cair-net Digest of: get.401_500
Topics (messages 401 through 500):
CAIR-NET: Florida Muslims React to "Terror Threat" Incident
401 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Islamic Charity Indictment Dismissed
402 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Florida "Terror Scare" Detainees to Refute Charges
403 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FL Hospital Denies Training for 3 Muslim Students
404 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Fla. Scare Raises Questions on Tips
405 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Soul of India/Ohio Mosque Attack/Fla. Scare Update
406 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Texas Muslims Protest X-Rated Film Defaming Prophet Muhammad
407 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Daniel Pipes Launches "Enemies List" Web Site
408 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: "Muslim Rodney King" Sues Michigan Police
409 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Charge Against Muslim Med Student Dismissed
410 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Fox News Allows Attack on Prophet Muhammad
411 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Gujarat's Rape Victims Face Police Inaction
412 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Vandals Hit Ohio Mosque/Inmates Search for Islam
413 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: "Thousands" Contact Fox Over Anti-Muslim Bias
414 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Detainees in Texas Released
415 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Publishes Guide to Muslims in N. America
416 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Louder War Talk, Muffled Dissent
417 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Feds Arrest Fla. Man Tied to Mosque Bomb Suspect
418 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Tenn. Whirlpool Suit to Include Racial Discrimination
419 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Professors Ask to Join Daniel Pipes' "Blacklist"
420 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Attack on Nebraska Muslim Possible Hate Crime
421 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Rep. Lantos Says U.S. Will Install "Dictator" in Iraq
422 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Vandals Attack Idaho Mosque
423 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Family Defends Rabih Haddad/Alamo Prohibits Hijab
424 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Thought Crime on Campus/Imam Jamil Arraigned
425 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Martin Luther King III to Speak at CAIR Dinner
426 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Pat Robertson Gets $500K White House Initiative Grant
427 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Corrected HHS Email Address
428 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Elected Officials Attend Event With Muslim-Bashers
429 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Rep to Debate Falwell on "Hardball"
430 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Protest Falwell Interview/FBI Tracks Muslims
431 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Islamic Group Seeks Protection For Idaho Muslims
432 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Idaho Officials Confirm Murder of Muslim Activist
433 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Official to Testify Before Congress on Religious Freedom
434 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ask Rep. DeLay Not to Support Falwell and Robertson
435 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CIA Warns U.S. Attack on Iraq May Ignite Terror
436 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: President Asked to Repudiate Anti-Islamic Hate
437 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Gen. Zinni Says Containing Iraq Can Work
438 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Fox's O'Reilly Says Muslim Women "Most Unattractive"
439 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Deports Respected Canadian to Syria
440 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Threatening Letter Found at Idaho Islamic Center
441 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Musicians Rap About Islam
442 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Ramadan to Begin Nov. 6 - Sample News Release
443 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Remarks Against Islam Spark Backlash
444 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Urged to Donate for D.C. Sniper Victims
445 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Fox's O'Reilly to Look at "Islamic Awareness Week"
446 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Pro-Israel Lobby Seeks to Block Muslim from NY Commission
447 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Where is Maher Arar?
448 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Fear Talk of Sniper Link
449 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: The Forgotten Prisoner/Fight Terrorism Fairly
450 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Join DC Rally on Iraq, Then Attend CAIR Dinner
451 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Religious Leaders Speak Out Against Starting War
452 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Hawaii Mosque Targeted by Hate Literature
453 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: USA Patriot Act: Librarians Keep Quiet
454 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: DC Security Officer Wins Right to Islamic Beard
455 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Pleased by Arrests, Caution Against Speculation
456 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Police Arrest 3rd Suspect in FL Mosque Bomb Plot
457 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Dinner Sold Out, Donations Appreciated
458 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Podiatrist's Wife Arrested in Plot
459 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Saddened By Senator's Death
460 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NJ Detainees to Protest "Horrific" Treatment
461 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Torture and Rape Stalk the Streets of Chechnya
462 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Dentist Agrees to Spill Details of Bomb Plot
463 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Detainee Families Offered Financial Support
464 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Canada Issues Rare Caution on U.S. Travel
465 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Ramadan Publicity Kit Now Online
466 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Canadian Muslims Welcome Change in U.S. Profiling Policy
467 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Scholars Denied U.S. Visas for Ramadan
468 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: National Review Says Wrap Muslims in Pigskins
469 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Supermarket Chain Acknowledges Ramadan
470 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslims Launch PR Campaigns to Defend Islam
471 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Wants Prints Of Muslim Visitors
472 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: VA Muslim Files Discrimination Suit Against Marriott
473 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Students Walk Out of Ohio High School
474 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 2 Charged in Virginia Mosque Vandalism
475 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 6 Members of MN Muslim Family Die in Car Accident
476 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Opens New Office in California
477 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: US Evangelist Says Muslims "Worse Than Nazis"
478 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Bush Again Urged to Repudiate Anti-Muslim Hate
479 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Daniel Pipes and the War on Academic Freedom
480 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims Welcome President's Remarks on Islamophobia
481 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Powell Criticizes Falwell, Robertson
482 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: DC Muslims Staff Ramadan "Feed the Needy" Program
483 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Iraqis Monitored/Daniel Pipes/Amazon and Israel
484 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Homeland Security Dept. Must be Open/Accountable
485 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: "Jihad Writings" Were Verses From The Quran
486 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Accommodation of Islam in Prison/Schools
487 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslims File Complaint Against Alan Dershowitz
488 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Pentagon to Track Consumer Purchases
489 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: NY Student Guilty of Assault on Muslim Classmate
490 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: CAIR Official Appears on C-SPAN's Washington Journal
491 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: 13 Nations Added to INS Registration Program
492 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: FBI: Surge in Crimes Against Muslims
493 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Donate to CAIR in Ramadan, Multiply Your Blessings
494 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: U.S. Muslim Hip-Hop Group Draws On Islam
495 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Sample Eid Media Advisory for Local Communities
496 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Muslim Mom Invents Islamic Board Game
497 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Clash Over New York Mosque
498 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Conservatives Dispute Bush Portrayal of Islam as Peaceful
499 by: CAIR
CAIR-NET: Editorial Cartoonist Smears Islam
500 by: CAIR
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
FLORIDA MUSLIMS REACT TO "TERROR THREAT" INCIDENT
WHAT: On Friday, September 13, the Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold a news conference to
offer
the Muslim community's reaction to the detention of three people in
that
state on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack.
SEE: http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/09/13/alligator.alley/index.html
The incident began when a woman at a restaurant in Georgia reported
overhearing the "Middle Eastern" men making "alarming" comments. Law
enforcement authorities shut down a Florida interstate as they used
dogs
and a robot to search for explosives in the men's car.
WHERE: CAIR-FL's Office, 12535 Orange Drive, Davie, Florida (Davie is
close
to Miami.)
WHEN: Friday, September 13, 4 p.m.
CONTACT: CAIR-FL, Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail:
altafaali@cair-florida.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726,
E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or
703-861-7294,
E-MAIL: hhassan@cair-net.org
- END -
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/13/2002
HEADLINES:
* U.S. MUSLIM GROUP LAUNCHES NEW EDUCATIONAL PROJECT
- CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* ISLAMIC CHARITY INDICTMENT DISMISSED (AP)
* FLORIDA POLICE FIND NO EXPLOSIVES IN HIGHWAY CASE (Reuters)
* GROUPS PROTEST U.S. DETAINMENTS (AP)
* CLEARED TERROR SUSPECT ANGRY AT US (AP)
* AMERICANS DIVIDED OVER IRAQ (UPI)
* LACK OF TRUST TEARS AT MUSLIMS (Chicago Tribune)
- COMMUNITIES FIND UNEXPECTED SEPT. 11 BENEFITS
* IRAQI-AMERICANS DENOUNCE SADDAM BUT EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT INVASION
(AP)
- WHY THIS WAR? (Antiwar.com)
- IRAQ ATTACK COULD ALTER WORLD RULES (Christian Science Monitor)
- EDITORIAL: CAN'T FORGET THE OTHER SIDE (Newsday)
* NETANYAHU: U.S. SHOULD ATTACK IRAN WITH TV (UPI)
* N. VA MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE
-----
U.S. MUSLIM GROUP LAUNCHES NEW EDUCATIONAL PROJECT
Associated Press, 9/13/2002
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations has
launched a
nationwide project to educate Americans about the faith and to counter
anti-Muslim prejudice.
The "Explore Islamic Civilization and Culture" effort hopes to
distribute
materials this coming year to 16,000 public libraries, following a
pilot
program in Los Angeles.
The 18-item package will include the Quran, children's books, adult
titles
like "The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?" by John Esposito of
Georgetown
University, audio cassettes and the public TV documentary "Islam:
Empire of
Faith."
Council executive director Nihad Awad said financially pressed
libraries
struggled to meet the demand for materials about Islam following Sept.
11.
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has already received 237 sponsorships for book
and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Take
part in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item
"library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
ISLAMIC CHARITY INDICTMENT DISMISSED
MIKE ROBINSON, Associated Press, 9/13/02
CHICAGO (AP) - A federal judge on Friday dismissed a perjury indictment
against an Islamic charity accused of lying about its ties to Osama bin
Laden, saying the alleged conduct didn't violate the law.
U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall's 22-page decision left no charges
pending against Benevolence International Foundation, whose assets were
frozen Dec. 14 when federal agents raided its headquarters.
The group's executive director, Enaam Arnaout, who has been jailed
since
April, acknowledges that he has met bin Laden but has denied having
anything to do with terrorism...
Benevolence attorney Matthew Piers said it was unclear when Arnaout
would
be released from the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
"He hasn't got any charges pending against him," Pier said...
Freezing the assets of Benevolence and another Islamic charity based in
the
Chicago area, Global Relief Foundation, were among the most visible
actions
of the federal government's drive to shut off the flow of U.S. dollars
to
terrorists overseas.
The government has never alleged that either group financed terrorism
but
has said that they are suspected of financing terrorism.
-----
FLORIDA POLICE FIND NO EXPLOSIVES IN HIGHWAY CASE
Jim Loney, Reuters, 9/13/02
MIAMI, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Police detained three men, shut down a major
highway and searched two cars for explosives on Friday but found
nothing
threatening after acting on a tip from a Georgia restaurant patron who
overheard three men discussing what she thought was a terrorist threat
against south Florida.
The Florida Highway Patrol closed a 20-mile (32-km) stretch of
Alligator
Alley, the main east-west highway across the Everglades in south
Florida,
for more than 14 hours after stopping two cars in what authorities
called a
"potential domestic security concern."
But by late afternoon police said they had found no explosives or other
threatening items in the vehicles.
"It appears there isn't a terrorist threat as it relates to destructive
devices in the cars," Gov. Jeb Bush told reporters in Miami.
The Miami Herald said in a report posted on its Web site that federal
sources involved in the investigation now believed the three men were
playing a "stupid joke" on another restaurant patron who gave them a
suspicious look…
-----
GROUPS PROTEST U.S. DETAINMENTS
The Associated Press, 9/13/02
WASHINGTON (AP) - Hundreds of labor and civil rights activists marched
to
the Justice Department Friday to protest the Bush administration's
policy
of investigating and detaining people, sometimes without charges, as
part
of its war on terrorism.
Some marchers challenged President Bush's assertion that the war effort
is
aimed at terrorists, not Muslims. One protester carried a sign that
accused
Bush of "targeting one billion Muslims."
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, leaning on crutches after foot surgery, said
there
could be Election Day consequences for the White House's policy.
"We march in September, we register in October and we remember in
November," he told the crowd of several hundred.
Civil libertarians said the administration's policy tramples
constitutional
protections.
-----
CLEARED TERROR SUSPECT ANGRY AT US
LELY T. DJUHARI, Associated Press, 9/13/02
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Agus Budiman says he still shakes when he
recalls
his seven months in a U.S. federal prison accused of aiding the Sept.
11
hijackers.
Now, back at home in Jakarta and cleared of involvement in the terror
attacks, the 31-year-old unemployed architect remains angry at
Washington.
After interrogation, imprisonment and court proceedings, a U.S.
district
court judge in May confirmed what Budiman had maintained all along:
There
was no evidence linking him to the attacks in any meaningful way.
The judge sentenced Budiman to seven months in jail on one count of
document fraud, a crime which he admitted to. The jail term was equal
to
the time he had already served. He was then deported back to Indonesia,
the
world's most populous Muslim nation.
Criticism is mounting in many Islamic countries and elsewhere against
the
U.S. government for allegedly curtailing the civil rights of the 1,200
mainly Muslim detainees rounded up in the United States after Sept. 11…
Budiman's lawyer, Wirawan Adnan, said his client was a victim of guilt
by
association.
"Things were blown out of all proportion," Adnan said. "He was
pilloried
and abused by the American press. Budiman was cleared of the charges
but
what kind of justice did he get from the United States?..."
-----
AMERICANS DIVIDED OVER IRAQ
MARCELLA S. KREITER, United Press International, 9/13/02
In laying out his reasons for ousting Iraq's Saddam Hussein, President
George W. Bush has declared the American people fully support his
position.
But Americans are an opinionated bunch and by Friday many were voicing
doubts about the necessity of taking action.
In an unscientific call-in survey conducted by WFLD-TV, Chicago,
immediately after Bush's Thursday address to the United Nations, 52
percent
said the United States should not take action without the backing of
the
rest of the world…
Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations for Southern California, home to 600,000 Muslims, rejects
Bush's
reasoning, saying Saddam isn't "suicidal."
"The question is: If he hasn't used it (chemical and biological
weapons)
when his own regime was about to be eliminated (during the Gulf War) by
us,
why would he use it now?" Ayloush asked.
"There's no debate that the Iraqi regime is a ruthless dictatorship.
But I
don't think it's more ruthless than what the Soviet Union was. I don't
think it's the reason for more danger or threat to us or presents more
threats to us than the Soviet Union did," said Ayoush, 32, who
emigrated
from Lebanon in 1989.
-----
LACK OF TRUST TEARS AT MUSLIMS
Julia Lieblich, Chicago Tribune, 9/13/02
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0209130265sep13.story
Wajeha Shah always wore a black head scarf and floor-length black robe
as a
sign of modesty and dedication to Islam. That was before a drunken
woman
accosted her at Wilson Avenue and Broadway.
"She said, 'We hate you,'" recalled Shah, 21, a bank teller who came to
the
United States from Pakistan three years ago. "She wanted to hit me, so
I
ran to the subway station. When I got home I was...really scared." Her
mother told Shah, pregnant with her first child, to take off the robe
to
avoid provoking others. "Your life is more important," she said. Now
Shah
wears the head scarf with skirts or pants, clothing she considers a
breach
of faith.
Over the last year, Muslims who prided themselves on patriotism have
been
questioning whether they can be loyal to Islam and their country, and
whether in the aftermath of a tragedy they will ever be fully accepted
as
Americans.
Fallout from the terrorist attacks has made many, if not most, Muslims
feel
all the more isolated, living in a country they love but have grown to
distrust.
For recently arrived Muslims like Shah, the tension generated after the
attacks has threatened still-tenuous ties to their new home. Even
people
who have been here for 20 or 30 years fear they may be detained by the
government or attacked by strangers…
"Now suddenly you know you may be targeted because you belong to a
group or
a mosque," said John Esposito of Georgetown University's Center for
Muslim-Christian Understanding…
-----
COMMUNITIES FIND UNEXPECTED SEPT. 11 BENEFITS
L.A. Chung, San Jose Mercury News, 9/13/02
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/4065776.htm
Seeing the cubbies for one's street shoes at the Muslim Community
Association on Wednesday night felt familiar to Kenzo Kimura, a
Japanese-American man who is accustomed to removing his shoes inside a
home.
"What an opportunity -- what we can learn about the Muslim community
and
what they can learn about Japanese-American traditions," said the
31-year-old president of the local Japanese American Citizens League,
who
was invited to the event.
There's been much talk these days about the silver linings many have
found
in the yearlong wake of Sept. 11. Beyond the staggering task of
grasping
the implications of the attacks, many have redirected their profound
sadness into activities that have had unexpected benefits.
Slowing down. Spending more time with families. Exchanging that Silicon
Valley fixation on speed for concern about your co-workers.
Volunteering
close to home.
For Kimura and others, the unexpected benefit is discovering one
another.
"The Muslim community has really embraced us, and we're embracing
them,"
said Kimura, who has learned that shoes are removed in the prayer room.
"You want to get to the point that instead of remembering to
incorporate
the Muslims in your activities, you just automatically think of them as
friends you invite."
The JACL has been reaching out to many different organizations as part
of
its mission, but this outreach, with groups like the Northern
California
Council on American Islamic Relations, is special.
``You don't just sympathize, you empathize, because to a certain extent
you, as a community, have been through it,'' Kimura said.
Both understand what it is like to be confused with the enemy. Both
understand what it is to mourn like any other American on the inside,
and
know that others don't see you as an American on the outside.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, 120,000 Japanese and
Japanese-Americans
were interned in relocation camps for up to four years of their lives,
even
with no evidence of a threat from them.
-----
IRAQI-AMERICANS DENOUNCE SADDAM BUT EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT INVASION
Deborah Kong, Associated Press, 9/13/02
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Iraqi-American groups said they supported
President
George w. Bush's denunciation of Saddam Hussein's regime in his speech
to
the United Nations, but many feared the ramifications of an invasion of
their homeland.
Saddam "is a criminal against his own people and his region, and he's a
threat to the world," said Ala Fa'ik, an Ann Arbor, Michigan, resident
and
member of the Iraqi Forum for Democracy. "To attack Iraq for me is not
acceptable. Attacking Saddam is acceptable..."
Many Iraqi-Americans fear an invasion could harm their country and
loved
ones and fuel anti-American sentiment. While Iraqi-Americans generally
agree Saddam must be removed from power, some said they oppose U.S.
occupation of Iraq…
"Why bomb Iraq when the enemy is Saddam Hussein?" asked Nouri Sitto, a
Troy, Michigan, resident and coordinator of the Iraqi Democratic Union.
"That is not fair at all to the people of Iraq…"
Iraq's potential use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
"should be
dealt with through the United Nations Security Council, not through
unilateral action by the United States," the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations said in a statement…
-----
WHY THIS WAR?
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 9/13/02
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
The President's war speech to the United Nations, delivered just a day
after the first anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S.
history,
not only underscored the paucity of his case, but pointed to the great
diversion represented by this new adventure:
"We meet one year and one day after a terrorist attack brought grief to
my
country, and to the citizens of many countries. Yesterday, we
remembered
the innocent lives taken that terrible morning. Today, we turn to the
urgent duty of protecting other lives, without illusion and without
fear."
"Other lives" - and whom would they be? Amid the litany of familiar
charges
Dubya leveled at Saddam was this:
"Iraq also possesses a force of Scud-type missiles with ranges beyond
the
150 kilometers permitted by the U.N. Work at testing and production
facilities shows that Iraq is building more long-range missiles that
could
inflict mass death throughout the region."
Surely he isn't saying that Saddam Hussein has developed
intercontinental
ballistic missiles, and thus poses a threat to American lives. For
months
we have heard the phrase "weapons of mass destruction" repeated like a
mantra by the War Party, but they almost never tell us where these
weapons,
if they exist, will be aimed: not at New York, or Chicago, or even
Riyadh
and Amman, but at Israel.
So, we must go to war to save Israeli lives: that, in so many words
unspoken, is what the President is saying...
-----
IRAQ ATTACK COULD ALTER WORLD RULES
Peter Ford, Christian Science Monitor, 9/13/02
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0912/p01s03-wogi.html
PARIS - When President Bush addresses the UN General Assembly Thursday,
pressing his case against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, he will be
asking
the world to alter the founding principles of the post-World War II
international order.
Advocating preemptive military action against Baghdad before it uses
its
alleged chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, Mr. Bush is
challenging
United Nations rules on sovereignty and the acceptable use of force
that
have underpinned global relations for three generations.
To the Bush administration, this is a matter of adapting to a new
danger.
But this argument will likely alarm the vast majority of UN members
listening to the US leader. They know that their best chance of
restraining
Bush is to meet him partway, by threatening to use force on their own
terms
against Iraq - if Mr. Hussein does not cooperate with UN weapons
inspectors
- as suggested this week by French President Jacques Chirac…
-----
EDITORIAL: CAN'T FORGET THE OTHER SIDE
Ellis Henican, Newsday, 9/13/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-nyhen132922540sep13.column
Where's Saad?
I'd been asking around for weeks, and nobody seemed to know. Not the
people
on Tiemann Place, just south of 125th Street, where Saad used to run
the
city's best - OK, its only - true Iraqi restaurant. None of the other
New
York Iraqis had seen Saad either, although that's not saying all that
much.
New York is not exactly teeming with Iraqis these days...
What is Saad expecting now? Yesterday, I finally got a chance to ask
him…
"We are going to war," Saad said. "Everybody is resigned to that. They
are
preparing themselves for the war state. Making plans as well as they
can.
It's hard to know exactly how to prepare for a prolonged American
attack.
"Food is not a problem, even with the embargo," he said. "People can
store
extra food. But everything else is a problem. Medicine, equipment,
school
books, electricity. Even now, they have electricity two hours a day.
Imagine, it's 105 or 110 degrees in Baghdad, and you have electricity
only
two hours a day."
Four days ago, he said, he spoke on the phone to his nephew, Ali. "Ali
is
in the fourth grade," Saad said.
"He said to me, 'Uncle,' he said, 'school is starting again. Tell the
American children not to send us bombs and missiles. Tell them to send
us
pencils and books…'
-----
NETANYAHU: U.S. SHOULD ATTACK IRAN WITH TV
P. Mitchell Prothero, UPI, 9/12/02
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20020912-034109-6371r
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- A former Israeli prime minister Thursday
called upon the United States to effect regime change in both Iraq and
Iran, prescribing a military invasion to topple the government in
Baghdad
and the transmission of ribald television programming via satellite
into
Persia, where he said the influx of pop culture would prove
"subversive" to
the conservative Islamic regime.
Citing the hundreds of thousands of satellite television dishes in
Iran,
Benjamin Netanyahu told the House Government Reform Committee that the
United States could incite a revolution against the conservative
Iranian
clergy through the use of such Fox Broadcasting staples as "Melrose
Place"
and "Beverly Hills 90210" -- both of which feature beautiful young
people
in varying states of undress, living, glamorous, materialistic lives
and
engaging in promiscuous sex.
"This is pretty subversive stuff," Netanyahu told the committee. "The
kids
of Iran would want the nice clothes they see on those shows. They would
want the swimming pools and fancy lifestyles…"
-----
N. VA MOSQUE OPEN HOUSE
WHEN: Saturday September 14, 2 to 5 PM
WHERE: Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, 3159 Row Street, Falls Church, VA
22044
CONTACT: (703) 536-1030
International foods and beverages will be served.
-----
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To reach the list moderator, send a message to: cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
FLORIDA "TERROR SCARE" DETAINEES TO REFUTE CHARGES
Medical students deny threats, running through toll booth, being
"uncooperative"
WHAT: On Sunday, September 15, the Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold a news conference at
which
the three Muslim medical students detained during Friday's "terror
scare"
in that state will refute charges that they perpetrated a "hoax," ran
through a toll booth or were "uncooperative" with authorities.
The men were stopped after a restaurant patron in Georgia said she hear
them making "alarming" comments about the 9/11 attacks and about a
possible
future terrorist attack. They were released without charge after being
detained for 17 hours. Since their release, CAIR-FL assisted the men in
obtaining legal representation. Their attorneys will also attend the
news
conference.
"We are very concerned that mere suspicions, possibly based on
prejudice
and stereotyping, could so damage the lives and livelihood of
hard-working
young people whose only wish is to defend their reputations and
complete
their medical education," said CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf Ali.
Ali added that the rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society
can
trigger discrimination by a bigoted minority. He said that just this
weekend, a mosque under construction in Northern Virginia was attacked
by
vandals.
SEE: "LOCAL MOSQUE VANDALIZED"
http://www.wtopnews.com/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsId=636619
WHERE: CAIR-FL's Office, 12535 Orange Drive, Davie, Florida (Davie is
close
to Miami.)
WHEN: Sunday, September 15, 1 p.m.
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR-FL, Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail:
altafaali@cair-florida.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726,
E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or
703-861-7294,
E-MAIL: hhassan@cair-net.org
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/15/2002
HEADLINES:
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT
* REMINDER: CAIR-FL NEWS CONFERENCE ON "TERROR SCARE" DETENTIONS
* HOSPITAL DENIES TRAINING FOR 3 MUSLIM STUDENTS (Sun-Sentinel)
* GOVERNMENT EFFORTS ARE PUTTING CIVIL LIBERTIES AT RISK (Newsday)
* TERROR CELL INDICTMENT HAS DETROIT ARABS WARY (Washington Post)
* USF SPEECH CANCELED IN PROTEST (St. Petersburg Times)
- GENSHAFT ALLIES CITE HER RELIGION IN AL-ARIAN CASE
* SHARON UNREPENTANT ON ISRAELI CLAIMS, ARMY CONDUCT (Reuters)
* PIPES AND DERSHOWITZ: AUTHORS WITH A BIAS (Vancouver Sun)
- PIPES SEEKS TO BLOCK ASHRAWI SPEECH (Washington Times)
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT
Take part in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item
"library package" to inform the American public about Islam and
Muslims.
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
REMINDER: CAIR-FL NEWS CONFERENCE ON "TERROR SCARE" DETENTIONS
On Sunday, September 15, the Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) will hold a news conference at
which
the three Muslim medical students detained during Friday's "terror
scare"
in that state will refute charges that they perpetrated a "hoax," ran
through a toll booth or were "uncooperative" with authorities.
WHERE: CAIR-FL's Office, 12535 Orange Drive, Davie, Florida
(Davie is close to Miami.)
WHEN: Sunday, September 15, 1 p.m.
CONTACT: CAIR-FL, Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail:
altafaali@cair-florida.org
-----
HOSPITAL DENIES TRAINING FOR 3 STUDENTS STOPPED ON ALLIGATOR ALLEY
Shannon O'Boye and Ardy Friedberg, Sun-Sentinel, 9/15/02
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-students091502.story
Local Muslim leaders and the families of the three medical students
suspected and then cleared of being terrorists were outraged to learn
Saturday that the three are no longer welcome to learn at a South Miami
Hospital.
"It was a difficult decision," said Dr. Jack Michel, president and
chief
executive officer of Larkin Community Hospital. "It's not safe for them
to
be here - for them, for the hospital or the patients."
Michel said the hospital had received more than 100 hostile e-mails
since
Friday's incident, with only one telling him to "look at all the facts"
before making a decision.
"Probably people only remember bits and pieces of what they saw on TV
and
are drawing conclusions from that," he said.
The three men, Ayman Gheith, 27, Kambiz Butt, 25, both of suburban
Chicago,
and Omer Choudhary, 23, of Independence, Mo., were detained for 18
hours
Friday after police got a tip that they might be plotting a terrorist
attack on Miami…
The men, who recently completed medical training at Ross University in
Dominica, an island in the eastern Caribbean, denied making threatening
comments at the Shoney's. They said they were driving from Chicago to
South
Miami to find an apartment before starting their nine-week clinical
rotation at Larkin on Monday and only discussed school issues at the
restaurant...
Altaf Ali, of the Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, at first said he was considering legal action against the
hospital for violating the students' civil rights. He was more measured
later after Michel, president of the 112-bed hospital located one block
from U.S. 1 and Sunset Drive, agreed to meet with him today to discuss
the
issue.
Michel has been an advocate for immigrants from South America. He is a
member of the National Association of Colombian American Organizations,
a
coalition of social service and political groups that fights for the
rights
of Colombian immigrants.
"I implored him to not make a hasty decision yet," Ali said from Tampa
on
Saturday afternoon. "I reiterated to him we cannot succumb to pressure
based on hate. If he is receiving hate and hostile e-mails, we can't
succumb to that kind of intimidation.
"If society allows this to take place, it's setting a bad precedent for
the
future," he said…
-----
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS ARE PUTTING CIVIL LIBERTIES AT RISK
Tom Brune and John Riley, Newsday, 9/15/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usprev0915.story
Soon after the Sept. 11 hijackings, Attorney General John Ashcroft
announced a welcomed shift in priorities for the Justice Department,
from
prosecution of past terrorist acts to the prevention of future attacks.
The shift, however, is bringing profound changes to the government and
the
nation - changes that are altering the boundaries of traditional civil
liberties and common notions of law enforcement, an examination of
Ashcroft's domestic war on terrorism has found.
Making prevention a priority means the government now operates with an
increased reliance on suspicion, a more frequent use of confidential
information and a more broadly cast policy of secrecy than before.
And it means the goals of arresting and jailing suspected terrorists
have
fundamentally changed: Obtaining information about terrorists and plots
and
removing suspicious people from the streets now are more important than
prosecuting suspects.
The impact of those changes is found in the specifics of individual
cases
as well as in the broad government policy directives issued in reaction
to
the Sept. 11 attacks…
As the Bush administration has accumulated expansive new powers,
conducted
secretive nationwide arrests and created broad plans for domestic
surveillance, a growing number of people are voicing concerns about the
perils preventing terrorism poses to civil liberties.
The uneasiness has increased following the Justice Department's arrests
and
detentions of hundreds of people - most of them noncitizen Muslims or
Middle Easterners - on suspicions of terrorist activity or knowledge.
In its most recent accounting this summer, the government said that in
its
terrorism investigation, the Immigration and Naturalization Service has
detained 752 people on immigration violations and prosecutors have
charged
131 with federal criminal offenses.
But only one man has been charged with conspiracy in the Sept. 11
hijacking
plot, and only about a dozen others have been charged with conspiracy
or
support of terrorism.
The American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for National Security
Studies, the Center for Constitutional Rights and dozens of other
rights
and liberties groups have filed a series of lawsuits challenging the
government's anti-terrorism policies, particularly its secrecy…
-----
TERROR CELL INDICTMENT HAS DETROIT ARABS WARY
Allan Lengel, Washington Post, 9/15/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19000-2002Sep14.html
DETROIT - The peculiar activity at the brick duplex on Norman Street in
this worn, working-class neighborhood piqued neighbors' curiosity.
Groups
of men sat for hours in a car in front of the house. And shortly before
last Sept. 11, a neighbor says, she saw three men in the back yard,
burning
computer paper in a trash can.
Such events were hardly worth a second thought until Sept. 17, when the
FBI
raided the home and arrested three Middle Eastern men on suspicion of
terrorism.
Nearly a year later, after countless investigations of thousands of
suspects, the trio became the first people since the terror attacks in
New
York and on the Pentagon to be accused of operating a terrorist cell in
the
United States. The indictment, which calls the detainees a "sleeper
operational combat cell," describes some of the most extensive efforts
to
date in the United States to aid the al Qaeda network. It alleges that
the
men, two of whom have been in custody since the Sept. 17 raid, operated
an
underground support unit to collect guns and intelligence, recruit
members
and produce false documents for "the purpose of engaging in violent
attacks
against persons and buildings within the territory of Jordan, Turkey
and
the United States."
Also indicted was a fourth person, the alleged cell leader, known only
by
the name "Abdella." Authorities suspect he may be overseas.
In Washington, the indictment is being hailed as an important victory
in
the war on terror. But here in Detroit, home to one of the nation's
largest
Middle Eastern populations, some are skeptical. They question whether
the
men are terrorists or simply immigrants working menial jobs who were in
the
wrong place when federal agents arrived, looking for another suspect.
The skepticism increased earlier this month when that suspect, Nabil
Almarabh, whom the government initially considered an important terror
suspect, was cleared of links to terrorism and ordered deported to
Syria.
"If they did something wrong, prosecute them. But if they didn't, don't
blow it up like it's an al Qaeda cell," said Don Unis, a Lebanese
American
and retired captain of the Dearborn Fire Department. "It sounds a
little
far-fetched to the Arab community…"
The indictment relies heavily on an informant, Youssef Hmimssa, a
former
roommate of the defendants and a suspected con artist who faces
criminal
charges in Chicago and Detroit…
Kevin Ernst, Ali-Haimoud's attorney, said his client has "no connection
to
terrorism. All the allegations are based on one single snitch who was
in
more trouble than the three men combined before he decided to cooperate
with the government…"
Nearly a year later, things have quieted on Norman Street, but the
indictment has inflamed some Arab Americans' emotions anew. "If we
catch
terrorists, God bless us," said Osama A. Siblani, publisher of the Arab
American News in Dearborn. "Let's just make sure they are terrorists."
-----
USF SPEECH CANCELED IN PROTEST
ANITA KUMAR, St. Petersburg Times, 9/14/02
http://www.sptimes.com/
TAMPA - A prominent Islamic scholar at Georgetown University has
canceled a
speech at the University of South Florida next month because of the
school's handling of the case of professor Sami Al-Arian.
John Esposito, a worldwide expert on contemporary Islam who was once
recruited by USF, was supposed to speak to students Oct. 17 as part of
the
university's annual lecture series.
"The unfortunate decision of your president makes it impossible for me
to
participate at a function at a university that so clearly violates the
academic freedom of one of its professors," he wrote in an e-mail to
USF.
"For the sake of USF, its faculty and students, I hope that situation
will
change in the immediate future." USF president Judy Genshaft accuses
Al-Arian of having terrorist ties and took the unusual step in August
of
filing suit, asking a judge to determine whether firing him would
violate
his constitutional rights. ..
Professors from across the world have written to Genshaft supporting
the
tenured computer science professor after he was first placed on leave a
year ago. The American Association of University Professors, a
respected
group influential in higher education, has threatened to censure USF if
the
school fires him.
Jorland Kurland, AAUP's associate general secretary, said Friday he
expects
more professors to decline to work for, speak at or be recognized by
USF if
the school receives a censure, a powerful force in academia that can
have a
significant impact on faculty hiring and retention.
"It's not surprising that distinguished academics pay attention to
these
controversies," said Roy Weatherford, president of USF's faculty union.
"We
do care about academic freedom."
Esposito, a professor of religion and international affairs and of
Islamic
studies, founded Georgetown's Center for Muslim-Christian
Understanding. He
is considered one of the foremost experts on Islam, and has been quoted
in
The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times and appeared on CNN and
ABC's Nightline...
SEE ALSO:
GENSHAFT ALLIES CITE HER RELIGION IN AL-ARIAN CASE
CHUCK MURPHY, St. Petersburg Times, 9/14/02
http://www.sptimes.com/
An Internet petition seeks support for her among Jewish advocacy
groups.
In the newspaper stories and court papers filed in the ongoing battle
between the University of South Florida and Sami Al-Arian, she is known
simply as USF president Judy Genshaft.
But to an increasing number of people following the controversy, she is
much more than that.
"The Jewish president of the University of South Florida, Dr. Judy
Genshaft, is under pressure to reinstate a known terrorist who she
suspended after he appeared on Fox's Bill O'Reilly show. . . ," reads a
letter attached to an Internet petition and circulated among Web sites
run
by synagogues and Jewish advocacy groups. "Please sign and forward this
to
as many of your friends as possible, they do not have to be Floridians
to
care about this!" When they were done, 15,000 petitions were submitted.
It
is impossible to tell how many of those were the result of the plea to
the
faithful.
Anyone who has followed the eight-year saga of Al-Arian and USF is
aware
that he is a practicing Muslim. But in the two years since Genshaft
became
USF president, her religion has received virtually no attention.
That could change...
Genshaft, who sits on the board of a family foundation that contributes
thousands annually to Jewish causes in her hometown of Canton, Ohio,
and
owns development bonds in Israel, said Friday that her religion has no
bearing on the Al-Arian case.
"That was never a part of this," Genshaft said. "Absolutely not..."
Gross, head of a group based in Palm Harbor called Promoting
Responsibility
in Middle East Reporting (PRIMER), is a retired professor from the
University of Rochester. He represented that school at Genshaft's
welcoming
ceremony. At the reception that followed, he pulled her aside.
"I was introduced to her in-laws, the Greenbaums, so I knew" that
Genshaft
was probably Jewish, said Gross, whose group advocates fairer treatment
of
Israeli causes in the media. "I said to her that she had a problem on
the
campus, Al-Arian. I said I think that you should look into his
activities.
Maybe it was chutzpah on my part, but I didn't think it was out of
line."
Genshaft, who does not recall that conversation with Gross, said she
was
already aware of the Al-Arian controversy. Someone, she can't remember
who,
sent her a packet of newspaper clippings about the professor between
the
time she was chosen USF president and her arrival…
Al-Arian said he has known for years that Genshaft was Jewish. He
thinks it
was mentioned during interviews she had with the faculty before she was
chosen as president.
But the embattled professor, who remains on paid leave from his job
while
the court case is pending, said he has never made an issue of
Genshaft's faith…
Genshaft is one of three family members on the board of the Genshaft
Family
Foundation, a nonprofit corporation based in her hometown of Canton,
Ohio.
The foundation was created after Genshaft's father, Arthur Genshaft,
died
in 1979. He was the former president and chairman of the board of
Superior's Brand Meats and president of Sugardale Foods in Ohio. He was
also president of a Canton synagogue.
Tax returns for the foundation for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000 show
that
it gave more than $100,000 in each of those years to Jewish causes. The
bulk of that money went to the Canton Jewish Community Federation,
which
then distributes the money to various Jewish charities in the Canton
area.
The tax returns also show that the foundation has a $10,000 stake in
bonds
from the Industrial Development Bank of Israel. That bank, based in Tel
Aviv, uses money from bondholders to loan to industries considering
investment in Israel…
Al-Arian, who until Friday was unaware of the Industrial Development
Bank
bonds and the charities associated with the Genshaft Family Foundation,
now
wonders.
"It raises the question of whether her judgment is tainted by her
ideology,
by her affiliations," Al-Arian said. "Even if she says that it doesn't,
you
still have the appearance that there is a conflict there..."
-----
SHARON UNREPENTANT ON ISRAELI CLAIMS, ARMY CONDUCT
Reuters, 9/14/05
JERUSALEM, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
rejected
Arab claims to land under Israeli occupation in an interview broadcast
on
Saturday, but said he still believed Jews and Arabs could coexist in
peace.
"The rights to the land of Israel are Jewish exclusively," Sharon told
Israel's Channel One television, referring to the state of Israel and
territories it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. "But all living
there
are entitled to rights."
-----
PIPES AND DERSHOWITZ: AUTHORS WITH A BIAS
Gary D. Keenan, Vancouver Sun, 9/14/02
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Kudos to Tim Carter for his perceptive reviews of Militant Islam
Reaches
America by Daniel Pipes and Why Terrorism Works by Alan Dershowitz
("Two
analysts come up empty," Sept. 7).
SEE:
http://www.canada.com/search/site/story.asp?id=9AD96949-7B16-4CC1-AB19-4AAAA0C25A9B
Those familiar with their track records understand that, in writing
these
books, Pipes and Dershowitz are promoting a point of view that is
pro-Israel and anti-Arab/Muslim. As an "associate" of the pro-Israel
Washington Institute for Near East Policy, which is connected to
like-minded organizations such as the Middle East Forum, the Middle
East
Research Institute and superhawk Richard Perle's American Enterprise
Institute, Pipes has made a career of Arab- and Muslim-bashing.
As for Dershowitz, his view of Arabs is well illustrated by the fact
that
he recently urged Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to destroy
entire
Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. It comes
as
no surprise that he dwells on acts of terror committed by dispossessed
Palestinians and ignores the well-documented terrorism and massacres
carried out by the Irgun, Stern gang, Palmach and Sharon's "Unit 101."
Regarding terrorism, it should be noted that Sept. 16-18 will mark the
20th
anniversary of the massacre of at least 2,000 unarmed Palestinian and
other
Arab civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps during Israel's
invasion of Lebanon.
Gary D. Keenan
Vancouver
SEE ALSO:
PIPES SEEKS TO BLOCK ASHRAWI SPEECH
WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/13/02
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20020913-24232084.htm
COLORADO SPRINGS - Hundreds of protesters brought some of the furor of
the
Middle East conflict to Colorado yesterday as Hanan Ashrawi delivered
the
keynote address at a symposium on the September 11 terrorist attacks.
About 500 demonstrators, members of a coalition of Jewish and Christian
groups, waved American and Israeli flags and criticized Colorado
College
for honoring Mrs. Ashrawi, arguing that it was in poor taste to honor
the
prominent Palestinian spokeswoman at a conference on terrorism...
College President Richard Celeste, the former Democratic governor of
Ohio
and U.S. ambassador to India, defended the college's right to invite
provocative speakers and said that pro-Israeli scholar Gideon Doron
would
respond to Mrs. Ashrawi's talk with a keynote address today.
That didn't satisfy protesters, who came armed with their own keynote
speaker, Middle East scholar and author Daniel Pipes. Speaking to
demonstrators outside after Mrs. Ashrawi's address, Mr. Pipes called
her
appearance at the event "a grievous error."
"Simply put, the United States is engaged in a war on terror, and Mrs.
Ashrawi is on the side of America's enemies," said Mr. Pipes, who was
escorted to the college by state Attorney General Ken Salazar.
"We should work so that this type of anti-American spokeswoman is not
welcome on American campuses," Mr. Pipes 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 Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/16/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: MAKE THINGS EASY
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* RESERVE OCT. 26 FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET
* URGENT: FLORIDA "TERROR SCARE" HOSPITAL TO HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE
* FL MUSLIM STUDENTS TO APPEAR ON CNN AND FOX NEWS
* FLA. SCARE RAISES QUESTIONS ON TIPS (AP)
- FLA. MUSLIM MEN WANT NAMES CLEARED (AP)
- MEDIA ASKED TO HALT COVERAGE OF TIP-OFF (Atlanta Journal
Constitution)
* GRAFFITI MARS NEW MUSLIM CENTER (Washington Times)
* MUSLIM WOMAN INCLUDED IN POPULAR COMIC STRIP
* EDITORIAL: TESTING TOLERANCE IN QUEBEC SCHOOLS (Montreal Gazette)
* EDITORIAL: CONDEMNING HATRED (Kansas City Star)
* U.S. IMMIGRATION SYSTEM BEING USED TO DETAIN SOME SUSPECTS (Newsday)
* TRIAL OF FAITH (Houston Press)
- AFTER 9/11, NEW FRUSTRATIONS IN CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES (Texas
Lawyer)
* EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WITH CAIR NY
* IMC-USA CONDEMNS CAMPAIGN BY HINDU GROUPS TO BLOCK PBS DOCUMENTARY
* HOW SADDAM HAPPENED (Newsweek)
* EYEWITNESS: SABRA AND SHATILA 20 YEARS ON (BBC News)
* AN EVANGELICAL GROUP FAULTS U.S. TILT TOWARD ISRAEL (Forward)
* ISRAELIS POSED AS CANADIANS, PALESTINIAN COLLABORATOR SAYS (Toronto
Star)
* ARABS, MUSLIMS AND RACE IN AMERICA (Middle East Report)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: MAKE THINGS EASY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God did not send me to
be
harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 707
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has already received 275 sponsorships for book
and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Take
part in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item
"library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
RESERVE OCT. 26 FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET
CAIR invites you to its 8th annual banquet, which will take place
Saturday,
October 26, 2002 in Tysons Corner, VA. The theme this year is "From
Challenge to Opportunity"…
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 2002
TIME: 6 p.m.
LOCATION: Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner, VA
THEME: "From Challenge to Opportunity
COST: $50/person, $85/couple
OTHER: Seating is limited. Limited babysitting provided for $10/child
with
prior notice.
CONTACT: 202-488-8787, E-Mail registration@cair-net.org
CAIR needs you to help make our 8th annual banquet a success. If you're
interested in volunteering, please email irahman@cair-net.org, or call
202-488-8787 ext. 6050.
-----
URGENT: FLORIDA "TERROR SCARE" HOSPITAL TO HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE
Larkin Community Hospital will be holding a press conference today at
5:00PM at the Annex building across from the Hospital.
SEE: http://www.larkinhospital.com/press_releases.htm
FOR THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY'S REACTION, CONTACT:
CAIR-FL, Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail: altafaali@cair-florida.org;
Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org;
Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294, E-MAIL:
hhassan@cair-net.org
-----
FL MUSLIM STUDENTS TO APPEAR ON CNN AND FOX NEWS
"Larry King Live", CNN, 9pm (EST)
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live/index.html
Police detained three Muslim medical students for 17 hours Friday after
a
restaurant patron said their conversation indicated they were plotting
a
terrorist attack in the Miami area. Tonight, the three men join Larry
to
talk about the restaurant discussion that triggered a daylong closure
of a
Florida highway
"To the Point with Greta Van Susteran", Fox News, 10pm (EST)
-----
FLA. SCARE RAISES QUESTIONS ON TIPS
DAVID CRARY, Associated Press, 9/16/02
First, a high-profile false alarm in Florida; then the arrest of five
terror suspects in western New York. Together, the two events raise
questions about how zealous Americans should be as tipsters in the
homefront war on terrorism.
"I don't know if anyone has the perfect answer," said Khalid Qazi,
president of the American Muslim Council of Western New York, wondering
how
to strike a balance between vigilance and paranoia.
After a daylong drama on the south Florida highway known as Alligator
Alley, three Muslim medical students were released Friday without
charges.
They had been detained based on the suspicions of a woman who overheard
parts of their conversation at a Shoney's restaurant in Georgia.
Authorities commended the woman, Eunice Stone, for calling police. Even
Muslim leaders, while depicting the incident as a case of racial
profiling,
stopped short of saying Stone's action was malicious.
"I'm sure she believes she really heard some threats," Ibrahim Hooper,
spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Monday.
"But there's a problem when you basically deputize everyone in America.
Does a person reading the Koran in the airport, or a man wearing a
skullcap, constitute suspicious activity? Where does it leave us?..."
"Any time a citizen feels that they have witnessed something
suspicious, we
want them to notify the appropriate authorities," said Justice
Department
spokesman Mark Corallo. 'Citizen vigilance is an essential part of the
fight against terrorism here at home."
Yet one of the department's initiatives for expanding public vigilance
-
Operation TIPS - has run into widespread opposition, from both
conservatives and liberals. Even the U.S. Postal Service shunned the
program, in which truckers, train conductors, utility employees and
others
were supposed to report systematically on suspicious activities…
The ACLU's executive director, Anthony Romero, said utility workers and
truckers would be more prone to fall for hoaxes or to engage in racial
profiling than law enforcement officers…
Hooper urged Americans to use good judgment in deciding whether to file
a
report with police.
"If you heard someone saying, 'We're going to bomb this place tonight,'
you
should report it," he said. "But you have to keep from reacting based
on
prejudice and stereotype; you need to react based on real things."
FLA. MUSLIM MEN WANT NAMES CLEARED
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press, 9/16/02
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=514&e=4&cid=514&u=/ap/20020916/ap_on_re_us/threat_florida
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - The three Muslim medical students detained after a
woman
said they were discussing terror plans told reporters they want to
clear
their names and study to become doctors, but a Miami hospital where
they
were supposed to train no longer wants them.
The head of Larkin Community Hospital in Miami said Sunday he had
received
more than 200 e-mails after the incident, some threatening.
"Obviously, nothing is final," said Dr. Jack Michel, president and
chief
executive officer of Larkin. "Our primary objective is to take care of
patients. I don't know how that could be done with all this media
coverage."
He said the medical school where the men are studying, Ross University,
had
agreed to transfer them to a different training program.
Kambiz Butt, 25, said Sunday that he and Ayman Gheith, 27, and Omar
Choudhary, 23, want to continue their education in the United States.
"We're medical students. We are not terrorists," Butt said, flanked by
Gheith and Choudhary. "Our concern in life is to become doctors. We
want to
help people. We do not want to hurt."
Butt, the only one of the students to speak at a news conference, said
they
were worried about their futures but have no resentment toward the
woman
who told authorities she overheard them discussing terrorist plans
Thursday
at a restaurant in Calhoun, Ga. They were detained for 17 hours, but
were
not charged with any crimes.
"We're in a state of shock and we are scared," Butt said. "But I'd like
to
tell the American people that we are not a threat…"
MEDIA ASKED TO HALT COVERAGE OF TIP-OFF
Bill Rankin, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 9/16/02
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/monday/metro_d35807cbb126c0d000e0.html
Cartersville --- Eunice Stone says she's done her duty and now just
wants
to be left alone. Stone, of Cartersville, said her life has been in
turmoil
since she told authorities Friday she'd overheard a conversation in a
restaurant by three men plotting a terrorist attack on Miami...
One of the three men involved said Sunday the entire incident was a
misunderstanding. A Miami lawyer representing the men said Stone
overhead
them talking about having a car brought down to Miami --- not any plan
to
blow up buildings.
At the men's own press conference in Florida Sunday, Kambiz Butt, 25,
said
he and fellow medical students Ayman Gheith, 27, and Omar Choudhary,
23,
just want to clear their names and be allowed to continue their
education.
"We're medical students," Butt said, flanked by Gheith and Choudhary.
"We
are not terrorists. Our concern in life is to become doctors. We want
to
help people…"
But Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, where the three students were
headed for a nine-week training program, may not be accepting them
after
all. Larkin's president, Jack Michel, said he had received more than
200
e-mails, some of them threatening, after the incident. They may be
transferred to another program and accepted at Larkin at a later date,
he
said.
Kubiliun said his clients are "not really upset with Mrs. Stone," he
said.
"They have no ill will towards her. It was something that was just
completely misconstrued."
-----
GRAFFITI MARS NEW MUSLIM CENTER
Carol Johnson, Washington Times, 9/16/02
http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20020915-9486464.htm
A Muslim group whose mosque was vandalized after the September 11
terrorist
attacks found hate-based graffiti yesterday on its newly built
community
center in Sterling, Va. Top Stories
Loudoun County sheriff's deputies received a call at about 8:30 a.m.
yesterday from members of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, who had
found
swastikas and ethnic slurs spray-painted on the rear entrance of its
new
community center. The center, at 46903 Sugarland Road, is expected to
open
in October or November, said society president Rizwan Jaka…
Yasir Syeed, a member of the society's community relations committee,
said
the group has been in Northern Virginia since 1983, but the center on
Sugarland Road will be its first permanent home and took a decade of
hard
work to build...
On Sept. 12, 2001 - a day after Muslim extremists flew hijacked
jetliners
into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon - someone
broke into the building and painted obscene graffiti in the worship
hall
and on the outside of the building.
"It's very disturbing that there are people out there with this sort of
hatred," said Mr. Syeed, who called the discovery yesterday "an ugly
reminder."
Last Wednesday, on the first anniversary of the attacks, the society
held
an interfaith vigil. About 70 people attended, Mr. Jaka said, most of
them
Christians and Jews.
"It was a time for us to reflect on September 11, on the victims and
families of the victims, and to let them know that our thoughts and
prayers
are with them," he said…
-----
MUSLIM WOMAN INCLUDED IN POPULAR COMIC STRIP
Lynn Johnstone, "For Better or Worse"
In today's "For Better or Worse", an illustration of a Muslim girl with
a
hijab is included in the comic strip. To view, go to:
http://www.fborfw.com/strip_fix/archive/02_09/0915.html
ACTION REQUESTED: Send a note of thanks to the author expression
appreciation at her decision to include a Muslim character. Email:
lynn@fborfw.com
-----
EDITORIAL: TESTING TOLERANCE IN QUEBEC SCHOOLS
Sheema Khan, Montreal Gazette, 9/16/02
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/editorials/story.asp?id={D2658DDC-8CB8-4BA7-BBB9-4EA7A25E6F56}
Gurbaj Singh had to go to court to win the right to wear his kirpan - a
ceremonial Sikh dagger - at school.
Serious questions about the rights of religious minorities in Quebec's
public schools overshadow this fall's back-to-the-books rituals for
some
students and their parents.
At issue is the Quebec government's decision to appeal a recent
court-mediated compromise permitting a Sikh boy, Gurbaj Singh, to wear
his
kirpan to school. The Marguerite Bourgeoys School Board has also filed
an
appeal, in spite of the fact that Gurbaj has chosen to attend a private
school that allows him to wear his kirpan.
Ostensibly, the reason for seeking the ban is safety. About 40 Sikh
students wear kirpans in Montreal area schools, and yet not a single
incident of a Sikh using it as a weapon has been reported. Recent
judgments
in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., as well as in the U.S. and Europe have
allowed kirpans. In face of this evidence, are we to conclude that
Quebec
schools are more prone to violence than those elsewhere? That the
precautions taken to sheath the kirpan are insufficient here…?
Sheema Khan is chairman of the Ottawa-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations - Canada.
-----
EDITORIAL: CONDEMNING HATRED
Kansas City Star, 9/13/02
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/4069225.htm
From the beginning, President Bush has been admirably consistent about
asking Americans not to blame last year's terrorist attacks on Islam.
He reiterated the message recently in a meeting with Arab-American and
Muslim-American leaders. It's a message he should continue to promote.
Patriotic American citizens should not be blamed for the atrocities of
zealots who claim to act in the name of Islam.
"It's important for our fellow Americans to understand," Bush said at a
gathering at the Afghanistan Embassy in Washington, "that Americans of
Muslim faith share the same grief that we all share from what happened
to
our country."
American Muslims, he said, are "just as proud of America as I am proud
of
America. They love our country as much as I love our country. They
share my
profound belief that no American should be judged by appearance, by
ethnic
background or by religious faith. I believe that strongly, and so do
they."
Many Muslims in this country may not agree with all of the president's
policies, nor should they be expected to agree.
But there is no excuse for some of the hateful acts and prejudicial
statements against American Muslims that were heard frequently after
the
terrorist attacks and that still occur from time to time. The president
is
right to keep condemning such statements.
-----
U.S. IMMIGRATION SYSTEM BEING USED TO DETAIN SOME SUSPECTS
Tom Brune, Newsday, 9/16/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-detain0916.story
Shakir Ali Baloch, a 40-year-old man with soft features and thinning
black
hair, insists he does not know the real reason federal agents picked
him up
at a Long Island City driving school nine days after the Sept. 11
terrorist
attacks.
A Pakistani-born Canadian citizen, Baloch said he thought it was simply
an
immigration matter, and after he admitted to officials that he was
living
illegally in a Queens Boulevard apartment, he expected he'd be deported
within days.
But the FBI labeled him a "special interest" case in its terror probe,
and
he spent the next seven months in jail -- beaten by guards, he said,
and
placed in harsh conditions so secret that U.S. officials denied it when
a
Canadian consul asked if he'd been detained...
The story told by Baloch has become familiar in the aftermath of the
FBI's
sweeps to hunt down those responsible for the Sept. 11 hijackings and
to
discover anyone who might be planning another attack. It provides a
view
into the highly secretive system of detentions established by the
Justice
Department, which refuses to release names or conditions of detainees
under
a blanket order to keep special interest cases closed to the public…
And it illustrates what some lawyers say is the Justice Department's
exploitation of the immigration system to conduct a criminal
investigation
without having to honor the safeguards of rights in the criminal
justice
system, most notably the guarantee of a lawyer.
Baloch's lengthy detention, without a hearing or a charge, suggests the
Justice Department has turned the presumption of innocence on its head,
holding noncitizens until satisfied they are not tied to terrorism,
rights
groups and immigration lawyers say…
-----
TRIAL OF FAITH
Jennifer Mathieu, Houston Press, 9/12/02
http://www.houstonpress.com/issues/2002-09-12/news.html/1/index.html
Like many custody battles, the fight over Sami Kabbani and Teresa
Lauderdale's two girls has been long and nasty. There were almost 1,000
evidence exhibits. The court transcript alone is so extensive that a
copy
costs almost $30,000. Kabbani spent nine days of the 31-day trial on
the
witness stand. But in another way, the case that concluded in May was
very
different. It ended with the American Civil Liberties Union arguing
that
the 9/11 terrorism backlash had trickled all the way down to the family
courts and with Kabbani and his supporters claiming that Judge Georgia
Dempster exhibited blatant prejudice against Muslim Americans during
the
trial.
"I was shocked," says Kristine Uhlman, an American-born Muslim who
testified on Kabbani's behalf. "In this courtroom it was like you
weren't
believed if you were a Muslim. It made my skin crawl."
Uhlman, an expert in international abduction cases, took the stand to
dispute claims by Lauderdale that Kabbani planned to kidnap his
children
and take them to his native Syria. Under cross-examination by
Lauderdale's
attorney, Tom Conner, Uhlman found herself trying to explain a part of
the
Koran that says a Muslim can lie to an "infidel." "The judge looked at
me
and said, 'Since you are a Muslim, does that mean you can lie to us
because
you don't have the same god?'" remembers Uhlman, who insisted that was
not
what the Koran meant. Uhlman says the judge later asked, "Since Sami's
god
is different, does that mean he can lie?..."
SEE ALSO:
AFTER SEPT. 11, NEW FRUSTRATIONS IN CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES
Erica Lehrer Goldman, Texas Lawyer, 9/12/02
Achieving a harmonious child custody arrangement during divorce is
seldom
easy. But some Texans believe the terrorist attacks on America one year
ago
may have given rise to new fears, biases and frustrations in the
context of
child custody disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims. Out of a
reported
13 such cases nationwide, Texas has at least four custody suits that
resonate on a post-Sept. 11 frequency, says Laurie Jaghlit, civil
rights
coordinator for the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), which tracks such cases. That's high compared to the
year
before Sept. 11, 2001, Jaghlit says; that year, there were three
reported
cases nationwide addressing child custody concerns in the context of
Muslim/non-Muslim relationships.
One recent Harris County case, In the Matter of the Marriage of Sami A.
Kabbani and Teresa J. Lauderdale, addressed a mother's fears of child
abduction to the Middle East by her husband, an American citizen born
in
Syria, after their relationship soured. But the husband's lawyer,
Jolene
Wilson-Glah, says "there is absolutely no evidence of any interest in,
plan
to or attempt to abduct these children." On Aug. 16, following a
three-month trial, Judge Georgia Dempster of the 308th Family District
Court in Harris County signed a final decree of divorce in the case.
The
decree deviated from the presumption under §153.131 of the Texas Family
Code that parents should be appointed joint managing conservators of
their
children…
Other Texas custody battles on CAIR's radar screen include one case in
which a woman's primary custody of a child was challenged by her
ex-husband
after she converted to Islam and married a man from Morocco, and two
cases
involving grandparents seeking custody of the children of women who
have
converted to Islam and married Muslims, Jaghlit says.
"It's hard to know how many cases are really out there," Jaghlit says.
"But
we know they are out there. And we know that many of them have been
fueled
by the events of Sept. 11."
-----
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WITH CAIR NY
Job Title: Director
Position: Full time
Qualifications: Candidate must have a university degree. Good
organizational and management skills, excellent communication skills
both
verbal and written. Legal background is a plus.
PLEASE SEND YOUR CV AND SALARY REQUIREMENTS NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER
20TH,
2002. EMAIL (IN THE BODY OF THE TEXT, NO ATTACHMENTS PLEASE):
nmgondal@aol.com
BY MAIL:
Nasir Gondal
President CAIR NY Chapter
41 Pelican Ct
Syosset NY 11791
-----
IMC-USA CONDEMNS MEDIA-INTIMIDATION CAMPAIGN BY HINDU GROUPS TO BLOCK
PBS
DOCUMENTARY
For Immediate Release:
Contact Person: Dr. Shaik Ubaid (516) 567-0783
PBS will be showing a documentary on the recent violence in Gujarat,
India
in which over 2000 Muslims were killed, 600 women were raped and burnt
alive and over 150,000 Muslims displaced and now residing in refugee
camps.
This violence was perpetrated by the right wing Hindu ruling party in
India
that claims the subjugation of minorities as its ideology.
The Hindu diaspora adhering to this extremist ideology is very well
organized in the United States. Recently they have launched a campaign
of
gigantic proportions to condemn and stop the showing of this PBS
documentary "Soul of India" that exposes their involvement in the
carnage.
IMC-USA urges all Americans to rise up and defend the freedom of
speech. We are urging our members and supporters to launch a counter
campaign in support of freedom of speech. For the PBS Stations in your
local area, visit:
http://www.pbs.org/stationfinder/index.html
For first hand information of the intimidation campaign by VHP-America
please visit:
http://www.vhp-america.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=26
SEE ALSO:
SOUL OF INDIA
PBS Documentary
Thurs., Sept. 19 at 9pm ET
(Check the TV schedule for local listings.)
The bloody conflict between Hindus and Muslims in northwestern India is
at
the forefront of a struggle for India's identity, led by an
increasingly
powerful Hindu nationalist movement whose goal is to turn India into a
Hindu nation. Over the last three months, at least 850 Muslims have
been
killed -- some estimates go as high as 2,000 -- in the Province of
Gujarat,
and more than 100,000 Muslims have fled to refugee camps.
This outbreak of communal violence has a long history. The recent mob
violence in Gujarat was kindled in late February, 2002, when a Muslim
crowd
in Godhra attacked a train carrying Hindu nationalists, killing 58
people.
The victims of this attack were returning from a gathering in Ayodhya,
where ten years earlier Hindu nationalists had torn down a centuries
old
Muslim temple.
-----
HOW SADDAM HAPPENED
Christopher Dickey and Evan Thomas, Newsweek, 9/23/02
http://www.msnbc.com/news/807688.asp
Sept. 23 issue - The last time Donald Rumsfeld saw Saddam Hussein, he
gave
him a cordial handshake. The date was almost 20 years ago, Dec. 20,
1983;
an official Iraqi television crew recorded the historic moment.
The once and future Defense secretary, at the time a private citizen,
had
been sent by President Ronald Reagan to Baghdad as a special envoy.
Saddam
Hussein, armed with a pistol on his hip, seemed "vigorous and
confident,"
according to a now declassified State Department cable obtained by
NEWSWEEK. Rumsfeld "conveyed the President's greetings and expressed
his
pleasure at being in Baghdad," wrote the notetaker. Then the two men
got
down to business, talking about the need to improve relations between
their
two countries.
Like most foreign-policy insiders, Rumsfeld was aware that Saddam was a
murderous thug who supported terrorists and was trying to build a
nuclear
weapon. (The Israelis had already bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor at
Osirak.)
But at the time, America's big worry was Iran, not Iraq…
On the-theory that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the Reaganites
were
seeking to support Iraq in a long and bloody war against Iran. The
meeting
between Rumsfeld and Saddam was consequential: for the next five years,
until Iran finally capitulated, the United States backed Saddam's
armies
with military intelligence, economic aid and covert supplies of
munitions...
-----
EYEWITNESS: SABRA AND SHATILA 20 YEARS ON
Martin Asser, BBC News, 9/14/02
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2255902.stm
There's another significant anniversary this week, but not one that's
attracted the sort of attention the 11 September commemorations have.
On 16 September 1982, under the watchful eye of their Israeli allies
who
had encircled the area, Lebanese Christian militiamen entered Beirut's
Sabra and Shatila refugee camps bent on revenge for the assassination
of
their leader Bashir Gemayel.
Refugee camps like Shatila still lack the most basic services
There followed a three-day orgy of rape and slaughter that left
hundreds,
possibly thousands, of innocent civilians dead in what is considered
the
bloodiest single incident of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
If Americans approached the 11 September anniversary with trepidation,
many
residents of Shatila camp, and its more run-down neighbour Sabra, have
been
dreading the milestone on Monday which marks two decades of pain and
the
futile search for justice…
But there will be no internationally-observed minute's silence for the
innocent victims of Sabra and Shatila, or global news coverage about
the
survivors and their miserable existence at the scene of this evil
crime.
-----
AN EVANGELICAL GROUP FAULTS U.S. TILT TOWARD ISRAEL
Eli Kintisch, Forward, 9/13/02
http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.09.13/news3.html
WASHINGTON - A small but influential group of 60 Evangelical Christians
is
calling on the Bush administration to change Middle East policies they
say
are tilted in favor of Israel.
Meeting last month with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice,
members
of the group reiterated their call, first contained in a July 30 letter
to
President Bush, for an "even-handed U.S. policy toward Israelis and
Palestinians [that] does not give a blank check to either side."
Their call represents a marked departure from many evangelical leaders,
who
since the start of the intifada and the September 11 attacks have been
increasingly vocal in backing the policies of Prime Minister Sharon…
The evangelicals who met with Rice, however, said they intended to
demonstrate that the American evangelical community is not of one mind
when
it comes to Israel.
"I voted for George Bush, and I will again, but I don't think anyone
has
ever accused him of being a person of nuance," said Robert Seiple, a
signatory to the July letter who served from 1998 to 2000 as the State
Department's first ambassador at large for international religious
freedom…
-----
ISRAELIS POSED AS CANADIANS, PALESTINIAN COLLABORATOR SAYS
Mitch Potter, Toronto Star, 9/16/02
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Render&inifile=futuretense.ini&c=Page&cid=968332188854&pubid=968163964505
There is little life left in the downcast eyes of Akram Zatmeh. In a
matter
of weeks, perhaps sooner, the 22-year-old Palestinian is almost certain
to
be executed by a bullet from his own people. A confessed collaborator,
Zatmeh admits he fed information to Israeli agents which led directly
to
the July 22 aerial bombing of senior Hamas operative Salah Shehada.
That
the one-tonne bomb also claimed the lives of 14 innocent Palestinians,
including nine children, Zatmeh says, adds immeasurably to his shame...
Zatmeh's claim - that he was an unwitting English student duped by
Israeli
agents posing as Canadians, who used sexual blackmail to force him to
spy
and inform at their behest - has been dismissed by Israel as a total
fabrication.
Israeli officials refuse to confirm or deny Zatmeh worked as an
informant.
But either way, they say, Israel learned well from the mistakes of
1997,
when Canada's ambassador to Israel was recalled after undercover Mossad
agents were arrested in Jordan with bogus Canadian passports in a
botched
assassination attempt…
-----
ARABS, MUSLIMS AND RACE IN AMERICA
Middle East Report, Fall 2002
For immediate release:
Among the complex and contradictory after-effects of the September 11
attacks in New York and Washington is the increased visibility of Arab
and
Muslim citizens and immigrants in the United States. Racial profiling
shed
its hard-won opprobrium in public opinion, as an FBI dragnet zeroed in
on
young Middle Eastern and Muslim men, and commentators painted Islam as
an
enemy. At the same time, genuine interest in Islam and Middle Eastern
culture has reached unprecedented levels. The fall 2002 issue of Middle
East Report, "Arabs, Muslims and Race in America," unravels some of
these
complexities and contradictions…
Subscribe to Middle East Report or order individual copies online at
www.merip.org.
For further information, contact Chris Toensing at ctoensing@merip.org.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/17/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A PATIENT PROPHET
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* ACTION ALERT: SUPPORT PBS' DECISION TO AIR "SOUL OF INDIA"
* SHOTS FIRED AT OHIO MOSQUE (Akron Beacon Journal)
* MUSLIM MED STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE STUDIES
- 3 MED STUDENTS' TRAINING DERAILED (Miami Herald)
- EDITORIAL: HOSPITAL'S ACTION OUTRAGEOUS (Miami Herald)
- DETAINED FLORIDA MED STUDENTS SPEAK OUT (CNN)
- STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR FL MED STUDENTS FROM REP. MICHAEL M. HONDA
- LOCAL ARABS BLAST 'PARANOIA' (SF Examiner)
* U.S. COURT RULES AGAINST CLOSED 9/11 HEARING (Reuters)
* A YEAR LATER, THEY AWAIT EXONERATION (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* AMERICANS STILL DIVIDED ON ISSUE OF RIGHTS VS. SECURITY (LA Times)
* AL-ARIAN TO JUDGE: DISMISS USF'S SUIT
* AMERICA PLANS PR BLITZ ON SADDAM (Sunday Times)
* IT'S OPEN SEASON ON CHINA'S MUSLIM MINORITIES (Time)
* KASHMIRIS FORCED TO DEFY POLL BOYCOTT (Sunday Times)
* US VISA BAN A 'PRICE TO PAY' FOR BEING ISLAMIC, SAYS MAHATHIR (AFP)
* 5 HURT IN PALESTINIAN SCHOOL BOMBING (Associated Press)
* BEIRUT MASSACRE SURVIVORS SAY WORLD ENCOURAGES SHARON (Reuters)
- PALESTINIANS MARK 1982 MASSACRE (AP)
* MANDELA SLAMS U.S. SCEPTICISM OVER IRAQ OFFER (Reuters)
* PA FUNDRAISER FOR VICTIMS OF GUJARAT VIOLENCE
* AFGHANS GROW UNEASY OF U.S. TROOPS (AP)
* 'QUARTET' PREPARES ROAD MAP TO MIDEAST PEACE (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A PATIENT PROPHET
A companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "I served
the
Prophet for ten years, and he never said to me "Uf" (a minor harsh word
denoting impatience) and never blamed me by saying, 'Why did you do so
or
why didn't you do so?'"
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 64
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has already received 305 sponsorships for book
and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Take
part in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item
"library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
ACTION ALERT: SUPPORT PBS' DECISION TO AIR "SOUL OF INDIA"
http://www.cair-net.org/html/capwiz.html
SOUL OF INDIA
Thurs., Sept. 19 at 9 pm ET
(check the TV schedule for local listings)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/about/film10.html
The bloody conflict between Hindus and Muslims in northwestern India is
at
the forefront of a struggle for India's identity, led by an
increasingly
powerful Hindu nationalist movement whose goal is to turn India into a
Hindu nation. Over the last three months, at least 850 Muslims have
been
killed -- some estimates go as high as 2,000 -- in the Province of
Gujarat,
and more than 100,000 Muslims have fled to refugee camps.
-----
SHOTS FIRED AT OHIO MOSQUE
Jim Carney and Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal, 9/16/02
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/2002/09/16/news/local/4084590.htm
Cuyahoga Falls police are investigating the discovery of seven bullet
holes
Sunday afternoon in a window at the Islamic Community Center.
Sgt. Dale Gramley said officers were called to the mosque on East
Steels
Corners Road at 2 p.m. when members of the religious community noticed
the
bullet holes…
Dr. Ihsan Ul Haque, president of the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent,
said the bullet holes were discovered Sunday afternoon in the window of
the
prayer hall. It appears the shooting took place between 6:30 and 9:30
a.m.
Sunday.
Haque said no one was in the mosque when the incident took place, but
at 10
a.m. Sunday about 120 children and 15 adults arrived for Sunday school…
Haque, an Akron cardiologist, said he expects area religious and
political
leaders "to take action and talk to their congregants and to the public
that this is not the kind of town we are. We are not a community of
bigots
and intolerant people and we are not going to accept this kind of
behavior…"
-----
MUSLIM MED STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE STUDIES
(FLORIDA, 9/17/02) - The Florida office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-FL) announced today that the three Muslim medical
students
detained in a terror scare last Friday will be allowed to continue
their
studies at a Miami hospital.
Larkin Community Hospital CEO Dr. Jack Michel told CAIR-FL: "[Our
hospital]
is involved in reconstructing the students' curriculum, and I am
committed
to ensure that the students get what is required for them to fulfill
their
rotation and to prevent their education from being disrupted."
"We are very pleased that this issue is resolved. We commend Larkin
Community Hospital and Dr. Michel for keeping the doors of dialogue
open
and we thank all those who supported us in our effort to restore
normalcy
to the lives of these talented young men. Dr. Michel has shown that he
is a
man of integrity and honesty," said CAIR-FL Executive Director Altaf
Ali.
Ali also thanked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for
agreeing to investigate and prosecute threats against Larkin Hospital
or
its personnel.
CONTACT: CAIR-FL, Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail:
altafaali@cair-florida.org
SEE ALSO:
3 MED STUDENTS' TRAINING DERAILED
Curtis Morgan and Tere Figueras, Miami Herald, 9/17/02
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4089195.htm
Three medical students detained in an Alligator Alley terrorism scare
last
week apparently will quickly resume their training -- but not at a
South
Miami hospital.
Dr. Jack Michel, chief executive of South Miami's Larkin Community
Hospital, said Monday the men, scheduled to begin clinical rotations
this
week, had agreed to move elsewhere for their own good and the good of
the
hospital, which has been deluged with threatening e-mail.
"This doesn't mean they are not welcome here," Michel said. "It just
means
that for now, it's not a good time to start a rotation." While the move
was
muted by assurances that the students -- Ayman Gheith, 27, and Kambiz
Butt,
25, both of the Chicago suburbs, and Omer Choudhary, 23, of
Independence,
Mo. -- would be quickly placed elsewhere, it still left Muslim and
civil
liberties groups troubled.
Altaf Ali, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
said he understood the hospital's dilemma but was nonetheless
frustrated.
"We understand the hospital has a safety concern, but at the same time,
we
cannot allow mere suspicion probably based on stereotype to damage the
life
of individuals," Ali said. "We cannot allow a small, bigoted minority
to
dictate our future. The hospital is, in a sense, a victim as well..."
EDITORIAL: HOSPITAL'S ACTION OUTRAGEOUS
Robert Steinback, Miami Herald, 9/17/02
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/robert_steinback/4088348.htm
The detention of three Muslim medical students in Florida based on a
tip
from a Georgia nurse who thought she overheard them planning a
terrorist
attack is an excellent lesson in outrage -- how and when to be outraged
and
by what.
And when not to be.
There's a powerful temptation to affix blame somewhere, on someone.
Three
American citizens who happened to be of Arab descent were held in
custody
for 17 hours; an attack alert was raised at potential South Florida
terrorism targets; Interstate 75 was shut down; and hundreds of law
enforcement officers with explosives-sniffing dogs and bomb-detecting
robots were deployed. All, it turns out, for nothing. The three men,
Ayman
Gheith, Omer Choudhary and Kambiz Butt, eventually were released when
authorities determined they were, indeed, medical students on their way
to
a nine-week clinical rotation at Larkin Community Hospital in South
Miami.
No links with terrorist organizations -- and no explosives -- were
found…
Should potential tipsters be worried about being prosecuted for a bad
tip?
Yes -- or else people soon will call police every time they see two
Arab
men talking. Law enforcement needs credible tips, not irresponsible
ones…
Sadly, the most deplorable reaction to the matter comes from Larkin
Community Hospital, which canceled the men's clinical rotation because
officials were uncomfortable with the men's unasked-for notoriety.
To deprive the men for circumstances they didn't create is cowardice,
pure
and simple. And that's outrageous.
---
DETAINED FLORIDA MED STUDENTS SPEAK OUT
Larry King Live, CNN, 9/16/02
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0209/16/lkl.00.html
---
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR FL MED STUDENTS FROM REP. MICHAEL M. HONDA
9/16/02
I am concerned with the reports that Larkin Community Hospital has
denied
Ayman Gheith, Kambiz Butt, and Omar Choudhary placement in Larkin
Community
Hospital's medical training program.
As you know, Ms. Eunice Stone, a concerned citizen, said she overheard
the
three medical students discussing terror plans in a diner in
Carterville,
Georgia. On this tip, authorities detained the three students on
Friday,
September 13 for 17 hours. Authorities verified their identities,
searched
their vehicles and released them without any charges.
Ms. Stone did the right thing in reporting what she thought were
suspicious
activities. In these times of uncertainty, we must all be vigilant. I
am
proud of the coordination between law enforcement agencies. They did
their
due diligence and questioned the individuals.
However, I am concerned with Larkin's termination of the students'
internship. The students, two which are American citizens, were not
charged with a crime and cooperated with the authorities.
In America, citizens are innocent until proven guilty. My office has
been
in communication with Ross University Medical School's president, Neil
Simon, as well as a top deputy to Dr. Jack Michel, CEO of Larkin
Community
Hospital. I urged them to give the students the opportunity to
continue
their lives unfettered by their detainment.
Our Constitution is rarely tested in times of tranquility, but is
severely
tested in times of tension, turmoil, and tragedy. We must remember to
embrace the principles of our Constitution--our contract for democracy
and
freedom. We must fight and win the war on terrorism-without waging war
on
our most sacred ideals.
SEND LETTERS OF THANKS TO: mike.honda@mail.house.gov
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
---
LOCAL ARABS BLAST 'PARANOIA'
J.K. Dineen, San Francisco Examiner, 9/17/02
http://www.examiner.com/news/default.jsp?story=n.ramziside.0917w
Be careful what you say in public.
That is the lesson local Arab Americans took away from last weekend's
mistaken arrest of three Muslim medical students who were detained
after a
woman in Georgia thought she overheard them plotting a terrorist attack
on
Miami.
"I thought it was ridiculous," said college student Zaynab Abdalquder,
a
member of the San Francisco State Muslim Student Association. "It makes
it
hard for us to speak about anything. You've got to be cautious of what
you're saying because people could take it the wrong way and mess up
your
whole life…"
Helal Omeira, executive director of the Northern California chapter of
the
Council on American Islamic Relations, said anti-Arab hate crimes have
been
on the upswing locally since last week's anniversary of the Sept. 11
attacks. His organization is investigating seven Bay Area hate-crime
complaints from the past week.
"That is what happens when you build up the level of paranoia by having
code orange alerts and encouraging nontrained professionals to spy on
their
neighbors," he said, referring to the last week's terror alerts and a
new
federal terrorism tip hotline...
-----
U.S. COURT RULES AGAINST CLOSED 9/11 HEARING
Reuters, 9/17/02
DETROIT, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A district court in Detroit ruled on
Tuesday
that the government violated the constitutional rights of a Lebanese
man
arrested after the Sept. 11 attacks by subjecting him to secret
detention
and deportation hearings.
Judge Nancy Edmunds of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District
of
Michigan also ruled that Rabih Haddad, the Michigan-based founder of an
Islamic charity who was arrested in December, 2001, for overstaying his
tourist visa, should be freed within 10 days or granted new hearings
that
are open to public scrutiny.
Legal experts have said the Haddad case, which is likely to go before
the
U.S. Supreme Court, could set a precedent for hundreds of foreign men
of
Arab and Muslim background rounded up after the attacks on the World
Trade
Center and Pentagon.
"It is well established that aliens subject to deportation are entitled
to
due process protections afforded by the Fifth Amendment of the United
States Constitution, Edmunds wrote.
"Courts have found that an open hearing is fundamental to guarantee a
fair
hearing," she said…
In the prevailing climate of fear after Sept. 11, Edmunds said the
"special
interest" designation "tainted the immigration judge's decision whether
to
release Haddad into the general public" and "inevitably suggested a
link
between Haddad and terrorists or terrorism or, more specifically, the
attacks of September 11."
No evidence of such links had been presented by the Justice Department
so
far, she said.
"The government has failed to make a particularized showing that its
interests in fighting terrorism are implicated in Haddad's case," she
said.
"An open detention and removal hearing will assure the public that the
government itself is honoring the very democratic principles that the
terrorists who committed the atrocities of 9/11 sought to destroy," she
added.
-----
A YEAR LATER, THEY AWAIT EXONERATION
Dan Hardy, Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/17/02
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/4088924.htm
The broken locks and shattered door jambs have long since been
repaired.
Seized computers, books, papers and passports have been returned.
Almost a year after FBI agents in biohazard suits raided their Chester
homes in a public antiterrorism sweep, Irshad Shaikh, his brother
Masood
Shaikh and their friend Asif Kazi, all Pakistan-born, have tried to
resume
normal lives. Never charged with any wrongdoing, the three men, all
Chester
city officials, vigorously deny any suggestion that they were involved
in
the manufacture or use of chemical or biological agents. Spokesmen for
the
FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office would not comment on the Nov. 13
raids
and subsequent investigation and have yet to clear the men's names…
"My mother is about as likely to be a terrorist as Irshad Shaikh," said
Greg Pappas, a former senior policy adviser to the U.S. Surgeon
General.
"The idea is ludicrous…"
Iftekhar Hussain, the general secretary of the American Muslim Society
of
the Tristate Area, an association formed to represent the interests of
the
local Muslim community, said that cases like that of the Shaikhs and
Kazi
"create a fear that the [Muslim] community is being set up for further
kinds of discrimination and a fear that this kind of thing will
continue."
"You investigate. That's understandable," he said, "but it's creating a
feeling that this is a general attack on Islam. It would go a long way
toward restoring trust if they would at least come up when there is a
mistake and say so."
-----
AMERICANS STILL DIVIDED ON ISSUE OF RIGHTS VS. SECURITY
Eddy Ramirez, Los Angeles Times, 9/17/02
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rights17sep17.story
While Americans say they oppose airport screenings of only those
passengers
with Arabic names or Middle Eastern appearance, most agree that the
government should secretly monitor conversations between prisoners and
their lawyers, a national poll shows.
A poll released today by the National Constitution Center shows that
Americans remain deeply divided between protecting civil liberties and
ensuring national security, raising an issue at the heart of an
intensifying public debate: how to balance constitutional provisions
with
the need to ferret out those who may be plotting more terrorism...
According to the poll, 58% of Americans say they support the current
practice of randomly screening passengers, regardless of name or
background. A quarter prefer a more limited approach, picking only
those on
the list of suspects, while 11% say that only passengers of Middle
Eastern
origin should be screened.
This is a dramatic shift in public opinion from a year ago, when polls
showed that most Americans favored more intensive security
checks--including a special form of identification--for Muslims or Arab
Americans before they boarded airplanes…
Georgetown University law professor David D. Cole predicts that the
public's ambivalence will dissipate as time passes without acts of
terrorism, noting that Americans and the courts are growing
increasingly
skeptical of overreaching government actions…
-----
AL-ARIAN TO JUDGE: DISMISS USF'S SUIT
Anita Kumar, St. Petersburg Times, 9/17/02
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/17/TampaBay/Al_Arian_to_judge__Di.shtml
TAMPA -- Professor Sami Al-Arian asked a judge Monday to dismiss the
lawsuit filed against him by the University of South Florida and
accused
the school of denying him his legal right to resolve the dispute
outside a
courtroom.
If the case isn't dismissed, Al-Arian wants to at least postpone the
court
case until after an arbitrator has decided whether the tenured computer
science professor should be fired for his alleged ties to terrorism.
"There is no basis to ask the courts," said Robert McKee, Al-Arian's
attorney. "The courts are not in the business of giving individuals
legal
opinions."
USF president Judy Genshaft took the unusual step last month of filing
suit
in Hillsborough Circuit Court, asking a judge to determine whether
firing
Al-Arian would violate his First Amendment rights.
McKee argues that a court battle denies Al-Arian the choice of where to
appeal his firing and gives USF a tactical advantage by allowing the
school
to engage in a costly, lengthy fight that forces Al-Arian to be
deposed.
"If a court gets into this, there is no end to what this could mean in
the
employment arena," McKee said…
-----
AMERICA PLANS PR BLITZ ON SADDAM
Tim Reid, Sunday Times (UK), 9/17/02
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-418110,00.html
The Bush Administration is to launch a multimillion-dollar PR blitz
against
Saddam Hussein, using advertising techniques to persuade crucial target
groups that the Iraqi leader must be ousted.
The campaign will consist of dossiers of evidence detailing Saddam's
breaches of UN resolutions, and will be launched this week at American
and
foreign audiences, particularly in Arab nations skeptical of US policy
in
the region.
The White House is aware that it lacks substantial new intelligence on
Saddam's nuclear programme or evidence directly linking Baghdad to the
September 11 attacks. But it will build on the contents of President's
Bush's speech made to the UN General Assembly last week, in which he
listed
Saddam's violations of UN resolutions.
The campaign, which will initially receive over $200 million (Ł130
million), will be overseen by the Office of Global Communications,
whose
existence will not be formally announced until next month.
-----
IT'S OPEN SEASON ON CHINA'S MUSLIM MINORITIES
Matthew Forney, Time, 9/23/02
http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501020923-351276,00.html
The Uighurs, China's Muslim minority, look to the U.S. to provide moral
support in their fight against oppression by Beijing. But Washington
may
have dealt their cause a blow in exchange for China's backing in the
war
against terror. On Sept. 11, the U.S. persuaded the United Nations to
add
to its list of international terrorist groups a little-known Uighur
independence organization, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.
The U.S. State Department linked the group to more than 200 terrorist
acts
in China's predominantly Muslim province of Xinjiang. But according to
foreign diplomats in Beijing, ETIM is an Afghanistan-based group that
is
thought to be defunct and moreover never carried out operations on
Chinese
soil. Some of the terror strikes ascribed to ETIM were deadly bombings;
others were protest riots or attacks on police stations that don't fit
common definitions of terrorism.
'I think the U.S. made a diplomatic deal' so China won't use its U.N.
Security Council veto to block an Iraq invasion, says Enver Can,
director
of the Munich-based East Turkestan National Congress, a Uighur exile
group.
China in return can crack down on Uighur dissidents as 'terrorists'
with
less risk of censure for human rights violations, Can claims. 'China
has
the green light to do whatever it wants.'
-----
KASHMIRIS FORCED TO DEFY POLL BOYCOTT
Catherine Philp and Muzamil Jaleel, Sunday Times, 9/17/02
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-417933,00.html
MUSHTAQ and his sister were drinking tea in their family home yesterday
when the soldiers knocked. Mushtaq swung open the door to find an armed
soldier standing in his doorway.
"He said we have an order that the voter turnout here is low and we
can't
have that," his sister, Haseena, recalled. "He tried to tell them that
we
couldn't be forced to vote, but they dragged him out anyway and took
him to
the station."
When India called state elections in the part of Kashmir under its
control,
it promised that they would be fair and no one would be forced to vote.
It
promised that security forces would protect the people from militants
trying to disrupt the vote.
But the people of Aitmullah village say that, far from protecting them,
the
soldiers have brought the terrorist threat into their homes. "They said
they would come back in the evening and check our fingers for indelible
ink," said Zubaida Banu, whose brother, Qasim, was badly beaten before
being taken off by the army to vote. If there was no ink to prove they
had
voted, their fingers would be cut off…
-----
US VISA BAN A 'PRICE TO PAY' FOR BEING ISLAMIC, SAYS MAHATHIR
Agence France Presse, 9/17/02
KUALA LUMPUR - A refusal by the United States to renew student visas
for
150 Malaysians is the price the country has to pay for being Islamic,
Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Tuesday.
"When we hold to what is true, there is definitely a price to pay. We
just
accept it," Mahathir told a news conference. He was responding to
reports
that the US had barred 150 male Muslim students from continuing their
university education there, following stricter visa restrictions.
Mahathir said the government would not oppose the decision or file a
complaint with the US.
"It's their country, I suppose they have the right. We also have our
own
rules for those coming to our country.
"Of course we have to find a way of making (the students) continue with
their education. These are not terrorists..."
-----
5 HURT IN PALESTINIAN SCHOOL BOMBING
Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press, 9/17/02
JERUSALEM (AP) - A bomb exploded in a Palestinian school near the West
Bank
town of Hebron on Tuesday, injuring five students in what the
Palestinians
said was an attack by Jewish extremists.
The main Jewish settlers organization condemned the blast. The bomb
went
off near a water cooler in the courtyard of the Ziff secondary school
south
of Hebron, military officials said. A second explosive device was found
and
safely detonated by Israeli explosives experts.
At the time of the explosion, about 9:45 a.m., most of the school's 380
students were in class, said the principal, Yousef Abed Rabbo.
Palestinian officials said they believed Israeli militants planted the
explosives.
Earlier this year, police uncovered a plot by Israeli extremists to
plant a
car bomb near a Palestinian school in traditionally Arab east
Jerusalem.
Several people were arrested, but they have not been prosecuted. In
March,
a bomb went off in another Palestinian school in east Jerusalem,
injuring a
teacher and four children. Jewish militants claimed responsibility for
that
attack, but no one has been arrested.
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said he held the Israeli
government responsible for Tuesday's bombing. Israel "failed to bring
any
of those who kill Palestinians in cold blood to justice," he said…
-----
BEIRUT MASSACRE SURVIVORS SAY WORLD ENCOURAGES SHARON
Joseph Logan, Reuters, 9/17/02
BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) - Two decades after Israel's Lebanese allies
tried to slaughter them in Beirut refugee camps, survivors of the Sabra
and
Shatila massacres say the world has given Ariel Sharon a license to
kill by
forgetting their ordeal.
They say the Israeli prime minister -- architect of the 1982 invasion
of
Lebanon during which the massacres took place -- has learned from Sabra
and
Shatila that Palestinians can be killed with impunity, and warn he will
act
accordingly to crush a nearly two-year-old Palestinian uprising.
"People forgot a long time ago," says 35-year-old Maher Srour, who saw
members of the Israeli-backed Christian Lebanese Forces (LF) militia
shoot
his infant sister during the massacre, in which his father and several
siblings were also killed.
"Sharon will be this way so long as people are silent (about Sabra and
Shatila)," he says. "He'll do this and worse. There'll be a massacre
every
day."
Sharon resigned as defense minister after a 1983 Israeli inquiry found
he
bore indirect responsibility for the killings in the camps, which
Israeli
troops surrounded as members of the LF went on a 36-hour killing spree…
-----
PALESTINIANS MARK 1982 MASSACRE
Bassem Mroue, Associated Press, 9/17/02
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Billboards bearing pictures of the dead look over the
mass grave of hundreds of men, women and children slain by Lebanese
militiamen at two Palestinian refugee camps during Israel's 1982
invasion.
On the 20th anniversary of the Sabra and Chatilla massacre, the
survivors
have little hope they will ever see justice.
"Each year is worse than the one before," said Mohammed Abu Rdeina, who
lost his father, sister and other relatives in the slaughter.
On Sept. 16, 1982, pro-Israeli Lebanese Christian militiamen entered
the
Beirut camps and killed 800 civilians over the next three days. They
sought
revenge for the assassination of their leader, President-elect Bashir
Gemayel, which they blamed on Palestinian guerrillas.
Lebanon, which suffered 150,000 deaths during its 1975-90 civil war and
is
patched together by a fragile pact of coexistence between its Christian
and
Muslim communities, has never prosecuted any Lebanese for the massacre.
Many Arabs blame Israel for the slayings, noting that soldiers of its
invading army stood by just outside the camps during the killings.
An Israeli commission of inquiry found then-Defense Minister Ariel
Sharon,
the architect of the invasion, indirectly responsible for the massacre,
prompting his resignation in 1983.
When Sharon became Israel's prime minister last year, 23 survivors of
the
massacre filed a war crimes complaint against him in Belgium under a
1993
Belgian law granting its courts ``universal jurisdiction'' over war
crimes
committed elsewhere…
-----
MANDELA SLAMS U.S. SCEPTICISM OVER IRAQ OFFER
Zoe Eisenstein, Reuters, 9/17/02
JOHANNESBURG - Former South African President Nelson Mandela slammed
the
United States on Tuesday for its sceptical response to Iraq's offer to
allow U.N. arms inspectors back into the country.
Mandela, who last week branded Washington a threat to world peace, said
the
United States had no right to act unilaterally in its dispute with
Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein.
"We must condemn this because they think they are the only power in the
world. They are not and they are following a dangerous policy,"
Mandela,
84, told reporters at his home in Johannesburg.
"What right has he (U.S. President George W. Bush) to come in to say
that
offer is not genuine? We must condemn that very strongly," a visibly
angry
Mandela said.
"That is why I criticise most...leaders all over the world of keeping
quiet
when one country wants to bully the whole world," the revered African
statesman said…
In South Africa, the government welcomed Iraq's move and said it hoped
that
Baghdad's full compliance with weapons inspectors would lead to an
easing
of tensions.
"It should lead to the lifting of sanctions against Iraq," the
government
said in a statement on Tuesday...
-----
PA FUNDRAISER FOR VICTIMS OF GUJARAT VIOLENCE
WHAT: Fundraiser for the victims of Gujarat
WHERE: Villanova Masjid (Foundation for Islamic Education), 1860
Montgomery
Ave, Villanova, PA 19085
WHEN: Sept 21st, 2002, 5 p.m.
SPONSORED BY:
IMC (Indian Muslim Council)
IMRC (Indian Muslim Relief Committee)
AIM (Association of Indian Muslims)
AMS (American Muslim Society of PA, NJ &DE)
For more information: Khaleel UrRahman 610-541-0499
(khaleelu@hotmail.com)
-----
AFGHANS GROW UNEASY OF U.S. TROOPS
KATHY GANNON, Associated Press, 9/17/02
TARIN KOT, Afghanistan (AP) - A thumbs-up gesture meant as a friendly
greeting by American soldiers is misconstrued as an insult. Shows of
force
meant to intimidate Taliban and al-Qaida fugitives frighten friends,
too.
A cultural gap, more than politics, seems to be playing a large role in
the
cooling of relations between U.S. troops and the Afghans who welcomed
them
as liberators. Some former friends say it's time for the Americans to
go.
"We don't know why they stay here. They should go," said Ghulam
Distigar, a
guard at the Uruzgan provincial governor's residence.
If frictions continue, that could make the job of hunting al-Qaida and
Taliban more difficult and dangerous because U.S. troops rely heavily
on
Afghans for information and help in the search.
Discontent over the U.S. presence also could undermine support for the
government of President Hamid Karzai because it is closely identified
in
the public mind with the Americans.
Akhter Mohammed, head of security at the governor's residence, slapped
his
chest in anger as he demonstrated how American soldiers reportedly
searched
eight Afghan women aboard a bus that was stopped at a checkpoint on the
outskirts of Tarin Kot.
The governor, Jan Mohammed Khan, stepped in to demand the checkpoint be
shut down and the Americans complied, Mohammed said. But anger remains.
"This is the third time there has been a complaint that they searched
our
women," Mohammed said. "We are Pashtuns and Muslims. For us our women
are
our honor. We told the governor to stop them, that Osama (bin Laden)
and
Mullah (Mohammed) Omar were not hiding under burqas. Our women are not
al-Qaida…"
-----
'QUARTET' PREPARES ROAD MAP TO MIDEAST PEACE
Alistair Lyon, Reuters, 9/17/02
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A powerful "quartet" of
international
mediators outlined a broad peace plan on Tuesday that will demand
Palestinian reform and Israeli withdrawals, aiming at a final Middle
East
settlement within three years.
"We need a process that is both performance-driven and hope-driven,
because
we need both: performance and hope," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
told
a news conference.
He was speaking after talks with the other quartet members -- U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
and
senior European Union officials...
Annan made clear that the quartet's three-phase road map would require
reciprocal action from Israel and the Palestinians, adding the group
would
monitor each party's compliance with set benchmarks.
"The first phase will see Palestinian security reform, Israeli
withdrawals
and support for Palestinian elections to be held in early 2003," he
said,
promising action to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the occupied West
Bank and Gaza Strip.
Annan said the second phase, next year, would "focus on the option of
creating a Palestinian state with provisional borders and based on a
new
constitution.
This would be a "way station" to a permanent settlement after
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in 2004 to mid-2005…
-----
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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: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
TEXAS MUSLIMS PROTEST X-RATED FILM DEFAMING PROPHET MUHAMMAD
WHAT: On Wednesday, September 18, the Houston-area Muslim community
will
hold a protest outside an X-rated movie theater that is currently
showing a
pornographic film called "The Sex Life of the Prophet Muhammad." An
advertisement for the film appears in the Houston Press weekly
newspaper.
The decision to protest the film was made during a Monday meeting of
Muslim
community leaders at a mosque near the theater.
WHERE: Outside the Star Theater, 5607 Telephone Road, Houston, Texas
WHEN: Wednesday, September 18, 3-6 p.m.
- END -
CONTACT: Amanullah Khan, 713-628-8980; Tarek Hussein, 832-877-8109;
Ibrahim
Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org; Ms.
Hodan
Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294, E-MAIL: hhassan@cair-net.org
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/18/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE FINAL BRICK
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* DANIEL PIPES LAUNCHES "ENEMIES LIST" WEB SITE
- Who is Daniel Pipes?
- Pipes Seeks to Block Ashrawi Speech (Washington Times)
- Pipes and Dershowitz: Authors With a Bias (Vancouver Sun)
- Danish Politicians Refute Daniel Pipes' "Facts" (National Post)
- Pipes Says Enfranchisement of U.S. Muslims Threatens Jews
- The Real "Danger Within" is Religious Hatred (Boston Globe)
- Daniel Pipes' Web Site Maintained by Israeli Settler
- Daniel Pipes and the New Inquisition (Antiwar.com)
- Daniel Pipes Says "Raze" Palestinian Villages (National Post)
- Daniel Pipes Hires PR Firm for Steven Emerson (National Journal)
- Steven Emerson's Crusade (FAIR)
- Protocols of the Elders of Mecca? (San Francisco Chronicle)
* ISRAELI SETTLERS BLAMED FOR BOMBING (AP)
* ISRAELI TROOPS FIRE ON U.N. DELEGATION IN GAZA (Reuters)
* SOME ARAB, MUSLIM STUDENTS BEING MONITORED UPON ARRIVAL IN U.S.
(Newsday)
* HELD WITHOUT CHARGE (Newsday)
* JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OR OPEN HEARING FOR DETAINEE (Washington Post)
* RALLY BACKS JAILED HEAD OF ISLAMIC FOUNDATION (Chicago Tribune)
* TARGETED COMMUNITIES TO TESTIFY IN LANDMARK POST-SEPT. 11 HEARING
* HOSPITAL ACCEPTS 3 MUSLIM STUDENTS (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
- PUPIL HELD IN FLORIDA BACKED BY MU FRIENDS (Columbia Tribune)
- EDITORIAL: JITTERS AND BIGOTRY IN CAHOOTS (Kansas City Star)
- OF TERROR SCARES AND STEREOTYPES (MSNBC)
- ASIAN-AMERICAN SUPPORTS FLORIDA MED STUDENTS
* VA FUNDRAISER FOR ISLAMIC MEDIA FOUNDATION
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE FINAL BRICK
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "My comparison to the
other
prophets before me is that of a man who built a beautiful house, except
for
the placement of one brick in a corner. The people go about it and
wonder
at its beauty, saying: 'But for the placement of this (final) brick
(how
splendid the house would be)!'"
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadiths 734 and 735
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has already received 316 sponsorships for book
and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Take
part in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item
"library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
DANIEL PIPES LAUNCHES "ENEMIES LIST" WEB SITE
Pro-Israel Web Site To Monitor Views Of US Academia
Daniel Golden, Dow Jones News Service, 9/17/02
http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/020917/72/32v3h.html
NEW YORK - (Dow Jones) - A pro-Israel think tank plans to start an
Internet
site Wednesday to monitor the attitudes of American professors and
universities toward Islamic fundamentalism and the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
To be launched by the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum,
www.campus-watch.org will maintain what it calls "dossiers" on
professors
and academic institutions and collect information from students
regarding
their teachers' political opinions.
Forum director Daniel Pipes, and Martin Kramer, editor of the forum's
Middle East Quarterly, have been prominent critics of Middle East
studies
as taught in U.S. universities…
Institutions the site will focus on include the University of North
Carolina, where freshmen this year were required to read passages from
the
Koran, and Harvard University, where a Muslim-American student
delivered a
commencement address originally titled, "My American Jihad."
SEE ALSO:
WHO IS DANIEL PIPES?
http://www.cair-net.org/misc/people/daniel_pipes.html
PIPES SEEKS TO BLOCK ASHRAWI SPEECH
WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/13/02
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20020913-24232084.htm
COLORADO SPRINGS - Hundreds of protesters brought some of the furor of
the
Middle East conflict to Colorado yesterday as Hanan Ashrawi delivered
the
keynote address at a symposium on the September 11 terrorist attacks.
About 500 demonstrators, members of a coalition of Jewish and Christian
groups, waved American and Israeli flags and criticized Colorado
College
for honoring Mrs. Ashrawi, arguing that it was in poor taste to honor
the
prominent Palestinian spokeswoman at a conference on terrorism...
College President Richard Celeste, the former Democratic governor of
Ohio
and U.S. ambassador to India, defended the college's right to invite
provocative speakers and said that pro-Israeli scholar Gideon Doron
would
respond to Mrs. Ashrawi's talk with a keynote address today.
That didn't satisfy protesters, who came armed with their own keynote
speaker, Middle East scholar and author Daniel Pipes. Speaking to
demonstrators outside after Mrs. Ashrawi's address, Mr. Pipes called
her
appearance at the event "a grievous error."
"Simply put, the United States is engaged in a war on terror, and Mrs.
Ashrawi is on the side of America's enemies," said Mr. Pipes, who was
escorted to the college by state Attorney General Ken Salazar.
"We should work so that this type of anti-American spokeswoman is not
welcome on American campuses," Mr. Pipes said…
PIPES AND DERSHOWITZ: AUTHORS WITH A BIAS
Gary D. Keenan, Vancouver Sun, 9/14/02
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Kudos to Tim Carter for his perceptive reviews of Militant Islam
Reaches
America by Daniel Pipes and Why Terrorism Works by Alan Dershowitz
("Two
analysts come up empty," Sept. 7).
Those familiar with their track records understand that, in writing
these
books, Pipes and Dershowitz are promoting a point of view that is
pro-Israel and anti-Arab/Muslim. As an "associate" of the pro-Israel
Washington Institute for Near East Policy, which is connected to
like-minded organizations such as the Middle East Forum, the Middle
East
Research Institute and superhawk Richard Perle's American Enterprise
Institute, Pipes has made a career of Arab- and Muslim-bashing.
As for Dershowitz, his view of Arabs is well illustrated by the fact
that
he recently urged Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to destroy
entire
Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. It comes
as
no surprise that he dwells on acts of terror committed by dispossessed
Palestinians and ignores the well-documented terrorism and massacres
carried out by the Irgun, Stern gang, Palmach and Sharon's "Unit 101."
Regarding terrorism, it should be noted that Sept. 16-18 will mark the
20th
anniversary of the massacre of at least 2,000 unarmed Palestinian and
other
Arab civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps during Israel's
invasion of Lebanon.
Gary D. Keenan
Vancouver
DANISH POLITICIANS REFUTE DANIEL PIPES' "FACTS"
Elisabeth Arnold and Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen, National Post, 9/6/02
http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/story.html?id=F477A68C-5E22-4790-922F-0A1F7EDBF021
(Scroll down.)
As Danish politicians, we are offended by the way integration problems
in
Denmark were portrayed by Daniel Pipes and Lars Hedegaard and we wish
to
set the record straight (Muslim Extremism: Denmark's had Enough, Daniel
Pipes and Lars Hedegaard, Aug. 27).
The authors claim that 40% of Danish welfare expenses are consumed by
Muslim immigrants. Denmark has a much broader spectrum of welfare costs
than countries in North America. We include not only unemployment
benefits
and social security but also substantial allocations to housing,
transport,
homecare, early retirement, protected workplaces, daycare and other
smaller
schemes. Muslim immigrants do not receive 40% of those allocations even
though they represent a substantial part of the clients. The main
reason
being: It is hard to compete on a job market not interested in
employing
immigrants.
The further assumption that more than half of all rapists in Denmark
are
Muslims is without any basis in fact, as criminal registers do not
record
religion.
Mr. Pipes and Mr. Hedegaard mention that only 5% of young Muslims in
Denmark wish to marry a Dane. A sign of self-inflicted isolation,
indeed.
We welcome the brave 5% who accept intermarriage -- they are true
pioneers
for peaceful co-existence and human contact across cultures. However,
the
new Danish government has made it extremely difficult for Danish
citizens
to bring a foreign spouse to Denmark. The ruling opinion obviously is
that
intermarriage should be avoided.
Mr. Pipes and Mr. Hedegaard also claim that Muslim violence threatens
the
6,000 Jewish citizens in Denmark. Rumours -- also hitting the front
pages
of major newspapers -- tell that identified Jewish Danes figure on a
death
list. Danish authorities consider death threats very serious, but
police
investigators have so far found no evidence of real threats.
During the coming decade, Denmark will need 100,000 new pairs of hands
in
the workforce. The Danes produce fewer children and live longer.
Integration must work better and immigrants admitted to Denmark should
be
welcomed. On this point, we take inspiration from Canadian society,
which
is open to other cultures and religions.
Elisabeth Arnold and Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen, Members of the Danish
Parliament, Copenhagen, Denmark.
NOTE: In the article referenced above, Daniel Pipes smears the Muslim
community in Denmark with several accusations eerily similar to those
leveled against the Jewish community in Europe by anti-Semitic
propagandists prior to World War II.
These include: 1) being parasites on the society, 2) being
disproportionately engaged in criminal behavior, 3) having
"unacceptable"
customs, 4) seeking to take over the country, and 5) sexual aggression
against women in the dominant culture.
PIPES SAYS ENFRANCHISEMENT OF U.S. MUSLIMS THREATENS JEWS
"I worry very much from the Jewish point of view that the presence, and
increased stature, and affluence, and enfranchisement of American
Muslims...will present true dangers to American Jews."
Daniel Pipes speaking before the convention of the American Jewish
Congress,
10/21/2001
THE REAL `DANGER WITHIN' IS RELIGIOUS HATRED
H.D.S. GREENWAY, The Boston Globe, 12/24/2001
It was with sadness, then, that I picked up a copy of Commentary last
month
to find that professor Daniel Pipes…had written an article entitled:
"The
Danger Within: Militant Islam in America."
After mocking editorial writers, politicians, and the president of the
United States for having "tripped over themselves" to describe American
Muslims as just ordinary people who "love their country," Pipes warned
that
the "Muslim population in this country is not like any other group, for
it
includes within it a substantial body of people…who share with the
suicide
hijackers a hatred of the United States…"
Thus having set the stage for the entire Muslim population in this
country
to be considered "not like any other group," Pipes goes on to
cherry-pick
statements from Muslims, not all of them Americans, that would indicate
their evil intentions…
This kind of rhetoric is the real face of the danger within.
DANIEL PIPES' WEB SITE MAINTAINED BY ISRAELI SETTLER
Daniel Pipes' web site, www.danielpipes.org, is maintained by an
Israeli
settler, http://grayson.org.il/, who is also webmaster for a settler
news
service, http://www.yeshanews.org/.
Pipes' webmaster describes his reasons for creating YeshaNews:
"My name is Grayson Levy, and YeshaNews is my personal project - one of
the
ways I try to make the world a better place. I am committed to
reporting,
in real time, all that's newsworthy from Yesha. Whether it's bad
tidings,
such as the incessant stonings, drive-by shootings, or road-side bombs,
or
good news, such as a community activity, a new housing project in a
Jewish
community, or a new bypass road opening, YeshaNews will have it first,
and
in some cases, exclusively."
Editorials published by YeshaNews go so far as to deny the existence of
the
Palestinian people:
http://www.yeshanews.org/opinionarchive.php?ID=16
"The time has come to formally recognize that there is no palestinian
people, they have never existed, they are a figment of our imagination,
the
fruit of years of Arafat deceit. The so-called palestinians are Arabs,
who
have nothing more in common than their language and religion. They have
never had a homeland, and certainly not in Eretz Yisrael. Search in
history
books from the 1940s, 50s, 60s, even 70s and find references to the
palestinian people. They will not be found, because they do not exist."
DANIEL PIPES AND THE NEW INQUISITION
By Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 11/14/2001
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j111401.html
A whole mini-industry has grown up in the wake of the 9/11 atrocity
dedicated to the proposition that Islam is the root of all evil in the
world. Just as anti-Communism employed and otherwise elevated a whole
cadre
of professional witch-hunters - and witch-doctors - so the rise of
anti-Islamism opens up a whole new frontier for those thrown out of
work by
the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war. With
untold
billions of tax dollars being thrown into the "war on terrorism," the
market for anti-Islamists, once severely restricted, has expanded
exponentially, and this field of expertise is no longer quite so
rarefied.
The war has made formerly obscure figures, such as New York Post
columnist
and author Daniel Pipes, familiar to news junkies, and it is in Pipes
that
the anti-Islamist ideology takes on its purest, most extreme form...
Pipes believes that the international Islamist conspiracy - there is no
other way to phrase it - is out not to destroy America but to subjugate
it.
Asked by Salon whether the goal of the Islamists is to create a Muslim
state in America, his answer was "without a doubt." One can only wonder
if
he said this with a straight face. Pipes went on to explain that this
meant
a state prohibition on converting out of Islam, as well as the banning
of
pork, criminalizing adultery, and "doing away with the equality of the
sexes." How does he know this? Well, you see, he kind of divines it...
He can "sense" it! US intelligence agencies are employing the services
of
psychics in the search for Osama bin Laden, according to reports, but
Pipes' extrasensory powers are even more valuable to the war on the
home
front. For Pipes and his ilk are the attack dogs of the New
Inquisition,
whose job it is to sniff out "intimations" of treason…
The view of the anti-Islamists coincides perfectly with the perspective
of
the Israeli foreign ministry. What they want is the sort of "war on
terrorism" the Bush administration is laboring mightily to deny: a war
on
Islam. A war in which the US and its faithful ally, Israel, take on the
entire Muslim world - and US military power is utilized, albeit
indirectly,
to further the dream of a Greater Israel...
DANIEL PIPES SAYS "RAZE" PALESTINIAN VILLAGES
The National Post, 7/18/01
http://www.nationalpost.com/
Israel needs to take more active steps...Bury suicide bombers in
potter's
fields rather than deliver their bodies to relatives (who turn their
funerals into frenzied demonstrations)…Permit no transportation of
people
or goods beyond basic necessities. Shut off utilities to the PA...Raze
the
PA's illegal offices in Jerusalem, its security infrastructure and
villages
from which attacks are launched.
DANIEL PIPES HIRES PR FIRM FOR STEVEN EMERSON
A Little PR Help Never Hurts
National Journal, 12/01/2001
Prominent anti-terrorism expert Steven Emerson has received a lot of
attention recently, thanks in part to help from the PR and lobbying
firm
BKSH & Associates. The Middle East Forum [headed by Daniel Pipes],
which
helps finance Emerson's research on terrorism, hired BKSH after
September
11. BKSH played a role in arranging airtime recently for Jihad in
America,
a 1994 video that Emerson made about terrorist cells in the United
States.
The video was aired at a congressional hearing in October at which
Emerson
testified.
SEE: STEVEN EMERSON'S CRUSADE - "Why is a journalist pushing
questionable
stories from behind the scenes?" By John F. Sugg -
http://www.fair.org/extra/9901/emerson.html
PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF MECCA?
WEB PROVIDES EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HATRED
Vlae Kershner, The San Francisco Chronicle, 8/17/00
http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
"There's plenty of narrow-mindedness against a wide variety of groups
on
the Web. Consider this on www.jewishworldreview.com, a well-designed
webzine for politically conservative Jews.
"In a column on the mixed reaction to Lieberman among Muslims,
columnist
Daniel Pipes baldly states that Muslim claims that they face
discrimination
and harassment in the United States are 'false.' He gives no supporting
evidence.
(see http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0800/luv.lieberman.html)
"Pipes goes on to write: 'all Islamists (fundamentalist Muslims) have
the
same ambition, which is what they call 'the Islamization of America.'
By
this, they mean no less than saving the US through transforming it into
a
Muslim country.'
"Where'd he find that, some pseudo-document called the Protocols of the
Elders of Mecca?"
-----
ISRAELI SETTLERS BLAMED FOR BOMBING
Nasser Shiyoukhi, Associated Press, 9/18/02
HEBRON, West Bank - Israeli police and Palestinian officials in the
West
Bank said they believe extremist Jewish settlers planted two bombs in a
Palestinian school yard Tuesday. One device exploded, injuring five
children.
Yehoshua Mor-Yosef, spokesman for the Jewish Settlers' Council, said
the
bombing was an "immoral and illegal act."
Israeli military officials said the explosion occurred near a water
cooler
in the courtyard of the Ziff junction secondary school south of Hebron.
The
second bomb was found and safely detonated. The Israeli military
controls
the junction, a remote region populated mainly by Bedouins. Israeli
Foreign
Minister Shimon Peres' office, meanwhile, said the government had
rejected
a Palestinian cease-fire proposal during a meeting at United Nations
headquarters in New York...
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said he held the Israeli
government responsible for Tuesday's bombing. Israel "failed to bring
any
of those who kill Palestinians in cold blood to justice," he said.
Most of the violent incidents allegedly involving Jewish extremists
have
centered on the Hebron area. The most recent incident was July 28, when
a
Palestinian girl was shot and killed during the funeral of an Israeli
soldier in the divided city. Settlers are suspected, and several were
detained for questioning.
Hebron is divided in to Palestinian and Israeli-controlled zones, with
Israeli soldiers patrolling the center of the city, where about 450
Jewish
settlers, including some of the most militant in the West Bank, live in
three enclaves and clash frequently with Palestinians.
On April 28, Israeli police foiled an attack by Jewish settlers when
their
car was stopped next to a Palestinian girls school on the Mount of
Olives
in Jerusalem. A huge bomb was found in a trailer the car was towing.
Police
said the settlers intended to set off the bomb as Palestinian girls
arrived
for school.
Four Israelis from Bat Ayin, a settlement north of Hebron, were
arrested
and remain in custody.
On July 19, 2001, gunmen ambushed a car on a road west of Hebron,
killing
three Palestinians, including an infant. A shadowy Jewish extremist
group
claimed responsibility. The gunmen apparently escaped into Israel, and
no
one has been charged in the ambush.
In March this year, a bomb went off in another Palestinian school in
east
Jerusalem, injuring a teacher and four children. Jewish militants
claimed
responsibility for that attack, but no one has been charged.
There have been several other incidents, most involving settlers taking
revenge in West Bank villages after Palestinian terror attacks or
funerals
for Jewish victims…
-----
ISRAELI TROOPS FIRE ON U.N. DELEGATION IN GAZA
Reuters, 9/18/02
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - A delegation of United Nations officials
came
under fire from Israeli troops as they toured Rafah refugee camp in the
southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, forcing them to take cover.
A Reuters correspondent accompanying the U.N. delegation said no one
was
hurt in the firing by troops guarding the border fence with Egypt.
The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the shooting.
Peter Hansen, commissioner-general of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency
for
Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), was standing at the time on the rubble of
Palestinian houses destroyed in Israeli military raids.
The group was in Rafah to hand over 97 houses to people left homeless
by
army demolitions.
Israel regularly demolishes homes in the area in what it says is
punishment
for attacks on its troops and on Jewish settlements in the almost
two-year-old Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.
-----
SOME ARAB, MUSLIM STUDENTS BEING MONITORED UPON ARRIVAL IN U.S.
Ayaz Nanji, Newsday, 9/18/02
http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-b2929561sep18.story
Last Wednesday, as New Yorkers honored those killed by terrorist
attacks a
year earlier, some Arab and Muslim students arriving to study in the
city
were fingerprinted and photographed by immigration officials.
This practice reflected a nationwide policy change intended to give
federal
immigration officials the ability to monitor foreign students and other
temporary visitors from certain Muslim or Arab countries…
He will be required to check in again with the Immigration and
Naturalization Service in person after 30 days and again in a year, and
he
must notify the agency within 10 days if he moves.
Once the student arrives on campus, his school will enter more personal
information into a database that is supposed to be in place by early
next
year.
The idea of a system that keeps track of everything from photographs to
course completion is likened by some students to Big Brother.
Asim Ghafoor, a Muslim who works as a spokesperson for Islamic
charities,
also finds the new approach disquieting.
"I've told my relatives to think twice about coming here to study,"
said
Ghafoor. "We should be rolling out the red carpet for these students,
not
rolling out something out of Orwell…"
-----
HELD WITHOUT CHARGE
John Riley, Newsday, 9/18/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-uswitn182929808sep18(0,7511482).story
ABDALLAH HIGAZY, a small silver Islamic crescent glinting proudly from
the
chain around his neck, remembers calling his parents in Cairo during a
sleepless night in his 51st floor room in lower Manhattan's Millenium
Hilton Hotel in the early morning hours of Sept. 11. He woke to a boom
and
papers fluttering outside later that morning, and fled.
Then, he remembers sitting in the FBI's Manhattan headquarters one
night a
few months later after being arrested as a "material witness" in the
Sept.
11 investigation. He worried mostly about how he would get word to
Brooklyn
Polytechnic that he might miss his final exams. He thought the arrest
was a
silly mistake that would be quickly corrected.
It wasn't.
Instead, Higazy was held without charges for nearly a month in
high-security confinement. To try to get out, he submitted to an FBI
lie-detector test that he says turned into an interrogation. Faced with
pressure he couldn't resist, he finally confessed to owning a
ground-to-air
radio that he didn't own. And then, after he was indicted for a crime
he
didn't commit, he remembers the odd greeting he got from his lawyer.
"Congratulations!" attorney Robert Dunn told the beleaguered 31-year-
old.
"You've been officially charged. Now we know what your rights are."
It turned out to be prophetic. Within five days of actually being
charged
publicly with a crime, Higazy was exonerated and released. He made
headlines as the falsely accused "radio man." And he became the poster
boy
for a simmering controversy about the government's expansive use of the
legal limbo called material witness status as a tactical linchpin in
its
war against terror…
"It turns the material witness statute on its head to use it against a
guy
for six weeks when he came to the FBI and said, 'I want to help,'" said
Alrababah's lawyer, Frank Salvato. "It was used as a tool to put
pressure
on him. Unfortunately, it created tension because he didn't think he
was
being treated fairly."
And in Evansville, Ind., in October, eight friends of Egyptian descent
-
some citizens, some visitors - were arrested on material witness
warrants
based on a report to the FBI from the new wife of one of the men that
her
husband had made a comment about committing suicide and a big crash.
Jailed
in Chicago for a week, they were released without appearing before a
grand
jury for their "testimony" before their release.
One man, Tarek Albasti, was apparently considered a flight risk
although he
had run an Evansville restaurant called the Crazy Tomato - where
several of
the others worked - for six years, had been a U.S. citizen for four
years
and lived in a house he owned with his American wife and 3-year-old
daughter, according to family members.
"All the checks on government power here seem to have been swept away,"
said John Krull, director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, who
helped
Albasti's family locate him and press for his release. "It is a huge
blank
check…"
-----
JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OR OPEN HEARING FOR DETAINEE
Dan Eggen, Washington Post, 9/18/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31449-2002Sep17.html
A federal judge in Detroit ruled yesterday that the Justice Department
must
release the co-founder of a controversial Muslim charity within 10 days
or
grant him an open hearing. It was the latest in a series of rulings
rejecting the Bush administration's policy of secret immigration
proceedings in the war on terror.
U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds found that the government had
failed
to prove that Lebanese national Rabih Haddad, chairman of the
now-shuttered
Global Relief Foundation, poses any threat to national security.
Edmunds
also suggested that a decision by an immigration judge to detain Haddad
since December 2001 may have been influenced by a "climate of fear" and
"unsupported allegations…"
Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller declined to comment on the
Haddad decision yesterday, saying only that officials "are reviewing
the
judge's ruling."
"It's not just the rights of the press and public that are at stake
here,"
said David D. Cole, a Georgetown University law professor who is
assisting
Haddad along with the Center for Constitutional Rights and the law firm
Arnold & Porter. "This decision says that immigrants' rights were also
violated by the government's policy, and this could mean that every
immigrant has a right to challenge that policy..."
-----
RALLY BACKS JAILED HEAD OF ISLAMIC FOUNDATION
Donna Freedman, Chicago Tribune, 9/18/02
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0209180199sep18(0,4165466).story
About three dozen people demonstrated Tuesday evening outside the
Metropolitan Correctional Center in support of Enaam Arnaout, the
jailed
executive director of the Islamic charity Benevolence International
Foundation.
The protest, organized by three local groups, came a day after a new
criminal complaint against Arnaout and the foundation was made public.
The
new complaint, filed Friday, a few hours after U.S. District Judge Joan
Gottschall threw out perjury charges against Arnaout, charges Arnaout
and
the charity with false statements and perjury, but under a different
statute than the original charges.
Arnaout, a Syrian-born U.S. citizen, has been in custody since April
30,
when he was arrested and charged with perjury and accused of lying
under
oath in a civil lawsuit about his group's alleged financial support for
bin
Laden and terrorist activities.
Some of Tuesday's protesters held signs with slogans such as "Free
Enaam
Arnaout Now" and "Stop U.S. Government Attacks on Civil Liberties."
Many
protesters wore blue triangles bearing the names of Muslims being
detained
by the U.S. government. About 20 Muslim protesters ended the event by
facing east and kneeling for their evening prayer.
One of the protesters, Sister Dorothy Pagosa, noticed that at least
nine
city and federal police officers stood watch over the orderly
demonstration. "Dissent is a dangerous thing nowadays," she said dryly.
The
Franciscan nun attended the protest to work for "systemic changes."
"When someone unjustifiably has their civil liberties taken away,
that's
very scary," Pagosa said. "If you take away our civil liberties, what
are
the chances of getting them back…?"
-----
TARGETED COMMUNITIES TO TESTIFY IN LANDMARK POST-SEPT. 11 HEARING
For immediate release:
Seattle, WA -- Sept. 18, 2002 -- In the year since Sept. 11, 2001, acts
of
intolerance and federal policies limiting civil liberties have
dramatically
altered life for Arab American, Muslim and South Asian communities in
the
United States.
In response to the harassment, intimidation and climate of fear, Sikh,
Muslim, East African, Arab American, Japanese American, South Asian and
Latino communities in the Northwest have come together under the
leadership
of The Hate Free Zone Campaign of Washington to organize a public
hearing.
The hearing is expected to draw 800 people and will allow targeted
individuals to testify in their own words on how hate crimes, incidents
of
bias, and discriminatory federal policies have affected them and their
families. The testimony will likely cover secret detentions, harassment
and
job bias experienced after Sept. 11.
The public hearing will feature a bipartisan commission of high-ranking
elected officials moderated by Washington state Supreme Court Justice
Charles Z. Smith. Invited commissioners include U.S. Senator Maria
Cantwell; U.S. Representatives Jay Inslee and Jim McDermott; Washington
State Assistant Attorney General Dave Horn; Seattle FBI Assistant
Special
Agent in Charge Ron Nesbitt; and INS Head District Counsel Dorothy
Stefan.
The commissioners will listen to a series of personal testimonials (3
to 5
minutes each) that will address the personal impact of federal policies
post-Sept. 11.
WHAT: Justice for All - A public hearing on the aftermath of Sept. 11
for
communities of color
WHEN: Sept. 21, 2002, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle,
www.townhallseattle.org
WHO: Community members affected by post-Sept. 11 hate crimes and
government
policies will testify before a panel of high-ranking elected officials.
Free and open to the public.
In addition to Hate Free Zone of Washington, the hearing is sponsored
by a
diverse group of nearly 100 faith-based, peace and justice, labor, and
community organizations.
CONTACT:
Pramila Jayapal
206/723-2203
pramila@hatefreezone.org
www.hatefreezone.org
-----
HOSPITAL ACCEPTS 3 MUSLIM STUDENTS
Shannon O'Boye, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 9/18/02
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-scmedschool18sep18(0,583329).story
The three medical students suspected and then cleared last week of
planning
a terror attack on Miami will do their clinical training at another
South
Florida hospital after Larkin Community Hospital turned them away, a
medical school official said Tuesday.
Dr. Nancy Perri, dean of clinical sciences at Ross University Medical
School, where the three men are students, declined to name the new
hospital
because of the backlash against Larkin. Larkin CEO and President Jack
Michel said about 200 of the 2,000 e-mails he received after the men
were
detained for 18 hours in Florida were so threatening he did not think
it
was safe to let the men train at his hospital…
Altaf Ali, executive director of CAIR, a non-profit organization of
Muslim
activists, said he understands Michel's decision. He expressed hope the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement would be able to trace some of
the
threatening correspondence…
---
PUPIL HELD IN FLORIDA BACKED BY MU FRIENDS
Nate Carlisle, Columbia Tribune, 9/17/02
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2002/Sep/20020917News024.asp
When Miriam Golomb heard the name Omer Choudhary on television, she
didn't
think it could possibly be her former student.
But then Golomb, an associate professor of biological sciences at the
University of Missouri-Columbia, saw Choudhary pictured with the other
two
men who were detained in Florida on suspicion of plotting a terrorist
attack.
That's when she realized Choudhary was, indeed, her former student and
an
MU graduate.
"No one who knows Omer would believe for a second that he would joke
about
terrorism or September 11," Golomb said.
Choudhary graduated from MU in May 2001 with a bachelor's degree in
biological sciences. Now Golomb and others at MU who know him say they
intend to write a letter asking he be reinstated at the Miami hospital
where he was supposed to be trained to become a doctor…
"It's really shameful for the hospital to bar him based on threats
against
either the students or the hospital," Golomb said. "That's like saying
you're caving into mob rule or something…"
---
EDITORIAL: JITTERS AND BIGOTRY IN CAHOOTS
Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/columnists/4095287.htm
We'll never know for certain what was said Thursday morning in that
Shoney's restaurant in Calhoun, Ga.
Eunice Stone told a radio interviewer that she suspected that
conspirators
were plotting in the next booth over. What's more, they appeared to be
Middle Easterners, she said. "One guy said, 'Do you think that will
bring
it down?' "is how Stone recalled it.
"'If that don't bring it down,' " Stone recalls another man saying, "
'I
have contacts. I'll get enough to bring it down.'
"And to me," Stone said, "that meant they were planning to blow up
something."
Turns out Stone got some of it right, anyway.
The three men, who would be held on suspicion for 17 hours down in
Florida,
were, in fact, discussing plans to bring down something in the near
future.
But it was not a building. It was a car. A car that one of the men,
Omer
Choudhary, wanted shipped down from Kansas City, the area where he grew
up
and his family still lives.
Choudhary, 23, a graduate of Truman High School and the University of
Missouri-Columbia, was not a terrorist, and neither were two fellow
medical
students on their way to Miami…
For those who happen to be Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs and Hindus, stares and
suspicions are part of day-to-day life now in the country they call
home.
"You walk in anywhere, and things stop," Choudhary said Monday night on
Larry King's TV show. "Everybody turns and looks."
As the nation mourned those who died in the attacks of one year ago, a
12-member committee issued a report last week on what it's like to live
in
Kansas City now for members of those groups listed above.
Uncomfortable. Sometimes scary. Occasionally dangerous…
---
OF TERROR SCARES AND STEREOTYPES
Hesham Hassabella, MSNBC, 9/17/02
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_email.asp?/news/809191.asp
On Sep. 13, two days after the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11
attacks, three Muslim men were detained by Florida law-enforcement
officials on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack. A customer in a
Georgia restaurant, 44-year-old Eunice Stone, told police that she
overheard a conversation in which one of the men said Americans had
mourned
on Sept. 11 and would mourn again on Sept. 13. That was enough evidence
to
move law enforcement officials to track the three medical students,
shut
down a stretch of highway in south Florida for several hours, and
search
their vehicles with both sniffer dogs and a robot…
Contrast this false alarm with another case, also from Florida. In
August,
police arrested Dr. Robert J. Goldstein and charged him with possession
of
a non-registered destructive device and attempting to use an explosive
to
damage and destroy Islamic centers.
Deputies found more than 30 explosive devices, including hand grenades
and
a 5-gallon gasoline bomb with a timer and a wire attached, and a
licensed
cache of up to 40 weapons, including .50-caliber machine guns and
sniper
rifles, during a search of Goldstein's Seminole home. They say they
also
found a typed list of approximately 50 Islamic worship centers. Almost
immediately, the judge in the case ordered that the doctor undergo
psychological testing.
Why? Is it because Muslims are considered to be violent by their very
nature, and potential acts of terrorism by non-Muslims must be, a
priori,
due to some mental deficiency? It seems so, unfortunately. Although Dr.
Goldstein openly admitted he wanted to kill, in his words, "Islamic
rags,"
his mental state has become a major issue from the very beginning of
the case.
For why else would a non-Muslim American want to terrorize other
Americans
if he were not mentally ill?
Yet, no one questioned alleged shoe bomber Richard Reid's mental
health.
Would not attempting to detonate a bomb in one's shoe be a glaring sign
of
mental illness? Not for a Muslim, apparently. The Muslim medical
students
were considered terrorists until proven innocent. It is a disturbing
double
standard, but it illustrates how entrenched is the notion of Arabs and
Muslims being terrorists…
---
ASIAN-AMERICAN SUPPORTS FLORIDA MED STUDENTS
Excerpts from an e-mail received by CAIR:
I've been keeping up with the Florida incident, and have watched
several
interviews on Donahue, Aaron Brown, Connie Chung, etc. and I can't help
seeing this victimization of yet more innocent Islamic Americans as
reminiscent of a history of profiling and overreaction toward members
of
certain groups…
As a fifth generation Chinese American, I grew up with the stories I
heard
from my parents and grandparents of how they were profiled (although it
wasn't called that back then). At the turn of the century in Seattle,
for
example, my grandfather was beaten numerous times and had his queue
(Ching
Dynasty long braid) pulled on and was called all kinds of racist
epithets…
My parents witnessed the Executive Order by President Franklin
Roosevelt of
forcing Japanese Americans to relocate to concentration camps after the
bombing of Pearl Harbor. They lost all their property and businesses.
To this day, that generation of surviving Japanese Americans still
suffer
from the trauma and humiliation. My Mom's and Dad's generation of
Chinese
Americans were terrified of being mistaken for "japs" and many felt
forced
to wear buttons that said, "I'm Chinese American." I'm sure that Korean
Americans and Filipino Americans shared the same fear of mistaken
identity.
Since I was a small child, I have been called anti-Asian epithets and
am
still discriminated against…
So when your organization advocates for an ongoing dialogue to prevent
more
tragedies such as the one with the medical students, I fully understand
and
support your efforts. I commend the med. students for going before
national
TV in an effort to clear their names instead of just hoping it'll all
pass.
The public needs to recognize that it can't keep overreacting, and
xenophobia, racism, spying and "Executive Ordered" McCarthyesque
vigilantism are the problems, not the solution.
I wish CAIR and Kambiz, Ayman, and Omar the best of luck and a bright
future ahead. The world is lucky and blessed to have you fighting for
human
rights and dignity and to be of service to humanity. I would also be
proud
to have any of you as my future physicians.
-----
VA FUNDRAISER FOR ISLAMIC MEDIA FOUNDATION
WHAT: Annual fundraiser for the Islamic Media Foundation (IMF),
producers
of the Islamic Broadcasting Network.
WHEN: Saturday, September 28 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Sheraton Premier Hotel, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA
For directions, call hotel at (703) 448-1188
For more information contact IMF at (703) 241-9659
-----
TO BECOME A CAIR MEMBER, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp
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http://www.cair-net.org/asp/voting.asp
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
"MUSLIM RODNEY KING" SUES MICHIGAN POLICE
Officer allegedly beat man after asking "Are You Arabic?"
WHAT: On Thursday, September 19, the Michigan office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) will hold a news conference to
announce the filing of a lawsuit by a "Muslim Rodney King" who alleges
being beaten by police officers in that state because of his ethnicity.
(Rodney King was the African-American motorist shown being beaten by
Los
Angeles police officers on an amateur video in 1991.)
According to the complaint filed Wednesday with the United States
District
Court - Eastern District of Michigan, a member of the Waterford
Township
Police Department's Special Operations Unit approached the plaintiff
June
20, 2002, pulled out a gun and kicked him with such force that his head
hit
the ground.
The officer then asked him, "Are you Arabic?" The plaintiff, who is
Muslim
and Arab, answered "yes." The officer then allegedly kicked him
repeatedly
while he was lying on the ground. During the one-hour ordeal, the
officer
allegedly put his gun to the plaintiff's temple.
Two relatives of the plaintiff also say they were mistreated during the
incident and are included in the lawsuit. All three plaintiffs were
subsequently released without charge or arrest.
"Bigotry and abuse by law enforcement authorities cannot be tolerated
in a
free society that cares about justice for all its citizens, whatever
their
religion or ethnic background," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Haaris
Ahmad.
WHERE: Outside Waterford Township Police Station, 5150 Civic Center
Drive,
Waterford, MI SEE: http://www.twp.waterford.mi.us/police/
WHEN: 11 a.m., Thursday, September 19
CONTACT: CAIR-MI, Haaris Ahmad, 248-569-2203, E-MAIL:
cair@cairmichigan.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726,
E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or
703-861-7294,
E-MAIL: hhassan@cair-net.org
- END -
-----
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 Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/19/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: REMEMBERING GOD
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* TEXT OF PROPOSED IRAQ RESOLUTION SENT TO CONGRESS (Reuters)
* TRAFFIC CHARGE VOIDED AGAINST MUSLIM (Reuters)
- Fear and Ignorance Fueling Racial Profiling (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Fla. Event to Focus on Balancing Civil Rights and Security
* HOUSTON MUSLIMS PROTEST RELIGIOUS-ORIENTED ADULT MOVIE (AP)
- Second Houston Protest Against Offensive Film
* ARAB-AMERICAN BROTHERS SUE COPS (Detroit Free Press)
- Arab Family Sues Mackinac Island Mayor (AP)
- Backlash Blamed for Leap in Hate Crimes (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Vandalism Won't Delay Opening of Mosque in Sterling (Washington
Post)
- Profiling Charged on 'Nightmare' Flight (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* FBI WAS AT THE DOOR (Newsday)
- A Smaller Stick (Village Voice)
- Editorial: Sorrow and Liberties (New York Times)
- Islamic Speakers Decry 'Fear' (AP)
* BLACK-JEW RIFT WIDENS AFTER SOUTHERN PRIMARIES (Fox News)
* U.S. HYPOCRITICAL ON HUMAN-RIGHTS ABUSES (Newsday)
* MOSQUE IN BOSNIA SERB AREA DESTROYED AGAIN-U.N. (Reuters)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: REMEMBERING GOD
A man came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and said: "The
laws
of Islam seem to be a lot for me (to remember), so tell me something
that I
should stick to." The Prophet replied: "Let your tongue never cease to
be
moist with the remembrance of God."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 437
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has already received 341 sponsorships for book
and
tape packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country.
Take
part in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item
"library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
TEXT OF PROPOSED IRAQ RESOLUTION SENT TO CONGRESS
Reuters, 9/19/02
WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The following is the text of a proposed
congressional resolution sent to the U.S. Congress on Thursday by
President
George W. Bush supporting an attack on Iraq…
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of
America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
This joint resolution may be cited as the "Further Resolution on Iraq."
SECTION 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
The President is authorized to use all means that he determines to be
appropriate, including force, in order to enforce the United Nations
Security Council Resolutions referenced above, defend the national
security
interests of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq, and
restore international peace and security in the region."
-----
TRAFFIC CHARGE VOIDED AGAINST MUSLIM
Reuters, 9/19/02
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-muslim19sep19(0,1885963).story
MIAMI - Police dismissed a traffic citation against one of three Muslim
medical students interrogated as terrorist suspects in a false alarm
last
week, the men's lawyer said Wednesday.
Collier County Sheriff's deputies issued a ticket Friday to one of the
three, Kambiz Butt, charging that he failed to pay a toll on Alligator
Alley, the main east-west highway through the Everglades.
The men's lawyer, David Kubiliun, said Collier Sheriff Don Hunter
notified
him Wednesday that authorities had voided the ticket after reviewing a
videotape that showed him paying the toll. "It's conclusive that Mr.
Butt
did not run that toll plaza," Kubiliun said. "This is just further
evidence
that the young men have been telling the truth all along…
Butt and two companions, Omer Choudhary and Ayman Gheith, were stopped
on
the Florida highway after a woman told police she overheard them in a
Georgia restaurant talking about what she thought was a plot against
Miami...
Choudhary and Gheith were born in the United States and Butt is a U.S.
citizen born in Iran. Kubiliun is representing them at the request of
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, which said the three were
victims of
prejudice against Muslims.
SEE ALSO:
FEAR AND IGNORANCE FUELING RACIAL PROFILING AFTER SEPT. 11
Philadelphia Inquirer, Acel Moore, 9/19/02
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/4103022.htm
The case of the three Muslim men who were detained by authorities in
Florida for 17 hours last weekend is evidence that African American men
are
no longer the primary focus of racial profiling…
I saw a television interview with the woman who sat in a booth next to
the
Muslim men at a Shoney's restaurant in Calhoun, Ga. She heard only
"bits
and pieces" of the men's conversations, and concluded from what she
heard
and saw that they were talking about a terrorist plot.
What she saw was important. The three men were dark skinned, spoke
English,
but only one clearly could be identified as a follower of Islam in that
he
wore a beard and a Kufi, a Muslim prayer cap.
If she had closed her eyes and not looked at the men, she probably
would
not have concluded that they were plotting terrorism.
It reminded me of something singer Ray Charles said. Though I am blind,
he
said, I see better than sighted folks. Charles said that in listening,
he
sees a more accurate view of a person's character...
As an African American, I know that racial profiling - targeting people
whose skin is black or brown - is as American as the Stars and Stripes.
White men were not profiled by the police in the Birmingham case nor in
the
case of Timothy McVeigh, the white terrorist who used a truck bomb to
blow
up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The 1995
bombing
that killed 168 people had been the worst act of terrorism in this
country…
SEND LETTERS OF THANKS TO: amoore@phillynews.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
---
FL EVENT FOCUSES ON BALANCING CIVIL LIBERTIES AND SECURITY
WHAT: Florida Islamic organizations host a one day summit titled, "A
United
and Secure Florida For All"
WHERE: Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84 - Davie, FL 33317
WHEN: Saturday, September 21, 2002, from 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shaw (by Video) - ICNA
Cherly Little - Executive Director - Florida Immigration and Advocacy
Center
Howard Simon - Executive Director - ACLU
Dr. Mohammed Qazi - AMA
Imam Khalid Salahuddin - Al-Ansar Masjid
Dr. Khalid Hamza - Professor
Dr. Parvez Ahmed - Professor
Imam Hassan Sabri - Islamic Center of S.FL
Imam Muhammad Musri - Islamic Society of Central Florida
Br. Ahmed Bedier - Islamic Society of Pinellas County
Br. Sayed Hemayed - MAS
Imam Rafiq Mehdi - Masjid Al-Iman
Dr. Doured Daghistani
Akhtar Hussain, Esq
Br. Altaf Ali - CAIR-FL
Guest - Dr. Jack Michel, CEO of Larkin Hospital
Sponsored by CAIR-FL, Major Organizations and Masjids in Florida For
more
information call CAIR-FL, 954-916-5661 or 954-298-8214
URL: www.cair-florida.org, E-Mail info@cair-florida.org
-----
HOUSTON MUSLIMS PROTEST RELIGIOUS-ORIENTED ADULT MOVIE
Mark Babineck, Associated Press, 9/18/2002
HOUSTON (AP) - About 100 Houston-area Muslims peacefully protested an
adult
cinema Wednesday, upset over a film advertised as "Sex Life of the
Prophet
Muhammad" in a weekly newspaper.
The protesters lined up along Telephone Road in front of a decaying
neighborhood theater, known decades ago as the Santa Rosa that once
featured Saturday morning cartoons and serials and classic movies of
yesteryear…
Several of the protesters acknowledged they had not seen the film,
citing
religious beliefs that prevented them from entering the building. That
didn't stop them from demonstrating outside with signs such as "Don't
Abuse
Freedom" and "Respect All Religions."
The theater's manager, who declined to give his name, said the owner
contracted an exclusive run of the film. The manager, standing behind a
glass counter that contained concessions in bygone days but now holds
sex
toys and related products, said he was harassed Tuesday in the lobby.
In the minutes leading up to the protest, the theater continued to take
phone calls demanding the film be pulled. The manager said he was
grateful
for the large police presence Wednesday's protest.
"I just worry about people's safety," said the manager, who wore a
pistol
on his left hip.
Some of the signs also targeted the newspaper that ran the ad, the
Houston
Press. Press publisher Stuart Folb said the person who phoned in the ad
misidentified the movie, wrongly adding "Muhammad" to the title.
Protesters had said they would picket the newspaper Friday if it did
not
pull the ad and apologize. Folb said he had decided to do both before
he
was aware of the demand.
"We have made the decisions not to run the ad in the future and I
definitely want to apologize if the Press has offended anyone in the
community," he said…
Some protesters agreed the theater had a right to run the movie, others
argued the government should stop it. Many said it should be considered
an
affront by non-Muslims, too...
SEE ALSO:
SECOND HOUSTON PROTEST AGAINST OFFENSIVE FILM
WHERE: Outside the Star Theater, 5607 Telephone Road, Houston, Texas
WHEN: Friday, September 20, 1:30 P.M.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Amanullah Khan at 713-628-8980
-----
ARAB-AMERICAN BROTHERS SUE COPS
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 9/19/02
http://www.freep.com/news/locoak/beat19_20020919.htm
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, three Arab-American brothers say they
were
beaten by Waterford Township police.
It's a case that Arab and Muslim civil rights groups say is a serious
example of anti-Arab bias. But police officials said the officers'
actions
were justified.
On June 20, Basim Alkhateeb was in Waterford Township to drop off an
ice-cream truck. Alkhateeb then planned to drive to Oakland University.
But an undercover detective approached him and ordered Alkhateeb to put
his
hands on the car, which he said he did. The detective then told him to
get
on the ground, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in
Detroit. The detective allegedly struck Alkhateeb and asked, "Are you
Arabic?" to which Alkhateeb said, "Yes, I am Arabic."
"Damn you, I'm a police officer," said the detective, who then started
to
repeatedly kick Alkhateeb, according to his attorney Shereef Akeel. He
also
allegedly pressed a gun to Alkhateeb's temple while questioning him.
Alkhateeb's two brothers, Qasim and Abedulah, say they were also
handcuffed
and beaten by other officers as they arrived at the scene. The three
natives of Jordan were never charged.
Waterford Police Chief John Dean said Wednesday his officers acted
"completely appropriately."
But Haaris Ahmad, head of the Michigan chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said, "They abused their powers and
attacked
someone because of their ethnicity and faith."
SEE ALSO:
ARAB FAMILY SUES MACKINAC ISLAND MAYOR
David Eggert, Associated Press, 9/19/02
An Arab-American couple is suing the mayor of Mackinac Island, accusing
her
of making ethnic slurs and humiliating them in front of hundreds of
onlookers.
Bader and Abeer Alkhatib, of Detroit, made the allegations Wednesday
against Margaret Doud, who's been elected to 28 one-year terms as
mayor.
She owns and operates the Windermere Hotel and the Dog House, a hot dog
stand, on the island. The Alkhatibs alleged that on Aug. 6 Doud called
them
"trash" and ordered them and their two children to leave the island - a
popular northern Michigan vacation spot.
"For her to raise a scene like that is totally uncalled for," said
Nabih H.
Ayad, the family's attorney. "She humiliated them. It's already bad
enough
that with Sept. 11 Arab-Americans feel people don't want them around.
This
puts it right in your face and adds insult to injury..."
According to the complaint, the Alkhatibs and their 2- and 4-year-old
girls
ate dinner at a picnic table near Doud's eatery on Aug. 6. After
finishing,
the couple got up and put their trash in a garbage bin next to the Dog
House.
Then, the complaint alleged, Doud started yelling at the family. She
allegedly said: "Take your trash and your trash family and get out of
my
island. Trash people do not belong to this country."
Ayad estimated that 200 bystanders witnessed the incident.
The Alkhatibs claimed Doud, 59, also threw trash at them and called the
police. They later learned Doud is the island's mayor.
Ayad said Abeer Alkhatib, 25, was wearing a traditional Muslim
headscarf.
"It's quite embarrassing for the city to even have this mayor," Ayad
said.
"She shouldn't be there..."
---
MIDDLE EASTERN BACKLASH BLAMED FOR LEAP IN HATE CRIMES
Chuck Squatriglia, San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/19/BA149708.DTL
The number of hate crimes reported in California jumped 15.5 percent to
a
record high last year, fueled by anti-Arab sentiment after the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks, Attorney General Bill Lockyer said Wednesday.
The news was especially troubling, Lockyer and others said, because the
tally would have dropped 5 percent had it not been for bias against
those
who are, or appeared to be, Middle Eastern.
"Hate crimes based on religion declined or remained nearly steady in
all
categories except anti-Islamic hate-crimes, which soared," Lockyer said
as
he released his report, "Hate Crime in California 2001." Crimes
motivated
by race or ethnicity also dropped for all but Middle Easterners,
American
Indians and Alaska natives.
Californians reported 2,261 hate crimes last year, up from 1,957 in
2000.
That's the highest tally since 1995, the first year records were kept.
The crimes also grew more violent. Assault, intimidation and other
violence
-- including two homicides -- accounted for 1,658 hate crimes, almost 3
in
4. That's up from 1,293 in 2000, the report found.
Of all hate crimes, two-thirds were motivated by race or ethnicity.
Nearly
1 in 5 were because of sexual orientation. Religion prompted 13 percent
of
the crimes, the report found.
Arabs and Muslims bore the brunt of the increase. The number of crimes
against them jumped fivefold from 99 to 501, according to the report.
As sobering as Lockyer found those numbers, local Muslims said they
probably represented only a fraction of the problem.
"I think the reality is a far greater increase than has been reported,"
said Maha El Genaidi, spokeswoman for the Bay Area Islamic Network.
"While
I'm glad this report will highlight the problem, I'm afraid it
underrepresents the true tally."
Genaidi said she suspects that as few as 1 in 10 hate crimes are
reported
to the authorities. Most folks simply shrug them off, believing nothing
can, or will, be done about them, she said.
Lockyer said such crimes "tarnish the opportunities and ideals that
have
brought us all to this great state to live." He stressed the need for
continued efforts to increase tolerance and understanding of other
cultures.
"As Californians, we must unite to fight the forces that seek to divide
us
and continue to report, investigate and prosecute hate violence," his
report says…
---
VANDALISM WON'T DELAY OPENING OF MOSQUE IN STERLING
Abhi Raghunathan, Washington Post, 9/19/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31817-2002Sep17.html
Local Muslim leaders said that weekend vandalism in which racial
obscenities and swastikas were spray-painted on a wall of a new mosque
in
Sterling would not delay its opening in October.
"It's disturbing for anyone to see that this type of hatred still
exists,"
said Yasir Syeed, community relations director of the All Dulles Area
Muslim Society, known as the Adams Center. "But we're more excited to
make
sure we open in time." The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is
investigating
the vandalism, discovered Saturday morning.
Adams Center leaders had increased security at the nearly completed
mosque
at 46903 Sugarland Run Dr. around Sept. 11 because they were concerned
about the possibility of such an incident. When nothing had happened by
Friday, they relaxed security measures. But, Syeed said, they "exhaled
too
early."
On Sept. 11, 2001, vandals spray-painted violent messages on walls,
carpets
and doors of another space that the Adams Center used at Community
Plaza
shopping center in Sterling. The center's director also received a call
the
next morning from someone threatening Muslims.
"We are investigating these crimes rigorously," said Kraig Troxell, a
spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.
Syeed said the new mosque will serve a growing Muslim community in the
area. The Adams Center currently serves as many as 1,500 families.
"To get this new, sizable home has been our dream for five, 10 years,"
he
said.
Syeed said Adams Center members had been encouraged by support from
other
religious leaders. He said several Jewish community leaders who came to
an
open house Sunday were upset, especially about the swastika painting,
and
spoke out against the incident.
Church leaders who learned about the graffiti also called to offer
help.
Martha Dahlman, a member of the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling,
said,
"I fervently wish those who still have feelings of fear and mistrust
would
allow themselves to be educated and those who know better speak out and
not
tolerate these horrible, destructive acts of prejudice."
"It was a beautiful thing to see the community's reaction," Syeed said.
---
PROFILING CHARGED ON 'NIGHTMARE' FLIGHT
Thomas Ginsberg, Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/19/02
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/4102992.htm
The incident on Delta Flight 442 was scary enough last month: U.S.
marshals
seized an unruly passenger, then one aimed a pistol at other passengers
for
a half hour and shouted at them to stay seated.
The event, however, didn't end there. Unknown to most passengers on the
Atlanta-to-Philadelphia flight, the marshals upon landing also seized
an
Indian passenger from first class and silently whisked him away in
handcuffs.
Far from being a terror suspect, the second detainee turned out to be a
former U.S. Army major and military doctor from Lake Worth, Fla., where
he
has had a family practice for two decades. Both detainees later were
released without charge, and the physician's angry account of his
ordeal
offers a glimpse at the dark side of America's war on terrorism.
Yesterday, suggesting that the line between security and civil-rights
violations is blurring, the physician, Bob Rajcoomar, filed notice in
U.S.
District Court that he may sue the U.S. government for illegal
detention
and emotional distress. His wife had been left to wander the
Philadelphia
airport for three hours during his detention, never told of his
whereabouts.
"This is blatant racial profiling," Rajcoomar, a naturalized citizen
since
1985, said by telephone from Florida. "They think they can pick up
anybody,
willy-nilly.... It's not in keeping with traditions of the United
States…"
During detention, Rajcoomar said, he was never asked anything except
his
name, address and Social Security number. He asked why he was being
held.
"One of the marshals said something like, 'We didn't like the way you
looked,' " Rajcoomar recalled."They also said something like, 'We
didn't
like the way you looked at us…' "
-----
FBI WAS AT THE DOOR
Deborah Barfield Berry and Tom Brune, Newsday, 9/19/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usprof192931041sep19.story
Paterson, N.J. - It was well past 10 p.m. and four of the FBI agents
who
had been rustling in the bushes in Ali Erikenoglu's backyard were
knocking
on his front door.
He remembers overlooking the late hour and inviting the agents in. But
the
mood changed when they rejected Erikenoglu's request to honor a Muslim
custom and remove their shoes before entering his home. "It ain't going
to
happen," one muttered.
Once inside, he said, two agents parked on his aqua-colored couch and
grilled the American-born Muslim. Are you anti-Semitic? Have you joined
protests? What kind of American are you? They questioned why he had a
Bible. A King James version rests on a bookcase next to the Quran.
Erikenoglu, who had attended a Catholic high school, was offended. His
prayer rugs lay near the couch.
"Not only am I terrified. I am angry," recalled Erikenoglu, who is of
Turkish descent. "You feel essentially at their mercy ... Had they had
me
in handcuffs I couldn't have felt worse.
"For the first time," said the 40-year-old construction foreman, "I
felt
like I had to justify my innocence."
Erikenoglu was one of hundreds of Muslims in the Paterson area who were
questioned by federal and local law enforcement officials last fall in
the
wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
For months, FBI agents knocked on doors in this Muslim enclave of about
100,000, visiting some people as many as two to three times and hauling
others off for further questioning. Federal immigration officials
jailed
and deported an unknown number of people, mostly from Middle Eastern
and
South Asian countries, who had violated their visas. Officials refuse
to
say how many were detained or to identify them…
The use of the federal government's sweeping new powers in Paterson
illustrates what is happening in Arab and Muslim communities across the
country, said David Cole, a Georgetown University professor and lawyer
at
the Center for Constitutional Rights, a public interest group in
Manhattan.
"It's a remarkable pattern of abuse," Cole said. "It's hard to think of
a
constitutional right they didn't violate ... It has deepened the divide
between law enforcement and the Arab-American community and it has done
so
at a time when it's more critical than ever that law enforcement build
a
bridge to that community…"
---
A SMALLER STICK
Chisun Lee, Village Voice, 9/18/02
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0238/lee.php
If terrorists remaining in the U.S. fit the profile authorities have
posited-Middle Eastern Muslim men who pose as workaday Joes-then
uncovering
them requires real finesse. The immigrant neighborhoods where the
evildoers
supposedly lurk are typically insular, if for the innocuous reasons of
shared language, job and housing networks, and simple camaraderie.
Outsiders cannot tell who is unusual as easily as insiders can. Blanket
aggression, in the form of INS sweeps and prolonged detentions, may
therefore hinder more than it helps. Apart from the moral concerns that
rights groups have raised, there is a purely practical question: Why is
the
government targeting entire classes of people, repelling the kind of
contacts it needs most?
Ahmed, for one, never wants to see a federal investigator again. An
Egypt-born U.S. citizen, he refuses publication of his real name lest
an
agent come knocking. In October 2001, he said in an interview last
week,
the FBI visited the midtown Manhattan apartment building where he
lives,
looking for his old friend and neighbor, Said Hammouda. "They were with
Said five, six hours," he said, then they left only to return about 10
days
later. "They took Said away."
A long while later, the letters started coming.
"I am now in solitary confinement for the past three months and a
half,"
Hammouda wrote on January 30 from a federal prison in Brooklyn. "By
Allah,
if it wasn't for the Qu'ran and the Salat I may lose my mind or have a
nervous breakdown. This is the picture of the situation that I am in .
. .
extreme pressure . . . and killer stillness. By Allah dear Ahmed, if
suicide was not forbidden religiously, I would have done it a long time
ago…"
Advocates in areas with large South Asian and Arab populations, for
instance in Brooklyn and Detroit, say the government's brash aggression
has
shattered faith in authorities. When Attorney General John Ashcroft
earlier
this year invited immigrants to volunteer for FBI interviews or provide
information in exchange for naturalization help, there were many
skeptics.
Today, immigrant leaders say, there are even fewer takers. In fact,
various
advocates and lawyers have told the Voice in past months of immigrants
who
approached the FBI with information, only to be detained themselves...
---
EDITORIAL: SORROW AND LIBERTIES
Bob Herbert, New York Times,
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/19/opinion/19HERB.html
Anthony Romero's first day on the job as the new executive director of
the
American Civil Liberties Union was Sept. 4, 2001. He was anxious to get
started as he strode into the A.C.L.U. headquarters at the lower tip of
Manhattan. From his 18th-floor office he had an amazing view of New
York
Harbor and, appropriately, the Statue of Liberty.
"I had spent part of the summer looking back at the history of the
A.C.L.U.," he said. "And one of the things I looked at were the Palmer
raids, which were right after the First World War."
A. Mitchell Palmer was an unsuccessful Senate candidate who was
appointed
attorney general by Woodrow Wilson in 1919. It was a tumultuous period,
with the rise of revolutionary movements overseas and tremendous social
and
political upheaval in the U.S., including a series of bombings by
suspected
anarchists.
Palmer responded to the turmoil by leading a vicious and unprecedented
campaign against alleged radicals and dissidents. Government agents in
dozens of cities rounded up thousands of individuals, most of them
immigrants. Many were brutalized and held without charge. Hundreds of
eastern Europeans were deported without benefit of due process.
The Palmer raids (with a young J. Edgar Hoover as an important
operative)
would ultimately be discredited by history. They were illegal,
unconstitutional and shameful. But at the time they had widespread
support,
so it took courage to speak out against them…
---
ISLAMIC SPEAKERS DECRY 'FEAR'
Michelle Locke, Associated Press, 9/19/02
BERKELEY, Calif. - It wasn't the best way to start a conference on
Islam in
America. The Muslim taxi driver hired to pick up guest speakers at the
airport dropped out at the last minute, fearing he would rouse the
suspicions of the FBI.
"I think that tells you the fear and oppression in the air," said Agha
Saeed, organizer of the one-day conference at the University of
California,
Berkeley. The event, titled "Islam in America: Rights and Citizenship
in a
Post 9/11 World," quickly recovered when friends pitched in as
volunteer
drivers. But Saeed, who refused to identify the cab driver involved,
said
the incident illustrated what it's like to be a Muslim in America a
year
after the attacks.
"So many people have been interrogated. People hear these stories,"
said
Saeed, national chair of the Newark-based American Muslim Alliance.
"What's
going on is the contagiousness of fear."
Conference speakers focused on what role Muslims should play now that
their
community has moved to the center of debates over such issues as racial
profiling.
"We have to be a part, an integral part of the national discourse about
American life itself," said Maher Hathout, chair of the American Muslim
Political Coordination Council, an umbrella group of several
organizations…
-----
BLACK-JEW RIFT WIDENS AFTER SOUTHERN PRIMARIES
Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, Fox News, 9/18/02
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,63370,00.html
WASHINGTON - Participants in this month's Congressional Black Caucus
conference say the defeat of two black House members in bitter
primaries
not only suggests a widening rift with Jewish Democrats, but trouble
within
the Democratic Party itself.
"People were talking retaliation," said Ron Walters, the director of
the
African American Leadership Institute at the University of Maryland, of
last week's CBC events in Washington. "They were saying [presidential
hopeful] Sen. Joe Lieberman is dead in the water, and so on and so
forth."
The anger is emanating from reports that several outside Jewish special
interest groups took a particular interest in defeating Reps. Cynthia
McKinney, D-Ga., and Earl Hilliard, D-Ala., by fueling the campaigns of
their respective Democratic primary opponents with thousands of dollars
and
an interest in seeing the incumbents defeated for their long-standing
support of Palestinians...
-----
EDITORIAL: U.S. HYPOCRITICAL ON HUMAN-RIGHTS ABUSES
Marie Cocco, Newsday, 9/19/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/columnists/ny-vpcoc192930884sep19(0,7872478).column
Saddam is bad.
"Tens of thousands of political opponents and ordinary citizens have
been
subjected to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, summary execution, and
torture by beating and burning, electric shock, starvation, mutilation
and
rape," President George W. Bush told the United Nations in seeking to
push
Saddam Hussein out of Iraq.
The evildoers are everywhere.
Mass graves are bad. Boston-based Physicians for Human Rights uncovered
one
in Afghanistan in January. The United States' chief ally in Northern
Afghanistan, the warlord Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, appears to have been
responsible for the deaths of hundreds, if not more than a thousand,
war
prisoners he was rounding up on behalf of U.S. forces and transporting
to
the Sheberghan prison…
The Pentagon says no American personnel were involved in, or aware of,
the
mass deaths, though Americans were nearby processing prisoners who
arrived
in similar containers. No one in the U.S. government has asked for an
investigation into whether forces working for the Americans committed
what
could well be a war crime. The Pentagon has rebuffed requests that the
gravesite at least be secured to preserve evidence for a future
inquiry…
Security forces that use methods of torture that include "beating,
whipping, Uzbekistan's president is brutal, and very bad.
The State Department human rights report says the former Soviet
republic
now "is an authoritarian state with limited civil rights . . . Both
police
and the National Security Services routinely tortured, beat and
otherwise
mistreated detainees to obtain confessions . . . Police also used
suffocation, electric shock, rape and other sexual abuse. Neither the
severity nor frequency of torture appeared to have decreased during the
year."
What increased was American aid. It tripled to $160 million, the payoff
for
allowing U.S. military staging areas for the war in neighboring
Afghanistan. President Islam Karimov was welcomed to the White House.
In
July, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill traveled to Tashkent and praised
Karimov's "efficient leadership…"
-----
MOSQUE IN BOSNIA SERB AREA DESTROYED AGAIN-U.N.
Reuters, 9/19/02
SARAJEVO - Attackers blew up a rebuilt mosque in a Serb area of Bosnia
just
three months after it was reopened, the United Nations said on
Thursday.
U.N. spokeswoman Kristin Haupt said the mosque in the southeastern
village
Kljuc was destroyed at around 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Wednesday, but that
no
one was injured in the blast.
The mosque had been restored after it was destroyed during the
1992-1995 war...
Hundreds of Muslims who were expelled from the village during the war
as
part of a Serb campaign of "ethnic cleansing" returned to take part in
the
re-opening of the mosque in June after it was reconstructed.
The original building was destroyed during the war, like 617 other
mosques.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #347
FOX NEWS ALLOWS ATTACK ON PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Sean Hannity fails to challenge Pat Robertson's Islamophobic rhetoric
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/19/02) - CAIR today expressed concern about what
it
says is a pattern of anti-Muslim bias by Fox News Channel citing
Wednesday
night's "Hannity & Colmes" program as an example of how the network
promotes anti-Muslim hate. On that program, host Sean Hannity seemed to
encourage televangelist Pat Robertson in his venomous attack on Islam
and
on the Prophet Muhammad.
About the Prophet Muhammad, Robertson said: "This man was an absolute
wild-eyed fanatic. He was a robber and a brigand. And to say that these
terrorists distort Islam, they're carrying out Islam." Instead of
challenging those hate-filled remarks, Hannity said: "Reverend, how
widespread do you think that fanatical interpretation is? Do you think
it's
mainstream? Or do you think it's the majority of Muslims?"
After Robertson replied by calling Islam "a monumental scam," Hannity
said:
"So Islam is a threat bigger than what most people are willing to say
publicly?... Do you think it's inevitable, then, that the world is
going to
be in conflict, perhaps even at war, with Islam for many decades to
come?"
In the program's second segment, Robertson said: "[The Quran, Islam's
revealed text] is strictly a theft of Jewish theology…I mean, this man
[Muhammad] was a killer. And to think that this is a peaceful religion
is
fraudulent."
"Our office receives daily complaints from concerned Muslims and people
of
other faiths who say that Fox's news and views on Islam, Muslims or the
Middle East are neither fair nor balanced. Venomous and hate-filled
remarks
like those made by Robertson, and Sean Hannity's failure to challenge
those
remarks, poison the minds of ordinary viewers and can incite acts of
violence against American Muslims," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad
Awad.
Awad added that in just the past month, there was a shooting attack on
an
Ohio mosque, vandalism at Islamic center under construction in Virginia
and
the revelation of a detailed plan to attack some 50 Florida mosques. He
also called on American religious and political leaders to repudiate
defamatory attacks on the faith of Islam.
As other examples of the network's anti-Muslim bias, Awad cited Fox's
inflammatory coverage of last Friday's "terror scare" in Florida, talk
show
host Bill O'Reilly's comparison of the Quran to Hitler's "Mein Kampf"
and
the network's tendency to ambush and abuse those Muslims who do appear
on
its programs. He did however note that Fox's "On the Record" with host
Greta Van Susteren often presents fair and balanced coverage of Muslims
and
Islam.
In a recent CAIR survey, 45 percent of Muslim respondents said Fox News
was
the media outlet that exhibited the most biased coverage of Islam and
Muslims. CAIR is seeking to counter anti-Muslim hate in American
society
with its Library Project, a campaign to encourage Muslim individuals
and
groups to sponsor 18-item "library packages" of books, videos and audio
cassettes about Islam and Muslims for distribution to as many as 16,000
public libraries nationwide. The package contains books such as
"Muhammad,"
a biography of the Prophet Muhammad by Yahiya Emerick. SEE:
www.libraryproject.org
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Fox is likely to use hostile
comments to further harm the image of Islam and Muslims.)
1) Contact Fox to request that they offer fair and balanced coverage of
issues related to Islam, and that the network not promote or encourage
Muslim-bashers such as Robertson.
CONTACT:
Mr. Roger Ailes
Chief Executive Officer
Fox News Channel
1211 Avenue of the Americas, Lowr C1
New York, NY 10036-8701
FAX: 212-556-8219
E-MAIL: roger.ailes@foxnews.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org, brian.lewis@foxnews.com,
robert.zimmerman@foxnews.com, meade.cooper@foxnews.com,
bill.shine@foxnews.com, hannity@foxnews.com, colmes@foxnews.com,
comments@foxnews.com, Viewerservices@foxnews.com
CALL FOX COMMENT LINE: 1-888-369-4762 CALL HANNITY & COLMES:
212-301-3289
FAX HANNITY & COLMES: 212-301-4222
2) Help educate the American public about Islam by taking part in
CAIR's
Library Project.
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
TRANSCRIPT OF HANNITY & COLMES
FOX NEWS NETWORK
September 18, 2002 Wednesday
GUESTS: Pat Robertson
HOSTS: Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes
COLMES: I'm Alan Colmes. We're back on HANNITY & COLMES.
Coming up tonight, why is one prison in California denying black
inmates
their right to have visitors? Is this discrimination veiled in the
guise of
security? We'll debate that. First, joining us now, the chairman and
founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, the Reverend Pat
Robertson.
Reverend Robertson, always good to have you on the program. PAT
ROBERTSON,
CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK: Hey, it's a pleasure as usual.
COLMES: All right, sir. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
president,
William Gregory, said yesterday that it would be difficult to justify
preemptive attack under Roman Catholic teachings on warfare. Where do
you
stand on that?
ROBERTSON: I would tell the good bishop to read the book of Habakkuk in
the
Old Testament and see what it says about those who kill and pillage and
rape and hurt innocent people, that the judgment of the Lord needs to
come
on them. And you know, with Saddam Hussein, 500,000 innocent Iranians
killed, 5,000 to 6,000 Kurds gassed. Who knows how many Shi'ite Muslims
and
how many of his enemies? He actually boils them in oil. This man is a
horrible monster. And...
COLMES: You know, nobody denies that. Nobody is saying they love Saddam
Hussein. The question is, what is proper? What is just? Should the
United
States take a preemptive strike? And does that violate Christian
teaching
for the United States to be the one to decide we're going after this
guy?
ROBERTSON: Well, somebody has got to enforce this. You know, we've been
spending a billion dollars a year on that no-fly zone over there every
year
since the Gulf War. And we went in to help the innocent. We went in to
help
the oppressed, the Kuwaitis. And now others are being oppressed. And
the
bible says to lift the yolk of oppression from those who would hurt the
innocent and the non-combatants, if you will.
COLMES: You've come on this show many times. We've talked about members
of
the religion of Islam on this program, your view of people of that
religion. And you have often said that not enough have spoken out about
the
atrocity of September 11. And I want to show you the statement of the
Study
of Islam and Democracy, signed on by dozens and dozens of individuals
and
groups where they said, "We wish again to state unequivocally that
neither
the al-Qaeda organization nor Usama bin Laden represents Islam or
reflects
Muslim beliefs and practice. Rather, groups like al-Qaeda have misused
and
abused Islam in order to fit their own radical and indeed anti-Islamic
agenda."
And this is again signatories all over the place, dozens. They speak
for
mainstream Muslims in America and worldwide.
ROBERTSON: You know, I hate to tell you, Alan, but that is absolute
falsehood, not on your part, but on the part of those who signed it.
All
you have to do is read the writings of Mohammed in the Koran. He urges
people to attack the infidels. He urges his followers to kill
Christians
and Jews. He talks about eradicating all of the Jews. This man was an
absolute wild-eyed fanatic. He was a robber and a brigand. And to say
that
these terrorists distort Islam, they're carrying out Islam.
HANNITY: Reverend, how widespread do you think that fanatical
interpretation is? Do you think it's mainstream? Or do you think it's
the
majority of Muslims?
ROBERTSON: I think there are many Muslims, just like there are many
Catholics and there are many Jews and there are many Protestants, that
don't really understand what their religion believes. And they go
along.
And they're just kind of easy to get along with folks.
But I think that in the Muslim world, you look at where the terror is,
you
look at where the dictators are, you look at where the oppression is,
and
it's all in the Muslim world. And I think especially with Saudi Arabia
and
Syria and Iran, there is a typical Muslim state. That's a Muslim
theocracy.
HANNITY: Yes.
ROBERTSON: And look what the Taliban did in Afghanistan. I mean, these
people were carrying out fundamental Muslim teaching.
HANNITY: So Islam is a threat bigger than what most people are willing
to
say publicly?
ROBERTSON: I don't think there's any question about it. And I think the
sooner we confront the enemy and say look, this is the teaching these
people. You know, I majored in history in college. And we learned about
jihad. Mohammed declared jihad against the infidels. And he carried
that
thing all the way up to Bordeaux in Spain and the Ottomans, were all
the
way up to Hungary on the other side of Europe.
HANNITY: What is that -- what do mainstream Muslims to think when they
hear
what you're saying? Is it that -- I mean, because you're going right to
the
heart and soul of their religion. And you're saying it's predicated on
these things, take neither Christians and Jews for your friends. You
talk
about jihad, holy war. Some people have argued on this program no, no,
that's not interpreted correctly. What -- I mean, it's a pretty direct
frontal attack against them. What are they to think when they hear
that?
ROBERTSON: All I would say, if you read the teachings of Jesus, he
talks
about peace. He talks about love your enemies. He talks about do good
to
them that persecute you. You read the Koran, it says wage war against
your
enemies. Kill them if you possibly can. And destroy anybody who doesn't
agree with you.
I mean, it's all laid out in the Koran. And what is called the hadif
(ph),
the -- you know, interpretation of what Mohammed said, that this whole
thing is in my opinion, is a monumental scam, if you really understand
what
went on back there in the early days of Mohammed.
HANNITY: Do you think it's inevitable, then, that the world is going to
be
in conflict, perhaps even at war, with Islam for many decades to come?
ROBERTSON: Unless our government and the leaders recognize the threat,
the
answer is absolutely yes. And when you see what's done to Christians in
Indonesia, for example, when you see the persecution in Saudi Arabia.
Here
you look at Sudan. They killed two million plus Christians because of
Shiria (ph). In Nigeria right now, they're getting ready to stone a
woman
to death for adultery. And it just goes on and on and on, the list of
horror.
COLMES: We're going to take a quick break.
ROBERTSON: Yes.
COLMES: I want to talk to you about your statement that Islam is a sham
when we get back. More with Pat Robertson after this.
Later, since that brutal attack on three prison guards in August, black
inmates in a California prison are being punished. Is this a blatant
case
of racial profiling? That's ahead on HANNITY & COLMES tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HANNITY: Still to come, a brutal attack in California in a prison leads
to
a crackdown on some of the inmates. But why are some people screaming
racism? We'll debate that. We'll tell you about it.
First, we continue with the Reverend Pat Robertson.
Reverend, look, I hate to even say this, I don't want to even think
this,
but I'm really coming to the conclusion that Tom Daschle and some of
the
Democrats seem not to have learned a lot from September 11. There is
this
desire, this gullibility. They're just gullible as -- they want to
believe
Saddam Hussein after 12 years of lie after lie after lie. And I think
that
lack of wisdom makes this country vulnerable and susceptible because it
allows him, buys him time to get his weapons of mass destruction.
ROBERTSON: You know, Sean, he has violated seven clear-cut resolutions
of
the United Nations Security Council. Not one, not two, not three, but
seven
of them. Not to mention the additional internal discussions along the
way.
He stiffed the inspectors every time. He has prevented them from
discovering these weapons of mass destruction. He has an estimated 600
tons
of deadly gases and biological chemical agents. Who knows how much
nuclear
material he's got? The Ukrainians are talking about missing 200 nuclear
devices. And if they fell into his hands, we may be in deadly peril
from
this man. He's a madman.
HANNITY: But the left doesn't get that. They want one more chance.
We've
got to try to allow the inspectors in. One more time. All it does is
buy
him time to seek new weapons of mass destruction, allows himself to
create
alliances with terror groups. And if he ever gets them, he may not have
the
means of launching them from here, but he certainly can get them to
Israel.
And he certainly perhaps can get across our borders if he has, you
know,
alliance with a terrorist organization. They don't get it. They don't
get
it. They didn't get it when Reagan was fighting the Cold War. They want
to
abolish the CIA. The left in America doesn't get it.
ROBERTSON: Well, I've read books recently. And I'm sure you have too
that
go back in the history. And your own book pointed it out, some of the
terrible failings of our intelligence. There's a book just out about
the
intelligence breakdown...
HANNITY: Yes.
ROBERTSON: ...that shows how the left, as you say, opposed virtually
everything. You go back to the church...
COLMES: Oh, reverend.
ROBERTSON: ...they wanted to gut the CIA.
COLMES: First of all, Daschle and Gephardt are on the same page as the
president. I showed you quotes just a few minutes ago. They're on the
same
page. They're not even arguing with him. We had one Democrat on tonight
as
a guest, who's running for office in Chicago, who's finally speaking
out as
some -- I think most Democrats should. They're on the same page.
They're
capitulating. There's not even healthy debate in this country,
reverend. So
to say that the left, the evil horrible left is doing the wrong thing,
is
just not accurate.
ROBERTSON: Well, you know, they know how to put their finger up in the
wind
and the voters...
COLMES: Oh, come on. You didn't do any polling when you were running
for
president? You didn't do any polling when you were running for
president?
ROBERTSON: Well, of course you do polling, but they have polled. And
they've got the control of the Senate at stake. And they know they'll
lose.
COLMES: Yes?
ROBERTSON: And the Republicans are beating them up all over the
country, in
South Dakota, in Iowa, and Georgia, and...
COLMES: We'll see in a few days. Let me show you something you said,
the
last time you appeared on HANNITY & COLMES. Let's take a look.
ROBERTSON: All right.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Liberals always lie.
COLMES: Oh, please. Come on.
ROBERTSON: They always lie.
COLMES: Come on, that's not...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLMES: What -- Pat, what would Jesus say about that kind of a comment?
Liberals always lie?
HANNITY: Amen.
COLMES: Jesus has spoken. Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus has spoken.
HANNITY: He'd say amen.
COLMES: He's come back. He's sitting next to me. We have just seen the
second coming. Go ahead.
ROBERTSON: You know, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees. He called them
whitewashed tombs. And he said you know, you always speak a falsehood.
So
he talked about the devil being a liar and the father of lies. So he
said
some pretty rough words as well.
COLMES: All right. Is that -- do you want to interpret that as anti-
liberal, bigotry? You make a blanket statement, liberals lie? Is that
--
that's not a Christian like thing to say.
ROBERTSON: Well, it's not Christian but it's true.
HANNITY: It's true.
ROBERTSON: You know...
COLMES: Come on. All liberals lie? They all lie. I'm a liar?
ROBERTSON: Oh yes, they lie from time to time. They don't necessarily
lie
in every word they say...
COLMES: Wow.
ROBERTSON: ...but their general premise is based on falsehood, so
often.
COLMES: Reverend, that seems to me like a lack of critical thinking to
make
such a blanket statement like that about an entire group of people. I
am
personally hurt. I'm very sensitive, you know. You hurt my feelings.
HANNITY: Aw.
ROBERTSON: They're diminishing -- I'm not sure, you won't even be in
that
camp. You're too nice a person to be associated with the...
COLMES: All right, this idea -- and about Islam, you say that Islam is
scam.
ROBERTSON: Yes.
COLMES: You're insulting the largest religion on the planet, an entire
group of people, when you make a statement like you did in the last
segment. Islam is a scam. Do you want to qualify that?
ROBERTSON: Can I tell you why? Can I tell you why?
COLMES: Yes.
ROBERTSON: You've heard of mecca. Mecca, there is a black stone.
Mohammed's
father and grandfather were keeper of 360 sacred rocks at mecca. And
they
said there was a meteor or something that fell out of the sky. And the
most
important deity in mecca was the moon god. And he was the same god that
was
you know, Ur of Kaldez (ph) when Abraham was up there. And his name was
Allah. And he had three daughters. And you remember that the Koran that
he
wrote into the Koran that he thinks that we should worship those three
daughters, and then disciples got after him. So he took the
(UNINTELLIGIBLE). And Salman Rushdie wrote about the satanic verses.
This whole thing was situational. It took about 20 years to write the
entire Koran. 80 percent of it comes from the Jewish and Christian
scriptures. He mentions Moses 500 times in the Koran. I mean, it is
strictly a theft of Jewish theology. And then he turned around and he
murdered all the Jews in Medina. I mean, this man was a killer. And to
think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent. It just is. I
wish
people would read the Koran itself and see what it says, because they'd
be
shocked.
HANNITY: All right, Reverend Robertson, always good to see you. You
know
what might be a good idea? I think maybe we should you bring back. And
I
think we need a live, maybe a half hour, an hour debate on the topic.
And I
don't know if you'd be willing to do that, but I think it would be very
informative for our viewers.
ROBERTSON: Well, I think it's one of those things we've got to wake
people
up before somebody else blows up another tower or hits another military
installation.
HANNITY: Reverend Robertson, thank you...
ROBERTSON: Thank you.
HANNITY: ...as always for being with us. Appreciate you being here.
-----
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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
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In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS 9/20/2002
HEADLINES:
* VERSE OF THE DAY: COMMUNITY OF ANIMALS
* CAIR ACTION ALERT: FOX NEWS’ ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS
* ARAB BROTHERS ACCUSE POLICE OF ETHNIC INTIMIDATION, ASSAULT (Detroit
Free
Press)
- Muslims in America Feel Eyes of Suspicion Cast Upon Them
(Knight
Ridder)
* GLIMMERS OF HOPE AND DECENCY DURING A BAD WEEK FOR ARABS IN AMERICA
(Independent)
* FAMILY FEARS FOR SAFETY OF DEPORTED DETAINEE (LA Times)
- Lebanon Deports Al-Najjar to Undisclosed Country
* GUJARAT’S RAPE VICTIMS FACE POLICE INACTION
(AFP)
* BORN-AGAIN ZIONISTS (Mother Jones)
* LET THE UN INSPECTORS IN, ISRAEL, THIS MEANS YOU! (Antiwar.com)
* DEFENSE SEEKS TO PURGE RACIST REMARKS ON JDL TAPE (LA Times)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: COMMUNITY OF ANIMALS
“There is not an animal (living) on the earth, nor a creature that
flies
with two wings which does not belong to a community like you (humans)”
The Holy Quran, Surah 6, Verse 38
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT: FOX NEWS’ ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS
To contact Fox News and express your concern about the treatment of
Islam
and Muslim guests on the network, go to www.cair-net.org
-----
ARAB BROTHERS ACCUSE POLICE OF ETHNIC INTIMIDATION, ASSAULT
John Masson, Detroit Free Press, 9/20/02
http://www.freep.com/news/locway/suit20_20020920.htm
DETROIT _ An Arab-American activist stood on the lawn of the Waterford
Police Department on Thursday and said officers used their power to
"attack
and terrorize" three Arab brothers who were operating a neighborhood
ice-cream truck.
Police said the claims are outrageous.
A federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit
accuses
the department of constitutional rights violations, ethnic
intimidation,
assault, false imprisonment and negligence.
The suit is based on a June 20 encounter that started when Basim
Alkhateeb
dropped off his brother's ice-cream truck in a neighborhood near Dixie
Highway and Watkins Lake Road. According to Shereef Akeel, one of the
men's
attorneys, police got a call from a resident who had seen the three men
meeting two or three days in a row around the truck. Police were told
that
each day, one man would get out of the truck with a bag, and then leave
in
a car, Akeel said.
On June 20, a plainclothes officer confronted 36-year-old Alkhateeb,
Akeel
said.
According to the suit, the officer ordered Alkhateeb to the ground at
gunpoint, then struck his back so hard his head hit the ground. Then,
according to the suit, the officer asked him, "Are you Arabic?"
After Alkhateeb said yes, the officer kicked him several more times,
then
put the gun to Alkhateeb's head, according to the suit.
"Law enforcement has a lot of power and responsibility," said Haaris
Ahmad,
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in
Michigan. "But in this case they used that power to attack and
terrorize,
because of faith and ethnicity…"
-----
MUSLIMS IN AMERICA FEEL EYES OF SUSPICION CAST UPON THEM
Karen Branch-Brioso, Knight Ridder, 9/20/02
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/nation/4106329.htm
NEW YORK _ Ahmed Larby has been a New Yorker for 17 years. But he felt
very
much the outsider last month, when he absent-mindedly left his gym bag
on a
Manhattan subway car, then rushed back to retrieve it.
"I saw everybody running from the car and when I got there, the whole
car
was empty. They left, scared it was a bomb," said Larby, who was
wearing a
traditional knit Muslim cap at the time. "Everyone else was staring at
me
from the other cars."
In a lingering legacy of last year's terrorist attacks on the World
Trade
towers and the Pentagon, the nation has grown more jittery around
people of
Arab heritage, like Larby, a native of Morocco and a U.S. citizen for
25
years…
"I can't blame them. People are scared," said Larby, 60, who manages
the Al
Qaraween shop on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, which sells all things
Islamic _ from literature to clothing to herbal remedies that
non-Muslims
also used to buy before Sept. 11. "They're afraid to ask questions. I
just
wish they would ask me about Islam…"
Bernadette Park, a psychology professor from the University of Colorado
at
Boulder, has surveyed emotional reactions to the attacks of Sept. 11.
She
suspects recent news of sleeper cells in the United States is why the
Gallup poll is showing a greater distrust of Arabs now than right after
the
attacks.
"We have not put terrorism to rest and people know that, so when they
see
that these cells exist and there's this awareness that this element can
still be present among our society," Park said. "Right after Sept. 11,
people tended to report this enormous coming together of all people in
the
United States _ and Muslim-Americans were a part of that. Most of the
population wanted to say, 'We're not going to blame Muslim-Americans
for
this.' But now, there isn't this same public outcry that you shouldn't
target Muslims."
-----
GLIMMERS OF HOPE AND DECENCY DURING A BAD WEEK FOR ARABS IN AMERICA
Robert Fisk, Independent (UK), 9/14/02
http://argument.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?story
This week was a bad week to be an Arab in America. It wasn't, frankly,
a
great week to be an English journalist either, with a message to a
university audience on the eve of 11 September about the failings and
injustice of US policy in the Middle East especially when the 2,000
people who came to listen included relatives of those so savagely
slaughtered a year ago.
George Mason University is in Fairfax, Virginia, just across the county
line from Arlington, where Patriot missiles were positioned to ensure
America's attackers did not return.
Hanan Ashrawi, among the sanest and least radical of Palestinians, was
in
Virginia, lambasted in a co-ordinated campaign by pro-Israeli lobby
groups
and Christian fundamentalists so virulent in their remarks that the
Bush
administration gave her bodyguards.
"Never have I experienced language like this," she told me. Her
daughter
Zena a student at George Mason says that she did not leave home for
days after the attacks last year.
Other Arab students said they could not bear to watch television for
the
past year. "The coverage is so anti-Muslim, so anti-Arab that it is
disgusting for me to watch," a young woman who wore an Islamic
headscarf
announced. "You can see the effect of the television, the way people
look
at us. They don't say anything. But it's in their eyes..."
-----
FAMILY FEARS FOR SAFETY OF DEPORTED DETAINEE
Greg Krikorian, Los Angeles Times, 9/20/02
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-deport20sep20(0,5187633).story
A longtime California resident, who a decade ago attended flight
schools
with a now-convicted terrorist, has been deported to Pakistan, and his
whereabouts are a mystery to family, friends and U.S. officials.
Nasir Ali Mubarak agreed last month to leave the U.S. under pressure
from
federal authorities who long ago determined that his student visa had
expired.
But after being escorted to Pakistan by two INS agents, Mubarak, 35,
was
taken into custody by plainclothes Pakistani authorities, according to
the
INS. Mubarak has not been heard from again.
Mubarak's detention has angered his American-born wife and prompted
Amnesty
International to formally request that the U.S. government take steps
to
ensure his safety. "The fact is the U.S. government sent him back, and
then
they say they don't know where he is. And that is really disgusting to
me,"
said Stephanie Mubarak, who lives just outside Chico, where her husband
ran
an aircraft painting business.
In letters to U.S. officials, Amnesty International raised "grave and
pressing fears" about the well-being of Mubarak, who moved to
California
from the United Arab Emirates in 1991 and had not been in Pakistan
since he
was 3 years old.
"The U.S. has an obligation not to return anyone to a country where
they
are at risk of serious human rights abuses," wrote Ignacio Saiz, the
program director in America for the human rights organization…
---
LEBANON DEPORTS AL-NAJJAR TO UNDISCLOSED COUNTRY
Press Release, Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace, 9/19/02
(9/19/02, Tampa) Since his arrival to Beirut, Lebanon, on August 24,
2002,
Dr. Mazen Al-Najjar has been under continuous pressure by the
Lebanese
government to leave Lebanon. Obviously, as a stateless Palestinian
refugee,
he does not have a country to go to, nor residency rights in any
country in
the world.
After unconstitutionally spending much of the last 5 years in a US
detention facility (with the last 9 months in solitary confinement),
and
without any charges, Dr. Al-Najjar was desperate to leave. His family
was able to find him a job offer in South Africa provided that he
would
not go directly from the US to that country...
While Dr. Al-Najjar was stuck in the US chartered plane in Italy for 25
hours, the attorneys again pleaded with the US government not to use
the
chartered plane, but to allow him to go to Lebanon using a commercial
flight since the Lebanese government is sensitive to the idea of
Palestinians being settled in Lebanon. Once again the government
refused to
listen.
Unfortunately but predictably, Lebanese Parliament speaker, Nabih
Berri,
accused the US government of illegally "dumping" Al-Najjar in Lebanon,
and
then called for an investigation. Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri followed
through by pressuring Dr. Al-Najjar to leave within two weeks, then
delayed
it an extra week. In addition, because of the world-wide publicity,
the
job offer to South Africa was rescinded, and the family has
unsuccessfully
worked feverishly to find him yet another country…
During his asylum hearing in October 1996, Dr. Al-Najjar prophetically
told
the presiding judge: "If I leave the US, I'd probably be going from
airport
to airport." It's the story of the wandering Palestinian in the 21st
century with no end in sight. What a shameful "civilized" world in the
age
of globalization.
-----
GUJARAT’S RAPE VICTIMS FACE POLICE INACTION
Praveena Sharma, Agence France Presse, 9/20/02
AHMEDABAD, India - Months after communal mobs rampaged in India's
western
state of Gujarat, many women who were raped by the zealots have seen no
action taken against their aggressors, with police unwilling to take
their
complaints seriously.
Sultana Firoze, 24, was stripped naked by eight men in her village of
Delol. Her life was spared, she said, only because she fell unconscious
during the assault.
"The police have done nothing against the accused; they are still
scot-free. But I'm determined to get justice," said Firoze, who has
still
not returned home. Rape victims face a first obstacle in identifying
the
men who assaulted them. But perhaps the biggest barrier is the police,
who
in many cases refuse to believe the women were raped.
"In my view, it is not scientifically and psychologically possible to
have
a sexual urge when the public is rioting," said B.K. Nanavati, a deputy
superintendent of police.
Asked about Firoze's case, he acknowledged there may have been isolated
cases of rape.
New York-based Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have blasted
the
Gujarat authorities' response to the riots, charging that police not
only
failed to prevent vigilante violence against Muslims but in some cases
were
even complicit in the attacks…
-----
BORN-AGAIN ZIONISTS
Ken Silverstein & Michael Scherer, Mother Jones, Sept/Oct 2002
http://bsd.mojones.com/news/feature/2002/37/ma_109_01.html
Nearly three decades after leaving his job as a marketing manager at
Colgate-Palmolive, Ed McAteer, considered one of the godfathers of the
modern Religious Right, still sounds like a salesman…
But no subject excites the 76-year-old born-again Baptist more than his
unequivocal love for the Jewish people and the state of Israel, and his
increasingly influential role as one of the nation's leading "Christian
Zionists."
The passion of McAteer, a gregarious man with a toothy smile and
thinning
wisps of brushed-back hair, is evident during a prayer breakfast in May
for
more than 200 people at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. "I am
delighted and thrilled and just pumped up to be here," McAteer tells
the
crowd in a Tennessee drawl, nearly bouncing behind a podium backed by
brightly colored banners celebrating the biblical tribes of Israel.
Before
him sits the self-described inner circle of Christian Zionism: pastors,
preachers, and religious activists who quietly but effectively lobby
for
Israel…
They also have close ties to GOP congressional leaders and to a group
of
high-ranking hawks in the Pentagon -- led by Deputy Defense Secretary
Paul
Wolfowitz -- that some D.C. insiders call the "Kosher Nostra." "They
are
very vocal and have shifted the center of gravity toward Israel and
against
concessions," says Doug Bandow, an evangelical who serves as a senior
fellow at the conservative Cato Institute. "It colors the environment
in
which decisions are being made…"
-----
LET THE UN INSPECTORS IN, ISRAEL, THIS MEANS YOU!
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 9/20/02
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
The recent conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
opened with an announcement that Cuba would become a signatory to the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The last three hold-outs in the world
are
Israel, India, and Pakistan. The Arab states, led by Iraq, have
proposed
that Israel should sign on as part of a framework for peace in the
Middle
East, but the Israelis want to hold on to their weapons of mass
destruction…
A better question is: why not single out Israel, a country that we know
has
nukes and the will to use them instead of Iraq, which doesn't have
fissionable material or the technology to create and deliver a nuclear
warhead?
A recent report in the [UK] Daily Mirror reveals a secret Pentagon "hit
list" of seven nations that could conceivably feel Uncle Sam's
nuclearized
ire: China, Russia, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria and Libya. Among the
conditions that could trigger such unspeakable horror: a generalized
Arab-Israeli conflict, or an attack by Iraq on Israel or another
neighbor.
Okay, let's see if I get this straight: the U.S. is preparing to go to
war
with Iraq because Saddam might, in the future, develop "weapons of mass
destruction" and therefore threaten the peace of the Middle East. But
the
U.S. is itself prepared to use weapons of mass destruction if the Arabs
and
Israelis should come to blows no matter who starts it or if
nuclear-armed
Israel is attacked. Perhaps those UN arms inspectors, instead of
picking
over the ruins of Iraqi military installations, should be demanding
access
to American nuclear weapons sites…
-----
DEFENSE SEEKS TO PURGE RACIST REMARKS ON JDL TAPE
David Rosenzweig, Los Angeles Times, 9/20/02
Besides denigrating Arabs, Jewish Defense League leader Earl Krugel
made
racist remarks about African Americans during secretly recorded
conversations with an FBI informant, according to defense documents
filed
in connection with his upcoming bombing conspiracy trial.
Krugel's lawyer has asked U.S. District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew to bar
prosecutors from playing the offensive portions of the tape recordings
when
the trial gets underway in mid-November.
"The racist expressions used by Mr. Krugel are irrelevant to the case
at
bar," defense attorney Mark Werksman declared in his court papers. "And
even if somehow relevant, the introduction of such evidence could
prejudice
the jury or mislead or confuse them into forming a negative impression
of
Mr. Krugel and possibly convicting him out of a distaste for his
language,
rather than because he is guilty of the offenses charged," Werksman
said.
Lew has scheduled a hearing on the motion in early November.
Krugel, 59, the JDL's West Coast coordinator, and Irv Rubin, 56, the
group's national director, are accused of plotting to blow up the
Muslim
Public Affairs Council offices in Los Angeles, the King Fahd Mosque in
Culver City and a field office of Rep. Darrell E. Issa (R-Vista), an
Arab
American…
-----
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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
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-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/22/2002
HEADLINES:
* VANDAL HITS DOOR OF KENT MOSQUE (Akron Beacon Journal)
* AFTER 9/11, INMATES SEARCH FOR TRUE NATURE OF ISLAM (New York Times)
* PEOPLE OF FAITH: IMAM ABD'ALLAH ADESANYA (Newsday)
* WEB SITE LISTS PROFESSORS ACCUSED OF ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS AND ASKS
STUDENTS
TO REPORT ON THEM (Chronicle of Higher Education)
* HOSPITAL MIGHT ACCEPT ALLEY TRIO (Sun-Sentinel)
- HOSPITAL REMOVES MD WHO TRIED TO PLACE MUSLIM STUDENTS (Miami
Herald)
- FLORIDA MUSLIMS TRY TO RIGHT SOME PEOPLE'S TILTED VIEW (Miami
Herald)
- EAVESDROP IF YOU MUST, BUT GET FACTS STRAIGHT (Orlando Sentinel)
- THE FAILINGS OF ARAB PROFILING (Chicago Tribune)
* PALESTINIANS PROTEST ISRAEL, 5 DIE (AP)
* USA PATRIOT ACT NEEDS DISMANTLING (Capital Times)
* LEBANON REVOKES VISA OF PROFESSOR OUSTED BY U.S. (AP)
* HIGH-PROFILE LAWYER TAKES ISLAMIC LEADER'S CASE (AP)
-----
VANDAL HITS DOOR OF KENT MOSQUE
Muslim community concerned act was hate crime
Carl Chancellor and Andrea Misko, Akron Beacon Journal, 9/21/02
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/4121501.htm
KENT - Shards of broken glass covered the front entrance to the Kent
Mosque
on Crain Avenue on Friday morning.
In the early morning hours, possibly between 4 and 6 a.m., someone
rammed
the main entrance with a piece of wood, leaving a sizable hole in the
glass
door.
It was the second time in less than a week that an area mosque has been
the
target of vandalism.
Kent police won't say it is a hate crime, noting four nearby businesses
also were vandalized. But members of the Muslim community feel
differently.
"This is no longer a random act," said Ihsan Ul Haque, president of the
Islamic Society of Akron and Kent.
He believes someone or a group is deliberately targeting the Islamic
community.
Five days earlier, bullets were fired at the Islamic Community Center
on
Steels Corner Road in Cuyahoga Falls. The bullet holes were discovered
in
the window of the prayer hall.
"We are upset and worried," Haque said of the Muslim community. "We are
a
little apprehensive, but we are defiant. We are not going to be
terrorized…"
-----
AFTER 9/11, INMATES SEARCH FOR TRUE NATURE OF ISLAM
MAREK FUCHS, New York Times, 9/21/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/21/national/21RELI.html
The mosque is in a modular building in the corner of the
maximum-security
prison's recreation yard, right next to a church named for the patron
saint
of impossible causes, St. Jude.
Under the eyes of guards on the ground and in gun towers, hundreds of
inmates, most serving long sentences, make collect calls at a bank of
pay
phones, take open-air showers, play football or enter the mosque for
afternoon prayer. Since Sept. 11, more prisoners than usual have been
stepping into the mosque.
Religion plays a central role in American prison life, with Islam the
most
influential in many prisons. At this particular prison, the Eastern New
York Correctional Facility, a castle-like structure in Ulster County,
about
a quarter of the 1,000 inmates are Muslims.
Islam has grown significantly as a factor in prison life in the past
generation, said Robert Johnson, chairman of the department of justice,
law
and society at American University, and the author of "Hard Time:
Understanding and Reforming the Prison" (Wadsworth, 1996).
The declining prison focus on rehabilitation, the increase in
minorities
behind bars and the increase, through immigration and global
communications, of Islam's influence in the West have all contributed
to
the growing importance of the religion in prisons, Dr. Johnson said.
David L. Miller, the prison superintendent, said about 150 inmates
regularly attended services or classes on Arabic language, Muslim
tradition
and the Koran.
Most of the prison's Muslims are African-Americans who are converts to
the
religion, and almost all of them converted in prison. "Not too many of
these guys were too religious before they came here," said Imam Yasin
A.
Latif, the prison's Muslim chaplain for the last two decades,
When they became religious, however, is of little concern to Mr.
Miller,
compared with the fact that they are. The superintendent is a proponent
of
religion among prisoners for what he says is its ability to "create a
community within a community, which allows an old con to put an arm
around
a young con and tell him to cool down…"
Despite the progressive fading of his outright idealism, Mr. Latif said
he
had, in his 20 years at the prison, seen the positive impact that Islam
had
with the prisoners. Islam, he said, gives the inmates an organizing
force
for their thoughts that is far superior to the ones most had on the
street.
It also gives them words and ideas to use that go beyond jail jargon,
and
it makes them members of a community in the midst of what can only be
described as a surreal existence.
So Mr. Latif sees hope in the fact that the last year has given him
many
more inmates willing to participate in services and classes...
-----
PEOPLE OF FAITH: IMAM ABD'ALLAH ADESANYA
Sheila McKenna, Newsday, 9/21/02
http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-pulpit2933143sep21.story
Muslim chaplain for the New York Fire Department; assistant imam at
Masjid
Abdul Muhsi Khalifah in Bedford- Stuyvesant; educational director at
Clara
Muhammad School in Corona, a Muslim elementary and secondary school.
HOME AND FAMILY
Married; seven children; lives in Bedford- Stuyvesant. BACKGROUND
Age, 54; native of San Jose, Calif.; graduated from the University of
Redlands and University of California- Berkeley School of Law; raised
as a
Baptist and converted to Islam while in law school; moved to New York
City
in 1989.
HOPES
"I'm looking forward to the continued recognition of the humanity that
we
all share as Christians, Muslims and Jews, and that humanity and
dignity
continue to be respected and supported and encouraged. As the first
Muslim
chaplain for the fire department, I have faced anger from individuals.
...
I can understand their anger and pain, and as we talk, I explain that
these
terrorists did not represent the teachings of Islam. This is a burden
that
Muslims will bear for some time in this country…"
-----
WEB SITE LISTS PROFESSORS ACCUSED OF ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS AND ASKS STUDENTS
TO REPORT ON THEM
SCOTT SMALLWOOD, Chronicle of Higher Education
Thursday, September 19, 2002
http://chronicle.com/
In an attempt to combat what it sees as anti-Israel bias in academe,
the
Middle East Forum has created a new Web site that lists faculty members
it
is monitoring and allows students to report on their professors.
Others, including the Muslim Public Affairs Council, suggest that the
project is "basically a hate Web site" and that posting "dossiers" on
faculty members amounts to a blacklist. And some professors who are
listed
on the site are denouncing it as hateful and inappropriate.
The Middle East Forum, a Philadelphia-based think tank, announced the
new
site, called Campus Watch, on Wednesday…
Eight professors are now listed on the site. The dossiers include short
biographies and reprints of a variety of materials -- articles about
the
professors, as well as letters to editors and essays written by the
professors themselves.
Some of the professors who appear on the site derided it as
fear-mongering.
Mr. Khalidi said the effort "could have a chilling effect if people
allow
themselves to be intimidated." Campus Watch is part of a "well-financed
campaign of black propaganda," he said.
Another of the listed professors, Hamid Dabashi, chairman of the
department
of Middle East and Asian languages and cultures at Columbia University,
said the project seeks to create fear that students will be spying on
professors. That won't affect him, he said, but it could be a "horrible
development" for junior faculty members. "In the tenure culture, it
could
be damaging to the healthy relationship that has to govern the
classroom,"
he said.
Juan R.I. Cole, a professor of history at the University of Michigan at
Ann
Arbor, is also listed on the site. In an e-mail message, he complained
that
the Campus Watch site had violated copyright law by reprinting some of
his
writings that he had posted on his own Web site. "This sort of arrogant
theft of other people's property is typical of the intellectual
hooligans
who run the Middle East Forum," he wrote.
-----
HOSPITAL MIGHT ACCEPT ALLEY TRIO
Noaki Schwartz, Sun-Sentinel, 9/22/02
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cmuslim22sep22.story
Davie - Less than a week after Larkin Community Hospital president
enraged
Muslim community leaders by turning away three medical students cleared
of
planning terror attacks, Dr. Jack Michel received a hero's welcome at a
Saturday afternoon Islamic conference.
"Their education is not going to be impeded," said the hospital's
president
and chief executive officer, adding that he would "personally ensure"
it.
"These kids are not going to be average doctors, but good doctors,
great
doctors." The approximately 200 people who came to hear more than a
dozen
Islamic leaders speak, hooted and cheered the doctor.
Michel would not confirm that the students would return to Larkin once
the
publicity died down, but Altaf Ali, the executive director for the
Florida
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations that sponsored the
event, said the agreement was negotiated last week.
"The message I'm hearing is the hospital administrators, regardless of
how
many ugly, anonymous threats, have decided they're not going to turn
their
backs on the students," said Howard Simon, American Civil Liberties
Union
of Florida executive director, calling Michel a "hero." "It's my
understanding that the students will be welcomed back to the hospital
in a
few weeks."
The three men -- Ayman Gheith, 27, Kambiz Butt, 25 and Omer Choudhary,
23
-- were detained on Sept. 13 after a woman told police she overheard
them
plotting a terrorist attack. The three students were on a cross-country
journey to Florida to complete their medical studies when they were
stopped
on Alligator Alley.
Police, bomb-sniffing dogs and even a robot descended on their car but
found nothing. No charges were filed against the men, who denied making
threatening statements.
Early reports said the men drove through a toll booth without paying,
but
the Collier County Sheriff's office said Friday that the men were shown
on
a video paying the toll.
In the days that followed their detention, the hospital received more
than
200 hostile e-mails and officials decided it would not be safe for the
students or the patients if the men worked at Larkin…
SEE ALSO:
HOSPITAL REMOVES MD WHO TRIED TO PLACE MUSLIM STUDENTS
JACQUELINE CHARLES, Miami Herald, 9/22/02
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/4125413.htm
The physician charged with coordinating the education of three Ross
University medical students detained in a recent Alligator Alley
terrorist
scare says he's been removed from his position at Larkin Community
Hospital
because he tried to find another Miami-area hospital for the students
to
complete their course work.
Dr. Enrique Fernandez said he was notified on Friday that his
relationship
with the South Miami hospital -- which turned the students away
following
the scare -- had been ended. Fernandez said he learned of the decision
from
Ross University Medical School, which pays his salary and has an
agreement
to place its medical students at Larkin. Fernandez, a family
practitioner,
served as director of Ross' clinical training program at Larkin.
Fernandez, who remains employed by Ross, said neither administrators at
Ross nor a letter from Larkin explained why he was removed.
But the decision, he said, followed his attempt to place the students
at
another teaching hospital that he would not identify.
"I was told I could not place the students," Fernandez said.
The order, Fernandez said, came from Larkin's Chief Executive Officer
Dr.
Jack Michel.
Michel confirmed that the hospital ended its affiliation with Fernandez
but
denied that it had anything to do with the placement of the students.
He would not say why Fernandez was removed…
FLORIDA MUSLIMS TRY TO RIGHT SOME PEOPLE'S TILTED VIEW
CASSIO FURTADO, Miami Herald, 9/22/02
http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/news/local/4125342.htm
Officials from Islamic organizations in Florida gathered Saturday to
look
for ways they could influence some Americans' perceptions of Muslims in
the
aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
At a conference at the Signature Grand in Davie, the officials showed
visible anger at the detention of three Muslim students on Alligator
Alley
nine days ago and the media coverage of the incident. The students were
arrested after police received a tip that they might be terrorists
planning
an attack. The officials also complained of unfair treatment toward
Muslims
in the United States, comparing the treatment they have received in the
past year to the way Japanese-Americans were treated during World War
II.
"Other ethnic groups that wanted to make America their home went
through
the same thing," said Parvez Ahmed, a professor at the University of
North
Florida at Jacksonville.
Ahmed Bedier, of the Islamic Society of Pinellas County, said that
since
the Sept. 11 attacks, "the threat to Muslims reached an all-time high."
"They are concentrating their efforts on Muslims, the most law-abiding
people in this country," Bedier said. "They don't drink, they don't
smoke,
they don't commit adultery. What's so scary about that?"
He said that if Muslims didn't act to reverse perceptions, "Alligator
Alley
is just the beginning" and urged Muslims to be proud of their religion.
"Walk in the streets with your head high, unite or we're going to
lose," he
said.
Bedier noted the discrepancy between media and police handling of the
Sept.
13 incident and the case of Robert Goldstein, a 37-year-old Tampa
doctor
arrested on charges of planning to blow up mosques.
Goldstein was arrested Aug. 23. Police found in his home more than 30
explosive devices, including hand grenades and a five-gallon gasoline
bomb
with a timer and a wire attached, prosecutors said. Also, according to
prosecutors: a cache of up to 40 weapons, including .50-caliber machine
guns and sniper rifles.
Ahmed, the professor at the University of North Florida, said
"characters
like Dr. Goldstein are a direct result of the stereotypes of Muslims in
the
media."
The burden to change "will be on our shoulders," said Altaf Ali, the
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in
Florida…
EAVESDROP IF YOU MUST, BUT GET FACTS STRAIGHT
David D. Porter, Orlando Sentinel, 9/21/02
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edpport21092102sep21.story
When a high-profile tip is wrong, people get hurt, and it may be
impossible
to repair the damage.
Last week, when the word went out that authorities were seeking three
young
Arab men, all sorts of wild reports followed. Initially, officials said
they stopped the men -- who were traveling in two cars -- because one
of
the vehicles went through a toll plaza without paying. A later report
said
specially trained dogs detected explosives in one of the cars.
A security-surveillance tape released a few days ago showed that both
vehicles stopped and paid at the toll plaza. Authorities didn't find
explosives in the cars, or link the men to suspicious activity.
A reader called me earlier this week and complained that the three men
warranted suspicion because they were "uncooperative" with police after
they were stopped.
If police stopped me and I knew that I had done nothing wrong, I'd be
wary
about answering their questions, too. Remember part of the Miranda
warning
that police give suspects goes like this: "Anything you say can be used
against you."
It would be awful if an overzealous officer took an innocent comment
and
twisted it into an indictment. Even though the three young men -- all
medical students -- have been cleared of terrorist activities, their
reputations have been harmed…
Remember what President Bush told us last year. We're at war against
terrorism -- not Arabs, Islam or each other.
Eavesdropping on the conversations of neighbors and strangers is risky
business. Americans are made of better stuff.
THE FAILINGS OF ARAB PROFILING
Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 9/22/02
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0209220068sep22.story
NASHVILLE - Y'know what? I'm beginning to believe those three Muslim
medical students…
But it is informative for a news junkie like me to notice how quickly
some
people have leaned toward the notion that the Shoney's customer must be
telling the truth so the men must be lying.
Actually, it is quite possible that both are telling the truth, as they
see
it, from their quite different points of view.
The reason why I am beginning to believe the students is that the one
piece
of hard evidence against them in this case appears to have collapsed: A
surveillance videotape shows they did not run the tollbooth after all.
Police informed their lawyer, David Kubiliun, on Wednesday that the
traffic
citation for running the tollbooth had been voided after police
reviewed
the tape.
"It's conclusive that Mr. Butt did not run that toll plaza," Kubiliun
told
Reuters. "This is just further evidence that the young men have been
telling the truth all along."
Yes, to paraphrase an old adage about war: The first casualty of a
major
news event is the truth, especially when it involves such high-voltage
issues as race, ethnicity and a possible threat of bodily harm.
I have heard some of my fellow African-Americans express a bitter
relief
that we are not the only people getting profiled on the highways and,
especially, in the airways these days. As such, one cannot help but
notice
ironic similarities between our situations, including the human
tendency to
presume those who look "different" to be guilty until they prove
themselves
innocent…
SEND COMMENTS TO: cptime@aol.com
-----
PALESTINIANS PROTEST ISRAEL, 5 DIE
JAMIE TARABAY, Associated Press, 9/22/02
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Thousands of Palestinians marched Sunday to
protest Israel's siege of Yasser Arafat's headquarters, and Israeli
soldiers opened fire on Palestinians who defied curfews. Four
Palestinians
were killed in the protests and a fifth died later in the day.
Palestinian leaders declared a general strike for Monday, appealed to
the
Arab world for help and called on their people to resist the Israeli
operation, which began Thursday after a Palestinian suicide bomber blew
up
a Tel Aviv bus, killing himself and six others.
In Washington, White House spokeswoman Jeanne Mamo said Sunday that
Israel's assault was ``not helpful in reducing terrorist violence or
promoting Palestinian reforms.''
France led a European wave of criticism against the Israeli assault,
calling it "unacceptable." A Greek Foreign Ministry statement said that
Arafat asked Greece to work with the United States and Europe to end
the
siege, while Britain and Russia urged Israel to end the confinement.
The
U.N. Security Council was to convene Monday about the siege.
-----
USA PATRIOT ACT NEEDS DISMANTLING
John Nichols, Capital Times, 9/17/02
http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/column/nichols/32339.php
Now that the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11
has
passed, the United States is fast-approaching the one-year anniversary
of
the Bush administration's assault on domestic civil liberties.
The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools
Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, a grab bag of
police-state schemes cobbled together by Attorney General John Ashcroft
to
capitalize on 9-11 fears, was signed into law by President Bush on Oct.
26,
2001.
It had been passed with almost no debate by the House of
Representatives
two days earlier, on a 357-66 vote. Of the 66 votes against the
legislation, 62 came from Democrats, three from Republicans and one
from
Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders. Among the members of the House who
rejected Ashcroft's grab for dramatically enhanced surveillance powers
and
the ability to punish legitimate political activism were two Wisconsin
House members: Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and Tom Barrett, D-Milwaukee.
In the Senate, only one member opposed the grotesquely misnamed "USA
Patriot Act": Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold. At the time, Feingold
described the legislation as a "truly breathtaking expansion of police
power." Almost a year later, he says, "I would cast the same vote
today,
but even more confidently, as we see how law enforcement is beginning
to
use the new powers in the bill and how the Department of Justice has
proceeded on a variety of fronts not directly addressed in the bill."
As the United States approaches the one-year anniversary, some
components
of the USA Patriot Act have already been challenged with success in the
courts. But, for the most part, the breathtaking expansion of police
power
remains every bit as breathtaking and expansive as when it was enacted…
-----
LEBANON REVOKES VISA OF PROFESSOR OUSTED BY U.S. IN WAKE OF 9/11
Associated Press, 9/21/02
TAMPA, Fla. - A Palestinian professor deported from the United States
after
Sept. 11 for visa violations and what prosecutors described as links to
terrorism is apparently without a country again.
The professor, Mazen Al-Najjar, a former University of South Florida
engineering instructor, was kicked out of Lebanon on Wednesday, his
family
said. He had been dropped off there by American immigration authorities
last month. A six-month visa granted by Lebanon apparently was revoked
after the Lebanese government raised concerns about the United States
dumping him there.
Mr. Al-Najjar's relatives said on Friday that they believed he was in
Iran
or an unspecified African country. The Lebanese newspaper As-Safir
reported
on Thursday that he had been taken to Iran.
Mr. Al-Najjar was held in jail for three and a half years based on
secret
evidence that, the authorities said, he had helped terrorists through
an
Islamic research center and charity he had set up with his
brother-in-law,
Sami Al-Arian. He was released in 2000, then arrested again in November
and
deported last month for overstaying a visa issued 20 years ago.
Mr. Al-Najjar was deported one day after the University of South
Florida
filed a lawsuit seeking to fire Mr. Al-Arian because of what it said
were
his ties to terrorism.
Both men have denied any connection to terrorists…
-----
HIGH-PROFILE LAWYER TAKES ISLAMIC LEADER'S CASE
ANDREW KRAMER, Associated Press, 9/22/02
PORTLAND, Ore. - A high-profile New York civil rights lawyer will take
the
case of an Islamic prayer leader arrested earlier this month by an FBI
terrorism task force and charged with Social Security fraud.
Stanley Cohen will assist in the legal defense of Sheik Mohamed
Abdirahman
Kariye.
"A decision was made to bring a different approach to this case," Cohen
said Saturday night. "I've handled a lot of cases like this and a
decision
was made to bring in somebody with experience with a witch-hunt.' Cohen
spoke Saturday night to about 200 Portland-area Muslims about his
decision
to take the case, which he called a case of political persecution.
The 41-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen was arrested in a dramatic
raid
Sept. 8 by federal agents at Portland International Airport as he tried
to
board a flight en route to the United Arab Emirates.
But his supporters question why the terrorism task force was even
involved,
because Kariye was charged with Social Security fraud dating from 1983
to
1995.
Federal prosecutors say they found residue of the explosive TNT on
Kariye's
bags, but he has not been charged on counts relating to the residue.
Kahlid Elolaimi, who attends the Islamic Center of Portland, said it
has
been tough finding lawyers who understand Middle Eastern culture.
"We brought this individual, he's high-profile, he has a good
background
with civil liberties," he said.
Among the attorney's current clients are Muhammad Ali Kahn, the
treasurer
of the American Muslim Council.
Kahn was pulled out of line at the Las Vegas airport on July 29 by
Northwest Airlines employees. He was then questioned by the Las Vegas
police and eventually the FBI. Kahn missed his flight to Minneapolis
and
had to take a later flight...
-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/23/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THE CLOSENESS OF PARADISE
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* "THOUSANDS" CONTACT FOX OVER ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS
* ISLAM ATTRACTING MANY SURVIVORS OF RWANDA GENOCIDE (Washington Post)
* ENEMY ALIENS AND AMERICAN FREEDOMS (The Nation)
* FBI TESTS ON SHEIK'S BAGS NEGATIVE (AP)
* DOJ TO SPONSOR TX COMMUNITY FORUM ON CIVIL RIGHTS
* EDITORIAL: TWENTY YEARS FOR SHAVING? (Washington Post)
* US' ETHNIC GROUPS FIGHTING TENSION FROM WAR ON TERROR (PR Week)
* FASCISM'S FIRM FOOTPRINT IN INDIA (The Nation)
* U.S. PAPERS DOWNPLAY PALESTINIAN DEATHS (Editor and Publisher)
* WHY MY FILM IS UNDER FIRE (Guardian)
* WITNESS: PALESTINIAN'S DEATH UNJUST (AP)
* SEVEN PILLARS OF JEWISH DENIAL (Tikkun)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THE CLOSENESS OF PARADISE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Paradise is nearer to
any
of you than the (leather strap) of his shoe..."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 495
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 370 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
"THOUSANDS" CONTACT FOX OVER ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS
Islamic civil rights group requests meeting with network
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/23/02) - Fox News Channel officials tell the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) they are receiving "thousands" of
complaints about anti-Muslim bias in that network's news and
commentary.
The Islamic civil rights and advocacy group has requested a meeting to
discuss ways in which Fox's coverage of issues related to Islam and
Muslims
can be improved.
Last week, CAIR alerted the Muslim community to what the group said is
the
latest incident in a pattern of Islamophobic coverage by Fox. CAIR's
alert
cited the network's inflammatory reporting on the recent "terror scare"
in
Florida, the tendency to ambush and abuse those Muslims who do appear
on
its programs and a September 18th "Hannity & Colmes" on which
televangelist
Pat Robertson called the Prophet Muhammad a "killer," a "wild-eyed
fanatic…a robber and a brigand."
Robertson also called Islam "a monumental scam" and the Quran, Islam's
revealed text, "a theft of Jewish theology." He said: "I mean, this man
[Muhammad] was a killer. And to think that this is a peaceful religion
is
fraudulent." Host Sean Hannity failed to challenge, and even seemed to
encourage, these anti-Muslim slurs.
As an example of the bias promoted by the network, CAIR also cited an
e-mail message to Fox News Channel CEO Roger Ailes (that was copied to
CAIR). That e-mail, sent from the account of a Pennsylvania
businessman,
read in part (uncorrected except for obscenity): "good coverage on the
deviant cult of islam, fox news. expose those subhuman boy-b**gerers
for
what they are: murderous lowlife subhuman filth."
"This is just the kind of hate that is inspired and incited by Fox's
biased
coverage of Islam, Muslims and the Middle East. Fox is neither fair nor
balanced when it comes to these issues," said CAIR Communications
Director
Ibrahim Hooper. Hooper also thanked all those who took the time to
contact
Fox to express their concerns.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Fox is likely to use hostile
comments to further harm the image of Islam and Muslims.)
1) Contact Fox to request that network officials meet with American
Muslim
representatives on the issue of anti-Muslim bias and stereotyping. Send
a
message even if you sent one before.
CONTACT:
Mr. Roger Ailes
Chief Executive Officer
Fox News Channel
1211 Avenue of the Americas, Lowr C1
New York, NY 10036-8701
FAX: 212-556-8219
E-MAIL: roger.ailes@foxnews.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org, brian.lewis@foxnews.com,
robert.zimmerman@foxnews.com, meade.cooper@foxnews.com,
bill.shine@foxnews.com, hannity@foxnews.com, colmes@foxnews.com,
comments@foxnews.com, Viewerservices@foxnews.com
TO ACCESS A FORM LETTER TO FOX, GO TO:
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-----
ISLAM ATTRACTING MANY SURVIVORS OF RWANDA GENOCIDE
Emily Wax, Washington Post, 9/23/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53018-2002Sep22.html
RUHENGERI, Rwanda -- The villagers with their forest green head wraps
and
forest green Korans arrived at the mosque on a rainy Sunday afternoon
for a
lecture for new converts. There was one main topic: jihad.
They found their seats and flipped to the right page. Hands flew in the
air. People read passages aloud. And the word jihad -- holy struggle --
echoed again and again through the dark, leaky room.
It wasn't the kind of jihad that has been in the news since Sept. 11,
2001.
There were no references to Osama bin Laden, the World Trade Center or
suicide bombers. Instead there was only talk of April 6, 1994, the
first
day of the state-sponsored genocide in which ethnic Hutu extremists
killed
800,000 minority Tutsis and Hutu moderates.
"We have our own jihad, and that is our war against ignorance between
Hutu
and Tutsi. It is our struggle to heal," said Saleh Habimana, the head
mufti
of Rwanda. "Our jihad is to start respecting each other and living as
Rwandans and as Muslims."
Since the genocide, Rwandans have converted to Islam in huge numbers.
Muslims now make up 14 percent of the 8.2 million people here in
Africa's
most Catholic nation, twice as many as before the killings began…
Many converts say they chose Islam because of the role that some
Catholic
and Protestant leaders played in the genocide. Human rights groups have
documented several incidents in which Christian clerics allowed Tutsis
to
seek refuge in churches, then surrendered them to Hutu death squads, as
well as instances of Hutu priests and ministers encouraging their
congregations to kill Tutsis…
In contrast, many Muslim leaders and families are being honored for
protecting and hiding those who were fleeing. Some say Muslims did this
because of the religion's strong dictates against murder, though
Christian
doctrine proscribes it as well. Others say Muslims, always considered
an
ostracized minority, were not swept up in the Hutus' campaign of
bloodshed
and were unafraid of supporting a cause they felt was honorable.
"I know people in America think Muslims are terrorists, but for
Rwandans
they were our freedom fighters during the genocide," said Jean Pierre
Sagahutu, 37, a Tutsi who converted to Islam from Catholicism after his
father and nine other members of his family were slaughtered. "I wanted
to
hide in a church, but that was the worst place to go. Instead, a Muslim
family took me. They saved my life…"
-----
ENEMY ALIENS AND AMERICAN FREEDOMS
David Cole, The Nation, 9/23/02
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020923&c=1&s=cole
>From his very first speeches following the horrifying events of
September
11, President Bush has maintained that the terrorists attacked us
because
they hate our freedoms. Hence the war on terrorism's official
title--"Operation Enduring Freedom." But one year later, it appears
that
the greatest threat to our freedoms is posed not by the terrorists
themselves but by our own government's response.
With the exception of the right to bear arms, one would be hard pressed
to
name a single constitutional liberty that the Bush Administration has
not
overridden in the name of protecting our freedom. Privacy has given way
to
Internet tracking and plans to recruit a corps of 11 million private
snoopers. Political freedom has been trumped by the effort to stem
funding
for terrorists. Physical liberty and habeas corpus survive only until
the
President decides someone is a "bad guy." Property is seized without
notice, without a hearing and on the basis of secret evidence. Equal
protection has fallen prey to ethnic profiling.
Conversations with a lawyer may be monitored without a warrant or
denied
altogether when the military finds them inconvenient. And the right to
a
public hearing upon arrest exists only at the Attorney General's
sufferance.
Administration supporters argue that the magnitude of the new threat
requires a new paradigm. But so far we have seen only a repetition of a
very old paradigm--broad incursions on liberties, largely targeted at
unpopular noncitizens and minorities, in the name of fighting a war.
What
is new is that this war has no end in sight, and only a vaguely defined
enemy, so its incursions are likely to be permanent. And while many of
the
most troubling initiatives have initially been targeted at noncitizens,
they are likely to pave the way for future measures against citizens…
-----
FBI TESTS ON SHEIK'S BAGS NEGATIVE
Andrew Kramer, Associated Press, 9/23/02
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Tests that found explosive residue on the bags of
a
Muslim cleric arrested at Portland's airport on document fraud charges
have
been thrown out after they were reviewed at an FBI crime lab, the man's
lawyer said.
Stanley Cohen, a New York civil rights attorney who took the case of
Sheik
Mohamed Abdirahman Kariye, said the FBI tests showed the bags were free
of
explosives residues.
"I'm talking to the government about a bail package," Cohen said
Saturday.
If that doesn't happen, he said, the defense would request another
detention hearing.
Kariye, who served as an imam at the Islamic Center in Portland, was
arrested Sept. 8 as he tried to board a flight at Portland
International
Airport to the United Arab Emirates with his brother and four children.
Kariye, 41, is accused of using false information - including a changed
name - while applying for and receiving three different Social Security
cards between 1983 and 1995. The federal indictment also alleges Kariye
used an altered birth date in a 1998 asylum application.
He has pleaded innocent to felony charges of unlawful use of a Social
Security number and unlawful possession of a U.S. government document.
He
was ordered held without bail. A trial is scheduled for Nov. 5…
At a detention hearing Sept. 10, prosecutor Charles Gorder cited the
luggage tests in arguing Kariye should be held in jail until trial...
Cohen, who took Kariye's case over the weekend, said the FBI sent a
letter
explaining the negative test results to the U.S. attorney's office
Wednesday and was then forwarded to the judge.
Police have not said they suspect Kariye of terror-related offenses,
other
than to say that he was detained by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task
Force.
Kariye's supporters question why the task force was even involved,
because
Kariye has been charged only with Social Security fraud.
-----
DOJ TO SPONSOR TX COMMUNITY FORUM ON CIVIL RIGHTS
WHAT: The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice will host
a
community forum on civil rights protections in Houston, Texas. The
forum,
open to the public, will bring together officials From the Department
of
Justice's Civil Rights Division and various other federal agencies.
They
will address discrimination based on national origin, as well as
information on how to file a complaint
WHEN: Thursday, September 26, 2002, 7 - 9 P.M. (Doors open at 6:30
P.M.)
WHERE: Hilton Hotel, University of Houston, Alumni Hall (Room S-104)
4800 Calhoun Street, Houston, Texas 77204
The program will include presentations by the participants, followed by
a
question and answer session. Complaints forms and other relevant
materials
in different languages will be available. Spanish and Vietnamese
language
interpreters will be provided.
For further information, call (202) 616-2777
-----
EDITORIAL: TWENTY YEARS FOR SHAVING?
Washington Post, 9/23/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53322-2002Sep22.html
"An individual on an aircraft…who, by assaulting or intimidating
a…flight
attendant…interferes with the performance of the duties of
the…attendant…shall be…imprisoned for not more than 20 years."
We are fairly certain that the drafters of this perfectly reasonable
federal law did not have the heinous acts of shaving one's face or
taking
too long in the bathroom in mind when they wrote the word
"intimidating."
Yet if the Justice Department has its way, a man named Gurdeep Wander
could
face hard time for disregarding a flight attendant's request to stop
shaving and return to his seat on a Northwest Airlines flight from
Memphis
to Las Vegas on Sept. 11.
The incident itself, which caused the flight to make an emergency
landing
in Arkansas, appears to have been a regrettable example of
understandable
but excessive vigilance on the anniversary of the attacks. But charging
Mr.
Wander with interfering with a flight crew is oppressive and absurd…
In a climate of fear, people get suspicious. But it is critical that
people
be willing to back down when an error becomes clear. Instead, all too
often, the scrutiny carries significant costs even for people against
whom
no charges are brought -- like the three Muslim medical students
recently
denied a scheduled rotation at a Florida hospital after they were
stopped
in a terrorism scare. The case of Mr. Wander is particularly ugly,
because
although he clearly is not a terrorist, he is being charged like one.
The
grand jury that hears this case would do a great service by refusing to
indict. Shaving is not a crime -- not even on an airplane on Sept. 11.
-----
US' ETHNIC GROUPS FIGHTING TENSION FROM WAR ON TERROR
Anita Chabria, PR Week, 9/23/02
http://www.prweek.com/news/news_story.cfm?ID=158775
As the country moves forward in its war on terrorism, some cultural
public
relations professionals are preparing battle plans of their own, aimed
at
educating Americans about issues from Islam to INS practices. Many feel
that they are the public face of communities trapped by fear and even
violence, and that the messages they are spreading are keys to helping
the
country heal in positive ways. But the pressure seems to be mounting
and
the challenges growing for these public affairs specialists, spreading
already thin resources to the breaking point. Now they are seeking help
by
joining together, telling their stories in the ethnic media, and
finding
savvier ways to reach out to mainstream America.
'One of the biggest trends we're seeing is the rise in anti-Muslim
rhetoric,' says Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council
on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington, DC-based Islamic
advocacy
group, about the challenges his organization faces. 'We've seen a shift
from raw bigotry to a growing general hostility of Islam in society.'
Hooper spent last weekend in a way that has become familiar over the
past
months: helping media and authorities handle the story of Islamic
Americans
suspected of terrorist activities. This time, it was three young
medical
students traveling by car to Florida to reach their internships at a
community hospital…
Hooper - one of only two communications staffers at CAIR's national
headquarters - has worked nonstop with investigators and the press to
accurately find and disseminate the truth about the incident before the
idea of Arabs as terrorists is further ingrained in the American
psyche.
'We did an initial news conference on Friday ... and had another news
conference on Sunday,' says Hooper, who also monitored the media during
that period.
'Now we're booking (the men) on the morning shows and Larry King…'
While many ethnic communicators have risen to the challenges of the
past
year, it is a situation with no end in sight. But the mainstream press
has
also risen to the occasion and struggled to tell inclusive stories.
While that means more work, it is also a hopeful sign that America is
interested in learning about its ethnic citizens, and that the messages
of
organizations like SMART and CAIR are showing results. 'The level of
activity has skyrocketed,' says CAIR's Hooper. 'We've got more media
requests than we can handle sometimes…'
-----
FASCISM'S FIRM FOOTPRINT IN INDIA
Arundhati Roy, The Nation, 9/30/02
Gujarat, the only major state in India with a government headed by the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has for some years been the petri dish in
which Hindu fascism has been fomenting an elaborate political
experiment.
In spring 2002, the initial results were put on public display.
On the evening of February 27, Hindu nationalists in the Vishva Hindu
Parishad (VHP, the World Hindu Council) and the Bajrang Dal movement
put
into motion a meticulously planned pogrom against the Muslim community.
Press reports put the number of dead at just over 800. Human rights
organizations have said it is closer to 2,000. As many as 100,000
people,
driven from their homes, now live in refugee camps. Women were stripped
and
gang-raped, and parents were bludgeoned to death in front of their
children…
While the parallels between contemporary India and prewar Germany are
chilling, they're not surprising. (The founders of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh [RSS], the National Volunteer Force that is the moral
and
cultural guild of the BJP, have in their writings been frank in their
admiration for Hitler and his methods.) One difference is that here in
India we don't have a Hitler. We have instead the hydra-headed,
many-armed
Sangh Parivar--the "joint family" of Hindu political and cultural
organizations, with the BJP, the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal each
playing a different instrument. Its utter genius lies in its apparent
ability to be all things to all people at all times…
-----
U.S. PAPERS DOWNPLAY PALESTINIAN DEATHS
Ahmed Bouzid, Editor and Publisher, 9/23/02
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/features_columns/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1705398
Despite the evidence, the simple view that Palestinians slaughter
civilians
and Israelis at worst unintentionally or mistakenly kill them (with
"stray
bullets" and "errant shells") still prevails, unshaken, in the
reporting of
the conflict by all the major U.S. newspapers. The result is coverage
that
reports, as a matter of routine, suicide bombings by Palestinians with
blaring headlines and Page One photographs, while the killing of
Palestinian civilians (even children) is covered with little fanfare.
This occurs even though human-rights organizations on the ground report
that Israel does target civilians, deliberately and systematically.
Physicians for Human Rights concluded that Israeli soldiers "are
specifically aiming at peoples' heads"; and Human Rights Watch issued a
report May 3 concerning actions in Jenin, stating, in part, that
Palestinian civilians there "were killed willfully or unlawfully" by
the
Israeli military, which "used Palestinian civilians as 'human shields'
and
used indiscriminate and excessive force."
Yet coverage of the conflict continues to sketch a far different
reality.
Some examples:
On June 21, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers opened fire on the
Jenin
marketplace in broad daylight, killing four Palestinians -- three
children
and a schoolteacher -- and wounding dozens. The IDF claimed that the
soldiers erred in firing the shells and said it was opening an
investigation. In a survey of 20 U.S. papers, Palestine Media Watch
discovered that only The Seattle Times ran a Page One photo of the
attack.
Of the 20, 11 did run a front-page story on the shelling, but of that
number, five reported in their headlines as a matter of fact that the
shelling was "a mistake" -- as in the San Francisco Chronicle's
"Israeli
tanks mistakenly kill 4 civilians in West Bank." Of the 11 that ran a
front-page story, only four mentioned in the headline that most of the
victims were children…
Or take the Gaza bombing July 22, when a Hamas leader was killed along
with
nine sleeping children and five more civilians. Of the 17 papers whose
July
23 front page was examined by Palestine Media Watch, only six ran a
Page
One picture above the fold depicting the aftermath of the attack, and
only
two (the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune) mentioned
in
the headline that children were among those killed…
Ahmed Bouzid is president of Palestine Media Watch and head of the
Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Arab American
Journalists.
-----
WHY MY FILM IS UNDER FIRE
John Pilger, Guardian, 9/23/02
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,797084,00.html
An unforeseen threat to freedom of speech in British broadcasting
emerged
last week. It was triggered by the showing of my documentary, Palestine
is
Still the Issue, on ITV. The film told a basic truth that is routinely
relegated, even suppressed - that a historic injustice has been done to
the
Palestinian people, and until Israel's illegal and brutal occupation
ends,
there will be no peace for anyone, Israelis included….
Our historical adviser, Professor Ilan Pappé, the distinguished Israeli
historian. He wrote to Carlton Television that "the film is faultless
in
its historical description and poignant in its message". None of this
deterred the chairman of Carlton, Michael Green, a supporter of
Israel's
policies, from abusing the programme makers in the Jewish Chronicle,
calling the film "inaccurate", "historically incorrect" and "a tragedy
for
Israel"…
So what does "balance" mean? A film approved by the Israel lobby? This
lobby is currently orchestrating an email campaign against my film;
curiously, many of the emails are coming from America, where it has not
been shown.
At the heart of this is a failure to acknowledge the overwhelming
imbalance
in the British media in favour of the Israeli point of view…
This general bias is verified by a remarkable study of the television
coverage of the Middle East, conducted last May by the Glasgow
University
Media Group. The conclusions ought to shame broadcasters. The research
shows that the public's lack of understanding of the conflicts and its
origins is actually compounded by the "coverage". Viewers are rarely
told
that the Palestinians are victims of an illegal military occupation.
The
term "occupied territories" is rarely explained. Only 9% of young
people
interviewed know that the Israelis are both the occupiers and the
illegal
"settlers"...
-----
WITNESS: PALESTINIAN'S DEATH UNJUST
Associated Press, 9/23/02
NABLUS, West Bank Sept. 23 - A British volunteer working with
Palestinians
in the West Bank said Monday she witnessed an Israeli soldier shoot
dead a
Palestinian teen-ager, deliberately and without provocation.
The Israeli military said the death of 13-year-old Baha Albahsh is
under
investigation. Military officials initially said he set himself alight
while handling a fire bomb, but a Palestinian doctor said he was killed
by
a gunshot in the chest.
Ewa Jasiewics, 24, of London, said Albahsh tagged along with her group
as
usual on Sunday as the foreigners walked in the town of Nablus to
observe
Israeli troops' behavior toward youngsters breaking a military curfew
to
get to school…
"An armored personnel car came and stopped on the left of the street,"
Jasiewics said. "A soldier popped up from inside. I saw him with his
rifle
and he aimed at some kids on the street. There was no stone-throwing or
shooting going on at the time."
Jasiewics said that in the month she has spent with Palestinians in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip she has often seen soldiers train their
gunsights
on people without further incident; this time was different.
"This soldier fired," she said. "I saw Baha lying on the ground, with
blood
coming out of his chest...I saw blood oozing from his mouth. We called
an
ambulance and the ambulance came and took him."
"It wasn't accidental," Jasiewics said. "The soldiers decided to kill
him..."
-----
SEVEN PILLARS OF JEWISH DENIAL
Kim Chernin, Tikkun, 9/23/02
http://www.tikkun.org/magazine/index.cfm/action/tikkun/issue/tik0209/article/020911a.html
I am thinking about American Jews, wondering why so many of us have
trouble
being critical of Israel. I faced this difficulty myself when I first
went
to Israel in 1971. I was an ardent Zionist, intending to spend my life
on a
kibbutz in the Galilee and to become an Israeli citizen. Back home,
before
leaving, I argued almost daily with my mother, an extreme left wing
radical, about the Jews' right to a homeland in our historical and
therefore inalienable setting. However, once established on my kibbutz
on
the Lebanese border, I began to notice things that disrupted my
complacency.
We used to ride down to our orchards on kibbutz trucks with Arab
workers
from the neighboring villages and were occasionally invited to visit.
We
liked sitting on a rug on a dirt floor, eating food cooked over an open
fire, drinking water from the village well. Above all, we loved the
kerosene lamps that were lit and set in a half circle around us as it
grew
dark. But walking home it occurred to me that our kibbutz had running
water, electricity, modern stoves. Our neighbors were gracious,
generous,
and friendly, although I had learned by then that the land the kibbutz
occupied had once belonged to them. We were living on land that was
once
theirs, under material conditions they could not hope to equal. I found
this troubling.
The path from this troubled awareness to my later ability to be
critical of
Israel has been long and complex. Over the years I have spoken with
other
Jews who have traveled this same path, and to many more who haven't. In
each of us I have detected mental obstacles that make it hard,
sometimes
impossible, for us to see what is there before our eyes. Our inability
to
engage in critical thought about our troubled homeland is entangled by
crucial questions about Jewish identity. Why do American Jews find it
difficult to be critical of Israel…?
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/24/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S FORGIVENESS
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
- SPONSORS NEEDED FOR THREE SENIOR CITIZEN LIBRARIES IN VA.
* GOOD NEWS: MUSLIM DETAINEES IN TEXAS RELEASED
- FAMILY'S HOPE DIMS FOR STAYING IN U.S. (Houston Chronicle)
* IN DEFENSE OF PAT ROBERTSON (Beliefnet)
* THE LEGACY OF ABRAHAM (Time)
* NOTHING DOING (Guardian)
- PLO REPORT HIGHLIGHTS DOUBLE STANDARDS OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
- HOW ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION AFFECTS PALESTINIAN CHILDREN (HNN)
- ISRAEL KILLS NINE IN GAZA, UN SAYS SIEGE MUST STOP (Reuters)
* ACADEMICS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PIPES' "BLACKLIST"
* GORE DENOUNCES BUSH'S IRAQ EFFORTS (AP)
- EDITORIAL: CULTURE WAR WITH B-2'S (New York Times)
- EDITORIAL: THE DAY AFTER (New York Times)
* CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF INCIDENT RECOUNTED (San Jose Mercury News)
* EDITORIAL: VANDALS, OR WORSE? (Akron Beacon Journal)
- MOSQUE TO BE BUILT ON OK CAMPUS (University of Tulsa)
* CANADA SAYS MALAYSIAN VISITORS NOW NEED VISAS (Reuters)
* CAIR-NY EVENT EXAMINES CIVIL LIBERTIES POST 9-11
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD'S FORGIVENESS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God says, 'O son of
Adam
(humankind), even if your sins were to reach up to the clouds in the
sky,
and then you were to ask for My forgiveness, I would forgive you and
think
nothing of it.'"
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 739
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 383 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
SPONSORS NEED FOR THREE SENIOR CITIZEN LIBRARIES IN VA
CAIR has received a special request for sponsorship of Library Packages
for
three senior citizen libraries in Northern Virginia. The materials in
the
packages would be available to more than a dozen senior centers in that
area.
CONTACT CAIR at: publications@cair-net.org or 202-488-8787, ext. 6054
-----
GOOD NEWS: MUSLIM DETAINEES IN TEXAS RELEASED
CAIR received a call late today from Sharif Kesbeh of Houston, Texas,
saying he and his son had been released from INS detention and thanking
CAIR and the Muslim and Arab community for their support.
That move by the INS came after Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
introduced
a bill to provide the Kesbeh family with an opportunity to stay in the
United States.
Sharif Kesbeh and his son have been in INS detention for almost six
months.
His entire family faces imminent deportation because they overstayed
their
visas. The introduction of the bill, S. 2991, triggers an automatic
delay
of deportation.
Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas had earlier introduced a
similar
bill (H. R. 4662) in the House of Representatives, but House bills do
not
allow for a delay in deportation.
The Kesbeh family has lived in Houston for 11 years. The father is a
successful businessman. This is only one step in securing the Kesbeh's
permanent residency in the US.
SEE: FAMILY'S HOPE DIMS FOR STAYING IN U.S.
EDWARD HEGSTROM, Houston Chronicle, 9/21/02
http://www.chron.com/
Search the Archives using the term "Kesbeh."
Sharif and Asmaa Kesbeh, who have Jordanian citizenship, came to
Houston as
tourists in 1991. They came with six children and had a seventh child
here.
The family requested asylum, but it was denied and they were ordered
deported in 1998. However, they ignored the order and stayed on as
illegal
immigrants.
The family established a flag distribution business and the kids did
well
in school.
But after Sept. 11, the Kesbehs again came to the attention of
immigration
authorities, who took Sharif Kesbeh and his eldest son into custody
last
spring and ordered the others to prepare for deportation.
-----
IMPORTANT NOTE: Before you get angry about this article, read the
second
page. You will miss the whole point of the article if you do not click
on
the "Citations and documentation" link at the bottom of the first page.
To comment on Pat Robertson's attack on Islam, go to:
http://www.cair-net.org/html/capwiz.html
IN DEFENSE OF PAT ROBERTSON
Pat Robertson and others are right about Islam being a violent
religion.
Look at the evidence for yourself.
Steven Waldman, Beliefnet.com, 9/24/02
FIRST READ: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/113/story_11347_1.html
THEN READ: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/113/story_11347_2.html
Pat Robertson recently drew attacks from Muslim groups for calling
Muhammad
a "wild-eyed fanatic," among other things. Robertson, as usual, states
the
case in excessively inflammatory terms.
But it must be said that Robertson's basic critique of Islam as an
inherently violent religion is accurate. This may not be politically
correct to say, but one need only examine evidence. Islam is not only
violent in its current practice but at its core--which is to say in its
sacred text, the Qur'an.
Remember that Muhammad was a military leader and as such involved
personally in a great deal of brutality. In the course of one battle,
Muhammad's troops raid a village and kill everyone "until there was no
survivor left." [Full citations provided below.] During another battle,
Muhammad's troops killed many men but the "prophet" is disturbed that
male
infants weren't murdered too--and sends the troops back to finish the
job.
The early Muslims are shown to be not only brutal but treacherous (a
fact
worth remembering as we consider peace treaties with Muslim nations).
In
one battle, the Muhammadans promised peace to a tribe nearby. Then,
when
the other tribe members were lulled into complacency, Muhammad
massacred
"all the males." They kept the women as slaves.
The hatred for other faiths that we see in modern Islam has its roots
in
the Qur'an. The book tells how the Jews of the area had offered peace
and
Muhammad invited them to a ceremony to declare peace. Instead, Muhammad
massacred the 950 of them.
Muhammad even countenances brutality against his own people. When a
group
in the region reputedly insulted Allah by worshiping an idol, Muhammad
led
the slaughter of 3,000 people in a single day. When some of his
followers
strayed by following non-Islamic sex practices, Allah literally directs
Muhammad to slaughter another 24,000: "take all the heads of the people
and
hang them up before Allah against the sun."
Under the Sharia, the Islamic law, even the slightest infractions are
punished with brutal violence. Some foods were not cooked according to
Halal laws? Two men were immediately executed…
Finally, if there's any doubt about the fanatical nature of the faith,
it
should be dispelled with this chilling passage: "Happy shall they be
who
take your little ones [babies] and dash them against the rock."
If you are skeptical, I urge you to read the passages and citations
yourself. It's there in black and white.
---
Hmmm, I seem to have made a few errors with the attributions. The
passages
you've just read are not from the Qur'an; they're from the Bible. Where
I
say Muhammad, I actually meant either Moses, Joshua, David, or another
biblical figure. "I have not come to bring peace but a sword" was
uttered
by Jesus. When I say "Allah," I actually meant God of the Hebrew Bible.
And
when I refer to Muhammed's troops, I actually meant the Hebrews.
There are obviously many other examples of brutality in the Bible (the
best
summary I've seen is Gregg Easterbrook's "Beside Still Waters").Forgive
my
sloppiness, but it seemed useful to make a point, which is not that
Christianity or Judaism are inherently violent but rather that the
exercise
of scanning ancient texts and pulling out passages depicting violence
is of
dubious value. Men and women of that earlier day were violent, and so
was
the God of their sacred book.
-----
THE LEGACY OF ABRAHAM
David Van Biema, Time, 9/30/02
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020930/index.html
My first real experience of the patriarch Abraham's crossover appeal
came
on the splendid sun-spangled day in June when I took a crosstown cab to
arrange my son's circumcision…
We slowed behind traffic on one of the roads through Central Park, and
I
found myself tapping my foot. The tune on the cab's stereo was Arabic
but
with a catchy, bubbling horn section. I asked who was playing. A
Moroccan
group, said the cabbie. He told me its name. Did I want to know what it
was
singing? Certainly. It was a plea to Israel from the Arab people. The
chorus was, "We have the same father. Why do you treat us this way?"
Who
might the father be? I asked. "Ibrahim," he said. "The song is called
Ismail and Isaac," after his sons. We have the same father. Why do you
treat us this way?
What did that scrap of a song hint at? First of all, it gave witness
that a
figure beloved by Jews and Christians has a Muslim constituency,
suggesting
a connection between Islam and the West that might surprise most
Americans
in this tense season. But second, it acknowledged that despite this
apparent bond, there is still turmoil among the sons of
Abraham…
No faith is as self-consciously monotheistic as Islam, and its embrace
of
Abraham is correspondingly joyful. If many Jews know him best as a
dynastic
grandfather whose grandson Jacob actually founds the nation of Israel,
Muslims regard him as one of the four most important prophets. So pure
is
his submission to the One God that Muhammad later says his own message
is
but a restoration of Abrahamic faith. The Koran includes scenes from
Abraham's childhood in which he chides his father for believing in
idols
and survives, Daniel-like, in a fiery furnace to which he is condemned
for
his fealty to Allah. And in the Koranic version of Abraham's ultimate
test,
Abraham tells his son of God's command, and the boy replies, "O my
father!
Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of
the
steadfast." Notes the Koran approvingly: "They had both surrendered,"
using
the verb whose noun form is the word Islam. For passing such trials,
Allah
tells Abraham, "Lo, I have appointed thee a leader for mankind!..."
-----
NOTHING DOING
Brian Whitaker, Guardian, 9/24/02
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,798021,00.html
In his speech to the United Nations earlier this month, President
George
Bush emphasized the need for action rather than words.
"We created the United Nations security council, so that, unlike the
League
of Nations, our deliberations would be more than talk, our resolutions
would be more than wishes," he said.
"All the world now faces a test, and the United Nations a difficult and
defining moment," he continued. "Are security council resolutions to be
honoured and enforced, or cast aside without consequence? [...] Right
now
those resolutions are being unilaterally subverted by the Iraqi
regime."
The same could be said of various other countries, but most notably
Israel.
Throughout its history, the security council has never once taken
enforcement action over Israel's flouting of UN resolutions or its
violations of international law.
Largely as a result of American pressure, criticisms of Israel in
security
council resolutions also tend to be softer than the criticisms of other
countries for similar offences.
Not only that. Thirty-two draft resolutions criticising Israel since
1972
have never seen the light of day because the US used its security
council
veto to block them.
A report published today by the PLO's negotiations affairs department
looks
at a series of UN resolutions relating to Israel, Bosnia, Kosovo, East
Timor, Rwanda and Iraq - and compares the follow-up action taken in
each case…
SEE ALSO:
PLO REPORT HIGHLIGHTS DOUBLE STANDARDS OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Press release, PLO Negotiations Affairs Department, 9/24/02
For Immediate Release:
A report issued today by the PLO's Negotiations Affairs Department
highlights the double standards that have been applied to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict by the international community. A summary
of
the report is set forth below. For the full report, visit
www.nad-plo.org.
The report highlights that in similar conflicts, the international
community has both condemned violations of international law and taken
enforcement action to ensure that the violations cease. Recently, U.S.
President Bush highlighted the need to ensure that U.N. Resolutions are
respected…
---
HOW ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION AFFECTS PALESTINIAN CHILDREN
Juan Cole, History News Network, 9/23/02
http://hnn.us/articles/987.html
Over one in five Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza (22.5
percent) now suffers from chronic or acute malnutrition. About one in
five
is anemic. This mass of hungry humanity amounts to a population the
size of
Minneapolis, about 380,000 kids.
Malnutrition in children makes them more likely to contract
life-threatening diseases. It permanently reduces intelligence and
vastly
increases the rate of attention deficit disorder. Women who were
malnourished in their youths have increased rates of premature birth
and
high blood pressure in pregnancy.
The occupying power in the territories, Israel, enjoys a per capita
income
of some $17,000 per year, higher than Spain. In contrast, half of
Palestinian families must now borrow money just to buy food.
Palestinian terrorists certainly bear a great deal of the blame for
this
tragedy, insofar as their horrific actions against innocent Israeli
civilians have understandably led Israel to close its borders to
Palestinian laborers. Unemployment is a prime source of the problem.
Yet, while the scourge of terrorism in Israel has been unspeakable,
none of
it has been committed by toddlers or infants. Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's
current lockdown of the entire population of the West Bank is a massive
form of collective punishment that has worsened the problem. As the
occupying power, Israel cannot escape responsibility for seeing that
its
colonial subjects are at least fed…
---
ISRAEL KILLS NINE IN GAZA, UN SAYS SIEGE MUST STOP
Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters, 9/24/02
GAZA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The Israeli army killed nine Palestinians on
Tuesday in one of its biggest raids in the Gaza Strip and faced
international isolation over its siege of Yasser Arafat's base after
the
U.N. Security Council said it must stop.
The United States abstained in the vote rather than veto it, signalling
the
growing impatience of Israel's ally and the main Middle East
peacebroker.
Washington seeks calm in the region and Arab support for its
preparations
for possible war with Iraq...
The raid met fierce resistance and triggered gunfights. Palestinian
hospital sources and families said six civilians and three militants
were
killed and more than 20 people hurt.
It was the bloodiest day in Gaza since Israel killed Hamas's military
commander, his lieutenant and 14 civilians in an air strike on Gaza
City on
July 23.
---
ACADEMICS SPEAK OUT AGAINST DANIEL PIPES' "BLACKLIST"
Dear friends and colleagues,
As you may already know, Daniel Pipes and his Middle East Forum have
established a "Campus Watch" to monitor teaching and other activity
relating to the
Middle East on campuses. www.campus-watch. http://www.campus-watch.org/
Several individuals and institutions, including Stanford, have been
"targeted." Judith Butler of UC Berkeley has suggested that colleagues
who
object to this McCarthyite-style practice step forward and identify
themselves in solidarity with those named on the web site. Here is the
text
of the message she sent to them info@campus-watch.org:
"I have recently learned that your organization is compiling dossiers
on
professors at U.S. academic institutions who oppose the Israeli
occupation
and its brutality, actively support Palestinian rights of
self-determination as well as a more informed and intelligent view of
Islam
than is currently represented in the U.S. media. I would be enormously
honored to be counted among those who actively hold these positions and
would like to be included in the list of those who are struggling for
justice during these times."
You may not wish to put yourself on the record in such overtly
political
terms, in which case you might formulate things any way that makes you
feel
comfortable. I do think it is important to respond to this effort to
delegitimize critical thinking about the Middle East and urge you to
consider some response.
My apologies if you get this more than once.
Best wishes for the new academic year,
Joel Beinin
Professor of Middle East History
Department of History
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-2024
President, Middle East Studies Association of North
America, 2001-02
Tel: 650-723-4956
Fax: 650-725-0597
beinin@stanford.edu
---
I hope my colleagues will not mind if I speak up, as one of those under
surveillance by the Middle East Forum.
First of all, I hope everyone will realize that this technique is not a
new
development.
The ADL, which has behind the scenes ties to the MEF, spied on and
harassed
protesters of Apartheid and of Israeli policies in the occupied
territories
in San Francisco, and that case was only recently finally settled:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/02/23/MN169812.DTL
I am also sorry to report that, whether intended or not, the Pipes
watch
list has resulted in massive repetitive spamming of the email addresses
of
all the scholars on it, as well as of many others. In one instance one
of
the academics received repeated telephone death threats. In today's
world,
singling someone out for opprobrium and monitoring has immediate
effects in
cyberspace, which a reasonable person could have foreseen. Obviously,
denying academics use of their email facilities is a key interference
with
their research, scholarly communication, and career effectiveness.
What to do for now? I believe that an Amnesty-International-type
approach
may be the best response to the Middle East Forum watch list.
Those concerned that this move damages academic freedom and who object
to
the technique of keeping dossiers on and encouraging others to spy on
teachers and writers should write letters.
If you hold such concerns, it would be legitimate to write letters of
protest to the major news and cable networks protesting that they give
Daniel Pipes a great deal of air time. As journalists, surely they are
concerned that he is heading up a McCarthy-like campaign of watch lists
and
so fostering un-American values and attitudes. They will want to be
sure to
know that he is considered by many to be on the far right and to
espouse
views which ordinary Muslims often feel foster attitudes of hatred
toward
them; and that they should be sure, if they have him on the air, to
balance
those appearances with alternative views…
Sincerely,
Juan Cole
Professor
Department of History
University of Michigan
-----
GORE DENOUNCES BUSH'S IRAQ EFFORTS
Ian Stewart, Associated Press, 9/24/02
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - In his first major speech about Iraq, former Vice
President Al Gore issued a harsh criticism of President Bush for
wanting to
go to war with Saddam Hussein, warning of ominous and untold
consequences.
Like other leading Democrats, Gore has expressed reservations in recent
months about military action against Iraq, suggesting the diplomatic
costs
would be extremely high.
But his speech Monday at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco was
much
more critical.
The former presidential candidate said Bush's concentration on Iraq has
eroded world confidence in the United States and diminished the war on
terrorism.
"After Sept. 11, we had enormous sympathy, good will and support around
the
world," Gore said. "We've squandered that, and in one year we've
replaced
that with fear, anxiety and uncertainty, not at what the terrorists are
going to do but at what we are going to do..."
Gore accused the current president of abandoning the goal of a world
where
nations follow laws.
"That concept would be displaced by the notion that there is no law but
the
discretion of the president of the United States," he said.
"If other nations assert the same right, then the rule of law will
quickly
be replaced by the reign of fear," and any nation that perceives itself
threatened would feel justified in starting wars, he said…
---
EDITORIAL: CULTURE WAR WITH B-2'S
Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 9/22/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/22/opinion/22DOWD.html
WASHINGTON - Don't feel bad if you have the uneasy feeling that you're
being steamrolled. You are not alone.
As my girlfriend Dana said: "Bush is like the guy who reserves a hotel
room
and then asks you to the prom."
As the Pentagon moves troops, carriers, covert agents and B-2 bombers
into
the Persian Gulf, the president, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld
continue
their pantomime of consultation.
When Senator Mark Dayton of Minnesota asked the defense chief on
Thursday,
"What is compelling us to now make a precipitous decision and take
precipitous actions?" an exasperated Mr. Rumsfeld sputtered: "What's
different? What's different is 3,000 people were killed."
The casus belli is casuistry belli: We can't cuff Saddam to 9/11, but
we'll
clip Saddam because of 9/11.
Mr. Rumsfeld offered sophistry instead of a smoking gun: "I suggest
that
any who insist on perfect evidence are back in the 20th century and
still
thinking in pre-9/11 terms."
Ah, Rummy. Evidence, civil liberties, debating before we go to war . .
.
it's all sooo 20th century.
Anyway, how can we have evidence when we learned last week that our
evidence-gathering snoozy spooks are even more aggressively awful than
we
thought?
The administration isn't targeting Iraq because of 9/11. It's
exploiting
9/11 to target Iraq. This new fight isn't logical - it's cultural. It
is
the latest chapter in the culture wars, the conservative dream of
restoring
America's sense of Manifest Destiny…
---
EDITORIAL: THE DAY AFTER
Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, 9/24/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/24/opinion/24KRIS.html
NAJAF, Iraq - As soon as American troops are rolling through Saddam
Hussein's palaces, the odds are that this holy Shiite city 100 miles
south
of Baghdad will erupt in a fury of killing, torture, rape and chaos.
The Shiite Muslims who make up 60 percent of Iraq -- but who have never
held power -- will rampage through the narrow streets here. Remembering
the
whispers from the bazaar about how Saddam's minions burned the beard
off
the face of a great Shiite leader named Muhammad Bakr al-Sadr, then
raped
and killed his sister in front of him, and finally executed him by
driving
nails through his head, the rebels will tear apart anyone associated
with
the ruling Baath Party.
In one Shiite city after another, expect battles between rebels and
army
units, periodic calls for an Iranian-style theocracy, and perhaps a
drift
toward civil war. For the last few days, I've been traveling in these
Shiite cities -- Karbala, Najaf and Basra -- and the tension in the
bazaars
is thicker than the dust behind the donkey carts.
So before we rush into Iraq, we need to think through what we will do
the
morning after Saddam is toppled. Do we send in troops to try to seize
the
mortars and machine guns from the warring factions? Or do we run from
civil
war, and risk letting Iran cultivate its own puppet regime? In the
north,
do we suppress the Kurds if they take advantage of the chaos to seek
independence? Do we fight off the Turkish Army if it intervenes in
Kurdistan?
Unless we're prepared for the consequences of our invasion, we have no
business invading at all…
-----
CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF INCIDENT RECOUNTED
Sean Webby, San Jose Mercury News, 9/24/02
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/4139735.htm
An 18-year-old man charged with assault with intent to commit rape of a
15-year-old co-worker at a Palo Alto drugstore appeared in court
Monday.
The girl's father and others were there for the next development in a
case
that has drawn the attention of Hindus and Muslims across the Bay Area.
In the end, Sanjay Nair said nothing. His case was postponed until Oct.
23
so his new lawyer can have time to prepare. But shortly after he was
arrested, Nair sat before his parents in their East Palo Alto apartment
and
told the Mercury News that he's innocent. His alleged victim offers a
very
different account of what went on that night.
Nair said what happened in the women's employee restroom at Longs was a
furtive sexual tryst, not a surprise sexual attack. "I didn't rape this
girl," Nair said. "I did not force sex on her."
The girl's account -- told in court documents -- describes a sexual
assault
built upon months of ethnic taunts. Nair is Hindu; the girl, Muslim.
Nair's
account -- told in an interview and police reports -- describes a
teasing
but friendly relationship that turned hostile when it didn't work out…
-----
EDITORIAL: VANDALS, OR WORSE?
Akron Beacon Journal, 9/24/02
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/editorial/4139308.htm
Jim Goodlet, a captain in the Kent Police Department, concluded that a
19-pound piece of wood hurled through the glass door of the Kent Mosque
was
likely "a random act of mischief." He noted that four businesses within
three blocks of the mosque reported incidents of property damage early
Friday morning. The vandals may not have targeted the place of worship.
They may not have engaged in a hate crime. Still, the timing has
further
and understandably unsettled members of the Muslim community in
Northeast
Ohio. Five days earlier, bullets pierced the window of the prayer hall
at
the Islamic Community Center in Cuyahoga Falls.
When terrorists struck a year ago, turning four hijacked airliners into
missiles, killing thousands in a morning, the country responded in
horror
and anger. Americans also proved resilient, performing heroic acts and
reaffirming core principles.
One of those principles involves religious tolerance. Those who first
settled here sought the freedom to practice their beliefs. The founders
ensured that no religion would dominate in the form of an edict from
the
state. The assumption was, and the reality has proved true, that a
diversity of views supplies uncommon strength…
---
MOSQUE TO BE BUILT ON OK CAMPUS
University of Tulsa News, 9/23/02
http://www.utulsa.edu/news/article.asp?Key=771
Ground was broken Friday, Sept. 20, for a long-awaited mosque on the
campus
of The University of Tulsa. Supporters, including TU students who
raised
the money for the building, say it is rare for a mosque to be located
on a
college campus.
The 3,900-square-foot mosque will have room for 100 people in the
first-floor men's prayer hall and 50 in the second-floor balcony
serving as
the women's prayer hall. The building's estimated cost is $330,000 and
is
scheduled to be finished by May 2003.
"The University of Tulsa's covenant relationship with the Presbyterian
Church USA facilitates understanding and acceptances of all faith
traditions," said TU President Bob Lawless. "The provision of a space
for
the Islamic students to pursue their faith is in keeping with the broad
view consistent with the purpose of higher education."
The mosque will include a large dome over part of the men's prayer
area,
where the imam, or prayer leader, will stand, and a small dome above
the
entry. The men's prayer area will have a two-story-high ceiling. The
university retains ownership of the land.
"This project has been in the dreaming and working stage for the 21
years
that I've been on campus," said Pam Smith, dean of international
services
and programs. "Our Muslim students have gathered to pray in any nook
they
could find…"
-----
CANADA SAYS MALAYSIAN VISITORS NOW NEED VISAS
David Ljunggren, Reuters, 9/24/02
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/reuters/asia-126663.html
OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government on Monday said that for
security
reasons Malaysian visitors would now need visas to enter the country, a
decision which an angry Kuala Lumpur said would only stoke "anti-Muslim
hysteria."
Ottawa, which has come under persistent U.S. pressure to tighten
security,
imposed the same visa measures earlier this month on visitors from
Saudi
Arabia. Most of the hijackers who took part in the September 11 suicide
attacks had Saudi passports.
Canadian Immigration Minister Denis Coderre said Ottawa considered both
the
Malaysian passport itself and the country's passport issuing system to
be
vulnerable to abuse. The new rules take effect on Wednesday…
Malaysian citizens had hitherto been able to enter Canada on a visa
waiver
programme. Malaysians and Saudis already need visas to enter the United
States.
Malaysia's high commissioner to Canada condemned the move.
"I think the decision is more a response to pressure coming from
external
sources rather than to any specific concerns. It is not helpful and
merely
adds to the general anti-Muslim hysteria that is out there," Dennis
Ignatius told Reuters.
Ignatius said he was "completely bewildered" by the idea that there was
a
problem with Malaysian passports. He said Canada had never raised this
matter with either him or authorities in Kuala Lumpur…
-----
CAIR-NY EVENTS EXAMINES CIVIL LIBERTIES POST 9-11
WHAT: A Year of Loss: Reexamining Civil Liberties Since September 11
WHERE: The Interchurch Center Lounge, 475 Riverside Drive at 120th
Street
(Entrance on Claremont Avenue) New York City /Take trains #1 or #9 to
116
St./Columbia University
WHEN: Friday, September 27, 2002 from 6 to 9 P.M.
Scheduled speakers include:
* Omar T. Mohammadi, Esq.
* Norman Siegel, Esq. - Freedom, Legal Defense & Education Project and
Former Executive Director, NY Civil Liberties Union
* Rebecca Thornton, Esq. - Equal Justice Works Fellow U.S. Law &
Security,
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
* Adem Carroll - ICNA Relief, Islamic Circle of North America
-----
TO BECOME A CAIR MEMBER, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp
TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/voting.asp
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
- MEDIA ADVISORY -
CAIR PUBLISHES GUIDE TO MUSLIMS IN NORTH AMERICA
Book offers first in-depth look at Islamic community and its response
to 9/11
WHAT: On Monday, September 30, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations
(CAIR), a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group,
will
hold a news conference in the nation's capital to announce the
publication
of a first-of-its-kind guide to the North American Muslim community.
The 350-page book, called "The North American Muslim Resource Guide:
Muslim
Community Life in the United States and Canada [Routledge]," is the
first
comprehensive analysis of the structural make-up of Muslim communities
in
both countries. It provides an in-depth look at the history of Islam on
this continent, an introduction to Islamic institutions and an
assessment
of North American Muslims' perception of themselves.
Along with an outline of the response of Muslim media outlets,
charities
and community support structures to the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01,
the
book also offers an analysis of population statistics, immigration,
participation in the political process, and a 127-page directory
listing
contact information for Muslim organizations in North America. (Charts
from
the book will be on display at the news conference.)
"The North American Muslim Resource Guide is an indispensable road-map
for
any reader who hopes to move past the boundary of ethnic and religious
stereotypes to view the human face behind one of the fastest-growing
and
most vital populations in North America," said Research Director Dr.
Mohamed Nimer, the book's author.
WHEN: 10 a.m., Monday, September 30
WHERE: CAIR's Capitol Hill Office, 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.,
Washington,
D.C. (Near South Capitol Metro stop.)
- END -
CONTACT: CAIR: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294,
E-MAIL:
hhassan@cair-net.org; PUBLISHER: Elizabeth Sheehan, 212-216-7800,
E-MAIL:
esheehan@taylorandfrancis.com
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS 9/25/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: STANDING ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* LOUDER WAR TALK, AND MUFFLED DISSENT (Washington Post)
- The Dishonesty of This So-Called Dossier (Independent)
* ISRAEL UNMOVED BY U.S. PLEA TO END ARAFAT SIEGE (Reuters)
- Editorial: Rolling the President (Washington Post)
- New Jewish Settlement Established (AP)
- Middle East Feud is Carried to a New Land (Montreal Gazette)
* TWO LAWMAKERS ASSAIL ARMEY FOR COMMENTS ABOUT JEWISH VOTERS
(Washington Post)
* KENT STANDS UP FOR MOSQUE (Akron Beacon Journal)
- Anti-Arab Incidents Hikes Number Of Hate Crimes In Mass.
(AP)
* INS SYSTEM TO TRACK FOREIGN STUDENTS BY JANUARY (Knight Ridder)
* IMC-USA CONDEMNS THE MASSACRE OF WORSHIPPERS IN GUJARAT
* LETTER: A WITCH-HUNT MENTALITY IS UN-AMERICAN (St. Petersburg Times)
- Letter: Truth Gets Too Little Coverage (St. Petersburg
Times)
- Letter: Friends of Islam (Washington Post)
* FL WORKSHOP TO EXPLORE ISLAM AND AMERICAN MUSLIMS
* VA FUNDRAISER FOR ISLAMIC MEDIA FOUNDATION
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: STANDING ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "On the Day of Judgment,
every servant of God will remain standing (before Him) until he is
questioned about his life and how he spent it; about his knowledge and
how
he utilized it; about his wealth, from where he acquired it and in what
(activities) he spent it; and about his body as to how he used it."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 148
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 390 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
LOUDER WAR TALK, AND MUFFLED DISSENT
Jim VandeHei, Washington Post, 9/25/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62793-2002Sep24.html
Dozens of congressional Democrats are frustrated with their leadership
for
rushing to embrace President Bush's Iraqi war resolution and fostering
an
impression the party overwhelmingly backs a unilateral strike against
Saddam Hussein.
Some are now looking to former president Jimmy Carter and former vice
president Al Gore to help generate significant public opposition to
unilateral action in Iraq, which they concede is an uphill and likely
unwinnable battle. They also are drafting alternative congressional
resolutions that would require Bush to win United Nations approval
before
attempting to oust the Iraqi leader.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said her party leaders are making it
"very
hard" for rank-and-file Democrats to alert the public to widespread
concerns about Bush's Iraq policy, most notably his demand for the
power to
strike Baghdad unilaterally.
"I think we as a nation are better served right now by some patience to
see
if the United Nations can in fact compel compliance," she said. "It's
much
better to root out chemical and biological weapons with inspectors than
it
is to drop bombs. One of the dismaying things is there is a prevailing
view
that the votes are there, so let's just do it."
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said the outspoken support of Bush by
House
Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) belies grave concerns about
the
administration's Iraq policy among most rank-and-file Democrats he has
spoken to.
"It's not as though there's some great rush inside the party to support
war," Kucinich said. "The problem is our leadership has been so
outspoken
in favor of Bush . . . it causes Democrats to be characterized as
favoring
the war." Last night, he distributed leaflets asking those who share
his
concerns to convene for a strategy session…
---
THE DISHONESTY OF THIS SO-CALLED DOSSIER
Robert Fisk, Independent (UK), 9/25/02
http://argument.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?story=336404
Tony Blair's "dossier" on Iraq is a shocking document. Reading it can
only
fill a decent human being with shame and outrage. Its pages are final
proof
- if the contents are true - that a massive crime against humanity has
been
committed in Iraq. For if the details of Saddam's building of weapons
of
mass destruction are correct - and I will come to the "ifs" and "buts"
and
"coulds" later - it means that our massive, obstructive, brutal policy
of
UN sanctions has totally failed. In other words, half a million Iraqi
children were killed by us - for nothing.
Let's go back to 12 May 1996. Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of
State, had told us that sanctions worked and prevented Saddam from
rebuilding weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Our Tory government
agreed,
and Tony Blair faithfully toed the line. But on 12 May, Mrs Albright
appeared on CBS television. Leslie Stahl, the interviewer, asked: "We
have
heard that half a million children have died. I mean, that's more than
died
in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?" To the world's
astonishment, Mrs Albright replied: "I think this is a very hard
choice,
but the price, we think the price is worth it…"
Now we know - if Mr Blair is telling us the truth - that the price was
not
worth it. The price was paid in the lives of hundreds of thousands of
children. But it wasn't worth a dime. The Blair "dossier" tells us
that,
despite sanctions, Saddam was able to go on building weapons of mass
destruction. All that nonsense about dual-use technology, the ban on
children's pencils - because lead could have a military use - and our
refusal to allow Iraq to import equipment to restore the water
-treatment
plants that we bombed in the Gulf War, was a sham…
Now maybe Saddam has restarted his WMD programme. Let's all say it out
loud, 20 times: Saddam is a brutal, wicked tyrant. But are "almost
certainly", "appears", "probably" and "if" really the rallying call to
send
our grenadiers off to the deserts of Kut-al-Amara…?
-----
ISRAEL UNMOVED BY U.S. PLEA TO END ARAFAT SIEGE
Matt Spetalnick, Reuters, 9/25/02
http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid=D11P1KPPJKXD2CRBAEZSFFA?type=worldnews&StoryID=1495884
JERUSALEM - Israel stood defiant on Wednesday in the face of U.S.
pressure
to comply with a U.N. resolution demanding an end to its siege of
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's battered West Bank compound.
The United States abstained rather than veto Tuesday's Security Council
vote, but then asked Israel to heed the U.N. call, signalling the
growing
impatience of the Jewish state's ally and the main Middle East
peacebroker.
Washington, which has rarely gone public with criticism of Israel, is
seeking to calm the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to avoid inflaming the
Arab world amid preparations for a possible U.S. military strike on
Iraq.
But Israel was unmoved by the U.S. request as its tanks and troops kept
up
a five-day-old siege of Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah after
pounding to
rubble every other building in the presidential complex…
---
EDITORIAL: ROLLING THE PRESIDENT
Washington Post, 9/25/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62891-2002Sep24.html
For 18 months Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon responded to
Palestinian
terrorist attacks by systematically destroying the infrastructure and
institutions of the Palestinian Authority, all the while insisting that
his
intention was to pressure the very forces he targeted into cracking
down on
the terrorist groups. Three months ago his government moved beyond that
strategy: It invaded the West Bank, crushed the remaining Palestinian
forces there and assumed control over security itself. With the support
of
the Bush administration, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was declared
irrelevant…
The gratuitous siege in Ramallah grabbed the attention of the U.N.
Security
Council as Mr. Bush was seeking its support for a new resolution on
Iraq;
and Israel's refusal yesterday to respond to the council's order to
pull
back its forces, if sustained, will complicate U.S. attempts to win
Arab
and European backing for the enforcement of U.N. resolutions against
Saddam
Hussein. Administration spokesmen -- yesterday joined by the president
himself -- have openly expressed chagrin at Mr. Sharon's "unhelpful"
actions…
It's hard to tell whether Mr. Bush genuinely supports the peace plan
his
State Department signed on to; his principal goal seems to be to avoid
engagement in the Arab-Israeli conflict, or any hint of trouble with
the
Israeli government, whenever possible. Yet at least on paper, the
Quartet
process has aligned the United States, the United Nations, Russia, the
European Union and most Arab governments behind a process opposed only
by
Mr. Sharon and Mr. Arafat. Mr. Sharon's latest attack on his nemesis
has
succeeded in freezing the process; if he continues, he may effectively
block it altogether. That he is stepping on Mr. Bush's toes is unlikely
to
deter the Israeli warrior: His experience has taught him that this is a
president he can push around.
---
NEW JEWISH SETTLEMENT ESTABLISHED
Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press, 9/25/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-israel-settlement0925sep25,0,1059105.story
JERUSALEM (AP) - A new Jewish settlement with 14 homes has been
established
in the heart of the West Bank, settlers said Wednesday, at the start of
a
day of festivities to be attended by Israeli legislators.
Successive Israeli governments, including that of Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon, have said they would expand settlements to accommodate natural
population growth, but not establish new ones on land claimed by the
Palestinians for a future state…
However, settlers said they have transformed a hilltop outpost near the
Palestinian city of Nablus into the Rehalim settlement of 14 homes with
small backyards and red-tiled roofs. Twenty-four families are to live
in
Rehalim. There are also three mobile-home neighborhoods in the
settlement.
“This is very symbolic at a time like this, when people are talking
about
dismantling settlements, and illegal and legal outposts,” Yisraeli
said,
referring to a Defense Ministry plan to dismantle several outposts it
says
were illegally established.
“Maybe Rehalim is a symbol that it is possible to form new settlements
because it was the first outpost,” Yisraeli added. Several legislators
were
to attend festivities later Wednesday, he said.
Palestinians charge that Israeli settlements are an illegal
encroachment on
land they want for a state. More than 200,000 Jewish settlers live in
the
West Bank and Gaza Strip in communities that prevent continuity between
towns and villages that are home to more than 3 million Palestinians…
---
MIDDLE EAST FEUD IS CARRIED TO A NEW LAND
Mark Abley, Montreal Gazette, 9/25/02
"Muslims," remarks Syed Naseer, a librarian at McGill University, "are
going through the same nightmare that Jewish people went through in the
last century. We have to prove that we don't carry bombs. We have to
prove
our loyalty…"
When Naseer arrived at McGill, Montreal had no permanent mosques. On
Fridays he joined 15 to 20 people for midday prayers in the
university's
Institute of Islamic Studies. Most people in the city knew nothing
about
Islam: when he told a prospective landlady he was a Muslim, she said,
'What
part of the Catholic religion is this?'
Today, Muslims in the city can worship in more than 30 mosques and
prayer
spaces. Every Friday, hundreds attend the prayer centre at McGill.
Naseer
is glad of this - and yet he also feels profoundly hurt.
"We are constantly in a pressure cooker," he says. "It is not as bad as
the
U.S., where Muslims have terrible harassment - on national television,
a
commentator compared the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf. But even in
Montreal, since Sept. 11 last year we have been feeling great
hostility."
In many ways, the interests of Canadian Jews and Muslims should
coincide.
Members of both groups want their culture and religion to thrive in the
midst of a consumer society. Members of both groups are at risk from
white
supremacists.
But with an overwhelming percentage of Jews supporting a strong Israel,
and
an overwhelming percentage of Muslims supporting the embattled
Palestinians, common interests have largely faded away…
Attacks on Muslims have become far more common, according to a new
report
by the Canadian branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR).
Its survey suggested that 60 per cent of Muslims in Canada have endured
bias or discrimination in the past year.
That figure may be somewhat inflated, yet it attests to an undeniable
pattern: a fear of Muslims that can extend to loathing.
Even at Concordia - better-known for the difficulties faced by Jews -
the
Muslim Students Association has received more than two dozen reports of
harassment and discrimination…
-----
TWO LAWMAKERS ASSAIL ARMEY FOR COMMENTS ABOUT JEWISH VOTERS
Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, 9/25/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62438-2002Sep24.html
Surely, the comments House Majority Leader Richard K. Armey (R-Tex.)
made
during a campaign stop in Florida for congressional candidate Katherine
Harris are not part of the Republican Party's script to reach out to
Jewish
voters.
"I always see two Jewish communities in America," Armey told the
audience
of Harris supporters last week. "One of deep intellect and one of
shallow,
superficial intellect."
Armey's remarks came in response to a question from a self-identified
Democrat about growing support for the GOP from Jewish voters, who
traditionally have aligned with Democrats.
Jewish Democratic Reps. Martin Frost (Tex.) and Nita M. Lowey (N.Y.)
issued
a scathing news release yesterday assailing Armey for the comments,
which
were first reported in the Bradenton Herald. The two lawmakers called
the
remarks "absolutely breathtaking in their ignorance. This is another
reminder why the GOP's countless 'outreach' efforts to minority
communities
always fail…"
-----
KENT STANDS UP FOR MOSQUE
Andrea Misko, Akron Beacon Journal, 9/25/02
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/4146439.htm
Some children are raising money to support their beleaguered neighbor
--
the Kent Mosque.
On Tuesday, several Kent children and their parents began going door to
door to gather money and words of support for the mosque, which vandals
attacked early Friday.
"The mosque has been a good neighbor," said David Odell-Scott, whose
children are taking part in the effort. "We just wanted them to know
that
we care, and they have our support. And, as parents, we are looking at
how
we can educate our kids to be good citizens." Between 4 and 6 a.m.
Friday,
someone threw a log through a glass door of the mosque. It was among
five
locations vandalized that morning, according to Kent police.
While police aren't calling the incident a hate crime, area Muslims
feel
differently.
It was the second act of vandalism at a Muslim building in less than a
week. On Sept. 15, someone shot at the Islamic Community Center in
Cuyahoga
Falls, leaving bullet holes in the prayer hall.
Odell-Scott, who is an associate professor of philosophy and
coordinator of
religion studies at Kent State University, lives just blocks from the
Kent
mosque. He and his family are among about nine neighborhood families
participating in the door-to-door effort.
Scott has called the effort a lesson in character and civic
responsibility
for the children.
Word of the fund-raiser reached Ihsan Haque, president of the Islamic
Society of Akron and Kent, late Tuesday.
"I am impressed and really thankful," Haque said. "The true American
spirit
is in place."
Haque said his neighbors' message is loud and clear. It is a message of
love and understanding, not of hate and misunderstanding, he said…
---
ANTI-ARAB INCIDENTS HIKES NUMBER OF HATE CRIMES IN MASS.
Associated Press, 9/25/02
BOSTON - The number of hate crimes in Massachusetts rose sharply in the
wake of Sept. 11, with Muslims and Arabs the new targets.
A total of 576 incidents were reported in 2001, up 24 percent from the
463
reported in 2000, according to the Governor's Task Force on Hate
Crimes.
Between September and December 2001, there were 86 reported anti-Arab
and
anti-Muslim incidents, compared to five in the eight months before the
terrorists attacks in New York City and Washington. Ninety percent of
those
incidents were directed at people older than 21, whereas only 30
percent of
other hate crimes that year involved adult victims.
"Unfortunately, the victimization did not end on Sept. 11 (with the
murder
of civilians," said Aamir Rehman of the Islamic Society of Boston.
"There
are some who sought to divide our country ... and scapegoat innocent
people."
Among the total number of hate crimes in 2001, 133 were motivated by
religious bias, up 43 percent over 2000. There was a tenfold increase
in
anti-Islamic incidents…
-----
INS SYSTEM TO TRACK FOREIGN STUDENTS BY JANUARY
Ben Finley, Knight Ridder, 9/25/02
WASHINGTON -- The Immigration and Naturalization Service told Congress
on
Tuesday that its system for tracking foreign students will be
operational
by its January deadline. However, members of Congress and university
leaders are concerned about the system's effectiveness.
The Student Exchange and Visitor Information System will have
difficulty
preventing student visa fraud and cannot account for the significant
number
of international students who have overstayed their visas, an INS
official
acknowledged.
Universities contend the INS won't be able to process the information
that
SEVIS will collect every semester on more than 500,000 international
students who are studying in this country. Rep. Howard McKeon,
R-Calif.,
noted that a Georgia professor was indicted earlier this year on
charges of
creating 17 fake student visas, and asked whether SEVIS could safeguard
against such occurrences.
"No system is completely fraud-proof," said INS spokeswoman Janis
Sposato.
She said it would be difficult to detect fraud by a school official who
was
using legitimate documents…
-----
IMC-USA CONDEMNS THE MASSACRE OF WORSHIPPERS IN GUJARAT
Press Release, Indian Muslim Council USA, 9/24/2002
For Immediate Release:
(Washington D.C,)- Indian Muslim Council USA condemns in the strongest
terms the killing of innocent worshippers in Gujarat, India. Commenting
on
the tragic event, IMC-USA Vice President, Mr. Rasheed Ahmed said, "Such
senseless acts of violence can never be justified by any cause. We
extend
our sincerest condolences to the families of the thirty men, women and
children who were killed and we stand in firm opposition against any
further terrorist activity against innocents in India."
According to news reports, several unidentified gunmen stormed into the
Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat and went on a killing spree
that
resulted in the deaths of 30 worshippers and several injuries.
In the state of Gujrat where thousands of Muslims were brutally
massacred
in sectarian violence, the attack on Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar
aggravates an already tense atmosphere in the state. IMC-USA urges the
government of India to quickly apprehend the culprits and make sure
that
fascist and communal forces in the state do not use this unfortunate
incident as a pretext for violence against the Muslim population.
IMC-USA, a United States based organization, represents the interests
of
Muslims of Indian origin in preserving and promoting the pluralistic
and
democratic essence of the Indian society.
Contact Person:
Rasheed Ahmed
708-466-0244
Indian Muslim Council - USA (IMC-USA)
PO BOX 34637
Washington DC 20043-4637
-----
LETTERS: A WITCH-HUNT MENTALITY IS UN-AMERICAN
St. Petersburg Times, 9/25/02
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/25/Opinion/A_witch_hunt_mentalit.shtml
Recent events have caused me great concern. This business with the
three
men of Arab descent who were "mistaken" for terrorists and the
subsequent
negative reactions against them are exactly the type of thing I'm
writing
about.
It sickens me that there are so many "Americans" who are so quick to
rush
to judgment. This witch-hunt mentality is not only dangerous, but is
itself
un-American. Why should these innocent men be made to suffer threats of
violence and be asked not to return to medical school? Because they
were
"mistaken" for terrorists? Is this the type of society we have become?
I
certainly hope not! It's a sad, scary and pathetic example ignorant
behavior gone unchecked.
We as a nation need to be very careful that we do not let ourselves get
caught up in this frenzy of racial stereotyping and turning America
into an
Orwellian society. We need only to look back to World War II to see how
we
treated Asian-Americans and how wrong that was, or how Hilter went
after
the Jews. Have we learned nothing in the 60 years since? Finally, the
action that needs to be taken here is for Americans to educate
themselves.
We need to understand our Arab neighbors better and see them for the
people
they are, not the people we believe them to be. The mistakes of the
past
must not be repeated today.
Robert L. Lewis II, St. Petersburg
---
LETTER: TRUTH GETS TOO LITTLE COVERAGE
St. Petersburg Times, 9/25/02
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/25/Opinion/A_witch_hunt_mentalit.shtml
The major media sources are now reporting that the three U.S. citizens
who
were "accused" of a terrorist plot, did indeed pay the toll that they
were
accused of evading. This is a small accusation when compared to the
rest of
the story. The basis of the accusation is the bigger problem.
Truth seems to be on the verge of extinction in our lives, along with
some
of the other important founding principals of this self-proclaimed
great
nation.
That the Times did not use the front page to relay this story to the
public
is a very disturbing practice that seems only too common. The paper had
no
problem using the front page to alter the lives of these U.S. citizens.
The
Times does a fine job of undermining its own credibility when news is
presented in this fashion.
The concept of "truth, justice and the American Way" must mean
something
different from what I was taught.
Jason LaCroix, St. Petersburg
---
LETTER: FRIENDS OF ISLAM
Washington Post, 9/25/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62899-2002Sep24.html
Joseph Kenary [letters, Sept. 18] disputed Karen Armstrong's assertion
that
hatred of Jews and Christians is "against the clear and unequivocal
teachings of the Koran" ["Fostering a Democratic Islam," op-ed, Sept.
10].
To make his point, he quoted Sura 5, Verse 51, which states, "Take not
the
Jews and the Christians as friends." If he had read on he would have
found
these words in Verse 82: "And you will certainly find the nearest in
friendship to those who believe [to be] those who say: We are
Christians."
To understand any religious text, whether it be the Bible or the Koran,
one
has to know the context in which the verses were revealed, and why and
to
whom the statements were being made. The contents of Sura 5 are chiefly
concerned with Jews' and Christians' violations of their covenants,
with an
exhortation to Muslims to remain true to their own. The chapter was
revealed at Medina and deals with those who had assumed open enmity to
Islam during the early Medinan period.
BILAL M. RASCHID
Bethesda, MD
-----
FL WORKSHOP TO EXPLORE ISLAM AND AMERICAN MUSLIMS
WHAT: The St. Petersburg Islamic Center will be hosting a weekend of
dynamic workshops and lectures on Islam and the Muslim American
Society.
WHEN: Friday, September 27, through Sunday, September 29.
WHERE: St. Petersburg Islamic Center, 3762 18th Avenue South, St.
Petersburg, FL
Workshops will take place on Saturday and a banquet Saturday evening.
For more information please call Imam Wilmore or Bahiyyah Sadikki at
(727)
447-6592, Allene Gammage-Ahmed at (727) 542-2278 or call the Masjid at
327-8483.
-----
VA FUNDRAISER FOR ISLAMIC MEDIA FOUNDATION
WHAT: Annual fundraising dinner for the Islamic Media Foundation (IMF),
producers of the Islamic Broadcasting Network.
WHEN: Saturday, September 28 at 7 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premier Hotel, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA
Keynote speaker: Br. Salam Al-Maryati, Director of the Muslim Public
Affairs Council (MPAC)
Tickets are $40 (includes dinner)
Children’s tickets (ages 10 and under) are $10 and includes meal and
babysitting.
For Tickets Contact: Islamic Media Foundation at (703) 241-9659 or
Visit the Islamic Broadcasting Network online at http://www.ibn.net
-----
TO BECOME A CAIR MEMBER, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp
TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/voting.asp
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/26/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SEVEN GOOD DEEDS
* ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY AT CAIR'S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
* FEDS ARREST FLA MAN TIED TO MOSQUE BOMB SUSPECT (AP)
* NBC'S LAW AND ORDER TO FOCUS ON MUSLIM "FANATIC"
* UJAAMA'S FAMILY DECRIES IMPRISONMENT CONDITIONS (AP)
- Bomb Suspect's Detention Without Charges is Challenged (New York
Times)
- FBI Agents Meet With Muslim Community Leaders (OC Register)
- Justice Behind Closed Doors (Salon.com)
- Detainee to Get Open Immigration Hearing (Washington Post)
* EDITORIAL: 9/11 FEARS TURN CHANCE REMARK INTO VISIT BY MOUNTIES
(Toronto
Star)
* CAMPUS WATCH: THE VIGILANTE THOUGHT POLICE (Counterpunch.org)
* ROW ERUPTS OVER ISRAELI MINISTER "SNAKE" REMARK (Reuters)
* POLL: NO RUSH TO WAR (CBS)
- Cultural Icons Call Attacking Iraq 'Immoral' (Ottawa Citizen)
* FEAR GRIPS MUSLIMS IN INDIA'S GUJARAT AS HINDU HARDLINERS CALL STRIKE
(AFP)
* FIRST ANNUAL MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY
* ISLAMIC STUDIES TEACHING POSITION OPEN AT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SEVEN GOOD DEEDS
A companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The
Prophet
asked us to do seven things: to visit the sick, to follow funeral
processions, to seek God's mercy for someone who sneezes, to return
greetings, help those who are wronged, accept invitations, and fulfill
our
oaths and promises."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 625
-----
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY AT CAIR'S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
Those interested in advertising their organization or business at
CAIR's
annual fundraising dinner on October 26, 2002, should contact Isra
Rahman
at: irahman@cair-net.org. The event is an excellent opportunity to
reach
active and dynamic members of the American Muslim community.
-----
FEDS ARREST FLA MAN TIED TO MOSQUE BOMB SUSPECT
CONTACT: CAIR-FL, Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, E-Mail:
altafaali@cair-florida.org; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726,
E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org
Agents arrest man whose firearms were recovered at home of Seminole
podiatrist
Rachel La Corte, Associated Press, 9/26/02
TAMPA, Fla. - Federal authorities charged a man who they say owned five
of
the high-powered firearms recovered at the home of a podiatrist accused
of
plotting to blow up Islamic mosques and centers around the state.
Samuel Valiant Shannahan of Dunedin was arrested Wednesday night by
agents
with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and charged with
illegally transferring firearms, according to the criminal complaint
filed
in federal court in Tampa on Thursday.
Shannahan was first questioned by investigators on Aug. 23, the day
Robert
Goldstein was arrested. Police say the Seminole podiatrist had drawn up
plans to destroy an Islamic education center and dozens of mosques.
Detailed, written plans referred to a "Val." Shannahan, a federally
licensed firearms dealer, told investigators he didn't know why he was
named in Goldstein's document.
Shannahan's home number rang unanswered Thursday. A first court
appearance
was scheduled at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Thomas McCoun III.
Goldstein, 37, was charged last month with possessing a non-registered
destructive device and attempting to use explosives to damage Islamic
centers. The explosives were found in his townhouse the St. Petersburg
suburb of Seminole, police said.
Deputies found more than 30 explosive devices, including hand grenades
and
a cache of up to 40 licensed weapons, at Goldstein's home last month.
They
also found a list of about 50 Islamic worship centers in the state and
a
detailed plan for bombing an undisclosed Islamic education center…
-----
NBC'S LAW AND ORDER TO FOCUS ON MUSLIM "FANATIC"
http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order/index.html
The following is an advertisement for the upcoming "Law and Order"
season
premiere on October 10th at 10 pm:
LAW AND ORDER: AMERICAN JIHAD
SEASON PREMIERE -- PERVERSION OF RELIGION AND POLITICS RESULTS IN
DOUBLE
HOMICIDE -- When Professors Hugh and Louise Murdoch are found shot dead
in
their apartment, Detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Green (Jesse L.
Martin) must determine if Hugh Murdoch's controversial work in
stem-cell
research could have motivated a religious zealot to commit the murders.
But
it soon becomes apparent that it was Louise Murdoch's volunteer work
raising money and awareness for women's issues in the Middle East that
attracted the attention of a troubled young man, Greg Landen aka Mousah
Salim (guest star Wil Horneff). A.D.A.'s McCoy (Sam Waterston) and
Southerlyn (Elisabeth Rohm) are left to grapple with Landen's
interpretation of the Muslim religion, which may have led him to take
extreme measures to exorcise his own personal demons. S. Epatha
Merkerson
and Fred Thompson also star. TV-14
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Hostile comments can and will
be
used to further defame Islam and Muslims.)
E-MAIL COMMENTS TO: LawOrder@nbc.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
WRITE TO:
NBC Viewer Relations
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
-----
UJAAMA'S FAMILY DECRIES IMPRISONMENT CONDITIONS
Gene Johnson, Associated Press, 9/25/02
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WST%20Attacks%20Ujaama
SEATTLE -- Supporters of an American Muslim charged with trying to
establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon demanded his release
Wednesday, saying the government has offered no reason for keeping him
in
"appalling" conditions at a federal jail.
James Ujaama, a U.S. citizen who recently lived in London, has been
kept in
solitary confinement at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, south
of
Seattle. He's been barred from contacting his mother or the rest of his
family, and has been granted just one phone call to his lawyers in the
past
two weeks.
There has been so much secrecy surrounding his case that officials at
the
Federal Detention Center routinely say they have no public record of
him.
Even his lawyers were told that.
"We were told that he wasn't there," Seattle lawyer Peter Offenbecher
said
Wednesday. "And it's certainly true that he has not been able to call
or
visit with his family. These conditions are unwarranted and
unnecessary..."
"What threat does the government feel that I am, that I present, that
they
deny me the right to meet with my son?" asked Ujaama's mother, Carolyn
Peggi Thompson.
She said she received a letter from him on Saturday saying that he was
in
good spirits.
King County Councilman Larry Gossett said Ujaama volunteered with black
youth while growing up in Seattle's Central Area. "I'm concerned about
the
appalling way the federal government is treating Mr. Ujaama," Gossett
said.
"... What's happened to him has happened to a lot of other citizens
caught
up in the war on terrorism…"
---
BOMB SUSPECT'S DETENTION WITHOUT CHARGES IS CHALLENGED
Benjamin Weiser, New York Times, 9/26/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/26/national/26DIRT.html
The American Civil Liberties Union said that it would file legal papers
today in United States District Court in Manhattan challenging the
government's decision to detain Jose Padilla in a military jail without
charges or trial.
Mr. Padilla, a former Chicago gang member who is also known as Abdullah
al-Muhajir, has been accused by the government of plotting to explode a
radioactive bomb in the United States. A lawyer for the A.C.L.U. said
the
organization planned to argue that holding Mr. Padilla without charges
or a
lawyer violates the Constitution's guarantee of due process. "If the
government has a case against Padilla it should charge him and try
him,"
said Steven R. Shapiro, the A.C.L.U.'s legal director. He said the
group
would be joined in its friend of the court brief by its state
affiliate,
the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Mr. Padilla was first detained as a material witness in Chicago in May.
He
was then brought to New York, where the grand jury investigation into
the
Sept. 11 terror attacks is based, and in June, after President Bush
declared him an enemy combatant, he was placed in military custody. He
is
in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C…
---
FBI AGENTS MEET WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITY LEADERS
Bill Rams, Orange County Register, 9/26/02
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=4375§ion=LOCAL
SANTA ANA, Calif. - Why do members of the community refuse to be
interviewed? What's the structure of the leadership? What is being done
to
educate people about the American judicial system?
Those were among the questions FBI agents asked two Muslim community
leaders Wednesday during a diversity training seminar, the first of its
kind for FBI agents since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials
said.
"I thought it was very positive," said Salem Mayorati, director of the
Muslim Public Affairs Council. "This is about fighting terrorism
without
forfeiting constitutional rights and civil liberties. We want to
understand
each other."
More than 100 agents from Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Los
Angeles
counties attended the private meeting.
Mayorati said a handful of community members had complained of agents
harassing them. He _ and Ri'ad Faraj, spokesman for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations _ wanted to address the issue with the
agents.
They also wanted to let them know that their organizations are
interested
in helping them as they seek local links to terrorist organizations.
Stephen Steinhauser, an FBI assistant special agent in charge, said it
was
also a good opportunity for community leaders to hear from agents about
how
they feel they've been treated.
"There were some people we would go to speak to and they were very
apprehensive," he said. "We need assistance and cooperation from the
Muslim
and Arab community. Help us. That's the key here."
Faraj said he will do everything he can.
"We want the community to cooperate with the FBI," he said afterward.
"There was some mistrust or suspicion. This was definitely a step in
the
right direction, and we appreciate the FBI's stand."
---
JUSTICE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Dave Lindorff, Salon.com, 9/26/02
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2002/09/26/deport/index_np.html
Federal immigration agents came knocking at the door of Rabih Haddad in
Ann
Arbor, Mich., last Dec. 14 when he was home with his four children.
Armed
and grim-faced, they immediately searched and secured his house,
demanding
to know if he had any weapons. He showed them some ceremonial Chinese
swords on the mantelpiece and a shotgun he owned for hunting, which
they
confiscated. He was then led off to jail, leaving his children, aged 8
through 15, terrified.
Today, after more than nine months in solitary confinement, Haddad is
moving uncertainly toward a hearing that could result in his
deportation to
Lebanon. He doesn't know what evidence the government will use against
him.
He had long ago notified the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization
Service of
his tourist visa status, and he had filed an application with the INS
under
the last Clinton-era amnesty for a green card. But for Haddad and other
Muslim immigrants caught in the post-Sept. 11 crackdown, none of that
seems
to matter.
More than 1,000 are in custody, deemed to be "terrorist connected."
Some
600 have already been deported after hearings closed to the press, the
public and even the immigrants' families. But now two federal appeals
courts, one in Philadelphia and the other in Cincinnati, are about to
present the U.S. Supreme Court with the question of whether the federal
government has a right to deport whole classes of people in such secret
hearings…
---
DETAINEE TO GET OPEN IMMIGRATION HEARING
Steve Fainaru, Washington Post, 9/26/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3121-2002Sep25.html
The Justice Department announced last night that it would comply with a
federal court order and grant an open detention hearing to a Muslim
activist who has been in custody for nine months because of suspected
links
to terrorism.
"We're glad that Rabih Haddad will finally receive an open bond
hearing,"
said Nancy Chang, senior litigation attorney for the Center for
Constitutional Rights, which has represented Haddad. "It's far later
than
we would have wished, but we believe that the openness of these
proceedings
will serve to increase their fairness."
Haddad, a Lebanese national, has come to personify the battle between
civil
liberties advocates and the Bush administration over the handling of
hundreds of detainees, most of Arab and South Asian descent, swept up
in
the investigation of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and
the
Pentagon. Hundreds of detainees have been subjected to secret
immigration
hearings after Justice Department officials determined the cases were
of
"special interest" to the investigation…
-----
EDITORIAL: 9/11 FEARS TURN CHANCE REMARK INTO VISIT BY MOUNTIES
James Travers, Toronto Star, 9/26/02
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1026145676184&call_page=TS_Opinion&call_pageid=968256290124&call_pagepath=News/Opinion&col=968350116695
Canada isn't the kind of country where a strongly held, strongly voiced
political opinion leads to a midnight visit by police. At least that's
what
a Toronto couple believed before the RCMP knocked on their Nova Scotia
hotel room door.
What was said and done in the intimate lobby of a small town inn about
an
hour's drive north of Halifax is still hidden in contentious debate a
month
later. What is clear is that the Aug. 26 incident falls uncomfortably
into
the no man's land that, since the attack on the World Trade Center, has
separated the need for security from the right to privacy. According to
Joseph Delbert Adams he says he is willing to pay for a polygraph to
prove
the truth a disparaging, private comment to his wife Jane about U.S.
President George W. Bush's plan to attack Iraq and an innocent
videotaping
of hotel memorabilia led to an unsettling early-hours interview with
Constable Darrell McDow of the nearby New Minas RCMP detachment. Adams
was
asked and refused to hand over the videotape that, along with his
comments,
were reported as threatening by Andrew Honey, a part-time desk clerk.
Adams says his words were a harmless response to a television news clip
then airing in the lobby. He remembers his comment as: "There goes Bush
and
the boys again. They aren't happy if they aren't killing someone."
In an interview this week, Adams said the issue is civil liberty.
"There
were no grounds to investigate me for my political views..."
Since Sept. 11, official encouragement, particularly in the U.S., is
spawning a culture of finger-pointing that can catch the innocent along
with legitimate suspects…
-----
CAMPUS WATCH: THE VIGILANTE THOUGHT POLICE
Will Youmans, Counterpunch, 9/23/02
http://www.counterpunch.org/youmans0922.html
A Philadelphia-based pro-Israeli organization with the seemingly
innocuous
name, the Middle East Forum, began a website to monitor US college
campuses
for academic pro-Palestinian bias and happenings. Campus-Watch
(http://www.campus-watch.org) publishes dossiers on professors, as well
as
some examples of their writings. It describes itself as a group of
"highly
qualified American academics that have banded together in defense of US
interests on campus, which includes the continued support of Israel."
This
statement is misleading since all the content of the website centers on
criticism of Israel and concerns no other supposed "US interest." ...
While the website dresses their monitoring as a purely academic
exercise,
it generates hostile phone calls and e-mails to listed professors and
their
families, as a profiled academic told me. Not only is this website
inflammatory, but it clearly seeks to bring political pressure to bear
on
the professors and institutions…
Campus-Watch encourages students to snitch on their professors. It has
a
whole section dedicated to student reports. Campus-Watch is essentially
forming a paramilitary thought police, a private TIPS program for
pro-Israeli advocates. What the site omits is more interesting than
its
transparent goal to quiet public expression of support for the
Palestinian
cause…
-----
ROW ERUPTS OVER ISRAELI MINISTER "SNAKE" REMARK
Reuters, 9/26/02
CAIRO, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Remarks by an Israeli minister allegedly
calling
Muslim worshippers in Jerusalem "snakes and scorpions" sparked outrage
on
Thursday in Egypt's media, which accused the rightwing Israeli
government
of racism.
Egyptian papers said Health Minister Nissim Dahan "described Muslims
praying in the al-Haram al-Sherif" as "foxes who evolved gradually to
become snakes and scorpions."
The al-Haram al-Sherif, the complex which Jews call Temple Mount,
contains
one of Islam's holiest sites…
The state-owned al-Akhbar said in an editorial that Dahan's comments
reflected a "racist" rightwing culture in the Israeli government, which
includes ministers who have called for the mass deportation, or
"transfer,"
of Palestinians to Jordan…
-----
POLL: NO RUSH TO WAR
CBS News, 9/24/02
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/09/24/opinion/polls/main523130.shtml
(CBS) Americans very much want Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein out of
power,
and see him as a threat - a feeling that has not changed in over ten
years.
And while many Americans now believe that Hussein is a greater threat
than
Osama bin Laden, there is still no great rush to go to war in Iraq.
Americans want the U.S. to wait and build an international coalition,
and
follow the recommendations of the United Nations, even though they are
not
sure the U.N. can make a difference. They want the Congress to ask even
more questions about military actions - and most now say it's okay to
criticize the president's military decisions. And, contrary to the
Administration's arguments, many feel that a new war with Iraq would
not
lessen the threat of terrorism against the U.S. - if anything, it might
increase that threat…
---
CULTURAL ICONS CALL ATTACKING IRAQ 'IMMORAL'
Paul Gessell, Ottawa Citizen, 9/26/02
http://www.canada.com/national/story.asp?id={7B3D9AEA-874C-4BFB-A692-1643637CFAC8}
A galaxy of Canadian stars -- Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Robert
Bateman, Buffy Sainte Marie, Bruce Cockburn, David Suzuki and scores of
others -- has united to declare that a military attack on Iraq would be
"unprovoked" and "immoral."
One hundred prominent writers, artists, musicians, labour leaders,
politicians, clergy, academics, environmentalists and others have
signed a
sharply worded statement on Iraq that was released yesterday and, in
the
next few days, is to be delivered to all MPs.
Some signatories to the statement equated the anticipated U.S. attack
on
Iraq with the Sept. 11 attacks and declared the current regime of
economic
sanctions against Iraq to be "weapons of mass destruction" that are
killing
thousands of Iraqis, especially children.
"The way to deal with (Iraqi president) Saddam Hussein is not by
killing
thousands of Iraqi civilians, any more than the way to deal with
American
foreign policy was by killing thousands of American civilians on Sept.
11,"
law professor Michael Mandel told a Toronto news conference yesterday
as he
unveiled the statement…
-----
FEAR GRIPS MUSLIMS IN INDIA'S GUJARAT AS HINDU HARDLINERS CALL STRIKE
Jay Deshmukh, Agence France Presse, 9/26/02
AHMEDABAD, Sept 26 - Many Muslim families in this western Indian city
Thursday fled their homes fearing a violent backlash as Hindu
hardliners
called a one-day strike to protest an attack on a temple that left 31
people dead.
Several families sought safety in mosques and community halls across
the
commercial city of Ahmedabad, which was worst affected during sectarian
violence which hit Gujarat state earlier this year.
Other people went to the sites of what had been relief camps set up
after
the riots in March when more than 1,000 people -- mainly Muslims --
were
killed following an attack on a train carrying Hindu activists which
killed
58.
Human rights groups put the toll at 2,000 and have accused the state
government of not doing enough to prevent the riots. No violence was
reported so far Thursday in the city, where members of the rightwing
Vishwa
Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council, VHP) enforced a general strike
called
to protest what they say is Pakistan's hand in Tuesday's temple attack…
But Muslims said they were frightened of what could happen despite a
heavy
police and army presence.
"Although everything is peaceful in the city, our hearts are heavy with
fear and persistent tension as anything can trigger violence," said
Parveenabanu Chamanbabu, who has sought safety in the Shahalam mosque
in
the city, along with many others.
"I had lost everything in the riots. My house was destroyed, my
brothers
killed and my savings burnt. I do not want that to happen now as the
March
riots had also started when the VHP had called a strike on February 28
after the train attack…"
-----
FIRST ANNUAL MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY
WHEN: Sunday October 6th, 2002, 9 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.
WHERE: Freedom Plaza, Washington D.C.
Fun for the whole family - activities for adults and children
For further information, go to http://www.islam-day.org/
Send inquiries on sponsorships or volunteering to info@islam-day.org
-----
ISLAMIC STUDIES TEACHING POSITION OPEN AT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Position: Assistant Professor, Political Islam
Institution: University of Washington at Seattle
The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, at the University
of
Washington, invites applications for a tenure-track position at the
assistant professor level in Political Islam to begin Autumn 2003.
The successful candidate will have research and teaching interests in
Islam
in contemporary Central and/or South Asia. Applicants should have
strong
linguistic preparation, broad interests and training in the history,
politics, culture, or society of either one or both of these regions as
well as expertise in a social science discipline, including any of the
following: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political
science,
or sociology. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute
to
the School's area studies programs, its social science oriented
international studies program, and to teach four courses per year over
three quarters.
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Qualifications:
Ph.D. or equivalent by time of appointment. Send letter of application
describing research and teaching interests, CV, list of courses taught
and
those prepared to teach, and three letters of reference to Toni Read,
Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, Box
353650, Seattle, WA 98195.
Preference will be given to applications received prior to December 31,
2002.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Contact Whirlpool to request that they provide reasonable accommodation
for
workers' religious practices.
E-MAIL: thomas_e_kline@email.whirlpool.com,
thomas_c_filstrup@email.whirlpool.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
TENN. WHIRLPOOL SUIT TO INCLUDE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
New plaintiffs allege climate of racial and religious hostility at
plant
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/27/02) - Muslim workers in Tennessee have added
new
charges of racial discrimination to a lawsuit against a Whirlpool
Corporation plant in that state. In an amended complaint filed with the
court, seven new plaintiffs joined 16 other current and former
employees,
primarily Somali immigrants, who last April sued the household
appliance
giant's plant in La Vergne, Tenn., alleging religious discrimination.
SEE: "Muslims charge discrimination at Whirlpool plant in La Vergne"
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/02/05/17022232.shtml
The new plaintiffs include Kurdish immigrants who say Whirlpool
supervisors
and employees created and fostered a hostile and humiliating work
environment for Muslim, African and Middle Eastern workers. One
plaintiff
claims a Whirlpool supervisor told her she could "dance on her break"
but
that she could not use it as an opportunity to offer mandatory Islamic
prayers.
The original lawsuit was initiated after one of the employees contacted
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington-based
Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group. Repeated attempts at mediation were
rejected by Whirlpool.
"Whirlpool has been unresponsive to the legitimate religious needs of
its
Muslim employees, despite the claim on its web site that 'broad
diversity
of our people and their ideas is the fundamental foundation for the
future
success of our company.' These noble words need to be matched with
practical actions," said CAIR Communications Coordinator Hodan Hassan.
The suit seeks an order forcing Whirlpool to provide reasonable
accommodation for the plaintiffs' religious practices, as well as
compensatory and punitive damages for the emotional pain and suffering
caused by the discrimination.
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer
of
major home appliances. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, Mich., the
company
manufactures in 13 countries and markets products under 11 major brand
names in more than 170 countries. CAIR offers a booklet, called "An
Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," designed to prevent
these
types of incidents from occurring.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294,
E-MAIL:
hhassan@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:
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/27/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: AVOID BACKBITING
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* QUOTES OF THE DAY: ANN COULTER RECOMMENDS NUKES
- Franklin Graham: U.S. "Islams" Don't Practice "True" Islam
* PROFESSORS ASK TO JOIN DANIEL PIPES' "BLACKLIST" (New York Times)
* U.S. MUSLIMS FEEL MARGINALIZED AGAIN (Los Angeles Times)
- Evangelist Franklin Graham Says America is Being 'Islamized' (AP)
- 2nd Man Jailed In Mosque Threat (St. Petersburg Times)
* MUSLIM WORLD LOSES PIONEER SCHOLAR
- Dr. T.B. Irving Passes Away (Soundvision)
* MUSLIM HOLIDAY CELEBRATES TIES TO JERUSALEM (Columbus Post-Dispatch)
* EDITORIAL: FOLLOWING IRAQ'S BIOWEAPONS TRAIL (Chicago Sun-Times)
- Politicize The War! (Antiwar.com)
- U.S. Lawmakers In Iraq Oppose War (AP)
- UN's 'Two Standards' Under Fire (Christian Science Monitor)
- Saudi Prince Slams U.S. For "Anti-Muslim" Bias (Reuters)
* SHARON: INCURSION CRITICISM FADING (AP)
- Israeli Closures Harm Palestinians' Health - U.N. (Reuters)
* NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM LAWYERS TO HOLD 3RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE
* TORONTO CAIR-CAN FUNDRAISER WITH SHAIKH ABDALLA IDRIS
* MUSLIM FOUNDATION OF AMERICA PARADE IN NY
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: AVOID BACKBITING
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do you know what
backbiting
is? Backbiting is to say anything about your brother (behind his back)
that
he would not like." Someone then asked: "But what if he is as I say?"
The
Prophet replied: "If he is as you say, then you are guilty of
backbiting,
and if he is not, you are guilty of slander."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1183
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 406 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
QUOTES OF THE DAY: ANN COULTER RECOMMENDS NUKES
Why We Hate Them
Ann Coulter, WorldNetDaily, 9/25/02
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29061
Americans don't want to make Islamic fanatics love us. We want to make
them
die. There's nothing like horrendous physical pain to quell angry
fanatics.
So sorry they're angry - wait until they see American anger. Japanese
kamikaze pilots hated us once too. A couple of well-aimed nuclear
weapons,
and now they are gentle little lambs. That got their attention…
FRANKLIN GRAHAM: U.S. "ISLAMS" DON'T PRACTICE "TRUE" ISLAM
http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/news/20730
"Now, the Muslims in this country do not practice true Islam. They are
not
allowed to have four wives. They are not allowed to beat their wife. So
a
lot of Islams in this country don't understand."
-----
PROFESSORS ASK TO JOIN DANIEL PIPES' "BLACKLIST"
Web Site Fuels Debate on Campus Anti-Semitism
Tamar Lewin, New York Times, 9/27/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/27/education/27COLL.html
A web site started last week by a pro-Israel research and policy group,
citing eight professors and 14 universities for their views on
Palestinian
rights or political Islam, has opened a new chapter in a growing debate
over campus anti-Semitism.
In a show of solidarity with those named on the Web site, nearly 100
outraged professors nationwide - Jews and non-Jews, English professors
and
Middle East specialists - have responded to the site by asking to be
added
to the list.
The Web site, Campus Watch (www.campus-watch.org), with "dossiers" on
individuals and institutions and requests for further submissions, is a
project of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, whose director,
Daniel
Pipes, has long argued that Americans have not paid sufficient
attention to
the dangers of political Islam…
The response from Judith Butler, a comparative literature professor at
Berkeley, circulated on the Internet, providing boilerplate for many
other
professors: "I have recently learned that your organization is
compiling
dossiers on professors at U.S. academic institutions who oppose the
Israeli
occupation and its brutality, actively support Palestinian rights of
self-determination as well as a more informed and intelligent view of
Islam
than is currently represented in the U.S. media. I would be enormously
honored to be counted among those who actively hold these positions and
would like to be included in the list of those who are struggling for
justice."
Those named on the site said they were heartened by the support.
"It's a new genre springing up, and I'm especially glad that it
includes
Jewish scholars," said Professor Dabashi, who heads Columbia's
department
of Middle Eastern and Asian language and cultures. "This is about
McCarthyism, freedom of expression. It's very important that it not be
made
into a Jewish-Muslim kind of thing…"
SEE ALSO: WHO IS DANIEL PIPES?
http://www.cair-net.org/misc/people/daniel_pipes.html
-----
U.S. MUSLIMS FEEL MARGINALIZED AGAIN
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 9/27/02
http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/timespoll/la-me-muslim27sep27.story
A year after the Sept. 11 attacks, American Muslim leaders increasingly
fear their community is being pushed to the margins of the American
political system…
Many Muslim activists blame what one called "a troika of evangelical
Christians, right-wing conservatives and the pro-Israel lobby" for
their
plight.
Indeed, the Times poll showed that unfavorable impressions of Muslims
are
stronger among Republicans than among either Democrats or political
independents.
Many Muslims say they have found greater acceptance among ordinary
Americans than among political or religious leaders…
Among the Muslim community's new friends is Japanese American activist
Kathy Masaoka of Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress. Listening to the
radio after the terrorist attacks, Masaoka said fears expressed by
Muslims
struck an instant emotional chord, reminding her of her own family's
ordeals after Pearl Harbor. Two weeks after Sept. 11, she helped
organize a
candlelight vigil for the victims of terror and to express support for
innocent Muslims, Arabs and South Asians. Since then, she has helped
form a
committee to forge friendships with her community through picnics,
dinners,
cultural exchanges and Buddhist-Muslim dialogues.
"I don't think they should have to feel responsible for all of the
actions
done by others from other countries who don't represent them," Masaoka
said, adding that her Muslim friends have shown her a faith of
compassion
and good deeds. "We weren't responsible for Pearl Harbor, and we don't
have
to prove our loyalty any more than anyone else. They shouldn't have to,
either…"
Activists like Ayloush say they already have made the switch, spending
far
more time on community events than traditional political ones. "Gaining
acceptance in America won't come through ad campaigns or meetings with
elected officials," Ayloush said. "It's by winning the minds, hearts
and
trust of our neighbors."
---
EVANGELIST FRANKLIN GRAHAM SAYS THAT AMERICA IS BEING 'ISLAMIZED'
Tim Whitmire, Associated Press, 9/27/02
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - America is gradually being "Islamized" even
while Islamic countries squelch religious freedom within their borders,
evangelist Franklin Graham claims.
Graham spoke in an interview published Thursday by the Asheville
Citizen-Times. Graham, 50, is the son of well-known evangelist Billy
Graham
and is his father's named successor. "Our country is slowly being, very
quietly, being Islamized by huge contributions from Saudi Arabia to our
universities to pay for Islamic studies, to support Islamic causes in
this
country," Graham told the paper's editors. "I don't have a problem with
that, but I can't go to Saudi Arabia and take even a Bible. I can't go
to
Saudi Arabia with a Bible. They will confiscate it."
SEE: http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/news/20730
A Temple University professor of Islamic studies and comparative
religion
expressed concern about the comments.
"It's really the tone of Mr. Graham's remarks and his general kind of
sweeping statements that are most disturbing," Professor Mahmoud Ayoub
said
Thursday.
Saudi money donated to American universities usually comes from
individuals
who have studied in the United States and is not directed at spreading
Islam, said Ayoub, a native of Lebanon.
"In fact, I have argued to donors like the Saudis and others that they
should have a little more say in how their money is spent," Ayoub said.
"They don't have any say."
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, Franklin Graham has made repeated comments
on
Islam, calling it "a very evil and wicked religion…"
---
2ND MAN JAILED IN MOSQUE THREAT
Leanora Minai, St. Petersburg Times, 9/27/02
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/27/TampaBay/2nd_man_jailed_in_mos.shtml
TAMPA - Several years ago, Samuel "Val" Shannahan met a podiatrist at a
gun
show and struck up a friendship. They swapped guns, shot off rounds and
spent a Christmas evening together. Federal agents now believe
Shannahan is
the "Val" whom Seminole podiatrist Robert Goldstein referred to in a
written plan to damage or destroy 50 Islamic centers and mosques in the
Tampa Bay area and Florida.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrested
Shannahan,
42, at his Dunedin apartment Wednesday night. He is charged with
illegally
giving Goldstein two machine guns and other firearms accessories…
"My son had no knowledge of (the plot)," Shannahan's father, Samuel
Shannahan Jr., said after testifying Thursday during a detention
hearing in
U.S. District Court in Tampa.
During the hearing, a federal prosecutor argued that Shannahan should
be
held in jail, saying he is a risk to flee the area and a danger to the
community. They said he has not been truthful during interviews.
A judge will decide in the coming days whether Shannahan should be
released
from the Pinellas County Jail on bond…
Shannahan, a licensed firearms dealer and former Circuit City employee,
has
had several contacts with Pinellas County sheriff's deputies. Last
month,
Shannahan's neighbor visited the Sheriff's Office and told deputies she
was
concerned Shannahan might be a "terrorist."
On Aug. 22, two weeks after the woman visited the Sheriff's Office,
Pinellas deputies came upon Goldstein and his arsenal. They were called
to
Goldstein's home because he was despondent over his wife wanting to end
their marriage.
Inside Goldstein's townhome, deputies found two light antiarmor
rockets, a
.50-caliber sniper rifle, hand grenades, assorted guns and assault
rifles
and 20 homemade bombs, among other lethal weapons.
Five of the items were registered to Shannahan - two machine guns, two
silencers and a component that converts a weapon to fully automatic.
Authorities also found a typed list of 50 Islamic worship centers in
the
Tampa Bay area and Florida. The plans seized by officials made
reference to
accomplices by the name of "Val" and "Mike." In the paperwork, Val's
name
is crossed out and replaced with Mike.
Goldstein, 37, was charged with possessing 20 illegal bombs and
plotting to
damage or destroy Islamic centers and mosques. He is being held in the
Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County. No one else has been arrested
in
connection with Goldstein's alleged plot…
-----
PIONEER MUSLIM SCHOLAR PASSES AWAY
Author and scholar, T.B. Irving (also known as Talim Ali), passed away
on
September 24 in Mississippi. He was translator of the Quran, author of
tens
of books including "alcon of Spain."
His funeral will be held 2 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday September 28, at:
Jackson County Funeral Services
9721 Highway 63
Escatawpa, MS 39552
Tel: 228-475-9861
SEE ALSO:
DR. T.B. IRVING PASSES AWAY
Abdul Malik Mujahid, Soundvision, 9/27/02
http://soundvision.com/info/scholars/irvingdeath.asp
Our brother, Dr. T.B. Irving has passed away. Inna lillahi wa inna
ilayhi
rajiun. To Allah we belong and to Him we return.
Dr. Irving was once a fixture at Muslim conventions. This author,
professor, and translator of the first American English translation of
the
Quran who accepted Islam over 50 years ago passed away peacefully on
the
morning of September 24, 2002 in his Mississippi home. He had been
suffering from Alzheimer's disease…
Born in Preston, Ontario in 1914, this professor, writer, translator
and
activist is best known for his translation of the Quran entitled, The
Quran: First American Version (1985).The work is an attempt to make the
English translation of the Quran more readable to an audience not used
to
the old style of English common in most translations…
Irving was particularly concerned about making the Quran accessible to
Muslim youth in North America…
Irving's other books in English include: Growing Up In Islam; The
Quran:
Basic Teachings, which he co-authored with Dr. Khurshid Ahmad and
Muhammad
Manazir Ahsan; Had You Been Born a Muslim; Religion and Social
Responsibility; Tide of Islam; Islam Resurgent; Islam in its Essence;
Polished Jade; Stories of Kalil and Dimna; The Mayas Own Words, as well
as
various articles on Central American Literature.
-----
MUSLIM HOLIDAY CELEBRATES TIES TO JERUSALEM
Felix Hoover, Columbus Post-Dispatch, 9/27/02
http://www.dispatch.com/news/religion/faith-story.php?story=dispatch/news/features02/sep02/1508151.html
Sundown Thursday marks the beginning of a Muslim holiday commemorating
the
Prophet Muhammad's ascent to heaven and return to earth on the same
night.
Muslims believe the stone from which Muhammad rose is in the Dome of
the
Rock mosque in Jerusalem. The holiday is known as the Night of the
Journey
and the Ascent, or Laylat al-Isra' wa al-Mi'raj.
Before the ascension, Muhammad is said to have prayed with Moses, Jesus
and
all the prophets back to Abraham and Adam, said Ahmad Al-Akhras, an
Islamic
scholar and president of the Ohio chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations.
All the Abrahamic religions -- Judaism, Christianity, Islam and
Zoroastrianism -- are thus connected by belief in the one God,
Al-Akhras said.
The rock links Mecca, Jerusalem and heaven, he said.
"The whole area is holy for Muslims because it was the first kiblah,"
he
said, referring to the point toward which Muslims turn in prayer. After
Muhammad's migration to Medina, he received a commandment to pray
toward
the black stone at Mecca in Saudi Arabia, today's kiblah.
Muslims regard Jerusalem as their third holiest place, after Mecca,
Muhammad's birthplace, and Medina, the site of his tomb. The Dome of
the
Rock mosque was built about 1,300 years ago…
-----
EDITORIAL: FOLLOWING IRAQ'S BIOWEAPONS TRAIL
Robert Novak, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/26/02
http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak26.html
Sen. Robert Byrd, a master at hectoring executive branch witnesses,
asked
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld a provocative question last week: Did
the
United States help Saddam Hussein produce weapons of biological
warfare?
Rumsfeld brushed off the Senate's 84-year-old president pro tem like a
Pentagon reporter. But a paper trail indicates Rumsfeld should have
answered yes.
An eight-year-old Senate report confirms that disease- producing and
poisonous materials were exported, under U.S. government license, to
Iraq
from 1985 to 1988 during the Iran-Iraq war. Furthermore, the report
adds,
the American- exported materials were identical to microorganisms
destroyed
by United Nations inspectors after the Gulf War. The shipments were
approved despite allegations that Saddam used biological weapons
against
Kurdish rebels and (according to the current official U.S. position)
initiated war with Iran…
---
POLITICIZE THE WAR!
Justin Raimondo, 9/27/02
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle is shocked - shocked! - that
President
Bush and the Republicans are playing politics with the onrushing war.
In an
emotional speech on the Senate floor, Daschle demanded an apology from
the
White House for remarks cited in a Washington Post story that accused
the
(Democratic-controlled) Senate of not caring about national security…
The idea that a war must not be "politicized" is like decreeing that a
child must not resemble its parents. For the causes of the Iraq war,
like
all wars, are the result of the internal political dynamics of the
aggressor regime - in this case, the U.S. Why an American President
would
interrupt a war against non-state terrorists who have killed 3,000 of
our
citizens to go after Saddam Hussein is a mystery to those who fail to
examine the politics of the President's misdirection.
The core of the GOP's activist base is an unholy alliance of
neoconservatives and "born again" Christian fundamentalists - who both
believe, for different reasons, that Israel must be unconditionally
supported and that a war of the West against Islam is inevitable.
Beholden
to his power base, the President, in opting for this war, is appeasing
Ariel Sharon and catering to the Israeli lobby.
A war with Iraq will pit the U.S. and Israel against the entire Arab
world
- and give Sharon the kind of cover he needs to finally expel the
Palestinians from their homeland, into Jordan. A U.S. military
occupation
of Iraq would eliminate a major threat to Israel - and focus the anger
of
the Arab world on the Americans, leaving Ariel Sharon free to become
the
architect of a Greater Israel…
This war will cost anywhere from $50 billion to $200 billion, according
to
some estimates, but in reality the price of "victory" is going to be so
high as to be incalculable. Since there is no way to know what
businesses
might have been created, how wealth seized by the government in taxes
might
have been productively invested, there is no way to know how much World
War
IV is going to cost us...
---
U.S. LAWMAKERS IN IRAQ OPPOSE WAR
Sameer N. Yacoub, Associated Press, 9/27/02
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Three U.S. lawmakers - all Democrats - arrived in
Baghdad
Friday to gauge the possible effects of war on ordinary Iraqi citizens.
Russia said it was unconvinced by U.S. and British claims that Iraq had
both links to al-Qaida and weapons of mass destruction...
One of the visiting U.S. lawmaker, Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington,
called
for a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi crisis.
"We want every diplomatic effort made to resolve this without war,
which
should be the last option," McDermott said upon arriving at Saddam
International Airport. "We have no interests in having a war…"
McDermott urged Saddam to grant inspectors unfettered access to search
for
banned weapons in Iraq…
Friday's visit by McDermott and fellow House Democrats David Bonior of
Michigan and Mike Thompson of California follows a Sept. 14 visit by a
delegation led by Rep. Nick Rahall, a West Virginia Democrat.
---
UN'S 'TWO STANDARDS' UNDER FIRE
Michael J. Jordan, Christian Science Monitor, 9/27/02
http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2002/0927/p01s04-wogi.html
UNITED NATIONS - As the Bush administration drums up support to
arm-twist
Iraq into complying with UN Security Council resolutions, some critics
are
turning the tables on Washington, accusing it of "double standards" for
not
being as tough on its ally, Israel.
Israel has flouted 29 Council resolutions, say critics. Iraq has
ignored
16. Israel's supporters call this an apples-and-oranges comparison. But
even UN advocates say the two cases put the flaws of the international
system into sharp relief.
"In the case of both Iraq and Israel, the Security Council has passed
resolutions that are generally in line with the aspirations of the
international community," says James Paul, executive director of the
Global
Policy Forum, a UN watchdog…
One week after Washington riveted UN attention onto Iraq, Israel was
hauled
into the spotlight early Tuesday morning: prodded by Syria, the
Security
Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution that demanded Israel end its
siege of Yasser Arafat's headquarters and withdraw from Ramallah. The
US
abstained, and Israel soon after indicated it would spurn the
resolution.
Arab diplomats are venting their frustration.
"Why do we target one country, and at the same time, why is there no
outcry
about Israel not implementing its resolutions. Why?" asks Yahya
Mahmassani,
the permanent UN observer for the League of Arab States. "Why should
Israel
be above the law? Because some members of the Security Council - or one
member, maybe - is all the time protecting Israel. If the UN is to be
fair,
there should not be double standards..."
---
SAUDI PRINCE SLAMS U.S. FOR "ANTI-MUSLIM" BIAS
Reuters, 9/27/02
RIYADH - Saudi Arabia's interior minister, clearly frustrated with the
kingdom's superpower ally, has attacked the United States for showing
enmity to Arabs and Muslims and applying different standards to Iraq
and
Israel.
Prince Nayef said his country was committed to fighting terrorism, but
was
being treated unfairly in the West because of the influence of the
Jewish
lobby in the United States.
"The superpower that controls the world today harbours hostility
towards
Arabs and Muslims because of the influence of the Zionist lobby in the
United States which seeks to distort the image of Arabs and Muslims and
accuse them of terrorism," the London-based Arabic daily al-Hayat
quoted
him as saying.
Al-Hayat said the prince, who is a brother of the ailing King Fahd and
a
half-brother of de facto ruler Crown Prince Abdullah, was speaking to
reporters in Riyadh on Wednesday.
He said Saudi Arabia would keep up financial aid to families of
Palestinians killed in the two-year-old uprising against Israeli
occupation
of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, rejecting Israeli charges that this
amounted to supporting terrorism…
-----
SHARON: INCURSION CRITICISM FADING
Mark Lavie, Associated Press, 9/27/02
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel is escalating military strikes against the
Palestinians but moving gradually to deflect world criticism, Israeli
Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview published Friday…
The prime minister said that when Israel moved troops 300 yards into
Palestinian-controlled Gaza in April 2001, there was an international
outcry. Now, after dozens of Israeli incursions, such operations are
considered routine. "Therefore this gradual approach in my view is the
proper one," he said.
During two years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Israel has escalated
tactics against Palestinian militants, with world criticism of each
successive move eventually fading.
Measures that began as precedent-setting but have gradually become
routine
include attacking with helicopter gunships and F-16 fighter planes,
destroying Palestinian security installations and government buildings,
daily incursions into Palestinian towns and villages and taking over
Palestinian-controlled areas.
Sharon said Israeli troops are now posted in all of the West Bank
territory
supposed to be under Palestinian control under interim peace accords.
In
mid-June, after two suicide bombing attacks in Jerusalem, the Israeli
army
moved into most of the main Palestinian cities and towns, establishing
control and imposing curfews, confining Palestinians to their homes…
---
ISRAELI CLOSURES HARM PALESTINIANS' HEALTH - U.N.
Reuters, 9/27/02
GENEVA - The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday Israeli
closures in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have led to more child
malnutrition and stillbirths and interrupted vaccination campaigns.
In a report, WHO director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland again appealed
to
be allowed to visit Palestinian territories to assess the medical needs
of
3.29 million people living there.
"There have been explicit restrictions on population movements, which
hinder the delivery of health care services," said Brundtland, a former
Norwegian prime minister and trained doctor.
"Nutritional status assessments, particularly of children, do show a
deterioration in recent months," she added. "We are concerned that the
communities in the occupied Palestinian territory have been in
considerable
distress and will continue to suffer ill health as long as hostilities
continue…"
Two nutritional surveys -- carried out by U.S. Agency for International
Development and CARE, and by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the
Palestinian Authority -- revealed higher rates of child malnutrition
and
anaemia among children and women than before the current crisis,
Brundtland
said...
-----
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM LAWYERS TO HOLD 3RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE
WHAT: The National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML) third annual
conference "Human Rights and Constitutional Rights: Where Do We Stand?"
WHEN: Friday, October 11 to Sunday, October 13
WHERE: Columbia University Law School in New York City
For more information, go to: www.namlnet.org
-----
TORONTO CAIR-CAN FUNDRAISER WITH SHAIKH ABDALLA IDRIS
WHAT: Shaikh Abdalla Idris will be speaking at CAIR-CAN's upcoming
fundraiser in Toronto.
WHERE: Toronto, Candles Banquet Hall: 1224 Dundas St. E., Missassauga
WHEN: Sunday, October 20th, 2002 at 5 P.M.
Tickets are $20.00. For more information, please see our flyer at
www.caircan.ca or call Ibrahim Danial at 416-601-8272 or Sarah Attia at
647-271-5049.
See flyer at: http://www.caircan.ca/pdfs/Fundraiser_flyer.pdf
-----
MUSLIM FOUNDATION OF AMERICA PARADE IN NY
WHEN: Sunday, September 29 at 1 P.M.
WHERE: Madison Avenue, from 41st Street downtown to 27th Streets.
-----
TO BECOME A CAIR MEMBER, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp
TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/voting.asp
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/29/2002
HEADLINES:
* CAIR NORTHERN CALIF. BANQUET 0CT. 12
* ATTACK ON CAFE OWNER POSSIBLE HATE CRIME (Omaha World-Herald)
* FEW MUSLIMS PURSUING ELECTED OFFICE THIS YEAR (Mercury News)
* 9-11 HAS AMERICA PARANOID, PRONE TO RACIAL PROFILING (Orlando
Sentinel)
* HINDUS, MUSLIMS DISAGREE ABOUT PALO ALTO INCIDENT (Mercury News)
* NETANYAHU PROTESTERS WILL PAY (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
* SHRINER CLUBS AMEND THEIR IMAGE TO APPEASE SENSITIVITIES (Mercury
News)
* BRITONS MARCH AGAINST WAR WITH IRAQ (AP)
- CASE AGAINST IRAQ - FACT OR FICTION? (AP)
- MR. BUSH'S UNEVEN LEADERSHIP (Post-Dispatch)
* 3 FLA TV STATIONS REFUSE TO AIR ARAFAT AD (Times-Union)
* PROFESSORS WANT OWN NAMES PUT ON MIDEAST BLACKLIST (SF Chronicle)
- PRO-ISRAEL WEB SITE CAUSES FUROR (AP)
* MISGUIDED FOREIGN POLICIES BREED MUSLIM RESENTMENT (Columbus
Dispatch)
* BILL'S LANGUAGE ON JERUSALEM IS A BREAK FROM U.S. POLICY (Washington
Post)
* JOAN JETT ROCKS AFGHANISTAN (AP)
* ARAFAT CALLS ISRAELI PULLBACK "COSMETIC" (Reuters)
* U.S. ADVISES EGYPTIAN VISITORS (AP)
* ISLAMISTS TREBLE SEATS IN MOROCCO'S ELECTION (Reuters)
-----
CAIR NORTHERN CALIF. BANQUET 0CT. 12
Reserve your seats at the largest Muslim Political event in Northern
California. Join community leaders and public officials at the CAIR
Northern California Banquet on Oct. 12. Confirmed guests: Congressman
David
Bonior (MI), Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA) and Congressman Mike Honda
(CA).
ORDER ONLINE AT: www.cair-california.org
E-MAIL: cair_nca@cair-california.org
-----
ATTACK ON CAFE OWNER INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLE HATE CRIME
KAMAHRIA HOPKINS, Omaha World-Herald, 9/28/02
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=36&u_sid=517674
Farhan "Sid" Siddiqui's face was covered in blood. Twelve stitches were
needed in his eyebrow. And a bone was fractured under his eye.
He sustained the injuries when he was attacked early Thursday in an
incident that is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
Siddiqui, co-owner of Indian Cafe and Groceries, 1320 S. 72nd St., said
he
stopped by the cafe sometime between midnight and 1 a.m. Thursday. He
noticed two young men outside, kicking the cafe's door. After locking
up to
go home, he stopped to talk to the men, described as being in their
mid-20s.
When they wouldn't agree to quit kicking the door, he tried to call 911
on
his cell phone, and they started hitting him, he said.
The men yelled such statements as "You're al-Qaida," "Go back to Iran"
and
"Taliban" as they struck Siddiqui, according to police reports.
Siddiqui, a Muslim, is a native of Pakistan. He has been in the United
States for 15 years, including 10 in Omaha…
Siddiqui has an appointment Monday with a plastic surgeon to see
whether he
needs surgery for the fracture.
The possibility of future assaults don't worry him.
"I'm not afraid of anything like that," he said. "I'm afraid of the
future
of these people."
-----
FEW MUSLIMS PURSUING ELECTED OFFICE THIS YEAR
Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News, 9/29/02
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/4175574.htm
The number of Muslims running for elective office across the United
States
has dropped by 85 percent in two years because potential candidates
fear
the post-Sept. 11 anti-Muslim backlash would doom their campaigns.
That's the conclusion reached by the Newark-based American Muslim
Alliance,
the nation's largest Muslim political organization, which found the
number
of Muslim candidates dropped from about 700 in 2000 to about 100 this
year.
"People are still pointing fingers at us," said Sayed Inamdar, a
retired
Bechtel engineer and Indian-born president of the Islamic Society of
East
Bay. "We have to be sure we are also in the limelight and explain to
people
that we highly deplore it and are not connected to that."
Inamdar is one of a handful of Bay Area Muslims defying the national
trend
by running for office in November -- he is seeking a seat on Fremont's
Washington Township Hospital District.
Agha Saeed, founder of the American Muslim Alliance and a lecturer of
political science and ethnic studies at California State
University-Hayward
and the University of California-Berkeley, said the drop in the number
of
candidates is disappointing because Muslims need more representation at
every level of government.
He and other leaders said Muslim politicians can fight anti-Muslim
backlash
and educate the general population on issues important to the
community.
They say it's also imperative for Muslims to prove to the world they
are
active contributors to society…
Still, many politically active Muslims are optimistic.
"Sept. 11 may have done short-term damage on our ability to participate
fully," said Omar Ahmed of Santa Clara, founder of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, a national civil rights and media watch
group.
"But in the longer term, the effect will be positive. No one is saying
that
we should not participate. The question is now, 'How are we going to do
it?'"
-----
9-11 HAS AMERICA PARANOID, PRONE TO RACIAL PROFILING, EXPERTS SAY
Jeff Kunerth and Pedro Ruz Gutierrez, Orlando Sentinel, 9/29/02
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Search using the term "paranoid."
On Friday, it was a tip from people who thought they heard terrorists
plotting to bomb Orlando's Immigration and Naturalization Service
offices.
Thursday, it was passengers on a Spirit Airlines plane who mistook a
dark-skinned man heading to the bathroom for a terrorist. Before that,
it
was three Muslim medical students stopped on Alligator Alley in South
Florida because a woman in Georgia thought she overheard them planning
a
terrorist attack in Miami.
As residents respond to the government's charge that national security
is
the responsibility of all Americans, people are quick to act -- and
overreact. Casual comments and ordinary actions are interpreted as
suspicious and threatening in a climate of ambiguous terrorist alerts,
daily al-Qaeda updates and threats of impending war against Iraq.
Psychologists say it is the compound effect of a nation still
traumatized a
year after the 9-11 attacks, the uneasy anticipation of another attack
and
real incidents of would-be terrorists caught before they could strike…
On Friday, two callers contacted the U.S. Border Patrol's Orlando
office to
warn of possible bomb attacks on the INS' south Orlando offices.
"Apparently, there was an unknown caller at a grocery store in
Kissimmee
who overheard three individuals saying what he perceived to be threats
against the INS," said Lt. Danny McCoy of the Orlando police's airport
unit.
McCoy said an alert bulletin was distributed to all law-enforcement
agencies and the domestic homeland-security units of the Orlando police
and
Orange County Sheriff's Office. In part, it said, three men described
as
"Indian" or "Middle Eastern" and wearing floor-length gowns were seen
leaving a Kissimmee Winn-Dixie about 9 a.m. in a blue Toyota wagon.
The calls were enough to prompt two INS facilities to temporarily
suspend
work and beef up security during the morning into lunchtime…
On Thursday, a Spirit Airlines flight from Orlando to New York returned
to
the airport shortly after takeoff when passengers became alarmed by the
actions of two men.
Laura Bennett, a Spirit Airlines spokeswoman, said the onboard dispute
began when one of two young men -- who appeared "Middle Eastern" to
some
passengers -- got up to use a restroom. The passenger headed toward the
cockpit instead of the rear, where the bathrooms are, and that prompted
a
passenger to alert a flight attendant.
The flight attendant told the cockpit crew, who notified OIA's tower,
which
decided to turn the flight around. The two Orlando-area residents
singled
out by their fellow passengers sat away from the rest of the travelers
for
the rest of the flight to Orlando, Bennett said, and took a different
flight to New York.
Orlando police boarded the plane to disembark passengers, and an FBI
agent
began an investigation. No one was detained; no charges were filed…
Reports of "Middle Eastern-looking men" have appeared with more
frequency
in recent weeks, a spokesman for a Muslim advocacy group said.
Altaf Ali, head of Florida's Council on American Islamic Relations
office,
said the public may be overreacting to government initiatives for a
homeland network set on fending off the next imminent attack.
In Florida alone, Ali said, his organization has documented 30 cases of
profiled passengers asked to leave planes, harassed or discriminated
against at airports since 9-11.
Ali blames government efforts such as Operation TIPS -- Terrorism
Information and Prevention System -- for overreaction. The national
network
of anti-terror tipsters was to begin last month but is on hold.
Still, "the effects of it are creeping into the community at large,"
Ali
said. "What we're seeing is a result of authorities asking people to
report
anything that looks suspicious."
Ali said the government should be as forceful in speaking out against
bias
and hoaxes as it is in asking people to report suspicious activities…
-----
HINDUS, MUSLIMS DISAGREE ABOUT PALO ALTO INCIDENT
Matthai Chakko Kuruvila, San Jose Mercury News, 9/29/02
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/editorial/4175623.htm
Nearly a month after a Hindu man allegedly tried to rape a Muslim girl
while spewing hateful epithets, many Bay Area Indo-American Muslims and
Hindus are still divided over the significance of the crime.
Within the somewhat estranged communities, the meaning of the Palo Alto
incident has transcended the facts stated by police and prosecutors and
taken on a life of its own. The sharp divide in how the two groups have
interpreted events underscores decades-old grievances, and shows how
global
politics play out in microcosm in the Bay Area.
The disputed incident took place Aug. 30, when Sanjay Nair, an
18-year-old
East Palo Alto resident, allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old Muslim girl
in
the bathroom of the Palo Alto Longs Drugs where they both worked.
Police,
citing comments that Nair, a Hindu, allegedly made about her faith,
initially booked him on rape and hate-crime charges. Prosecutors
reduced
the charges a week later to an assault with intent to rape, which Nair
denies. No hate-crime charges were filed.
Some Indian Muslims have seized upon the attempted-rape allegations as
proof of the global reach of the same Hindu nationalist political
parties
that allowed Hindu mobs to savagely rape, torture and kill scores of
Muslim
women in Gujarat, India, this past spring…
-----
NETANYAHU PROTESTERS WILL PAY
STEVE LEVIN, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/29/02
http://www.post-gazette.com/
The organizers of a planned protest surrounding Tuesday's visit by
former
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will pay $650 to the city of
Pittsburgh to hire two off-duty police officers for traffic control.
Reluctantly.
"We're going to pay, but under protest. We're going to pass a big hat
around, ask individuals and organizations to contribute, since we've
already spent all our money on publicity. We think the city should pay
for
it," said Peter Shell, a spokesman for the Committee for Peace in the
Middle East, a loose coalition of local student, Muslim and peace
organizations opposed to Netanyahu's hard-line stance on disputed West
Bank
territory.
"We don't think we should have to pay because we have the
constitutional
right to speak even if we can't afford it."
But city officials say they aren't discriminating against the
protesters on
First Amendment grounds, since they bill other organizations the same
fee
for traffic control…
-----
SHRINER CLUBS AMEND THEIR IMAGE TO APPEASE MODERN SENSITIVITIES
Shawn Neidorf, San Jose Mercury News, 9/29/02
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/4175588.htm
Middle Easterners and those mistaken for them have faced insults,
threats
and, in a few cases, violence since last year's terrorist attacks. This
misplaced retaliation has even tapped the shoulder of the Shriners,
whose
philanthropic fraternity runs charitable hospitals for children with
burns
and orthopedic problems.
For more than a century, the social club has been steeped in
faux-Middle
Eastern practices and trappings, right down to the fezzes they wear in
parades. In the past year, they have sometimes been mistaken for a
Muslim
organization, leading to harassment and vandalism…
The San Mateo-based chapter, whose territory stretches from Petaluma to
Kings County, had been known as the Islam Temple since it was
established
in 1883. Now it is the Asiya Shrine Center. The Palestine Shriners
became
the Rhode Island Shriners…
The Palestine Temple changed its name after receiving threatening phone
calls and having a motorcyclist harass the driver of a van emblazoned
with
the chapter's old name. The van is used to ferry sick children to
Shriners
hospitals. That happened on Sept. 12, 2001. Even before Sept. 11,
Palestine
Shriners sometimes had their fezzes knocked off their heads in public,
especially when traveling outside their home territory, said Leon
Knudsen,
the chapter's recorder…
Helal Omeira, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations for Northern California, saw the redirected imagery as a form
of
flattery. Omeira, whose roots stretch to Damascus, Syria, as well as
Oklahoma, has a grandfather who is a Shriner. He saw the borrowing of
culture as, "in essence, what America is: a proverbial melting pot. As
long
as people borrow from cultures in respect and dignity and not use it in
a
pejorative manner, I think everybody's OK with that."
-----
BRITONS MARCH AGAINST WAR WITH IRAQ
AUDREY WOODS, Associated Press, 9/29/02
LONDON (AP) - More than 150,000 Britons from all regions, ages and
social
backgrounds, marched in central London Saturday, urging Prime Minister
Tony
Blair and President Bush not to invade Iraq.
As they wound their way from Embankment on the River Thames to Hyde
Park,
many of the marchers stopped to shout through the gates of Blair's 10
Downing St. residence…
Tam Dalyell, a senior Labor Party legislator, said the confrontation
with
Iraq was the most dangerous standoff since the Cuban missile crisis.
"We are sleepwalking to disaster," he said, to thunderous applause from
the
crowd.
Streams of people poured out of subway stations near the march's
starting
point and demonstrators at the back of the march were still setting off
from Embankment after those at the front had reached Hyde Park, more
than a
mile away.
Scotland Yard said more than 150,000 demonstrators took part in the
march.
The Stop the War Coalition, which helped organize the march, estimated
that
400,000 people took part…
SEE ALSO:
CASE AGAINST IRAQ - FACT OR FICTION?
CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press, 9/28/02
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=4775§ion=NEWS
WASHINGTON – In making the case for war, the Bush administration has
delivered a bill of particulars against Saddam Hussein that includes
al-Qaida terrorist links yet to be demonstrated and weapons he may or
may
not have within reach.
Publicly, President George W. Bush's officials are touting reports that
al-Qaida operatives have found refuge in Baghdad and that Iraq once
helped
them develop chemical weapons. Privately, government intelligence
sources
are hedging on that subject, suggesting there might be less than meets
the eye…
MR. BUSH'S UNEVEN LEADERSHIP
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/29/02
http://home.post-dispatch.com/channel/pdweb.nsf/TodaySunday/86256A0E0068FE5086256C43002618F0?OpenDocument
PRESIDENT George W. Bush has tightened his war resolution and cut back
on
partisan rhetoric. But his leadership continues to be uneven and his
case
for war unconvincing.
The new evidence presented last week -- Tony Blair's dossier and claims
about links between al-Qaida and Iraq -- added little to Mr. Bush's
case
for war. Mr. Blair's file on Iraq's weapons made a strong case for
disarmament, but did not show Iraq to be an immediate threat…
Much of last week's debate over Iraq was about politics, not substance.
Mr.
Bush charged that Democrats "were not interested in the security of the
American people" because they hadn't passed the Homeland Security bill.
That was a low blow and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle reacted
angrily,
insisting that the president apologize...
If the United Nations passes a new resolution requiring unfettered
weapons
inspections and Saddam refuses, the president will have a stronger case
for
war. For now, however, he undercuts his argument with bellicose
rhetoric,
political jabs and exaggerations of the Iraqi threat. During the
Vietnam
War, Congress quickly capitulated to a president who was stretching
intelligence claims and exaggerating threats. It should take care not
to
make the same mistake.
-----
3 FLA TV STATIONS REFUSE TO AIR ARAFAT AD
Mary Maraghy, Times-Union, 9/28/02
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092802/met_10567152.shtml
Three Jacksonville television stations are rejecting a commercial that
portrays Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as a terrorist.
"It's 30 seconds of pure hate," said Sherry Burns, vice president and
general manager of WJXT TV-4. "It crossed the line in a very big way."
The commercial accuses Arafat of plotting hijackings, murdering Olympic
athletes and assassinating American diplomats. It was part of a
national
advertising campaign sponsored by Free Nations United, a non-profit
organization that chose Jacksonville as the starting point.
"By censoring this ad, the station managers only aid Yasser Arafat and
other terrorists who would have us believe they are not what they
really
are," said Keith Appell, a spokesman for Free Nations United, whose
advisers include U.S. House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, U.S. Rep. Eric
Cantor
of Virginia, former U.S. Sen. Rudy Boschwitz of Minnesota and former
U.S.
Rep. Randy Tate of Washington.
Susan Adams Loyd, general manager of WAWS TV-30 and WTEV TV-47, said
because the commercial wasn't labeled clearly, it appeared as if it was
a
part of a morning news segment.
"We aren't taking a political stand. Loyd said. "It simply didn't meet
the
standard…"
-----
PROFESSORS WANT OWN NAMES PUT ON MIDEAST BLACKLIST
Tanya Schevitz, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/28/02
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/28/MN227890.DTL
In an effort to counter what they label as a McCarthyesque hunt by a
pro-Israel think tank, about 100 professors from across the country
have
asked to be added to a "Campus Watch" Web site that singled out eight
professors because of their views on Palestine and Islam.
The Web site lists "dossiers" for the eight university professors and
teachers, including a graduate student instructor from UC Berkeley, and
portrays them as preaching dangerous rhetoric to students. The site
also
calls them "hostile" to America.
Run by the Middle East Forum, a Philadelphia think tank, the site,
www.campus-watch.org, also asks for people to snitch on Middle East
lectures, classes and demonstrations…
But Judith Butler, a UC Berkeley professor of rhetoric and comparative
literature, said it is an intimidation tactic.
The professors listed on the site have been spammed with tens of
thousands
of racist, obscene and threatening e-mails.
"If a group establishes a Web site and says, 'We are watching you,'
that
has a very chilling impact on academic freedom," said Butler, who was
one
of the first to ask to be added to the list. "The more people who
actively
volunteer themselves for such a list, the less that power of
intimidation
works…"
But Butler, who is Jewish, said there is "a very fundamental mistake in
assuming that any position critical of contemporary Israeli policy is
anti-Semitic. One can be pro-Israel and be extremely critical of (Prime
Minister) Ariel Sharon and the occupation…"
SEE ALSO:
PRO-ISRAEL WEB SITE CAUSES FUROR
RON TODT, Associated Press, 9/27/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-israel-web-site0927sep27,0,2709072.story
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A pro-Israel organization has set up a Web site to
monitor professors and universities for pro-Arab, anti-Israel bias - a
move
some academics are decrying as campus McCarthyism and attempted
intimidation.
The Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum said it organized the Campus
Watch
site to counter pervasive bias in universities' Middle Eastern studies.
The site names schools and specific professors. Forum director Daniel
Pipes
said the think tank hopes eventually to monitor 250 North American
academic
institutions...
Opponents immediately called the effort "McCarthy-like" and an attempt
to
stifle opposition to U.S. policy in the Middle East. Professors listed
on
the site said they were bombarded with e-mail over the weekend.
In a show of support for those named on the site, about 100 other
academics
have asked to be added to the list.
Judith Butler, a gender theorist at Berkeley, wrote that she would like
to
be included in the list of U.S. academics "who oppose the Israeli
occupation and its brutality, actively support Palestinian rights of
self-determination" and support an informed view of Islam…
The Campus Watch site accuses American Middle Eastern scholars of
generally
being biased against the United States and being apologists for
unfriendly
regimes.
University of Chicago historian Rashid Khalidi, who is quoted on the
Web
site as sympathizing with the Palestinian cause, called the site
"slimy"
and intended to chill opposition.
"What they're trying to do is exclude from public debate opinions that
go
against the neo-conservative consensus that dominates discussion of
policy
on Iraq or policy on the Israeli conflict by smearing us and calling us
aliens," he said.
Pipes said he will not remove a "Keep Us Informed" page on the site
that
opponents say is an attempt to get students to turn in their
professors. He
said it gives students a place to complain about mistreatment.
-----
MISGUIDED U.S. FOREIGN POLICIES BREED MUSLIM RESENTMENT
Riad Z. Abdelkarim, Columbus Dispatch, 9/27/02
http://libpub.dispatch.com/cgi-bin/documentv1?DBLIST=cd02&DOCNUM=42254&TERMV=170:4:79159:4:
Riad Z. Abdelkarim, M.D., is Western Region communications director for
the
Council on American-Islamic Relations.
One of the most widely asked questions after last September's terrorist
attacks against our nation has been, "Why do they hate us?" -- they
ostensibly being the world's Arabs and Muslims.
Many in our country, among them Muslims, initially were reluctant to
answer
this question. They feared being labeled unpatriotic, un-American or
worse
-- apologists for terrorists -- by some of the talking heads who
vociferously attacked anyone who dared pose this question in the
immediate
aftermath of the attacks.
Now the question finally should be addressed. And yet I stilI hesitate
because of concern that my loyalty, and that of our nation's 7 million
Muslims, again will be questioned. The question persists even though
every
major American Muslim organization and leader has condemned the
horrible
events of last Sept. 11 and those responsible for them. We have
repeatedly
and unequivocally stated that there is no possible justification for
these
acts on the basis of our faith, and that those who claim to commit such
crimes in the name of Islam have heinously twisted its teachings.
And yet, if we dare to explore the roots of this evil, our loyalties
become
immediately suspect in the eyes of some cynical pundits searching for
an
excuse to brand all Muslims, and indeed Islam, as civilization's new
enemy.
Indeed, I would argue that "Why do they hate us?" is a misleading
generalization, based on an erroneous assumption. The vast majority of
Muslims and Arabs do not hate America, per se. In fact, a great many
would
cherish the opportunity to immigrate to the United States and enjoy the
political, religious, economic and educational freedoms that many of us
take for granted.
Immigrants to the United States from the Arab and Muslim worlds, and
their
descendants, have been successful, educated, productive members of our
society. We are the objects of envy among our friends and relatives
overseas.
Of course, some aspects of our society are frowned upon by the
generally
conservative communities of the Muslim world. Many express displeasure
with
the excesses of our overly materialistic culture, with a presumed
emphasis
on money, sex and entertainment. This might be a stereotype, but it is
the
image of America exported by Hollywood. Similar complaints have been
heard
from all corners of the world, and within our own nation as well.
All societies have fringe elements who do not see shades of gray, but
rather only the contrast of black and white, good and bad. These
elements
are prone to rejecting everything American as inherently corrupt and a
danger to their way of life.
In a way, these individuals are the counterparts of extremists in our
country who clamor that Islam itself poses a danger. Ironic, isn't it?
Yet most Muslims are sophisticated enough to know that America, like
any
other society or culture, has its strengths and faults -- and they hope
to
emulate the former in their own societies while avoiding the latter.
Muslims' and Arabs' resentment grows exponentially when they consider
many
U.S. foreign policies that they perceive as directed against them.
Chief
among these: the blind, unconditional support for Israel's brutal
military
occupation of Palestinian lands. Daily on Al-Jazeera they view images
of
American Apache helicopter gunships and U.S.-provided tanks, fighter
jets
and missiles wreaking death and destruction on Palestinian towns and
refugee camps. And they hear the somber pronouncements of American
officials condemning "Palestinian terrorism" while failing even to
acknowledge Palestinian suffering…
-----
BILL'S LANGUAGE ON JERUSALEM IS A BREAK FROM U.S. POLICY
Glenn Kessler Washington Post, 9/28/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13500-2002Sep27.html
In a bill that cleared Congress this week authorizing spending for
State
Department programs, lawmakers approved language that symbolically
recognizes Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel and urges the
president to impose sanctions against the Palestinians if they do not
comply with signed agreements.
The bill withholds $10 million of $35 million in economic aid to
Lebanon
for failing to assert its authority against Hezbollah guerrillas
fighting
Israel. It also provides for an additional $300 million in aid to
Israel,
including $100 million in munitions as it prosecutes its campaign in
the
West Bank and Gaza, while rejecting additional equivalent aid for
Egypt.
The language, some of which only emerged in the final days of
negotiations,
reflects the pro-Israel stance of Congress but comes at a delicate
moment
in the Middle East. The U.N. Security Council has demanded that Israel
withdraw from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah,
while the Bush administration is trying to win Arab support for an
attack
against Iraq…
While the passport requirement appears highly technical, a
congressional
staff member said it would unambiguously recognize all of Jerusalem as
part
of Israel. "This will be symbolically a major change in U.S. policy,''
he said.
An administration official agreed that "there are many in the region
who
would view this with grave concern, because it suggests we have
abandoned
our traditional impartial role…"
-----
JOAN JETT ROCKS AFGHANISTAN
The Associated Press, 9/28/02
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (AP) - Wearing black boots, camouflage pants and a
fishnet top, American rocker Joan Jett performed for several hundred
soldiers at the U.S. military headquarters in Afghanistan.
About 500 coalition troops, mostly Americans, attended a concert Friday
night in an airplane hangar with automatic weapons slung behind their
backs.
Some soldiers stood atop stacked boxes of MREs - or Military Meals
Ready To
Eat - to catch a glimpse. A giant U.S. flag was draped behind Jett
while
she sang…
Dano Goforth, Jett's tour manager, said she performed for about 2,000
U.S.
troops on Sept. 25 in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.
-----
ARAFAT CALLS ISRAELI PULLBACK "COSMETIC"
Reuters, 9/29/02
RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 29 (Reuters) - A pale Palestinian President
Yasser Arafat said on Sunday Israel's troop withdrawal from his
headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah was "cosmetic" and aimed
at
"deceiving the world."
"This is not withdrawal. This is only moving a few metres away. They
are
trying to deceive the world," Arafat told reporters after Israeli
forces
left his compound...
It was not clear how far the troops would withdraw. At least one army
vehicle was seen near the perimeter of the compound. Israeli officials
said
the withdrawal was still underway and had not been completed.
-----
U.S. ADVISES EGYPTIAN VISITORS
The Associated Press, 9/29/02
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - The United States on Sunday began advising
Egyptians
traveling to America they may be fingerprinted, photographed and
questioned
on their U.S. arrival for reasons of national security.
So far, the program requiring registration of foreign visitors included
those from Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Libya - the countries listed by the
State
Department as state sponsors of terrorism.
According to an Immigration and Naturalization Service memo obtained by
The
Associated Press earlier this week, the program was expanded to include
men
ages 16 to 45 from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yemen, starting Oct. 1.
The U.S. Embassy in Cairo said in a press release "the new system will
require the digital fingerprinting and photographing of selected
(Egyptian)
travelers upon arrival in the United States, as well as responses to
questions posed by immigration officials."
Among other things, inspectors will be told to consider registering
foreign
visitors who previously overstayed a U.S. visa or whose behavior,
demeanor
or answers indicate that the person may be a security threat, the memo
says.
-----
ISLAMISTS TREBLE SEATS IN MOROCCO'S ELECTION
Ali Bouzerda, Reuters, 9/29/02
RABAT, Sept 29 (Reuters) - An Islamist party promoting a moderate view
of
Islam nearly trebled its number of seats in Morocco's parliamentary
elections, provisional unofficial results showed on Sunday.
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) looked to have at least 37
seats in
the 325-seat lower house, up from 14 in the outgoing Chamber of
Representatives elected five years ago…
The strong showing of the PJD, while not radically shifting the balance
of
power in the moderate Muslim country of 30 million, could spark concern
among its Western allies.
However, Benkirane, 47, a founding leader of the PJD, was quick to
discount
reports in the foreign media that his party would push for a strict
application of Islamic law (Sharia).
While it favoured a gradual implementation of Sharia in Moroccan daily
life, such as a ban on alcoholic drinks, casinos and lotteries,
amputating
thieves' hands, for example, was not on its agenda.
"What we want is to give a job to the millions of unemployed, not cut
the
hands of thieves," Benkirane told Reuters.
Islamists have found fertile ground among the illiterate poor and
unemployed in many low-income neighbourhoods...
-----
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-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 9/30/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD IS WATCHING HOW YOU BEHAVE
* "ISRA AND MIRAJ" TO BE RECALLED THIS WEEK
* LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: FL ISLAMIC CENTER SPONSORS 15 LIBRARIES
* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL DINNER
* REP. LANTOS SAYS U.S. WILL INSTALL "PRO-WESTERN DICTATOR" IN IRAQ
(Haaretz)
- US Congress Forces Bush's Hand on Israel capital (Reuters)
- The Lie Machine (Antiwar.com)
* CAMPUS WATCH: MAU-MAUING THE MIDDLE EAST (Salon.com)
- Professor Calls Daniel Pipes "Failed Academic"
* PROFESSOR HELPS BUILD AFGHAN SCHOOL (AP)
* EDITORIAL: FALSE GUARANTEES OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES (Washington
Times)
- Human Rights Body Rules Against U.S. For Detention Tactics (PR
Newswire)
- No-Fly Blacklist Snares Political Activists (San Francisco
Chronicle)
* DISCRIMINATION CLAIM FILED AGAINST WORCESTER ART MUSEUM (AP)
* WHITE SUPREMACY MAKES COUNTRIES IGNORE UN - MANDELA (Reuters)
* U.S. TROOPS ACCUSED OF ABUSES IN AFGHANISTAN (Newsweek)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD IS WATCHING HOW YOU BEHAVE
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The world is green and
delightful, and God has put you in charge of it and is watching how you
behave."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1274
-----
"ISRA AND MIRAJ" TO BE RECALLED THIS WEEK
This week, Muslims in America and worldwide will recall "Isra and
Miraj,"
the Prophet Muhammad's night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, and from
the
rock now located in the Dome of the Rock, to heaven.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "Glorified be He (God) who
took
his servant (Muhammad) for a journey by night from al-Masjid al-Haram
(in
Mecca) to al-Masjid al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), whose precincts we have
blessed..." ("Masjid" is the Arabic word for "mosque.") Masjid Al-Aqsa
and
the Dome of the Rock are located on "Haram Al-Shareef," or the "noble
enclosure" in Jerusalem's Old City.
Jerusalem is one of Islam's holiest sites, after Mecca and Medinah in
the
Arabian Peninsula. It was home to many prophets of Islam, including
David,
Solomon and Jesus. It was Islam's first "Qibla," or direction to which
Muslims turned in prayer.
-----
GOOD NEWS
LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE: FLORIDA ISLAMIC CENTER SPONSORS 15 LIBRARIES
Alhamdullilah (praise be to God), the Islamic Society of Brevard County
in
Florida sponsored library packages for all 15 libraries in that county.
What about the libraries in your area?
CAIR's Library Project has received 412 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package." Our goal is to send library packages to more than 16,000
public
libraries in America. CAIR urges Islamic centers and organizations to
sponsor at least 10 local libraries.
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL DINNER
CAIR's 9th annual fundraising dinner is fast approaching (October 26)
and
as always, the success of the event is due in large part to the
valuable
contribution of dedicated volunteers. Past volunteers have commented
that
working at the annual dinner is not only rewarding, but a lot of fun.
If
you can spare a few hours or several days, your assistance is greatly
appreciated.
Volunteer in making CAIR's 2002 Dinner a success by:
- Selling tickets
- Distributing flyers to local merchants and mosques
- Tele-marketing
- Registering guests at the event
- Ushering guests to their seats
- Dinner set-up
For more information, please send an e-mail to hhassan@cair-net.org
-----
REP. LANTOS SAYS U.S. WILL INSTALL "PRO-WESTERN DICTATOR" IN IRAQ
They're jumping in head first
Akiva Eldar, Haaretz, 9/30/02
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=214159
"My dear Colette, don't worry," said Tom Lantos, the California
congressman, as he tried to calm MK Colette Avital of the Labor Party,
who
was visiting Capitol Hill last week as part of a delegation of the
Peace
Coalition. "You won't have any problem with Saddam," the Jewish
congressman
continued. "We'll be rid of the bastard soon enough. And in his place
we'll
install a pro-Western dictator, who will be good for us and for you
[Israel]."
Lantos explained to his guest from Israel that there's no lack of Iraqi
opposition figures in exile, but until they learn how to run a state,
"we'll be there." According to Lantos that interim period, with an
American-sponsored dictator in power, should last between five to six
years.
NOTE: Ironically, Lantos is Founding Co-Chair of the Congressional
Human
Rights Caucus. SEE: http://www.house.gov/lantos/
SEE ALSO:
US CONGRESS FORCES BUSH'S HAND ON ISRAEL CAPITAL
Jonathan Wright, Reuters, 9/30/02
WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress has voted to make the
administration identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and
President
George W. Bush is expected to sign the provision into law this week, a
U.S.
official said on Monday.
The requirement is part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for
2003, which gives the administration more than $4 billion for running
the
State Department.
The section on Jerusalem goes further than previous requirements by
Congress, which for years has pressed successive administrations to
move
the U.S. Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem…
The new legislation, passed last week, does not go beyond urging the
administration to start immediately the process of moving the embassy
to
Jerusalem.
But it adds three mandatory provisions which change the way the United
States treats Jerusalem.
Firstly, it says that the administration cannot spend money on the U.S.
consulate in Jerusalem unless the consulate is under the supervision of
the
U.S. ambassador to Israel. The U.S. consul general in Jerusalem, who
deals
mainly with Palestinians, now reports directly to the State Department.
Secondly, any U.S. government document which lists countries and their
capitals will have to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Thirdly, in official U.S. documents such as passports, birth
certificates
and nationality certifications, U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem may
insist
that the documents record their place of birth as Israel…
---
THE LIE MACHINE
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 9/30/02
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
Haven't all the wars of modernity been framed in terms of universal
principles and self-defense? That's true for a good reason. We don't
like
to think of ourselves as conquerors, and the War Party - ever since the
debate over the Spanish American war - has draped its rationale for
slaughter in the pristine garments of "democracy," "freedom," and just
retaliation against an unprovoked attack. We don't intend to conquer
our
enemies, but yearn to "liberate" them. Now, however, we are claiming
the
"right" of "preemption," and this is clearly a war of conquest, not
self-defense, no matter how loudly our war birds squawk about phony
"weapons of mass destruction…"
Lies, lies, and more lies - that is the methodology of the War Party,
and
they just keeping flinging them at us, hoping that at least some of it
will
stick. They're in a very great hurry, you see, and can't afford to be
too
noble and "epochal" in their approach. The clock is ticking, people are
beginning to wake up to their game, and the antiwar opposition mounting
a
surprisingly strong counteroffensive. Thousands of phone calls are
flooding
the offices of our congressional representatives, and it's
overwhelmingly
those expressing their opposition to this frightening and fateful rush
to war…
An all-important aspect of the War Party's tactics is the launching of
a
smear campaign, designed to attribute "anti-Semitism" to any and all
manifestations of antiwar sentiment. It then becomes the intellectual
equivalent of Kristallnacht to say aloud what geography and common
sense
tell us: that this war, if not in America's best interests, is
certainly of
great benefit to Israel…
-----
CAMPUS WATCH: MAU-MAUING THE MIDDLE EAST
Michelle Goldberg, Salon.com, 9/30/02
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2002/09/30/campus/index_np.html
On Sept. 18, the conservative Middle East Forum launched Campus Watch,
a
Web site designed to "monitor and gather information" on academics who
are
not sufficiently pro-Israel. There are "dossiers" on eight professors
of
Middle Eastern studies, six of them Arabs. Since appearing on the list,
all
have been deluged with hostile e-mail and one has been threatened by
phone.
There's also a page on Campus Watch for students to submit complaints
about
their teacher's pedagogical treason. The project is designed, says
Middle
East Forum director Daniel Pipes, to push ideas that are "outside the
bounds of mainstream discourse" off college campuses. His message to
professors of Middle East studies: "Be careful. You should behave
yourself…"
Rashid Khalidi, an Oxford-trained University of Chicago professor who
is
one of Campus Watch's targets, calls Pipes and his associates
"intellectual
thugs." They're "bitter at the fact that their extreme views are not
shared
by most people in the field," Khalidi says, "and they're taking revenge
...
They don't want to have certain things said. They want to make sure the
people who try and say them are intimidated…"
Speaking at Memorial Church last week, Lawrence Summers, Harvard's
president, said that some protests against Israel are "anti-Semitic in
their effect if not their intent..."
It's perfectly fair for Summers to argue that Tutu, like the 59 Harvard
professors who signed the divestment petition, is misguided, even
stupid,
that Israel is nothing like racist South Africa. But to charge Tutu
with
anti-Semitism -- to assume that his criticism of Israeli policy can be
motivated by nothing but bigotry -- is to say such ideas don't belong
in a
civilized institution.
Which, in the end, is exactly what Pipes is saying. "I want Noam
Chomsky to
be taught at universities about as much as I want Hitler's writing or
Stalin's writing," he says. "These are wild and extremist ideas that I
believe have no place in a university."
Amid all this name-calling, though, hope for academic openness remains.
Rather than responding to Pipes' animosity with escalating hysteria,
many
academics are simply laughing at Pipes' enemies list. "It's truly
shameful...that I'm not yet on the list," deadpans Finkelstein. Dozens
of
others have written to Pipes saying the same thing.
"In the last analysis, people don't like thought police," says Khalidi,
explaining why he thinks Pipes' project is doomed. "The idea of
un-Americanism has been discredited in American culture."
SEE ALSO:
PROFESSOR CALLS DANIEL PIPES "FAILED ACADEMIC"
MSNBC's 'Donahue' Program for Sept. 27
http://www.msnbc.com/news/815063.asp
Guests: Daniel Pipes, Hamid Dabashi
PHIL DONAHUE: He's on the list. The one we're talking about, that some
are
calling a black list, of professors supporting, how shall we say this?
In
the company of Mr. Pipes, who says, hey, we're just calling attention
to
some people in Middle Eastern courses who are what? Speaking out
against
Israel? What do you understand?
How would you, Professor-I should say, Hamid Dabashi, who is chair of
the
Department of Middle Eastern and Asian Culture and Language at Columbia
University. How do you read this?
HAMID DABASHI, COLUMBIA UNIV. PROF.: Let me just answer to two points
that
Mr. Pipes has made in his conversation. No. 1, he says that he is like
an
auditor taking care of the problem in Enron. So far as I understand the
term auditors, they are to be better accountants than accountants.
Mr. Daniel Pipes is a failed academic. He has no credentials whatsoever
in
any academic context to see what we are doing in the Middle East
institutes, or Middle East departments.
No. 2, he says this spam that we have reported targeting us, "so we are
told."
DONAHUE: You speak of the clutter of the e-mail.
DABASHI: Exactly. The hacking of our computers, and the fact that our
e-mails are flooded with e-mails following his attack on us, and
putting us
on his Web site, is now documented that Columbia University security,
NYPD,
intelligence division of the New York police department, so as in
Chicago
and Michigan.
DONAHUE: You mean documented with the police?
DABASHI: With the police. That is, we are being attacked by hackers and
by
those who, following his attack on me-his initial attack on me was in
the
"New York Post" on June 26. Immediately after that, I received tons of
death threats, racist, obscene and threatening voice mails.
And immediately after that, the last week of August, tons of e-mails -
hundreds, thousands of e-mails, to the point that Columbian security
could
not increase my quota enough.
-----
PROFESSOR HELPS BUILD AFGHAN SCHOOL
Michele Besso, Associated Press, 9/30/02
NEWARK, Del. - Religion used to be a largely private matter for
University
of Delaware professor Ismat Shah, a Muslim who was born in Pakistan.
But that changed after Sept. 11.
Shah, an associate professor of materials science engineering and
physics
and astronomy, found himself being called on to discuss his faith on
campus
and in the community.
Though he said it was unnerving at first, Shah embraced the
opportunity. He
has organized community support into a relief effort that is building
an
elementary school for Muslim girls in a refugee camp on the
Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
"I always considered myself a representative of the Muslim faith - more
so
now than before," Shah said. "I'm conscious of the fact that people
recognize me as a Muslim, and I need to behave a certain way. I feel
more
responsibility to educate people…"
Shah's efforts to start a school in the Afghan refugee camp began after
Sept. 11, when he gave a talk in Wilmington. Members of Creative
Grandparenting Inc., which teams adults with children who need special
care, approached him to discuss ways to help the Afghan people.
Afghanistan/Delaware Communities Together was formed.
"We decided to focus on education because young girls' education
suffered
most due to the Taliban," Shah said. "They wanted the girls to stay at
home
and not go to school."
The new school will serve girls in grades one through five. Between 200
and
500 girls will attend the school when it opens later this month.
The building will have brick floors, mud walls and a thatched roof.
Students will be given uniforms and one meal a day. Shah also wants to
establish libraries and provide medical clinics in the refugee camp.
Jim Patton, co-vice chairman of Creative Grandparenting and a member of
the
new group's steering committee, said Shah has been a huge help with the
refugee camp.
"He was instrumental in providing the right contacts and information
about
transferring funds to the camps safely," he said. "In fact, he made a
trip
to personally inspect the camps and the people involved so the money
would
be spent the way that we wanted..."
-----
SHIFTING LANDSCAPE FOR ISLAMIC EXPERTS
Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service, 9/30/02
http://www.ucc.org/news/r081602f.htm
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Since Sept. 11, 2001, universities throughout the
United
States have been scrambling to hire experts on Islam to bolster
departments
of religion or Middle East studies -- part of a reconfiguration of the
American academic landscape.
This fall, Prof. Ihsan Bagby began teaching at the University of
Kentucky
in Lexington, augmenting his rising reputation as one of the nation's
leading scholars of Islam. [NOTE: Dr. Bagby is a CAIR board member.]
The quest to build more depth in the academic study of Islam involves
many
schools across the U.S. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
recently added a second Islamicist to its department of religious
studies.
Edward Curtis will teach about Islam among African-Americans…
Although about 325 U.S. colleges and universities offer courses in
Islam,
most are taught by people trained in other disciplines. Of the 1,200
religious studies departments across North America, about 120 have
faculty
who claim Islam as their prime expertise, according to the Council of
Societies for the Study of Religion.
"Fifty years ago, the study of religion was Bible and theology," said
Carl
Ernst, a professor of religion who specializes in Islam at the
University
of North Carolina -- Chapel Hill. "In the 1960s, Eastern religions were
added. But Islam is extremely underrepresented in the academy. Things
have
improved, but it's still a very neglected subject."
Those now finishing doctorates in Islam probably will get multiple
offers
from good schools. Those already in the field, even at smaller schools,
have never been more in demand.
Bagby is benefiting from this new interest. But this professor with
salt-and-pepper hair has taken a more circuitous professional route.
Bagby not only studies Islam, he is a convert. Born a Methodist to a
white
mother and black father in Cleveland, he became involved in the civil
rights struggle as a student at Oberlin College in the 1960s. There, he
helped found the black student union on campus, a department of black
studies and two black student dormitories...
He went to the University of Michigan, not because he wanted to be an
academic but because he wanted to study Arabic -- the language of the
Quran, the Muslim holy scriptures. Once there he rediscovered his
passion
for learning and kept going until he had earned his doctorate. He spent
a
year at American University in Cairo, Egypt, perfecting his Arabic
before
deciding he wanted to return to the United States to continue his work
as a
civil rights activist -- first with the Indiana-based Islamic Society
of
North America and later with Islamic Resource Institute in California…
Last year, Bagby joined forces with Hartford Seminary's Institute for
Religion Research to undertake one of the largest U.S. surveys of
interfaith congregations, called Faith Communities Today. Bagby's part,
which included a survey of American mosques, earned him instant
authority
on the subject of American Islam.
"There are a lot of good scholars," said Carl Dudley, the co-author of
the
survey and a professor at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn. "But
there
are none that cross more boundaries and work as effectively with a wide
variety of religious groups. He's a remarkably versatile scholar..."
-----
EDITORIAL: FALSE GUARANTEES OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES
Nat Hentoff, Washington Times, 9/30/02
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20020930-29356396.htm
On Sept. 8, the Journal-Gazette in Fort Wayne, Ind., published, for the
first time in nearly 20 years, a full-page editorial, "Attacks on
Liberty."
In five long columns, the newspaper charged, "In the name of national
security, President Bush, Attorney General John Ashcroft and even
Congress
have pulled strand after strand out of the constitutional fabric that
distinguishes the United States from other nations.
"Actions taken over the past year are eerily reminiscent of tyranny
portrayed in the most nightmarish works of fiction. The power to demand
reading lists from libraries could have been drawn from the pages of
Ray
Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451.' The sudden suspension of due process for
immigrants rounded up into jails is familiar to readers of Sinclair
Lewis'
'It Can't Happen Here…' "
Is the word "tyranny" excessive with regard to Messrs. Bush and
Ashcroft
taking liberties with the Constitution? The Journal Gazette's editorial
includes this quotation from James Madison in the Federalist Papers No.
47,
"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive and judiciary,
in
the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many . . . may justly be
pronounced the very definition of tyranny..."
I hope the teachers in Fort Wayne open this editorial for discussion
and
debate in their civics classes, also bringing in the many vigorous
assurances by the president, the defense secretary and the attorney
general
that everything they are doing to protect us is "within the bounds of
the
Constitution..."
---
HUMAN RIGHTS BODY RULES AGAINST UNITED STATES FOR ITS DETENTION TACTICS
OF
POST 9/11 DETAINEES
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Inter-American Commission on
Human
Rights today invoked an emergency procedure that orders the United
States
to take immediate steps to protect the rights of individuals taken into
immigration detention as part of the massive post-September 11 sweep of
immigrant communities.
Gay McDougall, Executive Director of the International Human Rights Law
Group, the Washington-based human rights organization that filed the
case,
stated that "the Commission issued a strong warning to the United
States,
putting our government officials on notice that no person under the
authority and control of a state is devoid of legal protections, even
in
times of national emergency."
In a letter to McDougall dated September 26, 2002, the Commission
acknowledged that detainees may be suffering irreparable harm and that
the
United States has failed to adequately respond to its requests for
information that could prove otherwise. The Commission further stated
that
the United States has provided neither evidence that there is basis
under
domestic or international law for the detainees' continued detention
nor
has it provided information concerning the conditions of detention or
mechanisms by which those conditions are supervised, and noted that
former
detainees have made claims of verbal and physical abuse. The United
States
must respond within 30 days with measures to protect the detainees and
implement the terms of the decision…
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is a seven-member panel
of
the Organization for American States that monitors human rights abuses
in
the Americas. The United States is a member the OAS and is bound by
the
Commission's actions.
The International Human Rights Law Group has in its twenty-five year
history defended the rights of individuals around the world and has
litigated numerous cases before the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. For more
information
visit http://www.hrlawgroup.org
For a copy of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights decision,
"Post-September 11, 2001 INS Detainees Request for Precautionary
Measures,"
go to: http://www.hrlawgroup.org International Human Rights Law Group
Executive Director, Gay McDougall, is available for interview.
---
NO-FLY BLACKLIST SNARES POLITICAL ACTIVISTS
Alan Gathright, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/27/02
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/09/27/MN181034.DTL
A federal "No Fly" list, intended to keep terrorists from boarding
planes,
is snaring peace activists at San Francisco International and other U.
S.
airports, triggering complaints that civil liberties are being
trampled.
And while several federal agencies acknowledge that they contribute
names
to the congressionally mandated list, none of them, when contacted by
The
Chronicle, could or would say which agency is responsible for managing
the
list.
One detainment forced a group of 20 Wisconsin anti-war activists to
miss
their flight, delaying their trip to meet with congressional
representatives by a day. That case and others are raising questions
about
the criteria federal authorities use to place people on the list -- and
whether people who exercise their constitutional right to dissent are
being
lumped together with terrorists.
"What's scariest to me is that there could be this gross interruption
of
civil rights and nobody is really in charge," said Sarah Backus, an
organizer of the Wisconsin group. "That's really 1984-ish..."
-----
DISCRIMINATION CLAIM FILED AGAINST WORCESTER ART MUSEUM
DENISE LAVOIE, Associated Press, 9/30/02
BOSTON (AP) - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a
lawsuit Monday against the Worcester Art Museum alleging that the
museum
wrongly fired an Afghan-American Muslim security guard because of
post-Sept. 11 discrimination.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, claims Zia Ayub was
ostracized
by his co-workers and eventually fired on the basis of his religion and
national origin. One of Ayub's co-workers falsely reported him to
authorities as a suspected terrorist, according to the suit.
The museum fired Ayub in January, allegedly for taking excessive time
to
complete security rounds on three separate occasions. He was replaced
by a
non-Muslim who was not of Afghan or Middle Eastern origin, according to
the
complaint…
The EEOC complaint seeks monetary damages, including back wages,
compensatory damages and punitive damages.
"The experience of Zia Ayub represents an unfortunate example of how
reactive anger can give rise to unlawful employment discrimination
against
innocent individuals," said EEOC Chairwoman Cari M. Dominguez…
-----
WHITE SUPREMACY MAKES COUNTRIES IGNORE UN - MANDELA
Reuters, 9/30/02
JAKARTA, Sept 30 (Reuters) - South African elder statesman Nelson
Mandela
fired a fresh salvo on Monday at the idea of the United States or
anyone
else acting against Iraq without U.N. sanction, and tied such
unilateralism
to racist attitudes.
Asked what he thought about a possible attack on Iraq, which Washington
has
threatened to carry out on its own if U.N. backing is not forthcoming,
Mandela said, without naming any specific nation:
"No country, however powerful it may be, is entitled to act outside the
United Nations...The United Nations is here to promote peace in the
world,
and any country that acts outside (it) is making a serious mistake."
Mandela is on a private five-day visit to Indonesia, the world's most
populous Muslim nation where many people have expressed disquiet about
the
possibility of an attack on Iraq.
The former South African president has spoken out repeatedly against
unilateral intervention in Iraq but he seemed to go further than
previously
in linking himself to the view that racism could be a factor behind
taking
the U.N. lightly.
"When the (U.N.) secretaries-general were white, we never had the
question
of any country ignoring the United Nations but now that we have got the
black secretaries-general like...Kofi Annan, certain countries that
believe
in white supremacy are ignoring the United Nations," he told reporters
at
the airport on his arrival…
-----
U.S. TROOPS ACCUSED OF ABUSES IN AFGHANISTAN
'I YELLED AT THEM TO STOP'
Colin Soloway, MSNBC, 10/07/02
http://www.msnbc.com/news/814576.asp
Oct. 7 issue - One afternoon in August, a U.S. Special Forces A team
knocked at the door of a half-ruined mud compound in the Shahikot
Valley.
The servicemen were taking part in Operation Mountain Sweep, a weeklong
hunt for Qaeda and Taliban fugitives in eastern Afghanistan.
The man of the house, an elderly farmer, let the Americans in as soon
as
his female relatives had gone to a back room, out of the gaze of
strange
men. Asked if there were any weapons in the house, the farmer proudly
showed them his only firearm, a hunting rifle nearly a century old.
When
the team had finished searching, carefully letting the women stay out
of
sight, the farmer served tea. The Americans thanked him and walked
toward
the next house.
They didn't get far before the team's captain looked back. Six
paratroopers
from the 82d Airborne, also part of Mountain Sweep, were lined up
outside
the farmer's house, preparing to force their way in. "I yelled at them
to
stop," says the captain, "but they went ahead and kicked in the door."
The
farmer panicked and tried to run, and one of the paratroopers slammed
him
to the ground. The captain raced back to the house. Inside, he says,
other
helmeted soldiers from the 82d were attempting to frisk the women. By
the
time the captain could order the soldiers to leave, the family was in a
state of shock. "The women were screaming bloody murder," recalled the
captain, asking to be identified simply as Mike. "The guy was in tears.
He
had been completely dishonored..."
-----
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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
VANDALS ATTACK IDAHO MOSQUE
Islamic center had been receiving threatening calls
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/30/02) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) tonight reported that vandals attacked a mosque in Idaho
following a
series of threatening phone calls to that religious institution.
A representative of the Islamic Center of Boise told the Islamic civil
rights and advocacy group that vandals used a rock and a cinder block
to
break four windows in the center and to damage a computer printer. The
attack apparently occurred sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. on
Monday
and was noticed when worshipers came to the mosque.
Both the Boise Police Department and the FBI have been notified, and
both
CAIR and mosque officials are asking that the incident be investigated
as a
hate crime. The mosque had reportedly been receiving harassing and
threatening phone calls since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. The
frequency of the calls increased around the one-year anniversary of the
attacks.
Callers allegedly made comments such as, "Get the hell out of this
country," and, "Your religion is all about hate." A threat was also
made to
burn down the mosque.
Ironically, a meeting with local police to discuss safety issues was
already scheduled for Tuesday at the center. There are an estimated
5,000
Muslims in the Boise area.
CAIR reports that this incident is just one of several recent actual or
planned mosque attacks in the United States. Just since August, mosques
in
Virginia, Ohio and Florida have been vandalized. Florida law
enforcement
authorities also uncovered a detailed plan to blow up some 50 Islamic
institutions in that state. The alleged perpetrator had already
assembled a
number of explosive devices.
"As with past incidents of this type, we firmly believe they are
triggered
by the rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric coming from right wing,
pro-Israel and evangelical commentators. We once again call on
mainstream
religious and political leaders to challenge Islamophobic hate speech.
Bigots see silence as a tacit endorsement of their views," said CAIR
Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726
E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org
-----
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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 Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/1/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD TESTS THOSE HE LOVES
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* FAMILY DEFENDS ISLAMIC CHARITY HEAD (AP)
* ALAMO ACCUSED OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIM EMPLOYEE (AP)
* FICTIONS EMBRACED BY AN ISRAEL AT WAR (New York Times)
- Manufacturing Anti-Semites (Gush Shalom)
- U.S. Move on Jerusalem Antagonizes Arab World (Reuters)
* VANDALS BREAK WINDOWS AT BOISE ISLAMIC CENTER (Idaho Statesman)
- Idaho mosque attacked by vandals (UPI)
- Resources: DOJ Initiative to Combat Post-9/11 Backlash
* CHANGE OF HEART, SOUL ON ISLAM (Arizona Republic)
- Shore Muslim Community Seeks To Be Understood (Asbury Park Press)
* BALTIMORE SUN SLAMS DANIEL PIPES' BOOK
- Pipes Folds on Campus Blacklist "Dossiers"
* THE PRESIDENT'S REAL GOAL IN IRAQ (Atlanta Journal)
- U.N., Iraq Agree on Inspection Terms (AP)
- Report: Seized Material Not Uranium (AP)
- Pentagon Adviser Seeks "Regime Change" In Germany (Reuters)
* DOUBTS SET IN ON AFGHAN MISSION (BBC)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: GOD TESTS THOSE HE LOVES
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Great rewards are given
for
great trials, and when God loves a people, He tests them. Whoever
accepts
the trial cheerfully earns His good pleasure, and whoever resents it
earns
His displeasure."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 479
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 424 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package." Our goal is to send library packages to more than 16,000
public
libraries in America. CAIR urges Islamic centers and organizations to
sponsor at least 10 local libraries.
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
FAMILY DEFENDS ISLAMIC CHARITY HEAD
DAVID RUNK, Associated Press, 10/1/02
DETROIT (AP) - The wife and brother of a detained co-founder of an
Islamic
charity testified Tuesday in support of his release on bond, saying he
does
not pose a threat to national security.
Rabih Haddad has been jailed for more than nine months on a visa
violation.
The 41-year-old Ann Arbor resident and Lebanese citizen helped create
the
Global Relief Fund, which the government says has received substantial
funds from a suspected financier of al-Qaida's worldwide efforts.
"I don't think my husband is a threat to American society. He is an
asset
to American society," Salma al-Rushaid said, citing her husband's years
of
humanitarian work.
Immigration Judge Robert Newberry in Detroit heard testimony Tuesday at
an
open bond hearing. Haddad's attorney, Ashraf Nubani, said he expected
his
client to testify later in the day.
Previous detention hearings for Haddad were held in secret, prompting
lawsuits from the American Civil Liberties Union, several newspapers
and
Rep. John Conyers, Democratic of Michigan. Tuesday's was open in
compliance
with a court order from last month to hold such a hearing or release
Haddad…
-----
ALAMO ACCUSED OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIM EMPLOYEE
Associated Press, 10/1/02
MESA, Ariz. (AP) - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued
a
rental car agency, accusing it of discriminating against a Muslim woman
who
was told she couldn't wear a head scarf at work.
The lawsuit against Alamo Rent-A-Car and its Florida-based parent, ANC
Rental Corp., is based on a complaint by Bilan Nur of Phoenix. She had
been
a customer service representative at the Phoenix airport since 1999.
In 1999 and 2000, Nur was allowed to wear a head scarf, or hijab, in
observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. But she was told not to
wear a scarf in December 2001, said Mary Jo O'Neill, acting regional
attorney for the Phoenix EEOC office.
Nur believes it was in reaction to her being Muslim in the wake of the
Sept. 11 terror attacks, O'Neill said. Nur's offer to wear an Alamo
company
scarf was refused, O'Neill added…
The EEOC lawsuit seeks monetary relief, reinstatement and an injunction
prohibiting future discrimination.
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: crelations@goalamo.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
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-----
FICTIONS EMBRACED BY AN ISRAEL AT WAR
David Grossman, New York Times, 10/1/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/01/opinion/01GROS.html
JERUSALEM - A dangerous and deceptive plot line has become superimposed
on
the story that Israeli society tells itself about its conflict with the
Palestinians. Since the outbreak of the current intifada two years ago,
it
is as if the Israeli mind has turned to a new page in the chronicle of
the
conflict and, at the same time, erased many of the pages that preceded
it.
It's as if the 33 years of repression, occupation and humiliation that
Israel imposed on the West Bank and Gaza between June 1967 and
September
2000 vanished with the wave of a magic wand. The majority of Israelis
take
comfort today in believing that the horrifying deeds committed by
Palestinian terrorists in the last two years somehow "balance the
books"
for those long years of subjugation and that all the guilt for the
current
state of affairs rests on Palestinian shoulders.
Furthermore, they believe, the suicide bombings, and the broad support
they
have received from the Palestinian population, have revealed things
about
the Palestinians that ex post facto justify the injustices of the
occupation. In a contorted way, many Israelis believe that the new wave
of
Palestinian terrorism has granted their country absolution for its
problematic past…
It's as if there were never long months of closures in cities and
villages,
as if there had been no humiliations, no incessant harassment, no
searches
of houses, no bulldozing of hundreds of homes, no uprooting of
vineyards
and olive groves, no filling up of wells and, especially, no
construction
of tens of thousands of housing units in settlements and large-scale
confiscation of land, in violation of international law…
SEE ALSO:
EDITORIAL: MANUFACTURING ANTI-SEMITES
Uri Avnery, Gush Shalom, 9/28/02
http://www.gush-shalom.org/archives/article213.html
The Sharon government is a giant laboratory for the growing of the
anti-Semitism virus. It exports it to the whole world. Anti-Semitic
organizations, which for many years vegetated on the margins of
society,
rejected and despised, are suddenly growing and flowering.
Anti-Semitism,
which has hidden itself in shame since World War II, is now riding on a
great wave of opposition to Sharon's policy of oppression.
Sharon's propaganda agents are pouring oil on the flames. Accusing all
critics of his policy of being anti-Semites, they brand large
communities
with this mark. Many good people, who feel no hatred at all towards the
Jews, but who detest the persecution of the Palestinians, are now
called
anti-Semites. Thus the sting is taken out of this word, giving it
something
approaching respectability.
The practical upshot: not only does Israel not protect the Jews from
anti-Semitism, but quite on the contrary - Israel manufactures and
exports
the anti-Semitism that threatens Jews around the world. For many years,
Israel enjoyed the sympathy of most people. It was seen as the state of
the
holocaust survivors, a small and courageous country defending itself
against the repeated assaults of murderous Arabs. Slowly, this image
has
been replaced by another: a cruel, brutal and colonizing state,
oppressing
a small and helpless people. The persecuted has become the persecutor,
David has turned onto Goliath…
Every few years, the Jewish lobby "eliminates" an American politician
who
does not support the Israeli government unconditionally. This is not
done
secretly, behind the scenes, but as a public "execution". Just now this
was
done to the black Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, a young, active,
intelligent and very sympathetic woman. She has dared to criticize the
Sharon government, support Palestinians and (worst of all) Israeli and
Jewish peace groups. The Jewish establishment found a
counter-candidate, a
practically unknown black woman, injected huge sums into the campaign
and
defeated Cynthia. All this happened in the open, with fanfares, to make
a
public example - so that every Senator and Congressperson would know
that
criticizing Sharon is tantamount to political suicide…
---
U.S. MOVE ON JERUSALEM ANTAGONIZES ARAB WORLD
Alistair Lyon, Reuters, 10/1/02
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&StoryID=1520243
LONDON (Reuters) - Arabs bitterly denounced on Tuesday U.S. legislation
requiring President Bush's administration to identify Jerusalem as
Israel's
capital.
Some of Washington's Arab allies acknowledged that Bush had stated that
U.S. policy on Jerusalem was unchanged despite the provisions inserted
by
Congress into the act that provides over $4 billion to run the State
Department in 2003.
But most Arab reactions reflected anger at what was seen as fresh
evidence
of U.S. bias toward Israel, which annexed Arab East Jerusalem,
encompassing
one of Islam's holiest shrines, after capturing it in the 1967 Middle
East war.
"This is an act against peace, an act of incitement," Palestinian
Planning
and International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath told Reuters in the
West Bank city of Ramallah.
"It is against the commitment of the United States, contrary to
international law, contrary to agreements signed by the United States.
This
is really totally unhelpful and obstructs any move toward the peace
process," he said, calling the U.S. legislation "an insult to the Arab
and
Muslim world…"
-----
VANDALS BREAK WINDOWS AT BOISE ISLAMIC CENTER
Gerry Melendez, Idaho Statesman, 10/1/02
http://www.idahostatesman.com/Story.asp?ID=21859
Shards of glass cover a prayer rug inside the Islamic Center of Boise
as
Bob Burnett replaces a window that was shattered by an act of
vandalism.
Two windows were destroyed by rocks, with the glass spilling inside the
center. Boise police are investigating the case…
"We were hoping that we wouldn´t come to this stage," said Furqan
Mehmood,
the center´s education director. "But that´s where we are today - one
year
after (the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks)..."
Mehmood said he received an obscene threatening call at the center on
Sunday night.
The person on the other line told him to leave the United States,
Mehmood
said. It was similar to several other calls received by the center
since
the attacks on the East Coast last September…
"Parents are very scared to send their children for very obvious
reasons,"
Mehmood said. "They are the people that faced persecution from where
they
came. They don´t want to put their kids through that again…"
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
said violence directed at Muslims in America had begun to decline after
a
huge spike following the September 2001 attacks.
But that trend changed around the one-year anniversary of 9/11, he
said.
"We´ve recently seen an uptick in incidents, particularly at mosques,"
Hooper said.
Hooper said mainstream leaders need to take vocal stands against
hateful
actions aimed at Islam. "As long as no one´s speaking out, these people
see
it as a sign of approval," Hooper said.
SEE ALSO:
IDAHO MOSQUE ATTACKED BY VANDALS
ANWAR IQBAL, United Press International, 10/1/02
Vandals attacked a mosque in Idaho following a series of threatening
phone
calls to that religious institution, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations said Tuesday.
A representative of the Islamic Center of Boise, Idaho, told the
Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group that vandals used a rock and a cinder
block
to break four windows in the center and to damage a computer printer.
The
attack apparently occurred sometime between before dawn Monday and was
noticed when worshipers came to the mosque. Both the Boise Police
Department and the FBI have been notified. The council and mosque
officials
have asked that the incident be investigated as a hate crime.
The mosque had reportedly been receiving harassing and threatening
phone
calls since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks last year. The frequency of
the
calls increased around the anniversary of the attacks, mosque officials
said.
Callers allegedly made comments such as, "Get the hell out of this
country," and, "Your religion is all about hate," they said. A threat
was
also made to burn the mosque…
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said this incident was one of
several recent actual or planned mosque attacks in the United States.
Since
August, mosques in Virginia, Ohio and Florida have been vandalized…
"As with past incidents of this type, we firmly believe they are
triggered
by the rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric coming from right-wing,
pro-Israel and evangelical commentators. We once again call on
mainstream
religious and political leaders to challenge Islamophobic hate speech,"
said Ibrahim Hooper, the council's communications director…
SEE ALSO:
RESOURCES: DOJ INITIATIVE TO COMBAT POST-9/11 BACKLASH
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/nordwg.html
-----
CHANGE OF HEART, SOUL ON ISLAM
Daniel González, Arizona Republic, 9/29/02
http://www.arizonarepublic.com/arizona/articles/0928b2profile28.html
Deedra Abboud, the new president of the Council on American Islamic
Relations of Arizona, was raised Christian in Arkansas, the buckle of
the
Bible Belt.Her mother was Methodist, her father a Southern Baptist.
Then how did this strong-willed feminist who once considered Islam a
form
of oppression against women wind up becoming a Muslim?
It's a question Abboud is often asked.
"I grew up in a very pro-woman household. My mom and dad were divorced
and
my sisters weren't married. We were brought up with the attitude, 'What
do
we need men for?,' "Abboud said recently during an interview at the
Tempe
Islamic Cultural Center, her face framed by a beige-colored hijab. A
hijab
is the head scarf worn by most Muslim women as a symbol of modesty...
"The only thing I really knew about Islam was what I learned in
seventh-grade social studies class," she said. "I was taught that Islam
was
Mohammedism; that they worshipped Mohammed, and that women always had
to
walk one-step behind men and they always had to look down and they
always
had to wear black."
She started reading every book about Islam she could find, starting
with
the Koran. None of the bookstores in Little Rock carried it, so Abboud
drove all the way Houston, six hours, just to get one.
Then something happened. The more she read about the religion, the more
she
became attracted to it…
Abboud didn't really consider becoming a Muslim, however, until she
moved
to Arizona in 1998. Climbing the career ladder as a woman in
conservative
Arkansas would be hard enough, she figured, let alone as a Muslim women
wearing a hijab.
In Arizona, Abboud settled in Tempe and got a job working for a
collection
agency. She read in the newspaper that October that the Tempe mosque
was
having an open house. Soon she was coming to the mosque regularly.
Later
that year, she decided to convert…
As president of the Council on American Islamic Relations of Arizona,
Abboud is frequently invited to speak to community groups about Islam.
The
audiences are often surprised when a blue-eyed, fair-skinned woman
arrives
wearing a head scarf…
SEE ALSO:
SHORE MUSLIM COMMUNITY SEEKS TO BE UNDERSTOOD
Andrea Alexander, Asbury Park Press, 9/30/02
http://www.app.com/app2001/story/0,21133,623888,00.html
Mohammed Mosaad, vice president of the Islamic Society of Monmouth
County,
descends the stairs in the society's $1.5 million mosque being built in
Middletown to meet the needs of the area's growing Muslim community.
The Red Hill Road house, converted in 1995 into a mosque with room for
up
to 250 people to pray, is now too small for the area's growing Muslim
community, said Mohammad Mosaad, vice president of the society…
As the number of Muslim families in the Shore area increases, so have
their
efforts to reach out to the community and dispel misconceptions about
their
religion.
"It is new to the area," said Dr. Hassan El Mansoury, the society's
president. "There are more and more Muslim women in Muslim dress. Our
children go to the public schools. We owe it to the community to know
what
we are about."
Mohamed Ismael Ali, Aberdeen, co-founder of the United Muslim Family
Association, attributes the growth in the Muslim population to the
booming
technology industry in the state…
Leaders of the Islamic center in Old Bridge and the Lakewood center
said
they have done the same to educate the public about their faith.
Once construction of the new mosque in Middletown is complete, El
Mansoury
said, the society plans to invite area school children for tours…
"Muslims and the Islamic faith doesn't support what happened on Sept.
11,"
said the Rev. Kathleen Hepler, of the Unitarian church in Lincroft.
"It is a small group of people who happen to be Muslim who misinterpret
their faith, and it is important for people to know that for the health
of
our community," she said…
The Rev. Gary Costa of the Cross of Glory, a Lutheran church in
Aberdeen,
said meetings with Ali helped his congregation under-stand the growing
Muslim population in the area.
"I think it was helpful to combat the idea, that sounds absurd to me,
that
all Muslims are the enemy," Costa said. "The interaction led us to a
better
understanding of the faith and what it means to be a Muslim."
-----
BALTIMORE SUN SLAMS DANIEL PIPES' BOOK
'MILITANT ISLAM' -- IGNORING HISTORY AND CURRENT REALITY
Robert Ruby, Baltimore Sun, 9/29/02
http://www.baltimoresun.com
Daniel Pipes, the author of 10 previous books about Islam and the
Middle
East, stridently contends in Militant Islam Reaches America that the
history is mostly irrelevant, that Islamic fundamentalists are in fact
the
heirs of fascists and communists. In his telling, all three movements
have
sought to create a radical utopia incompatible with democracy.
Largely a collection of previously published articles, Militant Islam
is
not a subtle book. Pipes weakens his own case about the genuine dangers
of
militant Islam by seeing its tentacles everywhere, and suggesting that
the
United States is threatened nearly as much by open political debate as
by
bin Laden and the angry young men of the Muslim world.
He advocates the United States pressure Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to
revise
textbooks that teach intolerance of non-Muslims, somehow bring order to
Somalia, somehow steer democratic change in Iran. The danger at home,
he
writes, "is no less ominous than the danger abroad." Steps must be
taken:
"And it means military tribunals where needed; restrictions on
lawyer-client privilege in certain cases; and, when appropriate, the
serious use of 'profiling to uncover sleepers and other terrorists.' "
A polemic has license for exaggeration, but Militant Islam makes
indefensible claims. Citing Iran's eight-year war against Iraq, Pipes
suggests that Islamic states are inherently war-like, ignoring the fact
that the war was started by secular Iraq. Afghanistan's civil wars are
blamed on militant Islam, a gross simplification ignoring the venality
and
murderousness of the warlords who opened the way for the Taliban…
A chapter devoted to the unmasking of Islamic sleeper cells could be
mistaken for self-parody. Clues to search for include, "Sending or
receiving large amounts of money; criminal activity, especially
reliance on
counterfeited money and smuggling; a promising career that failed,
descent
into drugs and alcohol, then redemption through Islam; an offer to work
for
the enemy's intelligence service…"
The United States faces clear and present dangers, but their source is
not
militant Islam. The angry young men of the Persian Gulf states, Central
Asia and the Middle East want a present better than their pasts --
education, a job, prospects for their families...
SEE ALSO:
PIPES FOLDS ON CAMPUS BLACKLIST "DOSSIERS"
"Campus Watch" Alters Website Format
http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/181
Philadelphia - The Middle East Forum announced today it has altered the
format of its website, www.Campus-Watch.org. The site has elicited
overwhelming support from the public - but a furious response from
academics who focused almost exclusively on the site's dossiers on the
work
of specific instructors.
The new format eliminates the "dossiers" and instead folds the analysis
of
instructors within the "Survey of Institutions." Campus Watch monitors
and
critiques Middle East studies, with the goal of improving a failing
field.
It collects media reports and original information, then makes its work
available to university administrators, trustees, alumni, students,
prospective students and their parents, as well as government officials
and
legislators.
"We launched the site to draw attention to the condition of Middle
Eastern
studies," explains Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum.
"But
rather than address the problems we raise, Middle East specialists -
joined
by their colleagues in other fields - have talked about nothing but the
format of the site…
-----
EDITORIAL: THE PRESIDENT'S REAL GOAL IN IRAQ
Jay Bookman, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/29/02
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/opinion/0902/29bookman.html
The official story on Iraq has never made sense. The connection that
the
Bush administration has tried to draw between Iraq and al-Qaida has
always
seemed contrived and artificial. In fact, it was hard to believe that
smart
people in the Bush administration would start a major war based on such
flimsy evidence.
The pieces just didn't fit. Something else had to be going on;
something
was missing.
In recent days, those missing pieces have finally begun to fall into
place.
As it turns out, this is not really about Iraq. It is not about weapons
of
mass destruction, or terrorism, or Saddam, or U.N. resolutions.
This war, should it come, is intended to mark the official emergence of
the
United States as a full-fledged global empire, seizing sole
responsibility
and authority as planetary policeman. It would be the culmination of a
plan
10 years or more in the making, carried out by those who believe the
United
States must seize the opportunity for global domination, even if it
means
becoming the "American imperialists" that our enemies always claimed we
were…
In an interview Friday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld brushed aside
that suggestion, noting that the United States does not covet other
nations' territory. That may be true, but 57 years after World War II
ended, we still have major bases in Germany and Japan. We will do the
same
in Iraq…
Among the architects of this would-be American Empire are a group of
brilliant and powerful people who now hold key positions in the Bush
administration: They envision the creation and enforcement of what they
call a worldwide "Pax Americana," or American peace. But so far, the
American people have not appreciated the true extent of that ambition.
Part of it's laid out in the National Security Strategy, a document in
which each administration outlines its approach to defending the
country…
In essence, it lays out a plan for permanent U.S. military and economic
domination of every region on the globe, unfettered by international
treaty
or concern. And to make that plan a reality, it envisions a stark
expansion
of our global military presence…
SEE ALSO:
U.N., IRAQ AGREE ON INSPECTION TERMS
WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press, 10/1/02
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - The chief U.N. weapons inspector for Iraq said
on
Tuesday that tentative agreement has been reached with Baghdad on the
return of his team to check for the presence of illegal, nuclear,
chemical
or biological weapons.
The Iraqi representatives have said "that they accept all the rights of
inspections that are laid down" in previous resolutions authorizing
U.N.
inspections, said the chief inspector, Hans Blix.
Iraq said an advance party of inspectors was due in Baghdad in two
weeks…
---
REPORT: SEIZED MATERIAL NOT URANIUM
Associated Press, 9/30/02
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-turkey-uranium1001sep30,0,1420147.story
ANKARA, Turkey -- Atomic energy officials said Monday that a substance
seized by police near the Syrian border was not weapons-grade uranium
as
Turkish officials first reported, according to the Anatolia news
agency.
Atomic Energy Institute chief Guler Koksal said the material was
harmless,
containing zinc, iron, zirconium and manganese.
The announcement ended days of speculation that the substance might
have
been destined for neighboring Iraq, which the United States accuses of
trying to smuggle in nuclear material for a secret weapons program.
Police, acting on a tip, recovered the material in a taxi last week in
Sanliurfa province, near the Syrian border. Two Turks who were trying
to
sell the material as uranium were released from custody.
The seizure alarmed intelligence agencies around the world when the
Turkish
police said it weighed 35 pounds last week. On Monday, police said the
material weighed only 5 ounces.
The disparity occurred because authorities initially included the
weight of
the lead container in which the material was placed, police said.
---
PENTAGON ADVISER SEEKS "REGIME CHANGE" IN GERMANY
Reuters, 10/1/02
BERLIN - A Pentagon adviser was quoted as saying on Tuesday that the
best
thing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could do to ease strained
relations with Washington over Iraq would be to quit.
"It would be best if he (Schroeder) resigned. But he's obviously not
going
to do that," Pentagon adviser Richard Perle said in an interview with
Wednesday's Handelsblatt daily, released ahead of publication.
U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said relations have been
poisoned by strident German criticism of U.S. policy towards Iraq
during
the recent election campaign. Schroeder's anti-war rhetoric is credited
with helping him win re-election.
Perle, a leading voice in U.S. efforts to oust Saddam Hussein, told
Handelsblatt that Schroeder's stance on Iraq would set back Berlin's
desire
to win a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council "for a
generation…"
-----
DOUBTS SET IN ON AFGHAN MISSION
Rupert Wingfield Hayes, BBC, 9/28/02
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/from_our_own_correspondent/2285638.stm
In the months since I'd first been there, stories had begun circulating
that the US operation in Afghanistan was descending into farce. They
had
come to hunt down Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda gang. But months of
combing the mountains had turned up little. Mistakes had begun to be
made -
some of them bad ones. In the worst, in July, a US air strike killed
more
than 40 Afghans at a wedding party. The guests had been firing their
guns
into the air - a common way to celebrate in Afghanistan. There had been
no
US apology...
I was hailed by two young soldiers lounging in one of those huge
American
Humvee jeeps. Clearly these two were not part of the guided tour.
"Excuse
me sir," they asked. "But do we really have to say this baloney?" The
actual word they used was a little more colourful. "What baloney?" I
asked.
They handed me a small laminated card. On it were instructions on how
to
deal with journalists. Every soldier had been given one.
These were not just general ground rules. It actually listed suggested
answers: "How do you feel about what you're doing in Afghanistan"?
Answer:
"We're united in our purpose and committed to achieving our goals."
"How
long do you think that will take?" Answer: "We will stay here as long
as it
takes to get the job done - sir!" Call me naive, but I was amazed. What
could they be afraid of? Perhaps of a bit too much honesty…
-----
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Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
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In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/2/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A GOOD FRIEND
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* ACTION ALERT: OPPOSE RECOGNIZING JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL'S CAPITAL
* THOUGHT CRIME ON CAMPUS (Creative Loafing)
- Daniel Pipes Presents a Danger To Academic Freedom (Oklahoma Daily)
* A PRO-ISRAEL TV CAMPAIGN DRAWS FIRE (New York Times)
- Perles of Wisdom for the Feithful (Haaretz)
- Israel Curfews Hurt Palestinians' Schooling-UNICEF (Reuters)
* VA. PROGRAM HELPS MUSLIM WOMEN COPE WITH POST-9/11 RAIDS (Washington
Post)
- Muslims Feel Targeted (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
* FORMER BLACK PANTHER ARRAIGNED (Montgomery Advertiser)
* DETAINEE HAS HIS DAY IN COURT (Chicago Tribune)
- Muslim Leader Testifies He's No Threat (Detroit Free Press)
* NEW U.S. ENTRY RULES WORRY ASIA'S MUSLIMS (Reuters)
- U.S. Regrets "Inappropriate Treatment" Of Malaysian Leaders (AFP)
* U.S. PLANNING FOR REGIME CHANGE HAS QUIETLY BEGUN (LA Times)
- U.S. Lawmakers Defend Iraq Trip, Decry Rush to War (Reuters)
- U.S. Faulted Over Its Efforts to Unite Dissidents (New York
Times)
- U.S. Threatens to Thwart Inspectors' Return to Iraq (London
Times)
- Excerpts of US Draft UN Resolution on Iraq (Reuters)
- U.S. Shipments of Pathogens to Iraq (AP)
- Why Jim Mcdermott Is A Hero (Antiwar)
* ARAB-AMERICAN LOBBY FINDS SMALL VICTORIES SWEET (Atlanta Journal
Constitution)
* A SPANISH BRIDGE TO ISLAM (Christian Science Monitor)
* WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT ISLAM (Publishers Weekly)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A GOOD FRIEND
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A good friend and a bad
friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller
might
give you some perfume as a gift, or you might buy some from him, or at
least you might smell its fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he might
singe
your clothes, and at the very least you will breathe in the fumes of
the
furnace."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 314
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 437 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package." Our goal is to send library packages to more than 16,000
public
libraries in America. CAIR urges Islamic centers and organizations to
sponsor at least 10 local libraries.
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
ACTION ALERT: OPPOSE RECOGNIZING JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL'S CAPITAL
https://www.cair-net.org/html/capwiz.html
-----
THOUGHT CRIME ON CAMPUS
John Sugg, Creative Loafing, 10/2/02
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/2002-10-02/fishwrapper.html
Last month, the blitzkrieg (and that word was chosen precisely for its
Nazi
allusion) against academia roared into high gear. Daniel Pipes, one of
America's most notorious Arab-haters and Islamophobes (qualities held
in
high esteem in Washington these days), launched a website,
www.campus-watch.org, that solicits students to spy on their teachers…
Pipes is best known for his strident and often racist denunciations of
Arabs and Islam. In an effort to divide Americans -- one that if you
inserted "blacks" for "Muslims" and "whites" for "Jews," would be
vigorously damned as KKK-speech -- he told the American Jewish Congress
a
year ago that he worries "the presence and increased stature, and
affluence, and enfranchisement of American Muslims...will present true
dangers to American Jews."
I contacted Pipes, and he not only confirmed his quote but, incredibly,
added: "It is accurate in itself but you must note that this was spoken
to
a Jewish audience. I make the same point respectively to audiences of
women, gays, civil libertarians, Hindus, Evangelical Christians,
atheists,
and scholars of Islam, among others, all of whom face 'true dangers' as
the
number of Muslims increases..."
SEE ALSO:
DANIEL PIPES PRESENTS A DANGER TO ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Oklahoma University Daily, 10/1/02
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/10/01/3d991bd1e134e
Daniel Pipes is scheduled to speak on "militant Islam" tonight. Pipes
is
the director of the Middle East Forum and a member of the Defense
Department's Special Task Force on Terrorism Technology.
But Daniel Pipes is also the co-founder of Campus Watch, a recently
established internet Web site that has begun to "monitor" American
universities (including Harvard University, the University of North
Carolina and the University of Chicago) along with leading scholars
whose
work focuses on the Middle East and who are suspected of harboring an
anti-Israel bias. Students and colleagues are invited to contribute to
these online "dossiers" and to help establish new ones.
The professors listed on the site have reported massive e-mail
harassment;
one has reportedly received death threats over the phone…
Our commitment to academic freedom leads us to welcome Dr. Pipes to OU.
That same commitment leads us to condemn the tactics of his Web site,
Campus Watch.
-----
A PRO-ISRAEL TV CAMPAIGN DRAWS FIRE
Nat Ives, New York Times, 10/1/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/01/business/media/01ADCO.html
The first television advertising campaign intended to drum up support
for
Israel in the United States begins its nationwide run this week, nearly
three weeks after CNN refused to broadcast one of the ads. But the
commercials, created and paid for by two Jewish groups, have already
ignited criticism from Arab-Americans.
The ads' sponsors - Israel 21C, a group of Silicon Valley executives
and
other wealthy sponsors, and the American Jewish Committee in New York -
said the campaign aimed to show Americans a side of Israel beyond the
bloody conflict that dominates the news media while reinforcing its
image
as a democratic nation...
SEE ALSO:
PERLES OF WISDOM FOR THE FEITHFUL
Akiva Eldar, Haaretz, 10/1/02
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=214635
In 1996, Richard Perle and Doug Feith joined a small group of
researchers
who were asked to help Benjamin Netanyahu in his first steps as prime
minister. They could not have known that four years later that the
working
paper they prepared, including plans for Israel to help restore the
Hashemite throne in Iraq, would shed light on the current policies of
the
only superpower in the world. The document, prepared by the Institute
for
Advanced Strategic and Political Studies, with offices in Washington
and
Jerusalem, appears at the institute's Web site,
http://www.israeleconomy.org/strat1.htm, and has been mentioned in the
American press.
The current Israeli and Iraqi connection, and the key role Feith and
Perle
play in the Bush administration, make the document a treasure trove.
Perle
heads the Defense Department's Policy Board and is considered one of
the
most important strategic thinkers in the American establishment. Feith
is
the deputy defense minister - No. 3 in the Pentagon's hierarchy. The
document presents an ambitious plan for a "U.S.-Israeli partnership
based
on self-reliance, maturity and mutuality - not one focused narrowly on
territorial disputes."
The new partnership drawn up by Perle, Feith and five other
researchers,
has interests in all sorts of directions in the region…
---
ISRAEL CURFEWS HURT PALESTINIANS' SCHOOLING-UNICEF
Reuters, 10/2/02
RAMALLAH, West Bank - The United Nations children's fund (UNICEF) said
on
Wednesday Israeli army curfews on Palestinian cities in the West Bank
had
seriously disrupted the education of hundreds of thousands of children.
The Israeli army has re-occupied West Bank cities since June after a
spate
of Palestinian suicide bombings and it has imposed military curfews as
a
measure it says is necessary to prevent further attacks. Palestinians
call
it collective punishment.
"Right now the Israeli military is preventing thousands of Palestinian
children and teachers from attending school," said Pierre Poupard,
UNICEF
special representative in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in a statement.
"A generation of Palestinian children is being denied their right to an
education."
He said more than 226,000 children and over 9,300 teachers were unable
to
reach their formal classrooms and at least 580 schools have been closed
due
to the army curfews and closures…
-----
VA. PROGRAM HELPS MUSLIM WOMEN COPE WITH POST-9/11 RAIDS
(Byline withheld by work action at newspaper.), Washington Post,
10/2/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30047-2002Oct1.html
Aysha Unus was home with her 18-year-old daughter when armed men
dressed in
black broke down her door. As her daughter tried to call 911, Unus
said,
the men ordered the teenager at gunpoint to put down the phone, then
kept
both of them handcuffed for nearly five hours.
The March 20 raid by federal agents, one of 14 search-and-seizure
operations carried out at Muslim homes and organizations across
Northern
Virginia that day, was aimed at gathering information on possible
financial
links to Middle Eastern terrorist groups. No one was arrested in what
federal counterterrorism officials dubbed Operation Green Quest, and
the
results of the searches have not been made public.
But while much about the operation remains murky, one aspect is drawing
increased attention: the trauma that women who were home at the time
say
they suffered when their houses were raided.
Now the psychological damage allegedly inflicted by one branch of the
federal government is being treated with funding from another. Under a
federal grant to help people affected by Sept. 11 and its aftermath,
Fairfax County has been offering group counseling to Muslim women whose
homes were searched last March…
The six-hour search-and-seizure operation at her Herndon home
"terrorized
me and my 18-year-old daughter," Unus told about 60 people who attended
the
GMU gathering. The federal agents "humiliated us" and "treated us as
criminals," she complained.
Unus, who said she came to the United States in 1970 and long ago
became a
naturalized citizen, described Sept. 11, 2001, as "a horrible day" and
said
she supported President Bush's fight against terrorism…
Kareema Altomare, an American woman who converted to Islam 10 years
ago,
said she remains shocked and puzzled by the raid on the Graduate School
of
Islamic and Social Sciences in Leesburg, where she was working in the
dean's office. The school is authorized by the Defense Department to
train
Muslim chaplains and has gradated 10 of the 14 such chaplains currently
serving in the Armed Forces, she said.
Altomare complained that when she was questioned during the raid, a
Customs
agent asked her why "an intelligent woman like yourself" would choose
to
become a Muslim and wear the traditional style of dress for women…
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIMS FEEL TARGETED; RAIDS, OTHER ACTIONS CITED AT FAIRFAX MEETING
Paul Bradley, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/29/02
http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Fairfax, VA - Muslims who live and work in Northern Virginia fear that
the
country's war on terrorism has become a war on American Muslim
institutions, sweeping up innocent victims as authorities search for
links
to terrorist groups.
Last week, during a town hall-style meeting for the Muslim community at
George Mason University, a group of Muslims complained they have been
targeted because of their faith and victimized by heavy-handed tactics
from
overzealous law enforcement officials.
The meeting was organized by Azizah al-Hibri, a professor at the
University
of Richmond and widely known advocate of equal rights for Muslims, and
the
Constitution Project, a legal rights outreach organization based at
Georgetown University…
Armed with a post-9/11 law broadening the power of the FBI to
infiltrate
and monitor religious organizations, the bureau has swept up other
suspects
who have been detained for months without being charged, provoking
outcries
of a new kind of McCarthyism against Arabs.
Critics of the approach warn that authorities, in their zeal to shut
down
al-Qaida, may be alienating their best allies in the war on terror by
lumping the innocent with the guilty…
-----
FORMER BLACK PANTHER ARRAIGNED
Alvin Benn, Montgomery Advertiser, 10/02/02
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWS/StoryAlabamarap02w.htm
Jamil Al-Amin was arraigned Tuesday in Federal District Court in
Montgomery
as prosecutors sought to add more jail time for the former Black
Panther
Party leader now serving life without parole for killing a deputy
sheriff
in Atlanta.
Al-Amin, once known as H. Rap Brown, was convicted earlier this year on
the
more serious charge and has filed an appeal.
Selma lawyer J. L. Chestnut, who represented Al-Amin before U.S.
Magistrate
Judge Charles Coody, said after the arraignment that "it's the position
of
the federal government that if you shoot at one of their people, they
will
prosecute."
"Personally, I think it's an insurance policy," said Chestnut, who
accompanied Atlanta lawyer John R. Martin at the arraignment. Martin
was
Al-Amin's lead lawyer during his murder trial.
Chestnut said the federal government wants to gain a second conviction
against Al-Amin in case he wins his appeal on the murder charge. If he
should be set free in Georgia and convicted in Alabama, he would remain
behind bars…
-----
DETAINEE HAS HIS DAY IN COURT
Kim Barker, Chicago Tribune, 10/2/02
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0210020175oct02,0,5289672.story
Detroit - A Muslim activist who has been locked up for 9 1/2 months
because
of suspected terrorism links testified in public for the first time
Tuesday, saying he should be released from federal custody because he
poses
no threat to national security and no flight risk…
Rabih Haddad, 42, was arrested in his Ann Arbor, Mich., home on a visa
violation on Dec. 14, as part of the government's investigation into
the
terrorist attacks. On the same day, federal agents also froze the bank
accounts and raided the Bridgeview, Ill., office of the Global Relief
Foundation, an Islamic charity that Haddad helped found and that
federal
officials say is linked to terrorism.
No criminal charges have been filed against Haddad or Global Relief...
At the hearing, Haddad's brother and wife also testified, saying that
Haddad was not dangerous and was an asset to the community.
"He's wonderful," said his wife, Salma al-Rushaid, who has four
children
with Haddad.
Haddad, a Lebanese national, has become the public face for the
hundreds of
people detained since Sept. 11 in connection with the terrorism
investigation. All the detainees' names were supposed to be secret; all
their hearings were supposed to be secret, to protect national
security.
Most have been deported…
SEE ALSO:
MUSLIM LEADER TESTIFIES HE'S NO THREAT, SHOULD BE GRANTED BOND
Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 10/2/02
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/haddad2_20021002.htm
DETROIT - Speaking in an open court for the first time since his
detention
nearly 10 months ago, Rabih Haddad, the Muslim leader accused by the
federal government of helping fund terrorism, defended his time in
Pakistan
as legitimate charity work…
Haddad testified he was only involved in charity work for Muslims.
"The reason I'm in this line of work is to please God," said Haddad.
Wednesday's hearing often was tense, as government and defense
attorneys
verbally sparred throughout the 8-hour-plus hearing…
-----
NEW U.S. ENTRY RULES WORRY ASIA'S MUSLIMS
Jane Macartney, Reuters, 10/2/02
SINGAPORE, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Whether to press an inky fingerprint for
an
indelible record and gain entry to the United States is a question
facing
many Asians after Washington imposed tight new rules this week.
Some may wonder whether doing business, even taking a holiday to see
the
Statue of Liberty, is worth the tedious, time-consuming and probably
humiliating process of entering a United States gripped by fears of a
new
wave of September 11-style attacks.
"I promised myself that I would not travel to the U.S. until they learn
the
difference between terrorists and Muslims," veteran former Malaysian
newspaper editor Datuk Kadir Jasin told Singapore's Straits Times after
three hours of interrogation this year at Des Moines International
Airport
in the central state of Iowa.
At the very least the new U.S. policy could prompt allegations of
racism.
Such charges could slice through the international support that
Washington
needs to retain and nurture in its fight against terror and that is
already
being put to the test as it seeks backing around the world for a war
against Iraq…
Jasin, former editor-in-chief of Malaysia's New Straits Times newspaper
group, said he had dropped the United States from his travel plans and
urged other Malaysians to go elsewhere to holiday or study.
"Muslims just see themselves as being targeted," said the Asia-based
political analyst.
"Anything (U.S. President George W.) Bush says that this is a war not
against Muslims but against terrorism is seen as a load of hogwash…"
SEE ALSO:
US REGRETS "INAPPROPRIATE TREATMENT" OF MALAYSIAN LEADERS
Agence France Presse, 10/2/02
KUALA LUMPUR - The United States Wednesday expressed regret for any
"inappropriate treatment" of Malaysian leaders after it was revealed
that
the deputy prime minister had to remove his shoes for a security check
on
arrival in Los Angeles.
"The US embassy sincerely regrets any inconveniences or inappropriate
treatment that senior Malaysian government officials may have
experienced
during their visits to the US," the Kuala Lumpur embassy said in a
statement.
The use of the plural "officials" is understood to include a complaint
by
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad about the "rough" attitude of a
security
agent who boarded his aircraft on arrival in New York. "When I arrived
in
New York on the way to Washington, an officer who boarded the jet said
in a
rough manner that nobody should move until we were all checked,"
Mahathir
told reporters Tuesday...
-----
U.S. PLANNING FOR REGIME CHANGE HAS QUIETLY BEGUN
Robin Wright and Sebastian Rotella, Los Angeles Times, 10/2/02
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-plan2oct02.story
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has quietly begun planning the
transition to a new government in Baghdad, built around a leader
emerging
from inside Iraq and a foreign military presence flexible enough to
meet
challenges in the country's three distinct regions, according to senior
administration officials.
In contrast to military plans that are already on President Bush's
desk,
the transition planning is still in a very early stage. But it reflects
the
growing sense of inevitability about both a conflict with Iraq and a
regime
change, even though Bush has not yet made the decision to go to war.
It also reflects growing pressure from Congress and U.S. allies to
address
problems that might come up after a conflict in the historically
unstable
country. "Militarily, it may not be that difficult for the United
States.
The problems will start afterward. It will be a lot more difficult than
in
Afghanistan," said Remy Leveau, a former French diplomat in the Middle
East
now at the Institute for Political Studies in Paris...
SEE ALSO:
U.S. LAWMAKERS DEFEND IRAQ TRIP, DECRY RUSH TO WAR
Laura MacInnis, Reuters, 10/2/02
WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Two Democratic congressmen defended on
Wednesday their trip to Iraq against charges of being unpatriotic and
"un-American," saying they just wanted the United States to avoid a
rush to
war.
Reps. David Bonior of Michigan and James McDermott of Washington state
held
a news conference on Capitol Hill to discuss their findings during
their
five-day trip to Iraq, for which they were sharply criticized by
numerous
lawmakers.
California Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson, who accompanied them on the
trip,
did not attend the news conference.
Bonior, who until January held the No. 2 post in the House of
Representatives Democratic leadership, said the trip was meant convey
to
Iraq the severity of U.S. war threats.
While Congress was preparing a resolution authorizing President George
W.
Bush to use force against Iraq, Bonior said such an attack would put
American lives at risk -- soldiers in the war as well as U.S. embassy
personnel in the Arab world.
"Going to war is a very, very, very serious business," Bonior said.
"The
implications here are broad, they are staggering and they need to be
looked
at soberly, deliberately, and they need to be looked at in a way which
reflects the seriousness of war itself…"
---
U.S. FAULTED OVER ITS EFFORTS TO UNITE IRAQI DISSIDENTS
Judith Miller, New York Times, 10/2/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/02/international/middleeast/02OPPO.html
While endorsing "regime change" and democracy in Iraq, the Bush
administration is stumbling in its efforts to forge a cohesive
opposition
to Saddam Hussein. According to Iraqi opposition leaders and experts on
Iraq, its approach remains plagued by differences over who should lead
the
dissidents and who would rule the country most effectively if Mr.
Hussein
were overthrown.
In August, the administration sponsored a meeting of the six main Iraqi
opposition groups, trying to help them establish a united front. Yet,
according to the opposition groups and analysts on Iraq, this effort
has
been undercut by clashes between the Pentagon, on one side, and the
State
Department and Central Intelligence Agency on the other, over the role
of
the Iraqi National Congress.
That group has served for many years as the umbrella group for the
Iraqi
opposition. The tensions, critics of American policy say, have
seriously
complicated Washington's effort to prove that there is a popular,
democratic alternative to Mr. Hussein's dictatorship…
---
US THREATENS TO THWART INSPECTORS' RETURN TO IRAQ
Richard Beeston, London Times, 10/2/02
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-433359,00.html
Progress between Iraq and the United Nations hit an immediate snag last
night when Washington said that it would work to block the swift return
of
weapons inspectors.
Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, said that the inspectors
should
not go back to Iraq until they had received new instructions from the
UN
Security Council.
His intervention came after Iraqi officials in Vienna reached a
comprehensive agreement with Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons
inspector,
that could see inspectors back in Baghdad within two weeks after a
four-year absence.
The deal, to be presented to the Security Council tomorrow, put Britain
and
the United States on the spot. London and Washington want a new UN
resolution to authorise force if President Saddam Hussein obstructs the
inspections. They are fighting France, China and Russia, all with a
veto on
the Security Council, who want inspectors to return as soon as
possible…
---
EXCERPTS OF US DRAFT UN RESOLUTION ON IRAQ
Reuters, 10/2/02
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Following are the operative sections
from
a U.S.-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq. The four-page
document, obtained by Reuters on Tuesday and subject to revision, is
expected to be introduced later this week to the 15-nation body.
1. DECIDES that Iraq is still, and has been for a number of years, in
material breach of its obligations under relevant resolutions,
including
resolution 687 (1991), in particular through Iraq's failure to
cooperate
with United Nations inspectors and the IAEA (International Atomic
Energy
Agency) and to complete the actions required under paragraphs 6 to 13
of
resolution 687 (1991)
2. DECIDES that in order to begin to comply with its disarmament
obligations, the Government of Iraq shall provide to the Security
Council
prior to the beginning of inspections and not later than 30 days from
the
date of this resolution an acceptable and currently accurate, full and
complete declaration of all aspects of its programs to develop
chemical,
biological and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial
vehicles, including all holdings and precise locations of such weapons,
components, subcomponents, stocks of agents, and related material and
equipment; the locations and work of its research, development and
production facilities, as well as all other chemical, biological and
nuclear programs, including any which it claims are for purposes not
related to weapon production or material;
3. DECIDES that Iraq shall provide UNMOVIC (the U.N. Monitoring,
Verification and Inspection Commission) and IAEA immediate,
unconditional
and unrestricted access to any and all areas, facilities, buildings,
equipment, records, and means of transport which they wish to inspect
as
well as immediate, unimpeded, unrestricted and private access to all
officials and other persons whom UNMOVIC or IAEA wish to interview
pursuant
to any aspect of their mandates; further decides that UNMOVIC and the
IAEA
may at their discretion conduct interviews inside or outside Iraq or
facilitate the travel of those interviewed and family members outside
of
Iraq, and that such interviews shall occur without the presence of
observers from the Iraqi government, and instructs UNMOVIC and requests
the
IAEA to resume inspections by (date left blank);
4. To that end, demands that Iraq immediately comply with its
obligations,
decides that Iraq shall submit to UNMOVIC all outstanding biannual
declarations, and decides that any permanent member of the Security
Council
can recommend to UNMOVIC and IAEA sites to be inspected, persons to be
interviewed, the conditions of such interviews, and data to be
collected,
and receive a report on the results;
5. DECIDES that, in view of the prolonged interruption by Iraq of the
presence of UNMOVIC and IAEA and in order for them to accomplish the
tasks
set forth in paragraph 3 above, the Security Council hereby establishes
the
following revised procedures, notwithstanding prior understandings, to
facilitate their work in Iraq: UNMOVIC and IAEA shall determine the
personnel on their inspection teams, except that any permanent member
of
the Security Council may request to be represented on any inspection
team
with the same rights and protections accorded other members of the
team, shall have unrestricted rights of entry into and out of Iraq,
the
right to free, unrestricted and immediate movement to and from
inspection
sites, and the right to inspect any sites and buildings,
including unrestricted access to presidential sites, notwithstanding
the
provisions of resolution 1154 (1998), shall be provided regional bases
and
operating bases throughout Iraq, including offices for inspection teams
in
regions outside Baghdad, shall have the right to the names of all
personnel
associated with Iraq's chemical, biological nuclear and ballistic
missile
programs and the associated research, development and production
facilities;
Teams shall be accompanied at their bases by sufficient U.N. security
forces to protect them; shall have the right to declare for the
purposes of
this resolution no-fly/no-drive zones, exclusion zones and/or ground
and
air transit corridors which shall be enforced by U.N. security forces
or by
member states; shall have the free and unrestricted use and landing of
fixed and rotary winged aircraft, including unmanned reconnaissance
vehicles; shall have the right at their sole discretion verifiably to
remove, destroy or render harmless all prohibited weapons, subsystems,
components, records, materials and other related items and the right to
impound or close any facilities or equipment for the production
thereof;
shall have the right to unrestricted voice and data communications,
including encrypted communication; shall have the right to free import
and
use of equipment or materials for inspections and to seize and export
any
equipment, materials, documents taken during inspections; and shall
have
access to any information that any member state is willing to provide.
Further decides these procedures shall be binding on Iraq.
6. DECIDES further that Iraq shall immediately cease, and shall not
take or
threaten hostile acts directed against any representative or personnel
of
the United Nations or of any member state taking action pursuant to any
Security Council resolutions.
7. REQUESTS the Secretary General immediately to notify Iraq of the
foregoing steps in paragraph (5) and decides that within seven days
following such notification, Iraq shall state its acceptance of these
steps
and the provisions of paragraph 2,3,4 and 6 above.
8. REQUESTS all member states to give full support to UNMOVIC and the
IAEA
on the discharge of their mandates, including by providing any
information
on Iraqi attempts, including since 1998, to acquire prohibited items;
9. DIRECTS the executive director of UNMOVIC and the director general
of
the IAEA to report immediately to the council any interference with or
problems with respect to the execution of their mission;
10. DECIDES that false statements or omissions in the declaration
submitted
by Iraq to the council and failure by Iraq at any time to comply and
cooperate fully in accordance with the provisions laid out in this
resolution, shall constitute a further material breach of Iraq's
obligations, and that such breach authorizes member states to use all
necessary means to restore international peace and security in the
area."
---
U.S. SHIPMENTS OF PATHOGENS TO IRAQ
Associated Press, 10/2/02
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/politics/4186725.htm
Shipments from the United States to Iraq of the kinds of pathogens
later
used in Iraq's biological weapons programs, according to records from
the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Senate Banking
Committee
and U.N. weapons inspectors…:
The American Type Culture Collection, a biological samples repository
in
Manassas, Va., sent two shipments of anthrax to Iraq in the 1980s.
Three
anthrax strains were in a May 1986 shipment sent to the University of
Baghdad, which U.N. inspectors later linked to Iraq's biological
weapons
program. A 1988 shipment from ATCC to Iraq also included four anthrax
strains…
ATCC sent six strains of Clostridium botulinum to the University of
Baghdad
in the May 1986 shipment. The September 1988 ATCC shipment to Iraq also
contained one strain of Clostridium botulinum.
In March 1986, the CDC sent samples of botulinum toxin and botulinum
toxiod
(used to make a vaccine against botulinum poisoning) directly to Iraq's
al-Muthanna complex, a center for Iraq's chemical weapons program and
the
site where Iraq restarted its dormant biological weapons program in
1985...
---
WHY JIM McDERMOTT IS A HERO
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 10/2/02
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
There was Colette Avital, a Labor Party member of the Israeli Knesset,
on a
trip to Capitol Hill, worried about the prospect of war in the Middle
East.
Rep. Tom Lantos, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on
International Affairs, took her by the hand, and, according to
Ha'aretz,
tried to reassure her with these soothing words:
"My dear Colette, don't worry. You won't have any problem with Saddam.
We'll be rid of the bastard soon enough. And in his place we'll install
a
pro-Western dictator, who will be good for us and for you."
Good for us, and for Israel - but not so good for Iraq. Oh well, c'est
la vie!
I can't really say I'm shocked - shocked! - at such a display of brazen
cynicism: and neither, I trust, are you. But I fear Ms. Avital was a
bit
taken aback by this confidence, and seemed hardly assuaged as Lantos
explained that this "interim period" of pro-Western autocracy "should
last
between five to six years." Yes, but…
The war hysteria is already building. Look at the crazed brouhaha over
the
visit of congressmen David Bonior, Jim McDermott and Mike Thompson to
Iraq.
They went on a humanitarian mission, in Iraq at the request of U.S.
church
groups, and McDermott said in a live interview on ABC's "This Week"
what
everyone knows to be true:
"I think the president would mislead the American people. It would not
surprise me if they came with some information that is not provable."
McDermott has become a lightning rod in the political storm over Iraq.
The
War Party wants to turn him into another Cynthia McKinney - but it
won't work.
This, after all, is the same gang that proposed an "Office of Strategic
Information" whose primary function - aside from the care and feeding
of
numerous Washington bureaucrats - was to lie to the media so as to
confuse
"the enemy" (and, incidentally, the American people - or do I repeat
myself?)...
-----
ARAB-AMERICAN LOBBY FINDS SMALL VICTORIES SWEET
Scott Shepard, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/wednesday/atlanta_world_d3a9a7fbe5c121eb001a.html
Washington --- The Arab-American lobby is no match for the American
Israel
Public Affairs Committee, in membership or money.
Yet while the lobby lost political contests with AIPAC this year, the
leaders of the far-flung alliance of Arab-American organizations
believe
they have never held a stronger hand in American politics.
"We try to be the little thorn in the side of the big elephant that is
called AIPAC," said Khalid Turaani, executive director of the
Washington-based American Muslims for Jerusalem, part of the loosely
knit
pro-Arab and pro-Muslim lobby. Where AIPAC's staff is counted by the
score,
Turaani's staff can be counted on one hand. Where AIPAC spends an
estimated
$13 million to $15 million a year, Turaani's organization spends less
than
$100,000 annually. The best funded of the more than 20 Arab and Muslim
lobbying organizations is the Arab American Institute, with an annual
budget of just over $1 million.
Consequently, said Turaani, the Arab-Muslim lobby often relies on
"grass-roots" organizations to publicize its concerns, groups such as
the
Southern Region arm of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
and
Atlanta Palestine Solidarity, the primary organizers of the protest
aimed
at the AIPAC national summit in Atlanta.
"We used to never be on the radar screen," he said. "Now we are."
The Arab-Muslim lobby sees reasons for celebrating, even in the
political
setbacks it suffered this year --- the passage of congressional
resolutions
of support for Israel and the loss of two sympathetic congressional
Democratic incumbents, Earl Hilliard of Alabama and Cynthia McKinney of
Georgia…
-----
A SPANISH BRIDGE TO ISLAM
Sara B. Miller, Christian Science Monitor, 10/2/02
http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2002/1002/p07s01-woeu.html
MADRID - As a teenager, Elena Rodriguez Arteaga visited the Alhambra,
Granada's great Moorish citadel, and became intrigued with Spain's
Muslim
past. She studied its role in her overwhelmingly Catholic country, and
the
more she learned, the more she wanted to know.
Three years ago, she converted to Islam. Now Ms. Arteaga, a nurse at a
public hospital in Madrid, uses her understanding of both the Western
and
Muslim worlds to help new immigrants - particularly women and children
-
adapt in Spain. As in much of the rest of Europe, politicians here
continue
to link immigration with increasing delinquency, and efforts to tighten
immigration laws are gaining ground as tensions between the native and
new
communities rise…
In the pueblo of Rio de Almodovar on Cordoba's outskirts, Kamila Toby,
an
American convert who married a Spanish convert, works with the
organization
A-Nisa, which stands for "woman" in Arabic, and helps give Islamic
women a
voice. She organized a conference for these women last spring, which
included such touchy subjects as birth control, and has organized trips
for
single women to make the pilgrimage to Mecca. She also helps run a
magazine
and website called Verde Islam, devoted to Islamic topics and to
explaining
cross-cultural misunderstandings…
The rejection of Spain's growing Muslim community is ironic, some here
say,
since the historic hybrid of Islam and Catholicism is one of the most
celebrated aspects of Spanish culture. It is not uncommon to find a
portrait of the Virgin Mary next to Arabic baths built during the 800
years
of Muslim rule. "Islam is very much a part of Spanish history, but it
is
very close and yet very far," says Abdel Bari, a history professor at
the
Ibn Rushd Islamic University, a private university founded in 1995 in
Cordoba. "People love it and reject it vigorously at the same time…"
-----
WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT ISLAM
Publishers Weekly, 9/30/02
John L. Esposito. Oxford, $17.95 (222p)
ISBN: 0-19-515713-3 (Islam/Introduction)
Georgetown professor Esposito has written an excellent primer on all
aspects of Islam. The question-and-answer format allows readers to
skip
ahead to areas that interests them, including hot button issues such as
"Why are Muslims so violent?" or "Why do Muslim women wear veils and
long
garments?" In his answers, which are anywhere from a paragraph to
several
pages long, Esposito elegantly educations the reader through what he
Qur'an
says, how Muslims are influenced by their local cultures, and how the
unique politics of Islamic countries affects Muslims views.
All three elements contribute to a fuller understanding of Islam. For
instance, in answering the question on veiling, Esposito accurately
clarifies that though the Qur'an instructs believers to be modest, it
does
not require head coverings. He continues by describing how the custom
of
veiling gained popularity in and after Muhammad's time as a status
symbol. He ends by pointing out how some women who veil today feel
they
are making a social protest against judgment based on appearance as
much as
they are fulfilling the modesty requirement. Occasionally Esposito
excludes some key information…
-----
TO BECOME A CAIR MEMBER, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp
TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/voting.asp
-----
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-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #348
---
ACTION REQUESTED: Register online at
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/conference.asp, or fill out the form
below.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: CAIR needs volunteers to help organize this
important
event. Anyone who would like to offer his or her time and expertise
should
contact Hodan Hassan by calling 202-488-8787, or e-mail
hhassan@cair-net.org
---
MARTIN LUTHER KING III TO SPEAK AT CAIR DINNER
The Council on American-Islamic Relations cordially invites you to
attend
its Eighth Annual Fundraising Banquet:
"MUSLIMS IN AMERICA:DEFENDING FREEDOM, PROMOTING JUSTICE"
SPECIAL GUESTS:
Martin Luther King III
Dr. John Esposito
Imam Siraj Wahhaj
Rep. Cynthia McKinney
Other Special Guests Including
Elected Officials Who Stood By Muslims
2002 Islamic Community Service Awards
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 2002
Registration begins at 6 p.m., program at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner
8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner/Vienna, VA
COST: Tickets: $55/$85 per couple R.S.V.P. by Oct. 22, 2002
No children please. (Limited babysitting with prior notice only - $10
per
child.) For information, call 202-488-8787
Register online at https://www.cair-net.org/asp/conference.asp, or fill
out
the form below.
--- CLIP AND E-MAIL, FAX OR MAIL ---
___ YES, I will attend. Enclosed is my payment, payable to CAIR, in the
amount of $______ for _____ seats.
___ SORRY, I will not be able to attend. But I would like to support
CAIR's
important work defending and promoting the image of Islam and the
rights of
Muslims by sending a donation of $______. Kindly reply by October 22,
2002.
Person Purchasing Tickets:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Daytime Phone:
Evening Phone:
Names of Other Attendees:
Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Credit Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
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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 Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
BREAKING NEWS: FALWELL CALLS PROPHET MOHAMMED A "TERRORIST"
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash.htm
The Rev. Jerry Falwell will call Islam's founder and most sacred
figure,
Mohammed, "a terrorist" on 60 MINUTES this Sunday night, the DRUDGE
REPORT
has learned.
"I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I read enough…by both Muslims and
non-Muslims, [to decide] that he was a violent man, a man of war,"
Falwell
tells CBS. "In my opinion…Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses,
and
I think Mohammed set an opposite example."
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT #349
PAT ROBERTSON TO RECEIVE $500,000 WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE GRANT
Evangelical called Prophet Muhammad a "killer," Muslims urged to
contact HHS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/3/02) - CAIR today said televangelist Pat
Robertson
is unworthy to receive one of the first "faith-based" government grants
because of his attacks on the faith of Islam and its Prophet Muhammad
and
asked that the decision to give his group a grant be reconsidered.
Operation Blessing International, a charity created by Robertson, is
scheduled to receive $500,000 in the first wave of grants to be
distributed
under President Bush's faith-based initiative, a program that Robertson
himself denounced earlier this year. The Operation Blessing grant is
one of
25 to be announced today by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
G.
Thompson.
SEE: "Robertson Charity Wins 'Faith-Based' Grant"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35217-2002Oct2.html
SEE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/faith-based/
In a recent appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes"
program,
Robertson smeared both Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. About Muhammad,
Robertson said: "This man was an absolute wild-eyed fanatic. He was a
robber and a brigand. And to say that these terrorists distort Islam,
they're carrying out Islam…I mean, this man [Muhammad] was a killer.
And to
think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent." Robertson also
called Islam "a monumental scam" and claimed the Quran, Islam's
revealed
text, "is strictly a theft of Jewish theology."
Robertson has in the past repeatedly defamed Islam and Muslims on his
Christian Broadcasting Network "700 Club" program. He called Islam the
"religion of the slavers" and said Americans who converted to Islam
exhibited "insanity."
"Anyone who exhibits such bigoted, hate-filled views is unworthy to
receive
tax-payer dollars. Mr. Robertson should be repudiated, not rewarded,
for
his Islamophobic hate speech. The White House initiative must not
finance
those who would defame Islam and divide our nation," said CAIR
Executive
Director Nihad Awad. Awad added that it is hypocritical for Robertson
to
condemn the faith-based initiative on one hand, and then apply for and
accept a grant from that same program.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
1) Contact HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and the White House to ask
that
the decision to offer Robertson's group a grant be reconsidered.
CONTACT:
Sec. Tommy G. Thompson
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
FAX: 202-690-7203 E-MAIL: hhsmail@hhs.gov
COPY TO: president@whitehouse.gov, cair@cair-net.org
2) Help counter the attacks on Prophet Muhammad and Islam by taking
part in
CAIR's Library Project. Muslim individuals and groups to are urged to
sponsor 18-item "library packages" of books, videos and audio cassettes
about Islam and Muslims, which will then be distributed to as many as
16,000 public libraries nationwide. (One of the books in the package is
a
biography of the Prophet.) Some 445 library packages have already been
sponsored.
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
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http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CORRECTION: The e-mail address for Sec. Thompson distributed earlier
was
incorrect. The actual address is: lynda.gyles@hhs.gov
Please re-send any comments.
-----
CAIR ACTION ALERT #349
PAT ROBERTSON TO RECEIVE $500,000 WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE GRANT
Evangelical called Prophet Muhammad a “killer,” Muslims urged to
contact HHS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/3/02) CAIR today said televangelist Pat
Robertson is
unworthy to receive one of the first “faith-based” government grants
because of his attacks on the faith of Islam and its Prophet Muhammad
and
asked that the decision to give his group a grant be reconsidered.
Operation Blessing International, a charity created by Robertson, is
scheduled to receive $500,000 in the first wave of grants to be
distributed
under President Bush’s faith-based initiative, a program that Robertson
himself denounced earlier this year. The Operation Blessing grant is
one of
25 to be announced today by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
G.
Thompson.
SEE: “Robertson Charity Wins 'Faith-Based' Grant”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35217-2002Oct2.html
SEE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/faith-based/
In a recent appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes”
program,
Robertson smeared both Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. About Muhammad,
Robertson said: “This man was an absolute wild-eyed fanatic. He was a
robber and a brigand. And to say that these terrorists distort Islam,
they're carrying out Islam…I mean, this man [Muhammad] was a killer.
And to
think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent.” Robertson also
called Islam “a monumental scam” and claimed the Quran, Islam’s
revealed
text, “is strictly a theft of Jewish theology.”
Robertson has in the past repeatedly defamed Islam and Muslims on his
Christian Broadcasting Network “700 Club” program. He called Islam the
“religion of the slavers” and said Americans who converted to Islam
exhibited “insanity.”
“Anyone who exhibits such bigoted, hate-filled views is unworthy to
receive
tax-payer dollars. Mr. Robertson should be repudiated, not rewarded,
for
his Islamophobic hate speech. The White House initiative must not
finance
those who would defame Islam and divide our nation,” said CAIR
Executive
Director Nihad Awad. Awad added that it is hypocritical for Robertson
to
condemn the faith-based initiative on one hand, and then apply for and
accept a grant from that same program.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
1) Contact HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and the White House to ask
that
the decision to offer Robertson’s group a grant be reconsidered.
CONTACT:
Sec. Tommy G. Thompson
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
FAX: 202-690-7203 E-MAIL: lynda.gyles@hhs.gov
COPY TO: president@whitehouse.gov, cair@cair-net.org
2) Help counter the attacks on Prophet Muhammad and Islam by taking
part in
CAIR’s Library Project. Muslim individuals and groups to are urged to
sponsor 18-item “library packages” of books, videos and audio cassettes
about Islam and Muslims, which will then be distributed to as many as
16,000 public libraries nationwide. (One of the books in the package is
a
biography of the Prophet.) Some 445 library packages have already been
sponsored.
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/4/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: THOSE WHO KNEW HIM, LOVED HIM
* GOOD NEWS: DONOR SPONSORS 65 LIBRARY PACKAGES
* REGISTER FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL DINNER
* MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY SUNDAY IN DC
* TX POLITICIANS TO ADDRESS MUSLIMS AT VOTER REGISTRATION PICNIC
- Resources: State Voter Registration Deadlines
* ELECTED OFFICIALS ATTEND EVENT WITH MUSLIM-BASHERS
- Jerry Falwell Calls Islam's Prophet a 'Terrorist' (AP)
- Robertson's Operation Blessing Receives $500,000 Federal Grant (AP)
* TOLERANCE PLEA IS STIRRING CONTENTION (New York Times)
- Divestment Petition Is Not Anti-Semitic (Boston Globe)
* ISRAELI OFFICIAL DENIES REPORT THAT MOSSAD FOLLOWED 9/11 TERRORISTS
(Ha'aretz)
- 9/11: What Did Israel Know? (Antiwar.com)
* AL-AQSA MOSQUE 'MAY COLLAPSE' (Guardian)
- Israeli Police Storm Muslim Compound (AP)
- Troops Critically Wound Palestinian Boy-Witnesses (Reuters)
* EDITORIAL: THE STONES OF BAGHDAD (New York Times)
* EID STAMP TO BE ISSUED (Philadelphia Inquirer)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: THOSE WHO KNEW HIM, LOVED HIM
A companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described him
by
saying: "Anyone who saw him suddenly stood in awe of him, and anyone
who
made his acquaintance loved him. Those who described him said they had
never seen anyone like him before or since."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1524
-----
GOOD NEWS: DONOR SPONSORS 65 LIBRARY PACKAGES
Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), one donor sponsored 65 library
packages.
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 539 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
REGISTER FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL DINNER
Registration is open for CAIR's 8th Annual Dinner in Washington, D.C.,
may
call (202) 488-8787, email register@cair-net.org or fill out the form
below. There will an opportunity to register for the dinner at CAIR's
Muslim Heritage Day booth this Sunday in Washington, D.C. (See below.)
--- CLIP AND E-MAIL, FAX OR MAIL ---
___ YES, I will attend. Enclosed is my payment, payable to CAIR, in the
amount of $______ for _____ seats.
___ SORRY, I will not be able to attend. But I would like to support
CAIR's
important work defending and promoting the image of Islam and the
rights of
Muslims by sending a donation of $______. Kindly reply by October 22,
2002.
Person Purchasing Tickets:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Daytime Phone:
Evening Phone:
Names of Other Attendees:
Payment: ___Check ___VISA ___MasterCard ___Discover ___Money Order
Credit Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name as on Card:
Signature: ________________________________________________
-----
MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY SUNDAY IN DC
WHAT: First Annual Muslim American Heritage Day
WHEN: Sunday October 6th, 2002, 9 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.
WHERE: Freedom Plaza, Washington D.C.
Fun for the whole family - activities for adults and children
For further information, go to http://www.islam-day.org/
Sponsored by: Muslim American Society
-----
TX POLITICIANS TO ADDRESS MUSLIMS AT VOTER REGISTRATION PICNIC
WHAT: The Austin chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
on
Saturday will hold a picnic where Muslim voters can hear from
candidates.
The event is the first of its kind in Austin. Statewide and local
candidates are expected to attend.
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 2 P.M.
WHERE: Bartholomew Park, 5201 Berkman Drive, Austin, TX
There will be entertainment, including Al-Nojoum, an Arab band from
Dallas;
children's activities; and a variety of ethnic food.
For more information, call Saleem Shafi, CAIR-Austin branch president,
at
(512)577-2247 or visit the Web site at www.cair-austin.org/MVP.org.
RESOURCES: STATE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES
http://www.fec.gov/votregis/state_voter_reg_deadlines02.htm
TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/voting.asp
-----
ELECTED OFFICIALS ATTEND EVENT WITH MUSLIM-BASHERS
CHRISTIAN COALITION TO CONVENE FOR SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL RENEWAL
http://www.cc.org/becomeinformed/pressreleases081902.html
http://www.cc.org/events/information.html
WASHINGTON D.C. - Roberta Combs, President of the Christian Coalition
of
America, today announced the organization's God Bless America - One
Nation
Under God, Road to Victory 2002 Conference to be held in the nation's
capital at the Washington Convention Center October 11 and 12…
Among the confirmed speakers are: Coalition Founder Pat Robertson,
House
Majority Whip Tom DeLay, Dr. Jerry Falwell, Senator James Inhofe, Rev.
James Robison, Ambassador Alan Keyes, Congressman Bob Goodlatte,
Colonel
Oliver North, Senator Jesse Helms, Zig Ziglar, Congressman Dave Weldon,
Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Congressman Ernest Istook, Judge Roy Moore,
Congressman
Walter Jones, Donna Rice Hughes, Congressman Henry Brown, and many
others…
During the Road to Victory conference, the Coalition is sponsoring a
Christian Solidarity for Israel Rally on the Ellipse in Washington on
October 11 from 2 to 4 PM. Thousands of friends of Israel will assemble
on
the Ellipse to raise their voices in unison for the support of Israel.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Ask Rep. Tom DeLay and the other elected officials to repudiate
anti-Muslim
bigotry by canceling their appearances at any events, like the one
described above, that offer praise for those who attack Islam and
Muslims.
Rep. Tom DeLay (TX)
2370 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5951
Fax: (202) 225-5241
http://tomdelay.house.gov/
Senator Jim Inhofe (OK)
453 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-3603
Phone: 202-224-4721
Fax: 202-228-0380
http://inhofe.senate.gov/
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA)
Washington, DC Office:
2240 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5431
Fax: (202) 225-9681
http://www.house.gov/goodlatte/
Rep. Dave Weldon (FL)
332 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0195
Phone: (202) 225-3671
Fax: (202) 225-3516
http://www.house.gov/weldon/
Rep. Ernest J. Istook (OK)
2404 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2132
Fax: (202) 226-1463
E-mail: istook@mail.house.gov
http://www.house.gov/istook/
Rep. Walter Jones (NC)
United States House of Representatives
422 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202 225-3415
Fax: 202 225-3286
http://www.house.gov/jones/
Rep. Henry Brown (SC)
1017 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3176
Fax: (202) 225-3407
http://www.house.gov/henrybrown/email.html
Rep. J.C. Watts, Jr. (OK)
1007 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6165
Fax: 202-225-3512
http://watts.house.gov/contact.asp
SEE ALSO:
JERRY FALWELL CALLS ISLAM'S PROPHET A 'TERRORIST'
Associated Press, 10/4/02
http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/03/falwell.muhammad.ap/index.html
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Rev. Jerry Falwell says "I think Muhammad was a
terrorist" in an interview to be broadcast Sunday on the CBS program
"60
Minutes."
The conservative Baptist minister tells correspondent Bob Simon he has
concluded from reading Muslim and non-Muslim writers that Islam's
prophet
"was a -- a violent man, a man of war."
"Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses," Falwell says. "I think
Muhammad set an opposite example."
CBS released a partial transcript of the interview Thursday. Falwell's
comments occur in a segment about American conservative Christians'
political support for Israel.
Falwell stood by his opinion in a telephone interview with The
Associated
Press. He said Simon asked directly whether Falwell considered Muhammad
a
terrorist and he tried to reply honestly. The minister said he would
never
state his opinion in a sermon or book...
Other conservative Protestant clergy have made sharply critical remarks
about Islam and Muhammad in the past year. They include Franklin
Graham,
Billy Graham's son and successor, TV evangelist Pat Robertson and
leaders
in the Southern Baptist Convention.
In response to Falwell's remarks, Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the
Council
on American-Islamic Relation in Washington, said: "Anybody is free to
be a
bigot if they want to. What really concerns us is the lack of reaction
by
mainstream religious and political leaders, who say nothing when these
bigots voice these attacks."
Hooper noted that Falwell and Robertson will speak at next week's
Christian
Coalition convention in Washington alongside House Majority Whip Tom
DeLay
and other politicians.
"How can these elected representatives legitimize this kind of hate
speech
by appearing on the same platform with Islamophobes and
Muslim-bashers?"
Hooper asked...
---
ROBERTSON'S OPERATION BLESSING RECEIVES $500,000 FEDERAL GRANT
Associated Press, 10/3/02
A charity founded by Pat Robertson is to receive $500,000 in the first
wave
of grants under President Bush's "faith-based initiative," which the
religious broadcaster had criticized.
The money for Virginia Beach-based Operation Blessing International was
among $25 million in Compassion Capital Fund grants that were announced
Thursday for 21 groups, including several that are deeply religious in
nature as well as traditional social service providers.
The grants are the first tangible result of the "faith-based
initiative,"
which stalled in Congress amid debate over how religious programs can
get
government money without running afoul of the constitutional separation
of
church and state. In March, Robertson said on his "700 Club" television
show that the program to give federal money to religious organizations
that
provide social services was a "Pandora's box" that could make
legitimate
religious charities dependent on government and finance cults that
"brainwash" prospective adherents.
Robertson said the groups getting funds "will begin to be nurtured, if
I
can use that term, on federal money, and then they can't get off of
it,"
according to The Washington Post. He added, "It'll be like a narcotic;
they
can't then free themselves later on…"
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamic civil rights and
advocacy group, issued a statement Thursday saying Robertson should not
receive the grant because of comments he has made about Islam.
For example, in 1997, Muslim leaders demanded that Robertson apologize
for
saying on his program that converting to Islam "is nothing short of
insanity" because it is the religion of those who sold Africans into
slavery. A spokeswoman said at the time that Robertson's remarks were
taken
out of context.
"Anyone who exhibits such bigoted views is unworthy to receive taxpayer
dollars," CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said. "Mr. Robertson
should be
repudiated, not rewarded, for his Islamophobic hate speech…"
-----
TOLERANCE PLEA IS STIRRING CONTENTION
Tamar Lewin, New York Times, 10/4/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/04/education/04PETI.html
On Monday, the American Jewish Committee will release a statement
calling
for "intimidation-free" campuses, signed by more than 300 university
and
college presidents.
But because the statement, which has circulated quietly among nearly
1,900
college presidents since August, specifically mentions only
intimidation
against Jewish students, it has become the latest focus of the Middle
East
tensions unfolding on the nation's campuses...
Although the statement calls for campus debates to be "conducted
without
threats, taunts, or intimidation," it mentions only Jewish students as
the
targets of harassment.
Mr. Chace, of Emory, said he had heard from several college presidents
around the country who were bothered by the "asymmetry" of the
statement.
"I originally signed because of the appeal to peace and comity, and
peaceful resolution of issues," he said. "I was prompted to rethink it,
after calls from colleagues who had problems with it. I couldn't reach
Jim
Freedman, so I called Ken Stern at the American Jewish Committee and
asked,
on behalf of several presidents, if the statement could be changed to
add
another paragraph that would make it more symmetrical. He said it
couldn't..."
Joan W. Scott, leader of the American Association of University
Professors'
committee on academic freedom, was troubled by the statement on
different
grounds.
"I thought it was great till I got to the paragraph about the Jewish
students," Ms. Scott said. "Then I was appalled because it was, to put
it
nicely, so asymmetrical. If you count it up, there have been far more
attacks and harassment of Muslims and people expressing pro-Palestinian
views than on those who support Israeli foreign policy."
---
DIVESTMENT PETITION IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC
Faculty Members at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute
of
Technology, Boston Globe, 10/4/02
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/277/oped/Divestment_petition_is_not_anti_Semitic+.shtml
The conditions specified in the Harvard-MIT divestment petition accord
with
UN Security Council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention, are
uncontroversial in most of the world, and have considerable support in
Israel itself. Nevertheless, the petition has raised a firestorm of
criticism. It has been denounced as a one-sided attempt to harm Israel
by
undermining its security, and it has been characterized as anti-Semitic
by
Harvard University's president, Lawrence Summers, and his defenders.
These claims are false, and they divert attention from the central
question
of how to bring peace and security to all people in the Middle East.
The
divestment petition calls for unilateral actions by Israel to address a
dangerous imbalance in the Middle East.
Tragedies, errors, and wrongs have occurred on both sides of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but the conflict is not symmetric. Israel
is
an independent nation, Palestine is not. Palestinians live under
Israeli
occupation, not the reverse. Palestinians are killed by the Israeli
military acting under orders from the government; Israelis are killed
by
individuals with no sovereign government to represent or restrain them…
Our petition does not seek to undermine Israel's security. On the
contrary,
we believe that continued occupation of Palestinian territories poses
the
greatest threat to the security of Israelis, Palestinians, and
Americans.
By destroying Palestinian lives and livelihoods, confiscating their
lands,
and preventing access to such basic necessities as medical care and
education, Israeli government actions give Palestinians little reason
to
believe in the possibility of peace…
-----
ISRAELI OFFICIAL DENIES REPORT THAT MOSSAD FOLLOWED 9/11 TERRORISTS
Ha'aretz, 10/4/02
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=215843
Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon on Thursday rejected a
report
published by the German newspaper Die Zeit, according to which Israeli
Mossad agents tracked the perpetrators of the September 11 terror
attacks
for an extended period of time, and passed over information on them to
the
CIA and the U.S. administration.
Ayalon said in an interview on Army Radio that there were no Mossad
agents
operating in the United States.
According to the Die Zeit report, which is to be published Friday, the
CIA
ignored the information on the terrorists and deported the Mossad
agents.
The agents rented an apartment in Florida in December 2000, close to
the
apartments of Mohammed Atta and Marwan al Shehhi, both of whom were
aboard
the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center.
According to the paper, the agents followed Atta and al Shehhi,
discovered
that they were taking flying lessons at the Florida Airman flight
school
and passed the information on to the U.S. administration.
---
9/11: WHAT DID ISRAEL KNOW?
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar, 10/4/02
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
Israel had foreknowledge of 9/11 - that was Carl Cameron's explosive
contention, made last year in a blockbuster series of reports on Fox
News
exposing an Israeli spy ring in the U.S. New evidence confirms his
story -
and points to a rather ominous conclusion…
Reporting the round-up and deportation of scores of Israeli agents -
masquerading as "art students" - Cameron noted last December that
several
were "active Israeli military" and the rest had skills that one
normally
associates with spies: electronic interception, explosives, and special
operations. Several failed polygraph tests when asked if they were
engaged
in "surveillance activities against and in the United States." Aside
from
trying to penetrate U.S. government facilities, this network, which
went
into high gear in the months prior to 9/11, was also watching the Al
Qaeda
terrorists, according to Cameron…
The story refused to die. A secret government report (originating with
the
Drug Enforcement Agency) detailing the highly suspicious activities of
these aspiring Israeli "artists" was subsequently uncovered, and a
series
of stories appeared in the international media: Le Monde, the British
media, and then leaping across the Atlantic. An excellent article in
Salon,
by Christopher Ketcham, and wire stories detailing the leaked contents
of
the DEA report raised awareness of a possible Israeli connection to the
events surrounding 9/11…
In considering the mystery of how the Mossad and Al Qaeda came to be
next
door neighbors, I am reminded of this little exchange between Brit Hume
and
Carl Cameron at the end of their December 11 broadcast:
HUME: "Carl, what about this question of advanced knowledge of what was
going to happen on 9-11? How clear are investigators that some Israeli
agents may have known something?"
CAMERON: "It's very explosive information, obviously, and there's a
great
deal of evidence that they say they have collected - none of it
necessarily
conclusive. It's more when they put it all together. A bigger question,
they say, is how could they not have known?"
Inquiring minds want to know….
-----
AL-AQSA MOSQUE 'MAY COLLAPSE'
Chris McGreal, Guardian, 10/4/02
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,804180,00.html
Ariel Sharon risks provoking another Palestinian backlash over control
of
the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as he decides in the coming days what to
do
about a large and unstable bulge in a wall of one of Islam's holiest
sites.
Archaeologists have warned the prime minister that without urgent
repairs
the mount's southern wall and buildings attached to it - including the
al-Aqsa mosque - could collapse on some of the hundreds of thousands of
Muslim worshippers who are expected to visit during Ramadan, which
begins
next month…
Wakf's director, Adnan Husseini, accused the government of using the
bulge
to try to assert control over the mount.
"The Israeli side is trying to make from this problem a very dangerous
political issue. They want to gain a foothold," he told the Voice of
Palestine radio…
Mr Husseini says Wakf has attempted some repairs, but claims that the
Israeli government has effectively blocked the religious trust.
"The Israelis are hampering the work in accordance with instructions
from
the highest echelons," he said. "The Israeli authorities bear the
responsibility for any loss of lives from a collapse of the wall."
A small group of Jews has urged Mr Sharon not to repair the wall
because
they say its collapse would destroy the "pagan Arab presence on the
Temple
Mount"...
Non-Muslim worshippers have been banned from the mount since Mr
Sharon's
destabilising visit. But the prime minister favours re-opening the site
to
Jews over the objections of Jerusalem's mufti, Sheikh Akram al-Subri.
---
ISRAELI POLICE STORM MUSLIM COMPOUND
Associated Press, 10/4/02
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli police stormed the main mosque compound in the
heart of Jerusalem and fired stun grenades Friday after Muslim
worshippers
threw rocks at Jews praying at the Western Wall below, police said.
About 50 police officers stormed the compound, the most contentious
site in
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The officers later withdrew, Israel
Radio
said.
There were no reports of injuries or damage.
Police said they acted after several dozen youths began throwing rocks
at
police officers at an entrance to the mosque compound and some rocks
fell
on Jewish worshippers below…
---
TROOPS CRITICALLY WOUND PALESTINIAN BOY--WITNESSES
Reuters, 10/4/02
NABLUS, West Bank - Israeli troops fired at a taxi driver breaking
curfew
in an occupied West Bank city on Friday but instead hit and critically
wounded a 12-year-old Palestinian boy standing nearby, witnesses and
medics
said…
Witnesses said the boy, Ibrahim al-Madani, was cut down by shots aimed
at
the cab driver who had jumped out of his car to avoid troops in jeeps
trying to detain him near the entrance of the Palestinians' Askar
refugee camp.
In Jenin, another of the six West Bank cities under army occupation,
Palestinian witnesses said Israeli troops fired at random and wounded
four
civilians, after being shot at by Palestinian gunmen during a tank
patrol…
-----
EDITORIAL: THE STONES OF BAGHDAD
Nicholas D. Kristoff, New York Times, 10/4/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/04/opinion/04KRIS.html
BAGHDAD, Iraq - From their perch in Washington, President Bush and his
advisers seem to have convinced themselves that an invasion will
proceed
easily because many Iraqis will dance in the streets to welcome
American
troops. That looks like a potentially catastrophic misreading of Iraq.
Consider Dahlia Abdulrahim and Intidhar Abdulrahim, two young women I
met
at an English-language used-book shop in Baghdad. Dahlia reads romance
novels, while Intidhar favors Thomas Hardy. So will they be cheering
the
American troops rolling through Baghdad?
"I will throw stones at them," Dahlia said.
"Maybe I will throw knives," Intidhar said brightly.
Those two women are broadly representative of Iraqis I spoke to. If
American military strategy assumes popular support from Iraqis
facilitating
an invasion and occupation, the White House is making an error that
could
haunt us for years…
"You see this?" asked a seething university president, waving a pencil
in
the air. "It took 15 months just to import pencils for our students."
(The
reason was both bureaucracy and the possibility that graphite could be
misused for weapons.)
Worse, U.S. bombing of water treatment plants, difficulties importing
purification chemicals like chlorine (which can be used for weapons),
and
shortages of medicines led to a more than doubling of infant mortality,
according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization…
-----
EID STAMP TO BE ISSUED
STAMP-COLLECTING NEWS AND NOTES
Dominic Sama, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/4/02
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/magazine/daily/4207787.htm
The U.S. Postal Service annually designates October as National Stamp
Collecting Month and promotes the hobby by issuing stamps that appeal
to
youth. Last month, a block of four 37-cent stamps depicting bats kicked
off
the celebration.
In addition, the Postal Service issues its holiday stamps in October to
continue interest in collecting. Next Thursday (Oct. 10), four holiday
stamps, all 37 cents, will be issued commemorating Christmas, Hanukkah,
Kawanzaa and the Muslim Eid…
The Eid stamp depicts the Arabic phrase of "Eid mubarak," which
translates
to blessed festival. The stamp commemorates two important festivals, or
eids, in the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr or the breaking of the fast,
and, 10 days later, the Eid al-Adha, or feast of the sacrifice.
First-day requests should be sent to Eid Stamp, Postmaster, Special
Cancellations, Box 92282, Washington, D.C., 20090-2282…
-----
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In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/4/2002
HEADLINES:
* CAIR REPRESENTATIVE TO DEBATE FALWELL ON "HARDBALL"
* SOME ARAB, MUSLIM VISITORS GET INCREASED INS SCRUTINY (Washington
Times)
* PETITION FOR 'INTIMIDATION-FREE' CAMPUSES STIRS DEBATE (AP)
* EXTREMIST LABEL DOESN'T FIT: UO INSTRUCTOR WRONGLY TAGGED
(Register-Guard)
-----
CAIR REPRESENTATIVE TO DEBATE FALWELL ON "HARDBALL"
CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper will appear this evening (9
p.m. ET) on MSNBC's "Harball" with Chris Matthews to discuss Jerry
Falwell's defamatory attacks on the Prophet Muhammad, which will be
broadcast Sunday night on CBS.
COMMENTS TO: hardball@msnbc.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
SOME ARAB, MUSLIM VISITORS GET INCREASED INS SCRUTINY
Tom Ramstack, WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/4/02
http://www.washtimes.com/business/20021004-31539441.htm
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service introduced security
procedures at airports and borders this week that included
photographing
and fingerprinting visitors from Arab and Muslim countries.
"The main purpose of this system is to know who's coming into the
country,
what they're doing when they're here and whether they leave when
they're
supposed to leave," said Jorge Martinez, Justice Department spokesman.
"Obviously, the goal is to protect America from another unfortunate
event
like on September 11."
As many as 200,000 visitors a year would be subjected to the new
procedures
at more than 300 ports of entry, the Justice Department said. The
figure
could increase if intelligence reports indicate a risk from other
persons
or groups. The procedures include questions about whether the visitors
have
traveled to countries hostile to the United States and their plans in
this
country…
Muslim leaders said the Justice Department guidelines unfairly target
travelers based on their nationality or religion.
"This is not going to improve the security of the traveling public or
of
the American public in general," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the
Council on American-Islamic Relations. "It creates a false sense of
security and creates a great deal of resentment in the entire Muslim
world
when ordinary people are treated as though they're criminals."
The American Civil Liberties Union called the INS guidelines
"discriminatory."
"The Bush administration is, step by step, isolating Muslim and Arab
communities both in the eyes of the government and the American
public,"
said legislative counsel Timothy Edgar…
-----
PETITION FOR 'INTIMIDATION-FREE' CAMPUSES STIRS DEBATE
STEVE GIEGERICH, Associated Press, 10/4/02
NEW YORK - More than 300 university and college presidents have signed
a
petition calling for "intimidation-free" campuses so pro-Israeli
students
will not be hassled for their beliefs, a Jewish advocacy group said
Friday.
The petition calls for debates on the Middle East conflict to be
"conducted
without threats, taunts, or intimidation."
Muslim advocates and some educators are concerned the petition, which
will
be released Monday by the American Jewish Committee with a full-page ad
in
The New York Times, only mentions Jewish students as subjects of such
harassment. "In the past few months, students who are Jewish or
supporters
of Israel's right to exist - Zionists - have received death threats and
threats of violence," the petition says…
Hodan Hassan, a spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
argued that Arab and Muslim students were being intimidated on campus,
not
pro-Israeli groups, especially since Sept. 11. Students are growing
more
aware of Palestinian suffering and Israel supporters have confused that
change with discrimination, Hassan said.
"If we're going to address the situation on campuses with regard to
intimidation it needs to be fair and balanced," she said…
-----
EXTREMIST LABEL DOESN'T FIT: UO INSTRUCTOR WRONGLY TAGGED
Register-Guard, 9/30/02
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2002/09/30/ed.edit.card.0930.html
A University of Oregon instructor has become the unwilling and
undeserving
target of accusations of anti-Israeli extremism. The sad case of
Douglas
Card teaches several lessons - about the dangers of rushing to
judgment,
about the value of a free exchange of ideas, and about the importance
of
maintaining perspective in a time of escalating tensions.
Card teaches sociology at the UO, and is familiar to Register-Guard
readers
as the author of occasional opinion articles dealing with 19th century
Oregon history. Through casual contacts over the years, we've come to
know
him as the opposite of an extremist - a man who is willing to examine
all
points of view in search of common ground. Card is opinionated, to be
sure,
but he's also broad-minded to a fault.
Thus it was a surprise to see Card's name show up on a list of American
academics who harbor a virulent hostility toward Israel. Columnist
Daniel
Pipes, writing in The New York Post on July 25, named half a dozen
professors on campuses around the country who had used their classrooms
as
megaphones for anti-Israeli, even anti-Semitic, propaganda…
That doesn't sound like the Douglas Card we know. It rang false to
others
as well, ranging from Tamam Adi, director of the Islamic Cultural
Center of
Eugene, to Rabbi Yitzhak Husband-Hankin of Eugene's Temple Beth Israel,
who
contacted Pipes on Card's behalf…
Pipes' column went from The New York Post and other newspapers into
cyberspace, where Card has been electronically branded as an enemy of
Israel. Card has received hundreds of e-mail messages from around the
country and the world, many of them merely annoying and some of them
disturbing. On the basis of an unsubstantiated claim based on hasty
research by a single columnist 3,000 miles away, Card has been smeared…
Anti-Semitism is real, and sometimes it wears the guise of criticism of
Israel. But if Card belongs on a list of anti-Israeli extremists, that
kind
of extremism can't be much of a problem on American college campuses.
By
naming Card, Pipes undercuts the credibility of warnings about
anti-Semitism on college campuses and elsewhere - such alarms become
more
likely to be dismissed as exaggerated at best, erroneous at worst…
There's no room on campus for violence or intimidation against Jews or
anyone else; nor is there room for attempts to limit the free exchange
of
ideas and opinions. When people like Douglas Card begin showing up on
lists
of extremists, the lists look like efforts to shrink the space for the
latter rather than the former…
Pipes' list may be a symptom of a narrowing tolerance for dissenting
views.
It will be vital for Americans on college campuses and elsewhere to
respect
the opinions of others, to avoid rushes to judgment and to value the
clash
of viewpoints as an essential part of democratic decision-making.
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In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/6/2002
HEADLINES:
* EDITORIAL: DEFAMING ISLAM (Washington Post)
- HORNET'S NEST PROVOKING TROUBLE (Charleston Gazette)
- MUSLIMS PROTEST FALWELL INTERVIEW (Houston Chronicle)
- FALLWELL ASKED TO APOLOGIZE (UPI)
- ADL CONDEMNS FALWELL'S ANTI-MUSLIM REMARKS
* F.B.I. IS TRACKING HUNDREDS OF MUSLIMS (New York Times)
* COMMUNITY HURT BY MUSLIM ABSENCES (Charlotte Observer)
* ARABS FEEL U.S. SHOULD BE MORE BALANCED - POLL (Reuters)
* STEPHEN "SULEYMAN AHMAD" SCHWARTZ TO SPEAK AT ISRAELI EMBASSY
- BACKGROUND: WHO IS STEPHEN SCHWARTZ?
-----
EDITORIAL: DEFAMING ISLAM
The Washington Post, 10/6/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45764-2002Oct4.html
ONE OF THE high-water marks after Sept. 11 last year was President
Bush's
leadership in urging Americans not to condemn Islam because of the
actions
of extremists in the name of their faith. He set aside his war planning
to
visit the mosque at the Islamic Center of Washington, where he reminded
the
nation that "Islam is peace" and admonished Americans not to take out
their
anger on innocent American Arabs and Muslims...
The same, however, cannot be said of some key leaders of the religious
right in America who are counted among President Bush's closest
political
allies. And on their noxious mix of religious bigotry and anti-Muslim
demagoguery, Mr. Bush's silence is deafening.
We have in mind several religious conservative leaders who count Mr.
Bush
as one of their own. There is the Rev. Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's
son
and successor and a participant in the president's inauguration, who
has
declared Islam a "very evil and wicked religion." And there is
Christian
Coalition founder and television evangelist Pat Robertson, who said
that
"to think that [Islam] is a peaceful religion is fraudulent." Mr.
Robertson, in full attack mode himself, called the prophet Muhammad "an
absolute wild-eyed fanatic . . . a robber and brigand . . . a killer."
And,
in an appearance on the CBS program "60 Minutes" to be broadcast
tonight,
the Rev. Jerry Falwell completes the demonization of a religion by
smearing
the prophet of Islam as "a terrorist."
These are not just the words of a fringe movement. The speakers are
leaders
among the religious right in America, a movement close to a president
who
speaks their language. Their embrace is mutual. It therefore falls to
the
president to break his silence on their gross distortion and to put
some
distance between their rhetoric and his own professions of tolerance.
To
avert his gaze from their actions is to permit the Falwells, Robertsons
and
Grahams to legitimize their own perverse teachings through their
association with the president of the United States. If their words are
not
his, then the president must say so.
SEE ALSO:
HORNET'S NEST PROVOKING TROUBLE
Charleston Gazette, 10/5/02
http://www.wvgazette.com/news/Editorials/2002100426/
REMEMBER when TV evangelist Jerry Falwell said the 9/11 terror attack
happened because God was annoyed by America's civil liberties,
feminism,
gay rights, etc., so the Deity removed His divine protection from the
country? Well, Falwell apparently didn't learn a lesson from that
bungle -
for which he later apologized - because he has done it again.
Interviewed
for Sunday's "60 Minutes" show, the evangelist commented: "I think
Muhammad
was a terrorist."
Here we go again. Although it's true that the founder of Islam led
military
combat, we aren't sure that made him a terrorist. Gens. Dwight
Eisenhower,
Omar Bradley and many other military commanders also waged battles, but
nobody calls them terrorists.
Falwell joins a long list of U.S. fundamentalists who have slurred
Islam
since 9/11. Evangelist Franklin Graham, Billy's son, called Islam "a
very
evil and wicked religion." Fundamentalist commentator Ann Coulter said
"we
should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to
Christianity." At the Southern Baptist convention, Muhammad was called
"a
demon-possessed pedophile." Etc., etc.
We always thought that religion was supposed to foster brotherhood and
kindness - not turn people against each other through hateful
name-calling.
Maybe Falwell and his colleagues have a different view.
We agree with a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
who said of the evangelist: "Anybody is free to be a bigot if they want
to."
---
MUSLIMS PROTEST FALWELL INTERVIEW
Muhammad called 'terrorist' on 60 Minutes
JANETTE RODRIGUES, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/02
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1605481
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston organized a protest outside of
KHOU-TV offices. Local Muslims criticized Jerry Falwell's statements on
60
Minutes, which airs tonight.
More than 100 Muslims demonstrated outside a local CBS affiliate
Saturday
to protest a 60 Minutes interview in which the Rev. Jerry Falwell
brands
the prophet Muhammad a "terrorist..."
Local Muslim leaders condemned Falwell, calling the statements made in
the
interview scheduled to air today on KHOU-Channel 11 bigoted,
irresponsible
and sacrilegious. They fear the religious right leader's comments may
lead
to attacks on American Muslims...
Ahmed Bhadelia, 9, of Sugar Land held a sign with his father, Abdul,
that
read: "We Respect all Prophets."
"I'm a Muslim and I never said anything against any other religions,"
he
said. "So why do people say things about Islam?"
---
FALLWELL ASKED TO APOLOGIZE
ANWAR IQBAL, United Press International, 10/6/02
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 - Remarks by conservative Baptist minister Rev.
Jerry
Falwell, who called Prophet Mohammed a "terrorist," appears to have
outraged Muslims across the globe with protests reported from India to
Malaysia.
In the Indian state of Kashmir, Muslim protesters clashed with police
while
urging shopkeepers to observe a complete strike against the remarks.
Elsewhere in India, Muslim groups held peaceful rallies to register
their
protest.
In most of the 57 Muslim nations across the world, newspapers
prominently
reported Falwells remarks. Some also wrote commentary pieces and
editorials, urging the minister to apologize. In an interview with CBS
"60
Minutes," Falwell said, "I think Mohammad was a terrorist..."
In response to Falwell's remarks, Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, said Friday: "Anybody is
free
to be a bigot if they want to. What really concerns us is the lack of
reaction by mainstream religious and political leaders, who say nothing
when these bigots voice these attacks."
"These attacks on Islam and Prophet Mohammad not only reveal utter
ignorance of history, but also reflect on the paranoia of these
evangelical
leaders who just cannot see Islam as a major American religion with
over 7
million followers in the United States," said a spokesman for the
Islamic
Society of North America, an umbrella group representing more than a
dozen
Muslim groups in North America...
In Malaysia, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad urged Muslims on not to
take
Falwell's remarks seriously.
Mahathir, 76, who leads a moderate, predominantly Muslim nation in
Southeast Asia, said people who made such remarks were ignorant about
Islam
and its 7th century founder, Mohammad.
"They don't understand anything," Mahathir was quoted a saying by the
national news agency, Bernama. "They don't understand Islam."
---
ADL CONDEMNS FALWELL'S ANTI-MUSLIM REMARKS
U.S. NEWSWIRE, 10/4/02
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) strongly condemned Rev. Jerry
Falwell's
statement that the Prophet Mohammed "was a terrorist" and called on him
to
apologize to the followers of Islam. Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National
Director, issued the following statement:
The Rev. Jerry Falwell has once again demonstrated his intolerance by
his
outrageous charge about the Prophet Mohammed. He owes an apology to the
millions of good people who follow the Muslim faith. As a man of the
cloth,
he should be working toward bringing faith communities closer together,
not
driving wedges through them.
-----
SEEKING TERRORIST PLOTS, F.B.I. IS TRACKING HUNDREDS OF MUSLIMS
PHILIP SHENON and DAVID JOHNSTON, New York Times, 10/6/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/06/national/06SLEE.html
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation is trying to
make
an open book of the lives of hundreds of mostly young, mostly Muslim
men in
the United States in the belief that Al Qaeda-trained terrorists remain
in
this country, awaiting instructions to attack.
Senior law enforcement officials say the surveillance campaign is being
carried out by every major F.B.I. office in the country and involves
24-hour monitoring of the suspects' telephone calls, e-mail messages
and
Internet use, as well as scrutiny of their credit-card charges, their
travel and their visits to neighborhood gathering places, including
mosques.
The campaign, which has also involved efforts to recruit the suspects'
friends and family members as government informers, has raised alarm
from
civil liberties groups and some Arab-American and Muslim leaders. The
men
are suspected of ties to Al Qaeda or other groups affiliated with Osama
bin
Laden's terrorist network.
Law enforcement officials say the surveillance program has provided
vital
evidence to support a string of arrests and indictments around the
country
since late summer - in western New York, in Detroit, in Seattle and, on
Friday, in Portland, Ore. - of Americans and others accused of
conspiring
in terrorist cells to assist Al Qaeda.
Still, the F.B.I. has acknowledged that it has no evidence of any
imminent
terrorist threat posed by the so-called sleeper cells connected to Al
Qaeda. Federal law enforcement officials say there is no sign of a
terrorist cell operating on American soil that, in its level of
commitment
and training, resembles anything like the team of suicide hijackers who
trained in the United States for several months before carrying out the
Sept. 11 attacks.
They concede that the domestic threat posed by Qaeda cells may at times
have been overstated, especially after the arrest last May of Jose
Padilla,
an American also known as Abdullah al-Muhajir. Justice Department
officials
have backed away from their initial suggestion that they had compelling
evidence linking him to a plot to build an explosive radiological
device
known as a dirty bomb...
The bureau's dependence on the surveillance act in the search for
sleeper
cells helps explain why the Justice Department has so aggressively
defended
its request to expand its authority under the law, passed in 1978,
which
has been the subject of a recent battle involving the secret court in
Washington that reviews the bureau's surveillance requests...
-----
COMMUNITY HURT BY MUSLIM ABSENCES
2 leaders being kept outside United States because of paperwork
CRISTINA C. BREEN, Charlotte Observer (NC), 10/6/02
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/4223078.htm
The director of the Islamic Center of Charlotte is stuck in Saudi
Arabia.
The prayer leader at the Islamic Society of Gastonia has been deported.
Their absences are creating hardships in their Muslim communities while
raising further allegations that the government treats Muslims
unfairly.
Ammar Alyounes, director of the Islamic center, flew to Saudi Arabia in
May
for an annual three-week trip to renew his Saudi citizenship papers and
refresh his U.S. work visa.
But once he left Charlotte, the doors closed behind him. He's been
waiting
since May for the U.S. Consulate to renew his visa to return to the
States
-- a process that normally takes him a week or two, family members
said.
The U.S. Consulate in Saudi Arabia, which will decide Alyounes' case,
could
not be reached for comment last week.
"If it's just a matter of procedure, fine. But it seems like it must be
more than that," said Shamu Shamudeen, the center's interim director.
"The collateral damage for the war on terrorism is great. ... This is a
classic example..."
Officials with the Washington-based Council on American Islamic
Relations
said immigration rules are being more heavily enforced since the Sept.
11
attacks, particularly against Muslims.
Minor violations once settled with a fine or small punishment are now
ending in deportation, said Hodan Hassan, a council spokeswoman. It's
impossible to know how many Muslims have been deported since Sept. 11,
she
said, because the government can close hearings.
"It's happening, and it's happening quietly," Hassan said...
-----
ARABS FEEL U.S. SHOULD BE MORE BALANCED - POLL
Mona Megalli, Reuters, 10/6/02
CAIRO, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Arabs applaud the United States for its
institutions ensuring democracy and freedom, but they cannot abide its
policy toward the Palestinians, according to a wide-ranging opinion
poll.
The poll, to be released in Washington on Tuesday and billed as the
first
of its kind in the region, also found respondents in eight Arab
countries
wanted personal and civil rights from their politicians and valued
their
Arab identity.
"The situation of the Palestinians appears to have become a personal
matter
lumped together in a basket of other issues like civil rights and
health
care," the study said...
The study asked 3,200 Arab adults of both sexes in Egypt, Israel,
Jordan,
Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia
such
questions as what they valued most in life and how the United States
could
improve its regional standing.
"The single most important thing the United States can do is change its
policy toward the Arab-Israeli conflict," the study said.
Depending on the country polled, one-third to one-half of the
respondents
called on the United States to "be more balanced" toward the Arab
world.
The study found a contrast between negative Arab reaction toward U.S.
policy on the Palestinians, Iraqis and others, and their favourable
response to U.S. values of freedom and democracy and to the American
people
in general...
The study found that Arabs and a set of U.S. citizens polled had many
of
the same basic priorities in their personal lives, including work and
family, but with several exceptions.
The 1,000 U.S. citizens polled scored much higher than Arabs in needing
friends and placed religion at a lower priority.
Arabs and Americans were identical in assessing what was most important
to
teach their children, with self-respect, good health and hygiene and
responsibility ranking high.
But Arabs felt it was important to teach children to "achieve a better
life," while Americans ranked this value much lower...
-----
STEPHEN "SULEYMAN AHMAD" SCHWARTZ TO SPEAK AT ISRAELI EMBASSY
FALWELL CALLS PROPHET MUHAMMAD A 'TERRORIST'
MARK O'KEEFE, Newhouse News Service, 10/3/02
When the Rev. Jerry Falwell labeled the prophet Muhammad a "terrorist,"
it
was the latest and most inflammatory in a string of anti-Islam comments
by
conservative evangelical Christians.
Some say the comments, combined with a strengthening alliance of
American
evangelicals with Israel, could drive a deeper wedge between the United
States and Islamic countries, where such comments are widely
publicized,
often without context.
One scholar even expressed fear for the safety of U.S. troops stationed
in
Islamic countries...
Such comments go far beyond criticizing Islam as an influence on Osama
bin
Laden and others to condemning the entire religion itself, said Akbar
Ahmed, professor of Islamic studies at American University in
Washington.
"The prophet is so central to Islam that even the most liberal and
quote-unquote 'secular' Muslims have the greatest of respect for him;
he's
considered a man of great peace," Ahmed said.
"This statement will be flashed all over the world. Muslims are very,
very
sensitive about the prophet. And what worries me is this: Someone in
Pakistan or some other part of the Islamic world where American troops
might be will want to take revenge and might shoot an innocent American
soldier."
"To say something so horrible about the world's second-largest
religion,
with more than 1.3 billion people, is very indecent," said Faiz Rehman,
spokesman for the Washington-based American Muslim Council, a political
advocacy group. "I think he (Falwell) is trying to create a wedge
between
these two great religions, Islam and Christianity..."
The Israeli embassy, meanwhile, has sponsored monthly meetings of
evangelicals in Washington. A session originally scheduled for Tuesday,
but
rescheduled for November, features author Stephen Schwartz, who will
talk
about his new book, "The Two Faces of Islam: The House of Sa'ud Fom
Tradition to Terror..."
Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy, said he would not
comment
on Falwell's "terrorist" comment because it's a matter of theology.
But Schwartz, the author, called Falwell's comment "Islamophobic."
"I don't think it's fair to say this is anything Israel is doing,"
Schwartz
said. "This is something conservative (evangelicals) and, I would say,
in a
controversial way, radical evangelicals are doing. There's an enormous
section of the Israeli academic and intellectual class that would
repudiate
any form of Islamophobism."
BACKGROUND: WHO IS STEPHEN SCHWARTZ?
HEAR STEPHEN SCHWARTZ DEFEND JIHAD
April 2, 1999, Friday Sermon
http://www.sunnah.org/audio/khutba/k990402.ram
(Go to 12 minutes 30 seconds into the audio.)
"We Muslims know that Allah permits us to take up the sword. We know
that
Allah permits us to fight the Jihad. That Allah permits us to fight the
Jihad in Allah's way...As it says in the Quran: 'Never say of those who
have died in Allah's way that they are not with us, They are with us
even
though you cannot see them.'"
THE WEEKLY STANDARD'S HOUSE MUSLIM
What William Safire probably didn't know.
Timothy Noah, Slate Magazine, 7/3/02
http://slate.msn.com/?id=2067735
On July 1, William Safire published a column denouncing the Voice of
America for providing a soapbox to supporters of Islamic terrorism.
Safire
was particularly exercised about the firing of VOA staffer Stephen
Schwartz, which Safire attributed to the fact that Schwartz is an
outspoken
dissenter from the news director's views...
A wrinkle of which Safire was probably unaware, however, is that
Schwartz,
blistering critic though he is of Islamist terrorism, is himself a
convert
to Islam. To Schwartz's mortification, a statement he made about his
conversion has found its way onto the Web and has become the source of
some
shock to his erstwhile neoconservative allies...
THE VOA FOLLIES
'Voice of America' loses a writer and the War Party gains a martyr
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j070502.html
The neocons are up in arms one of their own has been fired from his
position as a "journalist" at the Voice of America and may be on his
way to
becoming the Mumia Abu Jamal of the War Party. The cause of Stephen
Schwartz, a writer formerly known as "Comrade Sandalio," has been taken
up
by William Safire and Ronald Radosh...
No matter what sort of ideological drag he turns up in, however,
Schwartz
always sings essentially the same song. During his travels through the
Balkans, he teamed up with Albanian Catholics, whom he claims were
"threatened by Christian Orthodox imperialism - 'Yugoslav,' Macedonian,
Greek." Clinton had barely begun bombing some of the oldest cities in
Europe when Schwartz popped up on Bay Area television cheerleading the
Kosovo war. Now the enemy is Wahabism, instead of Orthodoxy, but it's
the
same old story: the US must conduct a religious war to suit Schwartz's
latest persona - whatever that is...
The attempt to turn Schwartz, a.k.a. "Suleyman Ahmad," a.k.a. "Comrade
Sandalio," into some kind of political martyr is bound to backfire as
soon
as the spotlight falls on the alleged "victim..."
MY COMING TO ISLAM
Suleyman Ahmad Stephen Schwartz
http://www.naqshbandi.org/events/articles/conversion_schwartz.htm
MY ROAD TO ISLAM
Suleyman Ahmad
http://www.naqshbandi.org/events/articles/road_to_islam.htm
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS 10/7/2002
HEADLINES:
* VERSE OF THE DAY: A CALL TO HUMILITY
* U.S. ISLAMIC GROUP SEEKS PROTECTION FOR IDAHO MUSLIMS
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE FOR CAIR’S ANNUAL DINNER
* EDITORIAL: RAPTURE AND RUPTURE (New York Times)
- Fact & Fiction: Muhammad Was A Terrorist? (HNN)
* MUSLIMS FINDING FAITH CHALLENGED IN BIBLE BELT (Chicago Tribune)
- America's Elusive Minority: Muslims (Christian Science
Monitor)
- Young, Female and Muslim (St. Petersburg Times)
* UPHOLDING BOTH ISLAM AND A GOOD PORTFOLIO (New York Times)
* CALL CONGRESS! (Antiwar.com)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: A CALL TO HUMILITY
"And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence
through
the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster.”
Holy Quran: Surah 31, Verse 18
-----
U.S. ISLAMIC GROUP SEEKS PROTECTION FOR IDAHO MUSLIMS
(Washington, D.C., 10/7/02) A national Islamic civil rights and
advocacy
group is calling on Idaho law enforcement officials to step up
protection
of that state’s Muslim community following an incident in which a
Muslim
woman died in a fire that may be bias-related. The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), says the weekend fire maybe the
second
time in a week that the local Muslim community may have been targeted
by a
hate crime.
Last week, vandals threw two bricks through the windows of the Boise
Islamic Center. The center has received numerous threatening calls over
the
past year.
The 37-year-old Muslim woman, a prominent community activist, died
early
Saturday morning, when a fire raged through her home. According to the
Idaho Statesman, local police “have not ruled out the possibility” of
investigating the fire as a hate crime.
SEE: Police Say Fire That Took Life Of Muslim Woman Is 'Suspicious'
http://www.idahostatesman.com/story.asp?ID=22290
“It is becoming clear that the Muslim community in Idaho needs
protection
and we call on local law enforcement officials to treat both of these
incidents as possible hate crimes,” said CAIR’s Executive Director
Nihad Awad.
In the past six weeks, there was a shooting attack on an Ohio mosque,
vandalism at Islamic center under construction in Virginia and at a
Nebraska mosque, and the revelation of a detailed plan to attack some
50
Florida mosques.
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 570 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE FOR CAIR’S ANNUAL DINNER
Online registration in now available for CAIR’s 8th Annual Fundraising
banquet at www.cair-net.org. The dinner’s theme is “Muslims in America:
Defending Freedom, Promoting Justice” and featured guests include
Martin
Luther King III, Dr. John Espisito and Siraj Wahaj, among many others.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26th at 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson’s Corner, VA
Tickets: $55 single/ $85 couples
For further info, visit www.cair-net.org or call (202) 488-8787
-----
FACT & FICTION: MUHAMMAD WAS A TERRORIST?
Juan Cole, History News Network, 10/7/02
http://hnn.us/articles/1018.html
Jerry Falwell, the fundamentalist televangelist, has said, "I think
Muhammad was a terrorist." On CBS's Sixty Minutes, the reverend
contrasted
Moses and Jesus as men of peace with Muhammad, whom he saw as warlike.
News
of the slur ricocheted through the Muslim world, and crowds rioted in
Kashmir, raising questions as to whether Falwell himself is exactly
promoting love and peace.
Falwell's comments are problematic for many reasons, not least with
regard
to historical accuracy. Muhammad forbade murder and the killing of
innocents, and never used terror as a weapon in his struggles against
his
aggressive pagan enemies. Far from glorifying aggression, the Koran
says
(2:190), "Fight in the way of God against those who fight against you,
but
do not begin hostilities, for God does not love aggressors"
As for the contrast to other prophets, it is not as clear as Falwell
suggests. Biblical narratives depict Moses as a murderer and leader of
a
slave revolt, and while he was a liberator, it is difficult to see him
as a
pacifist. The Romans crucified Jesus of Nazareth because they saw him
as a
subversive, and historians know too little about his life to be sure
they
were entirely wrong. Many of the patriarchs and prophets celebrated by
Christian fundamentalists were arguably terrorists or even genocidal,
including Joshua…
In contrast, the Romantic sage and writer Thomas Carlyle (d. 1881)
spoke
for moderns in insisting on Muhammad's sincerity. (Another Western
black
legend about Muhammad was that he knew he was a charlatan). Of the
prophet
he wrote, "A false man found a religion? Why, a false man cannot build
a
brick house!" He went on to observe of Islam, "To the Arab Nation it
was as
a birth from darkness into light; Arabia first became alive by means of
it…
The admiration of Muhammad's achievements visible in this modern writer
marks a turning point in Western culture, away from narrow religious
bigotries and toward a humanist ability to appreciate the best in world
civilization. Falwell in contrast is promoting religious hatred for his
own
purposes. The rest of us should resist his scary agenda by learning
more
about Muhammad and Islamic civilization, and gaining a secular
appreciation
of their contributions to our world.
---
EDITORIAL: RAPTURE AND RUPTURE
Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 10/6/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/06/opinion/06DOWD.html?8hpib
Now, with the White House's success in changing the subject to Iraq,
Democrats see a future in the wilderness. They fear that President
Bush who alienated some Jewish voters during his campaign when he
brought
Jesus into the debate but pleased many after he won with his
unquestioning
support of Israel may be able to use a victory over Saddam to fulfill
one
of the Republicans' fondest dreams: a realignment of Jewish voters from
liberalism to conservatism.
Such a revolution would build upon the alliance that began in the
Reagan
era between conservative Jews and evangelical Christians.
These days, the partnership is benefiting from the sense of a mutual
enemy:
Islam. The Rev. Jerry Falwell, who has said Islam "teaches hate," goes
further on "60 Minutes" tonight, when he asserts, "I think Muhammad was
a
terrorist."
Evangelicals fervently support Israel for theological reasons of their
own,
based on a literal reading of the Book of Revelation that entwines the
Jewish commonwealth with the Apocalypse and Second Coming. As Mr.
Falwell
instructs: "You and I know that there's not going to be any real peace
in
the Middle East until one day the Lord Jesus Christ sits on the throne
of
David in Jerusalem."
"This is a grim comedy of mutual condescension," says Leon Wieseltier,
the
Jewish scholar and literary editor of The New Republic. "The
evangelical
Christians condescend to the Jews by offering their support before they
convert or kill them. And the conservative Jews condescend to
Christians by
accepting their support while believing that their eschatology is
nonsense.
This is a fine example of the political exploitation of religion..."
-----
MUSLIMS FINDING FAITH CHALLENGED IN BIBLE BELT
Dahleen Glanton, Chicago Tribune, 10/7/02
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0210070135oct07,0,4535679.story
Muslims in the South are struggling to gain acceptance in a region that
celebrates Christian values. In Tennessee, the 10 Commandments are
posted
everywhere, from public schools to the local McDonald's. Preachers
proselytize on school campuses, Scripture-themed truck stops dot the
highways, and the Southern Baptists have campaigns to convert Muslims
during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. For many people here, the
bottom
line is: If you are not a Christian, you won't set foot in Heaven...
"There is no question that Tennessee is the middle of the Bible Belt,
and
we are continuously bombarded with violations of the establishment
clause
in the public sector," said Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the
American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. "Some Muslims are quite
concerned, but they are hesitant to pursue legal action because of
their
own legitimate fear that they will be ostracized or their children will
be
harassed..."
Since the terror attacks, several religious leaders have made
controversial
remarks regarding Islam. The comments, according to critics, have
helped to
fuel fear and prejudice among some Americans who still equate Islam
with
terrorism…
Pastor Maury Davis, who leads one of Nashville's largest churches,
recently
preached a four-part series called "Islam . . . The Evil Religion."
From
the pulpit of Cornerstone Church, which draws 2,000 people on Sundays
and
thousands more through television, Davis extolled that "Islam is the
greatest threat to the American way of life…"
"We realize now that we can't allow other people to go out and talk
about
Islam. We have to do it ourselves if the truth is to be told," said
Imam
Abdulhakim Mohamed, 36, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center. "We
are
not trying to change people's attitudes, we just want them to change
their
behaviors…"
-----
AMERICA'S ELUSIVE MINORITY: MUSLIMS
Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 10/7/02
http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2002/1007/p02s01-ussc.html
ST. LOUIS - Muslims are taking root in America. Though small in number,
they're growing fast and setting up enclaves in some of the largest
cities.
A study released today shows they're better educated and almost as well
paid as the non-Hispanic white population. But if American Muslims are
poised to join the mainstream economically, politics and religion are
roiling the confluence.
The aftermath of Sept. 11 and tension with Iraq has exposed a dual
response
to Muslims living here. There's both suspicion and outreach -
discrimination and efforts to bridge the religious divide. "Islam has
become a part of public discourse and people are making up their
minds,"
says Mohamed Nimer, author of a new book, "The North American Muslim
Resource Guide." "America is confronting ... what we might call a
precursor
to being a truly pluralistic society."
While no one knows how many Muslims live in the US - estimates span 1.2
million to 10 million - their numbers are growing fast. Between 1990
and
2000, the Muslim-origin population grew 40 percent, according to the
new
study by the Lewis Mumford Center for Comparative Urban and Regional
Research at New York's University at Albany. And they're more
integrated
than larger minorities…
---
YOUNG, FEMALE AND MUSLIM
Jocelyn Wiener, St. Petersburg Times, 10/7/02
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/07/Floridian/Young__female_and_Mus.shtml
Each year, about 20,000 people in the United States convert to Islam.
Many
find they must defend the decision, especially to their families.
The first time 21-year-old Rose Munoz deflates the Whoopie cushion,
everyone jumps, then begins to giggle. Rolling her eyes at her vice
president's antics, 19-year-old Amal Kurdi, the president, calls the
members of the Sisters United Muslim Association back to attention.
It is just before noon on Friday, and the young women, most of whom
wear
hijab, the traditional Muslim head covering, are simultaneously making
their way through an extensive agenda (student-teacher dinner, poetry
reading, highway cleanup, beauty tips) and a veritable feast of college
student food…
One young woman, a recent convert, suggests that SUMA host a dinner for
the
parents of converts. Rose, who also is a convert, embraces any
opportunity
to spread awareness about Islam…
-----
UPHOLDING BOTH ISLAM AND A GOOD PORTFOLIO
Eric Baum, New York Times, 10/6/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/06/business/mutfund/06ISLA.html
In many respects, the Amana Growth fund resembles scores of mutual
funds
that buy shares of fast-growing companies.
But Amana Growth is different in at least one key respect. Introduced
in
1986, it is the largest mutual fund in the United States that says it
abides by Islamic principles of investing.
It avoids direct investments in banks, brokerage firms and insurance
companies, for example, because lending money and the payment of
interest
are prohibited by the Koran, said Nicholas Kaiser, president of the
Saturna
Capital Corporation, the fund's adviser. "You don't want to be a
borrower
or a lender," Mr. Kaiser said.
Islamic funds are a variation on socially responsible mutual funds,
which
screen out companies that engage in practices that their shareholders
find
objectionable, like harming the environment or producing alcohol or
tobacco
products or pornography…
-----
CALL CONGRESS!
Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, 10/7/02
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.html
The Democrats have wimped out, the Republicans are in the neocons'
pocket it's up to you to stop this fateful war…
Passion inspires action, which leads to change and that is what is
desperately needed in our misguided and dangerous foreign policy. It is
imperative that you express yourself on this issue: write a letter to
the
editor of your local newspaper. Complain (in writing) when you see the
op
ed page dominated by warmongering laptop bombardiers…
But most of all and especially now, as the war resolution comes up for
a
vote in Congress you need to express your opposition to this war by
calling your congressional representatives. I strongly suggest a phone
call, rather than an email or a letter. It's too late for letters, and
emails are generally ignored. We need to flood the phone lines this
week.
So please take a few moments not later, not tomorrow, but right now
to
call you representative…
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS 10/8/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: VIRTUES OF MODESTY
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
- Author Jack Shaheen To Appear On ABC’s Nightline
* DEPORTATION HEARINGS CAN BE CLOSED (AP)
- B'klyn Man's Story Ends With Release By Ins (Newsday)
* POLICE: BOISE WOMAN WAS KILLED BEFORE HOUSE FIRE (Idaho Statesman)
* NCC BOARD REPUDIATES FALWELL'S '60 MINUTES' COMMENTS ON ISLAM (U.S.
Newswire)
- Muslims Protest Falwell's Comments (Chicago Tribune)
- Editorial: Falwell’s Fallacies (Al Jazeera)
- Open Letter To Reverend Jerry Falwell From Christian In The
Holy
Land
* DISSENT OVER GOING TO WAR GROWS AMONG U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
(Miami
Herald)
- Hail Caesar! (Salon.com)
* PUTIN MAY BE PLANNING AN ATTACK ON GEORGIA (MSNBC)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: VIRTUES OF MODESTY
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Modesty results in good
alone and nothing else.”
Riyadh-us-Saleheen, Chapter 84, Hadith 682
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 591 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
SEE ALSO:
AUTHOR JACK SHAHEEN TO APPEAR ON ABC’S NIGHTLINE
Jack Shaheen, internationally acclaimed media critic and author of
“Reel
Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People,” “Arab and Muslim
Stereotyping
In American Popular Culture,” and “The TV Arab” will appear on ABC’s
Nightline this Wednesday (10/9). Check local listings for time. Dr.
Shaheen’s book, “Reel Bad Arabs” is part of the CAIR Library Project’s
book
and tape package.
-----
DEPORTATION HEARINGS CAN BE CLOSED
David B. Caruso, Associated Press, 10/8/02
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20021008_1062.html
PHILADELPHIA - A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that immigration
hearings may be closed by the government, dealing a blow to media
organizations who sought access to hearings involving foreigners swept
up
in the nation's terrorism investigation.
The three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed
a
lower court ruling and said the attorney general has the right to close
the
hearings for reasons of national security. Justice Department lawyers
had
argued that national security would be threatened if reporters and
others
were allowed to attend.
For nearly a year, reporters and members of the public have been barred
from deportation hearings for hundreds being held in the nation's
terrorism
investigation.
Media organizations and civil rights groups sued to reopen the
hearings, or
to allow them to be closed only if the government could persuade a
judge
that secrecy was necessary…
The two-judge majority disagreed, however, writing that the types of
deportation hearings being closed were ``extremely narrow'' and that
the
attorney general is in a better position than immigration judges to
determine their importance to national security. U.S. Circuit Judge
Anthony
J. Scirica dissented...
The 3rd Circuit's decision only applies to immigration hearings in its
coverage area - New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the Virgin
Islands.
The government's secrecy rules also have been challenged elsewhere...
---
B'KLYN MAN'S STORY ENDS WITH RELEASE BY INS
Ron Howell, Newsday, 10/8/02
http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-nypaki082957033oct08.story
After a month as an INS detainee, Faisal Iqbal is finally back with his
wife and son. But he's lost 40 pounds. He can't sleep. And he says his
business clients have left him. "I can't do anything," the printing
company
salesman said yesterday.
Iqbal was profiled in a Newsday story last week about Pakistanis
detained
by the Immigration and Naturalization Service since Sept. 11, 2001,
often
on minor immigration charges. He was released on bail Friday night, and
his
lawyer says the arrest was the result of a misunderstanding.
Iqbal of Brooklyn said he once felt he was all-American.
He played on the football team at Brooklyn's James Madison High School.
After the World Trade Center attacks, he and his Manhattan printing
company
distributed, free of charge, more than 20,000 post cards featuring the
Statue of Liberty and other city icons.
But at dawn on Sept. 4 his dreams were shattered. INS agents came to
his
apartment and arrested Iqbal, who had been sleeping with his wife,
Mehrunisa Ayub, and their son, Faheem.
Iqbal's lawyer, Angela Nwadiogbu, said the detention was the result of
poor
communications within the INS. Although a deportation order had been
issued
against him, it had never been sent to Iqbal's address in Brooklyn.
What's
more, his wife Ayub, an American citizen, had filed papers to legalize
his
status, and that request is still pending, the lawyer said…
-----
POLICE: BOISE WOMAN WAS KILLED BEFORE HOUSE FIRE
Patrick Orr, Idaho Statesman, 10/8/02
http://www.idahostatesman.com/story.asp?ID=22355
Someone killed Angie Abdullah before using gasoline to set fire to her
house early Saturday to conceal the crime, Boise police said Monday.
But investigators are still attempting to figure out what happened to
Abdullah, 37, a prominent local Muslim. FBI agents are in Boise to try
to
determine if the death represents a hate crime. Boise police, who say
they
have no evidence of that, have no suspects in the murder.
Abdullah was buried late Monday afternoon at Morris Hill Cemetery. A
crowd
of more than 100 family and friends shared prayers and tears with her
husband, Azad, who buried his wife before sundown as dictated by Muslim
custom.
“I see Muslims here who don´t go to the mosque. Half of these people, I
have never seen before,” Furqan Mehmood, a family friend, said as a
line of
about 50 people waited to hug and comfort Azad after the burial. “If
whoever did this tried to hurt this community, they have failed. It has
brought people together.”
While people mourned at the burial service, Boise detectives and FBI
agents called in by Boise police to help with the investigation
continued
to work on the case that has them vexed and many local Muslims
concerned.
Police are not releasing any details about the cause of Abdullah´s
death to
protect their investigation, Lt. Rich Schnebly said. “Anybody could be
a
suspect at this point,” Schnebly said during a news conference Monday.
A
weekend autopsy showed Abdullah was killed before the fire was set,
according to police reports…
“While Angie Abdullah was active in the Muslim community ... There is
no
evidence she was targeted because of her faith and beliefs,” said a
news
release issued Monday by Boise police. “Any reports her death is
somehow a
result of a hate crime is purely speculation at this time...”
Abdullah´s husband, Azad, was not home at the time. He and the couple´s
5-year-old son, Redear, were on a weekend trip to Salt Lake City to
purchase kosher meat, Mehmood said. They returned to Boise late
Saturday…
Azad Abdullah and the children are staying with family.
Said Ahmed-Zaid, a professor at Boise State University, said the local
Muslim community is apprehensive and shocked at the death of Abdullah.
“There is a lot of anger and sadness,” he said…
-----
NCC BOARD REPUDIATES FALWELL'S '60 MINUTES' COMMENTS ON ISLAM
U.S. Newswire, 10/7/02
NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Executive Board of the (U.S.)
National Council of Churches this afternoon (Oct. 7) voted unanimously
to
"condemn and repudiate" the Rev. Jerry Falwell's statements yesterday
on
CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" about Islam and the Prophet Muhammed, Islam's
founder, saying Falwell's statements endangered the lives of Christians
around the world.
Noting that "Falwell implied in his comments that he and his
constituency
control President Bush's policies toward Israel and Palestine," the
leaders
of U.S. Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations called on
President
Bush to repudiate and condemn Falwell's remarks.
Falwell's "hateful and destructive" statements - among others, that
"Muhammed was a terrorist" - "are NOT those of the majority of
Christians
in this country nor in the rest of the world," said the governing body
of
the NCC, whose 36 member denominations comprise 50 million adherents.
"His
statements about Islam and the Prophet Muhammed are not only factually
untrue and offensive, but are dangerous to the national security of
every
nation where Christians and Muslims are seeking a peaceful
relationship..."
The full text of the statement by the NCC Executive Board is available
at
http://www.ncccusa.org
---
MUSLIMS PROTEST FALWELL'S COMMENTS
Chicago Tribune, 10/8/02
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0210080232oct08,0,4601215.story
NEW DELHI, INDIA - Thousands of Muslims demonstrated in India's Jammu
and
Kashmir state Monday after a newspaper reported that conservative U.S.
religious leader Jerry Falwell had called the founder of Islam a
terrorist.
People shouted slogans, shops and businesses were closed, and
protesters
attacked vehicles as Islamic groups called for a daylong strike to
protest
Falwell's remarks, which were made in an interview broadcast Sunday on
CBS'
"60 Minutes" program. The Greater Kashmir newspaper quoted the region's
main separatist alliance, the All Party Hurriyat Conference, as saying
that
Falwell's remarks about Muhammad were part of a "war against humanity"
and
that Christians are the "terrorists."
"They wreaked havoc in Vietnam, killed innocent people in Iraq and are
responsible for the killings of Palestinians," the group said.
Activity Monday in several main towns, including Jammu and Kashmir's
summer
capital, Srinigar, slowed to a crawl. Falwell's comments were not
broadcast
in the state…
---
EDITORIAL: FALWELL’S FALLACIES
Arsalan Iftikhar, Al Jazeera, 10/8/02
http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/Oct%202002%20op%20eds/Oct%208,%202002%20op%20eds.htm#fal
Reverend Jerry Falwell is essentially proclaiming a political jihad
against
Islam in an effort to promote his apocalyptic worldview and lobbying
power
to the American public. History will vindicate or demonize us for the
manner in which we react to such skewed and self-promoting rhetoric.
In the most recent installment of “60 Minutes”, Falwell began by smugly
telling correspondent Ben Simon that the fringe element of the
Christian
Right dictates the policies to which President Bush adheres. He and
some
other evangelists proclaim to be stronger political saviors to the
state of
Israel than American Zionists themselves…
Islam was next in the crosshairs of the reverend. He self-righteously
asserted that he thought “Muhammad was a terrorist. I read enough to
decide
that he was a violent man, a man of war. In my opinion, Jesus set the
example of love, as did Moses, and I think Muhammad set an opposite
example.” If I were to stoop to Falwell’s anachronistic level, I would
cite
Leviticus 20 in the Bible, where the prophet Moses proclaims the
penalties
for various crimes, including death for anyone who curses his father or
mother, commits adultery, or engages in homosexual sex…
The scariest aspect of this debate is the undue influence people like
Falwell have within the current Bush administration. Commenting on
Falwell’s comments, a Washington Post editorial stated that “on
[Falwell’s]
noxious mix of religious bigotry and anti-Muslim demagoguery, Mr.
Bush's
silence is deafening.” Only when President Bush denounces and distances
himself from duplicitous and conniving people like Falwell, will I ever
be
convinced that this “war on terror” is not an evangelical war on Islam.
Arsalan Iftikhar serves as Midwest Communications Director for the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
---
OPEN LETTER TO REVEREND JERRY FALWELL FROM CHRISTIAN IN THE HOLY LAND
I am a Christian from Jerusalem. My roots in the Holy Land go back one
thousand years, so says my family tradition. Some would argue that our
roots as indigenous Christians might go back further and link up to the
early Church in Jerusalem. In this sense, we are a Christian
fundamentalist
family deep-rooted in the foundations of the Christian faith.
As a Christian from Jerusalem, I owe great debt to two monotheistic
traditions: Judaism, on the one hand, because of the Old Testament
which is
the basis of my faith in the New Testament, and Islam, with whose
adherents
my family, for centuries, has shared the experience of living side by
side.
Thus, my fundamentalist Christianity is enlightened by the history of
the
Hebrews and by experiential sharing with Muslim neighbours.
As a Christian believer, I strongly adhere to the teaching of Jesus
Christ
and his message of compassion and forgiveness. This Christian message
has
taught me to accept others; not to judge lest I be judged and to
consider
every human being, irrespective of background, in the image of the
Creator…
It is this comfort that my faith gives me that also causes me great
spiritual and moral tribulation when I hear someone of your stature
making
statements of judgement on Islam and its Prophet. I find this offensive
not
only to Muslims and their religion but also to our Christian faith and
practice…
Could I plead with you to return to the fundamentals of our Christian
faith
and to become a constructive force in our world and especially in our
Middle Eastern region? Could you please bring hearts together instead
of
distancing them from one another? Could your faith and belief afford to
accept others, irrespective of their backgrounds? Could you be a force
of
healing in our troubled world?
Is it much to expect these things from a person of your stature?
Dr Bernard Sabella,
Executive Director,
Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees,
Middle East Council of Churches,
Jerusalem
-----
DISSENT OVER GOING TO WAR GROWS AMONG U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Warren P. Strobel, Miami Herald, 10/8/02
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4234768.htm
While President Bush marshals congressional and international support
for
invading Iraq, a growing number of military officers, intelligence
professionals and diplomats in his own government privately have deep
misgivings about the administration's double-time march toward war.
These officials charge that administration hawks have exaggerated
evidence
of the threat that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein poses -- including
distorting his links to the al Qaeda terrorist network -- have
overstated
the extent of international support for attacking Iraq and have
downplayed
the potential repercussions of a new war in the Middle East.
They charge that the administration squelches dissenting views and that
intelligence analysts are under intense pressure to produce reports
supporting the White House's argument that Hussein poses such an
immediate
threat to the United States that preemptive military action is
necessary.
"Analysts at the working level in the intelligence community are
feeling
very strong pressure from the Pentagon to cook the intelligence books,"
said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity...
-----
HAIL CAESAR!
Gary Kamiya, Salon.com, 10/8/02
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2002/10/07/bushwar/index_np.html
President George W. Bush is presiding over the most radical change in
American policy since the end of World War II. Bush's determination to
invade Iraq represents a gigantic gamble. It is the riskiest military
intervention America has undertaken since the end of World War II. Yet
cavalierly disregarding those risks, the White House is pushing for
regime
change in Iraq as part of an aggressive new global strategy, one that
represents a decisive -- and extremely dangerous -- break with the
thinking
that has guided American policy since the Cold War.
Prodded by hard-line ex-Cold Warriors and crusading neoconservatives,
President Bush -- who ran for office promising a "humble" America --
has
embraced an arrogant new doctrine of American supremacy that threatens
not
just to destabilize the Middle East and breed more terror, but to
unravel
the carefully constructed international order that has safely guided
the
world through the Cold War and into the new millennium. By word and
deed --
breaking treaties, disdaining allies, declaring America exempt from
international law, announcing a new doctrine of preemptive force -- the
Bush administration has shown its desire to establish the United States
as,
in effect, an imperial power, the new Rome…
-----
PUTIN MAY BE PLANNING AN ATTACK ON GEORGIA
Christian Caryl, MSNBC, 10/14/02
http://www.msnbc.com/news/817632.asp
A source close to the Russian General Staff has told Newsweek that
military
leaders have completed planning for an assault on the Pankisi Gorge, a
remote canyon that has been used as a hideout by rebels from
neighboring
Chechnya. Other sources say that Russian officers have already been
issued
tactical maps for use in the operation…
The White House has repeatedly said that it doesn’t want to see any
moves
by the Russians that would impinge on Georgia’s sovereignty, but at the
same time, Bush has made it clear that he won’t allow Russia’s conduct
in
Chechnya to jeopardize the antiterrorist partnership between Moscow and
Washington...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR OFFICIAL TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/9/02) - The executive director of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington-based Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group, is scheduled to testify today before a
congressional
subcommittee examining the State Department's Annual Report on
International Religious Freedom. Nihad Awad will testify before the
International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee of the House
International Relations Committee.
SEE: http://www.house.gov/international_relations/iohr107.htm
In his written and oral remarks to the subcommittee, Awad will say:
"Since
its founding, the United States has been a beacon of religious
diversity
and tolerance…Freedom from religious persecution is clearly a major
reason
that many Muslim immigrants come to the United States, and, for the
most
part, the United States has lived up to its well-deserved reputation.
At
the same time, over the past year, ominous signs have appeared that may
signal a diminishing of this concern for religious freedom. This is the
case within the United States itself and also apparent through some of
its
policies abroad."
Awad will draw the subcommittee's attention to four countries, Russia,
China, India and Israel, which highlight America's apparent reluctance
to
address religious persecution by friendly nations. He will tell the
subcommittee: "These countries are using the pretext of security to
engage
in widespread abuses of Muslim communities based on the violent actions
of
a relatively small number of individuals."
"Muslims of Chechnya continue to face systematic intimidation,
detention,
torture, execution and 'disappearances,'" Awad will say. He will note
that,
"China is another area in which the US has muted its criticism of
restrictions on religious freedom, especially in the western part of
that
country, which is home to the Uighurs, a Turkic-Muslim minority."
Concerning India, Awad will cite the American government's relative
silence
on the mass killings and displacement of Muslims by right-wing Hindus
in
the state of Gujarat. "The conspicuous silence of the administration
and
congress on this issue was a disappointment," Awad will tell the
subcommittee.
Awad will also say Israel "is perhaps the closest ally of the United
States
that has used the war on terrorism as a cover for massive and
widespread
abuses of human and religious rights targeting a Muslim and Christian
population."
In his concluding remarks, Awad will outline concerns about the
detention,
without due process of law, of hundreds of Muslims following the
9/11/01
terrorists attacks, the negative civil liberties implications of the
USA
Patriot Act, the closure of American Muslim charities, the raids on
Muslim
homes and businesses, the profiling of airline passengers based on
race,
religion or ethnicity, and the official silence that greets attacks on
Islam by right-wing commentators and evangelical leaders.
Awad will suggest that foreign aid be tied to the protection of human
and
religious rights in friendly nations and that the administration be
more
open and even-handed when implementing policies directed at American
Muslims. He will also ask that elected and government officials come
out
forcefully against anti-Muslim bigotry in this country, such as that
exhibited recently by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294,
E-MAIL:
hhassan@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
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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 #350
ASK REP. DELAY NOT TO SUPPORT FALWELL AND ROBERTSON
House Minority Whip to attend conference with Islam-bashers
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/9/2) - CAIR is calling on people of conscience to
contact House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and other elected
officials
to ask that they not attend a conference this Friday at which
well-known
"Islam-bashers" will be featured and applauded.
Rep. DeLay and others are being asked not to offer tacit support for
those
who would attack Islam by attending the Christian Coalition's "Road to
Victory 2002" two-day conference, which begins this Friday in
Washington,
D.C. DeLay is the most prominent elected official to be featured at the
conference.
SEE: http://www.cc.org/events/information.html
Religious figures scheduled to appear at the conference include Revs.
Pat
Robertson and Jerry Falwell, both of whom have recently attacked Islam
or
the Prophet Muhammad.
In an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" program,
Robertson smeared both Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. About Muhammad,
Robertson said: "This man was an absolute wild-eyed fanatic. He was a
robber and a brigand. And to say that these terrorists distort Islam,
they're carrying out Islam…I mean, this man [Muhammad] was a killer.
And to
think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent." Robertson also
called Islam "a monumental scam" and claimed the Quran, Islam's
revealed
text, "is strictly a theft of Jewish theology."
On Sunday, Falwell referred to the Prophet Muhammad as a "terrorist" on
the
CBS news program "60 Minutes." Given an opportunity in other media
interviews to amend his defamatory comments, Falwell declined.
"As a House leader, Representative DeLay can send a message to the
world
that anti-Muslim bigotry will not be tolerated in America. Bigotry and
hatred can only thrive when good people remain silent," said CAIR
Executive
Director Nihad Awad in a letter to DeLay. Awad added that attacks on
the
deeply-held religious beliefs of others can only serve to divide
America
and create or perpetuate conflicts around the world.
Muslims and people of other faiths around the world have expressed
outrage
over the recent attacks on Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Islamic
parties
in Pakistan have called for a nationwide strike on Friday. British
Foreign
Secretary Jack Straw called Falwell's remarks "outrageous and
insulting."
Iran asked members of the 55-nation Organization of Islamic Conference
(OIC) to speak out on the issue. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and
the
National Council of Churches have both issued statements condemning
Rev.
Falwell's remarks.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
1. Contact Rep. DeLay to ask that he withdraw his name from the
conference.
CONTACT:
Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX)
U.S. House of Representatives
2370 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
TEL: (202) 225-5951
IN TEXAS: (281) 240-3700
FAX: (202) 225-5241
E-MAIL: http://www.majoritywhip.gov/contact.asp
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://tomdelay.house.gov/ or http://www.majoritywhip.gov
2. Provide access to balanced and objective information about Islam by
supporting CAIR's Library Project.
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
- PLEASE POST, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/9/2002
HEADLINES:
* REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET
* CAIR CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM NOW ONLINE
* CAIR REACTS TO NEWSWEEK ARTICLE SMEARING AMERICAN MOSQUES
* C.I.A. WARNS THAT A U.S. ATTACK MAY IGNITE TERROR (New York Times)
- Analysts Discount Attack By Iraq (Washington Post)
- Detailed Analysis of October 7 Speech by Bush on Iraq (IPA)
- What the US President Wants Us to Forget (Independent)
* KILLING OF MUSLIM, FIRE SHOCK BOISE (AP)
- Candlelight Vigil for Murdered Idaho Muslim
* ISLAMIC LEADERS CALL PROTEST IN PAKISTAN OVER FALWELL REMARKS (AFP)
- A Dumb Idea Too Dangerous To Dally With (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
- Tehran, Britain Condemn Evangelist Falwell (Reuters)
* MAKING PEACE PERSONAL (USA Today)
* EDITORIAL: KEEPING QUIET (Washington Post)
* ISRAEL FREES REUTERS JOURNALIST AFTER FIVE MONTHS (Reuters)
* VA FUNDRAISER FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET
Don't forget to register for CAIR's Eighth Annual Fundraising Banquet.
Last
year's event was a sell-out so act now to purchase your seats.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26th, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
The dinner's theme is "Muslims in America: Defending Freedom, Promoting
Justice," and featured guests include Martin Luther King III, Dr. John
Esposito and Siraj Wahhaj, among many others.
Tickets: $55 single/$85 couples
To register, visit www.cair-net.org or call (202) 488-8787
-----
CAIR CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM NOW ONLINE
https://www.cair-net.org/testimony/
-----
CAIR REACTS TO NEWSWEEK ARTICLE SMEARING AMERICAN MOSQUES
Newsweek, 10/14/02
http://www.msnbc.com/news/817452.asp
Scroll down.
"A Safe Haven?" which questions whether American mosques have been
taken
over by extremists, betrays an unfamiliarity with Islam. The article
states
that "an April 2001 survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations
found that 69 percent of Muslims in America say it is 'absolutely
fundamental' or 'very important' to have Salafi teachings at their
mosques." The information from our survey has been misrepresented, and
implies that a majority of Muslims are "Salafi," a term that was never
properly defined in your article.
The claim is apparently derived from a question that asks Muslims to
rate
the importance of various sources of religious authority in their
mosques.
One of the choices was the "teachings of the righteous Salaf." The term
"Salaf" refers to Muslims of the three generations after the Prophet
Muhammad. Salafi teachings have always been considered one of the most
authoritative sources of Islam, along with the Qur'an and the
traditions of
the Prophet (Sunnah). Their texts are consulted to clarify issues not
explicit in the Qur'an or the Sunnah. To call someone who believes in
the
teachings of the Salaf a "Salafi" is akin to calling everyone who
believes
in the teachings of Jesus a "Jesuit."
Ibrahim Hooper
National Communications Director, CAIR
Washington, D.C.
SEE ALSO: CAIR MOSQUE STUDY REPORT
www.cair-net.org/mosquereport
-----
C.I.A. WARNS THAT A U.S. ATTACK MAY IGNITE TERROR
Alison Mitchell and Carl Hulse, New York Times, 10/9/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/09/international/middleeast/09IRAQ.html
Washington - The Bush administration pushed Congress today for a broad
vote
to authorize the president to use force against Iraq.
But a new element was injected into the debate by a C.I.A. assessment
that
Saddam Hussein, while now stopping short of an attack, could become
"much
less constrained" if faced with an American-led force.
The judgment was contained in a letter signed by the deputy C.I.A.
director, John McLaughlin, on behalf of George J. Tenet, the director
of
central intelligence. It was alluded to in a hearing of a Congressional
panel investigating the Sept. 11 attacks and then released tonight,
after
the House opened its debate on Iraq.
The letter said "Baghdad for now appears to be drawing a line short of
conducting terrorist attacks" with conventional or chemical or
biological
weapons against the United States.
"Should Saddam conclude that a U.S.-led attack could no longer be
deterred,
he probably would become much less constrained in adopting terrorist
action," it continued. It noted that Mr. Hussein could use either
conventional terrorism or a weapon of mass destruction as "his last
chance
to exact vengeance by taking a large number of victims with him."
The letter dated Oct. 7 also declassified an exchange from a closed
Congressional hearing on Oct. 2 in which a senior intelligence official
judged the likelihood of Mr. Hussein's initiating an attack in the
foreseeable future as "low…"
One lawmaker on the intelligence committee, Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat
of
Oregon, cited the letter today as he registered his opposition to
granting
the president broad authority to use force unilaterally. "I'm not
convinced
regarding a clear and present threat," he said in Senate debate…
---
ANALYSTS DISCOUNT ATTACK BY IRAQ
Dana Priest, Washington Post, 10/9/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63775-2002Oct9.html
Unprovoked by a U.S. military campaign, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
is
unlikely to initiate a chemical or biological attack against the United
States, intelligence agencies concluded in a classified report given to
select senators last week...
The CIA assessment appears to suggest that an attack on Iraq could
provoke
the very thing the president has said he is trying to forestall: the
use of
chemical or biological weapons by Hussein.
The CIA's detailed, unvarnished view of the threat posed by Iraq is
central, say many lawmakers, to how they will vote on the matter. Yet
an
increasing number of intelligence officials, including former and
current
intelligence agency employees, are concerned the agency is tailoring
its
public stance to fit the administration's views. The CIA works for the
president, but its role is to provide him with information untainted by
political agendas.
Caught in the tug of war over intelligence, say former intelligence
officials familiar with current CIA intelligence and analysis on Iraq,
have
been the CIA's rank and file and, to some extent, Tenet. "There is a
tremendous amount of pressure on the CIA to substantiate positions that
have already been adopted by the administration," said Vincent M.
Cannistraro, former head of counterterrorism at the CIA…
---
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF OCTOBER 7 SPEECH BY BUSH ON IRAQ
Institute for Public Accuracy, 10/8/02
http://www.accuracy.org/bush/
"Thank you for that very gracious and warm Cincinnati welcome. I'm
honored
to be here tonight. I appreciate you all coming.
Tonight I want to take a few minutes to discuss a grave threat to peace
and
America's determination to lead the world in confronting that threat.
The threat comes from Iraq. It arises directly from the Iraqi regime's
own
actions, its history of aggression and its drive toward an arsenal of
terror."
Chris Toensing, editor of Middle East Report: "This might indicate that
Iraq is actively threatening the peace in the region. There is no
evidence
whatsoever that Iraq is doing so, or has any intention of doing so.
Other
powers are actively disrupting the peace in the region: Israel is
trying to
crush Palestinian resistance to occupation with brute force, and the
U.S.
and Britain have bombed Iraq 46 times in 2002 when their aircraft are
'targeted' by Iraqi air defense systems in the bilaterally enforced
no-fly
zones. Most of our 'friends' in the region -- Turkey, Saudi Arabia,
Jordan
-- have strongly urged us not to go to war, and to tone down the war
rhetoric. Aren't they better positioned than we are to judge what
threatens
their safety?"
"Eleven years ago, as a condition for ending the Persian Gulf War, the
Iraqi regime was required to destroy its weapons of mass destruction,
to
cease all development of such weapons and to stop all support for
terrorist
groups."
Rahul Mahajan, author of The New Crusade: America's War on Terrorism:
"Resolution 687 also speaks of 'establishing in the Middle East a zone
free
from weapons of mass destruction' -- which also means Israel's 200-plus
nuclear weapons as well as Syria's and Egypt's apparent chemical
weapons
capabilities, and any nuclear capability the U.S. has placed in the
region..."
---
WHAT THE US PRESIDENT WANTS US TO FORGET
Robert Fisk, Independent (UK), 10/9/02
http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=340836
Each day now, someone says something even more incredible - even more
unimaginable - about President Bush's obsession with war. Yesterday,
George
Bush was himself telling an audience in Cincinnati about "nuclear holy
warriors".
Forget for a moment that we still can't prove Saddam Hussein has
nuclear
weapons. Forget that the latest Bush speech was just a re-hash of all
the
"ifs" and "mays" and "coulds" in Tony Blair's flimsy 16 pages of
allegations in his historically dishonest "dossier"…
Forget the 14 Palestinians, including the 12-year-old child, killed by
Israel a few hours before Mr Bush spoke, forget that when his aircraft
killed nine Palestinian children in July, along with one militant, the
Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon - a "man of peace" in Mr Bush's
words -
described the slaughter as "a great success". Israel is on our side…
Remember to use the word "terror". Use it about Saddam Hussein, use it
about Osama bin Laden, use it about Yasser Arafat, use it about anyone
who
opposes Israel or America. Bush used it in his speech yesterday, 30
times
in half an hour - that's one "terrorism" a minute…
In all of Bush's 30 minutes of anti-Iraq war talk yesterday -
pleasantly
leavened with just two minutes of how "I hope this will not require
military action" - there wasn't a single reference to the fact that
Iraq
may hold oil reserves larger than those of Saudi Arabia, that American
oil
companies stand to gain billions of dollars in the event of a US
invasion,
that, once out of power, Bush and his friends could become
multi-billionaires on the spoils of this war. We must ignore all this
before we go to war. We must forget.
-----
KILLING OF MUSLIM, FIRE SHOCK BOISE
Associated Press, 10/9/02
http://www.sltrib.com/10082002/nation_w/5151.htm
BOISE, Idaho -- An autopsy revealed that the Muslim woman found dead in
the
burned out remains of her home had been killed before the fire was set,
police said Monday.
The death of 37-year-old Angie Abdullah was a homicide, but no evidence
was
found to suggest the woman was a victim of a hate crime, police Lt.
Rich
Schnebly said.
Abdullah was found dead in her bedroom after a fire destroyed her home
early Saturday. Three of her children and a child who was visiting the
home
escaped without injury. A fourth child and her husband, Azad, were out
of
town.
Several people are being questioned, Schnebly said. No suspects have
been
identified.
Police found no evidence of a struggle or break-in and are not certain
how
Abdullah died. But they said the fire was deliberately set, with a gas
can
found in the home's driveway and accelerant residue found throughout
the home.
Abdullah's death came after a week of vandalism and racial slurs
directed
at Boise's Muslim community.
On Sept. 30, bricks were thrown through the windows of the Boise
Islamic
Center where Abdullah and her family worshipped. The center's education
director, Furqan Mehmood, received a threatening phone call the day
before.
On Friday night several members of the center encountered a man who
shouted
racial slurs as they left services.
Said Ahmed-Zaid, a professor at Boise State University and a community
leader, said a funeral for Abdullah will be held when police
investigators
release the body. "We cannot believe it," Ahmed-Zaid said. Deputy Chief
Tim
Rosenvall said officers have been in touch with the Muslim community
since
Sept. 11, 2001.
"Our police officers take this kind of offense personally," Rosenvall
said…
Seven or eight detectives from the department's Crimes Against Persons
unit
have been assigned to the case along with officers from the fire
department
and the Hazmat team. The FBI also is investigating.
---
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR MURDERED IDAHO MUSLIM
WHAT: A Candlelight Vigil in Memorial of Angie Abdullah and in support
of
the Islamic Community of Boise
WHERE: Capitol Park (opposite the State Capitol)
WHEN: Sunday October 13, 7:30-9 p.m.
We hope that the spiritual and community leaders of Boise will join
with
the community in a vigil tonight to support our Islamic neighbors and
to
show them that we will look after them and that we care for them.
For more information, please contact Lynn Lubamersky (208) 426-3358.
-----
ISLAMIC LEADERS CALL PROTEST IN PAKISTAN OVER FALWELL REMARKS
Agence France Presse, 10/9/02
Multan, Pakistan, - Pakistani Islamic parties have denounced
controversial
US pastor Jerry Falwell and called for a nationwide protest on Friday
to
condemn his derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed, a spokesman
said.
Falwell, who in a television interview equated Mohammed with a
"terrorist,"
has hurt the sentiments of Muslims the world over, and the government
should lodge a formal protest over his utterances, Kanwar Muhammad
Siddique
of the six-party alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) said.
He said MMA leaders, including influential Sunni and Shiite sect
leaders
Tuesday expressed resentment over Falwell's "objectionable remarks" and
demanded he be put on trial for his attempts to disrupt world peace by
inciting the Muslim community. In an interview broadcast Sunday on the
CBS
television network's "60 Minutes" news programme, Falwell, a leader of
the
US Evangelical Christian right, called the Prophet "a terrorist"...
MMA appealed to prayer leaders and Muslim scholars to highlight the
life of
Prophet Mohammed in their sermons at Friday congregations, the Muslim
prayer day.
They should also adopt resolutions against Falwell, and stage rallies
and
protest demonstrations to express their anger against his "sacrilegious
act," Siddique said.
Falwell's comments have drawn widespread wrath in several Muslim
countries,
with neighbour Iran calling upon members of the 55-nation Organisation
of
Islamic Conference (OIC) to speak out over the matter...
-----
EDITORIAL: A DUMB IDEA TOO DANGEROUS TO DALLY WITH
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10/9/02
www.post-gazette.com
The long-running and rightfully respected CBS news show "60 Minutes"
made
what the baseball announcers like to call a bonehead play the other
night
by airing an interview with Jerry Falwell.
Though lowlights of a typically hate-filled Falwell conversation had
leaked
previously and Falwell did the Associated Press a favor by restating
them
for the national record, CBS still allowed one of America's leading
fools
to spew vitriol in prime time just as the nation's next dubious
military
steps are likely to begin in earnest.
"I think Mohammed was a terrorist," Falwell was shown telling CBS
correspondent Bob Simon. "I read enough, by both Muslims and
non-Muslims,
[to decide] that he was a violent man, a man of war. In my opinion . .
.
Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses, and I think Mohammed set
an
opposite example." Yeah, that'll help. Thank you Jerry and thank you
CBS…
Mohammed, now dead nearly 1,400 years, was the humble prophet who wrote
the
Quran. Though he'd indeed become a powerful political figure in
addition to
the spiritual icon of the Muslim world, comparing him to Jesus Christ
to
oversimplify a geopolitical conflict two millennia later borders on the
criminal.
In the face of supposedly new bin Laden threats, about the only thing
worse
is offering that view a forum.
-----
TEHRAN, BRITAIN CONDEMN EVANGELIST FALWELL
Reuters, 10/9/02
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran and Britain Wednesday condemned televised comments
by
the Rev. Jerry Falwell who called the prophet Mohammad a "terrorist."
"What this American priest said encourages war among civilisations and
also
increases crisis and it should be confronted," Iranian Foreign Minister
Kamal Kharrazi told a news conference.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw who arrived in Iran on Wednesday
aiming to seek Iran's support for a tough U.N. resolution on Iraq,
said, "I
regard these comments as much an insult to me as a Christian as they
are to
Muslims."
Falwell, a conservative Baptist evangelist and a leading voice for the
U.S.
Christian right, told CBS's "60 Minutes" news show Sunday, "I think
Mohammad was a terrorist," according to the CBS news Web site.
The remarks angered Iran's leading religious figures and some called on
Islamic countries to halt their oil export to the United States and cut
their relations with the "Great Satan."
"This is an obvious insult to our prophet, and it is a must for all
Islamic
countries to stop their oil export and cut their relations with
America,"
the conservative Resalat daily Wednesday quoted Grand Ayatollah Hossein
Nouri-Hamedani, as saying.
-----
MAKING PEACE PERSONAL
Nafeesa Syeed, USA Today, 10/9/02
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-10-09-peace-personal_x.htm
When Sarah and Taoufik Abalil decided to get married, people told them
it
was bound to fail.
"There was concern that our marriage would be strained by crazy
politics or
competing loyalties," says Sarah Abalil, 27, a Jewish publications
designer
whose husband, 28, is a Muslim graduate student. "But every interfaith
encounter has a period of adjustment and getting past the stereotypes."
Despite the pressures, the Fremont, Calif., couple recently celebrated
their fifth wedding anniversary. But it hasn't always been easy. A few
months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Sarah decided to organize
an
informal dialogue to educate people about each faith. The reception,
though, was cool. Those she contacted were not ready to meet with "the
other side" just yet.
Domestic and international incidents reflect a possibly growing tension
among the faiths.
The attorneys general for California, Nebraska and Texas report surges
in
hate crimes in the past year, largely a result of a post-Sept. 11
backlash
against Muslims and Arabs.
A man in Florida was charged with plotting to attack mosques.
Anti-Semitic
literature was found on lawns in Boston. And the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict continues to breed animosity.
"There is no doubt that tension and longstanding turbulence in other
parts
of the world transfer into relations in the United States," says Diana
Eck,
professor of comparative religion at Harvard University and director of
the
school's Pluralism Project. Conflict abroad "affects friendships here
and
what people feel they can say even to their closest friends..."
-----
EDITORIAL: KEEPING QUIET
Washington Post, 10/9/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63343-2002Oct8.html
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit upheld yesterday the
government's policy of conducting secret deportation hearings for cases
stemming from the investigation of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The 6th
Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled the other way, so the Supreme
Court
will probably have to referee.
The Justice Department has ordered immigration courts to conduct cases
of
"special interest" with "no visitors, no family, and no press" present,
and
without even "confirming or denying whether such a case is on the
docket or
scheduled for a hearing." To put it another way: The government wants
to
lock up people whom it refuses to identify and throw them out of the
country using proceedings whose existence it refuses to acknowledge or
let
the public monitor. As a matter of civics, this is an easy call; the
government's position is unacceptable…
But nobody is arguing that sensitive material should be blithely
displayed.
The rules already allow the government to ask immigration courts to
close
hearings when sensitive material is to be presented. The government
wishes
to go further and wall off from the public an entire class of cases,
however innocuous the material presented may be…
But political accountability is precisely what these closures prevent.
How
are people to evaluate the department's conduct without even knowing
who is
being held or deported or why? American democracy should require more.
-----
ISRAEL FREES REUTERS JOURNALIST AFTER FIVE MONTHS
Reuters, 10/9/02
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel released Wednesday a Reuters journalist it
had
been holding in jail without charge for more than five months.
"I have been freed. It's good to be out," Palestinian cameraman Jussry
al-Jamal said in a telephone call from the Qalandia checkpoint between
the
West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem, where the Israeli army
dropped
him off.
Jamal and Hussam Abu Alan, a photographer with French news agency
Agence
France Presse, and Kamel Jbeil, a reporter for Palestinian newspaper
Al-Quds, had all been held since April.
An AFP representative in Jerusalem said Abu Alan was still in custody
and
his case was up for review in a military tribunal at the end of month.
There was no immediate information on Jbeil.
The three journalists were held with hundreds of other Palestinians in
crowded tents in detention centers under conditions which human rights
groups have described as deplorable…
The Committee to Protect Journalists, an international journalists'
rights
group, had sent a letter to the Israeli government demanding the
release of
the three "unless it can be convincingly shown that they may have
committed
an offense recognizable under international law."
Geert Linnebank, editor-in-chief for the international news
organization
Reuters, had described Jamal's detention as an "unacceptable
contravention
of all international standards for journalists legitimately doing their
jobs."
-----
VA FUNDRAISER FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE
WHAT: LIFE for Relief & Development is sponsoring a fundraising dinner
for
the people of IRAQ
WHEN: Saturday, October 12, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria,
VA 22311
703-845-1010
Confirmed speakers include:
Ambassador Edward Peck, Former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
Br. Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of MAS Freedom Foundation
Mr. Erik Gustafson, Executive Director of EPIC
Dr. Khalil Jassemm, CEO of LIFE for Relief & Development
Congressman Nick Rahall II (West Virginia)
Tickets: Adults $30 (students $20)
Babysitting provided
More Info Contact: Tel: 1-800-827-3543 or visit www.LIFEusa.org
-----
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https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp
TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/voting.asp
-----
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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
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Contact President Bush to ask that he issue a clear statement
repudiating
anti-Islamic hate.
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
COMMENT LINE: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
A FORM LETTER IS AVAILABLE AT:
http://www.cair-net.org/html/capwiz.html
-----
PRESIDENT ASKED TO REPUDIATE ANTI-ISLAMIC HATE
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/10/02) - A coalition of American Muslim civil
rights
and advocacy groups* said today that only a clear statement from
President
Bush can stem the "rising tide" of anti-Islamic rhetoric in this
country.
Leaders of the groups say the ongoing demonization of Islam and Muslims
by
right-wing commentators and evangelical leaders is being encouraged by
the
president's silence on the issue of Islamophobia.
Earlier this week, the ad hoc coalition sent a letter to President Bush
citing recent anti-Islamic remarks by Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and
Franklin Graham, who all attacked Islam as intrinsically evil or
smeared
the moral character of the Prophet Muhammad. The coalition's letter
read in
part:
"These are not the dispassionate views of scholars, but statements by
persons with a clearly negative agenda towards Islam and Muslims. They
see
Islam and Christianity locked in a cosmic war of annihilation and they
are
promoting this view among millions of their followers.
"These individuals are only helping our enemies by attacking the
tolerant,
multifaceted mosaic of our society. Through their statements they
damage
our most important strength as a nation - our unity…Our society is on
the
edge of an ideological precipice, with powerful forces pushing us
toward a
downward spiral of hate. America needs a clear and unambiguous
statement by
the President of the United States on the issue of anti-Islamic
rhetoric to
pull us back from the brink.
"Without such a statement, the purveyors of hate in our society will
continue to view your silence as tacit support for their bigoted views.
If
this issue is left unchallenged, that perception will serve to divide
America at a time of national crisis, harm our nation's image and
interests
worldwide, hinder the international effort to combat terrorism, and
further
traumatize American Muslim families who face a daily barrage of attacks
on
their faith.
"Your position, moral values and convictions provide the unique
influence
and respect necessary to convince such individuals that their actions
run
counter to America's interests and sully the faith they claim to
represent.
We ask that you publicly criticize such bigotry and distance yourself
and
the Administration from these individuals and their sentiments."
No response has yet been received to the issues raised in the letter.
* SIGNATORIES to the letter included: (In alphabetical order.) American
Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic
Relations, Islamic Circle of North America, Islamic Society of North
America, Muslim Alliance in North America, Muslim American Society,
Muslim
Student Association, Muslim Public Affairs Council
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294,
E-MAIL:
hhassan@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a window to the
American
Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called CAIR-NET, receive
news
releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on
issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to CAIR-NET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
-----
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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 Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/10/2002
HEADLINES:
* VERSE OF THE DAY: A MESSENGER OF YOUR OWN
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* CAIR OFFERS DIVERSITY TRAINING WORKSHOP AT VA SCHOOLS
* CAIR-CAN PUBLISHES JOURNALIST'S GUIDE TO ISLAM
* GEN. ZINNI SAYS CONTAINING IRAQ CAN WORK (Reuters)
- House Approves Iraq Resolution (AP)
- Thousands Gather at Calif. Antiwar Protest
- Ohio Congresswoman Opposes House Resolution on Iraq (PR Newswire)
* INTERFAITH LEADER URGES PRESIDENT TO CONDEMN ATTACKS ON ISLAM
* AS CHRISTIAN RIGHT PREPARES RALLY FOR ISRAEL, SOME JEWS ARE UNEASY
(JTA)
- Pro-Israel Activists Seek Allies Among Indian Immigrants (Forward)
* STOP ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE MIDEAST (Christian Science Monitor)
* AFTER INDICTMENT, PROTESTERS RALLY (New York Times)
* CAMPUS WATCH STIFLES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (Stanford Daily)
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: A MESSENGER OF YOUR OWN
"We [God] have sent you a Messenger of your own who recites Our
revelations
to you and makes you grow in purity; and educates you in the Scripture,
and
wisdom, and teaches you what you knew nothing about."
The Holy Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 151
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 667 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
CAIR OFFERS DIVERSITY TRAINING WORKSHOP AT VA SCHOOLS
TeamWorks, CAIR's diversity training division, today conducted a
sensitivity training workshop for Arlington Virginia Public Schools.
More than 180 teachers and teacher assistants participated in the
training
during an in-service for the school district. TeamWorks Director Nancy
Hanaan presented a classroom sensitivity training, "Muslim Students in
the
Classroom," which included a brief overview of basic Islamic beliefs
and
practices, and accommodation suggestions for Muslim students in public
schools.
TeamWorks: Solutions for Today's Diversity offers several training
programs
available for a wide range of environments and needs. For more
information,
contact: Nancy Hanaan Serag at 202-488-8787, ext. 6052,
nserag@cair-net.org
or teamworks@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR-CAN PUBLISHES JOURNALIST'S GUIDE TO ISLAM
(OTTAWA, CANADA) - CAIR-CAN, the Canadian office of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, today published its latest resource guide,
'A
Journalist's Guide to Islam.'
'A Journalists Guide to Islam' highlights important facts and
guidelines
for covering Islam, provides an overview of Islam's history and core
beliefs, discusses the Canadian Muslim presence, and explains a number
of
traditionally misunderstood themes.
The guide was produced by a collaborative effort with Gordon Legge,
director of the Centre for Faith and the Media, which is currently
being
established in Calgary. Legge is a respected journalist who has
reported on
religion and spirituality for the past 15 years and was once the
religion
editor of the Calgary Herald.
CAIR-CAN Board member Dr. Mustapha Fahmy stated: "Since its creation,
CAIR-CAN has been committed to media activism and education. In less
than a
year we have published eight opinion pieces in major Canadian
newspapers
and have delivered intensive media relations workshops in 11 Canadian
cities."
"Our journalist's guide is tailored to the needs of the media community
and
will lead, God willing, to coverage that is accurate, balanced and
nuanced," he added.
In addition to the journalist's guide, CAIR-CAN has also produced
educational guides for employers, educators and health care providers.
Contact:
Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA (CAIR-CAN)
P.O. Box 13219, Ottawa, ONT, K2K 1X4
E-mail: canada@cair-net.org
Tel: 1-866-524-0004
Fax: (613) 254-9810
URL: www.caircan.ca
-----
U.S. GEN. ZINNI SAYS CONTAINING IRAQ CAN WORK
Reuters, 10/10/02
Washington - The former commander of U.S. forces in the Gulf spoke out
on
Thursday against attacking Iraq, saying a policy of containment would
work
and Washington had at least five higher priorities in the Middle East.
"I think this wolf (Iraqi President Saddam Hussein) can be left for
another
shot. There are plenty of wolves on the sled," said retired Marine
Corps
Gen. Anthony Zinni.
"I'm not convinced we need to do this now. I believe he is ...
containable
at this moment," he told the annual meeting of the Middle East
Institute, a
Washington think-tank.
Zinni has been an outspoken critic of an attack on Iraq, and is
familiar
with Middle Eastern leaders and has been a mediator between Israelis
and
Palestinians.
Under the Democratic Clinton administration, Zinni was
commander-in-chief
of the U.S. Central Command, which runs American forces in the Middle
East.
The Republican Bush administration sent him to the Middle East to try
to
arrange a truce between Israel and the Palestinians.
Zinni said in his experience fighting rarely accomplished what
politicians
intended.
"If we look at this (attacking Iraq) as the beginning of a chain of
events
that means that we intend to do this through violent action, we're on
the
wrong course," he said.
"First of all, I don't see that that's necessary. Secondly, I think
that
war and violence are a very last resort and we have to be careful how
we
apply it, especially now, in our position in the world," he said.
He said the U.S. priorities in the Middle East should be putting Middle
East peace talks back on track, ensuring that Iran continues to move
toward
reform, helping Afghanistan and other central Asian states, patching up
relations with Arab states and reopening dialogue with the people of
the
region.
SEE ALSO:
HOUSE APPROVES IRAQ RESOLUTION
JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press, 10/10/02
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House on Thursday authorized war-making powers
for
President Bush, giving him the extra muscle he needs is his
determination
to free America and the world from what he says is the growing threat
of
Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
The 296-133 vote was a solid endorsement of Bush's insistence that he
will
work with the United Nations if possible, or alone if necessary, to
disarm
Saddam of his weapons of mass destruction. A majority of Democrats
voted
against the resolution even though their House leader, Dick Gephardt,
was
one of its authors…
The Senate was prepared to act in chorus, rejecting by a 75-25 vote a
bid
by opponents to slow down a final vote and picking up the vital support
of
the Senate's top Democrat, Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.
Information on the House bill, H.J. Res. 114, and the Senate version,
S.J.
Res. 45, can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov
---
THOUSANDS GATHER AT CALIF. ANTIWAR PROTEST
(LOS ANGELES, CA) - On Sunday, October 6, an estimated 10,000 people
converged on the lawn of the Federal Building in Los Angeles to protest
the
impending war on Iraq. The rally and march was organized by the "Not In
Our
Name" (NION) project, a group that formed a year ago to protest our
government's heavy-handed policies, domestically and internationally,
in
the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
The rally drew crowds from all over the Southland. Muslim, Jews,
Christians, young and old, veterans, first time protesters and die-hard
activists all communicated their dissent to the Bush administration's
push
for war.
CAIR encouraged members of the Muslim community to participate in this
peaceful protest against war. CAIR-LA representative also spoke on
behalf
of the Muslim community (Below is text of the actual speech.) Other
speakers included representatives from various groups including the
Lawyers' Guild, the Green Party, the ACLU, and the NION organizers…
For more info, contact:
COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS (CAIR)
Southern California
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Suite F
Anaheim, CA 92801
Tel: (714) 776-1847
Fax: (714) 776-8340
E-mail: CAIR_SCA@cair-california.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES OPPOSITION STATEMENT FOR A
RESOLUTION
TO USE MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ
PR Newswire, 10/10/02
WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, October 9, 2002, Congresswoman Stephanie
Tubbs
Jones (D-OH) issued a statement on the floor of the United States House
of
Representatives to voice her opposition for HJRes 114, a resolution
supporting the use of military force against Iraq.
"I stand here today as part of a minority in Congress who oppose this
apparently inevitable resolution granting the President the authority
to
use force to remove Saddam Hussein from power. But I won't be a silent
minority.
"I know who Saddam Hussein is. I know he has viciously killed hundreds
of
thousands of Kurds in Northern Iraq with chemical and biological
weapons. I know he has murdered members of his own cabinet -- in fact,
his
own family. I remember vividly his aggressions in Iran and Kuwait and
the
SCUD missiles he launched into Israel in the Gulf War…
"But I also know that the resolution before us is a product of haste
and
hubris rather than introspection and humility. I have seen President
Bush
confront the Iraq question with arrogance and condescension, bullying
Congress, our international allies, and the American people with
accusations and threats. President Bush has told us that war is not
inevitable, but does anyone really believe that…?
"Sadly, we are rushing headlong into a war without knowing what its
consequences will be. Just this week, the CIA presented the alarming
possibility that an attack on Iraq could provoke Saddam into taking the
very actions the Administration claims an invasion would prevent…"
-----
INTERFAITH LEADER URGES PRESIDENT TO CONDEMN ATTACKS ON ISLAM
Citing Hateful Rhetoric From the Right, National Interfaith Leader
Implores President to Divorce Himself From Remarks
WASHINGTON - In an open letter sent to President Bush this morning, the
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of The Interfaith
Alliance,
spoke out against the inflammatory comments made in a CBS "60 Minutes"
interview that aired October 6, 2002, by the Rev. Jerry Falwell,
identified
as "one of the leaders of the Christian Right." The letter pointed to
the
concern that such negative sentiments may influence the president, who
often sites such Religious Right figures as Rev. Falwell as his
personal
counsel.
Rev. Gaddy, who also serves as pastor for Preaching and Worship at
Northminster (Baptist) Church in Monroe, Louisiana, cited both the
identification of Mohammed as "a terrorist" and the application of a
specific biblical interpretation cited in the interview as troublesome.
"The strident voices of this extremist theology are growing louder and
louder in their affirmation of conflict in the Middle East as a
necessary
tragedy to move the world toward a fulfillment of biblical prophecy,
the
conversion of Jews, and the reign of Christ," wrote Rev. Gaddy.
The letter requests that President Bush both divorce himself from the
hateful rhetoric of those members of the Religious Right he refers to
as
friends and advisors, and that he demonstrate to the American people
that
the White House is not developing foreign policy on the basis of a
fundamentalist Christian biblical theology.
In light of recent announcements listing President Bush among the
speakers
at this weekend's "Road to Victory" conference sponsored by the
Christian
Coalition of America, Rev. Gaddy asked that the president make clear
his
disagreement with divisive remarks about Islam and the Muslim
community…
The full text of Rev. Gaddy's letter to the President can be found at:
http://www.interfaithalliance.org/advocacy/on-the-record/le021010.htm
-----
AS CHRISTIAN RIGHT PREPARES RALLY FOR ISRAEL, SOME JEWS ARE UNEASY
Sharon Samber, JTA, 10/7/02
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Christian+right+will+rally+for+Israel&intcategoryid=3
Washington - Thousands of people will gather in Washington this week in
support of Israel, but there won't be many Jews there. The participants
in
Friday's rally are evangelical Christians, gathering in the nation's
capital as part of a Christian Coalition of America conference.
According to the coalition, the Christian Support for Israel rally will
"tell the world that Christians stand firmly behind the Jewish state
and
are unalterably opposed to trading land for a paper peace."
Such strong talk is not surprising from a group that, along with other
evangelicals, has come out strongly in support of Israel despite
growing
international condemnation of Israeli policy toward the Palestinians
and a
worldwide spike in anti-Semitism.
Nevertheless, many American Jews and Jewish organizations remain wary
of
the evangelicals, suspecting their motives and disagreeing with them on
domestic policy.
Even many of the groups who accept evangelical support for Israel don't
see
the relationship broadening.
"There is no alliance," said Abraham Foxman, national director of the
Anti-Defamation League. "The relationship is based on this one,
specific
issue."
The ADL took some heat in May when it ran an ad reprinting an open
letter
from Ralph Reed, the former executive director of the Christian
Coalition,
calling for support of Israel…
---
PRO-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS SEEKING ALLIES AMONG IMMIGRANTS FROM INDIA
Larry Ramer, Forward, 10/11/02
http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.10.11/news9.html
EAST WINDSOR, N.J. - Mirroring close ties between India and Israel,
Jewish
organizations have begun assisting Indian-American groups in their
efforts
to become a potent force in both domestic and foreign policy.
Leaders from the two communities have been coming together in recent
months
to discuss hate-crimes legislation and political activism. A major
catalyst
for the cooperation, however, is the perception that both communities
face
a common enemy in Muslim extremism…
"We're fighting the same extremist enemy," said the capital region
director
of the American Jewish Congress, Charles Brooks, referring to Jews and
Indian Americans. "We want to help them become more effective in
communicating their political will."
Brooks is working closely with the Indian American Political Action
Committee, or INAPAC, a new organization that has just been formed,
primarily by Indian Americans from New Jersey. Brooks is helping the
new
organization develop relations with the U.S. Congress and other
political
leaders...
---
STOP ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE MIDEAST BEFORE IT STARTS
Helena Cobban, Christian Science Monitor, 10/10/02
http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2002/1010/p11s01-coop.html
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. - "No deportations of Palestinians!" "Get back to
the
negotiating table!" Should these things even need saying to Israeli
Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon when he visits Washington Oct. 16? One would
think
not. But given President Bush's long record of negligence in
Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, they probably need restating to Mr.
Sharon
very loudly - and by the president - right now...
Forced deportation of Palestinians from the occupied territories -
"transfer," as it is widely described inside Israeli society - is the
most
horrifying possibility being discussed. It is also the option that,
unless
vigorously and consistently opposed by Washington, would do the most
harm
to America's broader interests in the Middle East - and that includes
America's ability to bring the campaign against Saddam Hussein to a
successful conclusion.
How real is the prospect of an Israeli attempt at transfer - or ethnic
cleansing, as this same policy is called in the rest of international
discourse? Well, Israel's recently appointed minister of infrastructure
is
a retired general called Effi Eitam, who made his political career
precisely by advocating transfer…
The US is deeply implicated in everything Israel's government does. At
least $ 3 billion of our tax money has gone to Israel each year since
the
mid-1980s. Washington gives the Sharon government massive military and
diplomatic support. But that support cannot be unconditional, so long
as
Sharon and his government pursue policies that are clearly
escalatory...
-----
AFTER INDICTMENT, PROTESTERS RALLY
John W. Fountain, New York Times, 10/10/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/10/national/10PROF.html
CHICAGO, Oct. 9 - Chanting and waving signs, demonstrators gathered
outside
a downtown federal building today to oppose war against Iraq and
protest
the indictment here of a Muslim charity's leader on charges of
funneling
money to Al Qaeda.
The protesters rallied as Attorney General John Ashcroft held a news
conference inside the building to announce the seven-count indictment,
which accuses Enaam M. Arnaout, 40, of money laundering, fraud and
conspiracy to engage in racketeering as executive director of the
charity,
the Benevolence International Foundation, based in Chicago. Mr. Arnaout
has
been in federal custody here since April, charged with perjury in lying
about ties to Osama bin Laden...
At their own news conference this afternoon, lawyers for Mr. Arnaout
and
the Benevolence International Foundation, or B.I.F., denounced the
indictment. They contended that any relationship between Mr. bin Laden
and
Mr. Arnaout was limited to a period before the foundation was created
in
the 1990's, and before the onset of conflict between Al Qaeda and the
United States.
"It's a sad day for the Arnaout family, the six million Muslim
Americans
and the war on terrorism," said Joseph Duffy, Mr. Arnaout's lawyer.
"Mr.
Ashcroft should have come to Chicago to reprimand the U.S. attorney for
holding a citizen without a charge for what is not a crime. Mr. Arnaout
is
now a pawn in the war on terrorism, a paranoid war on any Muslim who
had
any contact with any terrorist or suspected terrorist."
Matthew J. Piers, the lawyer for the foundation, said there was "no
evidence that we are aware of that B.I.F. ever supported terrorism."
Mr. Piers described the charges as "an amalgamation of falsehoods,
half-truths and guilt by association compounded by an effort to rewrite
history for the past several years."
-----
CAMPUS WATCH STIFLES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Stanford Daily, 10/9/02
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=8974&repository=0001_article
Stanford, Calif. - Stanford University, like all American academic
institutions, should be a place where differences of opinion are
accepted
and examined. Unfortunately, a new organization created to target
"anti-Israel" bias in universities is threatening freedom of expression
at
Stanford and other colleges across the United States.
Campus Watch, an organization founded by Daniel Pipes, head of the
Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, recently placed Stanford among 18
American universities labeled for holding "anti-Israel" views.
Furthermore,
on the Campus Watch Web site, Pipes has posted dossiers on professors
who
he believes hold "extremist viewpoints" on the Middle East. We not only
resent Pipes' McCarthy-style tactics, but we also believe he is dead
wrong
for targeting Stanford for having an "anti-Israel and anti-American"
bias…
Campus Watch is just an attempt by Pipes to quiet voices in American
academia that clearly differ from his own. For example, Pipes recently
stated, "I want Noam Chomsky to be taught at universities about as much
as
I want Hitler's writing or Stalin's writing . . . . These are wild and
extremist ideas that I believe have no place in a university." While
Pipes
has the right to disagree with Chomsky or any other professor,
universities
like Stanford should be open to a variety of perspectives.
Campus Watch monitors professors who "reject the views of most
Americans
and the enduring policies of the U.S. government about the Middle
East,"
according to Pipes. But what is more un-American: expressing beliefs
that
scrutinize the U.S. or Israeli government's policies, or trying to
regulate
professors who hold these beliefs…?
-----
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-----
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-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/11/2002
HEADLINES:
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* FL "TERROR SCARE" MED STUDENTS TO SPEAK AT CAIR BANQUET
* CAIR N. CALIF. HOLDS ANNUAL BANQUET THIS WEEKEND
* CAIR-FL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: FROM CHALLENGE TO OPPORTUNITY
* INCITEMENT WATCH: FOX'S O'REILLY SAYS MUSLIM WOMEN "UNATTRACTIVE"
* DEATHS RESULT FROM FALWELL'S COMMENTS (AP)
- Bush Addresses Conference Featuring Falwell and Robertson (AP)
- Olmert Picks Anti-Islam Evangelist as Jerusalem Fund Co-Chair
(Ha'aretz)
- Church Leaders Challenge Religious Right's Bigotry (PR Newswire)
- Editorial: Unorthodox Alliance (Washington Post)
- Muslim-Christian Understanding (AP)
* U.S. HAS A PLAN TO OCCUPY IRAQ, OFFICIALS REPORT (New York Times)
* EDITORIAL: INDICT INDIVIDUALS, NOT CHARITIES (New York Times)
* OFFICIALS MEET WITH SOMALIS TO BOOST TIES (Portland Press Herald)
* GROUP SEEKS TO STOP ISLAMIC EVENT (AP)
* MODEST, STYLE-CONSCIOUS AND FRUSTRATED NO MORE (Los Angeles Times)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A PROPHET FOR ALL MANKIND
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every Prophet before me
was
sent to his people alone, but I have been sent to all mankind."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith 331
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 867 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
FL "TERROR SCARE" MED STUDENTS TO SPEAK AT CAIR BANQUET
Among the special guests scheduled to speak at CAIR's Eighth Annual
Fundraising Banquet on October 26th in Washington, D.C., are the three
Muslim medical students detained in a "terror scare" on a Florida
highway
last month. CAIR organized news conferences for the students and
provided
legal assistance.
WHAT: CAIR's 8th Annual Fundraising Banquet - "Muslims in America:
Defending Freedom, Promoting Justice" and featured guests include
Martin
Luther King III, Dr. John Esposito, and many others.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26th at 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
Tickets: $55 single/$85 couples
TO REGISTER ONLINE, GO TO: www.cair-net.org
TEL: (202) 488-8787
-----
CAIR N. CALIF. HOLDS ANNUAL BANQUET THIS WEEKEND
WHAT: CAIR Northern California's 8th Annual Banquet & Fundraiser - A
United
& Secure America: with Liberty & Justice for All
WHEN: Saturday, October 12, 6 P.M. to 10 P.M.
WHERE: Santa Clara Marriott, 2700 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara
INVITED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Congressman David Bonior (MI, 10th District)
Congressman Mike Honda (CA, 15th District)
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA, 14th District)
State Assemblywoman Elaine Alquist (22nd Assembly District)
Journalist and Author Michael Wolfe
Dr. Bassem Khafaji (CAIR Washington, D.C.)
There will also be a preview of PBS Documentary on Prophet Muhammad
Reserve Online: http://www.cair-california.org or call (408)986-9874
-----
CAIR-FL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: FROM CHALLENGE TO OPPORTUNITY
WHAT: CAIR Florida's Leadership Conference
WHEN: Saturday, November 2, 2002
10 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (Workshops)
6 P.M. to 9 P.M. (Dinner)
WHERE: Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel
1870 Griffin Rd, Dania Beach, FL 954-920-3300
SPEAKERS & FACILITATORS:
Dr. Agha Sayeed, AMA Chairman
Imam Muhammad Musri, ISCF, Orlando
Imam Zaid Malik, ICNEF, Jacksonville
Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR-St. Louis
Dr. Parvez Ahmed, CAIR-FL
Dr. Mohammed Qazi, AMA-Orlando
Roland Foulkes, City of Broward County
Altaf Hussein, MSA President
Candidates for the Florida Gubernatorial elections have been invited to
speak during dinner.
REGISTRATION:
Individual$40/Student $25
(lunch, dinner and all workshop materials)
Dinner only $30/Baby Sitting $10
To register, call: 954-916-5661
E-mail: info@cair-florida.org
URL: www.cair-florida.org
Registration after Oct. 28th will be an additional $5
-----
INCITEMENT WATCH: FOX'S O'REILLY SAYS MUSLIM WOMEN "UNATTRACTIVE"
Bill O'Reilly Criticized For Quip About Muslims
Contra Costa Times, 10/11/02
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/4261710.htm
Fox talkmeister Bill O'Reilly, who helped persuade Pepsi to drop
Ludacris
as a pitchman because he found the rapper's lyrics offensive and
degrading,
now finds himself under attack after he declared that "the most
unattractive women in the world are probably in the Muslim countries."
In what was apparently meant to be a tongue-in-cheek interview with the
men's magazine Stuff, reports E! Online, O'Reilly, who hosts the
"O'Reilly
Factor" current affairs talk show, is asked for his personal turn-ons.
The
pundit rules out devout Islamic women who favor traditional dress.
"You can't see them," O'Reilly playfully tells the magazine. "So you
are
assuming that, if (they're) dressed head to toe in black and I can only
see
eyebrows, there's something going on…"
[NOTE: In the past, O'Reilly compared the Quran, Islam's revealed text,
to
Hitler's "Mein Kampf."]
SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO: oreilly@foxnews.com, roger.ailes@foxnews.com,
bill.shine@foxnews.com, comments@foxnews.com,
Viewerservices@foxnews.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
DEATHS RESULT FROM FALWELL'S COMMENTS
Clashes, Rioting Kill Five in India
Associated Press, 10/11/02
BOMBAY, India - Police shooting and rioting Friday among Hindu and
Muslim
groups in a town in western India killed at least five people and
wounded
47 others, a government minister said.
It was not immediately clear how many victims had been killed or
wounded by
gunfire.
Police opened fire on mobs of Hindus and Muslims who were attacking
each
other with knives and stones during a general strike called by some
Muslim
organizations to protest remarks by the Rev. Jerry Falwell. The
well-known
Baptist minister called the founder of Islam a terrorist on a recent
CBS
television interview.
Falwell's remarks had triggered street protests in Indian-controlled
Kashmir on Monday…
SEE ALSO:
BUSH ADDRESSES CONFERENCE FEATURING FALWELL AND ROBERTSON
A Dominant Political Group of the 1990s Looks to Reassert Itself
Will Lester, Associated Press, 10/11/02
Christian Coalition leaders say the group may have had a lower national
profile recently, but it has been working hard to stay viable at the
grassroots level…
The coalition's annual Road to Victory conference will include a rally
to
support Israel on Friday in front of the White House, speeches by
conservative lawmakers, worship services with the Joyce Meyer
ministries
and singing by Pat Boone. The demonstration of solidarity with Israel
is
consistent with a long-standing alliance with Israel, which Christians
also
consider their Holy Land…
SEE: http://www.cc.org/events/information.html
"They've had some success," Green said. "Many they've backed are now in
office, and they've mobilized a lot of voters. They helped elect the
president."
That leader, President Bush, sent over a videotaped address this week
greeting the Christian conservatives and promised them an
administration
that "believes in fostering a culture of life...believes free
enterprise
works best when government is limited and taxes are low…"
And the president told the Christians "we believe freedom requires
judges
who strictly interpret the law and the Constitution. We seek impartial
judges, not legislators in robes..."
---
OLMERT PICKS ANTI-ISLAM EVANGELIST AS JERUSALEM FUND CO-CHAIR
Yair Sheleg, Ha'aretz, 10/11/02
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=218361
Pat Robertson, the Christian evangelist American TV preacher who heads
the
700 Club and recently referred to the prophet Mohammed as a "killer,"
has
been picked by Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert to co-chair an organization
of
pro-Israel Christian activists to raise money for Olmert's New
Jerusalem Fund.
In a recent TV appearance on Fox News, Robertson said Islam's prophet,
Mohammad, was "an absolute wild-eyed fanatic...a robber and a brigand.
And
to say that these terrorists distort Islam, they're carrying out
Islam...I
mean, this man was a killer."
Robertson has come under fire in the U.S. for the anti-Islam comments,
which have led to challenges to the Bush administration's decision to
make
a Robertson-led organization a recipient of one of the first
"faith-based
initiatives" for social welfare, promoted by President George W. Bush.
Olmert set up the New Jerusalem Fund, dubbed "Praying for Jerusalem" as
a
competitor to former Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek's Jerusalem fund.
Robertson will join two other chairs of the new pro-Jerusalem
organization
established by Olmert's fund; Olmert himself and Mike Evans, a leading
U.S.
Christian evangelist...
---
CHRISTIAN LEADERS CHALLENGE RELIGIOUS RIGHT'S IGNORANCE OF PALESTINIAN
CHRISTIANS
PR Newswire, 10/11/02
WASHINGTON - American church leaders today criticized the Christian
Right
for ignoring their bonds with the Christians of the Holy Land.
Reacting to
uncritical support for Israel by some fundamentalist Christian leaders,
and
to Jerry Falwell's statement on "60 Minutes" that defamed the prophet
Mohammed, church leaders voiced concern at assertions made by some
Christian fundamentalists.
Jim Winkler, general secretary of the United Methodist Church's General
Board of Church and Society, declared, "President Bush often reminds
the
American people that intolerant words of a few militant Islamic leaders
are
not representative of Islam. I am here to tell the American people
that
the comments of Rev. Falwell and others on last Sunday's '60 Minutes'
are
not representative of American Christianity."
Winkler spoke through a national coalition of Protestant and Catholic
organizations named Churches for Middle East Peace. He and others
expressed the hope that today's Christian Coalition rally designed to
show
support Israel would also remind participants not to forget their
Christian
brothers and sisters who live, work, and worship in the sacred sites of
Christianity…
Contact: Jim Wetekam of Churches for Middle East Peace, 202-488-5638;
e-mail: jim@cmep.org
-----
EDITORIAL: UNORTHODOX ALLIANCE
Gershom Gorenberg, Washington Post, 10/11/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10067-2002Oct10.html
The idea is supposed to make me tingle warmly: While I sit in my home
here
enjoying the Friday evening calm, thousands of Christian Coalition
supporters will be gathering at the Ellipse in Washington to proclaim
solidarity with Israel. According to pre-rally PR, my prime minister
will
speak by satellite hookup, pleased to have the backing of an American
constituency more hawkish than most of his Israeli voters…
I'm not tingling.
Having spent years researching the Christian right's tie to Israel --
listening to leading "Christian Zionists," reading their sermons and
examining the links of some to Israeli extremists -- I have to conclude
that this is a strangely exploitative relationship. Accepting the
embrace
of conservative evangelicals poses problems of principle for Jews and
Israel, in return for an illusory short-term payoff…
---
MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING
Religion Today
Associated Press, 10/11/02
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Religion-Today.html?pagewan
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Muslims and Christians sat near each other,
crossed-legged in their stocking feet, listening to a sermon that
stressed
connections binding people separated by faith and custom.
"We are all creations of God, the same God," said Aly A. Farag, the
imam at
the mosque near the banks of the Ohio River. A dozen Presbyterians
listened
intently as Farag stressed the importance of obedience to the Almighty
and
treating others with kindness.
They were familiar themes to the Presbyterians, who attended the
Islamic
prayer service as part of an effort by their denomination to bridge the
gulf separating Christians and Muslims in this country.
"I felt quite comfortable and at peace with what he said. There were
parts
of that I thought could be in any Christian sermon," Karolyn Mangeot, a
Presbyterian from Corydon, Ind., said afterward.
The Christians were invited to the prayer service as part of an
interfaith
listening project organized by the Presbyterian Church (USA), the
nation's
seventh-largest denomination, headquartered in Louisville. The church
recruited seven teams from overseas, each consisting of one Muslim and
one
Christian, to visit Presbyterian congregations throughout the United
States
and -- where possible -- to bring together members of local churches
and
mosques.
The purpose was to promote understanding and harmony between Christians
and
Muslims -- a concept given greater urgency since the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks and the prospects of war with Iraq, an organizer said…
-----
U.S. HAS A PLAN TO OCCUPY IRAQ, OFFICIALS REPORT
David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 10/11/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/11/international/11PREX.html
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 - The White House is developing a detailed plan,
modeled on the postwar occupation of Japan, to install an American-led
military government in Iraq if the United States topples Saddam
Hussein,
senior administration officials said today.
The plan also calls for war-crime trials of Iraqi leaders and a
transition
to an elected civilian government that could take months or years. In
the
initial phase, Iraq would be governed by an American military commander
-
perhaps Gen. Tommy R. Franks, commander of United States forces in the
Persian Gulf, or one of his subordinates - who would assume the role
that
Gen. Douglas MacArthur served in Japan after its surrender in 1945…
In contemplating an occupation, the administration is scaling back the
initial role for Iraqi opposition forces in a post-Hussein government.
Until now it had been assumed that Iraqi dissidents both inside and
outside
the country would form a government, but it was never clear when they
would
take full control.
Today marked the first time the administration has discussed what could
be
a lengthy occupation by coalition forces, led by the United States...
-----
EDITORIAL: INDICT INDIVIDUALS, NOT CHARITIES
Salam Al-Marayati, New York Times, 10/11/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/11/opinion/11ALMA.html
Last December, the Bush administration froze the assets of three large
Muslim charities in the United States - Benevolence International,
Global
Relief and Holy Land Foundation - as part of its effort to clamp down
on
the financing of terrorist organizations. Since that time, American
Muslims
have been severely hampered in their charitable giving.
The government's policy has inflicted considerable harm. By effectively
shutting down these charities, it has given Americans the false
impression
that American Muslims are supporting terrorists. It has also given the
Muslim world a similarly false impression that America is intolerant of
a
religious minority.
Most significantly, the administration's policy has interfered with a
basic
pillar or tenet of Islam: zakat, or almsgiving. Among other zakat
duties,
Muslims are required to donate annually a portion (often 2.5 percent)
of
their savings. During Ramadan, which begins next month, they are
supposed
to give a little bit more. In this respect, the restriction of Muslim
charities is an issue of religious freedom.
President Bush seemed to understand this when I and other American
Muslims
met with him last month to express our concerns about his policies. He
compared zakat to the Christian tradition of tithing and said that he
would
work to ensure that we were able to pursue our religion unimpeded.
And yet the charities remain frozen. That's unfortunate, because we
offered
the administration a proposal that would both enable the government to
get
the information it needs to fight terrorism and make it possible for
Muslims to fulfill their religious duty…
The proposal centers on transparency. Muslim charities are willing to
adopt
a policy of complete transparency. They are eager to show the
government
where their money comes from and what they use it for. But to do this,
they
need federally sanctioned guidelines. The Treasury Department needs to
spell out precisely what information it wants in order to conduct a
thorough legal and financial audit, one that will provide a clean bill
of
health…
-----
OFFICIALS MEET WITH SOMALIS TO BOOST TIES
Meredith Goad, Portland Press Herald, 10/11/02
http://www.pressherald.com/news/state/021011somali.shtml
A request for a federal review of Lewiston's programs and services for
Somalis and other immigrants will be filed sometime next week,
according to
the advocate who will be writing the formal complaint to the Justice
Department.
Kathy Poulos-Minott, who heads a Portland-based group that advocates
for
the rights of people who speak limited English, said the complaint
would
focus on issues such as lack of training for city employees and
inconsistencies in policies and procedures across departments…
Lewiston city officials met with Somali elders Thursday at the public
library to try to mend fences after a letter from Mayor Laurier Raymond
angered and offended the local Somali community last week. The letter,
referring to an increased flow of Somali immigrants into Lewiston,
asked
the local Somali community to "exercise some discipline and reduce the
stress on our limited finances and generosity."
The Lewiston police chief and other police officials attended the
meeting,
as well as two city councilors, Roger Philippon and Renee Bernier.
Several
Somali elders were present, including some who typically work with city
officials through the Somali advisory committee.
Winston McGill, vice president of the Portland chapter of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said he met with a
Somali elder Thursday and pledged the organization's support. He also
has
written an open letter of support to the Somali community that will be
delivered next week.
The New England conference of the NAACP, which represents all of the
region's NAACP branches, also has pledged its support…
-----
GROUP SEEKS TO STOP ISLAMIC EVENT
Associated Press, 10/11/02
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-UNC-Quran.html
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The group that sued to stop the University of
North
Carolina from assigning freshmen a book on the Quran is now taking aim
at
the school's plans to hold an Islamic awareness week next month.
The American Family Association's Center for Law and Policy filed an
amended court complaint last week to try to block UNC from hosting
seminars
and round-table discussions on Islam Nov. 11-15.
"There's a lot more going on than we thought there was when we first
filed
our complaint," said Michael DePrimo, an attorney for the conservative
Christian group.
"The issue is whether or not the university is advancing the religion
of
Islam, and clearly they are," he said.
The group filed its first complaint after the university's Chapel Hill
campus asked all 4,200 incoming freshmen and transfer students to read
and
be prepared to discuss ``Approaching the Qur'an: The Early
Revelations,''
by Michael Sells.
It said the requirement amounted to state sponsorship of religion. The
court ruled in favor of the university on Aug. 19, hours before the
sessions were to begin and they went forward as scheduled. UNC has 20
days
to respond to the amended complaint. The issue will be decided in a
federal
district court in Greensboro…
-----
MODEST, STYLE-CONSCIOUS AND FRUSTRATED NO MORE
WILLIAM LOBDELL, Los Angeles Times, 10/11/02
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-modesty11oct11004439,0,6553538.story
Getting fitted Thursday for a teen fashion show, Katie Sereno knew what
she
didn't want in a formal dress. Nothing slinky. Nothing slitted,
backless or
plunging. And, please, nothing bellybutton-baring.
In a teen fashion world ruled by the likes of Britney Spears, this
eliminates just about any off-the-rack gown.
The Anaheim High School senior, like many of the 520,000 Mormon teenage
girls across the country, usually would have to improvise: She would
borrow
a popular dress from a fellow church member or make something from
scratch.
For a recent school dance, a friend added sleeves to a store-bought
dress
using decorative ribbons of fabric cut from the back of the garment.
Now,
thanks to the unlikely collaboration of two fashion-frustrated Mormon
moms
and Nordstrom, she has alternatives--more than 30 of them. On Saturday,
Nordstrom in Costa Mesa's South Coast Plaza will host a sold-out
fashion
show featuring 33 Mormon teenage girls from Southern California wearing
stylish dresses with not a spaghetti strap in sight…
Organizers have had to turn away other fashion-conservative
teens--including Roman Catholics, Jews, Protestants and Muslims--whose
religion dictates modesty…
To keep the momentum going after the show, leaders of the Church of
Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints plan a public relations campaign to reach
U.S.
Mormons, other faith groups and anyone else interested in modest teen
clothes.
"We'd be there in a second," said Sabiha Khan, 24, a Muslim woman who
works
at the Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations. "A lot of Muslims, especially teenagers, would love it. All
teenagers like to look good."
Muslim teens have had to adopt many of the same strategies as Mormons.
They
sew up slits on long dresses. They take fabric from shawls or
decorative
pieces of the dress to craft sleeves. And they've established an
informal
fashion grapevine to alert friends to rare finds of stylish but modest
clothing.
Khan said Muslim fashion shows held at mosques and community centers
often
attract 200 interested shoppers...
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/12/2002
HEADLINES:
* U.S. DEPORTS RESPECTED CANADIAN TO SYRIA (Canadian Press)
* ORE. MUSLIM CLERIC RELEASED ON BAIL (AP)
* AMERICANS FEEL PINCH AS ARAB BOYCOTT STARTS TO BITE (Times)
* EIGHT DEAD IN UNABATED ANTI-FALWELL RIOTS IN INDIAN CITY (AFP)
- LEBANON CLERIC ATTACKS FALWELL'S SLUR OF MOHAMMAD (Reuters)
- INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CONDEMNS FALWELL'S REMARKS (BBC)
- TV SEEMS TO BRING OUT THE WORST IN FALWELL (Charlotte Observer)
- COMMENTARY: PEACE BE UPON HIM (Denver Post)
- FALWELL IS AMERICA'S HATE MACHINE (Post-Intelligencer)
- FALWELL'S PRETZEL LOGIC HAS, SADLY, A WIDE APPEAL (Palm Beach Post)
-----
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U.S. DEPORTS RESPECTED CANADIAN TO SYRIA
The Canadian Press (CP), 10/12/02
http://globeandmail.com/
Search using the term "deported."
TORONTO (CP) _ Foreign Affairs officials are demanding that Washington
explain why it has deported a respected Canadian engineer to Syria
after he
was seized by U.S. investigators and accused of having links to
al-Qaida,
the Globe and Mail reported Saturday.
Maher Arar, a 32-year-old Canadian citizen, was arrested at New York's
Kennedy Airport on Sept. 26, subjected to a series of lengthy
interrogations, then deported to Syria, where he had lived until the
age of
17.
Arar's family says that for more than a week they had no idea what
happened
to him. "He just disappeared," Arar's wife, Monica, said from Tunisia,
where she was vacationing.
She had gone there on an extended holiday with Arar and their two
children.
"The whole thing is insane. My husband is a father. He works. He isn't
a
terrorist."
"The Canadian Embassy in Washington is vigorously pursuing the
questions of
the whereabouts of this Canadian citizen at a very senior level,"
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Reynald Doiron said Friday
night.
"This was a breach of Canadian sovereignty," said Riad Saloojee of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada. "This deportation was
illegal, and it has placed the life of a Canadian citizen at risk. We
are
gravely concerned about the U.S. deporting a Canadian citizen without
consulting the Canadian government."
At the time of his arrest, Arar was travelling to Montreal after a
visit
with his wife's family in Tunisia. After being seized by U.S.
Immigration
and Naturalization Service officers at the airport, he was jailed at
New
York's Metropolitan Detention Center…
"This is a very, very strange case," said Michael Edelson, an Ottawa
lawyer
who knows Arar. "You have to ask yourself what's going on when the U.S.
is
able to take a Canadian citizen and send him to Syria without any kind
of
representation."
Sources familiar with the case said Mr. Arar had been subjected to a
nine-hour interrogation after being arrested, with no lawyer present.
He
was accused by American investigators of knowing a suspected terrorist
in
the Ottawa area.
Arar, who lives in Ottawa, is a highly regarded telecommunications
engineer
who had recently set himself up as an independent engineering
consultant
after a career with large firms…
Saloojee said Arar may face severe punishment at the hands of the
Syrian
government because he avoided compulsory military service before
leaving
the country as a teenager.
CONTACT: 613-277-5307 or canada@cair-net.org
-----
ORE. MUSLIM CLERIC RELEASED ON BAIL
ANDREW KRAMER, Associated Press, 10/12/02
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A judge allowed a Muslim cleric to be released on
bail Friday a month after his arrest on a charge of Social Security
fraud.
Sheik Mohamed Abdirahman Kariye, 41, an imam at the Islamic Center of
Portland, was released on $250,000 bond posted by members of the Muslim
community, said Stanley Cohen, Kariye's attorney. The bond package
included
a 401(k) account at Intel and two properties, Cohen said.
"There's zero connection between my client and anything political. The
fact
that the government stood up today and said he should be let go -
that's
better than a jury of 12," he said.
-----
AMERICANS FEEL PINCH AS ARAB BOYCOTT STARTS TO BITE
Michael Theodoulou and Daniel McGrory, The Times, 10/11/02
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-442864,00.html
WHEN school's over, Najeeb Atallah, 10, and a couple of friends head
for
the local McDonald's in Amman to picket their classmates.
Two branches of the chain have closed in the region and some staff have
left their jobs, fearful of local resprisals. What began two years ago
as a
low-key protest against US support for Israel has developed into a
sustained campaign against America's best known brands. Threats of a
conflict in Iraq have given further impetus to the economic boycott.
Fast
food outlets, toy makers, drink and cosmetics companies, and even
Disneyland, are feeling the squeeze.
Muslim clerics call for a boycott during Friday prayers, religious and
political leaders have gone on television in Saudi Arabia to support
the
anti-US protests. Leaflets are handed out listing brands to boycott,
and
there are thousands of protest calls on the internet.
Trade between the US and Arab countries is said to be down by at least
25
per cent since last year. Some economists argue that this is mainly due
to
the price of oil and exchange rates, but the boycott is taking its
toll.
Leading soft drinks companies and fast food chains have reported a drop
in
business of 25 to 40 per cent in the Arab world…
-----
EIGHT DEAD IN UNABATED ANTI-FALWELL RIOTS IN INDIAN CITY
Agence France Presse, 10/12/02
BOMBAY, Oct 12 - Sectarian violence in India's Solapur city, triggered
by a
protest over comments by US Baptist minister Jerry Falwell against the
Prophet Mohammed, continued early Saturday leaving eight dead and over
90
injured, a police spokesman said.
"Sectarian clashes have been reported throughout the night in which
three
more deaths have been reported as well as several injured," a police
officer from Solapur said. The official said of the five killed Friday,
four died in police firing and one in mob violence.
Police had used gunfire Friday on crowds of rioters of Muslim youths
who
clashed with groups of Hindus as the protest against Falwell's remarks
turned violent…
Violence in Solapur had erupted when a crowd of Muslim youths gathered
in
the city on Friday to protest Falwell's remarks, in which he called
Islam's
founder "a terrorist".
SEE ALSO:
LEBANON CLERIC ATTACKS FALWELL'S SLUR OF MOHAMMAD
Reuters, 10/12/02
BEIRUT, Oct 12 (Reuters) - A leading Shi'ite Muslim religious authority
urged Muslims on Saturday to confront what he called an attack on Islam
in
U.S. preacher Jerry Falwell's reference to the prophet Mohammad as a
"terrorist."
In a statement, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said Falwell's
remarks
reflected the thinking of President George W. Bush and his backers
among
the staunchly pro-Israeli U.S. Christian Right.
"All Muslims must make a stand against this attack on Islam, its
prophet
and Muslims themselves," Fadlallah said…
---
ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CONDEMNS FALWELL'S REMARKS AGAINST ISLAM
BBC Monitoring International Reports
New Delhi, 11 October: Condemning Rev J. Falwell's statements against
Islam, the All India Christian Council on Friday 11 October called for
amity and harmony between Christian, Muslim, Hindu and other
communities
and said the statements were opposed to the nature of Christianity.
A statement issued by Dr Joseph D'Souza, president of the council, and
general-secretary John Dayal said: "The leaders of the council have
been
horrified by the recent statements against Islam made by the Rev
Falwell in
a public broadcast.
The statements are not only opposed to the spirit and words of Christ
but
also to the nature of Christianity, which is a religion of love and
grace.
The diatribe of Rev Falwell reveals a shallow understanding of the
religion... Rev Falwell's outburst is in poor taste and does not
reflect
the feelings of the Christian community..." ellipses as received
---
TV SEEMS TO BRING OUT THE WORST IN JERRY FALWELL
The Charlotte Observer, 10/11/02
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/4259057.htm
Or maybe we're the ones who are nuts for looking for some logic in Mr.
Fawell's pronouncements. Back in the 1930s, a comic book hero named
Lamont
Cranston ("The Shadow") was said to have "the power to cloud men's
minds."
Apparently the television camera has such Cranston-like powers over Mr.
Falwell. Maybe he is not an idiot, but he does tend to play one on TV.
---
COMMENTARY: PEACE BE UPON HIM
Asma Gull Hasan, Denver Post, 10/11/02
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E73%257E916268,00.html
In 612 A.D., a man told his people they needed to change their ways.
Those
people had practiced pagan, tribal rituals like burying baby girls at
birth
and letting widows and orphans starve. The man said women deserved
equal
rights, that they should keep their maiden names because they were not
property to be passed from one man to another. He managed to eradicate
the
killing of baby girls. He propagated a progressive message, although
he
lived 1,400 years ago and was illiterate and an orphan…
Falwell thinks the man who lived 1,400 years ago was a terrorist and
America deserved the 9/11 attacks. Who do you think the terrorist is?
---
FALWELL IS AMERICA'S HATE MACHINE
JAN JARBOE RUSSELL, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 10/11/02
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/90667_russell11.shtml
Now that the communists, with all their conspiracies, have been
overthrown,
the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who claims to speak not only for God but for 70
million evangelical Christians, offers an answer to the question that
lies
in the heart of America's darkness.
That question is: Who, pray tell, are we to hate next?
By God's own hand, according to Falwell, it's now America and Israel
versus
the Muslims. The Muslims are, in his mind, the new red menace.
Falwell's
answer, given as he looked into the CBS-TV camera on "60 Minutes" last
Sunday, is that a line in the sand was drawn by God himself, who, more
than
1,000 years ago, wrote the script we are now living…
Sentence by slippery sentence, Falwell and those who fervently agree
with
him are building their case for Armageddon. Either you believe in the
Bible
or you don't, they say. You're with us or you're against us. It's good
versus evil, no questions allowed.
Falwell's rhetoric is becoming increasingly hysterical as he injects
himself in the world's hottest spots…
---
FALWELL'S PRETZEL LOGIC HAS, SADLY, A WIDE APPEAL
STEVE GUSHEE, Palm Beach Post, 10/12/02
http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/friday/accent_d35a1f4723e30033004a.html
Falwell's god is angry, quick to condemn and happiest when passing
judgment
and wreaking havoc on sinners.
That kind of deity needs someone to hate. Falwell is only the latest in
a
long line of those happy to provide the fodder…
Falwell is more dangerous than others because he has been able to
peddle
his twisted version of Christianity to America's mainstream. He is
comfortable and influential in the political realm, at ease on
television
and uses that medium well.
Still, his faith convictions come from the same scary theology that
fuels
the Ku Klux Klan, Christian Identity, Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh
and
the Muslims of Al-Qaeda, who distort Islam in much the same way. They
invoke God to hate whomever they condemn.
-----
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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 - 10/13/2002
HEADLINES:
* THREATENING LETTER FOUND AT ISLAMIC CENTER (Idaho Statesman)
* JERRY FALWELL'S "STATEMENT OF RECONCILIATION"
* CAIR-CAN DEMANDS RELEASE OF CANADIAN DEPORTED TO SYRIA BY U.S.
* IF WE'RE PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, WHY NOT IN TURKEY? (Washington Post)
* HEARSAY ALLOWED IN CONSPIRACY CASES (AP)
-----
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Don't forget to register for CAIR's Eighth Annual Fundraising Banquet.
Last
year's event was a sell-out, so act now to purchase your seats.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
The dinner's theme is "Muslims in America: Defending Freedom, Promoting
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-----
THREATENING LETTER FOUND AT ISLAMIC CENTER
Idaho Statesman, 10/13/02
http://www.idahostatesman.com/News/story.asp?ID=22858
A threatening letter was discovered Saturday evening at the Islamic
Center
of Boise, adding to a recent string of threats and vandalism directed
at
the center.
The letter was found inside the mail slot by Furqan Mehmood, the
center´s
education director, at about 7 p.m. when members of the center were
arriving for evening prayer. The Islamic Center of Boise is located at
328
N. Orchard St.
Mehmood called Boise police, who are investigating it as a hate crime
and
malicious harassment, police spokesman Rich Wright said.
The letter was typed on a sheet of paper and did not arrive in an
envelope,
Wright said. It was addressed "To Islam People."
The letter, which was laced with profanity, called members of the
Islamic
Center "subhuman beings," Mehmood said.
"The government is not doing its job, so we have to do anything we can
to
get you out of here," the letter said. "We will be back soon until no
more
of you are left here."
On the evening of Oct. 4, members of the center encountered a man who
shouted obscenities at them as they left the mosque.
Two windows were shattered at the Islamic Center on either Sept. 29 or
30.
Mehmood said he received an obscene threatening call on the night of
Sept 29.
In addition to the recent threats and vandalism, the center is mourning
the
loss of Angie Abdullah, 37, who died early on Oct. 5, just before
someone
set fire to her home…
The letter discovered Saturday, which calls followers of Islam rapists
and
murderers, does not mention Abdullah´s death nor the fire that
destroyed
her home.
But Mehmood believes Abdullah´s death is connected to a hate crime. "We
still believe it was a hate crime until they can prove otherwise," he
said…
-----
JERRY FALWELL'S "STATEMENT OF RECONCILIATION"
LYNCHBURG, Va., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- I sincerely apologize that
certain
statements of mine made during an interview for the September 30
edition of
CBS's "60 Minutes" were hurtful to the feelings of many Muslims. I
intended
no disrespect to any sincere, law abiding Muslim.
In my more than 50 years of Christian ministry, I have never preached a
sermon on Islam. I have never written a book or booklet on the subject.
I
have always shown respect for other religions, faiths and
denominations.
Unfortunately, I answered one controversial and loaded question at the
conclusion of an hour-long CBS interview which I should not have
answered.
That was a mistake and I apologize.
-----
CAIR-CAN DEMANDS RELEASE OF CANADIAN DEPORTED TO SYRIA BY U.S.
Organization calls on Foreign Minister to ensure safety and release of
citizen
(Ottawa, Canada) The Canadian office of the Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-CAN) today called on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bill
Graham, to act swiftly in ensuring the safety and release of a Canadian
Citizen who was recently deported to Syria by U.S. authorities.
Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen for the past 15 years, was detained in
the
United States on September 26th after a stop-over in New York on route
to
Montreal. He was detained, interrogated for 9 hours, and threatened
with
deportation to his place of birth, Syria. Mr. Arar was then
transferred to
the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn and was deported to
Syria on October 10th.
In a statement released today, CAIR-CAN wrote:
"The detention and deportation of Maher Arar is a grave breach of both
international human rights law and Mr. Arar's rights as a Canadian
citizen.
"The deportation has placed the life of a Canadian citizen in danger.
The
Canadian government must move immediately and pursue all avenues to
ensure
the safety and release of one of its citizens."
The Council is also calling for a thorough investigation into Mr.
Arar's
secretive detention, interrogation and deportation.
CONTACT: Riad Saloojee at 613-254-9704; E-mail: canada@cair-net.org
-----
IF WE'RE PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, WHY NOT SUPPORT IT IN TURKEY?
Grenville Byford, Washington Post, 10/13/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15073-2002Oct11.html
The United States wants to "support modern and moderate governments,
especially in the Muslim world." So says the Bush administration's new
National Security Strategy. Presumably this means democratically
elected
governments dedicated to human rights and sensible economic policies.
On Sept. 20, the same day that the administration issued its new
strategy,
the Supreme Election Board in Turkey banned the country's most popular
politician -- arguably its only popular politician -- from taking part
in
the national elections slated for Nov. 3. In doing so, it gave
President
Bush a chance to put his money where his mouth is. In the interests of
both
Turkey and the United States, he should take it.
So far, he hasn't, and neither has the administration. At two news
briefings, State Department spokesmen declined to comment…
The politician in question is Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His
disqualification
from the campaign came with all the trappings of legality, but many
Turks
see it as a put-up job. The origin of the fuss? Well, in 1997, when
Erdogan
was mayor of Istanbul, he recited a poem in the course of a political
speech. "The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the
minarets
our spears, the believers our soldiers," he declaimed. The poem --
traditionally attributed to Ziya Gkalp, one of the ideological fathers
of
Turkish nationalism -- is included in the education ministry's
recommended
reading for middle-school pupils. But a Turkish court, citing article
312
of the country's criminal code, ruled that by reading the verse,
Erdogan
had "used religion to incite hatred." As a result, he was removed from
office in 1998 and sentenced to 10 months in prison. He served four.
The
election board ruled last month that the conviction means he cannot be
a
member of the National Assembly.
What is this really all about? In a word, Islam. Erdogan is a
practicing
Muslim and leads the Justice and Development Party, known in Turkey as
AK
Parti, which is almost certain to win the largest share of the vote in
the
upcoming election…
-----
HEARSAY ALLOWED IN CONSPIRACY CASES
WILLIAM McCALL, Associated Press, 10/13/02
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Terror-Conspiracy.html
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Two key exceptions to general criminal law may
allow
prosecutors to use even weak evidence to build a case against a dozen
suspected terrorists charged in Oregon and New York, legal scholars
say.
Unlike most crimes, proof of conspiracy does not require an actual
crime
and hearsay is allowed.
"In the legal world, conspiracy is called the 'darling' of
prosecutors,"
said Robert Precht, a University of Michigan law professor and a
defense
attorney in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
"It's the closest American law comes to a 'thought crime' because the
paradox of conspiracy law is there need not be any crime at all," he
said.
Instead, all that is needed is evidence that two or more people agreed
to
commit a crime and took at least one step called an "overt act" -
however
trivial and even perfectly legal - toward planning that crime or
carrying
it out.
"There have to be overt acts in pursuance of the conspiracy but those
overt
acts can be perfectly innocuous things, like getting on a plane at JFK,
so
you don't need a lot," said Abraham Sofaer, a Stanford law professor,
senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and former legal adviser to the
U.S. State Department.
Also, the nearly ironclad legal principle that bars hearsay - testimony
by
one person who was merely told what another person said - does not
apply to
coconspirators, said Phil Heymann, a Harvard law professor.
"Any statement by any conspirator is treated as a statement by all of
them
and is an exception to hearsay," said Heymann, a former deputy U.S.
attorney general.
The six people indicted earlier this month in a terrorism investigation
in
Oregon faces charges of conspiracy to levy war against the United
States,
conspiracy to provide support to al-Qaida, and conspiracy to contribute
services to al-Qaida and the Taliban.
In New York, the five suspects arrested last month in the steel town of
Lackawanna and a sixth arrested in Bahrain - all U.S. citizens of
Yemeni
descent - are awaiting indictment under the same conspiracy law,
according
to the FBI.
Attorney General John Ashcroft called the Oregon arrests "a defining
day in
America's war against terrorism," claiming the government has
"neutralized
a suspected terrorist cell within our borders."
But Heymann argued that facts disclosed so far show a group of
disenfranchised young people, mostly black Americans who have converted
to
Islam. Some in the group went target shooting at a gravel pit in
Washington
state, then tried to go to Afghanistan but failed to get into the
country,
and exchanged some e-mail about their travels and some cash.
"They look like very small potatoes, like full-time losers," Heymann
said.
"That doesn't mean that losers can't do damage, but to claim this is a
defining moment?..."
Even though all the suspects may have traveled legally and committed no
actual crimes or violence along the way, the group mentality is
considered
the greatest threat under conspiracy law, Gaziano 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 - 10/14/2002
HEADLINES:
* MUSLIM MUSICIANS RAP ABOUT ISLAM (Fox News)
* CONCERN GROWS FOR DEPORTED CANADIAN (Globe and Mail)
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET
Don't forget to register for CAIR's Eighth Annual Fundraising Banquet.
Last
year's event was a sell-out, so act now to purchase your seats.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
The dinner's theme is "Muslims in America: Defending Freedom, Promoting
Justice," and featured guests include Martin Luther King III, Dr. John
Esposito and many others.
Tickets: $55 single/$85 couples
TO REGISTER, VISIT: www.cair-net.org or call 202-488-8787
-----
NOTE - To contact Native Deen, call 703-864-6977. To purchase tapes, go
to:
http://www.islamicmedia.com
MUSLIM MUSICIANS RAP ABOUT ISLAM
Catherine Donaldson-Evans, Fox News, 10/14/02
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,65540,00.html
They rap about growing up, being teased by other kids, saying no to
drugs,
doing well in school and praying.
But one figure is mentioned over and over again in their songs…Allah.
They are three young, black Muslim-Americans who are in a religious rap
group called Native Deen, based in a suburb of Washington, D.C. -- and
they're part of a growing trend of singing or rapping about Islam.
Mainstream musician/actor Mos Def, who is Muslim, incorporates Islamic
principles and Arabic words into his raps. Even R&B star Lauryn Hill
has
been known to use Islamic terms in her music.
"Any rapper or singer sings about where they come from," said Native
Deen
group leader Joshua Salaam, 29, of Sterling, Va. "We rap about our
experiences, what we know -- growing up Muslim in America."
Because Muslim youths aren't allowed to date until they marry, must
pray
five times a day and are expected to adhere to diet and dress
requirements,
Salaam said being a teenager wasn't easy.
"It was fun at times, challenging at times," he said. "Sometimes it's
nice
being different." But often he and his friends were the object of
ridicule,
an experience related in some of the group's songs like in this excerpt
from "Busy Bees":
"What's with the scarf girl, rapped up like a mummy./They all made
jokes
and they said that you look funny./You ran into the bathroom and your
friends began to scoff./After that encounter you had planned to take it
off./But then you thought how much Allah likes how your
dressin'./Pleasin'
him was top priority to you no question…"
"You'll never find anything in our lyrics that's degrading to women --
never," said Native Deen's Salaam, who is married with two small sons.
"When there are references to women, they're either about praising our
mothers or about how much we love our wives."
In one of the group's songs, "I-S-L-A-M, The Light Turns On," there is
a
phrase some might at first interpret as offensive: "Confess, yes detest
the
Western attitude's mess."
But the subsequent line condemns religious zeal like that which drove
the
Sept. 11 terrorists:
"Zest for doing righteousness is nil./Got to obey Allah and obey
Allah's will!"
Group member Abdul-Malik Ahmad, who wrote the song years ago, said the
"mess" he was referring to is what he sees as a lack of "religiousity"
in
Western culture.
-----
CONCERN GROWS FOR DEPORTED CANADIAN
KIM HONEY, Globe and Mail, 10/14/02
http://www.globeandmail.com
Search using the term "Arar."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada is demanding Foreign
Affairs Minister Bill Graham act swiftly to try to ensure the safety of
Ottawa communications engineer Maher Arar.
It is also calling for an investigation into Mr. Arar's "secretive
detention, interrogation and deportation" from New York after the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service accused him of having links to
al-Qaeda.
Mr. Arar, a Canadian citizen born in Syria, was on his way to Montreal
from
Tunisia when he made a stopover at New York's John F. Kennedy
International
Airport on Sept. 26. He was arrested by the INS, questioned for nine
hours
without a lawyer, jailed for more than two weeks and deported to Syria,
all
without the knowledge of the Canadian government.
Mr. Arar left his wife and two young children vacationing in Tunisia
with
in-laws and they have not heard from him since.
"The detention and deportation of Maher Arar is a grave breach of both
international human-rights law and Mr. Arar's rights as a Canadian
citizen," said Riad Saloojee, a spokesman for the council…
Mr. Arar's MP, Marlene Catterall, Ottawa West-Nepean, confirmed that
senior
Canadian officials met with the INS on Friday "trying to get
information"
about the engineer.
"I frankly am just appalled that the Americans could keep the
whereabouts
of a Canadian citizen secret from Canadians," Ms. Catterall said
yesterday.
No one from the Department of Foreign Affairs was available for comment
yesterday. Mr. Arar's wife does not know where her husband is or
whether he
is safe.
"Every day I hope that maybe he's going to call me, but since Sept.
26th I
have heard nothing," she said in a telephone interview yesterday from
Tunisia.
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
ACTION REQUESTED:
The following news release may be modified by Islamic centers and
Muslim
organizations for distribution to local media outlets. For example, the
first sentence could read: "On November 6, 2002, the Muslim community
in
[YOUR CITY] and around the world will begin the month-long fast of
Ramadan
(rom-a-don)." Call each television station, newspaper and radio station
to
obtain the contact information for editors who would be interested in
receiving the release. (Keep that list for future use.) Make sure to
include contact information (cell phones, e-mail, etc.) for local
Muslim
representatives.
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIM FAST OF RAMADAN BEGINS NOVEMBER 6
Month offers opportunity to learn more about Islam and Muslims
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/15/2002) - On November 6, 2002, the Muslim
community
in America and around the world will begin the month-long fast of
Ramadan
(rom-a-don). 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. (Note: Because the beginning of Islamic lunar
months depends on the actual sighting of the new moon, the start and
end
dates for Ramadan may vary.)
The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and
generosity,
while obeying God's commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration
of
faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the
"five
pillars" of Islam. Because Ramadan is a lunar month, it begins about
eleven
days earlier each year. The end of Ramadan will be marked by communal
prayers called "Eid ul-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking, on
December 6,
2002.
"Muslims look forward to Ramadan as a period of spiritual reflection
and
renewal. It is also a time when people of other faiths can learn more
about
Islam and the American Muslim community," said Omar Ahmad, board
chairman
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington-based
Islamic civil rights and advocacy group.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "O ye who believe! Fasting is
prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may
(learn) self-restraint...Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down
the
Quran, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and
judgment
(between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his
home)
during that month should spend it in fasting..." (Chapter 2, verses 183
and
185)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions: "God has
said: 'Fasting is like a shield. A person who fasts experiences two
joys.
He is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful when he meets
his
Lord.'" (Hadith Qudsi, Hadith 10)
Demographers say Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in this
country and around the world. There are an estimated 7 million Muslims
in
America and some 1.2 billion worldwide.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294,
E-MAIL:
hhassan@cair-net.org
-----
RAMADAN FACTS
WHO MUST FAST?
Fasting is compulsory for those who are mentally and physically fit,
past
the age of puberty, in a settled situation (not traveling), and are
sure
fasting is unlikely to cause real physical or mental injury.
EXEMPTIONS FROM FASTING (some exemptions are optional)
* Children under the age of puberty (Young children are encouraged to
fast
as much as they are able.)
* People who are mentally incapacitated or not responsible for their
actions
* The elderly
* The sick
* Travelers who are on journeys of more than about 50 miles
* Pregnant women and nursing mothers
* Women who are menstruating
* Those who are temporarily unable to fast must make up the missed days
at
another time or feed the poor.
SPECIAL EVENTS
* Special prayers, called taraweeh, are performed after the daily
nighttime
prayer.
* Lailat ul-Qadr ("Night of Power" or "Night of Destiny") marks the
anniversary of the night on which the Prophet Muhammad first began
receiving revelations from God, through the angel Gabriel. Muslims
believe
Lailat ul-Qadr is one of the last odd-numbered nights of Ramadan.
TRADITIONAL PRACTICES
* Breaking the daily fast with a drink of water and dates
* Reading the entire Quran during Ramadan
* Social visits are encouraged.
EID UL-FITR ("FESTIVAL OF FAST-BREAKING") PRAYERS AT THE END OF RAMADAN
* Eid begins with special morning prayers on the first day of Shawwal,
the
month following Ramadan on the Islamic lunar calendar.
* It is forbidden to perform an optional fast during Eid because it is
a
time for relaxation.
* During Eid Muslims greet each other with the phrase "taqabbalallah
ta'atakum," or "may God accept your deeds" and "Eid Mubarak"
(eed-moo-bar-ak), meaning "blessed Eid."
-----
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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 - 10/15/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: SUPPLICATIONS
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* PREVIEW PBS DOCUMENTARY ON PROPHET MUHAMMAD AT CAIR BANQUET
* CAIR ATTENDS STATE DEPT BRIEFING ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
* OTTAWA MAN FEARED BEING SENT TO SYRIA (Toronto Globe and Mail)
* CHRISTIAN LEADERS' REMARKS AGAINST ISLAM SPARK BACKLASH (Washington
Post)
- Here's Another Fine Mess You've Gotten Into Jerry Falwell (Cox)
- In Defence of Islam (Ottawa Citizen)
- Falwell's Contempt (Boston Globe
* LEWISTON MARCHERS WELCOME SOMALIS (Portland Press Herald)
* EDITORIAL: PERSONALIZING POLITICS IN THE MIDEAST (San Diego Union
Tribune)
- Saddam, The U.S. Agent (New York Times)
* SUDAN REBELS, GOVERNMENT SIGN TRUCE FOR TALKS (Reuters)
* SO CALIF CONVENTION ON EXTREMISM IN INDIA
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: SUPPLICATIONS
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone would like to
receive an answer from God in times of difficulty, he should make many
supplications when times are easy."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 705
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 920 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the Country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package."
GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
PREVIEW PBS DOCUMENTARY ON PROPHET MUHAMMAD AT CAIR BANQUET
Watch a preview of the upcoming PBS documentary, "Muhammad: Legacy of a
Prophet," by acclaimed writer Michael Wolfe during CAIR's Eighth Annual
Fundraising Banquet.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
Register online at www.cair-net.org, e-mail register@cair-net.org or
call
(202) 488-8787
-----
CAIR ATTENDS STATE DEPT BRIEFING ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
CAIR Director of Governmental Affairs Jason Erb today participated in a
State Department briefing on foreign policy issues led by Richard
Boucher,
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Department Spokesman.
-----
OTTAWA MAN FEARED BEING SENT TO SYRIA, U.S. LAWYER SAYS
Estanislao Oziewicz, Toronto Globe and Mail, 10/15/02
www.globeandmail.com (search for "arar")
An Ottawa engineer detained by U.S. authorities and accused of having
links
to al-Qaeda was terrified that he would be deported to his native
Syria, a
U.S. lawyer says.
Ottawa is demanding that Washington divulge the whereabouts of Maher
Arar,
a 32-year-old Canadian citizen arrested during a stopover at New York's
Kennedy airport on Sept. 26 as he was travelling to Montreal from
Tunisia.
Amal Oummih, an Arabic-speaking immigration lawyer based in New York,
said
yesterday she may have been the last contact the family had with Mr.
Arar
before he disappeared.
Ms. Oummih spoke to Mr. Arar, who was being held at Brooklyn's
Metropolitan
Detention Center, on Oct. 5 at the request of his family.
"Basically, everything happened so fast that before we could take the
next
step we couldn't find him and then we heard he was deported."
Ms. Oummih said Mr. Arar, a telecommunications engineer, told her that
U.S.
authorities had asked him to sign a document permitting his deportation
to
Syria but that he had refused. "He was very, very concerned and worried
that he was going to be deported to Syria."
She reassured him that her understanding of U.S. law was that if he was
going to be deported he could choose to go to Canada. She also told him
that if he feared being deported to Syria he would get a chance to
argue
his case.
But Ms. Oummih said that opportunity never arose, and Mr. Arar was
later
interrogated by U.S. officials with no lawyer present. She said she and
another New York lawyer involved in the case had no real chance to be
present because they were notified by voice-mail message on a Sunday
that
the interview was being held that evening…
Riad Saloojee of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada has
said
Mr. Arar's treatment is a breach of Canadian sovereignty.
Mr. Saloojee said Mr. Arar, father of two young Canadian-born children,
could face severe punishment in Syria because he avoided compulsory
military service before leaving the country for Canada as a teenager...
-----
CHRISTIAN LEADERS' REMARKS AGAINST ISLAM SPARK BACKLASH
Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, 10/15/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25654-2002Oct14.html
A recent series of disparaging remarks about Islam by the Rev. Jerry
Falwell and other evangelical Christian leaders have sparked riots in
India, helped religious parties win elections in Pakistan and
undermined
public sympathy in Islamic countries for the U.S. war on terrorism,
experts
said yesterday…
"Jerry Falwell makes a statement, he pleases his constituents, then he
says
he's sorry and apparently thinks that's the end of it," said Akbar
Ahmed,
chairman of Islamic studies at American University. "What Americans
don't
realize is that remarks like this are flashed all over the Muslim
world,
and they are doing very serious damage to U.S. interests..."
Shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush visited a
mosque and said the U.S. war on terrorism was not a war against Islam,
which he called a "religion of peace." Bush's approach quieted the
evangelical community for a few months, but "it wasn't very long before
I
began to pick up rumblings in the grass roots -- sermons saying not all
religions are equally correct, evangelicals saying the president may
have
gone a little too far," said John Green, a professor at the University
of
Akron who closely follows the Christian right.
"Once some prominent people stepped forward, like Franklin Graham, that
made it easier for others," Green added. "I suspect that it's just
become
more and more acceptable for evangelical leaders to speak out against
Islam…"
---
EDITORIAL: HERE'S ANOTHER FINE MESS YOU'VE GOTTEN INTO JERRY FALWELL
Elizabeth Schuett, Cox News, 10/14/02
GIBSONBURG, Ohio - There will be a moment's silence from the Rev. Jerry
Falwell, preacher, leading member of the Southern Baptist Convention,
and
spokesperson for America's Moral Majority, while he recovers from his
most
recent bout of foot-in-mouth disease _ "I think Muhammad was a
terrorist. .
. a violent man, a man of war."
Such a pronouncement could have gone relatively unnoticed had the Rev.
chosen another venue from which to out Islam's prophet as a killer.
Possibly, he could have gotten away with it from the pulpit, or even in
a
classroom at his Liberty University. Maybe. But to call the holy man of
millions a "terrorist" on national television was not, by any stretch
of
the imagination, a swift move. Did Mr. Falwell think no one would be
listening? That no one might take exception to his sweeping
condemnation?
Or did he expect to be the instrument of enlightenment for millions…?
Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations commented:
"Anybody is free to be a bigot if they want to. What concerns us is the
lack of reaction by mainstream religious and political leaders who say
nothing when these bigots voice these attacks."
Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said only an ignorant person
would make such a remark and urged Muslims not to take the matter too
seriously. "I'm not going to accuse all Christians," he said, "only one
person made such a statement…"
America loves its comics. Always has. But religion doesn't belong in
the
funnies. Between Mr. Falwell's thoughtless repartee, and televangelist
Pat
Robertson's appearance on Fox News' "Hannity and Colmes," where he
called
the Prophet Muhammad an "absolute fanatic," as well as a robber and a
brigand, we've got a regular Laurel and Hardy sketch going here…
Thanks a lot, gentlemen, you've been a big help _ to God and country.
---
EDITORIAL: IN DEFENCE OF ISLAM
Ottawa Citizen, 10/15/02
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/editorials/story.asp?id={EDC8EB8F-69B0-4102-9AEB-9AEEAEB6CFA5}
In the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, God orders the death of everyone
who
stands in the way of his chosen people, the Israelites. Accordingly,
Joshua
sends his army rampaging across the Promised Land, "utterly destroying
all
the souls that were therein…"
Sacred texts can be inspiring, dramatic and even revelatory, but they
are
not always models of religious tolerance. Like all great literature,
these
documents are rich with contradiction and complexity. We can be
exhorted to
slaughter infidels on one page and to love our neighbour on the next.
Those
with a true spiritual calling are sensitive to the ambiguities and
tensions
inherent in Scripture and will spend a lifetime studying them.
There is, then, a certain dishonesty about the current campaign to
discredit the Koran, Islam's holy book. Robert Spencer, a Catholic
intellectual, has just published Islam Unveiled, a nasty work filled
with
damning quotations from the Koran such as "When you meet the
unbelievers in
the battlefield, strike off their heads and, when you have laid them
low,
bind your captives firmly." The American baptist leader Jerry Falwell
recently said on CBS-TV's 60 Minutes that the Koran's author, Mohammed,
"was a terrorist" and the religion he founded "teaches hate."
In the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, there were decent folk
who,
ignorant of religion, wanted to know if Islam was inherently a
primitive,
violent creed. Books on Islam were in great demand, and as people read
them
they learned, perhaps to their surprise, that Islamic societies were
once
more enlightened than Europe. Muslim women owned property and enjoyed
more
dignity than their counterparts in the West. Minorities who faced
persecution in Christian lands often fled to the Islamic world because
they
knew that among Muslims they'd be unmolested…
But the conservative Christians now attempting to delegitimize Islam
have a
particular agenda. Rev. Falwell hinted at this when he declared that
"there's not going to be any real peace in the Middle East until one
day
the Lord Jesus Christ sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem…"
---
EDITORIAL: FALWELL'S CONTEMPT
Qamar-Ul Huda, Boston Globe, 10/15/02
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/288/letter/Falwell_s_contempt+.shtml
It is ironic that at the same time we were dedicating the Leonard P.
Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge commemorating those who defended civil rights
and
promoted tolerance the Rev. Jerry Falwell was making repulsive
statements
that "the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, was a terrorist." One wonders why
civil liberties organizations, public officials, and religious leaders
have
ignored antihate rhetoric from the religious right and accepted, if not
endorsed, a culture of Islamophobia?
Fundamentalist leaders like Jerry Falwell are a threat to democracy not
because of their claims of exclusive truth but because they attempt to
ignite religious wars. Just like Osama bin Laden's version of Islam,
some
Christian fundamentalist clergymen are aggressive in delegitimizing
other
believers about their religious traditions. In particular, they are
driven
to forcing their brand of Christianity on others; they read scripture
with
a narrow lens and are obsessed with the implementation of religious law
over secular law…
Real dialogue between Christians and Muslims will be meaningful only
when
mutual understanding is at the core and genuine efforts are made to
learn
from each other based on what we believe and where our faiths take us.
Qamar-ul Huda is an assistant professor of Islamic studies and
comparative
theology at Boston College.
-----
LEWISTON MARCHERS WELCOME SOMALIS
Tom Bell, Portland Press Herald, 10/15/02
http://www.portland.com/news/state/021014lewiston.shtml
About 300 people Sunday joined a peaceful march to show support for
Somali
immigrants. The one-mile march originally was planned as a Sunday
school
procession, but it was opened to the entire community after Lewiston's
mayor issued a letter expressing concerns that local services will be
strained if many more Somalis arrive in the city.
Most of the marchers were longtime Lewiston and Auburn residents, and
many
of them said they wanted the Somali residents to feel welcome.
"I just feel people should live together in friendship," said Elizabeth
Joints, 81, a retired teacher who volunteers in the city's adult
education
program teaching English to immigrants.
Speaking to the crowd, Somali elder Mohamed Abdi thanked Lewiston
residents
for helping the Somalis and allowing them to be their neighbors. Abdi
was
one of the local Somali leaders who met with Raymond on Friday to ease
strained feelings after the mayor's open letter warned of a drain on
resources if more Somalis move to the city…
-----
EDITORIAL: PERSONALIZING POLITICS IN THE MIDEAST
James O. Goldsborough, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/14/02
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/goldsborough/20021014-9999_1e14golds.html
The neoconservatives who persuaded the White House to "park" the
Israel-Palestine conflict and concentrate on attacking Iraq are
reveling in
the fruits of victory. Not only is America nearing the brink of war
with
Iraq, but Israel has been given carte blanche to invade and re-occupy
Palestinian lands. The killing of Palestinians, the destruction of
their
homes and society continues on a daily basis, the groundwork for the
retaliation that inevitably comes.
The Bush administration's obsession with Iraq would appear to be a
godsend
for Israel. Bush's neoconservative supporters have long believed that
eliminating Saddam Hussein would weaken the Palestinians, removing a
source
of support for them and making it politically easier for Israel to
expand
settlements and delegitimize the Palestinian Authority while eyes are
focused on Iraq. Last week, 16 Gaza Palestinians were killed and 100
injured by a missile fired from a U.S.-made Apache gunship into a
crowded
neighborhood...
This is Bush's work. Driven by his confessed hatred for Saddam and his
plans for "pre-emptive" war against Iraq, Bush has no moral capital to
influence Sharon, who hates Arafat…
---
EDITORIAL: SADDAM, THE U.S. AGENT
Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, 10/15/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/15/opinion/15KRIS.html
KUWAIT - Terrorists once more fired at American troops here in Kuwait
on
Monday, although no one was injured this time. As with last week's
attack,
in which two Kuwaiti men shot one American marine to death and wounded
another, we don't know whether the shooting was sponsored by Al Qaeda
or
was a purely home-grown affair.
But there's no doubt that even in Kuwait, where Yankees have the best
possible claim on Arab gratitude, a significant minority of men and
women
regard us as worms. Some Kuwaitis are even hailing the terrorists who
killed the American soldier as martyrs…
On Monday evening I attended a lecture at Kuwait University about the
prospective American invasion of Iraq. In the question-answer session,
one
earnest young man began: "I'm totally convinced that Saddam Hussein is
an
agent of the U.S."
Yup, that's actually a common view in the Arab world. The idea is that
the
U.S. asked its pawn Saddam to invade Kuwait, so that Washington could
respond by establishing military bases in the region and steal Arab
oil…
Last week's elections in Pakistan resulted in huge gains for
fundamentalists who are vehemently anti-American. The fundamentalist
parties, which used to be a fringe element in Pakistani politics, now
will
control two of the country's four provinces. If we gain friendly
governments in Afghanistan and Iraq but see the rise of an Islamist
nuclear
power in Pakistan, that will have been an appalling trade…
-----
SUDAN REBELS, GOVERNMENT SIGN TRUCE FOR TALKS
James Macharia, Reuters, 10/15/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27715-2002Oct15.html
MACHAKOS, Kenya - Sudan's government and rebels signed a cease-fire
Tuesday
for the duration of their latest round of peace talks, the first such
truce
in 19 years of civil war.
The deal, which covers the whole of Sudan, has boosted hopes of a
breakthrough to end the conflict that has divided Africa's biggest
country
and killed an estimated two million people.
"Both parties have signed the cessation of hostilities, which will take
effect on the 17th of October at noon (0900 GMT)," said Lazaro
Sumbeiywo,
Kenya's envoy at the talks.
"It will last for as long as the talks are on, which could be until the
end
of the year," he told reporters.
The talks aim to reach a permanent cease-fire in Africa's longest civil
war, which pits rebels fighting for more autonomy for south Sudan
against
the Islamic government in the north…
-----
SO CALIF CONVENTION ON EXTREMISM IN INDIA
Media Advisory, American Federation of Muslims from India, 10/15/02
For Immediate Release -
Convention on "Extremism in India and its Impact on US Interests" to be
held in Long Beach
WHAT: The American Federation of Muslims from India (AFMI) is holding
its
12th Annual Convention with this year's theme, "Extremism in India and
its
Impact on US Interests." The day-long convention will be addressed by
His
Holiness Shankrachariya Jagat, Guru of Puri, Shankersinh Vaghela,
former
Chief Minister of Gujarat, Justice Ahmedi, former Chief Justice of
India
and Mr. Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister of India.
Additionally, speakers from the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities
in
the US will address the more than 400 delegates expected. Speakers are
scheduled to talk about the rising threats from extremists to India's
interests and stability. They will also focus on creating better
understanding between Muslims and Hindus living in this country.
Sessions will be held on different aspects of Indian Muslims and their
contributions to India, as well as current Indo-US relations, and the
dangers of extremism. The convention will conclude with a banquet in
the
evening.
AFMI is one of the major organizations of Muslims from India in the US
and
is involved in social and educational upliftment of Indian Muslims.
AFMI
holds an international convention in India annually.
WHEN: Sunday, October 20 at 10 A.M.
WHERE: Long Beach Marriott, 4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, CA
90815
CONTACT: Maqbool Kadri, 562-921-3807; M. Fareed Farukhi, 714-283-1000
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS URGED TO DONATE FOR D.C. SNIPER VICTIMS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/16/02) - A national Islamic civil rights and
advocacy
group today asked members of the American Muslim community to help
those
impacted by recent sniper attacks in and around the nation's capital by
donating to a fund set up for that purpose.
FOR BACKGROUND, SEE: "Fatal Shooting Of FBI Analyst Tied to Others"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32116-2002Oct15.html
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged
Muslims to send donations to the National Capital Area Healing Fund,
established by United Way of the National Capital Area in partnership
with
SunTrust Bank. The fund is designed to "support the unmet immediate and
long term needs of the victims, survivors and their families."
"As Muslims, we have a duty to help those who have been so cruelly
targeted. The Prophet Muhammad said, 'Whoever believes in God and the
Last
Day should be generous to his neighbor,'" said CAIR Executive Director
Nihad Awad. Awad also offered sincere condolences to the families of
the
victims.
Checks should be made out to "National Capital Area Healing Fund" and
mailed to:
National Capital Area Healing Fund
95 M. Street SW,
Washington, DC 20024
Donations can also be made at any SunTrust Bank location in the Greater
Washington Region. For additional information or to donate online, log
onto
www.unitedwaynca.org.
Anyone with information related to the investigation of the sniper
attacks
should call the police tip line at 1-888-324-9800.
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL:
cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294,
E-MAIL:
hhassan@cair-net.org
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/16/2002
HEADLINES:
* BREAKING NEWS: FOX'S O'REILLY TO LOOK AT "ISLAMIC AWARENESS WEEK"
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT TOPS 1,000 SPONSORSHIPS
* ACLU ADS WILL TARGET BUSH POLICIES (Washington Post)
* SUPPORT FOR ATTACKING IRAQ BEGINS TO WANE ACROSS THE U.S. (ABC)
- Pre-Occupation Blues (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* NY MAYOR APPOINTS FIRST MUSLIM TO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
* CANADIAN CITIZENS NOT IMMUNE FROM U.S. SECURITY CRACKDOWN (Globe and
Mail)
- AI Gets Involved in Arar Case
- Editorial: Arar Case Should Worry All Canadians (Montreal
Gazette)
- Info About Filing DOJ Complaints Now Available in Arabic
Posters
* CONSERVATIVE COLUMNIST BREAKS RANKS TO CRITICIZE FALWELL (Washington
Times)
- Editorial: Think Before Speaking (Orlando Sentinel)
* AL-QARADAWI: BALI BLASTS HEINOUS CRIME, TOTAL BARBARISM (Islam
Online)
* BRITISH ENVOY `PROUD' OF CRITICAL COMMENTS MADE AGAINST ISRAEL
(Haa'retz)
* RIGHTS GROUP SAYS ISRAEL ENFORCING 'LETHAL CURFEW' (Reuters)
-----
BREAKING NEWS: FOX'S O'REILLY TO LOOK AT "ISLAMIC AWARENESS WEEK"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,1315,00.html
"...you won't believe what's going on now among the student body at the
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill... How about Islamic Awareness
Week?!"
SEND COMMENTS TO: oreilly@foxnews.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET
Don't forget to register for CAIR's Eighth Annual Fundraising Banquet.
Last
year's event was a sell-out, so act now to purchase your seats.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
The dinner's theme is "Muslims in America: Defending Freedom, Promoting
Justice," and featured guests include Martin Luther King III, Dr. John
Esposito and many others.
Tickets: $55 single/$85 couples
TO REGISTER: Visit www.cair-net.org, e-mail register@cair-net.org or
call
202-488-8787
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT TOPS 1,000 SPONSORSHIPS
Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), CAIR's Library Project has received
1070
sponsorships for book and tape packages on Islam to be placed in
libraries
across the Country. Take part in this first-of-its-kind campaign by
sponsoring an 18-item "library package." Our goal is to, inshallah,
send
accurate information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
TO SPONSOR A LIBRARY PACKAGE, GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
ACLU ADS WILL TARGET BUSH POLICIES
Dan Eggen, Washington Post, 10/16/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32306-2002Oct15.html
The American Civil Liberties Union plans to announce today a $ 2.5
million
media campaign aimed at the aggressive anti-terrorism policies of the
Bush
administration and Attorney General John D. Ashcroft -- the largest
such
effort in its 80-year history.
Dubbed the "Campaign to Defend the Constitution," it will include
rallies,
legislative lobbying and television ads on major networks in New York,
Los
Angeles, Washington and other markets, the group said.
The campaign, launched shortly before the Nov. 5 elections, appears to
be
the first concerted public relations effort by critics of the
administration's anti-terrorism tactics. The small coalition of groups
opposed to the government's anti-terror tactics has focused primarily
on
the courts. "We perceive a real need to reach out to the American
public
and inspire discussion and debate on these issues," said Anthony D.
Romero,
ACLU executive director. "This campaign is really a response to the
statements of John Ashcroft and the policies of John Ashcroft's Justice
Department."
Civil liberties advocates and liberal critics have protested guidelines
issued by Ashcroft after Sept. 11, 2001, that give authorities broad
new
powers to conduct surveillance in domestic terror probes. Critics have
also
objected to the investigations and detentions of foreign nationals that
have occurred in almost complete secrecy…
-----
SUPPORT FOR ATTACKING IRAQ BEGINS TO WANE ACROSS THE U.S.
Bill Redeker, ABC News, 10/14/02
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/war_opposition021014.html
Oct. 14 - As the administration prepares for war with Iraq, a new
mantra
has emerged in the campaign to win the hearts and minds of Americans
and,
in effect, put Saddam Hussein on notice.
"America speaks with one voice," says President Bush.
In Washington, Bush, having been empowered by both houses of Congress
to
use force, seems to face very little opposition on Iraq.
On the streets of America, nothing could be further from the truth...
---
EDITORIAL: PRE-OCCUPATION BLUES
Trudy Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/16/02
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/4293135.htm
So now we know where the Bush team is heading with its plans for The
Day
After.
Senior administration officials say they want to establish a military
government in Baghdad after ousting Saddam Hussein. A U.S.-led military
government. It would be modeled on the 61/2-year American occupation of
Japan after World War II. An American military commander, presumably
Gen.
Tommy Franks, would play Gen. Douglas MacArthur. U.S. troops and
civilians
would run Iraq until it was disarmed. We would set up a democracy in
Baghdad, just as we did in Tokyo.
If this is truly the administration's template for The Day After in
Baghdad, we Americans are headed for very big trouble.
The Iraq-Japan parallel is so flawed it makes me wonder whether anyone
on
the Bush team has bothered to read any history. Or if they mean what
they say.
Have any Bush officials talked to John Dower, author of Embracing
Defeat,
the brilliant, Pulitzer-winning account of our occupation of Japan?
"Nothing that went on in Japan is a model for Iraq," Dower told me.
"Virtually everything that made the occupation of Japan a success is
absent
from the current situation…"
-----
NY MAYOR APPOINTS FIRST MUSLIM TO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday eleven new
appointments to the City's Commission on Human Rights. Among the new
appointees is Omar T. Mohammedi, a lawyer who specializes in employment
discrimination and real estate law.
Mohammedi currently serves as president of both the 9/11 Coalition for
Constitutional and Human Rights and the New York Area Muslim Bar
Association. In addition, Mr. Mohammedi is general counsel for the New
York
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
------
CANADIAN CITIZENS ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM THE U.S. SECURITY CRACKDOWN
Sheema Khan, Toronto Globe and Mail, 10/16/02
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/TGAM/20021016/COSHEEMA/Headlines/headdex/headdexComment_temp/1/1/5/
Sheema Khan is chair of the Council on American-Islamic Relations,
Canada.
Maher Arar is, by all accounts, a Canadian success story. Born in
Syria, he
came to this country 15 years ago, finished a master's degree and is
considered an expert in the field of communication engineering. He has
two
young children, and his wife, also a Muslim, has a PhD in mathematics
from
McGill. Since 1998, he has made business trips to the United States
without
any border problems…
On Sept. 26, en route to Montreal from Zurich, Mr. Arar was pulled
aside
while waiting to change planes at New York's Kennedy International
Airport.
Unaware of recent U.S. regulations requiring all aliens born in Syria
(among other countries) to be profiled, Mr. Arar was fingerprinted and
photographed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS
questioned him for nine hours, without the presence of a lawyer, and
accused him of knowing suspected "terrorists" in Canada, which he
denied.
It threatened to deport him to Syria, where he had missed military
service
and was thus in danger of imprisonment. As a Canadian citizen, he asked
to
be returned to Canada…
On Oct. 9, the INS moved Mr. Arar to an undisclosed location, without
notifying Canadian officials.
The next day, without a trial, access to a lawyer or presentation of
evidence, Mr. Arar was deported to Syria due to an immigration
violation.
While the most severe penalty for immigration violation under U.S. law
is
deportation, international human-rights laws stipulate that the
deportee
must be returned to either his country of citizenship or origin of
travel.
In this case, Mr. Arar should have been deported to Canada or Zurich.
There have been other disturbing cases of Canadian citizens being held
without charge in the post-9/11 U.S. justice system…
As constitutional challenges slowly make their way to the U.S. Supreme
Court, many innocent lives are being destroyed. Since Washington is not
informing consular officials of detained citizens, who knows how many
waste
away in prison?
SEE ALSO:
AI GETS INVOLVED IN ARAR CASE
Amnesty International has expressed concern over the detention and
deportation of Maher Arar and is seeking urgent clarification from the
United States government on procedures followed in the case.
---
EDITORIAL: ARAR CASE SHOULD WORRY ALL CANADIANS
Montreal Gazette, 10/16/02
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/editorials/story.asp?id=C1FFA5A2-C9C1-4534-8A46-9315A84EBF49
Where is Maher Arar, and what has happened to him? These are questions
that
Mr. Arar's wife and family are no doubt pondering anxiously as they
wait to
hear from him. But they're questions that should worry all of us.
To all appearances. Mr. Arar is a blameless Canadian, a 32-year-old
communications engineer who lives in Ottawa with his wife and two young
children. But on Sept. 26, as he changed planes in New York on the way
home
from a vacation in Tunisia, U.S. authorities took him into custody,
claiming he had links to the Al-Qa'ida terrorist network. For more than
a
week, he simply vanished; his family heard nothing from him. He has
since
seen a Canadian consular official and a lawyer, but now he has vanished
again, and there are reports that he might well have been deported to
Syria…
Mr. Arar's case seems egregiously abusive, and his treatment appears to
undermine the sovereignty of one of the U.S.'s closest allies - us…
If the Americans lacked sufficient proof to charge Mr. Arar with a
crime,
they had, it seems to us, a couple of choices: they could simply have
let
him go; or if they were still suspicious, they could have deported him
to
Ottawa (where he was headed in the first place) and informed our
government
that they didn't want to see him south of the border again.
The Canadian embassy has apparently been pressing the Americans
vigorously
on this case. Good. It should continue to do so. Whatever his place of
birth, Mr. Arar is a Canadian, and our allies to the south have some
explaining to do.
---
INFO ABOUT FILING DOJ COMPLAINTS NOW AVAILABLE IN ARABIC POSTERS
The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
has
recently published a poster, in Arabic and English, that provides
information on filing civil rights complaints against Justice
Department
employees, including, for example, employees of the FBI, the DEA, the
INS,
and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The poster is designed for display in public places, e.g., community
organizations, mosques, etc. If you are interested in receiving copies
of
the poster, please contact Kelly Tshibaka, Special Assistant to the
Inspector General, at (202) 616-0542. Individuals who believe that a
Department of Justice employee has violated their civil rights or civil
liberties may file a complaint with the OIG by mail, e-mail, or fax at:
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
Office of the Inspector General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Room 4706
Washington, D.C. 20530
E-MAIL: inspector.general@usdoj.gov
(202) 616-9898 (fax)
(800) 869-4499 (contact information in English and Spanish)
For more information on the OIG, please see: www.usdoj.gov/oig.
-----
CONSERVATIVE COLUMNIST BREAKS RANKS TO CRITICIZE FALWELL
EDITORIAL: FALWELL'S FATAL WORDS
Tony Blankley, Washington Times, 10/16/02
http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/blankley.htm
I don't quite know what to make of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's most recent
venture into biblical history. On the television program "60 Minutes" a
few
weeks ago, the reverend said that "I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I
read
enough of the history of his life. He was a violent man, a man of war.
Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses. And I think Mohammed set
an
opposite example."
A few days later in Bombay, India, five persons were killed and 47
injured
when Hindus and Muslims rioted during a Muslim general strike to
protest
Mr. Falwell's accusation about Mohammed. A few days after that Mr.
Falwell
apologized in the following curious language: "I sincerely apologize
that
certain statements of mine made during an interview for the Sept. 30
edition of CBS's '60 Minutes' were hurtful to the feelings of many
Muslims.
I intended no disrespect to any sincere, law-abiding Muslim."
A number of senior Muslim leaders accepted his apology. But his
statements
are being shown all over the Muslim world as evidence of America's
alleged
war on Islam. If the casualty list caused by Mr. Falwell's idiotic and
repulsive statement is limited to five, we will be very lucky. His
statement was bad biblical history and appallingly worse politics.
President Bush has spent the last year desperately trying to limit our
war
on terror to the terrorists, and not letting it slide into a war of
civilizations: Judeo-Christian vs. Muslim. That strikes me as a bloody
good
idea…
First of all, the reverend's biblical history stinks. Moses set the
example
for love? In Exodus 2 verse 11, it is written that "Moses saw an
Egyptian
beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsfolk. He looked this way and that, and
seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand…"
Not only was Mr. Falwell's statements foolish and hurtful, but his
apology
was incredible. "I intended no disrespect." Of course he did. Mohammed
talked with Allah, just as Moses talked with Jehovah. They both are
believed by their faithful to have acted pursuant to the Lord's
instructions. When one reviles a prophet, one reviles the god for whom
he
speaks...
Tony Blankley is editorial page editor of The Washington Times.
SEND NOTES OF APPRECIATION TO: tblankley@washingtontimes.com,
letters@washingtontimes.com
COPY TO: cair@cair-net.org
---
EDITORIAL: THINK BEFORE SPEAKING
Orlando Sentinel, 10/16/02
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edped163101602oct16,0,1452088.story
Americans familiar with the Rev. Jerry Falwell have probably come to
expect
odd outbursts from the Moral Majority's founder. This is the man, after
all, who "outed" Tinky Winky the Teletubby.
But when Mr. Falwell branded Mohammad, the founder of Islam, a
"terrorist"
in a nationally televised interview, his intemperate and unfortunate
statement echoed well beyond U.S. borders. It sparked riots in India
that
killed five people and injured 47. Experts also believe it damaged
support
throughout the Muslim world for the U.S. war on terrorism. Like any
American, Mr. Falwell is entitled to his opinion, even if it happens to
be
deeply offensive to others. But as a high-profile public figure, he has
a
responsibility to consider the consequences before sounding off on
volatile
issues.
-----
AL-QARADAWI: BALI BLASTS HEINOUS CRIME, TOTAL BARBARISM
Islam Online, 10/16/02
http://www.islam-online.net/english/news/2002-10/15/article33.shtml
Doha, Qatar - Prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi on
Tuesday,
October 15, branded the Bali blast as a heinous crime "which is no more
than a total barbarism that is void of morality and human feeling as
well."
Interviewed by IslamOnline, Al-Qaradawi stressed that "Islam not only
prohibits attacking non-Muslims who do not launch attacks against
Muslims,
but it also urges Muslims to treat those non-Muslims with due respect
and
kindness, especially non-Muslims who live along with Muslims within the
Islamic territories."
"It goes without saying that the tragedy that occurred in Bali, in
which a
bomb blast claimed the lives of more than hundred tourists, is actually
a
heinous crime.
"It is even an act of spreading mischief in the land or Hirabah in
juristic
term; a crime in Islam for which a severe punishment is specified,
without
discrimination as to race, color, nationality or religion of the
culprit,"
he asserted…"
-----
BRITISH ENVOY `PROUD' OF CRITICAL COMMENTS MADE AGAINST ISRAEL
Charlotte Halle, Ha'aretz, 10/16/02
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=219662&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y
The British ambassador to Israel, Sherard Cowper-Coles, says he is
"proud"
of his comments that were published yesterday and in which he described
the
West Bank and Gaza Strip as "the biggest detention camp in the world."
In the report, Cowper-Coles is attributed with accusing Israel of
contravening the Geneva Convention and the Israel Defense Forces of
displaying a "lack of professionalism," during a leaked conversation
last
week with IDF Major General Amos Gilad, coordinator of government
activities in the territories.
Cowper-Coles told Ha'aretz yesterday that the comments, reported in the
Yedioth Ahronot daily, were "exaggerated, but broadly true."
The ambassador also criticized Israel for continuing to build
settlements,
for "the unnecessary humiliation and harassment" of the local civilian
population at checkpoints, unnecessarily uprooting trees and making
life
difficult for the international welfare organizations, according to the
report.
Cowper-Coles says he did not regret his comments, which were made "in
the
spirit of friendship." He said he was "very shocked" by what he has
seen in
the territories, "as anyone else who visited there would be..."
-----
RIGHTS GROUP SAYS ISRAEL ENFORCING 'LETHAL CURFEW'
Gwen Ackerman, Reuters, 10/16/02
JERUSALEM, Oct 16 (Reuters) - An Israeli human rights group accused
Israel's army on Wednesday of unjustifiably shooting to enforce curfews
in
the West Bank and said troops had killed 15 Palestinians, including 12
aged
under 16, in such incidents…
The human rights organisation B'Tselem said the curfews, clamped on
Palestinian-ruled cities in the West Bank following Palestinian suicide
bombings, had damaged local education, welfare and health systems, and
devastated the economy.
It saved its toughest criticism in a 35-page report called "Lethal
Curfew"
for incidents in which it said troops had shot at curfew violators even
when their lives were not endangered.
SEE: http://www.btselem.org/English/Press_Releases/2002/021016.asp
"Sometimes the soldiers fire without warning. Fifteen children, 12 of
them
children under age 16, have been killed by soldiers enforcing the
curfew.
Dozens of others have been wounded," it said.
"None of those killed endangered the lives of soldiers. Violation of
curfew
alone is not a justifiable pretext for opening fire, and firing in such
circumstances constitutes excessive use of force."
It said this showed "a shameful disregard for Palestinian lives and
reflects a trigger-happy attitude among soldiers. It constitutes a
flagrant
breach of international law…"
-----
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CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #352
PRO-ISRAEL LOBBY SEEKS TO BLOCK MUSLIM FROM NY COMMISSION
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/17/02) - Sources tell CAIR that representatives
of
the pro-Israel lobby are pressuring officials to withdraw the
appointment
of Omar T. Mohammedi to the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
Mohammedi's appointment was announced yesterday by New York Mayor
Michael
Bloomberg.
Mohammedi, a prominent employment discrimination attorney, serves as
chair
of the 9/11 Coalition for Constitutional and Human Rights and president
of
the New York Area Muslim Bar Association. He also serves as general
counsel
for CAIR's New York chapter.
"As in the past, those who oppose Muslim political participation are
using
falsehoods and distortions to smear Islamic leaders in an attempt to
silence our voice in this country. We call on the American Muslim
community
to send positive messages of support for Mr. Mohammedi's appointment to
New
York's mayor and Commission on Human Rights," said CAIR Executive
Director
Nihad Awad.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.)
Contact Mayor Bloomberg and the Commission on Human Rights to offer
your
support for the appointment of Omar Mohammedi.
SAMPLE LETTER: (Please put in your own words.)
I would like to applaud the appointment of Omar Mohammedi to the New
York
City Commission on Human Rights. For many years, Mr. Mohammedi has been
a
tireless champion for the many diverse communities in New York City.
His
sensitivity to the issues of minorities and immigrants will make him an
outstanding advocate for the civil rights of all New Yorkers.
SEND TO:
1) Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York City, NY 10007
TEL: 212-788-9600 FAX: 212-788-2460
E-MAIL: http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html
2) Ms. Patricia Gatling
Commissioner
New York City Commission on Human Rights
40 Rector Street
New York City, NY 10006
TEL: 212-306-7722 ALTERNATE PHONES: 212-306-7500; 212-306-7530 - Betsy
Herzog; 212-788-2958 Edward Skyler/Lark-Marie Anton FAX: 212-306-7595
E-MAIL: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mailchr.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 - 10/17/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: GOOD HEALTH AND FREE TIME
* CONYERS, MCKINNEY TO APPEAR AT CAIR ANNUAL BANQUET
* CAIR MEETS WITH FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE DIRECTOR
* WHERE IS MAHER ARAR? (Ottawa Citizen)
- Graham Takes On U.S. Over Deported Canadian (Globe and Mail)
* FALWELL AND HIS ILK MAKE A SHAM OF AMERICANISM (Akron Beacon Journal)
* ANOTHER MOSQUE ATTACKED IN AUSTRALIA AFTER BALI BOMBING (AFP)
* ISRAELI TANK SHELLS KILL SIX PALESTINIANS IN CAMP (Reuters)
- Sharon Heads Home With U.S. Pledges (AP)
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: FINE HEALTH AND FREE TIME
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There are two blessings
that many people lose, fine health and free time for doing good deeds."
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 421
-----
CONYERS, MCKINNEY TO APPEAR AT CAIR ANNUAL BANQUET
Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
(D-GA)
will appear at CAIR's Eighth Annual Fundraising Banquet on October 26
in
Tyson's Corner, VA. Both politicians have supported the American Muslim
community and spoken out against post-9/11 civil rights abuses.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
The dinner's theme is "Muslims in America: Defending Freedom, Promoting
Justice," and featured guests include Martin Luther King III, Dr. John
Esposito and many others.
Tickets: $55 single/$85 couples
TO REGISTER FOR THE DINNER: Visit www.cair-net.org, e-mail
register@cair-net.org or call 202-488-8787
-----
CAIR MEETS WITH FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE DIRECTOR
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/17/02) - Robert J. Polito, director of the White
House Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the
Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) met yesterday with CAIR representatives
to
discuss Muslim concerns about the granting of taxpayer funds to a group
founded by televangelist Pat Robertson.
Muslims say Robertson is unworthy to receive one of the first
"faith-based"
government grants because of his attacks on the faith of Islam and its
Prophet Muhammad. Hundreds of Muslims contacted HHS to ask that the
decision to give his group a grant be reconsidered.
SEE: "Robertson Charity Wins 'Faith-Based' Grant"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35217-2002Oct2.html
SEE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/faith-based/
"We appreciate Mr. Polito's willingness to address Muslim concerns and
to
encourage the Muslim community's participation in the faith-based
initiative," CAIR Governmental Affairs Director Jason Erb, who attended
yesterday's meeting.
At the meeting, which took place at CAIR's Capitol Hill headquarters,
Polito offered to expand outreach efforts to the American Muslim
community
through workshops designed to explain the faith-based initiative and
the
grant application process.
-----
WHERE IS MAHER ARAR?
Lee Greenberg, Ottawa Citizen, 10/17/02
http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=363df32e-6211-4908-a80a-dcf19fa6497f
It has been 21 days since Monia Mazigh last spoke with her husband. She
has
just one question for the people responsible for deporting the Ottawa
man
to Syria without the federal government or his family being notified.
Where is Maher Arar, and what has happened to him?
"Something terrible is happening to me," Ms. Mazigh said yesterday in a
telephone interview from her family home in Tunisia. "I don't know
where my
husband is and the Canadian government won't give me an answer." "I
think
every Canadian citizen should ask the same question."
Mr. Arar, 32, was deported to Syria on Oct. 7 or Oct. 8 from Kennedy
Airport in New York during a stopover on his way home to Montreal,
officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs revealed yesterday. The
Canadian government was not contacted about Mr. Arar's case until after
he
had been deported, on Oct. 10.
Mr. Arar, who holds dual Syrian-Canadian citizenship, has not set foot
on
Syrian soil in 16 years. The thought that her husband is back in the
country he chose to leave pains Ms. Mazigh…
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham admitted yesterday that Canada has
no
idea where Mr. Arar is being held.
And in a statement yesterday, Syrian Ambassador Ahmad Arnous denied any
knowledge of Mr. Arar's whereabouts. "We have no information regarding
Mr.
Arar, only what we know from the Canadian press," said Mr. Arnous.
"It's a
matter between the Canadian government and the American government."
In a speech yesterday, Mr. Graham said Canada has "registered our
protest
to the United States. Our position is that a person travelling on a
Canadian passport is a Canadian citizen and has a right to be treated
as a
Canadian citizen…"
"Every Muslim is now a terrorist," said Mrs. Mazigh. "We're talking
about a
civilized country, not jungle law or a dictatorship..."
---
GRAHAM TAKES ON U.S. OVER DEPORTED CANADIAN
Peter Cheney, Toronto Globe and Mail, 10/17/02
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/front/RTGAM/20021017/wsyria1017/Front/homeBN/breakingnews
A diplomatic battle has erupted between Washington and Ottawa over the
deportation of a Canadian telecommunications engineer by U.S. officials
who
refuse to explain why he was arrested and sent to Syria.
"A person travelling on a Canadian passport is a Canadian citizen and
has a
right to be treated as a Canadian citizen," Foreign Affairs Minister
Bill
Graham said on Wednesday after delivering a speech in Montreal. "I have
registered our protest to the United States."
Mr. Graham's complaint is the latest development in the mysterious case
of
Maher Arar, a 32-year-old engineer who was deported by U.S. immigration
officials after being stopped at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport
during
a flight back to Canada after visiting family in Tunisia...
Mr. Arar's case is not the first to spark diplomatic friction over the
handling of a Canadian citizen by U.S. officials. Omar Khadr, a
15-year-old
Canadian, has been held by the United States in Afghanistan since July
27
without being charged. Mohammed Jabarah, 20, of St. Catharines, Ont.,
has
been held in a U.S. prison since last June, also without being charged…
"It is a very unusual case," Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman
Reynald Doiron said. "We are still looking for answers to the core
question: Why a Canadian was deported by the U.S. without our
knowledge."
NDP Leader Alexa McDonough called on the federal government to use "the
full force of its diplomatic corps" to protest what she sees as the
"illegal actions" of the U.S.
"If the United States has security concerns regarding a Canadian
citizen
transiting their country, it is incumbent upon them to notify Canadian
authorities," she said. "Once again, the U.S. is flouting international
law
and acting as judge and jury…"
-----
FALWELL AND HIS ILK MAKE A SHAM OF AMERICANISM
Jefferson Price III, Baltimore Sun, 10/17/02
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/editorial/4303605.htm
If the Rev. Jerry Falwell represents Christianity, then count me out.
The
same goes for his partner in evangelical obsession, Pat Robertson.
Christianity, as I know it, represents peace, love, forgiveness,
charity,
inclusiveness, struggle for the good of mankind as a whole and hope.
Falwell, a Baptist minister, does not seem to embody or espouse these
objectives. He is narrow-minded, singularly directed in his own bizarre
mission; he is mean and insulting. In an age when most of the Christian
church is working toward ecumenism and understanding among the three
monotheisms -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- he is a force of
rejection and disparagement, which seems neither Christian nor, really,
American…
With respect to Islam in America, Robertson has implied it has been a
great
mistake to allow so many Muslims to live in this country. In comments
in
February on his TV show, as reported by the Washington Post, Robertson
suggested a purer ethnic immigration policy might spare America. "The
fact
is that our immigration policies are now so skewed to the Middle East
and
away from Europe that we have introduced these people into our midst
and
undoubtedly there are terrorist cells all over them." Muslim rein?
Robertson and Falwell and a lot of others in the Christian right in
America
have formed a fascinating relationship with the right wing in Israel,
which
they may think is enhanced by the hatred and venom they heap on
Muslims…
The relationship between the Christian right and the Israeli right
blossomed after Menachem Begin was elected prime minister of Israel and
Ronald Reagan was elected president of the United States in 1980.
Robertson
was enthusiastic as Israel developed its relationship with Christian
militias in south Lebanon, where he was supporting a Christian
broadcasting
station. Falwell's Moral Majority euphorically supported Begin and then
Defense Minister Ariel Sharon as they developed their disastrous
alliance
with Christian militias in Beirut…
Twenty years ago, while the Israeli army occupied Beirut, Israel's
Christian militia allies went on a rampage in the Sabra and Shatilla
Palestinian refugee camps, where they massacred more than 2,000
inhabitants
-- men, women, children -- while the Israelis stood by outside…
Last week, I happened to see a broadcast by Pastor Jack Hayford, of the
Church on the Way, the First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, Calif.,
talking
about why Christians should support the state of Israel. When it was
over,
I realized that although Pastor Hayford had thrown a scrap of sympathy
to
Palestinian Arabs, he did not mention that they include tens of
thousands
of Christians. Unmentioned, they seem not to fit into the ambitions of
the
American Christian right. Their numbers are dwindling, but the families
of
those who remain have been in place a lot longer than Robertson,
Falwell,
Hayford & Co…
-----
ANOTHER MOSQUE ATTACKED IN AUSTRALIA AFTER BALI BOMBING
Agence France Presse, 10/17/02
MELBOURNE - Arsonists threw a firebomb into a Melbourne mosque early
Thursday, the second attack on a Muslim religious site since the
weekend
bombing in Bali which killed scores of Australians, police said.
No one was injured but windows were smashed and carpets burned when the
firebomb was thrown through the mosque window in East Doncaster before
dawn, they said. The fire was put out by people who were in the
building.
Police said they were investigating whether the firebombing in
retaliation
for the Bali bombings, which authorities have blamed on Islamic
radicals
although no one has claimed responsibility.
"It's not being looked at as a retaliation attack, it's just being
looked
at as an arson attack on a building," said Deputy Police Commissioner
Bill
Kelly.
"But obviously given what has happened last Saturday that puts another
dimension into the investigation to follow-up on, to make sure it
either is
or isn't politically or religiously motivated," he said.
On Tuesday, a school and the home of a Muslim cleric in Sydney were
attacked by stone-throwing vandals.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Council described the incident as
retribution for the deaths of Australians in Bali, although police
refused
to immediately label the attack a hate crime without further
investigation…
-----
ISRAELI TANK SHELLS KILL SIX PALESTINIANS IN CAMP
Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters, 10/17/02
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - Israeli tank shelling killed six
Palestinians
and wounded 50 in a Gaza Strip refugee camp Thursday after gunmen fired
at
army bulldozers, aggravating tensions that are already close to the
boiling
point.
Witnesses said the dismembered bodies of two women, two youths and a
10-year-old girl were pulled from the rubble. Ambulance workers,
ducking at
the sound of gunfire, frantically wove through narrow alleys trying to
reach the wounded…
Palestinian medics and witnesses said six people had been killed by
Israeli
shells fired at a cluster of houses in the Rafah refugee camp after
Palestinian gunmen in the area shot at army bulldozers working near the
border fence…
Witnesses said the dead and wounded were civilians.
SEE ALSO:
SHARON HEADS HOME WITH U.S. PLEDGES
STEVE WEIZMAN, Associated Press, 10/17/02
WASHINGTON (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wound up a
three-day
visit laden with U.S. pledges to make a maximum effort to neutralize
Iraqi
missiles in the event of war and with a ringing endorsement of Israel's
right to defend itself.
In meetings with Bush and other U.S. officials, Sharon got assurances
that
the United States would give Israel advance warning in the event it
attacks
Iraq, and he heard U.S. plans to prevent Iraq from launching rockets at
Israel, said a senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
The official said Bush made no request for Israeli restraint if Iraq
did,
nevertheless, attack Israel, as it did during the 1991 Gulf War…
At the end of Sharon's 40-minute meeting Wednesday with Bush at the
White
House, the president publicly endorsed Israel's right to hit back.
"If Iraq were to attack Israel tomorrow, I'm sure there would be
appropriate response," Bush said at a joint news conference with
Sharon. "I
would assume the prime minister would respond. He's got a desire to
defend
himself."
-----
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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 - 10/18/2002
HEADLINES:
* HADITH OF THE DAY: A SUPPLICATION OF THE PROPHET
* CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
* CAIR ATTORNEY SPEAKS AT U.N. EVENT
* CAIR VIDEO PREMIERES AT ANNUAL BANQUET
* MUSLIMS FEAR TALK OF SNIPER LINK (Washington Post)
- Funds Raise Thousands For Victims' Families (Washington Post)
* MUSLIM CLAIMS OF BIAS ON RISE AGAIN (Columbus Dispatch)
- Man Banned From Campus After Confrontation (AP)
* CHRISTIANS HAIL RIGHTIST'S CALL TO OUST ARABS (Forward)
- Editorial: Politics, Money and Guns (Washington Post)
- N.J. Poet Laureate Strikes Back (AP)
* ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CANADIAN REVEALED (Toronto Globe and Mail)
- PM Speaks Out On U.S. Deportation (Toronto Star)
- Editorial: Follow the Rules (Calgary Herald)
* POSTAL SERVICE REISSUES MUSLIM STAMP (Washington Post)
* MUSLIM GROUP TO HOST POLITICAL FORUM (San Jose Mercury News)
* SPAIN'S TOP DIPLOMAT IN IRAQ RESIGNS (AP)
- Actor Sean Penn Lashes Bush Over Iraq War Drums (Reuters)
- Jews Forge Ties with Iraqi Dissidents (Jewish Telegraph Agency)
* AI WARNS AGAINST RISING ANTI-MUSLIM SPEECH IN INDIA (Amnesty
International)
* CAIR-NY LECTURE ON RACIAL PROFILING IN AMERICA
* SHAIKH ABDALLA IDRIS ALI TO APPEAR AT CAIR-CAN FUNDRAISER
* MARYLAND INTERFAITH FORUM HIGHLIGHTS COMMON STRUGGLES
* MEDIA REQUEST: BRITISH TV NETWORK SEEKS HAJJIS
-----
HADITH OF THE DAY: A SUPPLICATION OF THE PROPHET
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O God, I seek refuge in
You
from knowledge that does not benefit anyone, a heart that is not
submissive, a soul that is dissatisfied, and a prayer that is not
heard."
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1260
-----
CAIR LIBRARY PROJECT UPDATE
CAIR's Library Project has received 1105 sponsorships for book and tape
packages on Islam to be placed in libraries across the country. Take
part
in this first-of-its-kind campaign by sponsoring an 18-item "library
package." Our goal is to, inshallah, send accurate and objective
information about Islam to America's 16,000 public libraries.
TO SPONSOR A LIBRARY PACKAGE, GO TO: www.libraryproject.org
OR CALL: 1-800-392-7876, ext. 20
-----
CAIR ATTORNEY SPEAKS AT U.N. EVENT
(NEW YORK, 10/18/02) - CAIR-NY General Counsel Omar T. Mohammedi spoke
yesterday at an event marking the International Day for the Eradication
of
Poverty held at the United Nations building in New York. The event was
hosted by the United Nations, the governments of France and Burkina
Faso
and by the group ATD Fourth World.
Mohammedi, a prominent employment discrimination attorney, serves as
chair
of the 9/11 Coalition for Constitutional and Human Rights and the
president
of the New York Area Muslim Bar Association.
On Tuesday, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed him to the New
York
City Commission on Human Rights.
-----
CAIR VIDEO PREMIERES AT ANNUAL BANQUET
A video highlighting the work of CAIR over the past year will be shown
at
the Eighth Annual Fundraising Dinner on October 26 at Tyson's Corner,
Va.
The video focuses on the challenges facing American Muslims after
September
11, 2001, and CAIR's many accomplishments in the areas of civil rights,
media and education.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
The dinner's theme is "Muslims in America: Defending Freedom, Promoting
Justice," and featured guests include Martin Luther King III,
Congresswoman
Cynthia McKinney, Dr. John Esposito and many others.
Tickets: $55 single/$85 couples
TO REGISTER: Visit www.cair-net.org, e-mail register@cair-net.org or
call
202-488-8787
-----
MUSLIMS FEAR TALK OF SNIPER LINK
Caryle Murphy, Washington Post, 10/18/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43883-2002Oct17.html
Like many other Washington area residents, they are driving their
children
straight to the schoolhouse door, limiting shopping trips and forgoing
outdoor activities.
But Muslims who live in the region say they face an additional trauma
from
the deadly attacks of an elusive sniper: dread sparked by speculation
that
the killer could be linked to al Qaeda or another Muslim extremist
group.
In recent days, some terrorism experts have raised the possibility that
the
sniper may be connected to foreign groups targeting the United States.
Federal officials have said there is no evidence of such a connection
but
they have not ruled it out.
"Obviously, we are concerned first of all about the sniper who is
targeting
innocent people at random because we live here, our families live
here,"
said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington-based Council on
American-Islamic Relations. "For the Muslim community, there is always
the
fear that this could be tied to international terrorism and we would
suffer
backlash and discrimination again. So we have two levels of fear."
Law enforcement officials have not issued a description of the
assailant.
Although one witness to the most recent slaying, in a parking garage
outside a Home Depot store in Fairfax County, initially described the
killer as being neither white nor black and possibly olive-skinned, his
account has since been discredited by police.
Still, mere speculation about a possible tie to international terrorism
has
had an impact on the Muslim community, said Sharifa Al Khateeb, who
lives
in Great Falls and is vice president of the North American Council for
Muslim Women. "It makes them feel demonized," she said, "very
unfairly…"
---
FUNDS RAISE THOUSANDS FOR VICTIMS' FAMILIES
Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 10/18/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43910-2002Oct17.html
The urgent call came in to Radio America, a popular Spanish-language
station in the Washington suburbs: The families of two of the sniper's
victims were desperate to be at their funerals but couldn't afford
airfare.
Could the station help…?
The radio fundraiser last week was an early sign of the outpouring of
donations and sympathy for victims' families. Outraged citizens from as
far
away as Florida and Ohio have sent tens of thousands of dollars to
funds in
memory of those slain by the gunman…
And the assistance appears likely to grow. Two large funds have just
been
established to collect donations. The National Capital Area Healing
Fund,
set up by the United Way and SunTrust Bank, is accepting money online,
by
mail and at bank branches…
Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was planning to e-mail 1,000
members
nationwide alerting them to the Sniper Victims Fund. And the Council on
American-Islamic Relations called on all Muslims to contribute to the
Healing Fund…
-----
MUSLIM CLAIMS OF BIAS ON RISE AGAIN
Tiffany Y. Latta, Columbus Dispatch, 10/18/02
http://www.columbusdispatch.com
The number of threatening calls and hate letters coming to the Islamic
Center on E. Broad Street has diminished since Sept. 11.
But what continues, Arab-Americans and Muslims say, are the stares and
the
verbal assaults, monitoring at stores and other forms of
discrimination.
Since the attacks, the number of racial-discrimination complaints that
Arab-Americans and Muslims have filed with the Ohio Civil Rights
Commission
has more than tripled to 43, from 13. "At one point, problems slowed
when
religious and political leaders spoke against it. But we've seen a rise
after recent bigoted comments made by religious leaders such as Rev.
Jerry
Falwell and Pat Robertson," said Ahmad Al-Akhras, president of the
council
on American-Islamic Relations.
Falwell angered Muslims when he called the founder of their religion a
terrorist in an interview on CBS' 60 Minutes.
Members of Al-Akhras' organization will attend a Know Your Rights forum
from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Urban League, 788 Mount Vernon Ave. The
event
is sponsored by the commission, the Columbus Urban League and the
Columbus
branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People.
It is billed as a discussion to teach minorities about the resources
and
agencies available to help them fight back when they've been
discriminated
against in public places…
---
MAN BANNED FROM CAMPUS AFTER CONFRONTATION
Associated Press, 10/18/02
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee has banned a man from
campus
on grounds he confronted and threatened a Muslim graduate student.
University police said James N. Campbell yelled "ethnic slurs and
threatening comments" Monday at Sean Blevins outside the Hodges
Library.
Campbell, 60, who takes free classes under a program for senior
citizens,
was cited for disorderly conduct.
Campbell, a retired Air Force veteran, told The Knoxville News-Sentinel
that Muslims provoke him.
"Basically they are the most deceitful, hypocritical people on the
Earth,"
he said.
"This Muslim cleric was walking up the hill at the same time as I was
and
as we walked toward the door I recognized his Muslim clothes as a
priestly
frock. I am thinking to myself, 'What's this young man doing on my
campus?'...I see this fella, and I am instantly inflamed."
Blevins, 26, wears a beard and had on a black suit and a matching kufi,
a
bowl- shaped cap.
University police officer Steve Nelson said Campbell declined repeated
directives to calm down and otherwise cooperate.
"His actions were causing alarm to others in the immediate area,"
Nelson
wrote in his report.
Muslim Student Association president Sanjana Ahmad said while the
incident
does not indicate widespread local hostility against their faith, the
arrest "brought to the attention of the MSA the real and serious
threats
that face Muslims in America…"
-----
CHRISTIANS HAIL RIGHTIST'S CALL TO OUST ARABS
Forward, 10/18/02
http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.10.18/news3.html
WASHINGTON - Thousands of Evangelical Christians waving Israeli flags
cheered last week as Knesset member Benny Elon called for the
"relocation"
of Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan.
The enthusiastic crowd at the annual convention of the Christian
Coalition
in Washington also cheered House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, who urged
activists to back pro-Israel candidates who "stand unashamedly for
Jesus
Christ."
Elon, whose Moledet Party advocates the "transfer" of Palestinians to
Arab
countries, said that a "resettlement" of the Palestinians is prescribed
by
the Bible….
Dismissing the legitimacy of the Palestinians' claim to the land, and
particularly to Jerusalem, Robertson said that "the Palestinians are
really
Arabs who moved there a few decades ago. Their claim to that land
really
does not go back very far such as it is," while the claim of the Jews
goes
back thousands of years. The Temple Mount, he concluded, "belongs to
Israel, not to the Palestinians…"
---
EDITORIAL: POLITICS, MONEY AND GUNS
E. J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post, 10/18/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43792-2002Oct17.html
We're in a war on terrorism and there's a chilling shooting spree in
the
Washington suburbs. Shouldn't that be enough to encourage our leaders
--
and especially our president -- to overcome the power of ideology and
political interest groups?...
Finally there is the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who set off riots abroad and
vicious attacks on our country by declaring the prophet Muhammad a
terrorist. He later apologized. For days afterward, the White House
declined to comment, even when pressed, except to reiterate the
president's
view that Islam is "a religion of peace."
One of President Bush's real achievements since Sept. 11, 2001, has
been to
defend the religious freedom of Muslims and to urge Americans to
embrace
their Muslim neighbors. Didn't Falwell's comments -- along with other
incendiary statements by the Revs. Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham --
provide the perfect occasion for reiterating that view, for saying
explicitly that these men did not speak for us?
Each of these issues is a reminder that one test of leadership is a
willingness to take on your own side -- especially when doing so
doesn't
fit your electoral calculations. Mr. President, we're waiting.
---
N.J. POET LAUREATE STRIKES BACK
Michael Weissenstein, Associated Press, 10/18/02
NEW YORK (AP) - New Jersey poet laureate Amiri Baraka criticized
Israeli
and Jewish groups' involvement in U.S. politics and reiterated that he
would not give up his post as official state poet amid accusations of
anti-Semitism.
In a nearly hour-long monologue and question-and-answer session
Thursday at
the Bowery Poetry Club, Baraka struck back at critics, saying he wanted
to
know "why the Anti-Defamation League is not registered as an agent of a
foreign power."
The Jewish civil rights organization and New Jersey Gov. James E.
McGreevey
have called for Baraka's resignation over his poem, "Somebody Blew Up
America," which implies that Israel had prior knowledge of the Sept. 11
attacks…
Baraka, 68, an award-winning playwright who has taught at Columbia and
Yale
universities, has said that the poem's selected passage was intended to
criticize Israel's policy toward Palestinians, and he did not mean to
imply
that Israel was responsible for the attack.
Cafe employees handed out free, steaming coffee and written statements
from
Baraka touching on Jewish groups' work to defeat Congresswoman Cynthia
McKinney of Georgia and Alabama Rep. Earl Hilliard, both black
Democrats
seen as unfriendly to Israel…
-----
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CANADIAN REVEALED
Peter Cheney, Toronto Globe and Mail, 10/18/02
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/TGAM/20021018/USYRIAH/national/national/national_temp/1/1/25/
A Canadian engineer who was deported to Syria by the United States was
accused by American officials of belonging to the al-Qaeda terrorist
network.
The specific allegations levelled against Canadian telecommunications
engineer Maher Arar are the latest revelation in a highly unusual case
that
has sparked a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Washington.
Mr. Arar, 32, was arrested by U.S. officials at New York's John F.
Kennedy
Airport on Sept. 26 during a flight back to Canada after visiting
family in
Tunisia. He was later deported to Syria, even though he was carrying a
Canadian passport and has lived in this country since he was 17 years
old.
Mr. Arar's family and friends say he is an innocent man who has found
himself tangled in a security dragnet that appears to have few checks
or
balances.
Monia Mazigh, Mr. Arar's wife, believes he may have been unfairly
listed in
a federal database of terrorist suspects after his name was mentioned
to
the United States by the RCMP after they took a cursory look at
Ottawa's
Syrian community following Sept. 11, 2001.
"The whole thing is insane," she said. "It's like living inside a
mystery.
Someone you never see gets to decide that you might be a terrorist, and
you
get blackballed. My husband is innocent…"
Mr. Arar's case has drawn widespread condemnation from human-rights
groups,
including Amnesty International, which believes the actions of the
United
States have violated international law and endangered Mr. Arar.
Officials still have no idea what has happened to Mr. Arar. Foreign
Affairs
says it has failed to locate him in Syria, and has received reports
that he
may have been sent to Jordan. The Jordanians, however, says Mr. Arar is
not
there.
---
PM SPEAKS OUT ON U.S. DEPORTATION
Allan Thompson and Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star, 10/18/02
http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1026146536373&call_page=TS_Canada&call_pageid=968332188774&call_pagepath=News/Canada
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien added his voice yesterday to Canada's
formal
protest of the way U.S. authorities treated a Syrian-born Canadian who
was
detained in New York while changing planes, then mysteriously deported
to
Syria.
The Department of Foreign Affairs turned to Syria yesterday for
assistance
in locating Maher Arar, who was detained on Sept. 26 at New York's
Kennedy
airport while en route from Tunisia to Montreal.
Not only did U.S. authorities fail to properly notify Canada that Arar
was
being held, but after Canada learned of his whereabouts through family
members and sought consular access, U.S. authorities abruptly deported
him
to Syria on Oct. 8.
"We have protested. This person has a Canadian passport and they have
deported him to Syria rather than to Canada," Chrétien told reporters
in
Beirut, where he is attending the Francophonie summit.
"I don't know what is the nature of the offence, but I'm informed
(Foreign
Affairs Minister Bill) Graham has issued a political protest to the
government of the United States. But we cannot go and pick him up. He's
not
there any more…"
---
EDITORIAL: FOLLOW THE RULES
Calgary Herald, 10/18/02
http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=cb4a0609-0dc8-480a-b0c3-6faee2bbc59b
The grave and legitimate security concerns of our neighbour to the
south
still do not give it the right to flout international law. And yet,
that is
exactly what the United States did by deporting a Canadian citizen to
Syria
without even contacting Canadian officials.
Under international law, Arar should have had access to Canadian
consular
officials. Instead, the U. S. peremptorily deported him to Syria. It is
feared that he has been thrown into a Syrian jail as punishment for
having
left the country at age 16 to avoid compulsory military service…
Arar's rights as a Canadian citizen came a very distant second to the
U.S.'s post-Sept. 11 practice of automatically placing Canadians born
in
Syria and four other countries on a terrorist-watch list. If the United
States believed there was something suspicious about Arar, they should
have
contacted Canadian officials.
The Americans owe Canada an explanation. If their seemingly arbitrary
action has merit, then there had better be convincing evidence to
support
it. So far, none has been presented.
-----
POSTAL SERVICE REISSUES MUSLIM STAMP
Chris L. Jenkins, Washington Post, 10/18/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43831-2002Oct17.html
A postage stamp that commemorates Muslim feast days known as Eid,
issued
first by the U.S. Postal Service last year and created by an Arlington
artist, has been reprinted this year, despite requests for its
retraction
immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Thirty-five million blue and gold stamps that acknowledge the holidays,
celebrated just after Ramadan and after the annual pilgrimage to Mecca,
were reissued Oct. 10, a sign of the stamp's popularity and the Postal
Service's commitment to including Muslim feasts in the pantheon of
holiday
celebrations that include Hanukah, Kwanzaa and Christmas, officials
said
this week. About 75 million stamps were printed last year when the
design
was unveiled Sept. 1, 2001, an official said. "Anecdotally, we got all
kinds of responses from customers saying how beautiful the stamps were
and
asking where they could get more," said Cathy Yarosky, a spokeswoman
for
the Postal Service…
Designed by Arlington calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya, 60, the stamp
features
the Arabic words "Eid Mubarak," which mean "Have a Happy Eid" or "May
your
Eid be blessed," Zakariya said…
National Muslim groups had lobbied the Postal Service for five years to
have the feast included in the holiday series. The stamp is exactly the
same as it was last year, postal officials said, except that it now
costs
37 cents.
"By reissuing the stamp, the Postal Service is supporting the American
Muslim community in a small but important way," said Ibrahim Hooper,
spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the
several
organizations that lobbied to print the stamp initially.
-----
MUSLIM GROUP TO HOST POLITICAL FORUM
Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News, 10/18/02
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/4312786.htm
The Newark-based American Muslim Alliance is sponsoring a political
forum
Saturday, asking questions of candidates running for a variety of
offices,
from Fremont City Council to governor.
Muslim moderators from the alliance are dubbing their forum "Civil
Liberties Plus," and they will ask questions about the country's
eroding
civil liberties in the wake of last year's terrorist attacks as well as
probing the politicians on the economy, education, environment,
transportation, housing and more.
Since the attacks, many Middle Eastern and Muslim men have been
questioned
and detained by authorities, often without attorneys or knowledge of
the
charges for which they are being held. The alliance tries to increase
the
participation of Muslims in American politics, by putting out
Muslim-oriented voter education pamphlets as well as by hosting events
such
as Saturday's debates.
The panel will include most of the Fremont City Council candidates
vying
for two seats: Shyam Chetal, Dominic Dutra, Lalit Mathur, Henry Yin, a
representative for Pauline Weaver, and incumbent Bob Wasserman.
Candidates
Matt Edwards, Diana Rodriguez and Linda Susoev are not expected to
attend.
Dan Dow, Keith Lyon and incumbent John Dutra are expected to discuss
their
views in the 20th Assembly District race.
Don Grundmann, Syed Mahmood, Mark Stroberg and incumbent Pete Stark are
expected to talk about their campaigns in the 13th Congressional
District.
For the governor's race, third party candidates Iris Adams, Peter
Camejo,
Gary Copeland and Reinhold Gulke have agreed to attend. But
representatives
for both Gov. Gray Davis and Bill Simon, the Democratic and Republican
candidates, respectively, have not responded to repeated invitations to
the
debate.
The forum is scheduled from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Newark City Hall, 37101
Newark Blvd.
A reception at the Newark library will begin at 5 p.m.
For more information, call the American Muslim Alliance at (510)
252-9858
or visit www.amaweb.org.
-----
SPAIN'S TOP DIPLOMAT IN IRAQ RESIGNS
Associated Press, 10/18/02
MADRID, - Spain's top diplomat in Iraq resigned, saying he could not
support his government's pro-U.S. stance in the crisis with Baghdad.
But the foreign minister insisted Friday the envoy was leaving because
of
hardship associated with the job.
Fernando Valderrama, 51, the Spanish charge d'affaires in Iraq since
August
2000, said Thursday he had stepped down because he opposed Prime
Minister
Jose Maria Aznar's position that Spain would endorse a U.S. attack on
Iraq
even without a U.N. resolution.
"The official position is so markedly pro-U.S. that if you don't
support
Washington's policy, it is as if you are working against your own
government," Valderrama was quoted as saying in Friday's edition of El
Pais…
---
ACTOR SEAN PENN LASHES BUSH OVER IRAQ WAR DRUMS
Reuters, 10/18/02
WASHINGTON - Actor Sean Penn on Friday weighed in on the international
debate over a possible war with Iraq, paying for a $56,000
advertisement in
the Washington Post accusing U.S. President George W. Bush of stifling
debate and threatening civil liberties.
In an open letter to Bush taking up most of a page in the main section
of
the daily newspaper, the Oscar-nominated star of "I Am Sam" and "Dead
Man
Walking," urged the president to stop a cycle where "bombing is
answered by
bombing, mutilation by mutilation, killing by killing."
"I beg you, help save America before yours is a legacy of shame and
horror," Penn wrote, echoing voices of caution from around the world
that
have called for a measured response to allegations Iraq is developing
weapons of mass destruction.
The letter was signed "Sincerely, Sean Penn, San Francisco,
California." A
spokesman for the Washington Post confirmed that it was placed by the
Hollywood celebrity who has starred in more than 40 movies.
Quoting Bush's declaration that the world was either "with us or
against
us" in the war on terrorism launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks,
Penn, 42, said Bush was marginalizing critics, manipulating the media
and
promoting fear…
---
JEWS FORGE TIES WITH IRAQI DISSIDENTS
Matthew E. Berger, Jewish Telegraph Agency, 10/15/02
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=11945&intcategoryid=
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (JTA) - The old saying "the enemy of my enemy is my
friend" appears to have resonance for American Jewish groups and the
Iraqi
dissidents seeking to overthrow the government of Saddam Hussein.
Jewish groups have privately met with Iraqi opposition leaders in the
past,
but today some groups are forging a broader, more public relationship.
In the last two weeks, two Jewish organizations, the American Israel
Public
Affairs Committee and the Jewish Institute for National Security
Affairs,
have sponsored discussions with members of the Iraqi National Congress,
a
prominent Iraqi opposition group that is financially supported by the
U.S.
government.
With the Bush administration pursuing a policy of regime change in
Iraq,
both the INC and Jewish groups say they have something to gain from a
strong bond.
The INC sees a way to tap into Jewish influence in Washington and
Jerusalem, and drum up increased support for its cause.
The Jewish groups, for their part, see an opportunity to pave the way
for
better relations between Israel and Iraq, if and when the INC is
involved
in replacing Saddam's regime.
-----
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP WARNS AGAINST RISING ANTI-MUSLIM SPEECH IN INDIA
Press release, Amnesty International, 10/16/02
http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/ASA200192002
India: Hate Speeches on the Violence in Gujarat Must Be Stopped
Amnesty International is alarmed at repeated inflammatory statements
made
by Ashok Singhal, the international working president of the Vishwa
Hindu
Parishad (VHP, a nationalist Hindu organization), about the violence
against the Muslim population in Gujarat earlier this year, in which
more
than 2,000 people were killed. The organization fears for the safety of
many thousands of vulnerable people, should further violence be incited
by
the reported statements.
Ashok Singhal is reported to have said on 11 October 2002 that "what
happened in Gujarat will happen in the whole of the country", while on
3
September he reportedly termed the recent massacres in Gujarat a
"successful experiment which will be repeated all over the country".
Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion is a
recognized criminal offence under Indian law. Amnesty International
calls
on the competent authorities to give a clear signal that it will not be
tolerated any more. Investigations to establish Ashok Singhal's
responsibilities in relation to the reported statements should be
initiated
as a matter of urgency and appropriate action, including possible
prosecution, should be taken accordingly. Amnesty International wrote
to
the relevant Indian authorities on 16 September 2002, drawing attention
to
Ashok Singhal's statement of 3 September, but has not been notified of
any
investigation initiated since then…
-----
CAIR-NY LECTURE ON RACIAL PROFILING IN AMERICA
WHAT: Racial Profiling In America: Past, Present, Future
WHEN: Friday, October 25, 6 P.M. to 9 P.M.
WHERE: The Interchurch Center Lounge, 475 Riverside Drive at 120th
Street,
(Entrance on Claremont Avenue) New York City/Take trains #1 or #9 to
116
St./Columbia University
Speakers include:
Abdeen Jabara, Esq., Moderator
Center for Constitutional Rights
King Downing
Campaign Against Racial Profiling, ACLU
Harpreet Singh
Singh Coalition
For more information, contact CAIR-NY: 212.870.2002. www.cair-ny.com
Co-Sponsored by Women In Islam & New York Area Muslim Bar Association
-----
SHAIKH ABDALLA IDRIS ALI TO APPEAR AT CAIR-CAN FUNDRAISER
WHAT: CAIR-CAN: Your Voice, Your Future - fundraising dinner with
Shaikh
Abdalla Idris Ali
WHEN: Sunday, October 20 at 5 P.M.
WHERE: Candles Banquet Hall, Mississauga, 1224 Dundas St. East (just
West
of Dixie)
Speakers include: Sh. Abdalla Idris Ali, Sh. Mohammed Zahid Aboghudda
and Riad
Saloojee (Executive Director of CAIR-CAN)
The dinner will showcase CAIR-CAN's accomplishments in the areas of
media
relations, human rights, and public policy advocacy over the last year.
Tickets are $20. Reserve your tickets today by calling Ibrahim Danial
at
416-601-8272. Visit http://www.caircan.ca/pdfs/Fundraiser_flyer.pdf to
view
the flyer and other contact information.
----
MARYLAND INTERFAITH FORUM HIGHLIGHTS COMMON STRUGGLES
WHAT: Presentations by Jewish and Muslim scholars on variety of issues.
WHEN: Sunday, October 20, 11 A.M. to 1 P.M.
WHERE: Muslim Community Center, 15200 New Hampshire Ave., Silver
Spring, Md
20905 Tel: 301-384-3454
Speakers include: Rabbi Howard Gorin and Dr. Faroque Khan
-----
MEDIA REQUEST: BRITISH TV NETWORK SEEKS HAJJIS
Channel 4 has commissioned an ambitious project from ITN to bring The
Hajj
to Britain's screens next February. The ITN production team is looking
for
people from America who intend to perform Hajj in 2003 and would like
to
hear from anyone interested in taking part in this project.
ITN wants to include a whole range of people - young old, rich and poor
and
are particularly keen to meet people who will be performing Hajj for
the
first time.
Hajj is a religious obligation for all Muslims but the programme makers
would like to hear from people who are at a turning point in their
lives
which has motivated them to perform Hajj next year. Interested parties
may
contact Bridget at +44 207 430 4385 (24 hours) or email hajj@itn.co.uk
-----
TO BECOME A CAIR MEMBER, GO TO:
https://www.cair-net.org/asp/membership.asp
TO TAKE PART IN CAIR'S VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE, GO TO:
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/voting.asp
-----
To SUBSCRIBE to or UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to:
http://cair.biglist.com/cair-net/
To reach the list moderator, send a message to:
cair@cair-net.org
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
-----
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIM NEWS BRIEFS - 10/20/2002
HEADLINES:
* REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET
* 1500 CALIFORNIANS ATTEND CAIR-LA DINNER (AP)
* THE FORGOTTEN PRISONER (Chicago Tribune)
- FIGHT TERRORISM FAIRLY (New York Times)
- THE ALARMING CASE OF MAHER ARAR (Globe and Mail)
- JUDGE OKS PLANE DISCRIMINATION SUIT (AP)
* A LEAP OF FAITH: WALLACE D. MUHAMMAD (Chicago Tribune)
* FALWELL AND HIS 'CHRISTIAN RIGHT' HAVE IT WRONG (Star Tribune)
* AS BODIES START COMING HOME, AUSTRALIANS CRITICIZE LEADERS (New York
Times)
- AUSTRALIANS RETHINK U.S. SUPPORT (Washington Times)
- AUSTRALIANS TURN ON GOVERNMENT OVER US ALLIANCE (Independent)
* SOME MUNICIPALITIES OPPOSE WAR (AP)
* MINNESOTA: CENTRAL TO MUSLIM LIFE (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)
- MARYLAND: MUSLIMS TAKE LARGER ROLE IN COMMUNITY (Washington Post)
* PALESTINIANS ABANDON VILLAGE (AP)
* U.S. CONSIDERS ISRAELI IRAQ PLAN (AP)
* PROTEST CALLS FOR OUSTER OF U.S. NAVY FROM BAHRAIN (Los Angeles
Times)
-----
REGISTER ONLINE FOR CAIR'S ANNUAL BANQUET
Don't forget to register for CAIR's Eighth Annual Fundraising Banquet.
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 6 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Premiere, 8611 Leesburg Pike, Tyson's Corner, VA
The dinner's theme is "Muslims in America: Defending Freedom, Promoting
Justice," and featured guests include Martin Luther King III, Dr. John
Esposito and many others.
Tickets: $55 single/$85 couples
TO REGISTER, visit www.cair-net.org, e-mail register@cair-net.org or
call
202-488-8787.
-----
1500 CALIFORNIANS ATTEND CAIR-LA DINNER
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) - For Mohannad Malas, a Muslim living in
Laguna
Beach, the past year has been a mix of fear and uncertainty.
Malas' story was just one of many shared by more than 1,450 people,
most of
them Southern California Muslims, who gathered for the annual banquet
of
the Council of American Islamic Relations.
"We continue to have hundreds, maybe thousands held," Malas said. "The
apprehension is, will I be next?"
To counter that fear, Arab and Muslim Americans should reach out to the
non-Muslim community to share the truth about their faith, said Hussan
Ayloush, executive director of the council.
Those efforts can help erase ignorance and unite different groups,
Ayloush
said.
"We're seeing hands being extended by many new friends, and we greatly
appreciate those new friends and we hope that we can become friends to
their community," Ayloush said…
-----
THE FORGOTTEN PRISONER
Sunday is Day 401 behind bars for Mukkaram Ali, who was arrested just
after
the Sept. 11 attacks. He wasn't charged and could spend 2 years in jail
because of a frail link to Zacarias Moussaoui.
Cam Simpson, Chicago Tribune, 10/20/02
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0210200393oct20.story
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Of the hundreds of people swept up after the
attacks,
Ali appears to be in the strangest state of legal limbo: He is most
likely
the only material witness held at the behest of a terrorism suspect.
Because the judge recently postponed Moussaoui's trial until June 30,
Ali
could remain behind bars until he testifies, making his total jail time
about 2 years…
SEE ALSO:
FIGHT TERRORISM FAIRLY
David Cole, New York Times, 10/19/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/19/opinion/19COLE.html
David Cole, a professor of law at Georgetown, is author of "Terrorism
and
the Constitution: Sacrificing Civil Liberties in the Name of National
Security."
To the prosecution, they are a terrorist "sleeper cell." To the
defense,
they are five idealistic but misguided young men who found themselves
in a
Qaeda training camp but never intended to further terrorism. Where the
truth lies is the mystery at the heart of the Justice Department's case
in
Lackawanna, N.Y.
Under the law, however, it may not matter. Because of an overly broad
statute, the government wins this case no matter which version of the
story
is true. The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, passed in
1996,
makes it a crime to provide "material support" to any group designated
as
"terrorist" -- without regard to whether the support was actually
intended
to further terrorist activity…
The law's popularity with prosecutors is not hard to understand. It
allows
the government to obtain convictions for so-called terrorist crimes
without
proving any intent to engage in or further terrorism. The government
need
only show that the individual provided a proscribed group with some
"material support," which according to the government can be mere
attendance at a training camp. The law is written so broadly that it
would
make it a crime to write a column or to file a lawsuit on behalf of a
proscribed organization, or even to send a book on Gandhi's theory of
nonviolence to the leader of a terrorist group in an attempt to
persuade
him to forego violence…
THE ALARMING CASE OF MAHER ARAR
The Globe and Mail, 10/19/02
http://www.globeandmail.com
Search using the term "arar."
A Canadian has disappeared. Maher Arar, a 32-year-old
telecommunications
engineer and married father of two from Ottawa, was travelling last
month
on a Canadian passport. The United States detained him, and says it
then
deported him to Syria, his birthplace. And he vanished.
This is a bizarre, alarming tale. Mr. Arar was deported from a country
in
which he had no intention of staying; he was simply on an airport
stopover
in New York on his way from Switzerland to Montreal. Although the
United
States suspects he is an Al-Qaeda terrorist, it has laid no criminal
charge
against him.
No matter whether the U.S. suspicions some day prove true, the
deportation
to Syria was a slap in Canada's face. Syria is an undemocratic country
with
a poor human-rights record; it detains people without charges, and
there
are credible reports of torture in its jails. By sending Mr. Arar to
that
country, the U.S. has given the impression -- right or wrong -- that it
is
contracting out its dirty work...
A Canadian passport should mean something. A Canadian traveller is no
less
Canadian because he is of Muslim or Arab background. The fight against
terror is a difficult one, but Canada deserves better than this from
its
closest neighbour. It deserves some answers.
---
JUDGE OKS PLANE DISCRIMINATION SUIT
JEFFREY GOLD, Associated Press, 10/19/02
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A federal judge has refused to dismiss a
discrimination
lawsuit by two men who were removed from a Continental Airlines flight
on
New Year's Eve when a passenger complained about "brown-skinned men."
The Houston-based airline sought dismissal, arguing its employees have
authority to bar passengers who might be "inimical to safety" under a
federal law. The airline also said another law gives them broad
protection
in reporting "suspicious activity."
U.S. District Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise disagreed, ruling that
intentional racial discrimination is not permissible.
He did not rule on the merit of the passengers' claims, only that they
deserve a chance to prove that unlawful bias was the reason for their
removal...
-----
A LEAP OF FAITH: WALLACE D. MUHAMMAD
Don Terry, Chicago Tribune, 10/20/02
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/magazine/chi-0210200439oct20.story
A few hours after the Messenger of Allah died, scores of his ministers
hurried to his domed mosque on Stony Island Avenue to learn the fate of
their nation.
The future was waiting in the basement.
The ministers filed down the stairs, hearts heavy, souls shaken. Up
until
Elijah Muhammad's last breath at 8:10 a.m. on Feb. 25, 1975, many
believed
The Messenger would live forever. They could not imagine he would leave
them behind in the wilderness of North America to face the blue-eyed
devil
alone.
For more than 40 years, he had lifted them from the gutter, plucked
them
out of the fire, resurrected them from the mentally dead. He did it
using a
theology of love and hate, sincerity and science fiction. The white man
was
the Devil, the black man a human God. He preached a separatist gospel
of
self-reliance. And he turned thousands of his brothers and sisters--the
so-called Negroes, a phrase he used only with disdain--into proud black
men
and women.
They thought he was divine. He didn't argue.
Now that he was dead of heart failure at age 77, what would become of
his
people? Their Nation of Islam?
Gathered in the depths of the mosque on the South Side of Chicago, they
soon learned the answer. The Messenger's 41-year-old son, his
successor,
held up a Holy Koran. "We have to take this down from the shelf,"
declared
Wallace D. Muhammad, staring into 200 somber faces. "We say we are
Muslims.
What my father taught that is in this book, we will keep. What is not
in
this book, we have to give up…"
-----
FALWELL AND HIS 'CHRISTIAN RIGHT' HAVE IT WRONG
The Rev. Jan Linn et al., Star Tribune, 10/19/02
http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/3370104.html
Enough is enough. When Jerry Falwell declares on national television
that
Mohammed was a terrorist and Christians believe there will be no peace
in
Jerusalem until the second coming of Jesus ("An alliance with political
and
religious overtones," Oct. 8), the time for silence on such religious
arrogance is over.
Put bluntly, the Christian right that Falwell represents is neither…
The Christian right is not right because it is intellectually
dishonest.
Falwell speaks as if he knows the Bible when what he actually knows is
that
which he already believes and imposes on the Bible…
Through the years we have tried to ignore this man and others like him
who
are an embarrassment to many of us who claim the Christian tradition as
our
own. But their views have won a large following among Christians who
either
refuse to think for themselves or who have been duped into believing
that
Christian right leaders speak from understanding…
-----
AS BODIES START COMING HOME, AUSTRALIANS CRITICIZE LEADERS
HOWARD W. FRENCH, New York Times, 10/20/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/20/international/asia/20AUST.html
After an agonizing weeklong wait, the first bodies have finally begun
returning home after the terror attack in Bali, and angry Australians
are
asking hard questions about everything from their intelligence service
to
the country's foreign policy…
Just as pointed has been the debate over the country's close alliance
with
the United States. The alliance itself is not in serious question, but
Mr.
Howard, a popular prime minister in his third term and a strong
supporter
of the Bush administration's campaign against Iraq, has suddenly found
himself under surprisingly strong attack.
Australia is a country with a widely cherished myth of innocence, one
reinforced by the country's distance from other continents and most
zones
of conflict. Many commentators, pointing to the Bali disaster, are
saying
that Australia's pro-American foreign policy is dragging the country
into
fights it would do better to avoid…
SEE ALSO:
AUSTRALIANS RETHINK U.S. SUPPORT
Janaki Kremmer, Washington Times, 10/19/02
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20021019-25165942.htm
SYDNEY, Australia - The Bali nightclub bombing has forced Australia to
rethink its support for the U.S. campaign against Iraq, with some
warning
that regional terrorists would not hesitate to use far more deadly
weapons
in Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's arsenal.
---
AUSTRALIANS TURN ON GOVERNMENT OVER US ALLIANCE
Andrew Gumbel, Independent, 10/19/02
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/australasia/story.jsp?story=343961
Newspaper letter-writers and pundits were quick to draw attention to
Australia's alliance with the United States in the war on terrorism and
the
campaign to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, citing this as
provocation for the attacks. Doubts were cast on the ability of John
Howard, the Prime Minister, to guide the nation through its worst
peacetime
calamity. Next in the line of fire were the intelligence services,
which
appear to have deliberately buried warnings of a possible terrorist
attack
on Bali.
Such debate, part and parcel of Australian political life, seems
refreshingly frank and a little disorientating when compared with the
reaction in the United States after the September 11 attacks.
In America, criticism of President George Bush evaporated overnight.
Anyone
attempting to link US foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere
with
the atrocities at the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon was
immediately
branded a pariah by mainstream society. One congresswoman who
questioned
the competence of the government and intelligence services was vilified
as
a paranoid, crypto-Marxist "pinata of inanity"…
---
SOME MUNICIPALITIES OPPOSE WAR
DAN LEWERENZ, Associated Press, 10/19/02
AARONSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Dan Brannen Jr. felt he needed to do something
to
express his reservations about the possibility of war with Iraq. As a
township supervisor in Haines Township, he thought maybe he and his
fellow
board members could take a stand.
"Congress just passed a resolution, and President Bush was signing it,"
Brannen said. "We're a board, and we can pass a resolution, too. And I
wanted to propose one that opposed an unprovoked attack on Iraq."
The township's Board of Supervisors did just that Thursday, joining a
handful of other municipalities - mostly bastions of liberalism, like
Ithaca, N.Y., and Berkeley, Calif. - that have spoken out against going
to war.
The Haines Township resolution, passed 2-0 with one abstention, says
that
killing "innocent Middle Eastern people, including Muslims, will widen
the
gorge between people of different races and religions rather than
nurturing
a union of humanity here and abroad…"
-----
MINNESOTA: CENTRAL TO MUSLIM LIFE
NANCY NGO, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 10/20/02
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/4318855.htm
Central Avenue, a bustling thoroughfare lined with shops, restaurants
and
offices, lives up to its name for the growing Twin Cities Muslim
community.
The way University Avenue in St. Paul's Frogtown has become a hub for
Asian-Americans, Central Avenue has become a one-stop shopping and
socializing area for Muslims. It is a place to buy groceries, find
traditional clothing, visit with friends and eat at ethnic restaurants.
But unlike Frogtown, where Asian-American businesses are concentrated
for
several blocks, the Muslim presence along Central Avenue is subtler.
Muslim-owned stores are sprinkled in plazas along the avenue, mingling
with
McDonald's restaurants and Rainbow Foods stores. From the edge of
Northeast
Minneapolis running northward through Columbia Heights, Hilltop and
Fridley, the businesses that dot Central Avenue include Palestinian,
Egyptian and Lebanese grocery stores and restaurants, Afghani-owned
bakeries and an Algerian-owned mattress store.
"People will come here for worship, the Islamic center and shopping. It
is
one trip you make. It is all around the same area and you can do it all
at
once," said Hamdy El-Sawaf, executive director of the Islamic Center of
Minnesota…
SEE ALSO:
MARYLAND: HOWARD COUNTY MUSLIMS TAKE LARGER ROLE IN COMMUNITY
Colleen Jenkins, Washington Post, 10/20/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53640-2002Oct19.html
Only two tractors and a slice of cleared land hint that a long-held
dream
of a Howard County Muslim congregation is edging closer to reality --
and
with it, hopes of becoming a more integral part of the community's
daily
fabric.
After bouncing among facilities for their prayers and gatherings since
the
early 1990s, members of Dar Al-Taqwa are just months away from a
building
permit to erect the county's first mosque. The worship center, planned
for
a wooded seven-acre lot on a semi-rural stretch of Route 108, will be a
place to call their own, to teach Arabic to their children and to honor
the
customs and rituals of Islam.
It also will be the most tangible sign of Howard's growing Muslim
population, which, in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks,
has embraced a vision that transcends the walls of its future religious
center…
-----
PALESTINIANS ABANDON VILLAGE
MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH, Associated Press, 10/19/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51353-2002Oct19.html
YANUN, West Bank (AP) - Sobbing as they filled a truck with furniture
and
piled themselves into dusty cars, six Palestinian families set out from
this tiny village of old stone houses, leaving it completely abandoned.
Members of the Sobih clan said they were fleeing the village - once
home to
25 families - after four years of worsening attacks by Jewish settlers,
who
have set up illegal outposts on nearby hilltops. The attacks have
become
increasingly frequent in recent months, they said…
Groups of masked Jewish settlers have charged into the village, coming
at
night with dogs and horses, stealing sheep, hurling stones through
windows
and beating the men with fists and rifle butts, Palestinian residents
said.
An electricity generator has been scorched by fire, knocking out power
to
the village. Three large water tanks were tipped over and emptied.
Palestinians complain bitterly of land lost over the past decades of
Mideast conflict. The exodus from Yanun is believed to be the first
time in
recent years that Palestinians have abandoned an entire village because
of
the conflict…
-----
U.S. CONSIDERS ISRAELI IRAQ PLAN
BARRY SCHWEID, Associated Press, 10/19/02
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is weighing an Israel
proposal
for a joint operation in Iraq's western desert to disarm Iraqi missiles
before they could be launched against Israel.
If successful, the operation might not only protect Israeli civilians
from
an Iraqi attack like the one they weathered in the 1991 Persian Gulf
War
but eliminate the troublesome prospect of an Israeli retaliatory attack
on
Iraq.
Under the proposal, which would involve American special forces troops,
Israel would furnish the United States with intelligence about the
sites
and how to disarm them early in the conflict.
The idea was presented during Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's talks in
Washington this week with President Bush and senior White House,
Pentagon
and State Department officials.
Afterward, both sides said Sharon had received assurances the United
States
would make a maximum effort to reduce any threat to Israel posed by
Iraq.
The Israeli plan was not announced, but an account was provided to The
Associated Press on Friday by a U.S. official on condition of
anonymity…
-- 
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