is seeking a qualified individual to work as a full or
part-time director of its San Diego office. The ideal candidate will have
a university degree and excellent organizational, leadership,
communication, and interpersonal skills. A legal background and previous
experience in community activism and public relations is desired but not
essential.
For more information, or to apply for this position, please e-mail a
resume to:
CAIR_SD_Pres@yahoo.com
---
CAIR-PHILLY: HISTORICAL ISLAM COURSE -
TOP
Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/22/05
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/12967301.htm
"Understanding Islam & Muslims through History &
Jurisprudence"; Council on American-Islamic Relations, Phila Chapter
presents. Foundation for Islamic Education, 1860 Montgomery Ave,
Villanova; 215-592-0509 or
cairphilly@cair-philly.org
. 7-9 p.m. Mons & Weds, & 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sats through
11/7. Registration required.
---
BILAL'S STORY: CHILDREN'S BOOK CAME OUT OF
MOTHER'S CONCERN -
TOP
Tom Feran, RELIGION NEWS SERVICE, 10/22/05
http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128767678751&path=!living!article&s=1037645509005
The way it started out, the way it was originally written, the child in
the story only had to deal only with a basic fear shared by kids
everywhere. That maybe, because he wasn't exactly like them, he wouldn't
be liked or accepted by his peers.
But events took a hand, and the story subtly changed in a way that its
author could not have foreseen.
Instead of just worrying about being accepted by his grade-school
classmates, the boy in the story has to face the real fear that something
bad might happen to him because of who he is, an American
Muslim.
His fictional story is told in a book called My Name Is Bilal, newly
published by Boyds Mills Press. Its author, Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, is an
Ohio pediatrician who wrote it out of necessity - for her own three
children. Now it's for a much wider audience. . .
Bilal, the boy in her story, hides his religion and calls himself Bill to
be accepted by classmates. But he struggles with his deception until a
teacher gives him a book about Bilal ibn Rabah - a beloved figure in
Islamic history who withstood religious persecution to make the first
Islamic call to prayer.
Mobin-Uddin, 38, submitted her manuscript five months before the
terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists on Sept. 11, 2001. Resulting
fears and stereotypes gave more importance and urgency to the book's
message of understanding and tolerance, and only the need to illustrate
it as a children's book delayed publication.
"Kids have different challenges now," Mobin-Uddin said.
"We had people just not knowing what Islam was."
She has a second children's book in the works, does community work and
speaking engagements through her Web site,
www.asmamobinuddin.com, and serves as the vice president of the Ohio
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
---
CAIR-DC: EX-CHAPLAIN SEES ANTI-MUSLIM
FEELING -
TOP
FRANCES GRANDY TAYLOR, Courant, 10/22/05
http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-yee1022.artoct22,0,5693821.story
Yee's case "is indicative of the post-9/11 climate that American
Muslims have lived under, which is guilty until proved innocent,"
says Arsalan Iftikhar, legal affairs director for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations. "Muslims live with the duality of being
American, being a Muslim and dealing with suspicion because of our
faith."
---
CAIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY REPORT
NOW ONLINE -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/pdf/10th_anniversary_report.pdf
-----
GA: AFTER THE ARSON, ISLAMIC CENTER OF
SAVANNAH REBUILDS -
TOP
For two years Muslims have prayed in a small trailer on Old Dutchtown
Road. Friday, they began work on a new mosque.
http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/102205/3379139.shtml
Beneath a towering pair of charred pines, a few dozen men stood before a
cinder block pillar Friday and praised Allah. The pines were lingering
reminders of an act of arson two years ago that destroyed the Islamic
Center of Savannah. The pillar was for hope.
Amid the ashes of the old, it marks the cornerstone where a new mosque
will rise. Friday, the Islamic Center held a groundbreaking for the
planned 11,000-square-foot, $1 million building. It should be ready by
next fall. The event came just after the 2 p.m. Juma prayer, held nearby
in a small trailer. . .
It was an apparent act of hatred that robbed the center of its
space.
In the weeks leading up to the arson, someone shot up the center's doors
and left a threatening note in one member's apartment. Authorities have
no suspects, no new leads, and are no longer actively investigating the
case.
Masood Ahmed, vice chairman of the Islamic Center, said membership has
only increased in the two years since.
Neighbors who barely acknowledged the center showed heart-warming acts of
kindness: The woman to the west brought by a rose bush members planted;
the neighbor to the east let the center use his water any time members
needed it.
Letters came pouring in. "After it happened, we were sad and
disappointed, but when we saw the reaction of the community it gave us
strength," Ahmed said. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
ARSON ATTACK ON MALMÖ
MOSQUE -
TOP
http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=2346&date=20051022
The mosque in Malmö was the target of a new arson attack just before
midnight on Friday. Several minor fires were started in the main
building, but these were put out quickly by the emergency services after
passers-by had spotted smoke coming out of the building.
One man was taken to hospital suffering from mild smoke injuries. The man
was staying in the mosque temporarily for the Ramadan period and was
sleeping in the building when the fire began.
Someone had broken into the building after smashing a window at the back.
(MORE)
-----
OH: A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE
PUBLISHED A CARTOON LAMPOONING TV EVANGELIST AND... -
TOP
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 10/23/05
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/opinion/12962519.htm
A few weeks ago, we published a cartoon lampooning TV evangelist and
political activist Pat Robertson's suggestion (which, predictably, he
later disclaimed) that the U.S. should consider assassination of hostile
world leaders. The implication was not that Christians endorse
assassination, but that wing-nuts of Robertson's ilk distort
Christianity.
Just this past Monday, we published a cartoon with the same kind of
twist, except that in place of an allegedly Christian spokesman
distorting Christianity, it involved a Muslim cleric distorting
Islam.
Specifically, Los Angeles Times cartoonist Mike Ramirez had the cleric
saying, "... And then Muhammad said, 'Sow hatred, foment violence
and blow up innocent women and children.' This is the word of
Allah..." (SEE:
http://www.latimes.com/includes/ramirez/ramirez_20051009.gif
)
Then, in a separate quote, the cleric adds: "Okay, maybe it's a
rough translation."
The implication to us -- and, we believe, to the cartoonist -- was not
that Islam endorses terrorism, but that terrorists profane
Islam.
Some of our readers -- most but not all of them members of the Columbus
area Muslim community -- didn't see it that way. Several callers saw the
cartoon as an irresponsible, reckless and sweeping slur on Muslims in
general, a suggestion that Islam is less a religious and moral belief
system than a violent and radical political-terrorist movement.
A couple of the callers acknowledged the irony, and the point, but said
the specific references to the deity and the prophet, particularly during
the Muslim holy time of Ramadan, were untimely and, to some, actively
blasphemous.
It should go without saying there is no such text in the Quran, and these
are not words or ideas spoken to, or by, the prophet of Islam.
That, we thought when we decided to run the cartoon, was precisely the
point.
There are, regrettably, those so-called Christians who insist that Islam
is by nature violent and barbaric (Franklin Graham comes to mind); such
folks might consider a refresher course in the Old Testament -- not to
mention a cursory overview of Western civilization, from the Inquisition
and the Crusades right on through the church's craven complicity in
Hitler's Third Reich. . .
One thing, however, I probably should have anticipated: This cartoon,
whose intended targets are foreign enemies bent on destroying Americans,
our allies and other Muslims who don't support the terrorists' radical
agenda, was taken very personally by people who are not foreign and not
enemies -- they are Americans and members of this community.
If we exercise the right to push the line of free expression, we incur an
obligation not just to respect the right of others to object, but also to
make a genuine effort to understand exactly what they're objecting
to.
The decision to publish the cartoon was mine, and anybody who wants to
discuss it is welcome to do so. Let us hear from you.
Contact Dusty Nix at (706) 571-8528 or
dnix@ledger-enquirer.com
COPY TO:
michael.ramirez@latimes.com
-----
CA: NEW KING SHAREEF
ABDUR-RAHIM FINDS PEACE THROUGH HIS RELIGION AND CHARITY -
TOP
Sam Amick, Sacramento Bee, 10/23/05
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13758126p-14600343c.html
The surface description of Abdur-Rahim goes as such - nine-year veteran
and one-time All-Star with wondrous individual numbers but nary a winning
season to call his own. Go deeper, and you learn he's a devout Muslim,
the son of an Islamic leader and a schoolteacher. He grew up in Atlanta
as the second-oldest of five children and later grew to be a loyal
husband and father of two children.
Talk to his friends and family, and they'll say what he won't, that he's
one of sport's great humanitarians, using his riches to give back while
succeeding in the business realm in everything from real estate to
television production. As put by one scout whose path crossed
Abdur-Rahim's long ago, "He's the best character guy in the
league." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
IN:
RAMADAN FAST IS CHALLENGE FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES -
TOP
Robert King, Indianapolis Star, 10/22/04
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051022/LIVING/510220361
Fasting between sunrise and sundown is a hallmark of Ramadan, a month
during which Muslims practice self-restraint. The holiday is also a time
to cleanse the body and soul of impurities and refocus on the worship of
God. Children begin to fast once they reach puberty. For kids who
routinely engage in activities that involve physical exertion -- such as
sports or dance -- the self-denial is an especially stern test of their
commitment. (MORE)
-----
CA: MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN AND
JEWISH TEENS MEET AT INTERFAITH YOUTH ICEBREAKER -
TOP
Kim Calvert, Daily Breeze, 10/23/05
http://www.dailybreeze.com/today/articles/1821616.html
Get-acquainted games already were under way when four teenage Muslim
girls, their quiet, dark-eyed beauty framed by traditional head scarves,
arrived Sunday afternoon at Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach.
Their shyness gave way to warm smiles as they were welcomed into the
Jewish synagogue's community room and invited to join 50 other teenage
Jews, Christians and Muslims in an energetic game of
Mingle-Mingle-Mingle, the object being to shake hands with as many people
as possible.
The occasion was the Interfaith Youth Icebreaker sponsored by the South
Coast Interfaith Council, an association of 140 faith-based groups in the
South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach areas of Los Angeles and West Orange
counties. It was inspired by a nationwide effort by Jewish, Muslim and
Christian organizations to encourage peace during a rare convergence of
religious calendars, a time when Ramadan and the Jewish High Holy Days
fell on the same days in October. (MORE_
SEE ALSO:
NY: AN OLIVE BRANCH GETS EXTENDED,
EMBRACED -
TOP
JOSEPH STASZEWSKI, Newsday, 10/23/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limusl234481522oct23,0,6522643.story
Seemi Ahmed had never before stood underneath a Sukkah, much less
contemplated the centuries of Jewish history the wooden structure has
come to represent.
But as the 43-year-old Muslim stepped toward the fragile archway
festooned with branches, leaves, and fruit at Temple Beth El in Great
Neck yesterday, she could almost imagine herself a woman of another
faith.
"I remembered how the Jewish people used to take shelter when they
were nomads," said Ahmed, of Searingtown. "I didn't know much
about this. I wanted to sit and eat in there. It felt so
nice."
For more than 50 Muslims and Jews who attended a unique ceremony at the
temple last night, that was precisely the point - to share the traditions
and rituals of a different faith.
The ceremony, the first of its kind on Long Island, was intended to honor
a rare confluence of holidays: the Jewish fall harvest festival of Sukkot
and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. (MORE)
---
GA: MUSLIMS TRY TO BANISH SOME
MYTHS -
TOP
BILL OSINSKI, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/22/05
http://www.ajc.com/saturday/content/epaper/editions/saturday/gwinnett_34953e0f613302b70009.html
Falafel and understanding are on the menu when Muslims share a meal and
their faith with non-Muslims.
But whether the setting is a restaurant with Middle Eastern cuisine, a
school classroom, a church or a corporate meeting, area Muslim leaders
are seeking to dispel misconceptions about their religion.
Things just seem to go better, however, when there's a buffet
involved.
"It's amazing how many problems we can clear up just by having a
meal together," said Kemal Korucu, head of the Interfaith Outreach
Committee for the Norcross-based Instanbul Center for Culture and
Dialogue. The center sponsors interfaith dinners in metro Atlanta and
elsewhere in the region. One such dinner was held this past
week.
Such meetings are needed, he said, because of the tendency of some people
to connect the violence going on in parts of the Islamic world with the
religion of Islam.
"As a Muslim, it breaks my heart," Korucu said. "This is
not who we are."
Nevertheless, he added, to him it often seems as if whenever the word
"terrorist" is used in the media, it is preceded by the
adjective "Muslim."
Hence, the campaign to "teach, not preach," as characterized by
Soumaya Khalifa, executive director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of
Atlanta, an organization dedicated to educating non-Muslims about
Islam.
The Islamic Speakers Bureau sponsored a dinner last week for a group of
about 20 area media representatives. The dinner was scheduled to coincide
with the Muslim holy month known as Ramadan. Several members of the ISB
made presentations in an effort to clear up misconceptions:
Muslims do not value education for women: To the contrary, the Quran
states that it is a "noble act" for a father to educate his
daughters to their highest potential. In some cases Muslim rulers --- for
example, the Taliban in Afghanistan --- have banned women from schools,
but those political and cultural actions conflict with the tenets of
Islam.
Muslims are intolerant of other religions: Actually, Muslims see their
faith as an extension of the Judeo-Christian tradition of monotheism.
Many of the prophets of the old and new testaments, including Abraham,
Moses and Jesus (who is considered a great prophet, though not a son of
God) are accepted and incorporated into the Muslim faith.
Muslim is another word for Arab: Worldwide, only about 18 percent of
Muslims are Arabs. Also, not all Arabs are Muslims; about 15 percent of
Arabs in Egypt, for example, are Christians. The United Stated has about
7 million Muslims.
The Golden Rule is a strictly Christian concept: The Quran states,
"No one truly believes until he wants for others what he wants for
himself."
"Jihad" means holy war: The term "jihad" is actually
"a very beautiful concept that has been turned into an evil
word," according to ISB speaker Jelena Naim. In its literal
religious sense, a "jihad" typically refers to the process in
which a person seeks to cleanse himself or herself of bad habits. In a
broader sense, it can refer to an individual's effort to redress the
wrongs in society. (MORE)
-----
BAHRAINI DETAINEE AT GITMO CLAIMS SEXUAL
ABUSE -
TOP
Mazen Mahdi, Arab News, 10/22/05
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=72096&d=22&m=10&y=2005
BAHRAIN, 22 October 2005 - One of six Bahraini detainees being held at
Cuba's Guantanamo Bay detention center was the subject of sexual abuse
and witnessed at least one act of Qur'an desecration by US soldiers while
being held in Afghanistan, according to a new report.
Bahraini detainee Jumah Al-Dossary who is being held there claimed that
he was subjected to sexual abuse and that he witnessed US soldiers at
Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan desecrate the Qur'an by cleaning their
boots with pages they had ripped from it.
Al-Dossary, according to the recently declassified report issued by his
lawyer Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, claimed that he was reportedly beaten and
stamped on by eight guards as he was recovering from an earlier stomach
operation.
Al-Dossary, aged 30 now and father to an 11-year-old girl, said that in
early September 2002 he was taken to an interrogation room where four
MPs, with one carrying a video camera, handcuffed and shackled him to the
floor before stripping him naked on orders from a female interrogator
present in the room.
He claimed that the female interrogator stripped and squatted over his
genitals, chest, and face smearing him with her menstrual blood in an
attempt to have him admit links to Al-Qaeda and 9/11 attacks.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN -
TOP
Earlier this year, CAIR and other groups called for an independent 9/11
commission-style investigation into the use of torture by American
military personnel. SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/antitorture/
Contact you elected representatives to ask that they oppose the use of
torture in any circumstances. GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/
-----
HUGE MAJORITY
OF IRAQIS WANT COALITION TO GO -
TOP
Ned Temko, Observer, 10/23/05
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1598908,00.html
The government has been dealt an embarrassing double blow in its battle
to convince the public it is beating insurgency in Iraq and the threat of
terrorism at home, according to confidential reports leaked to today's
newspapers.
One claimed nearly half of all Iraqis sympathised with violent attacks
against British and US coalition troops; another said that at home, Tony
Blair's high-profile strategy to counter the terrorist threat was proving
disjointed and ineffective.
Downing Street, while saying it would not comment on 'allegedly leaked
reports', told The Observer last night that Britain remained firm in its
commitment to stay in Iraq until the elected government felt it was ready
to take over security responsibilities.
The figures on Iraqis' views about attacks on coalition troops came from
a nationwide opinion survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Defence and
leaked to the Sunday Telegraph.
According to the report, fewer than one in 100 respondents felt the
presence of American, British and other allied troops was improving
security in the country.
Forty-five per cent countrywide were said to believe that the attacks on
the troops were justified - a figure that rose to 65 per cent in the
Maysan, one of the provinces policed by the British. No fewer than 82 per
cent, according to the report, declared themselves 'strongly opposed' to
the presence of coalition troops.
SEE ALSO:
US TROOPS FIGHTING LOSING
BATTLE FOR SUNNI TRIANGLE -
TOP
Adrian Blomfield, Telegraph, 10/22/05
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/22/wirq122.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/10/22/ixworld.html
The mob grew more frenzied as the gunmen dragged the two surviving
Americans from the cab of their bullet-ridden lorry and forced them to
kneel on the street.
Killing one of the men with a rifle round fired into the back of his
head, they doused the other with petrol and set him alight. Barefoot
children, yelping in delight, piled straw on to the screaming man's body
to stoke the flames.
It had taken just one wrong turn for disaster to unfold. Less than a mile
from the base it was heading to, the convoy turned left instead of right
and lumbered down one of the most anti-American streets in Iraq, a narrow
bottleneck in Duluiya town, on a peninsular jutting into the Tigris river
named after the Jibouri tribe that lives there.
As the lorries desperately tried to reverse out, dozens of Sunni Arab
insurgents wielding rocket launchers and automatic rifles emerged from
their homes.
The gunmen were almost certainly emboldened by the fact that the American
soldiers escorting the convoy would not have been able to respond quickly
enough.
"The hatches of the humvees were closed," said Capt Andrew
Staples, a member of the Task Force Liberty 1-15 battalion that patrols
Duluiya and other small towns on the eastern bank of the Tigris, who
spoke to soldiers involved.
Within minutes, four American contractors, all employees of the
Halliburton subsidiary Kellog, Brown & Root, were dead. The jubilant
crowd dragged their corpses through the street, chanting anti-US slogans.
An investigation has been launched into why the contractors were not
better protected.
Perhaps fearful of public reaction in America, where support for the war
is falling, US officials suppressed details of the Sept 20 attack, which
bore a striking resemblance to the murder of four other contractors in
Fallujah last year.
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail:
cair@cair-net.org
URL:
http://www.cair-net.org
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
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cair@cair-net.org
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/24/05
*
Hadith:
The Last Ten
Nights of Ramadan
*
Reasons to Support CAIR:
Civil
Rights
*
Quote:
Muslims Should be
Positive
*
CAIR-CA:
750 Attend
Fast-for-a-Day Ramadan Iftar
-
CAIR-OH: Dinner Raises
Quake Aid
*
CAIR-MD:
Muslim
Receives $16K for Post-9/11 Firing (AP)
*
IL:
Center Plans
First Muslim Funeral Home (Sun-Times)
*
NJ:
Muslims
Gather to Help the Needy (Herald News)
-
MI:
Muslims
Put Focus on Helping Others (Free Press)
*
How the West Came To
Run Islamic Banks (Newsweek)
*
FBI Papers
Indicate Intelligence Violations (Wash Post)
-
MI: Local FBI's
No. 1 Job: Terror War (Detroit News)
*
CA:
Muslims,
Christians, Jews Share Prayer Space (LA Times)
-
PA: Young,
Muslim and American (Patriot-News)
-
MI:
Arab Culture at Home in America (NY Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE LAST TEN NIGHTS OF RAMADAN -
TOP
Narrated Aisha: "(The Prophet Muhammad) used to exert himself in
devotion (to God) during the last ten nights (of Ramadan) to a greater
extent than at any other time."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 572
-----
REASONS TO SUPPORT CAIR: CIVIL RIGHTS -
TOP
In the past 11 years, CAIR's Civil Rights Department dealt with, free
of charge, thousands of discrimination cases reported by American
Muslims. CAIR also publishes an annual report on the status of American
Muslim civil rights.
To offer your support, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
Scholars have said that
donating to CAIR qualifies for Zakat.
-----
QUOTE OF THE DAY: MUSLIMS SHOULD BE POSITIVE -
TOP
Muslim Student Group Celebrates Islam at Annual Ramadan Night
KEVIN ZELAYA, Daily Nebraskan, 10/24/05
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/24/435c5a4a92bfe
After September 11, 2001, Arafa said as director of an Islamic center,
he received 104 calls pledging support for the Islamic community in
various ways.
He also got two threatening calls.
Arafa said Muslims should be positive and not withdraw from any community.
"I decided to live my life as a Muslim focusing on the 104 calls and not the two calls," he said.
-----
CAIR-CA: 750 ATTEND FAST-FOR-A-DAY RAMADAN IFTAR -
TOP
(DAVIS, CA, 10/24/05) - More than 750 people turned out for the annual
Fast-for-a-Day Ramadan Iftar (Dinner) on Friday, October 21, in the
Davis Senior Citizen's Center.
Among the attendees were a number of civic, religious and community
leaders, including Assemblywoman Lois Wolk and elected officials from
Yolo County and the City of Davis.
"The month of Ramadan offers a unique chance for people to reflect on
the blessings bestowed upon them," said CAIR-SV President Hamza
EL-Nakhal. "It is also a chance to build bridges and alliances that can
contribute to creating a sense of community,"
Canned goods were collected and donated to the local shelter, while
donations were collected for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and South
Asian earthquake.
The event was co-sponsored by: UC Davis MSA, Davis High school MSA,
CAIR-Sacramento Valley, UC Davis Office of Community Relations, and Why
Islam.
CONTACT: CAIR-SV, 916-442-6269 or E-Mail: sacval@cair.com
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: DINNER RAISES QUAKE AID -
TOP
Pakistan, Kashmir natives ask crowd to open hearts, wallets for survivors
Sandra M. Klepach, Beacon Journal staff writer
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/12982524.htm
CUYAHOGA FALLS - Although he left Pakistan about 35 years ago, Fareed Siddiq has felt far from his native home this month.
His mother and his three sisters who are still living in Pakistan were
thankfully not affected by the Oct. 8 earthquake that devastated
neighboring areas.
But Siddiq still hurts. From the United States, he cannot assist his
neighbors in rebuilding. He cannot offer even one of the 2.5 million
left homeless warmth from the freezing temperatures.
Siddiq can only write a personal check from his home in Chagrin Falls and encourage others to do the same.
"When you are close, you understand what's going on there," Siddiq
said. "Over here, you're very far away from it.... But it's the people
who are part of our community that have been impacted.
"By giving, we teach our children how to give."
Siddiq shared this plea with about 150 other Islamic believers before
an Iftar dinner Sunday at the Islamic Community Center in Cuyahoga
Falls.
The event, organized by the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent (ISAK),
cost $50 per participant, with money raised benefiting earthquake
victims in Pakistan and Kashmir. . .
"The people in Kashmir and Pakistan are like any other people; they are
people of dignity," he said. "But that's the test from Allah to them --
and the test to us of what we can do."
Isam Zaiem, president of the Ohio chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, told participants their test is much easier.
"It's very easy to ace because all you have to do is give," he said. (MORE)
-----
MD: STORE OWNER AGREES TO PAY FORMER MUSLIM EMPLOYEE WHO WAS FIRED -
TOP
Associated Press, 10/23/05
[
NOTE:
CAIR-MD/VA will provide religious and cultural sensitivity training to Learning How executives. CONTACT: Shama Farooq, 301-986-1900, E-Mail:
shama@cairmd.org ]
COLUMBIA, Md. - The owner of a chain of stores has agreed to pay
$16,000 to a Muslim former employee who complained that she was fired
shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks because of her religious beliefs.
As part of the settlement, which followed an investigation by the State
of Maryland Commission on Human Relations, the owner of the education
supplies store called "Learning How" also sent an apology to the fired
worker, Shabana Ahmed. The owner also agreed to send his managers to
cultural and religious awareness training.
Ahmed, 27, worked as a saleswoman at the company's Columbia store for
several weeks in October 2001. She wore traditional Muslim attire to
work and prayed several times a day in the back of the store. According
to the commission's investigation, company President John Faw Jr.
pulled aside the store manager. The manager told members of the
commission that Faw said, "Are you crazy? ... I can't have her working
here." Ahmed was fired the next day, said Lee Hoshall, assistant
general counsel at the commission. (MORE)
-----
IL: CENTER PLANS FIRST MUSLIM FUNERAL HOME HERE -
TOP
MONIFA THOMAS, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/24/05
http://www.suntimes.com/output/religion/cst-nws-muslim24.html
In the Islamic burial tradition, the bodies of the deceased aren't
embalmed and families do not delay interment by having a wake.
Yet many Muslim families in Chicago find it difficult and expensive to
observe customs with which most funeral homes have limited familiarity.
The Muslim Community Center may soon provide a better option for these
families by building what would be the first funeral home in the city
to cater exclusively to Muslims, planners say. (MORE)
-----
NJ: MUSLIMS GATHER TO HELP THE NEEDY -
TOP
TOM MEAGHER, HERALD NEWS, 10/24/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY3OTkzMTkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz
UNION CITY - For the young Muslims who gathered to feed and clothe the
poor Sunday, the word "community" encompassed more than just those of
their own faith. It meant everyone in need in North Jersey.
On a breezy, overcast morning, Muslims from across the region converged
on a middle school to provide food, blankets, warm clothes and
toiletries to those who might otherwise go without.
Tamara Issak, 19, awoke at 5 a.m. at her home in Wayne to meet some
friends at the Islamic Center of Passaic County in Paterson. The group
then collected other volunteers and supplies on their way to Islamic
Relief's Humanitarian Day in Union City. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MI: MUSLIMS PUT THE FOCUS ON HELPING OTHERS -
TOP
Homeless given health screenings, advice, clothing and food
ZLATI MEYER, FREE PRESS, 10/24/05
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/ramadan24e_20051024.htm
Beneath a sparse canopy of balloons, inflated for the day's youngest visitors, Khidhir Naeem's voice boomed.
"Good to see you, glad you're here," he said, greeting most of the
hundreds of men, women and children who filed through Detroit's Wigle
Recreation Center Sunday as part of the region's first Humanitarian Day
for the Homeless, organized by Islamic Relief.
They continued past Naeem to the rows of tables, where dozens of
volunteers handed out hygiene kits, containing toothbrushes,
toothpaste, soap and washcloths; bags of socks, gloves and scarves;
warm helpings of food; bottled water, and toys and balloons for the
kids. (MORE)
-----
HOW THE WEST CAME TO RUN ISLAMIC BANKS -
TOP
Giants like Citigroup dominate the sector, through Islamic subsidiaries and hired Sharia scholars.
Owen Matthews, Newsweek, 10/31/05
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9775291/site/newsweek/
How did Western banks come to dominate a market predicated on Islamic
purity? A generation ago, an Islamic bank was just a simple investment
house that, instead of paying interest on deposits, created dividends
by buying and renting out property. "Islam forbids making money on
money," says Alun Williams, marketing director of the new Islamic Bank
of Britain. "But it does allow you to rent, and to trade." Now Western
banks are using that template to pioneer Islamic credit cards, Islamic
mortgages and Islamic bonds (known as sukuks) that during the past year
have financed everything from a $1 billion upgrade of Dubai airport to
Pakistani government debt. As growth picks up in the Middle East, more
and more Muslim-run corporations find they need sophisticated services,
from bond issues to derivatives, that so far only Western banks provide.
The Western banks gain Islamic credibility by hiring top-drawer Sharia
scholars to sit on their boards. "The caliber of your scholars is the
basis on which these [financial products] are marketed," says Majid
Dawood, a London-based consultant on Sharia compliance. Because there
are just a handful of financially literate Islamic scholars in the
market, most sit on the boards of many institutions and can, says
Dawood, command salaries of as much as $88,500 per year per bank. Sheik
Mohammed Taqi Usmani, a former Sharia judge on the Supreme Court of
Pakistan, sits on the board of Citi Islamic, HSBC, Al Baraka and eight
others, and is chairman of the Dow Jones Islamic indexes' Sharia panel.
(MORE)
-----
FBI PAPERS INDICATE INTELLIGENCE VIOLATIONS -
TOP
Secret Surveillance Lacked Oversight
Dan Eggen, Washington Post, 10/24/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/23/AR2005102301352.html
The FBI has conducted clandestine surveillance on some U.S. residents
for as long as 18 months at a time without proper paperwork or
oversight, according to previously classified documents to be released
today.
Records turned over as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit
also indicate that the FBI has investigated hundreds of potential
violations related to its use of secret surveillance operations, which
have been stepped up dramatically since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks but
are largely hidden from public view.
In one case, FBI agents kept an unidentified target under surveillance
for at least five years -- including more than 15 months without
notifying Justice Department lawyers after the subject had moved from
New York to Detroit. An FBI investigation concluded that the delay was
a violation of Justice guidelines and prevented the department "from
exercising its responsibility for oversight and approval of an ongoing
foreign counterintelligence investigation of a U.S. person."
In other cases, agents obtained e-mails after a warrant expired, seized
bank records without proper authority and conducted an improper
"unconsented physical search," according to the documents. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MI: LOCAL FBI'S NO. 1 JOB: TERROR WAR -
TOP
More than 100 agents juggle 300 investigations; Detroit bureau creates full-time al-Qaida squad.
David Shepardson, Detroit News, 10/24/05
http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0510/24/A01-358251.htm
DETROIT -- Four years after the September 11 terror attacks, the FBI
headquarters in Detroit has more than tripled the number of agents
assigned to counterterrorism, becoming one of the nation's largest
anti-terror units.
Most of the investigative efforts are focused on Metro Detroit's large
Arab-American population, one of the biggest concentrations outside the
Middle East. More than 100 agents, analysts and task force officers are
assigned to terror-related squads, and of 29 major terror groups
identified by the U.S. government, the Detroit FBI has active
investigations involving 17.
Eric M. Straus, chief of the counterterrorism unit at the U.S.
attorney's office, said there has been a "dramatic sea change in how we
at the FBI and U.S. attorney's office do our jobs. We've gone from an
old-time law enforcement mentality to an intel/law enforcement
mind-set."
Local Arab-American leaders have mixed feeling about the heightened FBI scrutiny. (MORE)
-----
CA: IRVINE CHURCH HITS A THEOLOGICAL TRIFECTA -
TOP
David Haldane, Los Angeles Times, 10/24/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-peeled24oct24,1,1663691.story
There's an Irvine house of worship that changes religions at least once a week.
Irvine United Congregational Church sports golden crosses for Sunday
morning services. Jewish High Holidays see it transformed into a
sanctuary for Congregation Kol HaNeshamah, filled with Torahs, ram's
horns and yarmulkes. And Friday afternoons, worshipers carefully unroll
prayer rugs onto the floor of what becomes the United Mosques of
Irvine.
"Our theology is inclusive," says the Rev. Steven Swope, acting
minister of the Christian congregation that owns the church. He
believes it is one of the few of its kind in the nation with a
tripartite arrangement.
"Jesus is our way," he said, "but other people have other ways. This is our way of living that out."
Although there are increasing examples of Christian and Jewish
congregations using the same worship space, experts say it is far less
common to see either group sharing with Muslims.
Benjamin Hubbard, a professor of comparative religion at Cal State
Fullerton, said the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians had
made Jews and Muslims more wary of each other. And for many
conservative Christians, he said, theological and cultural differences
make closeness to Muslims rare. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
PA: YOUNG, MUSLIM AND LIVING IN AMERICA -
TOP
MARY WARNER, Patriot-News, 10/23/05
http://www.pennlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/living/1129713697293410.xml?pennlivrel&coll=1
Muslims have been fasting during daylight for almost three weeks now,
observing Ramadan in full view of classmates and co-workers. The season
brings into focus what it means to be Muslim in America.
"There's a big dinner that somebody bought for the bunch of residents,
and you're not eating," says Ali Zaidi, 30, who just completed
residency at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. "Ramadan
really brings you out in the forefront."
"I find it among students a great time to teach about Islam," says Sana
Khan, 24, a student at the medical center. "I've never had a reaction
like, 'Oh, that's crazy.' They're always really interested."
Still, Marwa Gomaa, 28, a graduate student at Penn State Harrisburg,
says some people make it obvious that Ramadan "doesn't make a lot of
sense to them."
A group of Muslim students and young professionals gathered recently in
a Hummelstown living room to talk about life in America four years
after 9/11.
Along with Zaidi, Khan and Gomaa were attorney Sakeena Naqvi, 32, who
is Zaidi's wife, and Hoda Bastani, 19, another Hershey Med student.
Their stories paint a mixed picture: tolerant classmates, with their
friendly curiosity, and strangers who make rude gestures; repeated
failures finding work (because of her Muslim head scarf, Gomaa
suspects), and then a boss who freely offered space in his office for
the daily Muslim prayers.
The stories shed light as well on the developing and distinctive flavor of Islam in America. (MORE)
---
MI: A MOSAIC OF ARAB CULTURE AT HOME IN AMERICA -
TOP
EDWARD ROTHSTEIN, New York Times, 10/24/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/24/arts/design/24muse.html
DEARBORN, Mich. - At the heart of the nation's first museum devoted to
the history of Arab-Americans is a mosaic-decorated courtyard
surrounding a small fountain, evoking the traditional courtyard of Arab
lands. A symbol of hospitality, it is also, typically, a feature of
one's home, and this museum is, in its way, a declaration that
Arab-Americans really are at home, not just in Dearborn (where some 30
percent of the 100,000 residents identify themselves as Arab-Americans)
but in the United States itself.
The surest sign of that may be that, like other groups, they have built
this museum honoring their past and their identity. And the
38,500-square-foot, $16 million Arab American National Museum, which
opened in May, is, like other museums of American hyphenation, at once
an assertion of difference and of belonging, a declaration of
distinction and of loyalty. It would be making a political statement
even if it weren't directly across the street from City Hall.
The museum was also designed to reflect the interests of its
constituency: Arab-Americans. That is a source of its strengths, and
suggestive too of its weaknesses: it eagerly wants to celebrate that
identity and create a strong political front; it is less interested in
reflecting on difficulties and making distinctions. Before the museum
was begun, a group of planners, including a sociologist, Anan Ameri,
who became its director, spent six months traveling to Arab-American
communities, soliciting ideas.
"The museum was built to tell our story," Dr. Ameri explained before
leading a critic on a tour. "But before we can tell our story, we have
to know what the Arab-American story is."
"People don't know" was a recurring refrain in these consultations, Dr.
Ameri said. "People don't know" about who we are, went the complaint.
So the museum includes a handsome library and an exhibit chronicling
the arrival of Arabs on American shores, including such unusual figures
as Hadj Ali, a 19th-century Syrian immigrant recruited by the United
States to train camels for the Western deserts. (MORE)
-----
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
-----
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/25/05
*
Verse:
Never Abandon Hope of God's
Mercy
-
Hadith:
God Created Mercy
*
Top 10 reasons to Support CAIR:
#2 -
Internships
*
CAIR Announces Scholarship
to Honor Rosa Parks
*
MI:
Muslim Convert Faces Lingering
Stereotypes
*
Cheney Plan Exempts CIA From
Detainee Abuse Ban (WP)
-
ACLU:
8 Prisoners Died of
Abuse Overseas
-
CAIR:
Ask
Congress to Send Torture Ban to President
-
CAIR Anti-Torture
Campaign
*
CA:
Sacramento
Muslims Support Pakistan Quake Victims
-
MI:
Fast Aids Victims
of Katrina, Earthquake
-
CT:
Students Help
Pakistan Quake Victims
*
MD:
Speaker Stresses Peace
at Mosque Open House
-
CAIR Guide to
Holding a Mosque Open House/Iftar
*
Muslim Volunteers Needed for W.
Virginia Jail
*
Correction:
Headline Mislabeled State of
Newspaper
*
Russia's Islamophobia
(UPI)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: NEVER ABANDON HOPE OF
GOD'S MERCY -
TOP
"(Abraham) said: "And who - other than those who have utterly
lost their way - could ever abandon the hope of his Lord's
mercy?'"
The Holy Quran, 15:56
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD CREATED MERCY -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Verily God created
Mercy. The day He created it, He made it into 100 parts. He kept with Him
99 parts, and sent (just) one part to all His creatures. Had those who do
not believe known of all the Mercy that is in the Hands of God, (they)
would not lose hope of entering Paradise. And had the (believers) known
of all the punishment that is present with God, (they) would not consider
(themselves) safe from hell-fire."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 476
The Prophet also described a man who had murdered many people. The
murderer traveled the land asking whether his repentance could be
accepted by God. He was advised to go to a certain village, but death
overtook him on the way. The Prophet said that while dying, the murderer
turned his chest toward the village in which he had hoped that his
repentance would be accepted. This caused the angels of mercy and the
angels of punishment to quarrel among themselves regarding the murderer's
fate.
Prophet Muhammad said: "God ordered the village (toward which the
murderer was traveling) to come closer, and ordered the village (from
which he had departed) to go far away. Then He ordered the angels to
measure the distances between (the man's) body and the two villages. He
was found to be one span closer to the village (he was traveling to), and
was (therefore) forgiven."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 676
-----
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT CAIR: REASON #2 -
INTERNSHIPS -
TOP
CAIR's Summer Internship Program has provided paid internships in media,
public relations and civil rights advocacy to more than 200 college
students at CAIR's Leadership Training Center in our Capitol Hill
headquarters. Some of CAIR's past interns have gone on to work for the
White House, State Department and members of Congress.
To offer your support, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
Scholars say that donations to CAIR qualify as Zakat.
-----
CAIR ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP TO
HONOR ROSA PARKS -
TOP
Annual award will assist students in field of civil
liberties
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/25/05) - A prominent national Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group today announced a scholarship to honor
the life and work of Rosa Parks, often called the "mother of the
civil rights movement," who died Monday at the age of 92. The
Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also
offered its condolences to her family, friends and loved ones.
In 1955, Parks defied a rule requiring African-Americans to yield their
seats to whites on Montgomery, Ala., buses. Her protest triggered a
381-day boycott of buses, organized by Martin Luther King Jr. His protest
movement brought about the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlawed racial
discrimination in the United States.
CAIR said in a statement: "Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat
sparked the civil rights movement and continues to inspire all those who
struggle for social justice and equality. It is only fitting that a
scholarship aimed at advancing the cause of human dignity be offered in
her name."
The annual CAIR
"Rosa Parks Civil Liberties Scholarship"
will be offered to students studying in fields that promote civil
rights, social justice and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Details of
the scholarship will be announced at CAIR's annual dinner in Washington,
D.C., on December 3rd.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
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; Rabiah
Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
MI: MUSLIM CONVERT FACES LINGERING
STEREOTYPES -
TOP
MAGGIE LILLIS, State News, 10/25/05
http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=32611
When David Stepien converted to Islam in September, he knew it would
raise a few eyebrows in his hometown of Pinckney, Mich.
"I can tell you the number of Muslims there and it's zero," he
said. "They thought it was an outrage and had a giant prayer circle
about it. It's kind of funny - a waste of effort - but to each his
own.
"They can have as many prayer circles as they want."
Now Stepien - who was raised Catholic - views experiences like these as
opportunities to bridge a cultural gap, highlighted after the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks. He is celebrating the month of Ramadan for the first
time as a converted Muslim.
"I have a connection in both communities and try to mediate both
ways," said the microbiology junior. "It helps being in a
primarily Christian society to have a dialogue between the
two."
Stepien was introduced to Islam by two Muslim friends and began
researching the religion shortly after. Last year, he attended several
events held by the Muslim Students' Association and he fasted for the
month of Ramadan with them to test his endurance.
Stepien's exposure to adversity is not uncommon for the Muslim community.
Although it's been four years since the attacks, many still feel
discrimination, said Fouad Khatib, chairperson for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, in Southern California.
"The atmosphere hasn't gone back to the level of before 9/11, the
atmosphere is still tense," he said. "It is a religion of
peace. Islam means peace, the word literally means peace.
"The current atmosphere of terrorism overseas is being used to paint
the religion of Islam as a violent religion, which is absolutely
untrue."
CAIR is the largest Islamic civil rights advocacy group in the nation and
handles issues of discrimination in the workplace, travel, government and
private sector, Khatib said. (MORE)
-----
CHENEY PLAN EXEMPTS CIA FROM BILL
BARRING ABUSE OF DETAINEES -
TOP
R. Jeffrey Smith and Josh White, Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/24/AR2005102402051.html
The Bush administration has proposed exempting employees of the Central
Intelligence Agency from a legislative measure endorsed earlier this
month by 90 members of the Senate that would bar cruel and degrading
treatment of any prisoners in U.S. custody.
The proposal, which two sources said Vice President Cheney handed last
Thursday to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the company of CIA Director
Porter J. Goss, states that the measure barring inhumane treatment shall
not apply to counterterrorism operations conducted abroad or to
operations conducted by "an element of the United States
government" other than the Defense Department.
Although most detainees in U.S. custody in the war on terrorism are held
by the U.S. military, the CIA is said by former intelligence officials
and others to be holding several dozen detainees of particular
intelligence interest at locations overseas -- including senior al Qaeda
figures Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Zubaida.
Cheney's proposal is drafted in such a way that the exemption from the
rule barring ill treatment could require a presidential finding that
"such operations are vital to the protection of the United States or
its citizens from terrorist attack." But the precise applicability
of this section is not clear, and none of those involved in last week's
discussions would discuss it openly yesterday. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
ANALYSIS FINDS 21 HOMICIDES
AMONG DEATHS OF U.S. PRISONERS OVERSEAS -
TOP
Associated Press, 10/24/05
http://www.wkrc.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=570D05F8-AEFE-41C1-87B2-BA6E934D3D55
WASHINGTON (AP) - At least 21 detainees who died while being held in U.S.
custody in Iraq and Afghanistan were killed, many during or after
interrogations, according to an analysis of Defense Department data by
the American Civil Liberties Union.
SEE: "U.S. Operatives Killed Detainees During Interrogations in
Afghanistan and Iraq,"
http://www.aclu.org/International/International.cfm?ID=19298&c=36
The analysis, released Monday, looked at 44 deaths described in records
obtained by the ACLU. Of those, the group characterized 21 as homicides,
and said at least eight resulted from abusive techniques by military or
intelligence officers, such as strangulation or "blunt force
injuries," as noted in the autopsy reports. (MORE)
---
CAIR:
ASK CONGRESS TO SEND TORTURE BAN TO PRESIDENT -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=292&theType=AA
---
CAIR ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/antitorture/
-----
CA:
SACRAMENTO COMMUNITY SUPPORTS PAKISTAN QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Ras H. Siddiqui, Pakistan Link, 10/24/05
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=3ecaf9e03801ce6f15f4496f5309bdf1
SACRAMENTO - In an unprecedented display of unity and caring, the greater
Muslim and Pakistani community of the Sacramento region took advantage of
Friday/Juma prayers plus the breaking of the fast Iftar gatherings and
raised just over $100,000 for the victims of the biggest natural disaster
to hit Pakistan after 1970.
Never before has this reporter witnessed such an outpouring of caring
from this community as he did with the twin concern for Hurricane Katrina
and now this disaster in Pakistan. Not since the Bosnia crisis has there
been such unity among Muslims here. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MI: FAST AIDS VICTIMS OF
KATRINA, EARTHQUAKE -
TOP
C.C. Song, Michigan Daily, 10/25/05
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/25/435dcb0a884e3
Are you hungry?
If you are, Liz Lassiter may make you think twice about running to the
nearest Wendy's by telling you about her experiences with fasting over
the past three years during the Fast-a-thon, an annual event coordinated
by the Muslim Students' Association. Lassiter said she is going to
participate in the program for the fourth year in a row.
"I usually get hungry at around 3 p.m. (when fasting)," she
said. "And in my freshman and sophomore years, I took naps in the
afternoon and woke up after sunset."
In spite of the hunger, she still participates in Fast-a-thon because for
every person that signs up, local businesses make donations to help the
victims of Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan.
(MORE)
---
CT: WESTCONN STUDENTS REACH
OUT TO HELP PAKISTAN QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Heather Barr, News-Times, 10/24/05
http://news.newstimeslive.com/story.php?id=75919&category=Local
DANBURY - Maria Lateef is sure her father would have approved.
Last week, the 21-year-old Western Connecticut State University student
packed a box of her late father's newer wool jackets and shirts to send
to Pakistan to help those affected by the devastating
earthquake.
Her father died Sept. 30, one week before the massive earthquake hit
their native Pakistan.
Maria, her mother and sister also sent silk and embroidered women's
clothing. Maria donated a pink embroidered outfit she received as a
wedding gift.
"It could put a smile on a face," she said.
It is hard to watch the news and see so many Pakistanis without homes,
families, food and water, Maria said.
"They now have nothing."
Western Connecticut State University students in the Honors Student
Organization and the Muslim Student Association have organized a clothing
drive for earthquake victims. (MORE)
-----
MD: SPEAKER STRESSES PEACE AT
MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE -
TOP
ERIN CUNNINGHAM, Herald-Mail, 10/25/05
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=122820&format=html
Five times each day during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, Dr.
Shahab Siddiqui goes to the Islamic Society of Western Maryland in
Hagerstown to pray.
Praying at the mosque, he said, is more honorable than praying elsewhere.
Some prayers are formal verses; others are more personal.
Ramadan began Oct. 5. The final day is Nov. 4.
During an open house Monday night at the Islamic Society, Muslims and
nonMuslims listened to Imam Yahya Hendi of Frederick, Md., recite verses
from the Koran and talk about breaking religious borders and working
together for peace.
About 100 people gathered around Hendi in a large prayer room. Men and
women entered from separate doors, and most took a seat on the floor
crossing their legs. Everyone removed their shoes.
Hendi, who speaks around the world on Islam and Muslim issues, told the
crowd about three principles: politics of justice, economics of equity
and covenant of community.
He said the world's resources should be distributed in a way that can
help everyone in need. Hendi - a Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C. - believes that communities should join together to
"protect fellow human beings," he said. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR: STEP-BY-STEP
GUIDE TO HOLDING A MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE/IFTAR -
TOP
http://www.cair.com/sharingramadan05.pdf
-----
MUSLIM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR W. VIRGINIA
JAIL -
TOP
Muslim volunteers are needed to conduct Friday prayer services for Muslim
inmates housed at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail in Augusta, West
Virginia. For more information about volunteer qualifications and the job
description, please contact Mr. Randy Mann, Community Outreach
Coordinator at 304-228-4477.
-----
CORRECTION: HEADLINE MISLABELED STATE OF
NEWSPAPER -
TOP
A headline in CAIR's October 23, 2005, news briefs incorrectly located
the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer news paper in Ohio. The newspaper is in fact
published in Georgia.
The correct headline should have read: "Georgia Newspaper Responds
to Muslim Concerns About Cartoon." All other information, including
the link to the article, and the editor's contact information was
accurate.
-----
RUSSIA'S ISLAMOPHOBIA -
TOP
Paul Goble, United Press International, 10/25/05
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20051025-110558-7419r
TARTU, Estonia -- The beatings of Muslims in Sergiyev Posad, the seat of
the Russian Orthodox Church, suggestions by Patriarchate officials that
the Muslims should not be there in the first place, and the efforts of
the militia and prosecutors to downplay this event continue to spark
discussion in the Moscow media.
Perhaps the most complete and certainly the most devastating description
of what has taken place and what it may mean for the future of Russia
appeared in an article by Aleksandr Soldatov entitled "The Mosque
near the Monastery" in "Moskovskiye novosti" last
Friday.
The current scandal began when a group of eight young men broke into the
Muslim prayer house in Sergiyev Posad on Oct. 14, shouting slogans like
"Russia for the Russians" and "There is no place here for
Muslims" and beating the local imam Arslan Sadriyev so severely that
he had to be hospitalized.
When the local militia arrived, they detained several of the attackers
who as Soldatov notes had not bothered to flee the scene of their crimes.
But the militia quickly released them and announced that what had
occurred was nothing more than the hooliganism of those who had had too
much to drink.
In the wake of press reports about the beatings, however, local
prosecutors said they would bring charges against those involved -- but
only for incitement of inter-ethnic hatred rather than for attacking
Muslims. And only on Friday did Sergei Koshman, Moscow oblast, or
region's deputy governor, assure Muslim leaders that the authorities
would punish those responsible for the attack, Islam.ru
reported.
But as Soldatov makes clear, this case involves far more people than
those directly connected with the crime. Radical nationalist groups like
the Union of Orthodox Christians have criticized the very existence of a
Muslim prayer house in the seat of their church, and several Patriarchate
spokesmen have seconded that opinion.
Local government officials have gotten into the act as well. One, quoted
by Soldatov, said that Sergiyev Posad "is an exclusively Orthodox
territory, and the establishment of Muslim cult building here is
impossible," a statement that other officials backed away from after
it drew media criticism. (MORE)
-----
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
-----
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR DIRECTOR ATTENDS STATE DEPARTMENT RAMADAN
IFTAR
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/25/05) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
tonight hosted the State Department's seventh annual "Iftar,"
or Ramadan fast-breaking dinner, in Washington, D.C.
The dinner took place after sunset, in accordance with Islamic practices.
Muslim participants broke the fast with water and dates before performing
their sunset prayers. (Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar
during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and sensual pleasures from
break of dawn to sunset.)
Those in attendance at the dinner included Nihad Awad, executive director
of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), as
well as representatives of other local and national Muslim organizations,
Muslim students, diplomats from Islamic countries, and State Department
officials.
In her remarks, Secretary Rice reflected on the meaning of Ramadan and
thanked Muslims for their generosity in donating to relief for victims of
Hurricane Katrina and the recent earthquake in South Asia. She also spoke
about the need to promote universal human rights and mentioned the legacy
of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, who died Monday at the age of
92.
SEE: "Rice Welcomes Muslim Generosity as Reflection of Ramadan
Spirit"
http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/products/washfile.html
(Scroll down to headline.)
After dinner, Awad informed Secretary Rice about CAIR's announcement
today of a "Rosa Parks Civil Liberties Scholarship" for
students studying in fields that promote civil rights, social justice and
peaceful resolution of conflicts.
SEE: "CAIR Announces Scholarship to Honor Rosa Parks"
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=55577
"These types of events represent a growing recognition of the
positive role Islamic teachings and American Muslims can play in helping
to promote peace and justice in this country and around the world,"
said Awad. "We appreciate Secretary Rice's efforts to reach out and
dialogue with American Muslim leaders."
CAIR has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is
to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil
liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote
justice and mutual understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 or 202-488-8787, 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 or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS
- 10/26/05
*
Verse:
Good News for
the Humble
-
Hadith:
The Humble will Enter Paradise
*
Top 10 Reasons to Support CAIR: #3 -
Empowerment
*
CAIR-Ohio Elects New President
*
Sample Eid News Release for Use by Local Communities
-
U.S. Muslims to Mark End of Ramadan with Prayers
*
CAIR-FL: Religious Holidays Banned After Muslims Ask for Eid
-
Video: Board Votes to Eliminate Religious Holidays
*
CA: Editorial Notebook - Ramadan for a Novice (Sac Bee)
-
MI: Game Plan for Fasting and Football (NY Times)
*
Spiritual Care: The Islamic Perspective (Knight Ridder)
-
CAIR Health Care Professional's Guide to Islam
*
Editorial: Legalized Torture, Reloaded (NY Times)
-
Editorial: Vice President for Torture (Wash Post)
-
CAIR: Ask Congress to Send Torture Ban to President
-
CAIR Anti-Torture Campaign
*
Judith Miller, Steven Emerson and Daniel Pipes
*
CA: Muslim Women Address Family Planning
-
CA: Muslim Convert Guardsman Dies in Iraq (LA Times)
*
OH:
Muslim Mother Cleared of Neglect Charges (Dispatch)
*
NM:
ACLU Alleges Religious Bias Against Muslim Athlete
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOOD NEWS FOR THE HUMBLE -
TOP
"(O Muhammad), give good news (of God's acceptance) to the humble,
whose hearts tremble with awe at the mention of God; who endure
adversity with patience, who establish prayer and spend in charity out
of what we have given them."
The Holy Quran, 22:34-35
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE HUMBLE WILL ENTER PARADISE -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Paradise and (Hell)
argued, and the (Hell) said, 'I have been given the privilege of
receiving the arrogant and the tyrants.' Paradise replied, 'What is the
matter with me? Why do only the weak and the humble among the people
enter me?'"
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Hadith 373
The Prophet also said: "Shall I tell you of the people of Paradise?
They comprise every poor humble person. . .while the people of the fire
comprise every violent, cruel and arrogant person."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 651
-----
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT CAIR: REASON #3 - EMPOWERMENT -
TOP
CAIR conducted get-out-the-vote campaigns in the crucial battleground
states of Florida and Ohio during the 2004 Presidential Election
Campaign, reaching more than 40,000 American Muslims in those states
and ensuring that they voted for the candidates of their choice on
Election Day.
To offer your support, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
Scholars say that donations to CAIR qualify as Zakat.
-----
CAIR-OH BOARD ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT -
TOP
(COLUMBUS, OH, 10/26/05) - The Ohio office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) announced the election of Dr.
Asma Mobin-Uddin as the new president of the CAIR-Ohio board, effective
January 1, 2006. Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras will retire as CAIR-Ohio's
founding president after eight years of service to the American Muslim
community.
"CAIR-Ohio's staff and board members wish to express their heartfelt
appreciation for Dr. Al-Akhras' dedication to our mission of promoting
justice and mutual understanding," said Mobin-Uddin.
Dr. Mobin-Uddin is a pediatrician who was in private practice for
several years. She was a founding member of CAIR-Ohio in 1998 and has
served as its vice president since then. Mobin-Uddin is a member of the
Education Committee of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, and
she served on the Executive Committee of the Islamic Foundation of
Central Ohio.
Active in interfaith dialogue, Mobin-Uddin frequently gives talks in
the community about Islam and has published numerous articles and
editorials on Islamic topics. She recently published a children's book,
"My Name is Bilal," about the American Muslim experience.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties organization, has 31
offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. The Ohio chapter of CAIR
has three offices - Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
CONTACT: Dr. Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614-989-5916, E-Mail:
ahmad@cair-ohio.com; Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, 614-761-9650, E-mail:
mobin-uddin.4@osu.edu
-----
SAMPLE EID NEWS RELEASE FOR USE BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES -
TOP
ACTION REQUESTED: Modify the CAIR Eid ul-Fitr news release below for
distribution to local media outlets. Just insert local Eid dates,
times, locations, and contact information. Make sure to send a copy to
the main daily newspaper "city desk," TV station "assignment desk,"
radio station "news director," and Associated Press local bureau
"daybook editor." Call each outlet to obtain contact information.
SEND COPIES of local media advisories to:
cair@cair-net.org
---
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
U.S. MUSLIMS TO MARK END OF RAMADAN WITH PRAYERS -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/26/04) - On November 3rd or 4th (exact date
depends on sighting of the new crescent moon), the Muslim community in
America will celebrate the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan with
communal prayers around the country. (Ramadan is the month on the
Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink
and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn to sunset.)
The prayers mark the beginning of the Eid ul-Fitr (EED-al-FITTER), or
"feast of fast breaking" holiday, in which Muslims exchange social
visits and seek to strengthen bonds of brotherhood in the community.
During this holiday, Muslims greet each other by saying "Eid mubarak"
(EED-moo-BAR-ak), meaning "blessed Eid," and "taqabbalallah ta'atakum,"
or "may God accept your deeds." Many communities also hold
multicultural bazaars and other family activities following the prayers.
Eid ul-Fitr is the first of the two major Muslim holidays. The second
holiday, Eid ul-Adha, comes at the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to
Mecca.
WHEN: November 3rd or 4th, 2005 (Because Ramadan is a lunar month, the
actual date is governed by sighting of the new crescent moon.) Prayers
are held early in the morning. Ask local prayer coordinators for exact
dates, times and locations.
WHERE: The Eid prayers are held either in local mosques or in public facilities designed to accommodate large gatherings.
CONTACT: Call local Muslim organizations for details about Eid
celebrations. If there are no known contacts in a particular community,
go to:
http://www.islamicfinder.com/
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Each year, Muslims come to the prayers in colorful
attire representative of different areas of the Islamic world. The
prayers themselves are quite visual, with worshipers arranged in neat
rows and bowing in prayer in unison. Participants exchange embraces at
the conclusion of the prayers.
NOTE: Because this is a religious service, reporters and photographers
of both sexes should dress modestly. Some communities may ask female
reporters and photographers to put a scarf over their hair while in the
actual prayer area. 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. Shots of shoes removed for prayer, and rear-angle shots of
prostrating worshipers are considered inappropriate.
- 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-FL: SCHOOL CALENDAR WILL BE STRICTLY SECULAR -
TOP
MELANIE AVE, St. Petersburg Times, 10/26/05
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/26/Hillsborough/School_calendar_will_.shtml
TAMPA - Her voice small and hesitant, 11-year-old Rahma Elmohd told
Hillsborough School Board members Tuesday night that she "would like it
a lot" if students could get one day off for a Muslim holiday.
It was not to be.
Nearly a year after local Muslims first asked that an Islamic holiday
be recognized by the school district - just like Yom Kippur for Jews
and Good Friday for Christians - board members voted to end vacation
days for all religious holidays.
The board approved a 2006-07 calendar that substitutes three secular
vacation days for three Christian and Jewish holidays. The vote was
5-1. Board member Carol Kurdell was absent.
About 50 Muslims, many of them women and girls wearing scarves,
attended the packed meeting. They said they were disappointed and
saddened by the board's vote but will continue to ask for recognition.
Several said they worry about a backlash against Muslims.
"We feel like this is an extreme measure," said Ahmed Bedier, Florida
director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We can't say it
enough, especially to Christian and Jewish folks, our brothers and
sisters in faith: This was not our doing, and we didn't ask for it."
The approved calendar eliminates vacation days coinciding with Yom
Kippur, Good Friday and the Monday after Easter. The days will be
replaced with time off on Washington's Birthday in February and two
days near the end of the school year, which will give students and
teachers a four-day weekend. . .
The calendar changes were recommended by a district committee after
Bedier asked that Eid al-Fitr - the end of the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan - be included. . .
School Board member Carolyn Bricklemyer called the approved calendar
appropriate. "I think we have accommodated people the best we can," she
said.
Bricklemyer was a board member in 2001 when Hillsborough became the
first Tampa Bay area school district to recognize a Jewish holiday with
a day off.
On Tuesday, she said that was a mistake because it opened the door for other religious groups to request vacation days.
"We should not have done that," Bricklemyer said.
Jennifer Faliero was the only board member to vote against the
calendar, saying her colleagues were moving toward suppressing
religious expression.
Faliero dismissed School Board attorney Tom Gonzalez's opinion that recognizing religious holidays violates the Constitution.
"Why can't we recognize Eid?" Faliero asked. "I just don't get it."
Audience members applauded.
Before the meeting, Bedier and Chuck Leigh, president of the Florida
Council of Churches, held a news conference at the School
Administrative Center criticizing the board's stance.
"I think the School Board is doing this for no other reason than to
avoid giving a holiday to the Muslims," said Leigh, pastor of the
Apostolic Catholic Church in Tampa. "Any other reason is eyewash, and I
don't think it fools any of us. . ."
After the vote, dozens of Muslims knelt and prayed toward Mecca outside
the building as part of their sunset ritual of Ramadan. Afterward, they
ate wraps, fruit and dates in the superintendent's conference room to
end their daily fast.
Some board members and administrators joined them.
"You can't be angry," Bedier said. "We have agreed to disagree. There is a calendar vote every year. We'll be back next year."
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier (CAIR-FL), 813-731-9506, E-Mail:
abedier@cairfl.org
SEE ALSO:
VIDEO: BOARD VOTES TO ELIMINATE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS -
TOP
http://www.tampabays10.com/video/player.aspx?aid=22525&sid=20404&bw=hi
-----
EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK: RAMADAN FOR A NOVICE -
TOP
Ginger Rutland, Sacramento Bee, 10/25/05
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/13766277p-14608450c.html
I attended my first iftar earlier this month.
Iftar is the breaking of the fast that takes place every night in the
homes of observant Muslims during the month of Ramadan. Hosted by the
Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims, the iftar I attended was
an interfaith event, intended to educate non-Muslims like me about the
significance of Islam's holiest month. . .
It felt like Christmas. Our hosts regaled us with tales of Ramadan back
home in Egypt, Syria and Pakistan. They told us the month is very much
like Christmas, a time when mothers prepare their favorite dishes and
families and friends visit. On the last day of Ramadan, gifts are
exchanged. In fact, in many Muslim countries, Ramadan, like Christmas,
has become the principal shopping season and that has some worried
that, like Christmas, Ramadan will become tainted by commercialism.
But as I've watched the Muslims I know this Ramadan and in the past, it
seems unlikely. The central ritual of Ramadan, the fast itself,
prevents the Muslim holy season from drifting too far from its
spiritual roots.
To deny oneself all food and drink for 12 hours - not even a sip of
water is permitted - is very hard. To do that not just for a day or a
week, but for a full month, represents a commitment to faith that is
rare and precious and real. Certainly, it seems so to someone like me,
who has a hard time walking past the candy vending machine at work,
even after I've just had lunch. So, I left my first iftar impressed and
deeply moved.
SEE ALSO:
MI: FOR FASTING AND FOOTBALL, A DEDICATED GAME PLAN -
TOP
SAMUEL G. FREEDMAN, New York Times, 10/26/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/26/education/26education.html
DEARBORN, MICH. - AT 5 o'clock in the morning on game day, maybe the
last game day of his football career, Ali Ahmad walked from the
overnight darkness into the gleaming marble heart of the Golden Bakery.
He wore his letter jacket from the Dearborn High Pioneers, with an
orange chevron on each shoulder for his two years on the varsity and
the stitching on the back spelling out his nickname, Flea. From a
pocket of his sweats he pulled out a few dollars for a Pepsi and the
meat-and-cheese pie called lahma ma jibini.
Since it was Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of daylight fasting, Ali
would not eat or drink again until the sun set in nearly 14 hours. By
then, Dearborn would be lining up against Crestwood High, knowing that
a victory would put the Pioneers into the state playoffs and a loss
would end the season with a mediocre record of 5-4. Weighing all of 135
pounds, Ali realized that he was not going to play any more football
after high school. He would go back to watching it on television like
the 6-year-old he had been when he discovered this crashing
competition, much to the consternation of his parents, refugees from
the more lethal forms of competition practiced in the Lebanese civil
war.
If the kickoff on this October Friday was delayed a few minutes, Ali
would be able to grab some crackers and a swig of Gatorade from the
trainer. Otherwise, he would wait until halftime, having stashed a tuna
sub in his locker for breaking the fast. As much as football meant to
him, as much as it mattered to win, those things only counted for Ali
if he was also staying true to Allah.
"To get through the fast," he put it, "I concentrate on the game."
The balance Ali struck was nothing unusual here in Dearborn, the center
of the largest Arab community in the Americas. About one-third of the
students at Ali's high school are Muslim, and the proportion is similar
on the football team. Khalil Dabaja at defensive back, Amir Rustom at
linebacker, Mohammad Kassab at nose guard, Hassan Cheaib at fullback -
they all have mastered the rhythms of the twin rituals of Islam and the
gridiron. (MORE)
-----
THE BODY DIES, THE SPIRIT LIVES -
TOP
Helen Gray, Knight Ridder, 10/26/05
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/13000261.htm
Syed E. Hasan, Ph.D., Islamic Research Foundation: Spiritual care is very essential, but most people tend to ignore it.
We strive hard to fulfill the needs of our body but rarely do justice
in providing nourishment to our soul. We make conscious efforts to
nurture our body - a physical and mortal entity - by eating wholesome
food, exercising and avoiding smoking and other bad habits.
However, when death occurs the body becomes useless and turns into a
waste that needs to be disposed of (burial, cremation). In contrast we
do not spend as much time and effort in nurturing the soul that does
not die and is everlasting.
According to Islamic principles, the human soul represents a divine
element that is placed inside a growing fetus by one of God's angels.
It stays with the individual for the duration of his life but departs
when he dies.
The best way to take care of our soul is to offer regular prayers and
lead our life in a way that balances the need of body and soul,
tempered with righteousness and piety, seeking God's pleasure.
Muslims are told that those who care only for the body by giving in to
lust and desires or indulging in the materialistic aspects of the world
while neglecting the soul will receive God's wrath. That is why Muslims
forever pray to God asking to " keep us on the straight path, the path
of those whom you have favored and not of those who went astray and
earned your anger" (Qur'an 1:6-7).
SEE ALSO:
CAIR: A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICES -
TOP
https://www.cair-net.org/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5
An excellent resource for medical and health professional's in dealing
with Muslim patients. Examines aspects of death, autopsy, circumcision,
illness and treatment, dietary requirements, and select medical
procedures. 20 Pages. Price: 3.00 + $0.60 USPS Shipping and Handling
-----
EDITORIAL: LEGALIZED TORTURE, RELOADED -
TOP
New York Times, 10/26/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/26/opinion/26wed2.html
Amid all the natural and political disasters it faces, the White House
is certainly tireless in its effort to legalize torture. This week,
Vice President Dick Cheney proposed a novel solution for the moral and
legal problems raised by the use of American soldiers to abuse
prisoners and the practice of turning captives over to governments
willing to act as proxies in doing the torturing. Mr. Cheney wants to
make it legal for the Central Intelligence Agency to do this wet work.
Mr. Cheney's proposal was made in secret to Senator John McCain, the
Arizona Republican who won the votes of 89 other senators this month to
require the civilized treatment of prisoners at camps run by America's
military and intelligence agencies. Mr. McCain's legislation, an
amendment to the Defense Department budget bill, would ban the "cruel,
inhuman and degrading" treatment of prisoners. In other words, it would
impose age-old standards of democracy and decency on the new prisons.
President Bush's threat to veto the entire military budget over this
issue was bizarre enough by itself, considering that the amendment has
the support of more than two dozen former military leaders, including
Colin Powell. They know that torture doesn't produce reliable
intelligence and endangers Americans' lives. . .
Mr. McCain was right to reject this absurd proposal. The House should reject it as well.
SEE ALSO:
EDITORIAL: VICE PRESIDENT FOR TORTURE -
TOP
Washington Post, 10/26/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR2005102501388.html
VICE PRESIDENT Cheney is aggressively pursuing an initiative that may
be unprecedented for an elected official of the executive branch: He is
proposing that Congress legally authorize human rights abuses by
Americans. "Cruel, inhuman and degrading" treatment of prisoners is
banned by an international treaty negotiated by the Reagan
administration and ratified by the United States. The State Department
annually issues a report criticizing other governments for violating
it. Now Mr. Cheney is asking Congress to approve legal language that
would allow the CIA to commit such abuses against foreign prisoners it
is holding abroad. In other words, this vice president has become an
open advocate of torture. (MORE)
---
CAIR: ASK CONGRESS TO SEND TORTURE BAN TO PRESIDENT -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=292&theType=AA
---
CAIR ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/antitorture/
-----
JUDITH MILLER AND ME -
TOP
John Sugg, Counterpunch, 10/24/05
http://www.counterpunch.org/sugg10252005.html
OK, for a start, there really is no "Judith Miller and me," at least in
the sense that I'd invite her to my birthday party. But I have talked
to her on the phone a few times (nothing to do with Valerie Plame,
Scooter Libby or Karl Rove, however). For a time, our lives were
remotely in each other's gravity, drawn together by a pseudo-journalist
- indeed, a model for what Miller has become - named Steven Emerson. . .
Miller first surfaced on my radar about a decade ago. Her close
confederate was Emerson. Both had been engaged in a furious campaign
attacking virtually every Arab and Muslim voice in America. Emerson -
who also at various times claimed to be a journalist - lost his
foothold as a commentator among most responsible media, especially
after he tried to pin the Oklahoma City bombing on Muslims. . .
My heavily documented revelations about Emerson provoked him to
retaliate via a lawsuit. Noteworthy, the lawyer he went to for advice
was Floyd Abrams, most recently in the news as Miller's attorney.
That's only fitting.
We spent four years litigating with Emerson, and finally prevailed in
both federal and state courts. The final blow to his case came when we
obtained an order compelling him to show proof of his allegations. He
wouldn't - couldn't? - and he ran away.
During the litigation, among the most interesting insights that I
gleaned were reports of meetings held that involved Miller, Emerson,
arch-Islamaphobe Daniel Pipes - and a number of other people we now
call "neo-cons." All of these people had strong ties to the right-wing
Likud party in Israel. Heck, Miller had even sat in on Israeli
"interrogation" sessions of Palestinians; and Emerson provided beds in
his Washington apartment to Likud spooks who slipped into the United
States to try and undermine peace negotiations. (MORE)
-----
CA: MUSLIM WOMEN ADDRESS FAMILY PLANNING -
TOP
Christine Bensen-Messinger, Eureka Reporter, 10/26/05
http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=5292
More than 100 community residents gathered in the Ingomar Club Tuesday
evening to hear three Muslim women discuss there perceptions of how
birth control and family planning are seen by their fellow Muslims.
The event, hosted by Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, included a
reception, dinner, a moderated panel discussion and an opportunity for
audience members to have their questions answered by the participants.
"The idea is, three people to give three different perspectives," said
Stephanie Foster, the vice president for public policy of Planned
Parenthood. "It is to give people an overarching perspective of Muslim
women." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CALIFORNIA GUARDSMAN WHO OVERCAME ADVERSITY DIES IN IRAQ -
TOP
Rone Tempest, Los Angeles Times, 10/25/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-102505calguard_lat,0,5512317,full.story
When a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle during a patrol in
Baghdad, Neubauer became the 1,917th member of the armed forces - and
the 17th California Guardsman - to die in the prosecution of the war
since the U.S. invaded on March 20, 2003. It is the first conflict
since Korea to have taken such a substantial toll on the Guard and
Reserves.
Neubauer, who was 40 when he died, did not fit the image of the wholesome citizen-soldier. . .
Yet his story in the end, from his early days of recovery in 1995 to
his death 10 years later, is one of personal triumph and achievement.
His tale includes more than one surprising turn, the most recent of
which was on the religious front. By January of this year, when he was
sent to Iraq as a Humvee turret gunner with the Modesto-based 1st
Battalion, 184th Regiment, the blond, blue-eyed staff sergeant had
converted to Islam, a fact he seldom mentioned to his fellow soldiers.
. .
He made unlikely friends, including Ashok Desai, a Beverly Hills
property manager and Indian-born Brahmin, with whom he studied world
religions late into the night. "We stayed up discussing Hindu Vedic
literature and the Koran," Desai said.
Partly through these exchanges with Desai, Neubauer became attracted to
Islam, which preaches an abstemious life and forbids the consumption of
alcohol. . .
Neubauer told friends back home that his newfound Islamic faith gave
him empathy for the Iraqi people, particularly women and children.
Military security rules prevented him from praying in Iraq's mosques,
but he sometimes knelt at the side of the road with Iraqis.
"For me, he was the little kid from Colorado who finally had an
opportunity to do good," Desai said. "He felt he was there for the
hearts and minds of the Iraqi people to give them an idea of what
Americans are all about. He really befuddled the Iraqis by praying with
them." (MORE)
-----
OH: MOTHER CLEARED OF NEGLECT CHARGES -
TOP
Judge backs mom who spent years fighting agency's allegations
Encarnacion Pyle, COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 10/25/05
http://www.dispatch.com/emailme/emailme.php?story=dispatch/2005/10/25/20051025-C1-01.html
More than two years, 27 court appearances and tens of thousands of
dollars later, Hadiya AbdulSalaam has won her public fight against
Franklin County Children Services.
In a rare move, Juvenile Court Judge Carole Squire recently set aside a
court order in a childprotection case. A magistrate ruled last year
that the Grandview Heights mother had educationally neglected two of
her five children.
"Emotionally, my family will never be the same," said AbdulSalaam, 49,
who runs a Downtown beauty supply and gift shop. "But the greatest
revenge is living well, which is what we intend to do."
Children Services Director John Saros said he was surprised by the
decision, which effectively clears AbdulSalaam's record of any finding
of educational neglect. "I can't remember any other instance where a
judge has set aside a previous order." (MORE)
-----
NM: ACLU ALLEGES RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AT NMSU -
TOP
Associated Press, 10/26/05
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico has
filed a grievance against New Mexico State head football coach Hal
Mumme, alleging he discriminated against a now-released Muslim player
by repeatedly questioning him about al-Qaida.
The grievance filed Tuesday on behalf of former Aggie running back
Muammar Ali also alleges the football staff required the team to recite
the Lord's Prayer at the end of each practice.
The grievance seeks a public apology from Mumme and disciplinary action
against him. The ACLU also asked that NMSU provide diversity training
to all students and employees.
The ACLU said Ali does not want to return to the Aggies to play for Mumme.
Ali - highly touted by Mumme and his staff in spring practice - started
this season atop the depth chart against UTEP, carrying the ball seven
times for 21 yards. He suited up the following week against Colorado in
Boulder, but Justine Buries got the starting nod. Ali was not on the
roster for the Aggies' next four games before his Oct. 9 release.
Asked earlier about Ali's diminished role, Mumme said the change was
"performance based." Buries now is among the leading rushers in the
Western Athletic Conference.
Ali's father, Mustafa Ali, said in a telephone call from his California
home that Ali learned he was being released through a message an
assistant coach left on his cell phone. His father said he has been
denied in-person meetings with coaches.
The grievance, written by ACLU staff attorney George Bach of
Albuquerque, said Mumme questioned Ali repeatedly in July about "Islam
and specifically its ties to al-Qaida," the terrorist organization
headed by Osama bin Laden.
Those actions "smack of religious discrimination sufficient to warrant
a complete and immediate investigation by the NMSU Office of
Institutional Equity," the ACLU said. (MORE)
-----
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
-----
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #474
EACH U.S. MOSQUE URGED TO RAISE $1,000 FOR RAMADAN
CAMPAIGN
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/26/05) - CAIR is calling on Islamic centers,
mosques and Muslim organizations nationwide to do their part in
supporting its important civil rights and advocacy work by raising at
least $1,000 for the
"$1 MILLION FOR ISLAM IN RAMADAN"
annual fundraising drive. (
Scholars say CAIR is able to receive
Zakat.)
CAIR intends (
inshallah) to raise the much needed $1 million
during Ramadan, the month of giving, and culminating with the
national
fundraising dinner on December 3rd in Washington, D.C. Funds raised
during the campaign will be used to protect the civil and religious
rights of Muslims, defend against defamatory attacks on Muslims and Islam
and promote greater understanding of Islam in our society.
HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS CAIR?
*
$25 will sponsor a copy the Holy Quran sent free-of-charge
to Americans of all faiths interested in learning about Islam as part of
CAIR's "Explore the Quran" campaign. So far, 24,000 Qurans have
been requested, but thousands of these requests await sponsors. Sponsor a
Quran today. See:
www.explorethequran.org
*
$100 will support CAIR's Publications Department that prints and
distributes thousands of free and low-cost booklets to educate American
Muslims about their rights and responsibilities and educate fellow
Americans about Islam and Muslims. CAIR's free publications include the
"Know Your Rights Pocket Guide," and the
"Muslim
Community Safety Kit." Other CAIR publications include a
congressional guide, an annual civil rights report and a media relations
handbook for Muslim activists.
*
$250 will sponsor the compilation and distribution of CAIR's
"American Muslim News Briefs" for a day. CAIR's news briefs
are a must-read for Muslim activists and for media professionals and
other opinion leaders. Preparing each brief requires hours of research
and ongoing subscription to expensive Internet service providers and
media research engines such as Nexis and Factiva. CAIR send 5-7 news
briefs every week.
*
$500 will sponsor the monthly cost of connecting the Muslim
community with its political representatives through web-based tools
such as
Capwiz, an expensive by efficient benefit offered free on
CAIR's website.
*
$600 will sponsor a news conference to announce major American
Muslim initiatives at places known to the media, such as the National
Press Club. CAIR holds several such conferences each year to announce
major news, including the release of its annual civil rights
report.
*
$800 will sponsor an intern at CAIR for a month. CAIR has an
ongoing program to train Muslim interns from across the nation in civil
rights, media relations and political activism.
*
$1000 will sponsor a one-day workshop to offer similar training
for Muslim activists and leaders.
*
$2000 will support CAIR's Civil Rights Department in dealing
with the more than 1500 civil rights complaints received each year.
Dealing with each case requires hours of hard work by CAIR's civil rights
professionals and lawyers.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Organize a fundraising effort after Friday prayers at your mosque
or center. Set a goal of at least $1,000. Explain why community support
is so important to CAIR's work.
2. Donate generously to the campaign yourself. Go to:
http://www.cair.com/ramadan2005/
3. Ask all your friends, relatives and colleagues to donate and
become members of CAIR.
4.
SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET at:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net
(Urge people on your personal e-mail list to subscribe as well.)
--- CLIP AND FAX/MAIL/E-MAIL ---
1) ___YES, my Islamic center will raise $__________ for CAIR.
Name of Center:
Contact Person:
Address:
City:
State:
ZIP:
Phone:
E-Mail:
2) ___ I would also like to make a personal donation of:
___ $25 ___ $50 ___ $100 ___ $250 ___$500 ___ $1000
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
ZIP:
Phone:
Fax:
E-Mail:
Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Credit Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
SEND TO: Membership Dept., CAIR, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
FAX: 202-488-0833
E-MAIL:
membership@cair-net.org
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
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
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/27/05
*
Verse:
God Creates in Perfect
Proportion
*
Top 10 Reasons to Support CAIR: #4 -
Outreach
*
DC:
Dinner Volunteer Meeting
Oct. 29
*
CAIR-NY:
NY Muslims to Host
Officials at Iftar Dinner
-
CAIR-TX:
Mayor Speaks at
Ramadan Celebration
*
CAIR-CT Wins Accommodation
for Fasting Students
-
CAIR-FL Reacts to Banning of Religious
Holidays
*
CAIR-Cincinnati:
Muslims to Hold 'Sharing'
Ramadan' Iftar
-
CAIR-OH:
TV Show Gives WV Man
Clearer Image of Islam
*
American Muslims
May Exceed U.S. Pledge
for Quake Relief
-
GA:
Muslims Mobilize to Aid Quake
Victims (AJC)
-
MI:
Muslim
Groups Collecting for Quake Victims
-
CA:
Muslim Fundraiser to
Help Kashmir Quake Victims
-
CA:
Christian
Groups Aid Relief Effort
*
Torture:
We Don't Want a Hanoi Hilton
(Wash Post)
-
Action:
Ask Congress to Send Torture
Ban to President
-
CAIR Anti-Torture
Campaign
*
Jihad in Oklahoma? You Got it All
Wrong, Bloggers (DMN)
*
MI:
Lecture on Islamic
Revitalization in Cambodia
-
MI:
Scholar to Speak on
American-Muslim Issues
*
FL:
Muslim Worker Sues for
Discrimination (SP Times)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD CREATES IN PERFECT PROPORTION -
TOP
"Surely We have created everything in perfect measure and
proportion."
The Holy Quran, 54:49
"Did you think that We had created you without any purpose and that
you would never return to Us for accountability?"
The Holy Quran, 23:115
-----
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT CAIR: REASON #4 -
OUTREACH -
TOP
CAIR launched an initiative, called "Muslims Care" designed to
promote volunteerism in the American Muslim community. This effort lets
Americans see the true generous and charitable nature of Islam as Muslims
help to feed the poor, rebuild places of worship and generally uplift
local communities through positive actions. See:
www.muslims-care.org
To offer your support, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
Scholars say that donations to CAIR qualify as Zakat.
-----
DC: DINNER VOLUNTEER MEETING OCT. 29 -
TOP
Volunteers are needed for CAIR's 11th annual banquet, to be held
Saturday, December 3, 2005, in Virginia. Those wishing to volunteer are
asked to attend a meeting this Saturday, October 29, from 11 a.m.-noon,
at CAIR's Capitol Hill office, 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington,
D.C. For more information, please e-mail
events@cair-net.org or call
202-488-8787, ext. 6050.
-----
CAIR-NY: NEW YORK MUSLIMS TO HOST
OFFICIALS AT IFTAR DINNER -
TOP
City, state, federal, and international guests to break Ramadan fast with
Muslim community
(NEW YORK, NY, 10/27/05) - On Thursday, October 27, local and national
public officials will join the Muslim community of New York City to break
their fast during a Ramadan "Iftar," or fast breaking dinner,
at Masjid Al-Fatih in Brooklyn, N.Y. Mayor Bloomberg has also been
invited.
WHEN: Thursday, October 27th, 2005
WHERE: Masjid Al-Fatih, 59-11 Eighth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr, 917-751-1017 or
212-870-2002, E-Mail:
director@cair-ny.org
Featured speakers at the dinner include New York City Human Rights
Commissioner Patricia Gatling and civil rights attorney Omar Mohammedi,
as well as representatives from New York's Arab-American, Turkish,
African-American and Latino Muslim community.
In recent years, New York Muslims have enjoyed greater inclusion in the
public life of the city and its institutions. This Ramadan event
highlights the efforts of Muslims to strengthen their bonds with
government representatives in New York.
The event is sponsored by: United American Muslim Association, Muslim
Finance Professionals Association, Women in Islam, ICNA Relief, Council
of People's Organizations, Jamaica Muslim Center, and the New York office
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY)
SEE ALSO:
TX: MAYOR EULINE BROCK SPEAKS
AT RAMADAN CELEBRATION -
TOP
Michael Hernandez, North Texas Daily, 10/27/05
http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/27/43606181daf4c
The Muslim Student Association had a date with dates, the fruit, in the
Silver Eagle Suite in the University Union last night.
The event Wednesday evening was in honor of Ramadan, the traditional
month of fasting for the Islamic religion. This is the fourth year the
organization has held such an event.
A plate of dates, a fruit that grows on palm trees, sat on each table for
people to eat when the day's fasting was over.
Wednesday's turnout was about 50 people less than last year, said Halil
Okur, Ankara, Turkey graduate student and former vice president of the
Muslim Student Association.
The crowd was made up of about 100 students, teachers, community members
and the Denton Mayor Euline Brock.
"I think [Islam] is an important part of Denton's culture and
life," Brock said. "I'm honored to be invited."
Brock gave a short speech during the event, which also included a
presentation on Ramadan by Iyas Maleh, the president of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, Dallas/Fort Worth chapter. (MORE)
-----
CAIR-OH: CINCINNATI
MUSLIMS TO HOLD SHARING RAMADAN IFTAR -
TOP
People of many faiths will break Ramadan fast with Muslim
community
[CINCINNATI, OH, 10/27/05) - On Sunday, October 30, 2005, the Cincinnati
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Ohio office
(CAIR-Ohio) will host its 2nd annual Ramadan Interfaith Iftar Banquet.
Guests will include public officials, civic leaders and members of the
interfaith community. "Iftar" is the meal eaten after sunset to
break the fast each day during the Islamic month of Ramadan.
WHAT: 2nd Annual Interfaith Ramadan Iftar Banquet
WHEN: October 30, 2005, 5 p.m.
WHERE: Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
CONTACT: CAIR-OH, Cincinnati, Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-Mail:
cincinnati@cair-ohio.com;
Brent Meyer, 513-276-1600
The evening's program will include presentations on Ramadan and
CAIR-Ohio. Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during
which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from
break of dawn to sunset.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: REALITY TV SHOW OFFERS
W.VA. MAN CLEARER VISION OF MUSLIM LIFE -
TOP
Bob Paschen, Columbus Messenger, 10/17/05
http://columbusmessenger.com/101705/eastside/CAIR.htm
Television gave West Virginian David Stacy the image of Muslims as
intolerant terrorists.
It took his participation in a reality TV show, in which he lived with a
Muslim family for 30 days, to change his point of view.
"My images of Muslims were based on Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein
and Mike Tyson," said David Stacy at the Center for American Islamic
Relations' annual Ramadan dinner. "So many people like me used to
watch the news and see the negative pictures of Muslims. It shows you the
power of the magic box."
About 500 people gathered Oct. 9 and watched humorous excerpts of Stacy's
misadventures as a participant in the reality show "30
Days."
Created by Morgan Spurlock, the documentary filmmaker and star of the
movie "Super Size Me," the television show puts Americans in
challenging situations that test their beliefs.
Stacy, a Christian who stereotyped Muslims as repressed terrorists, was
transplanted from West Virginia to the home of a Muslim doctor and his
family in Dearborn, Mich.
The audience laughed as Stacy, wearing traditional Muslim clothing and
head cap, fumbled through morning prayers, was stopped by airport
security, and tried and failed to get Dearborners to sign a petition
prohibiting racial profiling of Muslims.
"There are so many false perceptions" of Muslims, Stacy told
the group. "I truly looked in the mirror and a lot of what I saw I
wasn't proud of."
Stacy said his friends in West Virginia have started calling him
"Muslim Dave."
Though he has gained new friends from his experience on "30
Days," Stacy said he has also "made a lot of
enemies."
Since the show aired nationwide, he has been mailed a glut of anti-Islam
literature and audio tapes. "I'm saving them to burn them and heat
my house this winter."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a national organization.
Eight years ago, Ahmad Al-Akhras started the CAIR satellite office in
Columbus, the second in the nation.
"Our mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam and encourage
dialogue," Al-Akhras said. "We work for Muslim civil liberties
and to build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding." (MORE)
-----
CAIR-CT WINS ACCOMMODATION FOR
FASTING STUDENTS -
TOP
(NEW LONDON, CT, 10/27/05) - The Connecticut office of the Council
of
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) today announced that fasting Muslim
students at a Bridgeport elementary school will no longer be required to
sit in the cafeteria during lunch hour.
CAIR-CT met with school officials after receiving a complaint that the
Muslim students, who are observing the month-long Islamic fast of
Ramadan, had to watch classmates eat their lunch in the
cafeteria.
The school will now allow Muslim students to study in a separate room
under the supervision of teacher during their lunch break. CAIR-CT will
also offer diversity training about Islam at the school.
CONTACT: CAIR-CT Director of Civil Rights Hamza Collins, 860-995-6628,
Badr Malik, 860-575-4400
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL REACTS TO BANNING OF RELIGIOUS
HOLIDAYS -
TOP
CAIR Central Florida Director Ahmed Bedier on ABC's Tampa affiliate WFTS
reacting to the Hillsborough School Board's decision to eliminate all
vacation days falling on religious holidays.
GO TO:
http://real.scripps.com:8480/ramgen/tampalive/news/2005/10/1026holidays.rm
-----
AMERICAN MUSLIMS MAY
EXCEED U.S. PLEDGE FOR PAKISTAN QUAKE RELIEF -
TOP
Jehangir Khattak, Muslims Weekly, 10/27/05
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=0446f1f5c09451c0430d3a514791b060
NEW YORK - The American Muslim community is expected to raise more funds
for the victims of earthquake that struck Pakistan, Kashmir and
Afghanistan on Oct. 8, than the $50 million dollars in aid pledged so far
by the United States government.
More than a dozen national Muslim organizations and groups have already
raised $20 million in relief aid for the earthquake victims in Pakistan
and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
During interviews with the Muslims Weekly, managers of these Islamic and
Pakistani relief groups and community organizations sounded upbeat while
claiming an overwhelming response to the huge disaster of unimaginable
proportions in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir that has killed 54,197 people as
of Oct. 26.
As the donations of money, food, medical supplies and other needed goods
continue to be made by individuals and mosques around the country, the
long-term contribution from this minority group is expected to climb
beyond the initial $50 million aid package offered by the U.S.
government.
Some Muslims are fearful of donating money to Islamic organizations which
the U.S. government could investigate for terrorist connections so have
contributed large sums to the International Committee of the Red Cross,
Mercy international and many American and United Kingdom groups. If those
sums are included in the total donations, then the Muslims community's
pledges might already exceed the government's aid package.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
GA: TRAGEDY OVERSEAS DEEPENS SACRIFICE
-
TOP
BILL HENDRICK, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/1005/27lvramadan.html
Charity is an important part of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.
This year, Muslims around Atlanta are mobilizing to send warm clothing to
victims of the devastating earthquake that killed up to some 79,000
people in Pakistan and South Asia on Oct. 8 - just four days after the
start of the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting, contemplation and
charity.
Amjad Taufique, a member of the board of trustees of the Islamic Center
of Marietta, said most of the 30 or so mosques in the Atlanta area have
already sent money and now are collecting sweaters, coats, gloves and
other cold-weather items badly needed by refugees and the many thousands
living in early-winter conditions.
Omer Ahmad, president of the Georgia chapter of the American Muslim
Council, said an earthquake relief committee was formed immediately after
the huge temblor struck. He said more than $100,000 has been raised in
metro Atlanta. The funds and clothing, he said, are being channeled
through the Edhi Foundation, the Pakistani President's Fund, the Aga Khan
Foundation and an organization called Hidaya. (MORE)
---
MI: MUSLIM GROUPS
COLLECTING FOR QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Citizen Patriot, 10/26/05
http://www.mlive.com/news/jacitpat/index.ssf?/base/news-14/1130340981308870.xml&coll=3
Two area Muslim groups are raising money for earthquake victims in
Pakistan.
The Muslim Association of Jackson Community will host a dinner at 6 p.m.
Sunday at Arbor Hills Country Club, 1426 Arbor Hills Road.
Donations will be accepted by the South Central Michigan Chapter of the
American Red Cross, and 100 percent of each check written will go for
relief efforts. Each guest is asked to contribute at least
$100.
Those who cannot attend but would like to donate can send a check to:
MAJC, 200 Summit Ave., Suite B, Jackson, MI 49204. Specify in the memo
area that it is for earthquake relief.
Dinner reservations are suggested by Thursday with Dr. Mumtaz Memon,
812-8596.
In addition, the Islamic Society of Jackson is taking collections to buy
tents and other items.
Anyone who would like to donate money can send it to the society's
mosque, 410 McNeal St., Jackson, MI 49203. Put "earthquake
victims" in the memo area.
The money will be donated through Islamic Relief, a United Nations
program. For more information, call 784-9104.
---
CA: FUNDRAISER TO HELP
KASHMIR QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
Todd Milbourn, Sacramento Bee, 10/26/05
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/religion/story/13770451p-14612569c.html
SACRAMENTO - Area Muslim leaders will hold a fundraiser Nov. 1 for
victims of the Kashmir earthquake.
Organizers will collect coats, blankets and other warm clothing articles
to send to homeless victims, who face grave danger as winter
approaches.
The Oct. 8 earthquake has killed more than 50,000 people in the remote
region of Pakistan. Relief officials have complained the world isn't
doing enough to help the victims as fears rise that many who survived the
quake will die of cold, starvation or untended injuries in its
wake.
The event is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom at 1215 J St. in
Sacramento.
For more information, call 825-0027.
---
CA: MUSLIM RELIEF A
DELICATE MISSION -
TOP
George Watson, San Bernadino County Sun, 10/27/05
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3154716
For centuries, the arrival of Christians on Muslim soil could be
construed as an attempt to infiltrate the culture and then dominate the
people.
But these days, as a series of epic calamities has rocked several Muslim
nations, causing hundreds of thousand of deaths, Christians are being
welcomed, perhaps like never before.
Two local institutions are helping lead overseas efforts of aid and
reconstruction in such places as Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Indonesia.
Both continue to find leaders of these foreign lands, and foreign
cultures, receptive to opening their borders, even in a post-Sept. 11
world filled with distrust and anger between Eastern and Western
worlds.
"It's really bridging the gap in the small global village among
us," said Dany Doueiri, a Cal State San Bernardino lecturer of
Islamic and Arabic studies.
The two institutions, Loma Linda University and Redlands-based Mission
Aviation Fellowship, can present an important face to dispute a distorted
view that many Muslims have of Americans, Doueiri said.
The key, Doueiri and officials with both institutions said, is refraining
from actions that would anger or embarrass their foreign hosts.
A prime example would be proselytizing. It's why both institutions make
sure everyone understands their missions in Islamic countries are for
relief and assistance, not missionary work.
"It can't be a facade," said Kevin Swanson, president of
Mission Aviation Fellowship, which uses its fleet of small planes to fly
supplies and communication equipment into isolated areas, such as the
current effort in response to the Pakistani earthquake that killed more
than 50,000. "We don't deny the fact that we are Christians, but we
make it known we are there for humanitarian reasons."
(MORE)
-----
TORTURE: WE DON'T WANT A HANOI HILTON -
TOP
Richard Cohen, Washington Post, 10/27/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/26/AR2005102601909.html
Five years ago I went to Vietnam with Sen. John McCain. We went to the
so-called Hanoi Hilton, the jail where American POWs were kept and where
McCain spent much of his 5 1/2 years in captivity, most of the time being
brutalized, some of the time being tortured. It was a dark, fetid place
where waves of claustrophobia washed over me, and I wanted to flee, as
McCain could not have done. "Nice place, huh?" he said to me as
we left. For the stoical McCain, that amounted to a primordial
scream.
I watched McCain closely that day. I know only a few people who were
tortured, and never had I accompanied any of them back to where they were
put through so much pain. McCain is not a let-it-all-hang-out sort of
guy. He does not weep on cue or choke for the cameras. But he does
resolve. Somewhere along the way, he apparently resolved that what
happened to him should not happen to anyone else -- especially at the
hands of Americans.
So McCain's amendment, added to a $440 billion military spending bill,
would ban the U.S. military and other government agencies -- the CIA, for
instance -- from engaging in "cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment" of detainees. The Senate approved the amendment 90 to 9.
Whatever it meant to 89 of the senators, to McCain it was simply a matter
of doing to others what he would have wanted done unto him. It is, in
that sense, a very old idea.
Stunningly, George W. Bush has threatened to veto this measure. Bush has
vetoed not one bill in all of his presidency but would, he says, veto
this one. The threat borders on the preposterous, or maybe the idiotic,
because it is hard to imagine any president vetoing a measure that
forbids torture, given the black eye that the United States has received
over the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. After that, Bush
would have to issue his veto in the middle of the night and have it
recorded in invisible ink. I'd leave it to Karen Hughes to explain it to
the Islamic world. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR: ASK CONGRESS TO SEND TORTURE BAN
TO PRESIDENT -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=292&theType=AA
---
CAIR ANTI-TORTURE CAMPAIGN -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/antitorture/
-----
JIHAD IN OKLAHOMA? YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG,
BLOGGERS -
TOP
'Citizen journalists' hurt their cause - and a grieving family
Cathy Young, Dallas Morning News, 10/27/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-young_27edi.ART.State.Edition1.c5cc34d.html
On Oct. 1, a tragedy shocked the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman:
21-year-old engineering student Joel Henry Hinrichs III killed himself
with a homemade bomb while sitting on a bench about 100 yards from the
university's football stadium, packed with 84,000 fans.
Since then, this sad event has mushroomed into a story that touches on
some important and controversial issues: vigilance and paranoia in the
age of terrorism and journalistic ethics in the age of the "new
media."
Within days of Mr. Hinrichs' death, a number of Web sites were
speculating that he had planned to blow himself up inside the stadium and
that he was a radical Muslim terrorist. Blog headlines screamed,
"Jihad at the University of Oklahoma?" and "The Oklahoma
suicide bomber."
Bloggers demanded to know why the mainstream media were ignoring the
story, and some supplied a ready answer: The liberals in the media were
afraid to "offend the gods of political correctness" - as
syndicated columnist and blogger Michelle Malkin put it - by calling
attention to Islamic terrorism on U.S. soil.
But was there any substance to the story? Apparently not. According to
the authorities, there is no indication that Mr. Hinrichs was anything
more than a depressed, troubled young man. (MORE)
-----
MI: SPEAKER ILLUSTRATES EFFECTS OF
ISLAMIC REVITALIZATION -
TOP
Jennifer Hoewe, Grand Valley Lanthorn, 10/27/05
http://www.lanthorn.com/news.asp?type=NS&aid=5508
Anna M. Gade presented an insight into the Islamic revitalization in
Southeast Asia when she visited Grand Valley State University on Tuesday.
Gade described the specific customs of Cambodian culture by relating
readings of their holy book the Qur'an.
The memorization of the Qur'an is an important aspect to this religion
throughout portions of Southeast Asia, Gade said. In her recent project,
"Religious Revitalization and Recovery: Cham Muslims in
Cambodia," she explored the development of Islamic revitalization
through Qur'an memorizations.
"The goal of this project is to reflect contemporary Islamic
revitalization in Southeast Asia," Gade said. "This process
reflects the rich diversity of religion and also embraces the Muslim
values of pluralism and respect for difference." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
MI: FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR TO SPEAK ON
AMERICAN-MUSLIM ISSUES -
TOP
LTV News, 10/26/05
http://www.ltvnews.com/viewarticle.php?id=3591
A visiting Fulbright scholar from Egypt is based at Lake Superior State
University for the next three weeks as she visits classrooms and
communities to discuss relations between Americans and Muslims.
Rachida El Diwani Ph.D., arrived at LSSU on Oct. 22 and started meeting
students and community members right away. Besides LSSU students and
faculty, El Diwani is meeting with residents at St. Joseph Parish in
Sault Ste. Marie, members of Lake State Elders, and students and staff of
Sault Area High School, Bay Mills Community College in Brimley and North
Central Michigan College in Petoskey.
"She comes to the community as a Fulbright Visiting Specialist,
whose two-fold mission is to help American colleges and universities
enrich their international programs and courses of study, and to provide
opportunities for intensive exposure to the surrounding
communities," said Jason Swedene, LSSU professor of
humanities.
"Current events and ideologies have refocused attentions to the ways
in which Islamic civilizations and the West interact. El Diwani, who
holds a Ph.D. in French literature, will provide insight to students in
subjects as diverse as women in Islam, humanities, French, sociology, and
nursing." (MORE)
-----
FL: EX-EMPLOYEES SUE FOR
DISCRIMINATION -
TOP
BILL VARIAN, St. Petersburg Times, 10/27/05
http://sptimes.com/
TAMPA - Engineer Paul Shams says he couldn't believe the things he heard
while temporarily employed for the Hillsborough County Water Department
as a probationary employee.
His supervisor and co-workers routinely used racially derogatory language
when describing a white staff engineer named Al Martini who is married to
an African woman from Uganda, he said. One told Shams that Martini needed
to be sent back to Africa, that he was a "troublemaker."
Another warned Shams to be wary of Martini because he has mental problems
and might attack for no reason.
Shams says the man who was his direct supervisor ultimately pressured him
to write a phony complaint against Martini he said he knew was untrue.
Shams says he refused, and within a few days was dismissed.
On Wednesday, Shams and Martini filed separate federal lawsuits against
Hillsborough County claiming their First and Fourth Amendment rights to
free speech, religion and association were violated. In addition to the
alleged treatment of Martini, Shams said he too fell into disfavor in the
office when his supervisors learned he was from Iran and is Muslim.
(MORE)
-----
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
-----
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS
- 10/28/05
*
Verse: God
Loves the Equitable
*
Top 10 Reasons to Support CAIR:
#5
-
Anti-Defamation
-
Quran Recipient Thanks
CAIR
*
ACTION:
Reject
Legalizing CIA Torture
-
Iraqi Prisoner Dies During CIA
Interrogation (NPR)
*
CAIR-SV:
Sacramento
Valley Muslims to Call for Urgent Quake Aid
*
CAIR-MI:
Michigan
Muslims to Hold Ramadan Food Drive
-
CAIR-CT:
School Accommodates Fasting Muslim Students
-
CAIR-MD/VA: Muslim Woman Wins Settlement in Suit
-
CAIR-SC: Religious Observances - Eid ul-Fitr
*
CA: Pakistani-Americans Decry Lack of Quake Aid
-
UN Warns Funds Drying Up for Quake Aid (AP)
-
Pakistani-American Docs Mobilize for Relief Efforts
-
ACTION: Ask President, Congress to Boost Quake Aid
-
American Muslim Task Force for Disaster Relief
*
IN: Conflict Over Muslim Students in Elementary School
-
CA:
Student Balance Religion with Sports
*
NJ: Islamic Manuscripts to be Made Available Online
*
MI: Ramadan's a Gift to Muslims and Non-Muslims, too
*
Youssou N'Dour: International Hybrid of Music Inspired by Islam
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD LOVES THE EQUITABLE -
TOP
"It may be that God will grant love (and friendship) between you and
those whom you (now) hold as enemies: for God has power (over all
things); and God is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. God does not forbid
you to be kind and equitable to those who had neither fought against
your faith nor driven you out of your homes. In fact God loves the
equitable."
The Holy Quran, 60:7-8
-----
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT CAIR: REASON #5 - ANTI-DEFAMATION -
TOP
Earlier this year, Washington, D.C., radio talk show host Michael
Graham said repeatedly on air: "We are at war with a terrorist
organization named Islam."
In response, CAIR mobilized the community to contact the station and
its advertisers. Thousands of you took positive action, and together we
got results:
"Well they got me," Graham later wrote. "I have been fired for making
the specific comments CAIR deemed 'offensive.'" The Washington Post
reported that, "Graham blamed CAIR for his firing."
To offer your support for CAIR, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
Scholars say that donations to CAIR qualify as Zakat.
SEE ALSO:
QURAN RECIPIENT THANKS CAIR -
TOP
The following is a letter CAIR received from a "Quran Project" recipient in Oregon:
"Please allow me to take this opportunity to thank you and the Council
on American-Islamic Relations for the precious gift of the Holy Qur'an.
I must confess my delight at receiving such a physically beautiful
sacred text. I was rather expecting a paperback, thus my delight was
exponentially increased when I noted the quality of the book as well as
the scholarly transliteration and translation.
Please rest assured not that the gift of the text is deeply
appreciated, but the holy book will be treated with the utmost respect
and dignity.
I sincerely hope that the noble effort of the CAIR to introduce people
to Islam on its own terms (as opposed to media and fear-based political
definitions, etc.) meets with success.
Again, thank you for your kindness and generosity."
To SPONSOR or OBTAIN a Quran, GO TO:
www.explorethequran.com
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT #475: REJECT LEGALIZING CIA TORTURE -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, DC, 10/28/2005) - The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) today called on all people of conscience to contact
their elected representatives and urge them to oppose Vice President
Cheney's proposal to exempting CIA employees from a proposed
congressional ban on torture of prisoners in U.S. custody.
SEE: "Cheney Plan Exempts CIA From Bill Barring Abuse of Detainees"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/24/AR2005102402051.html
Recently, the Senate overwhelmingly endorsed the proposed law, an
amendment to a $440 billion defense appropriations bill. Sen. John
McCain (R-AZ), a former prisoner of war and a torture survivor,
sponsored the amendment.
Vice President Cheney and CIA Director Porter Goss both proposed
exempting the CIA from the torture ban. Senator McCain rejected the
idea.
According to the Washington Post:
"The CIA has been implicated in a number of alleged abuses in Iraq and
has been linked to at least a few cases in which detainees have died
during interrogations at separate military bases throughout the
country. So far, no CIA operatives have been charged in connection with
the abuse, although a single CIA contract employee is on trial for
involvement in the death of an Afghanistan detainee, and sources have
indicated that a grand jury may be looking at other allegations
involving the CIA."
President Bush says he will veto the appropriations bill if it comes to
him with McCain's torture ban. That would result in the president's
first veto being used to defend the torture of prisoners during
interrogation.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED:
1) Contact your Representative in the U.S. Congress and ask them send
the McCain anti-torture amendment to President Bush as it is written.
TO CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, GO TO:
http://capwiz.com/cair/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=8088021
SEE ALSO:
THE DEATH OF AN IRAQI PRISONER -
TOP
John McChesney, National Public Radio, 10/27/05
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4977986
All Things Considered, October 27, 2005 · Photographs of grinning GIs
crouched over the iced-down, battered corpse of Manadel al-Jamadi were
among the most horrific images of the 2003 Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
The photos became one of the most powerful symbols for those who
opposed to the American invasion of Iraq.
The Iraqi insurgent died within hours of his capture, while being
interrogated by the CIA. A military autopsy ruled Jamadi's death a
homicide, but no one has been held accountable for his death.
An NPR special report recounts the final hours of Jamadi's life,
compiled from a review of thousands of CIA and military documents.
Interviews with those present the night he died reveal the techniques
used to extract information from Jamadi, and also show a discrepancy
between military police and CIA agents about what happened just before
his death. (MORE)
-----
CAIR-SV: SACRAMENTO MUSLIMS TO CALL FOR URGENT QUAKE AID -
TOP
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 10/28/05) - On Monday, October 31, leaders of the
Sacramento Valley Muslim community, along with representatives of the
Interfaith Service Bureau (ISB), will hold a press conference to
announce an urgent appeal to help victims of the devastating earthquake
in South Asia.
WHAT: News Conference Announcing Quake Aid Appeal and Fundraising Dinner
WHEN: Monday, October 31, 2005, 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: In Front of Sacramento City Hall
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra, (916) 441-6269, e-mail:
sacval@cair.com; ISB Executive Director Reverend Dexter McNamara, (914) 448-2212
The community leaders will also announce a fundraising dinner to
collect monetary donations and clothing to be sent to the devastated
areas. The dinner will held on Wednesday, November 1, from 5-8 p.m., at
the Grand Ballroom, 1215 J Street, Sacramento.
United Nations officials say relief flight to the quake victims may be suspended soon unless more aid is forthcoming.
SEE: "Quake Copters May be Grounded"
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/10/27/so.asian.quake.toll/
Official reports indicate that at least 55,000 people were killed in
the devastating earthquake that shook Pakistan, Kashmir, India and
Afghanistan. Many more may die unless aid reaches them in time.
-----
CAIR-MI: MICHIGAN MUSLIMS HOLD RAMADAN FOOD DRIVE -
TOP
(LATHRUP VILLAGE, MI, 10/28/05) - The Michigan office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today announced that Metro Detroit
Muslims are preparing a winter food drive to coincide with the last
days of the month-long fast of Ramadan.
Partnering with Sam's Club in Farmington Hills, Mich., the Muslim
community plans to pack and distribute more than $30,000 worth of food
to 16 distribution points in the Metro Detroit and Flint areas.
WHAT: Ramadan Winter Food Drive
WHEN: Saturday, October 29, 10 A.M.
WHERE: Sam's Club, 32625 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills, Mich.
CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418
"During Ramadan, Muslims seek to increase their worship, which means
increasing our service to humanity," said CAIR-MI Executive Director
Dawud Walid.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CT: SCHOOL ACCOMMODATES FASTING MUSLIM STUDENTS -
TOP
FRANCES GRANDY TAYLOR, Hartford Courant, 10/28/05
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ramadan1028.artoct28,0,6578998.story
Muslim students at a Bridgeport elementary school who observe the month
of Ramadan by fasting will no longer be required to spend lunchtime in
the school cafeteria with other students, following the settlement
Thursday of a complaint against the school by an Islamic advocacy group.
The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
contacted administrators at the Curiale School after receiving a
complaint that Muslim students were confined to the cafeteria during
lunchtime.
Ramadan is the month in the Islamic lunar calendar during which the
faithful abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from
sunrise to sunset, when the fast is broken.
In past years Muslim children had been permitted to spend the time in
the principal's office or the library, said Hamza Ismail Collins, the
chapter's director of civil rights. This year, they were told to sit in
the cafeteria, he said.
Collins said he received a follow-up call from the school later
Thursday, in which he was told the school will allow the children to
study in a separate room under a teacher's supervision during their
lunch break. (MORE)
CONTACT: CAIR-CT Director of Civil Rights Hamza Collins, 860-995-6628, Badr Malik, 860-575-4400
---
CAIR: MUSLIM WOMAN WINS SETTLEMENT IN SUIT -
TOP
Store agrees to pay $16K for post-Sept. 11 firing
Mike Santa Rita, Howard County Times, 10/27/05
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=573&NewsID=671166&CategoryID=742&show=localnews&om=1
A Muslim woman fired at a Columbia store shortly after the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 has won a settlement from the company that
terminated her employment.
Shabana Ahmed, a Columbia resident, will receive $16,000 in an
agreement reached Sept. 19 with School & Pre-School Supply Center
Inc., of Baltimore County, the owner of Learning How, in Columbia,
according to the settlement.
In November 2001, Ahmed filed a complaint with the Maryland Commission
on Human Relations alleging religious discrimination in the company's
decision to fire her the month before.
The $16,000 represents the amount of salary the company would have paid
Ahmed prior to the time she found new employment after being fired,
said Lee Hoshall, an attorney with the Commission on Human Relations,
which represented Ahmed in the matter.
The company also will provide its staff training in cultural and
religious awareness, and has agreed to apologize in writing to Ahmed
"for the manner in which she was treated by Learning How," according to
the settlement agreement.
Michael Wayland, chief financial officer for School & Pre-School
Supply Center Inc., denied that Ahmed's firing amounted to
discrimination.
"We feel like it was simply a matter of miscommunication," he said. "Ms. Ahmed was let go for budgetary reasons."
Fired in the parking lot
Ahmed, 27, a former biology teacher at Centennial High School, said in
an interview this week that her manager never gave her a good reason
for firing her on Oct. 25, 2001, which made her suspicious.
"The day that I was fired I was just met in the parking lot and told by
the manager that I was no longer working there," she said.
Ahmed contacted the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim
advocacy group based in Washington, whose officials told her to contact
the Commission on Human Relations, she said.
"Since it was right after (the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks) I think they
were inundated with a lot of cases like this," she said. "They told us
to contact the human relations commission first."
After the commission's initial attempts to reach a settlement with
Learning How were unsuccessful, it filed discrimination charges against
the company with the State Office of Administrative Hearings in April
this year, Hoshall said. The settlement was reached Sept. 19. (MORE)
---
CAIR-SC: RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES BEGIN NEXT WEEK -
TOP
The State, 10/28/05
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/13017291.htm
EID EL FITR
Date: Observed Thursday or Nov. 4, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
What it is: This day marks the official end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.
History: Ramadan and its festive ending, Eid El Fitr, have been
practiced since the beginnings of Islam in the seventh century.
Observance of the holiday is considered one of the seven pillars of
Islam. Eid was developed as a festive conclusion to this holy month.
Modern observance: During Ramadan, Muslims are not permitted to eat,
drink, smoke or partake of many other activities during daylight hours.
Eid is a joyous feast that marks the end of the season of fasting.
Muslim families gather in homes or at mosques to eat elaborate meals,
play games, and give and receive gifts.
Locally: The public is invited to attend a special Eid cultural
festival from 2 to 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Lexington Municipal Complex,
1111 Maiden Lane in Lexington. Activities will include storytelling, a
children's program, a show featuring traditional costumes from Muslim
nations and henna art. The event is sponsored by the Midlands chapter
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
CONTACT: CAIR-SC, 803-210-7355
-----
CA: LOCAL PAKISTANIS DECRY QUAKE AID -
TOP
Second wave of death predicted if relief efforts fail to reach victims
Jonathan Jones, Tri-Valley herald, 10/27/05
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_3155818
FREMONT - Time is running out. That's the message from Hazem Kira and
other local Pakistani-Americans more than two weeks after a deadly
earthquake devastated the northern part of their homeland.
Kira, a spokesman for the Newark-based Pakistan American Democratic
Forum, said they've collected more than 200 petitions from local
residents urging the Bush administration to dispatch additional
helicopters based in Afghanistan to help transport goods to remote
areas of Pakistan.
"We want to put as much pressure as we can on the U.S. to use its
military resources to help," said Kira, who helped post an online
petition on their local earthquake relief Web
site,www.voiceofpakistan.net.
Although the United States agreed Monday to send nine more helicopters
and medical unit for relief operations - in addition to the 21
helicopters currently in use - Kira said more help is needed to prevent
a second wave of deaths as temperatures plummet in the remote
mountainous regions of Kashmir.
"Practically speaking, it's nowhere near the number they need," Kira
said. "There are some areas that haven't been touched since the
earthquake more than two weeks ago. There is a greater need for
humanitarian assistance." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
UN WARNS FUNDS DRYING UP FOR QUAKE AID -
TOP
ZARAR KHAN, Associated Press, 10/28/05
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1258869
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Helicopters ferrying desperately needed
relief supplies to South Asia's quake survivors will be grounded within
a week and aid operations will be scaled down unless donors make good
on pledges of hundreds of millions of dollars, U.N. officials warned
Friday.
``We need the money now or we will be forced to scale down food
deliveries,'' said Jan Vandemoortele, the U.N.'s humanitarian
coordinator in Pakistan. ``So far, we have been operating on reserves,
and borrowing ... and the pipeline is drying up.''
The warning comes as Pakistani meteorologists forecast a much harsher
than normal winter in the high Himalayan mountains. Mohammed Hanif, a
senior meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department, said
the agency was expecting 5.52 meters (18 feet) of snow in the region
this winter, compared to 3 meters (10 feet) during a normal winter.
Average temperatures would also be a few degrees below normal, at times
dipping as low as minus 20 Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit).
The U.N. has only received about 20 percent - about US$117 million
(euro96 million) - of the US$550 million (euro453 million) it needs for
the next six months. A donors' conference in Geneva this week netted an
additional US$580 million (euro478.15 million ) in pledges for victims
of the of the devastating Oct. 8 quake, but Vandemoortele said these
pledges ``need to be monetized'' immediately. (MORE)
---
PAKISTANI-AMERICAN PHYSICIANS POUR MILLIONS INTO RELIEF EFFORTS -
TOP
TINI TRAN, Associated Press, 10/28/05
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/13019971.htm
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- The needs were urgent: A field hospital
wanted seven respirators. A health center was begging for
anesthesiology machines. Tetanus shots were in short supply.
Cardiologist Abdul Rashid Piracha quickly put out the word over the
phone and the Internet. Within a day he had everything he asked for,
simply by tapping into a vast network of Pakistani-American doctors -
some 10,000 strong.
Together, these doctors have raised tens of millions of dollars in
donations and medical supplies, and many have come personally to help
South Asia's quake victims.
For all of them, there was a simple reason why.
"This is close to the heart," says Piracha, 65, a native of Quetta who now lives in Princeton, W.Va.
Piracha heads the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America,
which is working with the Islamic Medical Association of North America
to coordinate a relief effort with local physicians. So far, they have
brought in about 70 doctors from the United States and Canada, many of
them specialists in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery and pediatrics.
(MORE)
---
ACTION: ASK PRESIDENT, CONGRESS TO BOOST QUAKE AID -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=294&theType=AA
-----
AMERICAN MUSLIM TASK FORCE FOR DISASTER RELIEF -
TOP
http://www.amtfdr.net/news.php
-----
IN: MORE CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING IS NEEDED IN PORTER TOWNSHIP -
TOP
Northwest Indiana Times, 10/27/05
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2005/10/27/opinion/times_editorials/ae89bda9d2f46fd6862570a7000182db.txt
The issue: Conflict over Muslim students at Porter Lakes Elementary School
Our opinion: From the looks of things, parents, like their children, need their own program to learn about various religions
Problem solving is a typical skill for schoolchildren to learn so they
can apply mathematics to everyday life. At Porter Lakes Elementary
School, that problem-solving skill is urgently needed for social
studies, too.
Porter Lakes, just outside Lakes of the Four Seasons, is a classic
example of a community in crisis because of a culture clash. The
situation cries out for early intervention before it escalates further.
The most intense hard feelings revolve around diversity --
specifically, the public school's assimilation of Muslim students into
its population.
The principle that no one should be treated differently is a familiar American ideal. But it does not always work in practice.
An Orthodox Jew, for instance, should not be expected to eat food that
isn't kosher. And Muslim students shouldn't be expected to abandon the
traditional hijab, or Muslim head scarf. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CA: STUDENT STRIVES TO BALANCE RELIGION WITH SPORTS -
TOP
Brad A. Greenberg, Daily Bulletin, 10/28/05
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3154711
DIAMOND BAR - The football coach hollers, "Water break!" and the
players cluster around blue Powerade bottles. Hytham Elsherif stands
alone and to the side., "Somebody soak him down," an assistant coach
says. He unstraps his helmet so a teammate can squirt water on his
head. He spits repeatedly to keep it from sneaking into his mouth.
Hytham is a unique member of Diamond Bar High School's varsity team --
he is its only Muslim. Because it is Ramadan, the holiest month of the
Islamic calendar, Hytham is fasting from sunrise to sunset each day.
Starving the body for 14 hours is taxing on even the most sedentary.
For a 17-year-old offensive lineman, it seems like a death wish.
"If he wants to play, it's up to him," says his mother, Naglaa
Elsherif. "But he has to follow God's rules -- he has to fast. If he
doesn't have the energy to fast, don't play."
Hytham's is a common dilemma of Muslim-American youths, many of whom
find themselves attending class, studying and competing athletically on
an empty stomach one month a year. (MORE)
-----
NJ: ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE -
TOP
Maxwell Weidmann, Daily Princetonian, 10/28/05
http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/10/28/news/13650.shtml
Firestone Curator of Manuscripts Don Skemer has organized an effort to
digitize about 200 Islamic manuscripts and electronically catalog more
than 10,000 Islamic manuscripts in the Rare Book Division's collection
during the next four years.
The collection, the largest in North America, ranges in age from the
earliest Islamic texts in the ninth century to pieces written in the
early 20th century during the final collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
"When I first arrived in the early '90s, I realized there were many
manuscripts that had not been catalogued," Skemer said. "The first
cataloguing was nearly 100 years ago in 1906."
Though there have been several updates since then, according to Skemer, the catalog "still needs a lot of work."
By February, Skemer will hire two specialists to begin the online
cataloging. He has also committed a professional digital photography
unit to digitize the selected works. While the electronic catalogues
will appear online as they are completed, Skemer expects the digitized
parts will not be online before 2008. (MORE)
-----
MI: RAMADAN'S A GIFT TO MUSLIMS AND TO SOME NON-MUSLIMS, TOO -
TOP
DAVID CRUMM, FREE PRESS, 10/28/05
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/crumm28e_20051028.htm
The Muslim preacher Hassanain Rajabali addressed 1,000 people at the
Islamic Center of America in Dearborn on Tuesday night for nearly an
hour. But his message rested on six words: "Look at how we carry
ourselves!"
Recognizing the confusion and anxiety about Islam in the United States,
Rajabali urged Muslims, especially during this holy month of Ramadan,
to demonstrate a friendly hospitality in all they do.
"Being in a multicultural society is a great gift from God," he told
the crowd, adding later, "Allah says: We made people different so that
you will know each other."
In his sermon lies one of the gifts of Ramadan to non-Muslim neighbors,
relatives and friends. This certainly is a solemn period of renewal for
Muslims, but it also is a month of overflowing hospitality. (MORE)
-----
YOUSSOU N'DOUR INTERNATIONAL HYBRID OF MUSIC INSPIRED BY ISLAM -
TOP
KELEFA SANNEH, New York Times, 10/28/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/28/arts/music/28yous.html
Everyone likes to be in on a secret. And like lots of the best singers,
Youssou N'Dour knows how to make listeners feel as if they're not just
hearing his music but overhearing it. On Wednesday night, during the
last of a series of Carnegie Hall concerts, Mr. N'Dour took this notion
one step further, explaining to concertgoers that they were hearing
something not really meant for them.
"At first, it was only for me and my family, my friends, the people
around me during the Ramadan," he said, explaining the evening's music.
This was the American live premiere of "Egypt," an ambitious and
graceful song cycle released in America last year by Nonesuch Records.
The album is a collaboration with the Egyptian composer and producer
Fathy Salama.
The album pays subtle tribute to the shape and scope of West African Islam. (MORE)
-----
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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To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
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-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/29/05
*
O'Reilly:
Muslim Holiday 'Absurd in a
Judeo-Christian Country'
-
FL:
School Board Squashes
Minority Rights (SP Times)
*
IL:
College Pulls
Photo Exhibit After Muslim
Protest
*
CA:
Latinos Embrace
Islam, Pray for Acceptance (LA Times)
-
FL:
More
Hispanic Women Converting to Islam
*
IN:
FBI Probe
Shows No Terrorist Threat at Elem. School
-
IN:
Parents
Debate Muslim Presentation at
School
-
Parent:
I'm not prejudiced, but. .
.'
*
Correction:
Sacramento Muslims to Call for
Urgent Quake Aid
-----
O'REILLY: CLOSING PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR MUSLIM
HOLIDAY "ABSURD IN A JUDEO-CHRISTIAN COUNTRY" -
TOP
Media Matters, 10/28/05
http://mediamatters.org/items/200510280006
On the October 27 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill
O'Reilly called the idea of closing public schools for the observance of
Muslim holidays "absurd in a Judeo-Christian country." O'Reilly
made this remark during a discussion with Hillsborough County, Florida,
commissioner Brian Blair, who opposed the Hillsborough County school
board's decision to keep public schools open on Yom Kippur and Good
Friday during the 2006-2007 school year, a departure from the school
district's earlier practice of closing schools on those days. In December
2004, Hillsborough County Muslims, with the backing of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, asked the school board to close schools on
the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan. Instead of giving students the day off on Eid Al-Fitr,
the school board voted to keep schools open on Yom Kippur and Good Friday
during the 2006-2007 school year, reasoning that the school district
could close schools on days when a substantial number of students would
be absent but could not close schools specifically for the observance of
religious holidays. The school district will continue its practice of
allowing students to take days off on religious holidays, although
schools will remain open.
From the October 27 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
BLAIR: Well, in December of 2004, a gentleman representing the Muslim
religion came before the school board and asked if Eid, which I believe
is part of Ramadan, be recognized as an official school holiday. That
went to a subcommittee, a calendar committee that's comprised of 28
members. Where these members come from, we still don't have the exact
answers. I guess they're citizens, friends of the school board members,
various people like this. As a matter of fact, I think there's a Jewish
representative and a Muslim representative on the board. Of the 28, only
12 showed up, as I understand it. They gave them very little feedback
other than the option of taking President's Day and turning it -- they
basically gave --
O'REILLY: So a Muslim wanted a Muslim holiday, which is absurd in a
Judeo-Christian country. I mean, we can't be having Hindu and Buddha. I
mean, come on. I mean, this country is founded on Judeo-Christian
traditions.
BLAIR: Absolutely.
O'REILLY: Those traditions have been in play for more than 200 years.
Christmas is a federal holiday. You know, somebody walks in and says,
"Well, I just moved here and I want, you know, this Shinto
shrine." And you're going, "Well, look, this is a traditional
American situation that we've done for hundreds of years." But now
you knocked it out.
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO:
oreilly@foxnews.com
COPY TO:
cair@cair-net.org,
abedier@cairfl.org
SEE ALSO:
SCHOOL BOARD SQUASHES MINORITY RIGHTS
-
TOP
St. Petersburg Times, 10/29/05
http://sptimes.com/2005/10/29/Opinion/Florida_redistricting.shtml
(Scroll down.)
Re: School calendar will be strictly secular, Oct. 26.
The recent Hillsborough County School Board decision not to grant a day
for Muslim students to observe Eid al-Fitr and to rescind the day given
for Jewish students to observe Yom Kippur is unfortunate because the
board's action by accommodating only Christian students is thereby a de
facto trampling of minority rights - something the Constitution and Bill
of Rights prohibit.
A December holiday still stands to accommodate Christians. Furthermore,
most Christians in the United States have never observed Good Friday as a
day off. Since Easter always is on a Sunday, that holiday is also not in
jeopardy. So the only negative impacts are on the minority students,
Jewish and Muslim, who only asked for one day for a religious observance.
I hope a constitutional challenge is forthcoming.
-- Rev. Robert L. White, Valrico
-----
IL: HARPER PULLS PHOTO
EXHIBIT UPON MUSLIM PROTEST -
TOP
Michael Puente, Daily Herald, 10/28/05
http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=111643
An art exhibit that included photographs of nude Muslim women wearing
only a head covering was taken down Thursday afternoon just hours after
opening for public viewing at Harper College in Palatine.
Muslim students at the college protested to officials about the pieces on
display in Building C.
Several students say the pieces - some showing young Muslim men with
machine guns - were downright offensive.
"I think they should rip this down," student Matt George
said.
Another student, Hussein Ali, says a number of Muslim students at Harper
now are thinking about leaving.
"The Muslim students are thinking about boycotting Harper because of
this," said Ali, 23, of Schaumburg.
Ahmad Basalat, 21, of Bartlett said the exhibit expressed hatred toward
Muslims.
Rich Johnson, co-coordinator of international students at Harper, said
the exhibit was an event put on in conjunction with the college's art
department.
The school invited Chicago photographer Amir Normandi to exhibit his
works depicting Muslim women in Iran defying the wearing of the
jilbab.
Johnson said he thought the exhibit would be an interesting topic because
it deals with human rights.
Salma Habed, 20, of Hoffman Estates said some of the pieces continued
with the stereotype that Muslim women are oppressed.
"We go to school. We have careers. It's not like we're oppressed
like some people feel for some reason," Habed said.
Before the opening of the exhibit, neither Johnson nor other Harper
officials had an opportunity to view the images.
Johnson and school officials ordered the removal or covering of the
images until further notice because of the uproar. (MORE)
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO:
pburdick@harpercollege.edu,
dwhite@harpercollege.edu
COPY TO:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CA: EMBRACING
ISLAM, PRAYING FOR ACCEPTANCE -
TOP
Many Latino Muslims, some raised Catholic, struggle with views of their
new faith on the part of the public -- and their families.
H.G. Reza, Los Angeles Times, 10/29/05
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beliefs29oct29,1,3351584.story
As a college student in Mexico, Marta Khadija Ramirez was so influenced
by Marxist and existentialist writers that she stopped believing in God.
That changed during a semester at a British school, where she was a
visiting student and three Muslim classmates introduced her to
Islam.
She decided to convert. But imagine the difficulty of a Latina steeped in
Roman Catholic tradition trying to explain Islam to her family in 1983.
And imagine that one of her sisters is a Catholic nun.
"Islam was unknown in Mexico then. It wasn't easy for my family to
accept my decision," said Khadija, the youngest of 11 sisters raised
on a ranch south of Mexico City and now a nurse who lives in Los Angeles.
"My sister the nun was blaming herself for not teaching me enough
about Catholicism."
Muslims throughout the world are observing Ramadan, a month of daytime
fasting and repentance. For many Latino Muslims in Southern California,
it is also a time to celebrate Islam's diversity and their conversion to
a religion still struggling against intolerance in the overwhelmingly
Christian United States. This year, the holy month started the first week
of October. . .
The Los Angeles Latino Muslim Assn., founded in 1999, hopes to find
converts through an outreach program to introduce Islam to the millions
of Latinos living in the city. The group meets at the Islamic Center of
Southern California in Los Angeles, and on Sundays during Ramadan members
break their dawn-to-sunset fast together at the Vermont Avenue facility.
The group also meets at the Masjid Omar, a mosque in Los Angeles. .
.
The association runs Luz del Islam Publishing in Culver City, where
Islamic literature is printed in Spanish. Group members pass out that
material, including a Spanish translation of the Koran, at Latino book
fairs and sponsor mosque tours and seminars for Latinos. They also
provide speakers to Latino student groups at area colleges.
Still, Muslims have to overcome some public perceptions that, Khadija
said, are unfairly colored by "misunderstanding and fear" since
the terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists on Sept. 11, 2001.
Arwa Ayloush, whose name was Vilma Avila before she converted in 1991
while attending the University of Texas, said her parents' initial
apprehension about her new religion stemmed from "fear of the
unknown."
"You just left Laredo and now you're a Muslim. What happened to you,
girl?" is how Ayloush, raised a Jehovah's Witness, described her
family's reaction to her conversion.
Over time, the families of Khadija and Ayloush, a kindergarten teacher
living in Corona, accepted their Muslim identities. Each later married
Muslim men. Ayloush's husband is Hussam Ayloush, executive director of
the Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations. . .
Despite the differences that many U.S. Christians believe separate them
from Muslims, both sides have much in common, Ayloush and the others
said.
"The theological differences are there, but they shouldn't be a
fence that separates us. They should be a bridge instead," Ayloush
said. "I'm a Little League mom. I'm there cheering for my kids who
play sports, like the other moms. The only thing that's really different
about me is the hijab."
SEND COMMENTS TO:
letters@latimes.com
COPY TO:
socal@cair.com
SEE ALSO:
MORE HISPANIC WOMEN
CONVERTING TO ISLAM -
TOP
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-latinomuslims2605oct26,0,754543.story
LATINO WOMEN FINDING A PLACE IN ISLAM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9352969/
-----
IN: FBI PROBE SHOWS
NO TERRORIST THREAT AT PORTER LAKES -
TOP
Sheriff's cop reprimanded for how he handled situation
ELIZABETH HOLMES, Northwest Indiana Times, 10/27/05
http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2005/10/27/news/porter_county/e54bb0145f2a2efc862570a70005a140.txt
PORTER TOWNSHIP | On the morning of Oct. 6, Lake County police officer
Mike Hamady ran a check on the license plate of a white van he saw a few
days earlier outside of Porter Lakes Elementary.
Hamady, the father of two children at the school, was shocked by what he
discovered.
The plate was "of interest to the FBI" and referenced a
"terrorist watch list."
"If the FBI puts you on a list, you're somebody, you know what I'm
saying?" Hamady, a cop for 18 years, said.
By that night, the rumors were flying around the Porter Lakes community.
Parents, calling each other at all hours of the evening and the next
morning, had doubts about sending their children to school. . .
The name on the vehicle registration was the same name of a person of
interest -- but there was no indication that the name of the person with
the plate was the same person wanted by the FBI, according to Mike
Higgins, spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff's Department.
"It was a similar name, totally unrelated," Higgins said.
"The plate is not a threat nor is the person owning it or driving.
... It's just an extreme situation."
The FBI concurred. After a thorough investigation, Osborne said,
"The supervisor advised the school that there was no credible
threat."
While there was no problem at the school, there was an issue with Hamady.
By going straight to the superintendent and not his police supervisor, he
was in violation of sheriff's department policy. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
IN: PARENTS DEBATE
MUSLIM PRESENTATION AT PORTER LAKES ELEMENTARY -
TOP
ELIZABETH HOLMES, Northwest Indiana Times, 10/21/05
http://nwitimes.com/articles/2005/10/21/news/porter_county/04301b99485383a1862570a100217a51.txt
PORTER TOWNSHIP | The debate over a Muslim presentation at Porter Lakes
Elementary School spilled over from the School Board meeting into the
hallway Thursday evening, bringing parents from both sides together to
hash out the issue.
Susan Miller approached Ayesha Syed, the mother of two new Muslim
students at Porter Lakes, and tried to explain her reasoning for
adamantly and outwardly opposing a presentation Syed gave to the students
about the Muslim culture.
As each parent's sons played together around them, oblivious of the
extent or the heat of the discussion, Miller insisted to Syed, "This
is not about you."
However, in a way, it was. On Sept. 30, Syed and her Muslim friend,
Ameenah Abdullah, came to the school to talk to a second-grade class and
the entire third grade about the Muslim culture.
The presentation, for students who are the same ages as Syed's children,
was intended to answer questions about the Muslim culture. The women
talked about religion because it is heavily intertwined with the Muslim
culture, and that upset many in the Porter Lakes community.
The issue of allowing such a presentation was not on the board agenda.
However, the public participation portion of the meeting allowed parents
a chance to sound off to the board for future consideration.
The majority of speakers vehemently opposed religion in the public school
setting. Michelle Colvin said her son had questions for her about Allah
that caught her off guard. She said she should have been notified of the
presentation in advance.
Miller touched on another hot issue surrounding the Muslim family -- the
creation of a prayer room at the school for the Muslim children, which
school officials will not confirm -- and demanded fair treatment for all
faiths.
"If they're going to cater to one religion, they better cater to all
of 'em," she said and asked for an altar to be added for her
Catholic son.
Miller's speech, the first of more than a
dozen, garnered an applause and an "amen" from the
standing-room-only crowd. In an interview before the meeting, she said,
"I'm not prejudiced, but I do have a concern when it comes to
Muslim people." (MORE) -
TOP
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO:
letters@nwitimes.com
COPY TO:
cair@cair-net.org,
communications@cairchicago.org
-----
TOP -
CORRECTION: The item below distributed on 10/28 originally listed
November 1 as falling on Wednesday. November 1 actually falls on Tuesday
of next week.
CAIR-SV: SACRAMENTO MUSLIMS TO CALL FOR URGENT QUAKE AID
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 10/28/05) - On Monday, October 31, leaders of the
Sacramento Valley Muslim community, along with representatives of the
Interfaith Service Bureau (ISB), will hold a press conference to announce
an urgent appeal to help victims of the devastating earthquake in South
Asia.
WHAT: News Conference Announcing Quake Aid Appeal and Fundraising
Dinner
WHEN: Monday, October 31, 2005, 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: In Front of Sacramento City Hall
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra, (916) 441-6269,
e-mail:
sacval@cair.com; ISB
Executive Director Reverend Dexter McNamara, (914) 448-2212
The community leaders will also announce a fundraising dinner to collect
monetary donations and clothing to be sent to the devastated areas. The
dinner will held on Tuesday, November 1, from 5-8 p.m., at the Grand
Ballroom, 1215 J Street, Sacramento.
United Nations officials say relief flight to the quake victims may be
suspended soon unless more aid is forthcoming.
SEE: "Quake Copters May be Grounded"
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/10/27/so.asian.quake.toll/
Official reports indicate that at least 55,000 people were killed in the
devastating earthquake that shook Pakistan, Kashmir, India and
Afghanistan. Many more may die unless aid reaches them in time.
-----
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
CAIR ACTION ALERT #476
CAIR ASKS U.S. MUSLIMS TO COLLECT QUAKE AID ON
EID
Islamic and Pakistani-American groups urge collective educational,
relief efforts
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/30/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil
rights and advocacy group today asked Muslim communities nationwide to
take advantage of the upcoming holiday marking the end of Ramadan to
collect funds for earthquake relief in South Asia.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joined a number of other
Muslim and Pakistani-American groups that are calling for educational and
fundraising efforts on Eid ul-Fitr, or "festival of fast
breaking," that will take place on November 3rd or 4th, depending on
the sighting of the new crescent moon. Eid ul-Fitr draws large numbers of
Muslims for communal prayers.
CAIR and the other organizing groups seek to raise public awareness of
the continued suffering in areas devastated by the earthquake, inform
Muslims and Americans of all faiths about the need for long-term U.S.
involvement in relief efforts and to reaffirm American Muslim and
Pakistani-American commitment to quake relief and
reconstruction.
"While we will return to our daily routine after a month of
self-denial, millions of people in South Asia will remain without basic
necessities," said CAIR Board Chairman Parvez Ahmed. "We need
to remember the quake victims in our prayers and do our utmost to help
them."
Ahmed added that prayer leaders nationwide can take advantage of the
spirituality of Ramadan, and the large gatherings associated with Eid
ul-Fitr, to remind worshippers about the Islamic tradition of serving God
by serving His creations.
The United Nations has warned of "a second, massive wave of
death" that may result from lack of international donor response to
the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, water distribution systems,
and roads.
CAIR is a member of the American Muslim Task Force for Disaster Relief
(AMTFDR) that pledged to raise $20 million to provide relief to the
victims of the South Asia earthquake.
SEE: American Muslims Pledge $20 Million in Aid for Quake
Victims
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1812&theType=NR
SEE ALSO: American Muslim Task Force for Disaster Relief
http://www.amtfdr.net/
The Washington-based council has also urged American Muslims and other
people of conscience to call their elected representatives to ask that
the U.S. government provide more relief aid.
SEE: Ask President, Congress to Boost Quake Aid
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=294&theType=AA
CAIR chapters nationwide have helped coordinate the Muslim community's
response to the crisis. For example, CAIR's Sacramento Valley office will
hold a press conference tomorrow to announce an urgent aid
appeal.
SEE: Sacramento Valley Muslims to Call for Urgent Quake Aid
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1839&theType=NR
CAIR has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is
to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil
liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote
justice and mutual understanding.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 or 202-488-8787, 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 or UNSUBSCRIBE from CAIR-NET, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/30/05
*
Hadith:
Good Deeds Lead to Paradise
*
CAIR Condemns New
Delhi Bombings
*
CAIR Recognizes Rosa
Parks (Dallas Morning News)
-
CAIR-MI:
Follow Her
Vision (Detroit Free Press)
*
NY:
Latinos Convert
to Islam (Journal News)
*
VA/MD:
Quake Aid
to Pakistan Delayed (Wash Post)
*
CA:
Muslims
Hold Drive for Quake Relief
-
NY:
As
Ramadan Ends, Muslims Give to Charity
*
Idaho Muslims
Gather for
Iftar (Idaho State Journal)
-
WA:
Eid al Fitr
Celebrates Gift of Self-Control
*
Incitement Watch:
Why Islam Didn't
Conquer the World
*
NY:
Abuse of
Prisoner's Islamic Books Preceded Beating (NYT)
-
U.S. Soldiers Allegedly Abuse
Afghan Detainees
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD DEEDS LEAD TO PARADISE -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Who among you has
fasted today?. . .Who among you followed [a funeral procession] today?. .
.Who among you fed a poor man today?. . .Who among you visited an invalid
today?. . .Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly
enter Paradise."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 505
-----
CAIR CONDEMNS NEW DELHI
BOMBINGS -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/30/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today condemned bomb attacks in New Delhi, India, that left more
than 60 people dead and many more injured.
Simultaneous blasts Saturday evening targeted a bus and two markets
crowded with people shopping for an upcoming Hindu festival. Many of the
victims were women and children.
In a statement, CAIR said: "The cruelty of these brutal acts, and
their timing so as to inflict maximum casualties, is beyond
comprehension. We condemn the bombings, offer condolences to the loved
ones of the victims and call for the swift apprehension and punishment of
the perpetrators.
"No political cause can ever be served by such acts. These actions
will never bring relief to any grievance and will only serve to foster
discord and misunderstanding between people of different
faiths."
In 2004, CAIR launched a petition drive, called "Not in the Name of
Islam," designed to disassociate Islam from the violent acts of a
few Muslims. The petition, signed by some 700,000 Muslims, states in
part: "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 Quran and the Prophet Muhammad."
SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=169&page=AA
That petition was later turned into a television and radio public service
announcement (PSA) distributed in English, Arabic and Urdu.
To view the PSA, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/video/psa.ram
In July, CAIR coordinated the release of a fatwa, or Islamic religious
ruling, against terrorism and extremism issued by the Fiqh Council of
North America and endorsed by hundreds of U.S. Muslim groups, leaders and
institutions.
The fatwa states in part:
"Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence
against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism
or terrorism. Targeting civilians' life and property through suicide
bombings or any other method of attack is haram - or forbidden - and
those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not
martyrs."
SEE:
http://www.cair-net.org/FatwaJuly2005.pdf
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
-----
CAIR-DFW: CAIR RECOGNIZES
PARKS -
TOP
Dallas Morning News, 10/29/05
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/letters/stories/DN-satletters_1029edi.ART.State.Edition1.86504a1.html
Muslims have a deep appreciation for the work and dedication of Rosa
Parks and others who stand for social equality and justice.
In her honor, the Council on American Islamic Relations has created the
CAIR Rosa Parks Civil Rights Scholarship, aimed at advancing the cause of
human dignity. It will be offered to students studying in fields that
promote civil rights, social justice and peaceful conflict
resolution.
We pray that her life's calling will enlighten us all to continue
striving toward social justice and equality for all people.
Saffia Meek, Council on American-Islamic Relations-D/FW, Dallas
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-MI: FOLLOW HER VISION -
TOP
Detroit Free Press, 10/29/05
http://www.freep.com/voices/letters/etributes29e_20051029.htm
The courageous stance of Rosa Parks benefited not only African Americans,
but all minorities and immigrants who sought and continue to seek
freedom, justice and equality in America.
In later years, after her arrest in Montgomery, Ala., her efforts to
encourage academic excellence among the youths of Detroit and her
activism against the immoral system of apartheid in South Africa are
testaments to her vision and human spirit.
We can only hope that a spirit of reconciliation and respect for our
common humanity can be rekindled. The work of cultivating freedom,
justice and equality in the state of Michigan is needed now more than
ever before.
Dawud Walid
Executive director
Council on American-Islamic Relations -- Michigan
Lathrup Village
-----
NY: SOME LATINOS CONVERT
TO ISLAM -
TOP
MARCELA ROJAS, JOURNAL NEWS, 10/30/05
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051030/NEWS02/510300319/1028/NEWS12
Aisha Ahmed's decision to convert to Islam and give up Catholicism and
her Puerto Rican birth name, Maritza Rondon, did not come impulsively or
under duress.
She spent five years studying the Quran and hired a teacher to learn
Arabic before she was ready for shahadah, a declaration of faith led by
an imam that is essential to the conversion process.
In the end, Ahmed's decision to become a Muslim and to take a name that
belonged to the Prophet Muhammad's wife, she said, was borne of years of
questioning her Catholic upbringing and discovering that, for her, the
answers were with Islam.
"I have lived a humble and peaceful life since I converted.
Everything is so clear," said Ahmed, 45, of Tarrytown. "I
didn't see in Catholicism the unity and compassion I found in Islam. I
saw more kindness and willingness to give."
Ahmed's change of faith is not unique among her ethnic group today. In
recent years, thousands of Hispanics nationwide have been converting to
Islam, particularly since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when interest
in the religion seemed to gain momentum.
Though precise statistics do not exist, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations estimates there are more than 36,000 Hispanic Muslims in the
nation today. Other estimates raise the total to 75,000. A study the
group conducted also showed that 6 percent of the 20,000 annual converts
to Islam are Hispanic.
Though the numbers are a small fraction of the estimated 6 million
Muslims in the country, it is fast becoming evident that the conversion
rate among this minority group is taking root and that its influence is
being asserted through the formation of Hispanic Muslim organizations -
"dawah," or outreach efforts targeted at Hispanics - and the
distribution of literature and the Quran in Spanish.
"There hasn't been real scientific gauging," said Mohamed
Nimer, research director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"But Muslim leaders are saying they are seeing more and more Latino
Muslims, especially in New York, California and Florida."
(MORE)
Hispanic Muslim groups' Web sites
Latino American Dawah Organization:
www.latinodawah.org
Piedad:
www.angelfire.com/pq/Andalusia/
Hispanic Muslims:
www.hispanicmuslims.com
Latino Muslim Outreach Program: email address:
PX_LMOP@yahoo.com
-----
VA/MD: QUAKE AID TO
PAKISTAN DELAYED -
TOP
Turned Away at JFK, Cargo to Be Shipped From Baltimore
Tom Jackman, Washington Post, 10/30/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/29/AR2005102901225.html
Three 40-foot tractor-trailers were filled to the top. A box truck,
minivan and an SUV were all packed. And still, there were perhaps a
thousand more boxes stacked up in a warehouse in Sterling yesterday,
filled with medical supplies, clothes, blankets and other goods intended
for earthquake victims in Pakistan.
Dozens of members of the region's Pakistani community gathered at the
Loudoun County warehouse yesterday in their second attempt at sending
badly needed relief to those left injured or homeless by the Oct. 8
earthquake. Last weekend, the group packed a 53-foot tractor-trailer with
supplies and sent it to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport,
thinking its contents would be loaded onto a cargo plane for
Pakistan.
But the airport, and various airlines, were overwhelmed by relief
shipments and turned the massive container away. The trailer was driven
back to the parking lot outside Inter Global Systems' offices, just off
Sterling Boulevard, and yesterday, its contents were divided among three
trailers -- along with another week's worth of donations from
individuals, mosques, businesses, schools and Muslim groups from across
the region. This time, the cargo is destined for ships leaving the Port
of Baltimore.
"It really hurts to see the people suffering" in Pakistan, said
volunteer Rashid Hanif, a physician from Hagerstown. "It's
unbelievable, all the death and tragedy."
Hanif's interfaith community and mosque in Maryland sent an empty box
truck to Sterling, with the express purpose of getting tents to Pakistan.
Tents were the top priority because so many people are left without
shelter as winter approaches in the mountainous area near the Indian
border in the Kashmir region.
Hanif's group bought 250 tents, 100 sleeping bags and 20 boxes of
medicine and other medical supplies. In fact, so many Pakistanis bought
tents to donate to the relief effort that local department stores were
running out, said Farah Chohan, one of the organizers of yesterday's
drive. She estimated that about 1,500 tents were being shipped out of
Sterling yesterday. (MORE)
-----
CA: GROUP HOLDS
DRIVE FOR QUAKE RELIEF -
TOP
FALON MCCAIN, News-Democrat, 10/30/05
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/local/13035058.htm
Hurricane relief has dominated charitable giving lately, but the Metro
East Interfaith Partnership is making progress trying to aid victims of
the Pakistan earthquake. Mohammed Kibria, a member of the Masjid Islamic
Center and operator of the Psychiatric Hypnosis Healing Center,
established the Pakistan Disaster Relief Fund.
"The drive has been going pretty good," Kibria said. "The
community is really responding. The victims are really in need of
blankets and tents because it's winter over there and snow has started to
fall."
The 7.6 earthquake that hit Pakistan on Oct. 8 killed more than 79,000
people and injured 65,308. The quake destroyed entire villages and left
other areas heavily damaged. Those who survived are in desperate need of
supplies.
Interfaith members will drive relief items to the Pakistan International
Airline in Chicago. The airline has agreed to ship the items free of
charge. Kibria expects everything to be shipped by Thursday.
Dr. M. Khalid, also a member of the local mosque and a physician at
Internal Medicine-Primary Care in O'Fallon, is collecting medicine such
as painkillers and antibiotics for the drive. Dr. Khalid has asked for
samples from other physicians and plans on contacting drug companies.
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
NY: AS RAMADAN
ENDS MUSLIMS GIVE TO CHARITY -
TOP
HAFSA AMIN, STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE, 10/30/05
http://www.silive.com/living/advance/index.ssf?/base/living/113059710349940.xml&coll=1
Now that the holy month of Ramadan is nearing its last few days, Muslims
will be digging deep into their pockets in order to give zakat, or
charity, to the poor.
Due to the recent natural disasters -- close to home and around the world
-- Muslims have many places to offer their charity, either to help those
who lost their homes because of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita or Wilma, or to
the millions of people left homeless because of the earthquakes in
Pakistan.
"In Ramadan, Muslims place greater importance on helping others and
sharing. This is the month where Muslims try and grab last-minute rewards
from God by giving charity," says Alla Ahmed, an imam from Egypt who
is visiting the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Concord to give lectures about
Islam.
Zakat, along with fasting, is one of the five pillars of the Islamic
faith, the others being belief in one God (the Shahada), daily prayers
(the Salah), and performing pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj).
According to Tahir Kukiqi, imam of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center,
there are three different forms of charity.
Zakat Al Fitr is an obligatory charity that must be given during
Ramadan.
Zakat Al Mehr is also an obligatory charity that can be given any time
during the year.
"This is 2.5 percent of one's savings that have matured over the
past 12 months," explained Kukiqi. "It can be given during any
time of the year but Muslims choose to pay it during Ramadan because the
rewards from God are doubled."
Muslims also offer Sadaqah, a voluntary charity that, depending on one's
income, can be as simple as a meal or given as gifts to other people or
charities. (MORE)
---
ID: RAMADAN: THE
MONTH OF SELF-PURIFICATION -
TOP
Bill Schaefer, Idaho State Journal, 10/29/05
http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2005/10/29/features/faith01.txt
POCATELLO - On a cool October as the sun begins its slow descent below
the horizon against the misty gray skies of Pocatello, a group of people
begin to gather inside two back rooms of a small, wood frame house on
South Fifth Street.
These small, sparse rooms have been converted into a Mosque. They
represent the center of worship for Southeast Idaho's Islamic community.
Muslims from Roberts, Rexburg, Idaho Falls and Blackfoot come to worship
here in Pocatello. They are a melting pot of cultures, from Pakistan,
Palestine, Iraq, Malaysia, all over the world. They are students,
teachers, doctors, engineers, wives and mothers, coming together to
celebrate their faith. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
WA: EID
AL FITR CELEBRATES END OF RAMADAN FASTING, GIFT OF SELF-CONTROL -
TOP
Aziz Junejo, Seattle Times, 10/29/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/faithvalues/2002590582_junejocolumn29m.html
The three-day celebration called Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of the
month of Ramadan, has been to me what I imagine Christmas or Hanukkah is
to others of the Abrahamic faiths.
Eid al Fitr is one of two equally major holidays for Muslims around the
world, the other being Eid al Adha, the celebration that marks completion
of the annual Hajj in Mecca.
With the sighting of the new moon in the western sky just after sunset
one night this coming week, Ramadan will end and Eid will begin. During
Eid, Muslims not only celebrate the end of fasting but thank God for the
help and strength he gave them throughout the previous month to practice
self-control as a form of worship.
On the first morning of Eid, we wake up early and take long baths,
preparing ourselves for prayers with extra perfume and fragrances. We
usually have a light snack before going to prayer, as fasting is
forbidden on this special day.
A payment of Zakat al Fitr -- charity for the poor -- which is a pillar
of Islam, is required of every Muslim before Eid prayer. The man of the
house must pay for the immediate members of his family, and this money is
usually given a week or two before the end of Ramadan so it can be
distributed to the needy, thus ensuring that they will have a joyful Eid
celebration. (MORE)
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: WHY ISLAM DIDN'T CONQUER
THE WORLD -
TOP
PAUL AKERS, Free Lance-Star, 10/30/05
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/102005/10302005/141401
Probably, Mr. Reader, you did not yesterday wash five times, face Mecca,
sink to your knees, and pray to Allah. Most likely, Ms. Reader, you did
not cover yourself with a burka before venturing out to shop. Probably
neither of you is giving up all food between sunup and sundown during the
ongoing monthlong Ramadan.
For freedom from all of these obligations, you might spare a minute
sometime today, and every October, to say a silent "thank you"
to a gang of half-savage Germans and especially to their leader, Charles
"The Hammer" Martel. . .
Never again did Islamic armies seriously threaten the Great Land of Gaul
and beyond. Martel spent the rest of his life crushing smaller bands of
Arab interlopers. Eventually, the heroes of the reconquista threw the
Moors out of Spain. . .
And what sort of world would that be? Without the Christian quickening of
conscience that helped abolish slavery in England, the United States, and
elsewhere, the Quran-sanctioned institution might be the global norm. An
Emir Ibrahim al-Lincoln would not have issued the Emancipation
Proclamation.
Ever wonder at the hatred of Orthodox Christian Serbs for Muslim
Bosnians? One reason is that the ancestors of the former had to flee
Constantinople when the Muslims overwhelmed the Christian East, killing
or taking into bondage many who remained. The seething anti-Islamic
passions in the Balkans make sense when you consider that the very name
"Slav" comes from "slave."
Women the world over also would be permanent second-class citizens. Many
if not most--observe Saudi Arabia--would be forbidden to drive a car, own
property, or vote. Battered females might well lack legal or other
recourse. (MORE)
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO:
letters@freelancestar.com
COPY TO:
pakers@freelancestar.com,
edjones@freelancestar.com,
cair@cair-net.org
-----
NY: PRISONER
SAYS ABUSE OF HIS ISLAMIC BOOKS PRECEDED BEATING IN '01 -
TOP
JULIA PRESTON, New York Times, 10/30/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/30/nyregion/30side.html
Long before charges of Koran abuse at Guantanamo Bay were news, Charles
Paige, one of the inmates in a lawsuit against New York City over
practices in its jails, clashed with guards on Rikers Island after, he
said, they mishandled his Islamic books.
Mr. Paige, 46, was in the city jail in December 2001 awaiting transfer to
state prison on a drug charge. Long a devout Muslim, Mr. Paige had been
praying five times a day and going daily to Islamic study classes in the
jail.
On Dec. 4, guards ordered a general search in the cellblock. No stranger
to incarceration, Mr. Paige knew no talking was permitted during the
search. But the officer who came to search his cell, he said, stepped on
his prayer rug. "I informed her she was standing on my rug,"
Mr. Paige, a slight man who weighs less than 130 pounds, recounted in an
interview. He said the officer ordered him to be silent.
A ward captain told the officer to step off the rug, Mr. Paige said. She
did, but she began rummaging through his things, and he protested again.
Other officers took him out of his cell for an hour until the search was
over. When he returned, he said, "My cell was
tossed."
Two books of the Hadith, which has instructional stories from the life of
the prophet Muhammad, were under water in the toilet.
"I felt violated," Mr. Paige said. He marched out of his cell
and started banging on the window of the guard booth. Officers used
pepper spray on him, he said, then dragged him, handcuffed and gasping
from the spray, to a hallway. One officer punched him in the face while
another held him from behind, Mr. Paige said. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
U.S. SOLDIERS ALLEGEDLY ABUSE
AFGHAN DETAINEES -
TOP
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Two U.S. soldiers have been charged with
allegedly assaulting two detainees held at a U.S.-led coalition base in
southern Afghanistan, the military said Sunday.
The two troops allegedly punched the detainees on the chest, shoulders
and stomach while they were being held at a base in Uruzgan province, a
statement said. Neither detainee required medical attention, it
said.
"The command remains committed to investigate all allegations of
misconduct and will hold individuals responsible for their actions
consistent with U.S. military law," Brig. Gen. Jack Sterling, a
deputy coalition commander, was quoted as saying. (MORE)
-----
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
-----
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 10/31/05
*
Hadith:
Good Wipes Out Evil
-
Verse:
Repel Evil with Good
*
Top 10 Reasons to Support CAIR:
#6 -
Media Relations
*
CAIR:
U.S.
Muslims Eager to Help Fight Terrorism (VOA)
*
CAIR-OH:
Christians, Jews Join
Muslims in Breaking Fast
-
CAIR:
US Muslim
Group Condemns Delhi Bombings
*
'Law of the Jungle' in
Quake Zone (BBC)
-
CAIR Asks Muslims
to Collect Quake Aid on Eid
-
American Muslim Task Force for
Disaster Relief
*
SCOTUS Nominee Supported
Muslim Religious Rights (AP)
*
CA:
Sikhs, Confused with Muslims,
Face Bias
*
Truth About Torture (Newsweek)
-
Patriot Act:
The House's Abuse of
Patriotism (NYT)
-
Books Back Prisoners'
Claims (Newsday)
-
After 3 Years,
Afghan
Writers Freed from Gitmo
*
Prince Charles to
Target U.S. Attitude Toward Islam
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD WIPES OUT EVIL -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Remain conscious of
God wherever you are. If you follow an evil deed with a good one you will
wipe out (the evil deed); and deal with people with a good
disposition."
AL-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1314
VERSE OF THE DAY: REPEL EVIL WITH GOOD -
TOP
"(Since) good and evil cannot be equal, repel (the evil deed) with
one that is better. Then you will see that he with whom you had enmity,
will become your close friend."
The Holy Quran, 41:34
-----
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT CAIR: REASON #6 -
MEDIA RELATIONS -
TOP
CAIR representatives have been interviewed thousands of times about
issues of concern to American Muslims by local national and international
radio, print and television media outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, BBC, ABC,
FOX, NBC, CBS, Washington Post, USA Today, New York Times, to name just a
few. (Factiva lists more than 11,000 media mentions of CAIR in just the
past five years.)
To offer your support for CAIR, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
Scholars say that donations to CAIR qualify as Zakat.
-----
CAIR: U.S.
MUSLIMS EAGER TO HELP FIGHT TERRORISM -
TOP
Aida AKL, Voice of America, 10/31/05
http://www.voanews.com/english/NewsAnalysis/2005-10-27-voa44.cfm
Four years after the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington,
Many American-Muslims say they are underutilized and sometimes unjustly
targeted in the fight against terrorism. . .
Homeland Security's Daniel Southerland agrees that American-Muslims have
long been active in the fight against terrorism and extremism by reaching
out to the federal government and law enforcement. Consequently, he says,
the United States should do a better job of recognizing their
contributions to American society and ensuring that they are not excluded
from efforts to make the country more secure.
"They want to participate. It's their country as well. We saw that
reaction, for example, after Hurricane Katrina. We had a number of very
generous offers from Arab-American and Muslim-American organizations to
try to help with the relief efforts. And now, of course, they're doing a
great job with the Pakistan earthquake recovery as well. So I think
people need to recognize that we're all in this together. This is a large
community of Americans who want to work together on this process of
keeping our country safe, secure and on the right track."
A Role for U.S. Muslims
Many analysts agree that American-Muslims have an important role to play
in the war on terrorism. Corey Saylor of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations points out that the U.S. Muslim community is prosperous and
practices its faith freely. Because of that, he says American-Muslims
would like the opportunity to help shape the country's image
abroad.
"We'd like to be able to tell that side of the story to the larger
Muslim world because the larger Muslim world has learned about America
through watching our movies. That's not usually the best picture of our
country. It looks very violent and very indulgent. Equally, they learned
about us through the news just like, unfortunately, too many American
learned about Islam through the news." (MORE)
-----
CAIR-OH: LOCAL MUSLIMS
GIVEN SUPPORT AS RAMADAN OBSERVANCE CONTINUES -
TOP
Eileen Kelley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/31/05
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051031/NEWS01/510310352/1056
WEST CHESTER - It's Day 27 in the monthlong fast for Muslims
here.
Each day is a reminder of the struggles of the needy. From sun-up to
sundown, believers abstain from not only pleasures in life - but things
as simple as a cup of water.
On Sunday, with the call to prayer signaling the sun had dropped, Muslims
joined a small group of Christians and Jews and broke the fast.
Some reached for pre-poured glasses of water, while others grabbed juice
from mangos. Most ate dates - a long-rooted tradition - for quick energy
before heading off to pray. . .
"We have to do these kinds of things more often," said Wintz.
"It is important to get to know other people; especially in light of
what is going on in the world."
Wintz was one of nearly 150 people who came together early Sunday evening
to break bread with one another when the daylong fast was over.
Sunday's dinner was the second annual Ramadan Interfaith Iftar banquet
hosted by the Muslim civil rights group, the Cincinnati Chapter of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations - Ohio.
SEE ALSO:
US MUSLIM GROUP
CONDEMNS DELHI BOMBINGS -
TOP
Daily Times (Pakistan), 10/31/05
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C10%5C31%5Cstory_31-10-2005_pg7_44
WASHINGTON: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has
condemned the bomb attacks in New Delhi that left more than 60 people
dead and many more injured.
In a statement issued on Sunday, CAIR said: "The cruelty of these
brutal acts, and their timing so as to inflict maximum casualties, is
beyond comprehension. We condemn the bombings, offer condolences to the
loved ones of the victims and call for the swift apprehension and
punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause can ever be served by
such acts. These actions will never bring relief to any grievance and
will only serve to foster discord and misunderstanding between people of
different faiths." (MORE)
-----
'LAW OF THE JUNGLE' IN
QUAKE ZONE -
TOP
Aamer Ahmed Khan, BBC News, 10/31/05
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4390744.stm
Their story may already have dropped off the front pages and out of TV's
prime-time slots.
But for the survivors of the quake-devastated mountain areas in
Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the battle for survival is getting grimmer
by the minute.
The hills around the capital city of Muzaffarabad are streaming with
desperate survivors making their way to the relief camps set up along the
badly damaged road winding along River Neelum.
Many among them have trekked for two to three days to reach the camps,
only to find supplies short and aid workers - both from the public and
private sector - getting increasingly cynical. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR ASKS U.S.
MUSLIMS TO COLLECT QUAKE AID ON EID -
TOP
Islamic and Pakistani-American groups urge collective educational, relief
efforts
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051030/nysu013.html?.v=31
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- A prominent national Islamic civil
rights and advocacy group today asked Muslim communities nationwide to
take advantage of the upcoming holiday marking the end of Ramadan to
collect funds for earthquake relief in South Asia.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joined a number of other
Muslim and Pakistani-American groups that are calling for educational and
fundraising efforts on Eid ul-Fitr, or "festival of fast
breaking," that will take place on November 3rd or 4th, depending on
the sighting of the new crescent moon. Eid ul-Fitr draws large numbers of
Muslims for communal prayers.
CAIR and the other organizing groups seek to raise public awareness of
the continued suffering in areas devastated by the earthquake, inform
Muslims and Americans of all faiths about the need for long-term U.S.
involvement in relief efforts and to reaffirm American Muslim and
Pakistani-American commitment to quake relief and reconstruction.
(MORE)
---
AMERICAN MUSLIM TASK FORCE FOR
DISASTER RELIEF -
TOP
http://www.amtfdr.net/
-----
ALITO STRONG CONSERVATIVE ON
LIBERAL APPEALS COURT -
TOP
DONNA CASSATA, Associated Press, 10/31/05
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3427273
WASHINGTON (AP) - Samuel A. Alito has been a strong conservative jurist
on the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a court with
a reputation for being among the nation's most liberal. . .
In a 1999 case, Fraternal Order of Police v. City of Newark, the 3rd
Circuit ruled 3-0 that Muslim police officers in the city can keep their
beards. The police had made an exemption in its facial hair policy for
medical reasons (a skin condition known as pseudo folliculitis barbae)
but not for religious reasons.
Alito wrote the opinion, saying, ``We cannot accept the department's
position that its differential treatment of medical exemptions and
religious exemptions is premised on a good-faith belief that the former
may be required by law while the latter are not." (MORE)
-----
CA: SIKHS STRUGGLE TO BE ACCEPTED -
TOP
Since 9/11, many have been harassed or threatened
Greg Lucas, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/31/05
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/31/BAGT3FGDR01.DTL
A teenager accosted Sukhdev Singh Bainiwal, 39, at Home Depot, saying he
should take his turban back to the desert where he might actually need
it.
Another time, a fellow driver swerved toward him, saying "Arab, get
out of here." And once, the driver of a car near his rolled down his
window to ask if Bainiwal had told his family he loved them that
morning.
A member of Santa Clara County's Airport Commission and a software
engineer at Sun Microsystems, Bainiwal is a Sikh. He is one of 500,000 in
the United States, some 40,000 in the Bay Area alone, according to area
Sikh leaders. Like many Sikhs, he has been threatened or harassed
repeatedly since Sept. 11, 2001, by people who think he is Muslim and
equate that with terrorism.
Three Sikh cabdrivers have been shot in the Bay Area since then, two
fatally. Someone also shot at the sign for Vacaville's Sikh temple, or
gurdwara. Last year, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the gurdwara in
Stockton, California's oldest. And just this month, the Sikh temple in
Lodi was spray painted with anti-Muslim epithets. (MORE)
-----
TRUTH ABOUT TORTURE -
TOP
A courageous soldier and a determined senator demand clear
standards.
Michael Hirsh, Newsweek, 11/7/05
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9865301/site/newsweek/
Fishback's courage in taking a lonely stand may be paying off. Inspired
by his example, "a growing critical mass of soldiers is coming
forward with allegations of abuse," says Marc Garlasco of Human
Rights Watch, the New York-based activist group that first revealed
Fishback's story. One of them is Anthony Lagouranis, a Chicago-based Army
specialist who recently left the military. He supports Fishback's
contention that abuses in Iraq were systematic-and were authorized by
officers in an effort to pressure detainees into talking. "I think
our policies required abuse," says Lagouranis. "There were
freaking horrible things people were doing. I saw [detainees] who had
feet smashed with hammers. One detainee told me he had been forced by
Marines to sit on an exhaust pipe, and he had a softball-sized blister to
prove it. The stuff I did was mainly torture lite: sleep deprivation,
isolation, stress positions, hypothermia. We used dogs."
(MORE)
SEE ALSO:
PATRIOT ACT: THE HOUSE'S ABUSE OF PATRIOTISM -
TOP
New York Times, 10/31/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/31/opinion/31mon1.html
In the national anguish after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,
Congress rushed to enact a formidable antiterrorism law - the Patriot Act
- that significantly crimped civil liberties by expanding law
enforcement's power to use wiretaps, search warrants and other
surveillance techniques, often under the cloak of secrecy. There was
virtually no public debate before these major changes to the nation's
legal system were put into effect.
Now, with some of the act's most sweeping powers set to expire at the end
of the year, the two houses of Congress face crucial negotiations, which
will also take place out of public view, on their differences over how to
extend and amend the law. That's controversy enough. But the increasingly
out-of-control House of Representatives has made the threat to our system
of justice even greater by inserting a raft of provisions to enlarge the
scope of the federal death penalty.
In a breathtaking afterthought at the close of debate, the House voted to
triple the number of terrorism-related crimes carrying the death penalty.
The House also voted to allow judges to reduce the size of juries that
decide on executions, and even to permit prosecutors to try repeatedly
for a death sentence when a hung jury fails to vote for death.
The radical amendment was slapped through by the Republican leadership
without serious debate. The Justice Department has endorsed the House
measure, and Representative James Sensenbrenner Jr., the Judiciary
Committee chairman, who is ever on the side of more government power over
the individual, is promising to fight hard for the death penalty
provisions. (MORE)
---
BOOKS BACK FORMER
PRISONERS' CLAIMS -
TOP
JAMES RUPERT, Newsday, 10/31/05
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woside31,0,1076455.story
PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Former U.S. soldiers at the Pentagon's military
prisons overseas have given evidence that a great many of the captives
in "the global war on terror" are innocent.
In the past year, a former Army interpreter at Guantanamo and an
interrogator at U.S. prisons in Afghanistan have published books on
their experiences that in many ways buttress the accounts of
ex-prisoners such as Afghan writers Badr Zaman Badr and Abdurrahim
Muslim Dost. . .
At Guantanamo in 2003, the bulk of prisoners were either innocent or
irrelevant to the U.S. investigation into terrorist activities,
according to Sgt. Erik Saar, who supervised interpreters in
interrogations there. "We did have some bad guys, and some talkers" who
were giving useful intelligence information, Saar wrote in his book,
"Inside the Wire." "But from what I saw, there weren't many more than a
few dozen such characters at Guantanamo."
Even a prisoner who has convinced his interrogators that he is no
threat to the United States may not be freed. That decision is made at
the Pentagon. But "once the file's in Washington, the decisions are all
political," Saar quoted a military interrogator as saying. Bureaucrats
ask, "Would releasing too many [prisoners] make the Gitmo operation
look bad?" Saar wrote.
---
AFTER 3 YEARS, AFGHAN WRITERS FREED FROM GITMO -
TOP
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wobadr31,0,2326228.story
-----
CHARLES TO TARGET U.S. ATTITUDE TOWARD ISLAM -
TOP
Andrew Alderson, LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/31/05
http://washingtontimes.com/world/20051030-115534-6734r.htm
LONDON -- Prince Charles will try to convince President Bush of the
merits of Islam this week because he thinks the United States has been
too intolerant of the religion since September 11, 2001.
The prince, who leaves tomorrow for an eight-day tour of the United
States, has voiced private concerns over Washington's "confrontational"
approach to Muslim countries and its failure to appreciate what he
regards as Islam's strengths.
The prince raised his concerns when he met senior Muslims in London in
November 2001. The gathering took place two months after the attacks on
New York and Washington.
"I find the language and rhetoric coming from America too
confrontational," the prince said, according to one leader at the
meeting.
It is understood that Prince Charles did not -- and does not -- believe
that the actions of 19 hijackers should tarnish the reputation of
hundreds of millions of law-abiding Muslims around the world. (MORE)
-----
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
-----
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #477
REGISTER
ONLINE FOR CAIR'S DEC. 3 BANQUET IN VA
Registration is now available online for
CAIR's 11th Annual Banquet,
"American Muslims: Partners for Peace and Justice." To
learn more about the dinner, or to register,
GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/2005banquet/
SEE ALSO: Invitation Letter from CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad
-----
CAIR 11TH ANNUAL BANQUET:
"American Muslims: Partners for Peace and
Justice"
WHEN:
Saturday, December 3, 2005
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., Program begins at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, VA
SPEAKERS:
*
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
*
Chip Pitts, former Chairman-Amnesty International
* I
mam Siraj Wahhaj
* Program will also feature the "2005 Rosa Parks Civil Liberties
Award Recipient" and the
"2005 Muslim Community Service
Awards"
TICKETS: 65/person; $85/couple; $10/child babysitting
Registration Deadline is Monday, November 28
TABLE SPONSORSHIPS: Family, Non-Profit, Masajid $1000, Business
$2000, Embassies $3000
If you have any questions or would like to make a reservation over the
phone, please call 202-488-8787, or e-mail:
events@cair.com
ACTION REQUESTED:
1.
REGISTER ONLINE by going to:
https://www.cair-net.org/2005banquet/reg1.asp
For more information, call 202-488-8787 or e-mail
events@cair.com
2.
LET OTHERS KNOW about the dinner. Contact
events@cair.com to give a list of
people who should be contacted about the dinner.
3.
If you are unable to attend the dinner, but would like to
support CAIR's important work, make a donation at:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/donate.asp
-----
INVITATION LETTER FROM CAIR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR NIHAD AWAD -
TOP -
REGISTER
As-salaamu alaykum.
May the peace of Almighty God be with you.
On behalf of the CAIR Board of Directors and staff nationwide, it is with
great honor and pleasure that I invite you and your family to the
11th
Annual CAIR Banquet at the
Marriott Crystal Gateway in
Arlington, VA., on
Saturday December 3, 2005.
The banquet is an opportunity to celebrate our community's successes,
listen to inspiring speakers and show your continuing support for CAIR's
work by its dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Guest speakers will
include
Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), annual host of CAIR's
Congressional Iftar, along with
Chip Pitts, former-Chairman of
Amnesty International, and
Imam Siraj Wahhaj.
Each day,
CAIR tirelessly and proudly defends the image of Islam
and protects the rights of Muslims in America by working closely with the
media, public officials, interfaith leaders, and our friends and
neighbors of all faiths, races and backgrounds. Over the years, CAIR has
become the focal point on issues relating to Islam and the American
Muslim community.
How Islam and the American Muslim community are understood and perceived
depends on what we do today. Although our community has made great
strides, there is still a lot more to be done to ensure a more positive
future for Muslims in America.
For example, CAIR recently announced a
"Rosa Parks Civil
Liberties Scholarship," to honor the life of a pioneer in the
civil rights movement. This award will go to a student studying in a
field that promotes civil rights, social justice and peaceful resolution
of conflicts.
We will announce an awardee during the December 3rd
banquet.
Once a year, I ask you to support CAIR's operational expenses in
order for us to continue with our work on your behalf. CAIR cannot
sustain itself without your commitment to the Muslim community and your
continuous financial support. We are 100 percent for you and 100 percent
funded by you.
Don't miss out on this great annual celebration. Make your reservations
today.
CAIR's banquet has been sold out for the last 10
years!
If you cannot join us that evening, you can use the enclosed form to
send us your generous contribution as an investment in the future of
Islam in America.
We look forward to seeing you at CAIR's 11th Annual Banquet on
December 3, 2005!
Best regards,
Nihad Awad
Executive Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
TOP -
REGISTER
- PLEASE ANNOUNCE, POST AND DISTRIBUTE -
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 reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
NJ MUSLIMS 'PROFILED' FOR PRAYING AT GIANTS STADIUM
CAIR to launch Eid ul-Fitr 'Pray for Understanding'
Educational Campaign
(TOTOWA, NJ, 11/1/05) - On
Wednesday, November 2, the New
Jersey and New York offices of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-NJ/CAIR-NY) will hold a press conference in New York City to launch
a
"Pray for Understanding" educational campaign tied to
the upcoming Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, or "feast of fast
breaking."
CAIR's campaign was prompted by an incident in which several Muslim
football fans were allegedly profiled by law enforcement authorities for
praying publicly in Giants Stadium during a game in September. The men
report they were detained and interrogated apparently based on their
prayers being perceived as "suspicious behavior" by other
fans.
WHAT:
CAIR News Conference on Profiling, Launch of 'Pray for
Understanding' Campaign
WHEN: Wednesday, November 2, Noon
WHERE: 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 246, New York, NY (120th St. and
Riverside Drive)
CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr, 917-751-1017 or
212-870-2002, E-Mail: director@cair-ny.org
"This incident is of particular concern because a recent report
confirmed that a number of New Jersey Muslims have been profiled by law
enforcement authorities solely because of their faith," said CAIR-NY
Executive Director Wissam Nasr.
A federal review concluded that New Jersey counterterrorism agents filed
140 intelligence reports into a database with no grounds for suspicion
other than the suspects' Muslim faith.
SEE: "Report Backs Charges that N.J. Muslims were
Profiled"
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-3/112866313196640.xml&coll=1
At the Wednesday news conference, the detained football fans will
describe the alleged profiling incident, and CAIR representatives will
outline the "Pray for Understanding" campaign.
The campaign itself involves inviting people of all faiths to attend
prayers and other activities associated with the Eid ul-Fitr holiday that
will take place November 3rd or 4th. (The exact date depends on the
sighting of the new crescent moon.)
CAIR has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is
to enhance the 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.
-----
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
-----
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 11/1/05
*
Hadith:
Fasting Leads
to Forgiveness
*
CAIR-DC:
Register Online
for CAIR's Annual Banquet
*
Top 10 Reasons to Support CAIR: #7 -
Civil
Rights
*
CAIR-SV:
Sacramento
Muslims to Hold Quake Relief Event
-
CAIR-OH:
150
Attend CAIR-Cincinnati Interfaith Iftar
-
CAIR-OH:
Ramadan: A Month of Community
-
CAIR-CAN Urges B.C. Muslim Group to Let Women Vote
- '
Women Friendly Mosques' Brochure
-
CAIR: Muslim Group Honors Rosa Parks (Dallas Morn News)
*
MA: Islamic Society Expands Libel Suit (Boston Globe)
*
FL: Religious Holiday Ban Draws Heat (Tampa Trib)
*
WA: Local or Global Moon-Sighting for End of Ramadan?
-
CA: Ramadan Tries Young Muslim Athletes
*
TX:
Town Hall Mtg Eyes Muslims and the West (San Antonio Exp)
-
KS: '
Working Together With a Muslim Work Force'
*
IL: $3 Million Expansion of Des Plaines Mosque (Chicago Trib)
*
MI: SEC Approves Public Offering of Muslim Media Network
*
WA:
Shock at Secret Jailing of Computer Specialist (SPI)
-
Gitmo Lawyer Witnesses Suicide Attempt (Wash Post)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FASTING LEADS TO FORGIVENESS -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever fasts the month
of Ramadan, obeying all of its limitations and guarding himself against
what is forbidden, has in fact atoned for any sins he committed before
it."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 109
When the Prophet stated that people would be granted forgiveness on the
last night in Ramadan, he was asked whether it was Laylat al-Qadr
("Night of Power"), he replied: "No, but a workman is paid his full
wages only when he has finished his work."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 617
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET -
TOP
Registration is now available online for CAIR's 11th Annual Banquet,
"American Muslims: Partners for Peace and Justice." To learn more about
the dinner, or to register, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/2005banquet/
REMEMBER - CAIR banquets have been sold out every year -
alhamdulillah.
-----
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT CAIR: REASON #7 - CIVIL RIGHTS -
TOP
Since 1994, CAIR's Civil Rights Department dealt with, free of charge,
more than 16,000 discrimination cases reported by American Muslims.
CAIR also publishes the nation's only annual report on the status of
American Muslim civil rights.
To offer your support for CAIR, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
Scholars say that donations to CAIR qualify as Zakat.
-----
CAIR-SV: SACRAMENTO MUSLIMS TO HOLD FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR QUAKE VICTIMS -
TOP
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 11/1/05) - On Tuesday, November 1st, the Sacramento
Valley Muslim community and the Interfaith Service Bureau (ISB) will
hold a fundraising dinner to collect monetary donations and clothing to
be sent to areas devastated by the South Asia earthquake.
WHAT: Fundraising Dinner for Quake Relief
WHEN: Tuesday, November 1st, 2005 from 5-8 PM.
WHERE: Grand Ballroom, 1215 J Street, Sacramento.
CONTACT: Basim Elkarra, CAIR-SV Executive Director (916) 441-6269, e-mail:
sacval@cair.com; ISB Executive Director Reverend Dexter McNamara, (914) 448-2212
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-OH: 150 ATTEND CAIR-CINCINNATI INTERFAITH IFTAR -
TOP
(CINCINNATI, OH, 11/1/2005) - The Cincinnati office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) said today that some 150 people,
including public officials, civic leaders and members of the interfaith
community, turned out on Sunday, October 30, for its Annual Sharing
Ramadan Iftar Banquet. ("Iftar" is the meal eaten after sunset to break
the fast each day during the observance of Ramadan.)
"It is important for American Muslims to reach out to their neighbors
of all faiths in an atmosphere of sharing and mutual respect," said
CAIR-Ohio's Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub. The evening's program
included presentations on Ramadan and CAIR.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, is headquartered
in Washington, D.C., and has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in
Canada
CONTACT: Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-Mail:
karen@cair-ohio.com; Brent Meyer, 513-276-1600, E-Mail:
meyer_brent@hotmail.com
---
CAIR-OH: RAMADAN: A MONTH OF COMMUNITY -
TOP
KURT MOORE, Marion Star, 10/31/05
http://www.marionstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051026/NEWS01/510260303&SearchID=73225074715388
MARION - Each day for a month, Columbus pediatrician Dr. Asma
Mobin-Uddin has to get up before dawn to eat and doesn't have another
bite until the sun goes down. Even water is not allowed.
It's a period the beginning of which, considering its physical
hardship, the Marion Catholic High School graduate and vice president
of the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said
she approaches with a little apprehension. Just the same, Mobin-Uddin
said she considers the holy month of Ramadan to be one of the best
months of the year. (MORE)
---
CAIR-CAN URGES B.C. MUSLIM GROUP TO LET WOMEN VOTE -
TOP
(OTTAWA, CANADA - 31/10/05) - The Canadian Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) today called on the B.C. Muslim Association (BCMA)
to respect both the religious and political right of women to vote in
its decision-making process.
According to media and other reports, the BCMA bars women from voting
in its internal affairs, such as the hiring of Imams, or prayer
leaders, for the association's mosques.
The issue surfaced in response to a community disagreement regarding a local Imam.
In a statement released today, CAIR-CAN said:
"While we respect the right of Muslims in British Columbia to resolve
their own internal disagreements, it is unacceptable that women are
denied the right to vote which is given to them by both Islam and
Canadian law.
"Under Islam, the concept of "shura," or mutual consultation on community matters, includes both men and women.
"CAIR-CAN calls on the BCMA to respect the rights given to women under Islam."
For more information, please contact Halima Mautbur at 613-254-9704.
CAIR-CAN
Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA
P.O. Box 13219, Ottawa, ONT, K2K 1X4
Tel: 1-866-524-0004
Fax: 613-254-9810
URL:
www.caircan.ca
---
'WOMEN FRIENDLY MOSQUES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS' BROCHURE -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1632&theType=NR
---
CAIR: MUSLIM GROUP HONORS ROSA PARKS -
TOP
Dallas Morning News, 10/29/05
http://www.dallasnews.com
A leading American Islamic group is creating a scholarship to honor the life and work of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks.
Details are to be announced in December at the annual meeting in Washington, D.C., of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Mrs. Parks, who died Monday, set off the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott
when she refused to yield her seat to a white rider in 1955.
"Rosa Parks ... continues to inspire all those who struggle for social justice and equality," CAIR said.
-----
MA: ISLAMIC SOCIETY EXPANDS LIBEL SUIT -
TOP
Charles Radin, Boston Globe, 11/1/05
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/01/islamic_society_expands_libel_suit/
Leaders of the Islamic Society of Boston broadened their defamation
suit yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court to add conspiracy charges
against a group of journalists and scholars who the Muslim leaders
allege sought to ruin the reputations of the society and its leaders
and prevent construction of a major mosque in Boston.
The suit expanded upon and incorporated two previously filed lawsuits
-- the first brought in February against WFXT-TV (Channel 25), and the
second in May against Channel 25 and the Boston Herald. In those
earlier suits, leaders of the Islamic Society charged that reports
broadcast and published in 2003 and 2004 defamed them by falsely
linking them to Islamic terrorist groups.
Yesterday's filing alleged that several nonprofit advocacy groups,
individuals, and reporters, acting out of alleged bias against Muslims,
conspired to defame the society and its leaders.
Among newly named defendants:
Steven Emerson, a Washington-based writer, and his organization, The Investigative Project Inc.;
William R. Sapers, a member of the Board of Trustees of Roxbury Community College;
The David Project Inc., a Boston-based group that focuses on issues
related to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and its director of education,
Anna Kolodner;
Citizens for Peace and Tolerance, a Cambridge-based group that has
questioned whether the leaders of the mosque project were moderate
Muslims; its president, Boston College political science professor
Dennis Hale; and its director, Steven A. Cohen.
The Islamic Society of Boston is the city-designated developer of a $22
million mosque, which is under construction on land next to Roxbury
Community College.
The suit alleges that Sapers initially attempted to undermine the
project by damaging the Islamic Society's relations with the college
through unfounded statements to officials of the college that the
society's leaders were associated with Muslim terrorist organizations.
After that effort failed, the plaintiffs allege, Sapers then turned to
Emerson for assistance ''in an effort to manufacture any negative story
he could come up with to support the effort to undermine the project."
Emerson, a former CNN correspondent who in the mid-1990s won numerous
investigative journalism awards for his documentary ''Jihad in
America," was, by the time Sapers sought him out in 2002, ''widely
regarded as a discredited, biased, self-proclaimed 'expert' on radical
Islam . . . with a known agenda against Muslims," the suit charges.
(MORE)
-----
FL: RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY VOTE DRAWS HEAT -
TOP
MARILYN BROWN, Tampa Tribune, 11/1/05
http://www.tampatrib.com/MGBK8KUOHFE.html
TAMPA -- More than 100 pleading, threatening and indignant e-mails have
streamed into Hillsborough County School Board offices, some calling
board members "gutless," "morons," and "a bunch of wimps."
At issue is the board's vote to drop religious holidays from its school
calendar, a decision that has drawn fire from national media, local
officials and citizens.
Hillsborough School Board members voted Oct. 25 to drop Yom Kippur and
Good Friday from the 2006-07 school calendar, designating no religious
holidays off except Christmas. Students may be absent on their
religious holidays without penalty or restriction on the number of days.
The new policy was sparked last December by a request from local
Muslims for a day off for Eid Al-Fitr, a factor that has seeped into
many of the public responses. (MORE)
-----
WA: MOON CLOUDS CELEBRATION FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITY -
TOP
Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times, 11/1/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002596654_eid01m.html
In preparation for Eid al-Fitr, the celebration that ends the holy
month of Ramadan, local Muslims have purchased new clothes, prepared
food and rented a hangar at the former naval station at Sand Point big
enough to accommodate a communitywide prayer service.
But local Muslims, like those across the country, may be celebrating
the holiday on two different days this week - either Thursday or Friday.
Muslims follow the lunar calendar and a religious tenet that says
holidays such as Eid can start only after the sighting of a new, or
crescent, moon.
The question is: Do local Muslims begin celebrating when the crescent
moon is seen by someone in, say, Saudi Arabia? Or only when it's seen
by a Muslim in the United States, which could be on a different night?
In other words, should local Muslims follow a global sighting of the
moon or one closer to home? (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CA: RAMADAN TRIES YOUNG MUSLIM ATHLETES -
TOP
Brad A. Greenberg, San Bernadino County Sun, 11/1/05
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3170085
DIAMOND BAR - The football coach hollers, "Water break!" and the
players cluster around blue Powerade bottles. Hytham Elsherif stands
alone and to the side.
"Somebody soak him down," an assistant coach says.
He unstraps his helmet so a teammate can squirt water on his head. He spits repeatedly to keep it from sneaking into his mouth.
Hytham is a unique member of Diamond Bar High School's varsity team he
is its only Muslim. Because it is Ramadan, the holiest month of the
Islamic calendar, Hytham is fasting from sunrise to sunset each day.
Starving the body for 14 hours is taxing on even the most sedentary.
For a 17-year-old offensive lineman, it seems like a death wish.
"If he wants to play, it's up to him," says his mother, Naglaa
Elsherif. "But he has to follow God's rules he has to fast. If he
doesn't have the energy to fast, don't play."
Hytham's is a common dilemma of Muslim-American youths, many of whom
find themselves attending class, studying and competing athletically on
an empty stomach one month a year.
A first-generation Egyptian-American, Hytham has sculpted an identity
as an American youth who happens to be a devout Muslim. He is one of an
estimated 10 Muslims in a sea of 3,307 students. But his classmates do
not consider him particularly different except during that one month
each year when they only see him eat at night.
During Ramadan, which this year began Oct. 4 and ends Nov. 3, the 1.3
billion Muslims worldwide who are of age, in good health and not
pregnant are called to abstain from food, drink, cursing and sex during
the day.
Fasting is one of Islam's Five Pillars. Hytham first participated at
age 6. He says it gets easier as the month progresses, that his body
adapts to his inability to make up the lost calories.
The coaches and players say they respect Hytham's religion. His
conviction leaves them in awe. But they are not without concern for the
effect it has on Hytham's performance. (MORE)
-----
TX: TOWN HALL MEETING EYES MUSLIMS AND THE WEST -
TOP
San Antonio Express-News, 11/1/05
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA110105.3B.townhall.17054e78.html
A town hall meeting on "The Future of Western-Muslim World Relations"
is scheduled for 7:30 tonight in St. Mary's SBC Technology Center Room
108.
The meeting will feature an expert on Islam and the Muslim world,
Michael Kraig, who is the director of policy analysis at the Stanley
Foundation in Muscatine, Iowa.
The event is aimed at improving Western-Muslim relations through an initiative called "Hope not Hate."
"The goal of this unprecedented series is two-fold," said Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, the co-chairman of Hope not Hate.
"First, we want to build a bridge of understanding between non-Muslims
and Muslims in the United States, and then extend that bridge of
understanding from the U.S. to the Muslim world," Ahmed said.
SEE ALSO:
'WORKING TOGETHER WITH A MUSLIM WORK FORCE' -
TOP
The Kansas City Star, 11/1/05
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/13047279.htm
"Working Together With a Muslim Work Force" is the topic of a seminar
scheduled for 8-11:30 a.m. Nov. 11 at Kansas City Kansas Community
College. The featured speaker is to be Syafi'i Anwar, executive
director the International Center of Islam and Pluralism in Jakarta,
Indonesia.
The event, which includes panel discussions, costs $35, or $10 for
students. Registration is requested by calling (913) 288-7362 or
sending e-mail to
shawken@toto.net
-----
IL: FAITH FILLS THEIR NEW SPACE -
TOP
$3 million expansion of Des Plaines mosque gives Muslims relief from
crowding, but holiday services already will tax its capacity
Kristen Schorsch, Chicago Tribune, 11/5/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0511010153nov01,1,2772933.story
About 50 women and girls lined up shoulder-to-shoulder as prayer began,
clasping their hands near their chests and bowing their covered heads.
The upstairs room in the new Islamic Community Center of Des Plaines
was mostly silent, pierced only by the giggles and faint whispers of
young children.
The women put their hands on their knees and bowed lower, eventually
kneeling on the floor to place their hands and heads on the beige
carpet. Downstairs, men did the same. Together but apart, the men and
women repeated the postures to prayers recited from the Koran, the
sacred text of Islam.
Such gatherings have been easier to accommodate with the $3.2 million
expansion of the center at 480 Potter Rd. Though not large enough to
accommodate the observances this week marking the end of the holy month
of Ramadan, the mosque, completed in August, is about 11 times larger
than the five-room ranch-style house that had been the center's home,
said Ghulam Farooqie, the center's president. (MORE)
-----
MI: SEC APPROVES PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE MUSLIM MEDIA NETWORK, INC. (MMN) -
TOP
Business Wire, 11/1/05
http://home.businesswire.com/
FARMINGTON, Mich. Nov. 1, 2005 - The Security and Exchange Commission
(SEC) has given final approval to Muslim Media Network, Inc.'s
application for permission to sell shares of stock to the public, the
first time it has ever approved such a request from a Muslim media
company.
MMN is now federally approved to offer shares to the public in all 50
states; now it needs state-level approval, which in fact it has already
received in Illinois. MMN is now seeking approval in the other 49
states. The goal of MMN is to sell $10 million worth of stock.
Dr. AS Nakadar, CEO and President of the Board of Directors of MMN,
said, "We are grateful to God Almighty that He helped us achieve our
goals in a relatively short time. The application with the SEC was
filed 7 months ago; our preparations began 8 months before that."
MMN is the owner of the weekly newspaper, The Muslim Observer (TMO).
TMO is the largest subscription-based Muslim weekly in the U.S., and
the only one that has reached all 50 states for the past several years
without a single issue. TMO is in suburban Detroit, and maintains
editorial offices in Las Vegas, Chicago, Houston and Toronto. In a
media market once dominated by ethnically-focused media, TMO has made
its own niche. Its editorials and articles have been picked up several
times by other media outlets, and its publisher and editor have
appeared on television, radio and in the newspapers several times.
-----
WA: COLLEAGUES SHOCKED AT SECRET JAILING OF FORMER UW COMPUTER SPECIALIST -
TOP
ATHIMA CHANSANCHAI, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 10/31/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/246531_fast31.html
In the post-9/11, Patriot Act world, people and due process can disappear under a veil of government-sanctioned secrecy.
Taken from his home in July 2004: a former University of Washington
computer specialist and Saudi national whose exiled father is a vocal
critic of their homeland's government. He was targeted for a visa
violation over a previous misdemeanor drug conviction even though
immigration officials focused on his alleged ties to terrorism. Worried
co-workers didn't know what happened until federal agents charged into
their offices days later. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
GUANTANAMO DESPERATION SEEN IN SUICIDE ATTEMPTS -
TOP
One Incident Was During Lawyer's Visit
Josh White, Washington Post, 11/1/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/31/AR2005103101987.html
Jumah Dossari had to visit the restroom, so the detainee made a quick
joke with his American lawyer before military police guards escorted
him to a nearby cell with a toilet. The U.S. military prison at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had taken quite a toll on Dossari over the past
four years, but his attorney, who was there to discuss Dossari's
federal court case, noted his good spirits and thought nothing of his
bathroom break.
Minutes later, when Dossari did not return, Joshua Colangelo-Bryan
knocked on the cell door, calling out his client's name. When he did
not hear a response, Colangelo-Bryan stepped inside and saw a
three-foot pool of blood on the floor. Numb, the lawyer looked up to
see Dossari hanging unconscious from a noose tied to the ceiling, his
eyes rolled back, his tongue and lips bulging, blood pouring from a
gash in his right arm.
Dossari's suicide attempt two weeks ago is believed to be the first
such event witnessed by an outsider at the prison, and one of several
signs that lawyers and human rights advocates contend point to growing
desperation among the more than 500 detainees there. Lawyers believe
Dossari, who has been in solitary confinement for nearly two years,
timed his suicide attempt so that someone other than his guards would
witness it, a cry for help meant to reach beyond the base's walls. . .
Dossari, 26, said U.S. troops have put out cigarettes on his skin,
threatened to kill him and severely beat him. He told his lawyer that
he saw U.S. Marines at Kandahar "using pages of the Koran to shine
their boots," and was brutalized at Guantanamo Bay by Immediate
Response Force guards who videotaped themselves attacking him. (MORE)
-----
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
-----
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR LAUNCHES 'PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING'
CAMPAIGN
People of all faiths invited to attend end of Ramadan
events
(NEW YORK, NY, 11/2/05) - The New Jersey and New York offices of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ/CAIR-NY) today
launched a
"Pray for Understanding" educational campaign
tied to the upcoming Islamic holiday of
Eid ul-Fitr, or
"feast of fast breaking."
At a news conference in New York City, CAIR representatives said the
campaign involves inviting people of all faiths to attend prayers and
other activities associated with the Eid ul-Fitr holiday that will take
place November 3rd or 4th. (The exact date depends on the sighting of the
new crescent moon.) CAIR hopes visitors will take advantage of the
opportunity to learn more about Islamic prayer rituals and to meet
ordinary Muslims.
(Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the month-long Islamic fast of Ramadan.
Along with communal prayers, many Muslim communities hold multicultural
bazaars featuring activities for children, food from different parts of
the Muslim world and booths offering information about Islam.)
For more about Eid ul-Fitr, see: "Muslim Event Grows with
Population"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0511020009nov02,1,755322.story
"Research has shown that anti-Muslim prejudice and misunderstanding
decrease in direct proportion to knowledge of Islam and interaction with
Muslims," said CAIR-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr. "We
invite people of all faiths to seek out and visit an Eid prayer or
celebration in their area to both learn more about Islam and to have some
fun."
He offered two specific Eid events people in New Jersey are invited to
attend:
1)
Eid prayers at 8:30 a.m. on
November 3 or 4 at the
Teaneck Armory on Teaneck Road between Ward Plaza and Liberty Road,
Teaneck N.J. (Local and state politicians are expected to attend.
Visitors are urged to arrive early due to the number of people expected
to attend.) Contact: 201-692-7730, 201-641-2200 or 201-833-2162
2)
Eid celebrations on
Saturday, November 5, in Clifton
Memorial Park at Main Street and Piaget Avenue in
Clifton, N.J.
Celebrations begin at noon and end at 6 p.m. There will be a fireworks
display at sunset. Contact: 973-278-7070
Anyone wishing to attend an Eid event in other areas may go to
www.islamicfinder.com to
locate and contact a local mosque or Islamic center.
CAIR is also urging Muslim communities nationwide to take advantage of
the Eid holiday to
collect funds for earthquake relief in South
Asia.
SEE: "CAIR Asks U.S. Muslims to Collect Quake Aid on
Eid"
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1842&theType=NR
Nasr said CAIR's "Pray for Understanding" campaign was prompted
by an incident in which several Muslim football fans were allegedly
profiled by law enforcement authorities for praying publicly during a
game in Giants Stadium. The men report they were detained and
interrogated apparently based on their prayers being perceived as
"suspicious behavior" by other fans.
SEE: "Muslim Fans Say Giants Stadium Security, FBI Profiled Them
for Praying"
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--giantsstadium-mus1101nov01,0,1783428.story
LATE UPDATE: The FBI now claims the men were detained because they
were "congregating near the main air intake duct" for the
stadium, not because they were praying, even though the area was
accessible to all fans. That area has since been fenced off.
SEE: "FBI: Muslims Detained Were Close to Arena Air
Duct"
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--giantsstadium-mus1102nov02,0,2242182.story
A federal review recently concluded that New Jersey counterterrorism
agents filed 140 intelligence reports into a database with no grounds for
suspicion other than the suspects' Muslim faith.
SEE: "Report Backs Charges that N.J. Muslims were
Profiled"
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-3/112866313196640.xml&coll=1
CAIR has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is
to enhance the 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-NY Executive Director Wissam Nasr, 917-751-1017 or
212-870-2002, E-Mail:
director@cair-ny.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.
-----
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
-----
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
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS
- 11/2/05
*
Verse:
Good and Evil are a
Test
*
CAIR-DC:
Register Online
for CAIR's Annual Banquet
-
Top 10 Reasons to Support CAIR: #8 -
Education
*
CAIR
Seeks
Applicants for Rosa Parks Scholarship
*
CAIR-Chicago to
Co-Sponsor
Interfaith Gathering
-
IL:
Eid Grows
with Muslim Population (Chicago Trib)
*
CAIR-CA:
Halal
Foods More Widely Available (Mercury News)
-
What is Halal?
-
MN: Muslims
Flock to Restaurants at Sundown (Star Trib)
*
Islam in America
Teaches
Reconciliation (Wash File)
*
FL:
City
Council Race Marred by Remarks on Ethnicity
-
Candidate: 'I don't
want an Indian in my government'
*
WI:
Judge
Dismisses Lawsuit Over Headscarf Removal (AP)
*
CIA Holds Terror Suspects in
Secret Prisons
(Wash Post)
-
Detainee Policy Sharply Divides Bush Officials (NYT)
-
U.S. Denies U.N. Access to Gitmo Detainees (AP/Reuters)
-
Rationalizing Torture (Washington Times)
*
Trinidad: Empowering Women Through Islam
*
Death Toll in Asian Quake Jumps to 73,276 (AP)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOOD AND EVIL ARE A TEST -
TOP
"Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial: and unto Us you all must return."
The Holy Quran, 21:35
"On the Day of Judgment We shall set up scales of justice so that no
one will be dealt with unjustly in any way; even if someone has an act
(of good or evil) as small as a grain of a mustard seed, We will bring
it to account, and sufficient are We to settle the accounts."
The Holy Quran, 21:47
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET -
TOP
Registration is now available online for CAIR's 11th Annual Banquet,
"American Muslims: Partners for Peace and Justice." To learn more about
the dinner, or to register, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/2005banquet/
SEE ALSO:
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT CAIR: REASON #8 - EDUCATION -
TOP
CAIR distributed more than 8,000 Library Project packages to American
public libraries. These packages contained 18 quality books, videos and
DVDs about Islam and Muslims that are now available to millions of
people around the nation.
To offer your support for CAIR, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/ramadan2005/
Scholars say that donations to CAIR qualify as Zakat.
-----
CAIR SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR ROSA PARKS SCHOLARSHIP -
TOP
(WASHINGTON, DC, 11/2/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) announced today that it is seeking applicants for a scholarship
announced recently to honor the life and work of civil rights pioneer
Rosa Parks.
This year's awardee of the annual $1,000 CAIR "Rosa Parks Civil
Liberties Scholarship" will be announced at CAIR's annual dinner in
Washington, D.C., on December 3rd.
Applicants must be enrolled in, or accepted by, a full-time
undergraduate, graduate or professional program of an accredited
university in the United States majoring in a field that promotes civil
rights, social justice and/or the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
They must have a grade point average of 3.0 or above for undergraduate
students or 3.5 or above for graduate students.
The applicants must also have a demonstrated interest in civil
liberties issues. Preference will be given to applicants with past
employment or volunteer experiences indicating such interest.
All applicants must submit two letters of recommendation and an essay
demonstrating knowledge of the civil rights movement and how it relates
to the American Muslim experience.
Application deadline for 2005 is November 21.
To obtain an application form, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/scholarship_criteria_2006.pdf
For more information, e-mail:
scholarship@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-CHICAGO TO CO-SPONSOR INTERFAITH GATHERING -
TOP
http://www.cairchicago.org/events.php?file=ev_interfaith11102005
WHAT - The Chicago Interfaith Gathering - Diverse Faiths, Shared Values
WHERE: Chicago
WHEN: November 10-11, 2005
CO-SPONSORS:
* CAIR-Chicago
* University of Chicago - Divinity School
* Loyola University - Department of Theology
* DePaul University - Department of Religious Studies
* Catholic Theological Union - Bernardin Center
* Interfaith Youth Core
* Archdiocese of Chicago
* NCCJ - Chicago & Greater Illinois
* Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
* Niagara Educational Services
The Chicago Interfaith Gathering seminars are led by world renowned
scholars and activists. It is cosponsored by some of Chicago's leading
academic institutions and interfaith organizations
See the conference website,
http://www.interfaithgathering.org, for exact session locations, times and other details.
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-CHICAGO: MUSLIM EVENT GROWS WITH POPULATION -
TOP
Margaret Ramirez, Chicago Tribune, 11/2/05
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0511020009nov02,1,755322.story
When Kifah Shukair celebrates the end of the sacred Muslim month of
Ramadan this week, she will rise before dawn with her family and attend
morning prayers. The rest of the day will be spent in a flurry of
festivity--visiting relatives, exchanging gifts, feasting on delicious
foods.
But as Shukair and other Muslims mark the joyful occasion of Eid
al-Fitr, some find themselves longing for the grander celebrations of
their native lands.
"In Muslim countries, it's all around you," said Shukair, a
Palestinian-American who lives in Chicago Ridge. "Everyone everywhere
is glorifying God and you can hear prayers echoing even throughout the
streets. ... Here, we're celebrating and happy and it still feels
festive. But instead of Eid being all around you, it's confined to one
little area."
As the U.S. Muslim population increases, immigrant communities are
striving to make the holy day of Eid as joyful in the U.S. as it is in
their homeland by arranging large gatherings in banquet halls with good
food and warm memories. The wide-ranging efforts to recognize Eid on a
larger scale illustrate the growth and diversity of the Muslim
community as the holiday becomes part of the region's religious fabric
and Islam takes its place as one of the nation's major faiths.
"Back home, we didn't have to have banquets because we had our families
right there," said Zaher Sahloul, president of the Mosque Foundation in
southwest suburban Bridgeview. "Here, the extended family is basically
the community of the mosque. So each mosque has their own Eid banquet
and also each ethnic community has their smaller banquets."
Eid al-Fitr, known as the festival of fast-breaking at the end of
Ramadan, is expected to occur Wednesday or Thursday depending on the
sighting of the new crescent moon.
At the Mosque Foundation, thousands of Muslim families are expected to
crowd into three buildings for Eid prayers on Thursday or Friday
morning and then attend an Eid banquet Saturday. In northwest suburban
Prospect Heights, the predominantly Egyptian-American Al Azhar Islamic
Foundation is renting a hotel banquet hall for Eid prayers and then
heading to a nearby restaurant. And in a relatively new annual
gathering, Latino Muslims are creating their own Eid traditions with a
party that includes a Mexican pinata for children to celebrate the holy
day.
Eid is as sacred to Muslims as Easter and Christmas are to Christians
and Yom Kippur is to Jews. In Muslim countries, Eid is a three-day
holiday when government offices, businesses and schools close. For that
reason, U.S. Muslims sometimes find it hard to observe Eid
appropriately.
"I don't think a lot of people can take three days off from work here,"
said Shukair. "It becomes a little more of a struggle to stay in that
state of mind."
But Shukair also said the struggle to observe Eid here with devotion
and joy has deepened her Muslim faith. As part of home-schooling for
her son Mohammad, 7, she said she taught him about Ramadan, and he was
able to observe the monthlong sunrise-to-sunset fast for the first
time. At one point, he was tempted by a Reese's peanut butter cup, she
said, but he eventually placed it in his mother's lap and walked away.
"Growing up, my parents never really explained why we were fasting,"
she said. "But I try to explain to my son about doing a good fast and
then celebrating the Eid and praying for God's acceptance and
forgiveness."
Ahmed Rehab, communications director for the Chicago office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, agrees that a focal point of Eid
celebrations for Muslim immigrants is educating the children. Parents
buy new clothes for them and give such gifts as toys or money.
"Eid is a celebration of their Muslim identity and the central role of
God in our lives as Muslims," Rehab said. "We speak to them of God as a
loving figure who provides for us and cares for us, and who wishes for
us to have a good time as a reward for having patiently endured fasting
Ramadan."
Rehab, who immigrated to Chicago from Cairo, said the holiday also
provides a time to socialize and reminisce about their homeland. "We're
so spread out and just don't have a chance to meet that often. Eid
brings us together," he said.
For Latino Muslims, Eid also provides an opportunity for children to
learn about the Islamic faith while mixing culinary and cultural
traditions, said Ricardo Pena of Bolingbrook. This year, a group of
Latino Muslims will hold its third annual Latino Eid festival Nov. 13
at Chicago's Muslim Community Center. (MORE)
-----
CAIR-CA: HALAL FOODS ARE MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE THAN EVER -
TOP
Sheila Himmel, Mercury News, 11/2/05
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/13059052.htm
Tahir Anwar has lived in San Jose 23 years and eaten only foods
permitted by strict Islamic guidelines. It was not so easy in the
beginning. His parents used to order halal (literally "permitted") meat
from Stockton and Sacramento.
Anwar's father was the first leader, the imam, of the South Bay Islamic
Association. Now Anwar, 28, is the imam. And his observant congregants
can buy meat from half a dozen markets in Silicon Valley, dine at more
than 30 restaurants, eat at one of the six company cafes at Cisco
Systems in San Jose.
They can buy pork-free halal pepperoni pizza and dine at white-tablecloth restaurants.
Halal meat sales have doubled or tripled in the past year at Facciola
Meat of Fremont, says John Rothenberg, a buyer at the Bay Area's
largest meat distributor. The bigger orders have come from workplaces
like Cisco, as well as restaurants and stores, for meat across the
board: chicken, lamb, beef, veal and goat.
An estimated 200,000 Muslims live in the Bay Area, says Safaa Ibrahim,
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, based
in Santa Clara. Last year, about 100,000 attended the three-day
community celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy
month of Ramadan. This year's celebration begins Thursday or Friday,
depending on when the new moon is sighted, at the Santa Clara County
Fairgrounds. About 100,000 Bay Area residents attend a mosque, but they
don't all follow strict halal practices.
It's getting easier, though, because non-Muslim stores -- including
many Albertsons supermarkets -- are carrying halal products. ``My
grocery store just opened a halal meat section," says Ibrahim, who
shops at International Food Bazaar in Santa Clara, which is owned by
Palestinian Christians.
More Bay Area Muslims are buying halal meat, says Ibrahim, ``because it's readily available." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
WHAT IS HALAL? -
TOP
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/dining/13059029.htm
1. Pronounced hah-LAL, meaning permitted or lawful, as in this verse
from the Koran: ``Eat of that which Allah hath bestowed on you as food
lawful and good.''
2. Foods that are definitely halal: fish, plants that are not
intoxicant, fresh vegetables, fresh or dried fruits, legumes and nuts,
grains.
3. Meat such as beef, lamb, poultry and goat must be raised cleanly and
humanely, and must be zabihah -- slaughtered according to Islamic
rites. A blessing is said by the person performing the slaughter, who
must be a Muslim.
4. Foods not permitted (haram) include pork, alcohol and products made
with non-halal animal content, such as gelatin or a cheese made with
rennet. Halal markets sell permitted cheese and gelatin products.
---
MN: RAMADAN DINING: AFTER SUNSET, A CROWD -
TOP
To break their daily fast during Ramadan, many Muslims flock to a pair
of restaurants owned by two brothers. The food is served hot, but not
until sundown.
Matt McKinney, Star Tribune, 11/2/05
http://www.startribune.com/stories/614/5702935.html
The man in the white chef's hat bustled through the restaurant with
nervous anticipation. Sundown was coming, and people would soon pass
through the front door to break their daily fast. His workers shaved
lamb meat. A son brought a box of tomatoes. They had 15 minutes, maybe
a few more.
"I am ready for everything," said Adel Hegazi, his eyes speaking worry.
Twilight fell on the parking lot outside and the nightly ritual began.
Muslim customers, drawn to this place by Hegazi's specialty Arab foods
and mint tea, arrived to break their daily Ramadan fast. Hegazi
transformed from edgy suitor to gregarious host.
This is what has come of 30 years in the restaurant business for Hegazi
and his brother, Shaker Elsaied, co-owners of Marina Grill & Deli
at University and Lowry Avenues NE. (MORE)
-----
AFRICAN MUSLIM SAYS ISLAM IN AMERICA TEACHES RECONCILIATION -
TOP
Jim Fisher-Thompson and Greg Garland, Washington File, 11/1/05
http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/products/washfile.html
(Scroll down to headline.)
Washington -- Islam as practiced in America contains subtle alterations
that change the religion by erasing many of the schisms that plague
Muslims elsewhere, thus promoting reconciliation, says Bayono Valy, a
journalist and researcher who also serves as press officer for the
Islamic Council of Mozambique.
Valy recently led a roundtable discussion at the American Embassy in
Maputo, Mozambique, based on his participation in the Department of
State-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program.
After touring the United States for three weeks, he argued that
American Muslims offer a model of Islamic reconciliation, whether
divisions are theological or ethnic.
Valy's remarks were reported by the U.S. Embassy in Maputo after its
public affairs section hosted him and about 25 other Muslims and
journalists at an iftar event to break the daytime fast during the
Muslim holy month Ramadan. (MORE)
-----
FL: ORANGE CITY RACE ROCKED BY REMARKS ON ETHNICITY -
TOP
The incumbent's criticism of his Indian-born opponent in a City Council contest raises eyebrows and stirs reaction.
Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Orlando Sentinel, 11/2/05
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-vsherrill0205nov02,0,1443876.story
ORANGE CITY -- A two-term City Council member has made disparaging
remarks about the ethnicity of his Indian-born opponent in next week's
election.
During a candidate's forum and again in an interview with an Orlando
Sentinel staff writer, Seat 4 incumbent Don Sherrill criticized
challenger Tom Abraham.
Sherrill derided Abraham's accent at a political forum hosted and
videotaped by the John Knox Village retirement community Oct. 12.
"I don't know what to rebut because I don't understand what he was
saying, and I don't mean that facetiously, I really don't understand
him," Sherrill, who wears a hearing aid, told the group of about 40
people.
He added that when Abraham speaks at city meetings, council members are "baffled" by what he says.
In a later interview with the Sentinel, Sherrill said that residents would not vote for Abraham if they saw and heard him.
"I'm usually not prejudiced, but I don't want an Indian in my government," Sherrill said.
"As far as I know he could be a nice guy, but these kind of people get embedded over here. . . . You remember 9-11." (MORE) -
TOP
-----
WI: U.S. JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT OVER HEADSCARF REMOVAL -
TOP
RYAN J. FOLEY, Associated Press, 11/2/05
MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) - A Muslim woman forced to remove her religious
headscarf while visiting a state prison cannot sue the Department of
Corrections or its secretary for damages, a federal judge ruled.
"I am devastated," Cynthia Rhouni of Madison said Wednesday when told of the ruling.
U.S. District Judge John Shabaz dismissed Rhouni's lawsuit late last
week, citing a legal principle that gives protection to state agencies
from lawsuits in federal court.
Rhouni claimed her constitutional right to practice religion was
violated Feb. 3, 2003, when she took her son to visit his father at the
Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin. A security
measure that took effect months earlier banned visitors from wearing
headgear inside state prisons.
Rhouni said two male guards ordered her to take off her religious
headscarf known as a hijab, ignoring her protest of the policy.
She said she was humiliated to be seen without the scarf and filed the
lawsuit against the department, Secretary Matthew Frank and the guards.
It sought a change in the policy on headgear, in addition to
unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
After the lawsuit was filed, Frank changed the policy to allow visitors
to wear headgear as long as it does not conceal their identity.
Visitors also do not have to take off the headgear before passing
through metal detectors. (MORE)
-----
CIA HOLDS TERROR SUSPECTS IN SECRET PRISONS -
TOP
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 11/2/05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101644.html
The CIA has been hiding and interrogating some of its most important al
Qaeda captives at a Soviet-era compound in Eastern Europe, according to
U.S. and foreign officials familiar with the arrangement.
The secret facility is part of a covert prison system set up by the CIA
nearly four years ago that at various times has included sites in eight
countries, including Thailand, Afghanistan and several democracies in
Eastern Europe, as well as a small center at the Guantanamo Bay prison
in Cuba, according to current and former intelligence officials and
diplomats from three continents.
The Pentagon has declined to identify the detainees at Guantanamo Bay,
most of whom were captured in Afghanistan during and after the 2001 war
there. The Post has compiled a list of names made public thus far,
encompassing 434 men whose identities have appeared in media reports,
on Arabic Web sites...
The hidden global internment network is a central element in the CIA's
unconventional war on terrorism. It depends on the cooperation of
foreign intelligence services, and on keeping even basic information
about the system secret from the public, foreign officials and nearly
all members of Congress charged with overseeing the CIA's covert
actions. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
DETAINEE POLICY SHARPLY DIVIDES BUSH OFFICIALS -
TOP
TIM GOLDEN and ERIC SCHMITT, New York Times, 11/2/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/02/politics/02detain.html
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 - The Bush administration is embroiled in a sharp
internal debate over whether a new set of Defense Department standards
for handling terror suspects should adopt language from the Geneva
Conventions prohibiting "cruel," "humiliating" and "degrading"
treatment, administration officials say.
Advocates of that approach, who include some Defense and State
Department officials and senior military lawyers, contend that moving
the military's detention policies closer to international law would
prevent further abuses and build support overseas for the fight against
Islamic extremists, officials said.
Their opponents, who include aides to Vice President Dick Cheney and
some senior Pentagon officials, have argued strongly that the proposed
language is vague, would tie the government's hands in combating
terrorists and still would not satisfy America's critics, officials
said.
The debate has delayed the publication of a second major Pentagon
directive on interrogations, along with a new Army interrogations
manual that was largely completed months ago, military officials said.
It also underscores a broader struggle among senior officials over
whether to scale back detention policies that have drawn strong
opposition even from close American allies. (MORE)
---
U.S. DENIES U.N. GROUP ACCESS TO DETAINEES -
TOP
Associated Press and Reuters, 11/2/05
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002598566_gitmo02.html
WASHINGTON - Spurning a request by U.N. human rights investigators,
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday the United States will
not allow them to meet with detainees at the Guantánamo prison for
foreign terrorism suspects.
Rumsfeld also told a Pentagon news conference that prisoners at the
U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, were staging a hunger strike
that began in early August as a successful ploy to attract media
attention.
The three U.N. investigators, including one who focuses on torture,
said Monday they would turn down an invitation extended by the Pentagon
Friday to visit Guantánamo unless they were permitted to interview the
detainees. The invitation came nearly four years after the visits were
first requested. (MORE)
---
RATIONALIZING TORTURE -
TOP
David R. Irvine, Washington Times, 11/2/05
http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20051101-084855-4089r.htm
It is undeniable that Arab regard for our moral leadership in the
Middle East has never been lower. It is undeniable that our government
is more reviled throughout the world than ever before. We are not
winning hearts and minds by degrading and torturing. If anyone believes
that the information gained through torture has been worth the price to
our national honor and capacity to persuade other nations to follow our
lead, it's time for them to produce hard evidence of torture's superior
worth. Our torture policy has been disastrously counterproductive, and
the votes against the McCain amendments fly in the face of our nation's
core Judeo/Christian and -- yes -- Muslim values.
-----
EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH ISLAM -
TOP
Erline Andrews, Trinidad News, 11/2/05
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_woman_mag?id=112858211
"Empower women" and "Islam" are two ideas most people might find
incompatible. But this is a reflection of the many misconceptions about
the religion, says Bibi Neeza Halim, president of ASJA Ladies, a Muslim
organisation that has been working to empower women for more than six
decades.
"Islam is stereotyped as treat(ing women) unfairly," says Halim. "Why
then does it attract women-educated women? Islam is unique. It provides
rights. (Women) can vote, own property, work to help the community and
to be educated at the same time."
ASJA Ladies is the female arm of the Anjuman Sunnat-Ul-Jamaat
Association (ASJA), one of the largest associations in Trinidad and
Tobago, with over 60 mosques throughout the country. (MORE)
-----
DEATH TOLL IN ASIAN QUAKE JUMPS TO 73,276 -
TOP
SADAQAT JAN, Associated Press, 11/2/05
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's official earthquake death toll
jumped by 16,000, and the country's top relief official warned
Wednesday that it is likely to rise. The announcement, which puts the
official toll at 73,000, brings the central government figures closer
to the number reported by local officials, who say the Oct. 8 quake
killed at least 79,000 people in Pakistan.
"Just imagine how many villages and towns became a heap of rubble and
how many people got buried," said Maj. Gen. Farooq Ahmed Khan told
reporters in the capital.
Khan said 73,276 people have been confirmed dead in Pakistan and
Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, up from the official count of 57,597. In
India's portion of Kashmir, an additional 1,350 people died.
More than 69,000 people had severe injuries, with the total number of injured much higher, the general said.
Khan also warned ``there is likelihood of further increase'' in the death toll. (MORE)
-----
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
-----
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
BREAKING
NEWS - 11/2/05
*
FL Muslims Seek
Reinstatement of Christian, Jewish School Holidays
*
CAIR-NJ/NY:
Muslims
Detained at Prayer Seek Understanding (Reuters)
-
Video:
Muslims Profiled at Giants Game?
(CNN)
-----
FL MUSLIMS SEEK REINSTATEMENT OF CHRISTIAN, JEWISH SCHOOL HOLIDAYS -
TOP
(TAMPA, FL. 11/2/05) - The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today called on the School Board
of Hillsborough County to reinstate Christian and Jewish holidays
recently removed from the 2006/2007 school calendar.
School board members last week voted to eliminate the holidays
following a request by the local Muslim community to schedule a day off
on the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr.
Speaking before the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners,
CAIR-FL Central Florida Director Ahmed Bedier announced that his group
would officially request the school board to restore the holidays.
Bedier said: "Reinstate Christian and Jewish holidays even if it means
that we don't get our own holiday. . .(as Muslims) we're taught to love
for others what we love for ourselves."
VIEW A CLIP OF BEDIER'S STATEMENT AT:
http://www.cairfl.org/video/051102_hill_cnty_meet2_hi.wmv
Bedier added that the Muslim community opposed the removal of Christian and Jewish holidays from the school calendar.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE: "Hillsborough School Board Members Vote to End Vacation Days for All Religious Holidays,"
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/26/Hillsborough/School_calendar_will_.shtml
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices
and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
CONTACT: Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506,
abedier@cairfl.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 or 202-488-8787, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-NJ/NY: MUSLIMS DETAINED AT PRAYER SEEK UNDERSTANDING -
TOP
Gelu Sulugiuc, Reuters, 11/2/05
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-11-02T203554Z_01_SIB274111_RTRUKOC_0_US-LIFE-MUSLIMS.xml
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Five Muslims who were detained after praying at an
American football game want to turn the incident into a tool to teach
Americans about Islam.
While at a New York Giants against New Orleans Saints game at Giants
Stadium on September 19, the New Jersey residents were removed from
their seats and questioned by FBI agents after other fans saw them bow
to the ground as part of the five-daily Muslim prayers.
"As Muslims, we just have to pray when it's time to pray," Sami Shaban
told a news conference in New York on Wednesday. "We thought nothing of
it. I pray in malls, I pray everywhere."
The 27-year-old law school student said he and his friends were
questioned for about 25 minutes, missing part of the second half of the
game. After they were released, an FBI agent told him they had been
unwitting victims of racial profiling, Shaban said.
The FBI said the men were questioned because they congregated near an
air duct at the stadium, not because they were praying. But the men
dismissed that explanation.
"Let's be real here, if anybody with my description even scratches
their ear, people get nervous," said Mostafa Khalifa, 27, who, like
Shaban, wears a long beard and was among those detained. "I did nothing
wrong, I should not change."
He pointed out that football players often huddle and pray on the
sideline as a teammate attempts a game-winning kick in the waning
seconds of a game.
The fans said they would like to turn the incident into an opportunity to teach Americans about Islamic traditions.
They teamed up with the Council on American-Islamic Relations and
invited anybody interested to join them in celebrating the end of the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan along with thousands of worshipers in New
Jersey on Thursday or Friday.
"We want to stop profiling. The more that people learn about Islam, the
more tolerant they become," said Wissam Nasr, the council's executive
director in New York. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
VIDEO: MUSLIMS PROFILED AT GIANTS GAME? -
TOP
http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/sports/2005/11/02/snow.muslim.giants.fans.cnn
-----
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
-----
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS
BRIEFS - 11/3/05
*
Hadith:
An Easy and Straightforward
Faith
*
Eid Mubarak from CAIR's Board and
Staff
-
TX:
Muslims
Celebrate This Eid with Aid (Houston Chron)
-
CAIR
Asks U.S. Muslims to Collect Quake Aid on Eid
*
CAIR-DC:
Register Online for CAIR's Annual Banquet
*
CAIR-San Antonio Director Shatters Stereotypes
*
How Many American Muslims? (Miami Herald)
-
IN:
Muslim & American (Post-Tribune)
*
MD:
Muslim Leader Continues Effort Over Holidays (Balt Sun)
-
CAIR-FL:
Commission Vocal About School Holidays (Tampa Trib)
-
School Holiday Decision Sparks Hateful Grandstanding
-
Commissioner:
Like 'American' Holidays or Find Another Place to Live
*
CAIR-NJ/NY:
Muslims' Prayers at Game Led to FBI Queries
-
Muslims Pray for Understanding (Herald News)
-
We Felt Like Outsiders, Say Muslims Held at Game (NYT)
*
IN:
Islamic Center Turnout up After July Fire Bombing
-
IL:
Man Pleads Guilty to Lying About Anti-Muslim Firebomb
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: AN EASY AND STRAIGHTFORWARD FAITH -
TOP
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(Islam) is spacious
(and has room for relaxation). I have been sent with an easy and
straightforward faith."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 153
-----
EID MUBARAK FROM CAIR'S BOARD AND STAFF -
TOP
CAIR's board and staff in Washington, D.C., and in 31 chapters and
offices throughout the United States and Canada wish you a blessed and
happy Eid ul-Fitr. May God accept your deeds.
SEE ALSO:
TX: MUSLIMS CELEBRATE THIS EID WITH AID -
TOP
Many forgo traditional gifts to help victims of Asia earthquake
TARA DOOLEY, Houston Chronicle, 11/3/05
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3435069
Any other year, Dr. Kashif Ansari would be celebrating Eid al-Fitr with
a gathering of friends and family. He would be decked out in a new suit
for an elaborate feast and the exchange of gifts, traditions of the
Muslim holiday.
Not this year.
With the start of Eid today, Ansari will observe the traditionally
festive holiday with prayer, as is required by the faith. But there
will be few new clothes or gifts, he said. A banquet will be held as a
fundraiser for survivors of the Oct. 8 earthquake in South Asia that
killed more than 73,000 people and left millions of others homeless,
most in Pakistan.
"None of the families I know are (buying) new clothes," said Ansari,
who is involved in relief efforts through the Association of Physicians
of Pakistani Descent of North America. "In Houston, everybody I talk to
has said, 'No, not this year.'" (MORE)
-----
CAIR ASKS U.S. MUSLIMS TO COLLECT QUAKE AID ON EID -
TOP
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1842&theType=NR
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET -
TOP
Registration is now available online for CAIR's 11th Annual Banquet,
"American Muslims: Partners for Peace and Justice." To learn more about
the dinner, or to register, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/2005banquet/
-----
CAIR-TX: WOMAN. MUSLIM. AMERICAN -
TOP
Lisa Sorg, San Antonio Current, 11/3/05
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15501311&BRD=2318&PAG=461&dept_id=484045&rfi=6
In her campaign for social justice, Sarwat Husain shatters the stereotypes
The car had been following Sarwat Husain for more than 10 miles, from
near downtown where she had attended a meeting about the Patriot Act at
the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, almost to Loop 1604. No
matter how Husain detoured or doubled back, the car shadowed her.
At a stoplight, the car pulled alongside hers. "I just kept looking
straight ahead, but I could tell they had rolled down the window and
were screaming at me."
When Husain arrived home, well after 10 p.m., she ran inside. After
about a half hour, she returned to her car to retrieve groceries that
she had left in her haste. "I heard a sound and I thought it was a
gun," she recalls. "I turned and looked and it was two ugly men in the
car. I ran into the house screaming."
Husain called police. When the officers arrived, they found Husain's
home and car peppered with splatches of paint. The men had shot paint
pellets, not bullets, but the police reportedly told her, "Had they hit
you, you would have been hurt."
It is hard to scare Sarwat Husain. An American immigrant from Pakistan,
Husain is president of the San Antonio chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based civil rights
organization. She started a monthly newspaper, Al-Ittihaad (Unity),
writes opinion columns in the Express-News, and regularly speaks to
groups ranging from Texas Republicans to Our Lady of the Lake students
to Mensa members.
"The news of the day is, What are the Muslims doing? Who are they
killing today?" she told a room of students at Our Lady of the Lake
University last month. "Islam is the most misunderstood religion in the
West."
In post-9/11 America, all Muslims are under suspicion. The Patriot Act,
which endowed the U.S. government with wide surveillance and detention
powers, codified America's paranoia. The media has further inflamed
passions by portraying Islam as one-dimensional, instead of as a
diverse religion whose sweep from right to left is like that between
evangelical Christians and liberal Episcopalians. (MORE)
-----
THERE ARE MORE MUSLIMS THAN SOME NUMBERS TELL -
TOP
DONNA GEHRKE-WHITE, Miami Herald, 11/3/05
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/13067012.htm
In my neighborhood in far western Pembroke Pines, two of my favorite
supermarket clerks are Muslim. A Muslim family runs the neighborhood
dollar store. A neighbor pasted an Arabic greeting near his front door,
while women wearing hijabs walk in the neighborhood. And the closest
house of worship? A mosque being built in a Pembroke Pines pasture.
As Ramadan comes to a close this week, I think of all the Muslims I now
know -- and how many are probably not being counted in various
religious studies.
That impression was strengthened as I researched my book, The Face
Behind the Veil: The Extraordinary Lives of Muslim Women in America, to
be published in March by Citadel Press.
I found the Muslimah, as Muslim women are called, from coast to coast,
from Las Vegas to Baltimore, from Phoenix to Coral Springs. I found
Muslim women in Washington's Beltway, a South Dakota hamlet, Manhattan
and the Lone Star state.
They grew up in Arkansas, Alaska and Afghanistan. Some converted to
Islam; others are immigrants or the daughters of those from
predominantly Muslim countries.
Their numbers keep growing.
Yet, we do not know exactly how many Muslims are in America. The U.S.
Census does not ask people to name their religion. Many traditional
religious studies still count the U.S. Muslim population at only one
million or two million. In 2001, for example, the American Religious
Identity Survey said that Muslims had more than doubled in a decade to
1.1 million.
However, Ihsan Bagby, an associate professor of Islamic Studies at the
University of Kentucky who has studied U.S. mosques, believes that the
number of U.S. Muslims may actually reach up to six million. Backing
him up is the 2001 Canadian Census. Two percent of Canadians identified
themselves as Muslims. If that same percentage holds true for its
southern neighbor, then about six million Muslims now call the United
States home.
Indeed, statistics from the U.S. Department of State show a dramatic
influx of Muslim refugees arriving to our shores in the last 15 years.
From 1990 to Sept. 30, 2004, the world's turmoil brought us more than
229,000 Muslims from 77 countries -- from little known Uzbekistan
(formerly of the Soviet Union) to the more familiar Afghanistan, Sudan,
Bosnia and Iraq.
By comparison, the State Department recorded that no Muslim refugees arrived in 1988 nor in 1989.
Economic immigration is further fueling the growth of American Islam.
Companies are recruiting techies and engineers from predominantly
Muslim countries. First-generation Muslims are also bringing the rest
of their families here. And more Americans are converting to Islam.
Zuly Martinez told me how lonely it was just five years ago to be the
only Latina at her Houston-area mosque. Since then, she says, many
Latinas have joined, enough to form their own "community." Now the
mosque offers classes in Spanish about Islam.
In rural South Dakota, convert Anisah David found that she wasn't
alone. Other Muslims worship in an old house in nearby Brookings
(population 18,504).
All this suggests that traditional religious studies may not have the most accurate count on Muslims in America. (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
IN: MUSLIM & AMERICAN -
TOP
Sharlonda L. Waterhouse, Post Tribune, 11/3/05
http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/11-03-05_z1_news_01.html
Saara Hafeez, 17, won't spend her senior year at Valparaiso High School swooning over proms and boyfriends.
Dating is against her religion.
And while Hafeez could attend dances with a clique of girls, she
eschews the off-the-shoulder, back-baring attire worn at such soirees.
"It would be forbidden," she confides.
A school day for Hafeez includes studies as well as prayer. She'll chat
with friends and attend movies but turn away at images of sex and
violence.
She's a typical Muslim teen in America walking a line between her Islamic faith and her American culture.
Imam Mongy El-Quesny, spiritual leader of the Northwest Indiana Islamic
Center, estimates that 700 Muslim families reside in the region, many
converging in places like Valparaiso, Highland and Crown Point, where
the mosque is. (MORE)
-----
MD: MUSLIM LEADER CONTINUES EFFORT OVER HOLIDAYS -
TOP
Balto. Co. surgeon began in 1990s to seek Eid al-Fitr school closures
MATTHEW HAY BROWN, Baltimore Sun, 11/3/05
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.eid03nov03,1,7704448.story
The feast with which Muslims will celebrate the end of Ramadan will be bittersweet once again for Dr. Bash Pharoan.
The president of the Baltimore County Muslim Council has campaigned for
years to have the county public schools close in recognition of Eid
al-Fitr, as they did last month for the Jewish holy days of Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur, so that Muslim children can observe one of the
most important holidays in Islam without missing class.
But despite his regular attendance at school board meetings, his
repeated pleas to officials and his membership in the committee that
worked to develop next year's calendar, the schools are scheduled to
open this morning for business as usual.
"It's a matter of fairness," said Pharoan, a Baltimore-area surgeon
with three sons. "The rules should apply for Christians, Jews and
Muslims. The school system is really discriminating against our sons
and daughters based on their religion."
Baltimore County, where school officials say they inherited the
calendar that grants the Jewish holidays and are concerned that adding
more days off would affect their educational mission, is one of several
systems in the state where a growing Muslim population is pressing for
greater recognition. Across the nation, the public-school calendar is
emerging as a new arena for those seeking equal treatment in American
society.
The system does not ask about or keep statistics on the religious
affiliations of its students. Among the general population of Baltimore
County, Christians are in the majority, according to the American
Religion Data Archive at the Pennsylvania State University. Jews
outnumber Muslims by more than 5 to 1.
"It's happening in pockets where there are different groups," said
University of Dayton professor Charles Russo, the author of the
textbook Reutter's The Law of Public Education. "I do think it's going
to be a national issue increasingly as the country grows more diverse."
Results have been mixed. Large Muslim communities in such states as
Michigan and New Jersey have won closings in some of their districts.
The school board of Hillsborough, Fla., attracted national attention
last week when members responded to requests to close schools on Muslim
holidays by ending the practice there of granting days off for Yom
Kippur and the Christian observance of Good Friday.
"What we'd really like to avoid is what we've seen down in Florida,"
said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations in Washington. "We try to avoid that because, naturally, we
want others to celebrate their religious holidays, but also, it puts
Muslim parents and students in the position of being blamed for the
loss of long-standing accommodations for other students."
CAIR, the largest Muslim civil rights group in the United States, does
not advocate specifically for school closings but lobbies for
accommodations equal to those of other religious beliefs.
"I'm sure that the Jewish community went through this at one point, and
there may be other communities that go through this in the future,"
Hooper said. "The point is that one standard be applied to all faiths,
and that one faith or another not be given preferential treatment and
the accommodation be denied for another." (MORE)
SEE ALSO:
CAIR-FL: COMMISSION VOCAL ABOUT SCHOOL HOLIDAYS -
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MARK HOLAN, Tampa Tribune, 11/2/05
http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGB4QZGWJFE.html
TAMPA - Hillsborough County commissioners this morning asked the
county's public school board to reconsider its decision eliminating
some Jewish and Christian holidays as vacation days.
The board passed a resolution, proposed by Commissioner Brian Blair,
stating that the county has a long history of respecting religious
beliefs as reflected in the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of
Independence and Pledge of Allegiance.
Blair said the school board's Oct. 25 decision, "if left unchallenged,
will affect our entire community for generations to come. . ."
The issue surfaced after Muslims asked for recognition of Eid, which this year is celebrated tomorrow.
Council of American Islamic Relations Director Ahmed Bedier said
Muslims oppose eliminating the Judeo- Christian religious holidays,
even if their holiday isn't yet recognized.
He said Muslims will continue to monitor the school calendar on a
year-by-year basis and accept the status quo, at least until Muslim
representation in the community grows larger.
"We are willing to take it for now," Bedier said.
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SCHOOL HOLIDAY DECISION SPARKS HATEFUL GRANDSTANDING -
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Tampa Tribune, 11/3/05
http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGB9ISMBKFE.html
There was no reason to start a holy war in Hillsborough County over
school holidays. For that reason alone, the school board should
reconsider its misdirected decision, which has evoked some ugly
outbursts and is pitting one religion against another. That's not what
local Muslims wanted when they sought a school holiday that would
coincide with Eid Al-Fitr.
The board's decision in attempting not to offend anyone has offended
most everyone and created an unnecessary backlash against Muslims.
Here's what happened: Muslims raised the holiday issue because they
wanted to make sure their children weren't penalized for missing school
to mark the end of Ramadan. The district already had a policy of
allowing students to miss school for religious observances. And
principals and teachers were properly reminded of it.
But the school board, at the urging of a committee, voted to move
holidays that had coincided with Good Friday, Easter Monday and Yom
Kippur, an overreaction. The outbursts and the histrionics began.
Fox News host Bill O'Reilly preposterously
declared that closing schools for a Muslim holiday is ``absurd in a
Judeo-Christian country.'' Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair
echoed the sentiment Wednesday. In an interview with a television
reporter,
Blair said the Muslim holiday shouldn't be recognized,
and those who don't like "American'' holidays should find another place
to live. What ignorance. (MORE) -
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CAIR-NJ/NY: MUSLIMS' PRAYERS AT GAME LED TO FBI QUERIES -
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JOHN CHADWICK, AMY KLEIN and JOHN BRENNAN
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2ODA3MjkyJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg
The trouble started after five Muslim men were seen praying inside Giants Stadium before a Sept. 19 football game.
A suspicious spectator notified authorities, who cornered the men in the stands during the game.
"All of a sudden, eight yellow-jacketed security officers come up to
us," said Sami Shaban, one of the five men, and a Mahwah High School
graduate. "They told us, 'Get up."
As the men complied, Shaban said, security guards clutched their arms and other spectators shouted their approval.
"Now I feel safer!" one bellowed.
Several state troopers waited at the bottom of the stairs.
The men were then turned over to FBI agents, five of whom questioned
them for about 30 minutes before escorting them back to the stands
during the game between the Giants and the New Orleans Saints.
Shaban and others, including Mostafa Khalifa of Howell, described the
incident Wednesday during a news conference timed to coincide with the
Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which begins this week. They called on
law enforcement officials to stop racial and religious profiling.
The five men, who are Arab-Americans, gathered shortly after they
entered the stadium to perform one of five required daily prayers.
"I'm as American as apple pie," said Shaban, who was born in New Jersey
and raised in Belleville, Nutley and Mahwah. "Now I'm made to feel like
I'm an outsider for no reason other than I have a long beard or that I
prayed. . ."
A spokesman for a Muslim group that organized the press conference said
the men aren't planning to sue over the experience. Instead, they're
asking non-Muslims to attend an Eid al-Fitr event to learn more about
Islam. The holiday marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting and
prayer, and takes place today or Friday depending on the sighting of
the new moon.
One such celebration will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at
Clifton Memorial Park on Main Avenue in Clifton. Thousands of people
are expected to attend.
"Our end goals are to familiarize the American public with Islam," said
Wissam Nasr, executive director of the New York chapter of the Council
on American Islamic Relations. "We want tolerance. It's a pretty simple
request."
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING -
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MAKEBA SCOTT HUNTER, HERALD NEWS, 11/3/05
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzNTkmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY4MDc0MTImeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky
An education campaign called "Pray for Understanding" also was
announced at the news conference, which was sponsored by the New Jersey
and New York chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The public is invited to attend two large prayer gatherings tied to Eid
ul-Fitr, the last day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which will
occur today or Friday.
"The purpose of this (conference) is to allay some of the concerns that
people had. We want people to understand that Islam is not here to hurt
anyone. I want people to get accustomed to our customs," said Mostafa
Khalifa, 27, of Howell, who also was detained.
The two "Pray for Understanding" events are being held at 8:30 a.m.
today or Friday at the Teaneck Armory, and from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday
at Clifton Memorial Park. For more information call (973) 278-7070.
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WE FELT LIKE OUTSIDERS, SAY MUSLIM MEN HELD AT GAME -
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ALAN
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